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The hard times reveal themselves in how we look: droopy eyes from insomnia, weight gain from stress-induced overeating, acne breakouts from high hormone levels, and a general sense that things are spiraling out of control. It’s easy to let both our inner beauty and outer beauty suffer when economic conditions take a turn for the worse. In such periods, even if your personal financial world isn’t crumbling, it may seem crass, heartless and even barbaric to think about having cosmetic surgery or even something like Botox. Think again. Yes, when your financial world is teetering on the brink of disaster, you probably need to worry about the mortgage first and facial peels second. But if your main concern is fear that you’ll be next on the chopping block, consider this: a little bit of cosmetic work that makes you look and feel better can be money well spent. The evidence is mounting that having cosmetic procedures done actually improves mood: a March 2009 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology suggested that based on a controlled study, people who received Botox injections to paralyze the muscles in their brows and make them incapable of frowning actually showed fewer negative emotions and experienced lower levels of depression and anxiety. So cosmetic medicine may have some power to not only make you look more vital but feel that way. We call this “putting your best face forward,” looking your best so you feel more confident and more attractive to yourself and the people around you. It’s all part of the holistic model we call the Beauty-Brain Loop, something that’s at the heart of our book, The Beauty Prescription. The bottom line is that if you make smart, cost-effective choices about cosmetic procedures, it’s possible to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits without breaking the bank. These days, that probably means foregoing traditional invasive plastic surgeries in favor of less invasive procedures that you can have at a dermatologist’s office—procedures that offer results as good or nearly as good as surgery but with less cost, pain and recovery time. Some examples of what we mean: Face Lift—About $9,700 with plastic surgery, about $2,800 with the Thermage thermal process, between $2,000 and $3,000 with dermal fillers like Juvaderm or Restylane. Neck Lift—About $9,700 with plastic surgery, about $1,700 with Thermage. Brow Lift—About $4,800 with plastic surgery, about $600 per injection with Botox. Eyelid Lift—About $7,000 with blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), about $1,700 with Thermage. Nose Job—About $6,000 with rhinoplasty, about $1,000 with Radiesse nose recontouring. Tummy Tuck—About $10,000 with plastic surgery, about $4,000 with Thermage. Even the less invasive procedures aren’t cheap, but they are far more cost-effective than plastic surgery, and are within the reach of many more women (and men). So cheer up—it’s not irresponsible to consider “getting some work done” even in a down economy, because you can get some terrific results with the most advanced technology available and save a great deal of money. Talk to your dermatologist and get all the information you can, get specific prices and do your research. You may find out that putting your best face forward is one of the best ways to handle the stresses of challenging times and feel incredible about yourself in the bargain. Debra Luftman, MD and Eva Ritvo, MD are the co-authors of The Beauty Prescription (McGraw-Hill, 2008) and the Beauty Prescription blog. More information can be found at www.thebeautyprescription.com. www.HealthNewsDigest.com Top of Page 
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