By Emily Kopec

From the mild to the bizarre, there’s a product or procedure ~ sometimes straightforward, sometimes unconventional (and even downright weird!) ~ ready to come your rescue. Flat hair? Buy a Bumpit! Short eyelashes? Try Latisse! Skinny calves? Throw in an implant! The buzz in the beauty circuit is reaching a deafening pitch. Pulse invites you to sit back and relax while we break it all down with some straight-up info. With so many options out there, we don’t ever have to “settle” for looking like, well, ourselves…we can alter almost anything about ourselves from head to toe. But with so many possibilities, and so much pressure from the outside world to look as good as we can no matter what, how far would you dare to go…and for that matter, how far should you dare to go?

The Simple Things.

Motorized mascara ~ If you’re a little leery of moving anything with a motor near your eyes, this gadget is not for you; all others, pay attention. Maybelline’s Pulse (no relation) Perfection mascara promises to transform your lashes to perfection, and its “patent-pending elastomer brush vibrates 7,000 times per stroke.” Does it work? Makeupalley.com rates this product a 2.9 out of 5. Reviewer comments range from, “It really does make you look like you have falsies!” to “The entire buzzing part just made my eyes tear like crazy.” Bottom line: If you’re good with makeup and think you can maneuver a vibrating wand along your lashes while pressing a button, do it up.

Bumpits ~ Bump it up! This self-fastening insert look likes a hair comb and comes available in different hair shades. The idea is to fasten and conceal the Bumpit under your top layer of hair so that it creates and supports your new voluminous hair. However, attaching it can get a little – pardon the pun – bumpy. The tiny teeth are supposed to latch onto your hair, but that’s not the easiest thing to orchestrate. You also need to use plenty of hairspray to ensure your bump doesn’t part or fall flat. It’s not something you’d want to deal with everyday. Trouble spots aside, seeing how this once TV-only product is now available at drugstores and the price point is so low ($9.99), it’s worth breaking out for special occasions.

L’Oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes Mascara ~ This dual-sided secret weapon promises to mimic the look of lash extensions with its special two-step process. The white base coat, which creates a tube-like coating, is applied first. Then the colored mascara end is applied and viola – long, extension-like lashes…yes? While the general consensus is that this mascara does impressively lengthen lashes, the two common complaints are that it doesn’t hold the curl and it tends to clump. For best results, apply with a light hand.

Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion and Peel System
~ This at-home specialty kit contains two treatments in one and retails around $25. It claims to resurface skin’s texture, activate surface cell renewal, balance skin tone, and regenerate skin’s appearance. Phew! First, massage the derma-crystals into your face. Second, apply the “activator” serum on your fingertips and spread a thick layer over the derma-crystal mask. A white foam will appear, and you may feel a warming sensation. (Hey, does that mean it’s working?) Gently massage for a minute and then rinse off. The reviews are in: Customers are seriously digging this product. It received a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Epinions.com, and one reviewer swears it leaves her face feeling as soft as a baby’s bottom. And yes, even guys use this one…baby’s bottoms are just for us ladies anymore.

Anti-Cellulite Creams ~ We’re hearing an awful lot about creams and lotions claiming to diminish the appearance of (nice wording there) woman’s #1 enemy, cellulite. Many of these products contain caffeine, which is supposed to increase blood flow to the skin and ward off the dimples of evil. Linda Wells, editor-in-chief of Allure magazine (one of the many magazines touting ads for these creams) puts it bluntly: “No cream will get rid of cellulite.” At most, these creams do add the tiniest bit of smoothness to your skin, but no more than cheap moisturizer would. Damn. Guess it’s back to cardio again.

PedEgg Foot Smoother ~ Advertised as the ultimate foot file (that’s foot file, not footphile!), the PedEgg looks like a giant egg with a cheese grater on one side. Interesting. As you rub the file across your sole, 135 stainless steel micro files shave away dry, dead skin in a matter of minutes. Meanwhile, the hollow part of the egg collects and stores the shavings as long as you keep the egg positioned horizontally, which users say is tricky. Is the PedEgg all that it’s cracked up to be? Reviews from both guys and gals are mixed. If you’re big on pedicures and looking to save some dough, this $10 investment shouldn’t be a waste.

Ionic Hot Tools ~ Most curling irons, flat irons, and blow dryers on today’s market boast some kind of new technology, with “ionic” being a frequent buzz word. Supposedly, the negative ions created by heat counteract the positive ions in the air. The neutralization process seals up the hair cuticle, reducing static and frizz. Is this real science or a sham? It depends on your hair type. If you have dry, static-prone hair, you should notice an improvement.

