For those who don’t want to go under the surgeon’s knife, non-surgical beauty treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers and teeth whitening are also popular gifts.

Part of the appeal is that the Christmas period is the ideal time to recover from a cosmetic procedure. Many are also asking for the procedures as they cannot justify splurging the cash on themselves over Christmas so are asking for their treatments as their main gift instead.

And it isn’t just women either – the number of men seeking cosmetic treatments has increased dramatically over the past few years and therefore it is no surprise that there are a good number of them who have requested some form of procedure as their Christmas present this year.

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Many women will reach for the fake tan and ensure their nails are painted beautifully however many will still have hang-ups over particular parts of their bodies – perhaps the veins in the hands stand out too much or their feet look too bony.

Although dermal fillers are most well known for use on the face, many women are now turning to them to ensure that all parts of the body look smooth and plump to give them a better beach body.

Injectable fillers can be used to plump out most areas on the body. Aside from the face, the most popular areas are the feet (to plump them out and stop them looking bony), the hands (to plump them out and make them look more youthful) and the knees (to pad out droppy looking knees). Other areas where these fillers can be used are in the armpit creases, the crepey skin area on the chest/decolletage, and the inner side of the upper arm.

The injectable filler is the same concoction as that used on the face – a hyaluronic based acid. These fillers are said to help stimulate the skin’s natural collage helping to improve firmness.

For those who would prefer not to have an ‘alien’ substance in their bodies, fat transfers can also be used to much the same effect. The body’s own fat cells can be extracted and injected into specific areas to help fill, smooth and sculpt. Some of the most popular areas include the bottom and thighs to help minimse the look of cellulite, the breasts, and the bottom area. However the fat transfer option is significantly more expensive than the injectable filler option.

Some cosmetic surgeons are not enthused about this new fad for injecting filler in large quantities into the body. For the face, around 1-3 ml is normally used; for the body, much larger quantities are generally required. Even small amounts of filler can cause lumps or granulomas (big bumps) under the skin so larger injections mean there is the possible risk of the skin taking on a really uneven, lumpy look – a look which is usually far worse than the original “problem”.

There are also currently no long-term studies on the effects of having large quantities of filler injected into the body therefore potential patients need to be aware before having the fillers injected.

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The reasons for the surge in cosmetic surgery numbers is two-fold: During the menopause, the skin finds it harder to retain moisture thanks to a drop in oestrogen in the body. The amount of collagen and elastin produced by the skin – both elements which help the skin look plump and fresh – decreases with age. This leads to drier skin and a slightly saggier complexion and many post-menopausal women sometimes also find they suffer from thread veins, discoloured skin and acne. Combined with thinning hair and weight gain, some women are turning to cosmetic surgery in a bid to feel better and turn back the clock.

With many older women such as Jane Fonda and Raquel Welch admitting to having had plastic surgery in the past, and with older celebrities looking fantastic well past menopause, post-menopausal women are realising that they can still look fabulous at any age.

Most of the procedures are non-invasive – dermal fillers, Botox, skin peels and laser treatments are the most popular.

Botox can help with unwanted wrinkles. Dermal fillers help to plump the skin out making it look younger and fresher whilst also helping with unwanted wrinkles. Skin peels will help improve the look and feel of the skin. Laser treatments help to get rid of thread veins and remove unwanted hair.

(Photo Credit: Martine Lemmens)

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Carbon dioxide is the gas that gives fizzy drinks their fizz and it is the main component of the latest cosmetic surgery craze, carboxytherapy. Carbon dioxide is injected below the skin and is said to help combat dark circles under the eyes, reduce fat in the area, tighten the skin, and help remove stretch marks.

Carboxytherapy is said to work by helping to dilate blood vessels in the local area. This in turn helps to boost the flow of blood and oxygen to the skin which then helps to nourish and regenerate the skin cells. It is also claimed that deeper injections can help to kill off fat cells.

And it isn’t just the face where carboxytherapy is being used. Carbon dioxide jabs can also be used to help cure baldness. The injections are said to reopen closed pores making it easier for hair to start regrowing.

