Cost: $700 a syringe; $3,000-4,000 for ultrasound therapy Lasts: 6 months to one year Who should do it: Someone who wants plastic surgery in theory, but doesn't want to go under the knife (or end up looking like a guest on "Botched.")
Why you should get it: Gabriel Chiu, DO, celebrity plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, says one thing that's extremely recession-proof is Botox. But not just to erase frown lines. More and more people are using injectables for "temporary, long-lasting" nose jobs, cheek lifts, and jawline augmentations.
Recently, other types of therapies are being approved for use in ways that can mimic plastic surgery. Ultherapy, which uses ultrasound therapy, was recently FDA cleared for the neck and décolletage area. Ulysses H. Scarpidis, MD, Board Certified plastic surgeon and member of ASPS and ASAPs says, "Ultherapy is the only non-invasive technique that directly tightens the underlying muscles of the face, much like a facelift, albeit to a lesser degree." He adds that patients who need a small lift, or who don't have the luxury of a long recovery required with traditional surgery, will very much benefit from the results. Plus: no downtime. Manhattan-based Dr. Arash Akhavan adds that the collagen generated by the procedure is permanent -- but since your face, neck and décolleté will continue to age patients will likely need touch ups every one to five years, depending on their sun exposure and genetic background.
Know before you go:Dr. Antoinette Notaro adds, while fillers can results in an improvement that's satisfactory for someone who doesn't want to undergo surgery, they won't be as permanent or as drastic as a surgical intervention. The main difference (aside from the whole scalpel thing): "Surgery will pull the skin; filler gives it three dimensional fullness." The results are subtle, and you constantly need to get touchups to maintain the results.
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Varicose Vein Removal to Permanently Eliminate Large Veins
Cost: $950-$3,000 Lasts: Forever. Who should do it: If you have large, bulging varicose veins, says Bruce E. Katz, MD, Director of Juva Skin & Laser Center and clinical professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai.
Why you should do it: One varicose vein stripping treatment can get rid of all your larger varicose veins -- for good. The procedure has minimal discomfort during and after the surgery. They use a local anesthetic around the area, and then make tiny incisions and actually remove the vein, explains Katz.
Know before you go: Though downtime is minimal, you will have to wear support stockings and refrain from exercise for about a week after the procedure.
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Eyelash Extensions for Long, Fluttery Lashes
Cost: $150 to $200, $50 for touchups Lasts: 2 to 3 weeks Who should do it: Women with sparse, straight lashes, those who can't stand mascara or anyone with a special event coming up, like a wedding.
Why you should get it: Sometimes, no matter how much mascara you wear or how many curling techniques you try, your stubborn lashes remain puny and pathetic. With lash extensions, you'll wake up in the morning with the most amazing curl, volume and length of your life -- and you can go sans mascara for weeks. Because the lashes also define your lash line, you can often skip wearing eye makeup altogether -- a major time-saver.
Big bonus: They look real. Since the extensions are applied to each individual lash, they look more natural than falsies, says Sabrina Sasson, owner of WinxBeautique, a lash spa in Los Angeles.
Know before you go: Since the extensions are glued onto your own lashes, when they fall out, some of your own lashes may fall out with them. So when you stop getting extensions you might end up with stumpier lashes than when you started.
Also, if you tend to sleep on one side more than the other, the side that rubs against your pillow will lose lashes more quickly. And while no mascara can compare to eyelash extensions, the required touchups do add up. Assume an annual cost of roughly $1,000.
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Gel Manicures for Glossy, Long-Lasting Results
Cost: $50+ Lasts: 2 to 3 weeks Who should do it: Anyone with a vacation or special event coming up, like a wedding.
Why you should get it: If your nails mysteriously chip one day post-mani, or you work out a lot, gel manicures can be a lifesaver (because, really, who wants to walk around with chipped polish?) Gel manicures can also be great for women with weak, brittle nails. Samira Asemanfar, founder of Bellacures nail salon in Los Angeles, says, "A gel manicure will give the nails a layer of protection from daily wear and tear, which allows the natural nails to grow underneath."
Know before you go: Removing the gel requires soaking your nails in 100 percent acetone, which is very drying, says Asemanfar. Plus, "some people peel the gel off, which is even worse than the acetone since a layer of your nail bed comes off with it." Then there's the fact that you have to cure the manicure under UV light, which some experts say may cause wrinkles and sun damage on your hands. I recommend reserving the gel manicure as a special treat -- and when you do get one, use a hand cream with SPF.
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Double Eyelid Surgery for Wider Eyes
Cost: $1,500 to $4,500 Lasts: 5 to 7 years Who should do it: Someone with monolids who wants bigger-looking eyes with minimal downtime.
Why you should get it: "Double eyelid surgery (or blepharoplasty) is great for making your eyes more versatile for eye makeup," says Charles S. Lee, MD, FACS, plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. There are a variety of blepharoplasty procedures, but the least invasive and cheapest method is the non-incision stitch-only procedure. A doctor takes a needle and cuts the top layer of skin on the lid, which scabs over, resulting in the crease. Because the incision isn't dramatic, the results look extremely natural, and there's no downtime.
Know before you go: While the fold looks natural, the non-incision method is limited to creating smaller creases, so the crease will fade quickly. And while the procedure takes just 20 minutes, you still need an extremely experienced surgeon. Complications can include puffiness and bleeding.
In order to have a low-maintenance daily beauty routine, sometimes you have to spend a bit of time being that girl. You know, the one who spends seven hours in the salon or spends two hours with her eyelash extension expert. Because treatments like these (we're talking everything from varicose vein treatments to laser hair removal to eyelash tinting to permanent makeup) can be truly life-changing — they can save you money and precious getting ready time in the long run. Here, 13 beauty treatments that are worth the cost.