According to recently released statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgery (more on this later), the number of chin implants done in the US between 2010 and 2011 surged from 12,000 to over 20,600. That’s a faster rate of growth than breast implants OR liposuction! Experts cited in Plastic Surgery Practice (PSP) speculate that this new interest in chin implants may correlate with the growing use of video chat technologies such as Face Time and Skype in which the appearance of neck fat may be exaggerated….seriously…

Another possible, and perhaps more palatable, reason is the growing emphasis on facial symmetry and new theories on aging. For instance, in an article I wrote for New You, Dr. Tanuj Nakra provided the example of a 20 year old woman who came into his office seeking a nose job. Using basic rules of symmetry he assessed that it was not, in fact, her nose that was out of place but simply that the bottom third of her face lacked projection- something he addressed with a chin implant.

Likewise, increasingly recognized theories in aging have determined that it is not skin laxity, but the erosion of volume and even bone that contributes to the appearance of aging. The increasing use of non-invasive technologies for skin tightening around the neck and face may also be driving chin-terest. In particular, the ability to quickly and dramatically improve the appearance of the neck in general can act-as many cosmetic procedures do-as a spring board for those seeking to “perfect” their profile.

Popularity does not, however, make chin implants- or any, for that matter- a trite affair. Though usually performed as a minimally invasive surgery, chin augmentation, as with any surgery, there are risks, limitations and costs associated with chin implants.

Click HERE for Before & After pictures of chin implants from RealSelf.com

Interested but weary? Following a consultation, your doctor can provide small changes to your chin and other facial contours with Sculptura®, a semi-permanent (poly-L-lactic acid) injectable.

To be sure, it’s the convenience that has inspired so many girls and guys to endure the barbarism of traditional waxing. But there’s nothing sexy about a nail technician wielding strips of fabric and scalding wax in the back room of a salon. And paying a premium for waxes at luxury spas is just not in the cards for most of us.

Enter Fuzz Wax Bar. Toronto’s first wax bar is completely dedicated to the specialty of waxing. The concept behind the newest beauty bar on Queen West is simple: high-quality, quick service combined with affordable pricing within a sophisticated, clean service-oriented environment.

Following the popular trend in co-ed wax establishments in Europe, Fuzz offers a range of services for men and women. Services range from $8 for simple face treatments to a $50 “Manzilian” treatment- I’ll let you consider that one in more detail…. Fuzz also offers a three-tiered monthly membership program. On the low end, “Fuzz fans” pay $15 a month for discounted products and services while “Fuzz Fanatics,” a tier reserved for ladies only, pay $55 a month for a suite of free and packaged services that are sure to keep one utterly hairless (if that’s what you’re going for…)

For those who want more than a clean cut, Fuzz Bar’s “Body Bling” provides an array of gems and glitter appliques to complement your service.

Let’s face it- waxing can be a, um, intimate experience. Fuzz Bar’s single-minded focus on wax specialization offers the assurance of just that- specialty.

Considering going fuzz free? The Fuzz Bar website recommends a monthly ritual of waxing for best results. If you’re thinking of checking them out, be sure to take a warm shower and remove any lotions or potions on your skin prior to your appointment.

Fuzz Wax bar opened in February 2012 and is located at 701 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON.

Distributed by physicians in Canada and the US, Latisse costs an average of $175 per month, promising-and by all accounts delivering-longer, thicker, darker lashes.

The potential availability of a less affordable but comparably effective lash enhancer could thus pose significant threat to the nearly $80M in annual revenues represented by Latisse in 2012. The application submitted by Watson seeks approval for  soutions featuring 0.01% and 0.03% concentrations of bimatoprost, the active ingredient in Latisse and Lumigan, Allergan’s opthalmic drug whose lash-growing side effects spurred the development of Latisse’s cosmetic formulation.

And so, as predictably as the sun doth rise, Allergan, together with Duke University, has filed suit against Watson Pharmaceuticals. Specifically, Allergan has requested that Watson’s generic formulations be withheld form the market until the former’s patents have expired. The court, in turn, has declared a 30 month injunction, prohibiting Watson’s from selling their drugs for that period or whenever a final court ruling is determined.

Allergan’s litigious position is, of course, expected. In 2007, Allergan launched a patent infringement against Jan Marini’s Marini-Lash, a product that competed with the then off-label use of Lumigan and the soon-to-be launched Latisse.

Can’t afford Latisse? Can’t wait for the patent expiry? Read this post on Latisse-less lash options.

And why am I telling you this?

Open Houses like that at Clarity are critical tools in navigating the risks and uncertainties many feel when venturing into the world of cosmetic clinics. As more and more media emerges exposing deficiencies in training and the management of patient expectations at the clinic level- events like Clarity’s are an ideal tool in mitigating the potential risks and ensuring you have a positive experience and results at a new clinic.

Here’s a bit of what the evening looked like:

Who was there: Clarity’s location at Church and Bloor was packed with new patients seeking consults and existing patients either popping into say hi, learn more about new services or take advantage of special pricing. Existing patients are about the best sources of referral you can ask for. In addition to validating a clinic’s credibility, an existing patient can help gauge your expectations. Staff is usually eager to refer you to a happy patient, so if you are too shy to probe for answers yourself, ask if anyone attending has had the procedure you’re considering and have the staff make that introduction.

Expertise: Guest speakers are great sources of information and hint at a clinic’s credibility in the industry at large. But a good Open House should put it’s staff at the forefront. At Clarity’s Open House, guests (including myself) had access to the aestheticians, laser technicians, clinic managers, nurse injectors and physician director- all of whom were ready and willing to answer questions and share experience.