If it all sounds a bit crazy, there is some science behind the carbon dioxide injections. Similar techniques have been used in France since the 1930s to help treat patients suffering from poor circulation, blocked arteries and heart problems. The University of Siena has also recently published articles showing that the injections may help to smooth skin and reduce fat thanks to a thickening of the skin and a smoothening of cellulite.

One session costs around $200 however most practitioners recommend a course of injections over a few weeks. Patients may find that there is a small amount of bruising around the injection site and are advised not to engage in vigorous exercise for two hours after the injections, and not to have a bath for four hours.

Some Doctors will not give carboxytherapy to anyone with breathing difficulties such as asthma. Others have cautioned that there are no long-term studies showing the efficacy or long-term effects of carbon dioxide injections. Thus, with any new cosmetic surgery procedure, caution is advised.

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Foot fillers are not a new phenomenon and many catwalk models are rumoured to have had the procedure done. Foot fillers can also help medical complaints such as Morton’s Neuroma where the nerves running between the third and fourth toes and in the ball of the foot become inflamed.

A foot filler treatment takes around half an hour and is an out-patient procedure only. Dermal fillers are injected into the balls of the feet to help trigger the synthesis of collagen. This helps to ‘plump up’ the ball of the foot and hopefully make it less painful to wear high heels.

The results are not immediate and it may take a couple of weeks before the true effects are seen. There may be minor side effects after the filler has been injected into the foot such as swelling and tenderness, therefore it is best to try and ensure you will be off your feet for 2 or 3 days after the procedure. The results will last around six to nine months before a top-up will be required.

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So what better cosmetic procedure to contemplate than the handlift? The handlift should leave your hands looking plumper and smoother and this gives the illusion of the hands of a much younger woman, thus the handlift will help you disguise your true age.

Previously, rejuvenating the hands has tended to involve the transplant of fat to the hands to give them the firmer, more plumped up look. However this can sometimes lead to a slightly fake, unnatural look to the hands – and therefore give way the fact that you have had cosmetic surgery.

The latest handlift procedure involves Restylane, a type of dermal filler most commonly known for being used on the face. The Restylane Vital ‘hand lift’ takes around 20 minutes to complete and involves having local anaesthetic injected before tiny drops of hyaluronic acid are injected into the hands. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin and helps with the suppleness of the skin. The Restylane injections are said to cause water to bind to the connective tissue in the hands more readily, thus giving a natural plumping action, leaving the skin on the hands more elastic and firm.

The handlift is not permanent however it is claimed to take 10 years off the look of the hands. Hyaluronic acid breaks down over time so repeat injections will be required every year or so.

However some research has shown that even when the hyaluronic acid has fully broken down, the skin on the hands still remains more elastic than it otherwise would have been. This is thought to be because the hyaluronic acid helps improve collagen production which in turn helps the look and feel of the skin.

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Ramsey has had filler injections on the lines around his face to help plump out the creases on his face, a cosmetic procedure he is reported to have spent around £400 on. Ramsey has said that he decided to have the filler injections after music mogul Simon Cowell suggested he should have it done.

The procedure appears to have had some effect. In earlier photos of the chef, deep lines could be seen on his forehead, chin and between the nose and mouth. Today, the wrinkles are definitely less pronounced.

The dermal fillers are not the first cosmetic procedure that the chef has had. Earlier in the year he admitted to having had Botox injections to improve the look of the skin on his face. However, he said that no-one appeared to notice that he had had Botox injections.

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Just as with any other part of the body, the earlobe will go through the natural ageing process. The earlobe is also constantly exposed to the sun and there are few people who will remember to apply sunscreen to their ears when applying it to the rest of their body!

Earlobes often become elongated over time thanks to a reduction in collagen meaning the elasticity in the skin is reduced. The skin also tends to become elongated, thin and saggy and surface wrinkles may appear. Women who like to wear dangly earrings are particularly at risk as the weight of the earrings may help to pull the earlobe down, accentuating the elongation and sagginess of the lobe.

