(ARA) – With unemployment at an all-time high, it is becoming a necessity for Americans to put their best face forward.  More of us are turning to less costly, non-invasive cosmetic “touch ups” to look competent and feel confident, whether in the workplace, or pounding the pavement.

Recession-driven job losses have put more baby boomers and workers in their 50s back into the job market, and they are competing with people in their 20s and 30s.  Many are looking at improving their appearance as an investment they need to make.  Fortunately, a number of safe, effective and non-invasive anti-aging treatments, offered by trained and board-certified facial plastic surgeons, are now available at competitive costs.

“Patients in today’s economy are looking for value: good results but priced fairly,” says Dr. Donn R. Chatham, president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).  “It is also important to trust your face to a facial specialist, one who focuses on the health and appearance of the face.”

Six Popular Treatments for Cost-conscious Consumers

1. Botox injections – In use for medical purposes for more than five decades, the FDA approved Botox in 2002 for the temporary improvement of glabellar lines, the vertical lines between eyebrows.  Since its approval, millions have been treated with Botox, and to date, it is still the most requested non-invasive procedure according to the annual survey of the AAFPRS.

2. Cosmetic fillers – Wrinkles not only make you look older, but they can cause others to misread your emotions, especially if the wrinkles are in areas of the face normally associated with frowning or other negative expressions.  Cosmetic fillers like collagen, hyaluronic acid, Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra, Evolence and others add volume to the skin to soften or eliminate the appearance of wrinkles and provide a more youthful, rejuvenated appearance.

3. Laser treatments – Non-invasive laser procedures can help reduce wrinkles around the eyes and lips, even the surface of the face, and remove blemishes like birthmarks, skin growths, acne, spider veins, warts and even some tattoos.

4. Skin resurfacing/rejuvenation – Chemical peeling and dermabrasion both remove aged, damaged skin cells to create a smoother, younger-looking surface.

5. Minimally invasive surgery – Facial plastic surgeons have developed methods for minimizing the invasiveness of some of the most popular facial surgeries, including face lifts, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and rhinoplasty, reducing pain and recovery times for many patients.

6. Lip augmentation – Several procedures are available to give lips a fuller, plumper, and more youthful look while reducing the appearance of fine lines around the lips.

Americans undergo more than 2 million facial plastic surgery procedures each year.  If you, or a loved one, is considering enhancing your competitive edge in the workplace by improving your appearance, it’s important to find a compassionate, knowledgeable facial plastic surgeon you trust.  The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offers helpful resources, including information about different types of surgery, on its Web site, www.facemd.org.  With more than 2,700 members whose practices concentrate on the face, head and neck, the AAFPRS can help you find the right, qualified facial plastic surgeon for your needs.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

There has always been a faction within the community that has been prepared to do whatever was necessary to fight the effects of time on their physical appearance. For many years this has meant basic skin care or potentially even surgery.

Basic skin care has come in a couple of different forms. At home use lotions and potions are, or course, absolutely common place. Over the counter items such as moisturizers and cleansers are part of most every womans, not to mention an increasing number of mens, daily routine. Sun screen should be viewed with equal importance. There may be less to repair in terms of aging and damage to the skin if the negative effects of sun exposure are kept to a minimum.

When not relying on at home maintenance and repair remedies, many people also seek to place the health of their skin the hand of a skin care professional, known as a licensed esthetician. On average, a licensed esthetician has completed between three hundred and perhaps as many as seven hundred fifty hours of specialized training at a school licensed by their local state board of cosmetology. Estheticians master the art of facials, waxing, chemical peels, product selection and usage, and much more.

When basic skin care is not enough, many turn to surgery. From face lifts, eyelid surgeries, liposuction, and more, a plastic or cosmetic surgeon may hold the key through their specialized training and experience to provide significant cosmetic enhancements that may truly help to roll back the hands of time. Wrinkles and lax skin may be a thing of the past after surgery, but going under the knife does always have its drawbacks. Anesthesia, discomfort, and recovery time are common, not to mention the financial impact of electing to participate in such services.

While none of these approaches are necessarily new, there is another option that is gaining prevalence; the medical spa. The medical spa is a virtual hybrid between traditional basic skin care and medically based cosmetic enhancement services. The medical spa, or medspa as they are commonly referred to, has filled the void for many who want a higher degree of results from their visits to their local skin care professional.

The medical spa features treatments and services that are primarily non-invasive, involve no anesthesia, and require no down time. As they bridge the gap between the spa and the doctors office, medical spa clients can achieve a greater degree of results that can help to roll back the years by reducing wrinkles, reversing sun damage, tightening skin, erasing spider veins, reducing cellulite, and more. As these technologies continue to evolve and medical spa treatments become more accessible, in the near future looking older really may just be a choice.

About the Author

Jason Begley of Aspire Jobs provides an expertise and focus on creating opportunities for phoenix jobs, arizona jobs, and chicago jobs.