Some taking skin care to an extreme

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Last year, Americans underwent more than 11 million cosmetic procedures and spent nearly $12 billion on skin rejuvenation.

Everyone wants their skin to look younger, healthier and better, but some are taking it to an extreme.

Cheri Kovacsev's face is dripping with blood, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Kovacsev told ABC30, "I'm hoping to achieve smaller pores, [and] the fine lines around my lips to improve over this process."

Licensed paramedical aesthetician Amaris Centofanti performs rejuvapen micro-needling.

Centofanti told ABC30, "After you are done with the treatment, collagen elastin kicks in to heal the skin, so in a few days, your skin starts to look more flawless."

However, people like the professor of dermatology James Spencer MD, MS, aren't sold on micro-needling, which costs about $350 a pop.

Spencer told ABC30, "There was just a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association Dermatology, JAMA Dermatology, last month, of three cases of allergy to the medication to the serum that was put on after micro-needling."

Some other extreme beauty treatments include the bee venom facial. The theory is the venom tightens skin by pumping up collagen. It costs about $130.

Then there is the vampire face-lift, which costs about $600 to $800. For this treatment, plasma is taken from your blood and injected back into your skin.

The placenta facial uses stem cells from a sheep's placenta to boost collagen.

Urine therapy involves using your own urine as a healing ingredient. Some say it can clear up psoriasis, eczema and acne.

If you're looking for something a little less extreme, but still "hot," there's exilis. It uses radiofrequency to tighten skin and reshape parts of the body for about $1,400 for four treatments.

Medical aesthetician, Denise Ogelsby told ABC30, "There is relatively no pain, but it does get warm. You like to keep the clients on the edge, so that it is slightly almost uncomfortable."

So even if you say no way, others can't stay away.

Kovacsev says, "You're crazy for not trying this. It's amazing.'

Another popular beauty treatment that has been touted by celebrities like Victoria Beckham is the geisha facial. It uses the excrement from a nightingale, which some believe contains important enzymes for skin. This treatment costs around $180.

For more information, contact:

LeAnn Carreno
Office Manager
727-527-1333 x207
leann@spencerdermatology.com