Michele McManmon 
The main difference between medical grade, in-office, and over-the-counter peels is the percentage of active ingredients. Getting a medical grade peel outside of a clinical setting may cause permanent scarring and disfigurement. Superficial peels using over-the-counter products can be safely performed without a doctor’s supervision. There are very few skin treatments that are as effective, … Read more
If you follow skin care trends and love integrating new techniques into your beauty regimen, you’ve most probably heard of dermaplaning. This increasingly popular exfoliation treatment gently scrapes peach fuzz and dead skin cells away from your face. It’s a painless procedure that produces amazing results — when done using the proper tools and techniques. … Read more
The G-shot promises enhanced sexual pleasure through the injection of hyaluronic acid fillers into the G-spot. Other minimally-invasive female enhancement procedures include fat grafting, clitoral shots, and vaginal rejuvenation laser treatments. Many sexologists, gynecologists, and plastic surgeons disapprove of these procedures, and warn women against their potential side effects. The G-Spot: Myth or Fact? First described … Read more
In 2012, 39 year-old Tara Dunsmore was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, a common form of breast cancer. After undergoing a lumpectomy followed by a bilateral mastectomy, Dunsmore thought she was finally nearing the end of her nightmare when she began researching areola tattoo options the following year. Her hopes soon evaporated once she realized that there simply weren’t … Read more
New scar treatments helped Kim Phuc heal, both physically and emotionally. We spoke with six professionals to learn more about these recent medical advances. Searing hot napalm falling from the air, burning a naked 9-year-old Vietnamese girl running from her village, as captured in Nick Ut’s Pulitzer prize winning photograph from June 8, 1972 – … Read more
As non-invasive cosmetic techniques continue to replace traditional surgical solutions, an increasing number of plastic surgeons and aestheticians are bringing their strengths together to offer patients a wider range of services. Statistics compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show a steady growth in the number of cosmetic procedures performed over the past year, … Read more
The beauty world has embraced lasers, and many other refractive light treatments, to repair and tighten skin in lieu of surgery. Recently, several of my friends underwent what they determined to be unsuccessful light and laser treatments. After hearing their stories and speaking with plastic surgeons, I decided to go for my own Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) … Read more
Age-defying skin treatments, extravagant makeovers, and a slew of celebrity appearances – Chicago’s trendy, urban-chic West Loop area became home to some of the most well-known artists in the beauty industry last month during The 2016 Makeup Show‘s weekend-long event. The event was mc’ed by superstar make up artist James Vincent, whose clients include Marilyn Manson, … Read more
Despite the media attention garnered in recent years by several horrifying cases of amputation, disfigurement, and death, the illegal butt injection business continues to thrive in many American cities. Vinnie Taylor, a North Carolina man accused of performing butt injections using industrial-grade silicone, was recently sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after one of … Read more
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recently released its much-awaited 2015 Plastic Surgery Statistics report, in which it notes a shift in the types of procedures patients are undergoing and an increasingly broad socio-economic range of clients seeking out cosmetic enhancements. The total number of procedures has more than doubled since 2000, and “while more … Read more
