Jodi and Diane are opening the "Beauty and the Beat" event this Thursday at the Gables West Ave. If you are a resident, you're invited to come learn how to choose an aesthetics provider at 6 pm, then get your Latin groove on at 7 pm with a Zumba class taught by a former Dallas Cowboy cheerleader!

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.

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.

VASER, Thermage and SmartLipo make list of top 5 minimally invasive body contouring techniques from American Health & Beauty.

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.

It's January, and I bet each of you has included "I will exercise more" in your list of resolutions. As a physician, I think that's great. A regular exercise routine offers a host of benefits - to your heart, your brain, your muscles, and of course to your waist line. However, exercising with the sole purpose of spot reducing (eliminating a belly, getting rid of under arm waddle) is a myth. You simply can’t exercise away a fat pocket.

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.

Cellulite, the dimpled, lumpy fat deposits often found on a woman’s thighs and backside strikes up to 90% of women – and it’s becoming more prevalent worldwide, even in countries where obesity is not a problem. There are some effective aesthetic treatments.

Need another reason to consider having VASER or Smartlipo done? Researchers have discovered that liposuction leftovers can be converted into stem cells.

Since Victorian times, a shapely ankle has been a mark of beauty. And this summer’s gladiator sandal and cropped leggings trend is focusing a lot of attention on the ankle. But unfortunately for those who are predisposed to have thick ankles (or “cankles”), this season’s hot trend is difficult to pull off.

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.