Dans Hamptons

Everyone has at least one friend who takes a “vacation” to recover from her latest “beauty treatment,” wrapped in bandages and surrounded by pill bottles. Pain is beauty, right? Wrong.

Plastic surgery that makes you look worse before you look better is not only passé – it is completely unnecessary. Safe, effective procedures such as Thermage, Volumalift and Juvederm can do everything from melting fat to filling in sunken areas and tightening sagging skin. Best of all, these procedures are practically painless and make you look and feel better immediately. But how will you know which one is right for you? Your first step before any procedure should be research, and an informative website on covering all of the specifics can be found at www.eastendlasercare.com. The website was created by Dr. Alexander J. Covey, who is a non-invasive cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Covey assures that “nothing we do has any downtime. Patients can literally go right back to the office after they have these treatments done.”

How can something so mild be effective? That is where the science of each compound comes in. For anyone who has read the New York Times bestseller I Hate My Neck and thought it hit a little too close to home, Dr. Covey has exciting news. “Thermage and Mesotherapy can actually dissolve the fat in the neck.” Mesotherapy is injected directly into the fat cell and actually “melts the fat” away. “It can also be used for cellulite to kind of even out the lumps and bumps of cellulite and the rough contour,” Dr. Covey explained. Mesotherapy is the only treatment that rivals liposuction in its effectiveness at eliminating fat and, unlike liposuction, it is completely safe and the results are immediate. For skin tightening, Dr. Covey suggests Thermage, which uses radio frequency waves to retract the collagen under the skin and promote collagen replenishment, just like young, vibrant skin does naturally. Dr. Covey added that, with recent approval for full-body use, “Thermage is now being used on other body parts besides the face, such as on the hands and eyelids. It is the only way to tighten up the eyelids without cutting the skin.” However, tightening alone will not produce a younger appearance on most people.

Dr. Covey’s years of experience have led him to the discovery that, as people get older, “they lose volume around the eyebrows” and other facial contours. This is where Volumalift, the instant injectable facelift, comes to the rescue. “Volumalift,” explains Dr. Covey, “is a technique where we take fillers and we inject them very deep (into sunken areas) to cause an expansion of those areas. We’re actually giving volume.” No other treatment actually replaces youthful apple cheeks and, like every procedure Dr. Covey performs, Volumalift is painless and there is no recovery time involved. For more information on Volumalift, visit www.volumaliftnewyork.com.

Of course, nothing can replace a consultation from someone who is knowledgable. You wouldn’t retouch a Renoir portrait without consulting with an art historian, or send your child to a school you had never visited. Improving your appearance is no different. Luckily, Dr. Covey has recently authored a book, Forget the Knife: A Complete Guide To Cosmetic Rejuvenation Without Surgery, which is available at bookstores nationwide. This volume is the definitive guide to all of the newest breakthroughs in non-invasive cosmetic procedures. But to truly treat your face like a prized portrait, only a consultation will do. If you are not quite ready to schedule a one-on-one meeting, or you are not sure that these treatments are right for you, Dr. Covey will be able to answer all of your questions at his seminar in Wading River on March 20. The seminar is free and refreshments will be provided. Don’t forget to bring a can of non-perishable food for Dr. Covey’s favorite charity, the Family Service League. You don’t have to live with the physical effects of growing older, and you should never have to take time off from your life to erase them.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Covey in Southampton, Center Moriches or New York City, call East End Laser Care at (631) 879-9200. Dr. Covey’s seminar will be held at the Inn at East Wind in Wading River, on March 20 at 7 p.m. His book, Forget the Knife: A Complete Guide To Cosmetic Rejuvenation Without Surgery, is available at bookstores nationwide.