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.

To help introduce the new Juvederm XC formulated with lidocaine for added comfort, Innovative Aesthetics in Houston is offering a $50 rebate off your first injection. Rebate good for one time use only. Offer expires July 31, 2010.

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.

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.

Innovative Aesthetics has partnered with MedChoice Financial to offer new, flexible cosmetic and aesthetic procedure financing. Through MedChoice Financial, you can finance any of the aesthetics procedures offered by Innovative Aesthetics. MedChoice offers approval decisions within 24-hours, monthly payment plans, no interest and no downpayment plans.

Get your lips ready for Valentine's Day. Schedule your Juvederm treatment before February 14, 2010 and receive a certificate for a free VIVITE defining lip plumper (a $45 value) from Allergan. Call us at 713-468-8759 to schedule your appointment today. Openings are filling fast! Offer must be postmarked by 2/14/10, so don't miss out.

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.

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.

Innovative Aesthetics will be closed Thursday and Friday, December 24 – 25 so that our staff can celebrate Christmas with their families. However, we will be open on New Year’s Eve until 3 pm for your last minute Juvederm injections. Our offices will be closed on Friday, January 1.

Get your mouth ready for that juicy holiday kiss! Your skin is not the only body part that falls prey to dryness during the winter months. Lips don’t have oil glands, so that means they dry out even faster than your skin does. Take care of your lips this winter with these tips from The American Academy of Dermatology.

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.

Wrinkles, age spots – that “leathery” look on your hands – sound familiar? You spend all this time and effort maintaining your face, only to have your hands give your true age away.

One minute you are wearing low-cut dresses and shirts with confidence. Next thing you know you’re camouflaging your chest with turtleneck sweaters and layers of necklaces. Around the age of 40 is normally when a woman’s décolletage begins to show her age. Signs of aging include skin sagging and thinning or “crepe-like” appearance.

Even if you get plenty of sleep, and haven’t had a drink in years, you can still have dark circles under your eyes. And while it’s true that fatigue makes your skin dull, the biggest contributing factors to dark under-eye circles are genetics and heredity.

Many competing products make similar claims. How do you decide what is right for you?