With seemingly endless options for expensive cosmetic procedures to improve appearance, it’s difficult to know which ones are actually worth spending money on.
But Dr. Charles Puza, a New York City dermatologist, gave his nearly two million TikTok followers advice on what he should and shouldn’t spend money on.
In one TikTok videothe doctor highlighted three procedures he had performed himself and “regretted,” saying they are ineffective and not worth shelling out money for.
They include cool sculpting, injectable moisturizer and facial threads.
Dr. Puza called the results “disappointing” and not long-lasting and even warned of possible “disfiguring” side effects.
Dr. Charles Puza, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, revealed to his followers the cosmetic procedures he wouldn’t waste his money on
Firstly, Dr. Puza about CoolSculpting, which is advertised as a non-surgical and non-invasive way to destroy fat cells in the body.
The procedure uses cryolipolysis to freeze fat cells and was approved by the FDA in 2010. It uses extremely cold temperatures, between 30 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, to freeze the cells until they are naturally eliminated by the body over several weeks to months.
Freezing the fat kills the cells and your body’s immune system then clears them out, leading to a permanent reduction of fat in the treated area.
But CoolSculpting isn’t for everyone and will only be most effective in people with “small amounts of squeezable, thick fat,” according to dermatologist Dr. Paul Frank. told Cosmopolitan.
And it won’t replace exercise and a healthy diet, because it only helps reduce small amounts of fat in certain areas.
Dr. Frank said, “Someone who needs to remove 1.5 pounds of fat in one spot will have more success with CoolSculpting than someone who has 10 pounds of excess fat.”
CoolSculpting is advertised as a non-surgical and non-invasive way to destroy fat cells in the body. Dr. Puza said the results were “disappointing.”
Injectable moisturizer involves treating the skin with hyaluronic acid, which increases skin elasticity, to boost hydration in the face
The procedure, which can cost between $1,200 and $2,500, can be performed on the abdomen, chin, love handle area, thighs, upper arms and chest. However, CoolSculpting will not have the same effects for everyone.
Dr. Puza said he had the surgery performed on his lower back and love handles two years ago.
He called the results “disappointing” and warned of a side effect called PAH – paradoxical fat hypertrophy – which occurs when the areas targeted for fat reduction actually increase in size.
Dr. Puza hasn’t experienced this herself, but supermodel Linda Evangelista has spoken about her experience with PAH after receiving CoolSculpting herself. She received seven sessions around her jaw, thighs, abdomen and back.
However, the fat in those areas thickened and “expanded into hard, numb bulges that rounds of liposuction and weeks of full-body compression garments couldn’t fix,” she says. told The times.
The former supermodel has also described her ‘nightmare procedures’ as disfiguring.
Then Dr. Puza, he works at MOMA Dermtalked about Skinvive, also called injectable moisturizer.
Dr. Puza said he tried an injectable moisturizer but saw no difference in his face, so he now refuses to sell the product to his patients
Dr. Puza said he only experienced the lifting effect of facial threads for a few weeks
The procedure involves pricking the skin with hyaluronic acid, which increases skin elasticity and hydration. The ‘microdroplet injectable’ is a fairly new concept and the FDA approved Skinvive last year.
Unlike facial filler, the injection does not plump the skin, but only provides a boost of hydration for a “radiant, hydrated appearance.” It can cost between $650 and $750.
Dr. Puza said he did this to himself and a friend and there was no difference in the quality or hydration of their skin. Now he refuses to even offer or sell the product to his patients.
Finally, Dr. Puza warned people about facial threads. He underwent the procedure in his jawline and upper face.
He said: ‘Although I loved the lift and contours straight away, it doesn’t last long. Just a few weeks after the procedure, I feel like the results are completely gone.
‘So I can’t offer that to my patients either.’
Facial threads, or thread lifts, are less invasive (and more expensive) than a facelift, which gives sagging skin a lifted appearance.
While full surgical facelifts can cost $10,000 to $25,000, thread lifts can cost between $700 and $6,000 depending on the location and amount.
The procedure involves a surgeon placing small surgical threads under the skin that hold the tissue to create a tight appearance. There is little to no recovery time after implanting the wires and the effects will continue to develop over several months.
While Dr. Puza saw his results fade quickly, doctors say the threads should last one to two years until the stitches eventually dissolve.