The Oscars are around the corner and the pressure is mounting for our favorite celebs to be red carpet ready. But looking your best for the biggest night in the business is not for the faint of heart. Here are the 10 most common beauty treatments and the level of pain they produce.
Read more ¿Qué más?: Oscars: How to steal the best celeb beauty looks
Image via Corbis Images
Chemical peel
Most dermatologists use different levels of chemical peels to even out the skin's color, tone and to restore its glow and youthful texture. Even a mild procedure will cause a tingling and burning sensation. For a deep one, the doctor may even use sedation, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Microneedling
Microneedling is a procedure designed to promote the collagen production in your skin, by sticking tiny needles in it. It can be done with a roll or with a pen, at home or at a doctor's office (depending on how good results you want). Apparently it's so popular, that the brand MdPen is including one in the swag bag for the Oscar winners. Dermatologists swear by it to reduce acne scars and fine wrinkles.
Vampire facial
How to forget that image of Kim Kardashian with her bloody face after a plasma facial. The practice, which consists in injecting your own plasma into your skin to rejuvenate it, is very much in fashion and many stars swear by it.
Laser treatments
The latest laser therapy is called Ulthera and it is described like a non-invasive facelift. I must admit to have looked into it and the results are amazing for something not involving the knife. Although I'm sure it hurts less than surgery, many patients require sedatives to deal with the pain.
Injectables
Whoever tells you that the injectables in the face don't hurt are either lying or never had the experience. Most of the Hollywood stars, even the younger ones are using Botox or fillers to eliminate wrinkles or prevent them.
Extreme dieting
The extreme dieting that goes on during the award season, starting with the Golden Globes in January until the Oscars, is so intense and well known, that even has a name "Oscarexia." Insiders say that even the hottest and most fit actresses fall into the madness of not eating–and in some cases not even hydrating–one or a few days before the event.
Coolscuplting
The idea is to freeze your fat cells until they die and go away. The process is a lot less painful than a traditional liposuction, but there is significant pulling, pushing and sucking, so there is significant soreness. The good part is that it targets specific parts of the body, let's say love handles, or the fat under your bra. It's the favorite of celebs that have a perfect body, except ese rollito that won't budge.
Focalized ultrasound
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the ultrasound skin tightening therapy can firm and lift your face without the need of surgical intervention. The expert Tonianne Grobmye explains that “during the treatment the ultrasound skin tightening device reaches 5 mm deep under the skin, penetrating into the second layer of muscles underneath the facial muscles. Lasers don’t even go that deep.” Many doctors admit that it does hurt and provide both sedatives and strong painkillers for the procedure.
Mesotherapy
Called the "French way" to deal with celullite, the mesotherapy treatment consists of a series of injections applied to the offending area, with a cocktail of "natural" ingredients. While it's not FDA approved, many swear by it.
Massages
A good massage is also a preffered choice, particularly on Oscar morning.