ANSWERS • In Focus LOWER-BODY MAKEOVER
Love Your Legs
(Yes, you can!) BY Kiera Aaron
ou don’t want to brag, but you just ran your ďŹ rst 5-K. You’re a weekend hiker, and you have the killer calves to prove it. But—call it one of life’s little paradoxes—it’s entirely possible to appreciate your legs but not always be thrilled with how your lower half looks. Happily, there are ways to downplay (and even eliminate) the more enduring blots on the leg landscape. We looked into the best ways to do both.
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ANSWERS • In Focus
The downer of the let-it-all-hang-out swimwear months, cellulite forms when fat accumulates between bands of collagen just below the skin, creating fixed clusters that get pushed against the surface. But the problem isn’t necessarily the number on the scale: Genetics, hormones, and inflammation all play roles, says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic research at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. “Some of my thinnest patients have cellulite,” he says. DIY SOLUTION A cream that contains caffeine (“It shrinks fat cells,” says Dr. Zeichner) can offer small surface fixes. One option: 1 Boots No7 Smooth & Improve Cellulite Treatment ($20; Target). As an added measure, there are treatments with carnitine, which also may break down fat, like 2 Nivea Skin Firming Cellulite GelCream ($13.50; drugstores). And in the heard-it-before-but-it’s-worth-repeating category: Exercise really helps. DOCTOR’S OFFICE FIX For those who want to wage war, there’s Cellulaze (average cost: $5,000 , a laser that destroys the fibers that hold fat clusters in place. “It’s one of 2 the only treatments to show some clinical efficacy,” says Dr. Zeichner. Results are visible after one treatment and can last at least a year. The procedure may result in bruising, so schedule at least 2 weeks before a beach trip.
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You want stretch marks toned down The lines left behind after weight gain are stretch-induced scars caused by collagen damage. They can’t be erased, but they can be softened. DIY SOLUTION Mederma Stretch Marks Therapy ($40; drugstores) has Centella, a plant thought to boost collagen, and hyaluronic acid, a moisture powerhouse. The cream reduced the appearance of stretch marks on women’s thighs in a test sponsored by the product’s parent company. “It’s a small study, but it has promising results,” says Dr. Zeichner, who wasn’t involved in the research. DOCTOR’S OFFICE FIX Resurfacing lasers offered by derms, such as Fraxel (average cost: $3,000 , can stimulate collagen, making marks less notice1 able. The downside: a week or so of redness, swelling, and minor peeling. Good news: Topical creams can help.
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLAIRE BENOIST (4)
You want cellulite gone
“Some of my thinnest patients have cellulite.”
FROM TOP: CORBIS. PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLAIRE BENOIST (3)
LOWER-BODY MAKEOVER
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You want veins to vanish
veins ($325 to $425 for each of the two to four sessions usually needed). The 3 procedure, whereby medication injected into the vein wall Makeup makes it disintegrate, for legs. is “the gold standard in Brilliant. vein reduction,” says Dr. Zimmet. For very large varicose veins deep below the skin, there’s endovenous thermal ablation (average cost: $2,000 to $2,500 , which dissolves the vein using a laser or radiofrequency wave. People are usually sore for 3 to 4 days, but many patients return to work by day 2. For varicose veins closer to the surface, doctors use ambulatory phlebectomy ($1,000 to $1,500 a session), a procedure that uses small hooks to remove veins. There’s no scarring, but healing may take 2 to 3 weeks. Medical schools don’t provide much instruction on venous conditions, Dr. Zimmet says, so it’s worth seeking a specialist in vein care.
S mo ot h L eg s — W it ho ut t he B l a de While there aren’t any lifestyle fixes for hairy legs (we’re all mammals), some new products can keep growth at bay longer than traditional shaving. PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLAIRE BENOIST (4)
FROM TOP: CORBIS. PHOTOGRAPHS BY CLAIRE BENOIST (3)
The cause of small spider veins and more prominent varicose veins is the same, so it’s common to have both. “When the vein wall is strong and there are properly functioning vein valves, blood flows up to the heart easily,” says dermatologist Steven E. Zimmet, MD, founding president of the American Board of Phlebology. But if the wall weakens, often with pregnancy, prolonged standing, injury, and age, “the valves don’t function properly, causing blood to pool in the vein, making it more visible.” DIY SOLUTION Not surprisingly, no cream will make veins vanish, so covering them up is a much better bet. Unlike the usual self-tanners, 3 Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs ($14; drugstores) washes off with water but won’t stain clothes. Also low-tech but effective: aerobic exercises such as running and biking, to keep varicose veins from worsening. The increased circulation stops blood from building up. DOCTOR’S OFFICE FIX Sclerotherapy removes spider veins and smaller varicose
DIY Wax
At-Home Laser
No need to make a mess in the microwave. Veet Ready-toUse Wax Strips ($10; drugstores) warm up when rubbed between hands.
The Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X ($449; triabeauty .com) uses the same technology as a dermatologist. The price is steep but less than the cost of visiting a pro.
Hair Removal Cream Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Total Care Body Trio ($14; drugstores), a rinseoff cream, has mango butter to add moisture as it removes hair. PREVENTION.COM · JUNE 2013
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