Anti-ageing face creams don't work but exercise does!
Many anti-ageing creams and vitamin supplements are a waste of money, researchers say.
Antioxidants - the 'must-have' ingredients of face creams and pills that claim to hold back the hands of time - have little or no effect, a study found.
The British researchers said that rather than spending money on vitamin-loaded potions and pills, people who want to retain a youthful look should instead concentrate on eating healthy foods in sensible amounts and exercising.
Dr David Gems, of University College London, said: 'It is not the antioxidant content of your food that is critical, it is that you don't eat too much of it.
'And get plenty of exercise. Get a dog and take it for a walk.'
Article Credit: Mail Online, UK newspaper
Body Image Has Little Influence On Desire For Plastic Surgery
Think only people with low self-esteem have plastic surgery? Think again. A person's overall level of body satisfaction has no influence on whether a person is interested in most forms of cosmetic plastic surgery, according to a study in October's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery(R) (PRS), the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
"This study shows the majority of people who want plastic surgery have a normal level of body satisfaction," said Richard D'Amico, MD, ASPS President-Elect. "We use the term 'look as good as you feel' often and it is good to know this is why the average plastic surgery patient has a cosmetic procedure. They are not, in fact, suffering from low or poor self-esteem."
The study looked at two measures of body image and satisfaction -- self-rated attractiveness and comfort in a swimsuit. Overall body satisfaction in people interested in cosmetic plastic surgery, other than liposuction, did not differ from people who were not interested.
People who were interested in liposuction did report lower body satisfaction than other individuals. This was true for both men and women, even when statistically controlling for differences in body mass index (BMI) between the groups. People with a higher BMI and those who felt they were too heavy were more likely to express an interest in liposuction than those who were satisfied with their weight. This may indicate a belief that liposuction is for weight loss rather than body contouring.
"It is critical to remember that liposuction is not appropriate for weight loss," said Dr. D'Amico. "Liposuction is ideal for people who are at or near their ideal body weight, and have stubborn, localized deposits of fat they want removed."
Individuals who frequently monitored their appearance were more likely to report an interest in cosmetic procedures than those who paid less attention to their looks. This suggests a strong investment in one's appearance may motivate individuals to consider plastic surgery.
While men and women's interest in cosmetic plastic surgery did not generally differ based on their relationship status, an exception was seen in older women. Single and married women aged 56 to 65 were less interested in cosmetic procedures than dating or cohabitating women of the same age.
According to the study that surveyed more than 52,000 people, 48 percent of women were interested in having cosmetic plastic surgery while 23 percent said they were possibly interested. In addition, 23 percent of men said they were interested in cosmetic plastic surgery and 17 percent were possibly interested.
Contrary to popular belief, older people did not have a higher desire for plastic surgery. Instead, a similar percentage reported interest across all age groups for both women and men.
"People interested in most forms of plastic surgery did not differ significantly from the general population in terms of body satisfaction," said David Frederick, Candidate Ph.D., psychology, University of Los Angeles and study co-author. "However, Americans appear to experience greater pressure to be slender than to have ideal noses, breasts and so forth, which could explain why people less satisfied with their weight were more interested in liposuction."
Nearly 11 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, according to the ASPS. Women, who accounted for 90% of all cosmetic plastic surgery procedures last year, had 9.9 million procedures while men had 1.1 million procedures.
Visit http://www.plasticsurgery.org for referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons and to learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 90 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Contura's efficacy & Safety Results
The 48-month follow-up results of the prospective, multi-centre study of Contura's longer lasting filler conducted in six European countries have been presented by Dr. Hermann Lampe, Germany at IMCAS, Paris in January 2007.
82 patients were available for evaluation, and the aesthetic results were judged to be good or very good in more than 90% of the cases by the investigators. More than 90% of the patients were either satisfied or very satisfied with the aesthetic results after 48 months.
Of the 82 patients who completed the 48-month follow-up, 50 patients had not been re-injected at any of the follow-up visits since the beginning of the study. A total of 98% of these 50 patients were still satisfied with their aesthetic results at the 48-month follow-up. Results were judged to be good or very good by the investigators in 98% of the patients not re-injected.
There was no difference in efficacy between the 12, 24 and 48-month follow-up.
Adverse events related to the treatment were mostly mild or moderate local reactions to the injection. One possibly related adverse event was reported between the 24-month and 48-month follow-up. It was an infection that was resolved with antibiotic treatment.
The follow-up period of the prospective study is 60 months.
The 48-month results further strengthens the clinical documentation of Contura's longer lasting filler as a safe, non-absorbable soft-tissue filler providing lasting aesthetic results.
The Sydney International Spa & Beauty Expo
The Sydney International Spa & Beauty Expo is Australia's largest event for the spa & beauty industries. Spa & beauty professionals at all levels have a unique opportunity to source and experience the latest beauty products, treatments, ideas and equipment, from Australia's largest gathering of leading brands and suppliers.
