As of February 2011, the unemployment rate for adult men was 8.7%.  With more male candidates fighting over fewer job opportunities, landing work in today’s economy is more than a resume boasting professional experience and a college degree. Economists Daniel Hamermesh and Jeff Biddle discovered that attractive men and women enjoy hourly earnings 5% higher than those with average looks in a paper entitled, “Beauty and the Labour Market”.  Simply put, looking good pays.

In 2010, 1.1 million cosmetic procedures were performed on men according to a recent report released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  The number of cosmetic procedures is up 2% from 2009 and experts believe fierce job market competition is driving men to seek everything from Botox to chemical peels to CoolSculpting ™.  Men in their forties, fifties, and sixties are getting passed over for job raises that are going to their younger colleagues.

Below are the five most popular male minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures for 2010:

1. Botox (337,000)

2. Laser Hair Removal (165,000)

3. Microdermabrasion (158,000)

4. Chemical Peel (90,000)

5. Soft Tissue Fillers (78,000)

Males account for 5-10% of patients Dr. Zimmet sees each year, with the number of visits growing.  The top reasons male patients seek out Dr. Zimmet are Zeltiq Coolsculpting ™ fat removal treatment, Botox and pulsed light rejuvenation.

Women are quick to forget that men, too, are judged by their appearance and physique.  Whether a trimmer waistline, a wrinkle-free forehead, or a rejuvenated face, a more youthful appearance has been proven to boost a man’s salary level, self-esteem, and love life.

Photo:  Noii

Women are increasingly initiating Botox treatments at an earlier age.  It’s not uncommon for women in their twenties or thirties to seek treatment for fine lines and wrinkles around the brow area.  What’s the reason behind younger women visiting the cosmetic dermatologist?  Blackberry Botox.  It’s a new term referring to the rise in women seeking Botox treatments due to overuse of mobile phones.

The pervasive use of smartphones means women are spending more and more time squinting at smaller screens to browse the latest celebrity gossip, watch YouTube videos, check Facebook news feeds or read text messages.  Focusing on small text on Blackberry, iPhone, or Android screens for extended periods of time builds tension in the facial muscles, typically resulting in premature wrinkling.

Cosmetic dermatologists are divided over Blackberry Botox.  Some feel it’s premature for young women to get Botox while others feel that a light Botox treatment (approximately 15 to 20 units) does wonders to erase crows feet as well as fine surface lines around the brow and forehead.

Dr. Zimmet treats patients in their twenties and thirties, provided they have no contraindications and understand the potential benefits, risks and alternatives.  Botox not only improves women’s appearance but helps prevent the worsening of lines over time.  In his experience, Botox is very well tolerated with significant side effects being very rare.

Geek Squad’s Stephanie Albertina provided some tips to help women prevent the mobile phone wrinkle blues:

1. Take a break – It’s important to put down or at least glance up from your smartphone regularly so that your eyes can rest. Though squinting is necessary when using a smartphone, taking time to relax your eyes can significantly reduce this new type of strain on your facial muscles.

2. Turn the light down low – Too much light and contrast can have cause you to narrow the eyes to take in the brightness; a no-no for fresh-looking eye contours. Combat the dreaded ‘crow’s feet’ effect by dimming the screen in your ‘settings’ options – and see how low you can go on the light emission. The less, the better (as a bonus, this will also help preserve your phone’s battery life!)

3. Enlarge the text – If you find yourself struggling to read the small text on your smartphone and holding it so close you wrinkle your nose so much it hurts, just enlarge the text by simply going to your settings and altering the text size. Also, the zoom function can be a fantastic thing.  Use it to focus in on images on your device so you can see much more clearly and avoid pulling the inner eye.

4. Looking after your eyes – If you can bear it, spend less time glued to your iPhone or Blackberry. During this timeout, take some deep breaths to relax the face into a more natural expression, and gently  massage the area around the eyes.  It’s a simple thing that can make a big difference to preventing those lines that starts subtly, but can get deeper and more pronounced. Not only will your face be serene looking, you will feel more serene – and in a much better state to deal with any inbox horrors.

5. Don’t forget to smile! If you are experiencing stress from being constantly attached to your smartphone, just think about the potentially negative effect this is having on your youthful appearance. Then, take some time to do something to relieve the tension, like playing on a fun app, like TomCat or Angry Birds; this will help relax your face, soften your expression and prevent long term frown lines.

Photo:  Ed Yourdon

by Hadley, Skin Care Specialist at Zimmet Vein and Dermatology

Finally a non-comedogenic water-resistant physical sunscreen designed for acne and rosacea prone skin! This is my new favorite product. I admit I felt skeptical when my sample of MDSolarSciences Mineral Gel Sunscreen SPF +30 arrived. My chin is a major problem area and sunscreens always seem to irritate my skin and cause breakouts. Also, physical sunscreens are often thick and difficult to apply. Read the rest of this entry »

Hadley recently posted a Survival Guide on Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing. Here are her photos- before treatment, during recovery, and 40 days after treatment.

Before Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing

Day 1 after Fractionated CO2 Laser Resurfacing

Day 6 after Fractionated CO2 Resurfacing (Active FX)

Day 40 after Fractionated CO2 Resurfacing

by Hadley, Skin Care Specialist at Zimmet Vein & Dermatology

I recently took the plunge into Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing (Active FX) and survived! As an aesthetician, I’ve experienced a variety of skin treatments but this was by far the most challenging and rewarding. Active FX requires dedicated post-procedure care and maintenance by the patient at home. This process is imperative for proper healing. This guide is based on my personal ActiveFX experience and intended to help patients prepare for and manage the healing phase of Active, Deep or TotalFX. Read the rest of this entry »