Are there any gimmicky products to improve your looks that haven't been imagined yet? Almost.
The ice roller (available here on amazon) is placed in the fridge or freezer and it allows you to ice your face down to reduce puffiness, wrinkles, aches, pains, and anything else that ails your face.
Does it work? Maybe it works as well as a piece of frozen meat or a bag of frozen peas.
Surgeons are constantly trying to undo the effects of mother nature. Can we stop the breasts from sagging? It seems that gravity is stronger than the human will in this case.
The internal bra, termed "Cup and Up" attempts to solve this age-old problem with a silicone sling placed under the breast gland and anchored to the ribs. Trials in animals have shown safety, but effectiveness is another thing.
Jolielips (a not-so clever take on angelina's anatomy) is a vacuum device that plumps lips by creating a negative pressure, increasing blood flow. Does it work? In a way. But it also hurts.
Read this review: http://doesitwork.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/10/15/2100034.aspx
Lifestyle lift agreed to pay $300,000 in penalties to New York State and admitted to publishing fake posts to internet boards with positive reviews about their services. They acted as phony patients in order to bolster the reputation of the company which has had questionable marketing practices.
“This company’s attempt to generate business by duping consumers was cynical, manipulative and illegal,” says Andrew Cuomo, New York's Attorney General.
The lifestyle lift is a mini-facelift performed in about an hour, quicker than a standard facelift. But it has been criticized because speed rarely is equivalent to excellent results in the world of surgery.
Another departure from plastic matters (and we need it sometimes), the Fresh Air Fund is a great cause that supports low-income New York City children for summer vacations. This year you can support their NYC half-marathon racers at the link above.
From www.freshair.org:
"Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities. Last summer, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. Most children who visit host families are re-invited year after year and form life-long friendships. "
An upscale new york spa is offering facials with a secret ingredient: bird poop.
In fact, its currently on special. Check out the NY Mag link: here.
You can probably get the treatment for free by laying out in central park's great lawn for an hour.
A claw-style vending machine in Japan carries imitation breasts- perhaps for those who can't afford legitimate implants. Only in Japan. For now.
"I love Botox, I absolutely love it," she said. "I get it minimally, so
I can still move my face. But I really do think it's a savior."
Jenny who is currently dating Jim Carrey, talks about her love for Botox in the recent Michigan Avenue magazine.
Botox is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the world, but soon to be competing with Reloxin from Medicis. May the best toxin win.
A California man is reported to have stabbed his ex in order to take away her breast implants. The 26-year-old woman sustained 6 stab wounds and deflation of her implants, which was corrected subsequently. More details here. Hope she didn't have any artificial joints or other prostheses he could go after.
Another one from the strange Japanese cosmetic gadget shelf: a breast roller. 10 minutes of rolling are purported to inflate the cleavage. Is it possible? Maybe if the trauma temporarily induces swelling. But unlikely to affect a long-term change. Here's the link for more pics.
We've posted several times before about the lifestyle lift and what it can and can't do.
Here's another link we were forwarded by a reader with multitudes of comments about this procedure, it's advertising practices, and patient's experiences with the company. The stories are disturbing to say the least.
Click here for Lifestyle Lift complaints
Did you have more than your fair share of carbs for thanksgiving? Are you not interested in that tummy tuck or liposuction, but still want to fit into your Levi's? Then you may be interested in the Waistband Stretcher via SkyMall. It does just what it says. Which is refreshing in a way.
A Korean woman, reportedly addicted to cosmetic surgery, injected cooking oil into her face, leaving her severely scarred and disfigured. A very sad case, described here with photos.
She was unfortunately given a syringe by someone, and she used it for a horrific purpose- infinitely worse than Priscilla Presley's ordeal.
Pliaglis was a topical anesthetic from Galderma Laboratories that acted as a 'mask' that could be removed by peeling off an applied cream. It consisted of lidocaine and tetracaine and was marketed for facial laser procedures.
Pliaglis was withdrawn from the market as noted on http://www.pliaglis.com
Star Magazine surmises that Angelina Jolie had what she likes to term a "mommy tuck" after recently giving birth. From their story, "Sources tell Star that the 33-year-old actress fretted over the size of her stomach while she was pregnant with Knox and Vivienne. "She doesn't like to talk about it or admit it, but Angie told some friends that she had a 'mommy tuck,' " says a family insider. "She likes the way that sounds better than tummy tuck." "
It's common to have loose skin after delivery, but it may be wise to wait at least 6 months to see how the body will recover from being distended.
Sharon Stone has had an ugly, publicized custody battle with details that continue to air in popular media. One issue of contention was based on reports that she wanted Botox injected into her 8-year-old son's feet to lessen a foul odor. She denies this- but the medical basis is real. Botox does decrease sweat and in fact this is an FDA-approved use of the drug (axillary hyperhidrosis, or excess armpit sweating).
So, you want rounder buttocks but you don't want surgery. This is the answer: a mannequin butt backpack. Wearing one is not without risk- it tends to attract 'kick me' signs.
Everyone wants to look better without surgery. This has created a market for products such as the "Tua Viso", an electrical stimulator similar to the "abdominal sculptors" seen on late night television. This "facial exerciser" is supposed to tighten skin and smooth wrinkles by strengthening the facial muscles with a 9-volt battery.
Does it work? There is no evidence to support its use for this purpose thus far. Their website does have an unpublished, non-peer reviewed trial summary, which doesn't add much. Read about it here.
Do you care about NYC socialite plastic surgery stories? Nah, neither do we. But you can read about a $30,000 surgery bill and a New York Magazine slip-up here. Eh.
