The Anti-Aging Industry and You

Now what about all those media commercials and ads that you are bombarded with? The anti-aging industry seems to be doing a booming business but I think the jury is still on just how risky or beneficial they are.

The industry now pulls in $56B a year and it is estimated that it could grow to $79B by 2009.

Did you know that:

• More than 1500 doctors sought board certification in anti-aging medicine in 1996? A regimen of vitamins, supplements, and injections of human growth hormone (HGH) can cost up to $10K a year
• It is illegal for anyone to distribute HGH for anti-aging purposes Since anti-aging is not a disease, not much expense is covered by insurance
• HGH can promote tumor growth, increase blood pressure and blood clots, and cause structural damage in hands and feet
• There is no firm scientific proof that any anti-aging regimen actually slows down or reduces the aging process
• A face lift can cost as much as $20K and it takes as long as two weeks to recover
• Botox treatments cost $300 to $600 and need to be repeated every 3 to 4 months
• The International Society of Cosmetogynecology promotes plastic surgery as an extension of gynecology
• A licensed M.D. can train for as little as three days to do liposuction and injectables
• Rinoplasty, face-lifts and eyebrow procedures are the most commonly botched
• Any work done on the lower face will age more quickly than on the upper face
• Several studies in the mid-1990s revealed that women choosing to have breast implants were 2 to 3 times more likely to commit suicide
• Medical tourism (going abroad to have surgery) can be hazardous with no chance of filing a malpractice suit
• Silicone breast implants have to be replaced every ten years
• The expense for initial surgery, 4 MRIs to check for signs of implant rupture and replacement surgery for breast implants runs between $11,000 and $16,000 every 10 years
• A face lift done on sun-damaged skin won't last very long and may result in more scarring
• The American Board of Laser Surgery certifies nurses and oral surgeons in laser surgery through a take-home written exam

There are many non-surgical procedures and a host of products known as cosmeceuticals. The ingredients in these products include peptides, retinoids, glycolic acids and antioxidants. Dermatologists claim that these ingredients can inhibit certain muscle movements that cause wrinkles, smooth skin tone, offset sun damage, and promote collagen production. In 2005, women spent $6.4B on these anti-aging products.

Note: Try checking out the ingredients for such products at your local drugstore and compare them to their fancy department store counterpart. You will most likely find the same ingredients at a much less expensive price. Mark Mandell-Brown, a plastic surgeon based in Cincinnati, Ohio cautions that there is no correlation between price and efficacy.

Believe it or not: There are women who use Preparation H around their eyes to reduce wrinkles. Unlike the American brand, the Canadian version of Preparation H Cream contains Bio-Dyne, also known as LYCD -Live Yeast Cell Derivative. A word-of-mouth endorsement from persons using the site www.only-in-canada.com is the only advertising you will see.

For more information ,check out the section entitled Entry Requirements: Staying Healthy in my book.