Given that ear lobes are now known to be a sign to look for as a clue to a woman’s real age, it comes as no surprise that there is a cosmetic surgery procedure to help. The ‘earlobe rejuvenation’, sometimes also known as the ‘ear lobe lift’, is already popular in the US.

Costing around $2,000 for both ears, the cosmetic surgery takes around 40 minutes and uses local anaesthetic therefore can be done during a lunch break.

The earlobe lift involves the cosmetic surgeon making an incision close to where the ear connects to the side of the face. A small amount of tissue and skin is then removed. The incision is precisely made so that it is virtually impossible to see once the wounds have healed. Two internal stitches, which dissolve over time, are then applied and ten stitches are made on the outside of the ear. These are removed after about a week. Invisible surgical tape is then applied rather than standard bandages so that the cosmetic surgery signs are well hidden. The earlobe rejuvenation surgery makes the earlobe look plumper, more rounded and smaller – making the earlobe look ‘younger’.

For those who don’t fancy the idea of cosmetic surgery, facial fillers can also help. Injectable fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse and Sculptra can all be injected into the earlobe to smoothen the skin, plump the ear lobe up and make it look younger. For women who wear earrings and whose earring hole has stretched, it is claimed that dermal filler injections can help make the hole smaller. Because the ear doesn’t move much, dermal fillers in the earlobe will tend to last longer than those injected into the face – sometimes up to twice as long.

It is also possible to have a chemical peel on the ear lobe to help improve the skin’s appearance.

So whether you are happy having cosmetic surgery or not, there is now no excuse for having aged earlobes!

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According to some rumours, Aniston has had Macrolane injections which has boosted her bra size by a whole cup size.

Macrolane injections take around half an hour to complete therefore can be done in a lunch break. A local anaesthetic is applied before a thick needle is inserted deep into the breast tissue and the Macrolane filler injected. The filler itself contains hyaluronic acid (also commonly found in dermal fillers) and is a thick, dense fluid.

The results are almost immediate and most patients will see their breasts increase by one cup size after the Macrolane injections.

The breasts may be tender after the injections and there may be a little swelling and bruising present for a few days. Macrolane injections last for abuot 18 months before they need topping up.

Side effects can include hard lumps after a few days – if the body believes the filler is a foreign object, tissue forms around it to ‘fence it in’, and this creates the hard lumps.

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An anaesthetic cream is used on the nose. Injections of cosmetic filler are then injected around the nose to change it’s shape. The whole process takes around 10 minutes and can therefore be carried out during a lunch hour.

The advantages of the non-surgical nose job are clear – the treatments costs around a tenth of an actual rhinoplasty and doesn’t involve the typical six week recovery period of surgery. The side effects of the procedure are also far less severe than rhinoplasty surgery.

Non-surgical nose jobs can be used to help straighten out the nose’s appearance, help make the tip turn up instead of down, correct any asymmetry in the nose, and help smooth any bumps. Nasal dermal fillers can also help to soften the overall appearance of the nose.

However the non-surgical nose job is not suitable for people who want to make their nose smaller as it can only change the shape and not the size. The process is also not permanent. Dermal fillers are made from materials which are eliminated by the body’s lymphatic system and kidneys over time, therefore top-up fillers will need to be applied every year or so in order to maintain the new shape of the nose.

The non-surgical nose job is not a new procedure. Originating in Brazil around seven years ago, many countries are now offering the technique. However some cosmetic surgeons have expressed concern over the non-surgical nose job as they say that long-term studies of dermal fillers in the nasal area have yet to be carried out so it is difficult to determine if any long-term damage may occur.

Repeated dermal filler applications can also cause scar tissue to form which can affect the shape of the nose and leave the patient with a lumpier nose than when they originally started. However given that up to 18 percent of rhinoplasty patients will see side effects such as excessive bleeding, loosening cartilage in the nose and scar formation, many patients will see the nasal dermal fillers as a good alternative to cosmetic surgery.

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