A Peek into the Costs of Cosmetic Dermatology

In today's society it is becoming more acceptable for someone to visit a doctor to correct something they don't particularly like about themselves. Sure, some of these things could have been avoided had we taken care of ourselves and taken better precautions, but we haven't. So the question remains...necessary or not? It all depends on who you ask.

There are a few reasons people seek the help of a Cosmetic Dermatologist or opt for Aesthetic surgery. Of course everyone want to fight the aging process, and what better way to do that than with the help of an experienced doctor.

Age Spots - With repeated exposure to the sun, melanin production increases, causing those ugly brown lesions we know as sun spots. One might seek out laser treatment to solve this problem. This laser hones in and heats the extra pigment causing the discoloration to break up. With one to three treatments being needed per spot, at anywhere between $200 and $1,000 a pop...who can afford that?

Another course of treatment would be chemical peels. this strips the outer layers of skin to even out the skin tone. This option typically costs anywhere from $250 to $1,000 each.

A less expensive option for lighter spots would be a bleaching cream. This you could probably find for under $100.

Wrinkles - Many people are now turning to Botox to temporarily paralyze the muscles that cause wrinkling. This costs an average of $500 to $750 every four to six months.

For the creases that have already begun forming, some might opt for Restylane, an injectable filler that is made up of hyaluronic acid. Restylane will plump up these creases at about $500 per visit, every four to eight months.

Those creases that run from the base of your nose to the corners of your mouth, the ones that are caused by smiling, can be filled by either Restylane or synthetic human collagen. Both options usually cost between $500 and $800 per shot. The collagen will be good for about three to six months.

Now, those little feathery lines around your lip line, you can use microdermabrasion. This is a skin buffing treatment with tiny crystals that will help to smooth out the finer lines. This will typically cost about $150 per session.

Thinning Lips - For those that are a little self conscious about the appearance of their lips, or lack of, there is an option for them too. The synthetic human collagen will work to shape, define and fill in the lips. Again, this will cost between $500 and $800 per shot. For a less expensive way to go for fuller lips would be a cosmetic lip plumper. You can buy this for under $20, it's a temporary fix (about two hours or so) but it will make the lips swell up a bit.

There is some help for those that don't want to spend the money for these procedures in the future. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen to avoid the damaging effects of the sun's rays. Smoking causes capillaries to contract, reducing the blood flow to the skin and in turn depriving it of oxygen and other nutrients. Poor nutrition will make the skin look less luminous. Lack of sleep can cause some inflammation which will reduce the elasticity of the skin.

Now that you have had a look into the costs of some procedures, wouldn't it just be better to take car of your skin before letting it get so damaged?