10 beauty treatments you can get in your lunch hour
1. Microwave away sweat
Can you imagine being sweat-free all summer? This isn’t a dream, it’s reality and it’s possible to do so in under an hour with miraDry, a non-invasive treatment that uses microwave energy to permanently destroy sweat glands. Good to note that after the treatment, you should ice on and off for the rest of the day, so factor that in when you decide to go back to work or not. “While it is not recommended that you work out heavily the day of treatment, most patients resume their regular activities the same day,” says plastic surgeon, Dr Steven Goldman.
2. Freeze away your double chin
That stubborn double chin is the dreaded reminder that sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you exercise or diet, it’s not going to resolve no matter how many kilos the scale says you shed. Enter one of the newest non-surgical fat reduction kids on the block: the Cool Mini (CoolSculpting’s younger sibling). This painless 45-minute treatment is safe and works to reduce fat in the submental (double chin) area. “We have had fabulous results with the CoolMini applicator being placed centrally and with only one treatment,” describes dermatologist, Dr Michele Green. One CoolMini patient even went to dinner after her treatment and no one noticed a thing.
3. Turbo charge your teeth whitening
Are your pearly whites looking a little dull lately? Forget those messy, hard-to-stick strips that take weeks to show a brighter smile and opt for the hour-long Zoom Whitening procedure that provides immediate results – sometimes up to eight shades whiter! Your teeth might be sensitive, similarly to other whitening treatments. Cosmetic dentist, Victoria Veytsman, also advises to be aware of what you eat and drink post-procedure when you head back to your office. “The maintenance for this procedure is a diet consisting of clear or white foods for up to 24 hours.” After about 24 to 48 hours, you can resume a normal diet.
4. Get a liquid nose job
If you’ve ever thought about what you would look like with a different nose, but are a bit under-the-knife shy (or you can’t take a couple of weeks off work), this may be your best bet. The non-surgical nose job, or ‘liquid rhinoplasty’ is an alternative to a traditional rhinoplasty and uses injectable fillers such as Radiesse to smooth out bumps and humps and, at times, correct breathing issues. “As compared with surgery, non-surgical rhinoplasty saves time, money and pain,” explains plastic surgeon, Dr Dara Liotta. “For most patients, there is essentially no downtime. The best part? This treatment only takes ten to 15 minutes, however results generally last from six months to two years,” she says.
5. Get a vampire facial for your scalp
Another side effect of ageing can be hair loss. Whether it’s going or already gone, there are quick in-office treatments you can do in no time. “Platelet rich plasma (PRP)is newer therapy for hair loss,” says dermatologist, Dr Sejal Shah. “It is injected into the areas of thinning on the scalp. The growth factors and other proteins in the platelets nourish the hair follicle and stimulate hair growth.” The entire procedure from start to finish generally takes about 30 minutes and you can expect to start seeing results anywhere between four and eight months.
6. Lighten up, with light therapy
Many people have stubborn areas of fat that seem impossible to lose, but did you know that you can eliminate some bulge in less time than it takes to get to work? SculpSure is a non-surgical laser treatment for the reduction of persistent pockets of fat like love handles or a muffin top. “SculpSure targets and permanently destroys these fat cells without surgery, downtime, redness or pain,” explains dermatologist, Dr Dennis Gross. “It’s the newest, non-surgical, 25-minute procedure that uses light-based technology to permanently destroy up to 24 per cent of fat per treatment.”
7. Zap that zit
Next time you feel a big pimple coming on before a hot date or big presentation at work, consider getting a cortisone injection during your lunch hour. This quick in-office treatment is the sure-fire way to zap a zit in no time says dermatologist, Dr Eric Schweiger. “A cortisone injection is the best and quickest way to bring down inflammation from an oncoming blemish in about 24 hours.”
8. Make hands look years younger
When we think of ageing skin, our hands are usually the last place we think about, but they’re the one area of our bodies we engage with all day, every single day. Adding to the constant ageing process are factors such as years of sun exposure, crepey skin and prominent veins. Radiesse to the rescue! “Radiesse filler firms and plumps the thinned skin, making veins there go beneath the surface,” explains Dr Gross. “It’s a simple procedure with no pain or downtime and the results are immediate and amazing.”
9. Shrink pores in 30 minutes
The best way to shrink the appearance of pores is to excavate all the gunk that’s making them visible. That’s what the non-invasive, non-surgical, skin care treatment, HydraFacial can do in half an hour. “HydraFacial marries clinical exfoliation with infusion of serums including Hyaluronic Acid for plumping,” says celebrity aesthetician Graceanne Svedsen. “Imagine the gentle suction of dead skin while antioxidants and peptides drench your epidermis. HydraFacial uses the ancient technique of lymphatic drainage to reduce inflammation and congestion, and the result is the appearance of less puffiness, in addition to smaller-looking pores.” If you have this treatment at lunch, your colleagues will wonder how you had time to fit in a long nap during the 30 minutes you were out of the office.
10. Be rid of brown spots
One split-second zap of a Ruby laser is all that it takes to permanently remove brown spots from your skin, particularly ‘sun spots,’ or lentigines. “The laser light is absorbed by the pigment particles in the brown spot and is heated up in a mere fraction of a second,” explains dermatologist, Dr Leonard Bernstein. The pigment essentially forms a superficial crust that peels off after a few days. No anaesthesia is necessary.” The brown spot should not reappear unless it gets exposed to significant sunlight in the first two weeks after treatment while the area is still pink and healing. Cost ranges from $600 to $1000 depending on the size of the spot and the location of the office. Brown spots, be gone!
This article was written by Anna De Souza and originally appeared on Readers Digest.