Health & beauty

When Beauty Treatments Backfire

We are all suckers for beauty treatments that promise a quick fix to our biggest dilemmas. But are the risks worth it? Find out

July 28, 2011 | by Sharon J. Yi | 47 COMMENTS

Sure, patience may be a virtue -- but it's an increasingly hard one to value in this age of quick fixes and instant gratification. When we buy something online it can be delivered that day. If we hear a song we like we can immediately download it via iTunes. Hungry? Drive two minutes, pull up at a drive-thru, and pick up a No. 2 with a diet coke. So when we want to be ourselves, but, say, 20 pounds lighter, hairless in certain areas, and with the wrinkle-less face of a 23-year-old, we're tempted by the option that guarantees the fastest results.

"All of us are looking for a quick fix that'll make us look and feel better," says board-certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Fardad Forouzanpour of Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgical Group. "But quick fixes often come with risks."

See how some quick beauty treatments can backfire now.

To make sure you're armed with all the beauty tips you need before you sign on the dotted line, we asked dermatologists, doctors, and beauty experts to fill us in what can go wrong with certain beauty treatments -- and the safer options that'll give you similar results. Here's what they had to say.

SEE NEXT PAGE: The quick fix: Waxing your eyebrows

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yikes!

by LittleBunny Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 11:10AM Report as inappropriate

I Could never wax anything!

by EricaF123 Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 04:21PM Report as inappropriate

nice tips

by aishak55 Friday, December 21, 2012 at 06:43PM Report as inappropriate

Good tips! People need to remember that fillers are very temporary as well.

by robyne00 Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 12:26PM Report as inappropriate

These are all common sense tips that women should definitely make sure they are careful with!! Do not mess up and ruin your beautiful face and body!

by Lamexicana1 Saturday, November 10, 2012 at 07:29PM Report as inappropriate

peroxide might be a safer option, it takes a while...

by lilas Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 03:43PM Report as inappropriate

THE QUICK FIX: DYING YOUR EYEBROWS - i think someone actually meant DYEING. If your eyebrows are dying, then they are approaching the end of their life.

by lilinah Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 08:36PM Report as inappropriate

i try to get rid of pimple by putting toothpaste on it, only to be backfire. i wake up with really red and huge ball in my forehead. (sigh)

by hazr_rayn_hashim Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 09:23AM Report as inappropriate

yikes! just eat right and exercise!

by LittleBunny Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 11:08AM Report as inappropriate

I don't think I would do any of these things other than eat right and exercise. I already pluck my brows (carefully). Getting them colored is a waste - I use makeup to match my hair color as the brow color doesn't last (mine grow to fast).

by Taylerbootz Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 11:27AM Report as inappropriate

The diet pill one and the filler one scared me the most

by rachaellh13 Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 04:19PM Report as inappropriate

scary, but I love how they gave a better option for each one

by sportimonki13 Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 01:10PM Report as inappropriate

I use retinol & can't wax, but if I could, I would never wax my own eyebrows!

by DTalksAll Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 12:52PM Report as inappropriate

uhh you're probably more likely to mess up your brows if you do them yourself. go to a professional.

by breereinke Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 12:35PM Report as inappropriate

Crazy how much damage you can do to yourself. Great tip about brushing with hydrogen peroxide (or try a toothpaste with it).

by VV001 Friday, April 27, 2012 at 08:57PM Report as inappropriate

scary stuff!

by lisiana_de_bem_justino Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 07:10PM Report as inappropriate

Quick fixes usually backfire unfortunately.

by beautybody Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 08:57PM Report as inappropriate

The easy way turns out almost always to be the hardest way, so better be safe than sorry.

by hananoire Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 07:51AM Report as inappropriate

This is very informative! It's hard to believe especially after reading this that so many people do much of this!

by josie_kurkowski Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 04:56PM Report as inappropriate

I couldn't imagine doing most of these, they sound so scary.

by jezhicka Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 10:54AM Report as inappropriate

I agree rather exercise , eating healthy is a good idea

by nikkiq Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:29PM Report as inappropriate

this good information on laser teeth whitening , i will definitely give it a try

by nikkiq Friday, February 17, 2012 at 07:22PM Report as inappropriate

Makes me sad when things backfire on me....I always pluck my own brows though

by queenphoto Friday, February 10, 2012 at 03:06PM Report as inappropriate

I disagree I think waxing is good so you don't misshape your brows by plucking on your own.

