Jennifer gets frequent breakouts on her chin and cheek: deep, swollen cystic bumps that are painful and can take up to a few weeks to disappear. Jennifer is not a teenager going through puberty; she is a 36-year-old professional from Great Neck who suffers from adult acne.

During the blizzard escorting us into the New Year, I had the opportunity to do a live call-in radio show focused on health, wellness and exercise. That morning, the 20-block trip to the radio station seemed like a trek to Siberia.

The “Perfect” Lip

Recently, actress Lisa Rinna announced she had “deflated” her large silicone-injected lips while rumors persist that Nicole Kidman has enhanced her thin lips. And Angelina Jolie’s lips continue to make people wonder whether they are one of nature’s gifts or a medical miracle!

Not all women desire to have their lips augmented. However fuller, puffier and more voluptuous lips – skillfully and artistically rendered – can be very appealing both to men and women. Many people notice as they age that less of the pink part of their lip shows and that they would be more attractive and appear more youthful if they had more volume in their lips.

Is There a “Perfect” Lip?

More than 500 years ago, classic beauty was studied and defined by the legendary artist Leonardo Da Vinci. By his standards, the lower lip should have a higher vertical height than the upper lip, at approximately a 1.4 – 1.0 ratio. An aesthetically pleasing lip usually has a well-defined structure that includes a prominent “Cupid's bow” – the heart-shaped curve of the upper lip that resembles the bow of Cupid, the Roman god of erotic love.

For ideal lip enhancement, it takes a good aesthetic eye and a conservative approach to get it right. Meticulous attention to detail and the right proportions are key. Excessive augmentation of the lip creates a distorted and unattractive look – think “trout pout,” “duck lips” or “bee stung lips.”  To prevent this from happening, I like to start small to see how the patient likes the results and I ask that they come back to see me in about two weeks so we can check the symmetry and shape; if needed, a quick touch-up can be done.

Fill ’Er Up

With today’s filling agents, it is possible to get a very natural, soft correction. I recommend using temporary fillers containing hyaluronic acid, such as Juvéderm® or Restylane®, versus more permanent fillers. Even temporary fillers stimulate your body to produce collagen so that results can be long lasting. In fact, if you use a temporary filler two or three times, you may never need further treatment.

If you’re considering or already using filler to enhance the appearance of your nasolabial folds or puppet lines, it is easy to treat your lips during the same treatment session. The process of filling the lips is not painful. Half an hour prior to treatment, a topical anesthetic is applied to the treated area; absorption is immediate. The topical anesthetic can also be supplemented with a dental block (local injection of anesthesia) so that the treatment is entirely pain free.

One syringe or less is all that is needed for lips. Immediately after treatment and for a few days beyond, lips will be more swollen than what the final correction will look like. So check your social calendar to allow a few days for the swelling to go down.

Ultimately, it’s not so much the choice of filler (the substance one selects to have injected) as it is the choice of the right filler (the person who has the most experience, an artistic eye and a track record for delivering great results). That “filler” – a skilled, board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon – is of paramount importance in achieving the “perfect” lip.

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{joomplu:1232}If you had the chance to look seven years younger in less than 10 minutes, what would you do?

The use of injectable products to eliminate wrinkles and restore volume to the skin has increased at a breathtaking rate. In particular, facial fillers have become quite popular as a way to erase moderate-to-deep facial wrinkles and folds without surgery. 

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{joomplu:1233}Multivitamins for Men

Once used to prevent nutritional deficiency (such as vitamin C for scurvy), vitamins and multivitamins are now recommended to promote optimal health and prevent chronic disease such as heart disease and cancer – two leading causes of death for men and women in the U.S. Ideally, the best way to ensure an adequate intake of vitamins, minerals, calories and nutrients is with a balanced diet. This includes sources of macronutrients ­– lean protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates.

The truth is that there is a fundamental difference in communication between men and women. I could give you all the citations and analyses, but what I know are my own experiences and what I hear from behind my desk and see in the hearts of my patients.

 As a specialist in women's health, about 40 percent of my patients are men. I know that seems strange, but it is simply because women are the quintessential caretakers, making certain that their men are ok. It is a setup, in a sense, because men always seem despondent and a bit macho, like nothing is wrong with them. Yet, there they are, obediently sitting next to their significant others, appeasing them … until the women leave the room, at which time, truth be told, the men complain about their symptoms, their fears, their needs, their insecurities and inabilities and their propensities to want to fix it all. I listen and wonder if and when the stereotypes will change.

 One patient, who came to me when he began experiencing heart palpitations, arrived with atrial fibrillation and heart failure. I made a small speech about the disease and the medication would be required to fix it. After I explained the gravity of the situation, he cursed and left the room. I sat, stunned. I couldn’t believe that he could be so bold as to dismiss the diagnosis without a treatment plan.

The following day, he showed up in my office. He wanted to know what he was supposed to do. I explained. He listened. I hesitated. He listened. Mostly, though, I listened to his tale, his fears and his concerns. We did tests, we talked, he questioned, we talked, he asked, I examined and finally, we had a plan. We decided the medical route and his follow-ups. He followed my guidelines religiously. He did it my way, without any wavering. Three months later, we were able to start weaning him off the medication. He started getting better.

 As patients, men are just a bit different than women. Research has shown that men actually perceive situations differently and process information in a different way. Men have more grey matter in their brains and women have 10 times as much white matter. Grey matter is what helps us process information, while white matter works to integrate the information. The bottom line is men need to know the problem and the solution and women need to understand the story, the big picture and the possible emotional or psychological ramifications.

 In truth, we all want to be healthy, be empowered, be vital and youthful forever, and we all want to be able to control and predict our aging futures. Ultimately, no one wants to be sick and no one wants to be in the doctor’s office or take medication. Both men and women can agree: sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

So here’s the truth. Behind closed doors, we are all the same.

February is devoted to celebrating women’s hearts. Red dresses become a symbol of strength, empowerment and awareness. Through the National Institute of Health and the American Heart Association, we are reminded that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and that early screening and detection can actually prevent disease. People ask, “What’s so different about women’s hearts?” In short: everything. We love differently, mourn differently, celebrate differently and ache differently. And that is just the beginning.

It seems like only yesterday that you were reading her bedtime stories and playing with Barbie® dolls.  Now, you’re planning your daughter’s wedding of a lifetime, but your face is showing a lifetime of stress! Thankfully, with the wonders of today’s technology, there are cosmetic treatments that can enhance your facial appearance – quickly, safely and cost effectively.

 Every bride dreams of looking and feeling her best on her wedding day. Very often, as soon as the engagement ring is slipped on her finger, she begins planning for the big day. This is also the best time for your fitness plan and program to begin. Using a calendar countdown is helpful in setting both short and long-term goals. Keeping the goals realistic helps avoid failure.

Fitness enthusiasts who want the best results combine healthy eating with their fitness routines. Living on the North Shore of Long Island, we have many fabulous restaurants to choose from. My students are always expressing concerns about where to go out for dinner to eat as healthily as they would at home. There are many places to choose from where the chef will specifically cater to your dietary needs.