Pictures, pictures, pictures: The staff at Clarity was armed both with books of 3rd party results for procedures like body contouring, laser rejuvenation and skin tightening AND ipads featuring highlights from their procedures in staff. This provided attendees a view not just of the devices capabilities, but those of the laser technicians on staff. Take note of how many procedures are required and don’t be shy to ask if you can expect similar results to those they are showcasing, as skin type, age and a whole host of factors are variables in your outcome.

Live demonstrations: It’s one thing to say a procedure isn’t painful, or lasts 20 minutes or has no associated downtime- it’s a totally different thing to prove that in a room filled with 30+ people. Clarity’s open house provided attendees the chance to participate in and/or watch live demonstrations of Exilis for fat removal, Isolaz for acne and- upon physician consultation and administration by a registered nurse injector-even Botox and fillers. Sure, the subject benefits from a little-free love, but as a newbie to the medspa scene, live demonstrations are your best barometer of the procedural experience and set a great baseline against which you can compare.

Samples (yes, the free kind): Compared to drug store brands, professionally dispensed skin care can be pricey and samples are often reserved for patients committing to big ticket procedures. Open Houses, like Clarity’s, provide a great opportunity to learn about the products and take them home for trial- before you spend a dime. Because these skin care lines tend to be more potent than over the shelf products, Open Houses are also a great opportunity to speak directly with a skin care specialist about how (and sometimes if) to incorporate the brand into your daily regimen.

Most medspa’s promote their Open Houses and other events through their customer base, which can make it hard to stay in the know. That being said, these events are most common when the season’s change (can you say spring??) so times (like now) are often appropriate to start your sleuthing.

Merz’s Xeomin received FDA approval in April 2011 for the treatment of cervical dystonia and nerve disorders in the head and neck. According to court records, Merz began marketing Xeomin for cosmetic purposes in November 2011-confronting Allergan’s Botox Cosmetic head on and capturing 8% market share by the following month.

The recent injunction is the result of allegations made by Allergan in 2010, claiming that Merz employees misappropriated trade secrets from the Botox maker. Specifically, Merz employees recruited from Allergan are accused of having delayed giving notice to the latter in order to email confidential strategic information and insights to their personal email accounts.

Botox is the market leader in injectable neuromodulators popularly used to treat dynamic wrinkles, migraines and spastic conditions. The drug is Allergan’s biggest seller, with a forecasted $1.8 billion in sales for 2012. With the recent stop on Xeomin sales in the US, market analysts are projecting an even stronger performance for Botox’s cosmetic product.

As for Merz? Having hit just days before the American Academy of Dermatology’s Annual meeting, analysts are not optimistic: “the reputational damage and inconvenience to physicians (and) patients will make Xeomin relaunch a challenge,” explained Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelson.

A spokesperson for Merz was quick to assert that the court ruling in no way reflects the quality or integrity of Xeomin.

The company is awaiting another ruling from the district court in the coming weeks but, as the empty booth at the AAD confirmed, they are abiding by the injunctions terms in the meantime.

Boots No 7 Illuminator is a “Radiance Boosting Beauty Fluid” manufactured and sold by the British drugstore stalwart. Available in pink, for those with red/pink undertones, and peach, for those with yellow undertones like me, the Illuminator’s subtle pearlesence is perfect for contouring around the eye, cheekbones and decollete without looking like you’re going to Mardi Gras. Formatted as a brush pack, No7 Illuminator is also much more convenient to apply than squeeze tubes or spatula highlighters and delivers a broad stroke coverage for a more natural look.

I’ve found some online reviews that complain about the brush clogging, but the instructions on the back of the tube do advise to wipe with a tissue after use so I’m inclined to chalk those up to non-compliance.

The shimmer is created by titanium and iron dioxide particles that sit on top of the skin and reflect light, oh so subtly, with a note of pigment. Though the formula is hypoallergenic, my only gripe is that it does contain parabens and dimethicone and I can’t say I’m keen to put those on my face every day.

I lie, I have a 2nd gripe- the product, to my knowledge and sleuthing abilities, is only available through Boots stores and online shopping. But, at £11 and 100mL it’s not only affordable but carry-on friendly for any one making the jaunt across the pond.

This most recent study included over 400 lipsticks and found an average lead concentaration of 1.11 parts per million with some coming in as high as 7ppm. Despite these results, the FDA concluded that because lipstick is neither absorbed and only injested in small amounts,  the presence of lead is not enough to be considered dangerous.

To be sure, the FDA only regulates the color additives used in lipstick, not the lead itself. Making matters worse-and different than in Canada- US companies do not need to gain any sort of pre-market approval for cosmetic products in the US.  The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (you may have seen their youtube video) has been among the first consumer groups to call for the FDA to set threshold levels for lead specifically. Indeed, the Campaign released their  own report in 2007 in which 60% of the 33 lipsticks they tested were shown to contain lead.  In response to the FDA’s 2011 results, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has launched  “Kiss Lead Goodbye,” a video contest running through to February 29^th in which participants submit videos and photos on the topic for prizes.

While industry insists that the amounts of lead in lipstick fall under the exposure levels imparted by other daily use items, BPA water bottles for instance, media and consumers are on alert. So what can you do if you want to avoid lead-laden kisses?  Visit CBS’ gallery of worst offending lipsticks (Maybelline’s Color Sensational in Pink Petal was highest and L’Oreal’s Color Riche Volcanic was a close second) to get a handle of which brands you may want to avoid in the near term. You can also consider organic brands, like Vapour Organic Beauty, or products that don’t have the color additives that carry lead.

AND, for those of you willing to read the fine print, the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database provides a detailed look at ingredients that is a growing go-to for healthy cosmetic choices.