by sportimonki13 Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 03:40PM Report as inappropriate

This is not to offend anyone who is Mexican or loves Mexican culture (Día de los Muertos is my favorite holiday). But seriously, who would go to Mexico just so they could get a discounted cosmetic procedure? They story just described is one of MANY.

by m.rose Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 06:24PM Report as inappropriate

Some of these things are dangerous. Its better to take the safe route rather than put yourself in danger.

by andyv1217 Friday, November 4, 2011 at 02:26PM Report as inappropriate

liposuction is never a good idea. Why do you thing you get so bruised after liposuction? the thing is that fat is not liquid, it isnt loose or easy to move around. it is actually quite a brutal surgery because the surgeons need to break apart the fat and pretty much beat you up from the inside to be able to remove the fat. remember those bruises? yeah... bad idea

by anna_davis Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 05:01PM Report as inappropriate

Nice tip Agrimony! I may have to try that next summer when I go lighter

by Only1KimmieD Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 05:33PM Report as inappropriate

I love the heat therapy.

by tiffany_gallehugh Friday, September 23, 2011 at 08:49PM Report as inappropriate

Hmm.... Makes you think before you act. Thanks for the information.

by muellsrus Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 05:48PM Report as inappropriate

this was interesting

by porsha_coleman_mcdaniels Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 02:00AM Report as inappropriate

This is a great article! Very informative.

by vfalkow Friday, September 9, 2011 at 09:22PM Report as inappropriate

Interesting. Although I disagree with the at home brow tinting. I make a paste with cornstarch and hair color, apply to brows and it works fine. I got this tip years ago from a hairdresser. The cornstarch slows down the color and also keeps it from dripping.

by Agrimony Friday, September 9, 2011 at 12:52PM Report as inappropriate

i've read that waxing your eyebrows can actually weaken the skin and make it saggy

by gisellemarie Friday, September 9, 2011 at 07:34AM Report as inappropriate

SOme of the quick fixes just don't seem worth it in the end.

by taryn.romero Friday, September 9, 2011 at 06:38AM Report as inappropriate

I would say letting my eyebrows go would be a serious no-no, so it's well worth the risk!

by Bon_Bon Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 07:40PM Report as inappropriate

I'm waaay too scared to get my eyebrows done professionally

by LittleBunny Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 03:07PM Report as inappropriate

I don't know about some of these tips. They seem a little more problematic than the original problem is.

by voyager24 Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 04:54PM Report as inappropriate

Goes to show a lot of quick fixes are not a real solution to the problem..

by ladyboarder9669 Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 01:08PM Report as inappropriate

I'm a little surprised Botox wasn't mentioned either but I think most procedures mentioned were things one might attempt to do at home, EXCEPT the liposuction.

by molly_neary Monday, August 8, 2011 at 11:47PM Report as inappropriate

It's pretty impressive how this article took brow waxing and the huuuge risk of uneven brows over say... Botox or laser facial treatments.

by Rachelgo Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 07:18AM Report as inappropriate

Wow!! I don't know aabout that needle!

by heather_mudge Monday, August 1, 2011 at 05:59PM Report as inappropriate

Omg, wow! This is a real eye opener.

by MissPurple Monday, August 1, 2011 at 11:47AM Report as inappropriate

Sobering but welcome article.

by attagirl Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 12:16PM Report as inappropriate

While I know that it's safe to put hydrogen peroxide in your mouth, I think I'll avoid doing that! I've tried the castor oil trick to try and get my brows to grow but it didn't work--RevitaBrow has helped somewhat. And I beg you ladies, PLEASE don't take diet pills!

by LipglossandSpandex Friday, July 29, 2011 at 10:02PM Report as inappropriate

Anything could be considered risky..

by eatinglipstick Friday, July 29, 2011 at 12:12PM Report as inappropriate

Hydrogen peroxide was even safe to be in your mouth!? I don't know... still kind of skeptical

by SShum Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 12:36PM Report as inappropriate

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