SURGERY

PLASTIC SURGERY risk: blood clots, infection and nerve injury, bleeding, leakage, dimpling and scaring etc. cost: £3,500 to £8,000 from eyelid rejuvination to face-lifts. NON-INVASIVE PROCEDURES risk: infection, lumps, scars and pigmentation etc. cost: £250 to £3,500 from lasers to fat grafting.

YOUNGER SAFER — ISOLAGEN
A skin biopsy is taken and sent to be processed. New cells are grown in the lab and these fresh fibroblast (collagen-producing) are loaded into a syringe and injected into lines scars etc. Works well for overall face, acne scars as well as hands. www.isolagenuk.com
No healing time. No alergy risk, as the process uses your own cells. It's long lasting, cells continue to grow for 12 - 18 months and longer. cost: £2,900 for two treatments, £3,500 for full face.

TEMPORARY RISK — BOTOX
Produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinium. Resulting in temporay muscle paralysis, only 3 to 4 months. Effective for reducing wrinkes caused by muscle contraction but does not reduce lines and sagging skin. Side effects are many.
cost: £250 per area treated.

HOME KITS — PEELS
Lancome resurface peel: £95.
Dissolves dead skin, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and gives radiance. Not sure if these are any good for the skin.

LINKS www.sunday-times. — hair wash — botox debate — alternative health index — organic cosmetics

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