Most women (and men for that matter) of a certain age have given some thought to having a face lift. Sagging eyelids, crow’s feet, age spots, and thinning skin are never a welcome sight. And while the results from a full face lift can be dramatic – the pain and recovery time can be just as shocking. If you are considering a face lift, but don’t like the idea of surgery, I’d suggest you consider the “Liquid Face Lift” instead.

Sun exposure is the number one cause of wrinkles, even more so than heredity and genetics. In fact, 90% of the symptoms of premature aging (wrinkles, sun spots, thin skin) are caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Allergan's My Expressions of Kindness program is celebrating your acts of kindness. Just fill out an online profile and tell them about your charitable contributions. Once you are done, Allergan will donate $25 to one of three charities on your behalf - Dress for Success, Children's Action Network, or Make it Right.

Dr. Jim Cain, III, founder and medical director of Innovative Aesthetics a cosmetic and medical aesthetics practice in Houston, Texas, has recently completed a two-year Aesthetics Medicine Fellowship with Dr. Sharon McQuillon of the Ageless Aesthetic Institute. The Fellowship Certification in Aesthetic Medicine is a certification program of the American Academy of Anti‐Aging Medicine.

Everyone has heard of using Botox to smooth out wrinkles, but doctors said they are currently using it for stroke victims. Botox was only recently approved for muscle spasticity. It works by blocking signals into certain muscles that are counteracting proper movement, such as for a stroke victim who suffers from paralysis, doctors said

The future face of 40: Botox, fillers and high-tech face creams all mean the Big Four-0 doesn't look like it used to. This article from the UK's Daily Mail explores why and how.

$50 BOTOX rebate available from Allergan. Just join the Brilliant Distinctions Loyalty Program and print out your rebate form. Take it with you to see Dr. Cain for your BOTOX injections before 5/31/10. Have Dr. Cain sign the form, then send it in to Allergan. Within 4-5 weeks, they'll mail you a $50 rebate off your next BOTOX treatment.

A new study introduced at the annual meeting of the Society for Personal and Social Psychology last week discovered that BOTOX injections can have a positive result on your overall emotional outlook.

Arnica Montana, also known as Leopard's Bane, is a perennial herb indigenous to Central Europe. When taken two weeks prior to any cosmetic procedure (BOTOX, Dysport, injectable fillers such as Radiesse or Juvederm, or liposuction methods such as SmartLipo and VASER) arnica montana can markedly reduce bruising and swelling. Arnica montana is most commonly available in pellet form. Additionally, topical application of the arnica montana gel, cream, or ointment will speed the healing of any visible bruising should it occur.

Need to freeze that frown line quickly? Dysport is a new product similar to BOTOX that promises results within 24 - 48 hours. So if you have an event or social function right around the corner, there's no need to worry that you've waited too late to treat your eye wrinkles and frown lines. Give Dysport a try instead!

According to an article in today's Daily Mail, Almost one in five cosmetic surgery patients are now men in the UK. We've seen a rise in male patients as well here in Houston, Texas. Dubbed "boytox" by the media, this growing trend is catching on as more men decide that there is no stigma in trying medical aesthetics and cosmetic treatments.

Today's article in Time Magazine highlights the proposed "Botox tax" being floated by Senate majority leader Harry Reid as part of President Obama's health care reform package. This tax would apply to elective, but not reconstructive plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, in the hopes of raising enough money to pay for other features of the plan. As both an aesthetics practitioner and a taxpayer, I do not agree with this proposal and do not want to be forced to increase the cost of the services we provide to you. If you too do not agree with this proposal, I urge you to visit www.stopcosmetictax.org and sign the petition and register your support.

With the American male accounting for 1.1 million total cosmetic procedures in 2008, men seem to be changing their attitude about aesthetic services. Wanting to appear youthful and healthy well into their 50’s and 60’s has led men to re-think grooming and beauty procedures that were formally just the domain of women.

Allergan will donate $2 each for the first 25,000 people to visit www.expressuccesscampaign.com and register.

As you age, skin on your neck starts to lose its elasticity because of a combination of gravity and genetics. And because the skin on our necks is more delicate and thinner than facial skin, it loses elasticity faster. So even if you’ve spent thousands of dollars on keeping your face young, the sagging skin under your chin still announces to the world that you’re not getting any younger.

Worried about the safety of BOTOX? Get the real story here.

As we age, the skin over our eyes begins to sag. And while no one really likes the droop - surgery, scalpels, and scars don’t sound like much fun either. Luckily there are ways to lift and tighten the skin above your eyes that require no surgery, no general anesthesia, and minimal downtime.