Ceramic Hot Tools ~ Ceramic technology claims to have one up on its ionic counterpart although they claim to do much the same thing. Ceramic tools emit “infra-red heat” that locks in moisture, adds shine and promotes silkiness. Ceramic fans site healthy-looking hair as their favorite benefit.

Tourmaline Hot Tools
~ Tourmaline is a semi-precious crystal known for its ionic properties. The gemstone is crushed into a fine powder and baked into the body of the hot tool where it eliminates static, protects hair and speeds up drying or styling time. With a claim to fame like being a natural crystal you’d expect tourmaline to deliver some amazing results, but they seem pretty consistent with its ionic and ceramic buddies.

Spray tan ~ Here’s a fast, safe, and foolproof way to get a luminous head-to-toe bronzing. Whether you get hand-sprayed by a technician (more expensive) or in a stand-up booth (less expensive), you’ll love the even, golden tan that develops on your bod in a couple hours and lasts about a week. You don’t have to worry about even application of do-it-yourself self-tanners or those annoying blotchy spots that can appear on elbows and knees. It’s pretty hard to screw up a spray tan (since you’re not the one doing it – heh heh). Wear old, loose clothes to your appointment in case they get stained and so your skin has room to breathe and develop that tan that’s gonna knock ‘em dead. Not that you’re trying to impress anyone. And just a word to the wise – so that you don’t wind up looking like an Oompa-loompa (or worse, Paris Hilton!), ask for a little test spray so that you know you’re not going to become a total pumpkin.

Hair Extensions ~ The thrill of going from short hair to long, lavish locks in just a few hours is hard to top. If you’re thinking about paying big bucks to get someone else’s hair attached to your head, you should be aware of one major drawback: Extensions can damage the bejesus out of your hair. Strands get bonded onto hair with a synthesized keratin protein that acts as glue. After a few months when you go to get them taken out, your own hair may be damaged around the hairline. Minimize this wreckage by choosing a stylist who has mucho experience doing extensions, as the application plays a big role in how much damage is done. Don’t want to deal with the hair trauma drama? Clip-in extensions are readily available in both real and synthetic hair and let you flirt with the look for a night sans commitment.

Getting a Little Braver.


Eyebrow Threading
~ Have you ever seen an Indian woman work magic using nothing more than a single string of thread? The ancient Indian technique of eyebrow threading is suddenly new again, and the results are as jaw-droppingly amazing as the process itself. How is this possible? The technician rolls a piece of coiled cotton thread over your skin’s surface so it collects hairs, then maneuvers the thread to lift the hairs out at the root. Since only these hairs are targeted, skin irritation is kept to a minimum and you don’t get the temporary redness that results from waxing. Threading is described as feeling like a succession of little pinches that diminish after the first couple sessions and is overall no more painful than waxing. Whether you need to take a few strays out or do a total brow makeover, threading is precise and allows for great control, resulting in a beautiful arch. The proof’s in the pudding: Indian women have some ridiculously gorgeous eyebrows. It’s also 100% natural!

Tooth Whitening
~ Who doesn’t want a set of bright pearly whites? For those of us who aren’t genetically blessed with snow-white chompers (or who may have – ahem – occasionally indulged in coffee, wine, and cigarettes), there are services available that yield excellent results. Tooth bleaching treatments contain peroxide and can be done either in-office or athome. Dentist office sessions last thirty minutes to an hour and require several visits. The dentist will shield your gums before apply a bleaching agent to your teeth, followed by a special light or laser to enhance the whitening action. At-home treatment kits can be dispensed by your dentist or purchased over-the-counter. Beware: some products increase tooth sensitivity, and soft tissue irritation can occur if the bleaching solution comes into contact with the gums. So talk to your dentist first, damnit.

Laser Facial Resurfacing
~ Ladies and gentlemen, start your lasers. Sometimes called “skin rejuvenation,” this skin-stripping procedure sure can “strip” a heck of a lot of skin problems including surface wrinkles, hyperpigmentation (those pesky brown spots), scars, visible blood vessels, and tired skin tone. Here’s how it works: a doctor goes over your face with girl’s (and these days, even a guy’s) best friend, a laser. The high-energy carbon dioxide waves instantly vaporize the top layer of skin. At the end, a dressing is applied. Although the treatment itself is fairly quick, it’s also darn aggressive. The aftercare involves applying an ointment to your zapped skin for at least a week, during which time swelling and “crusting” of the skin are normal. (Might be a nice time to take that secluded vacation.). The new skin emerges over the course of several weeks and will appear finer, wrinkle-free, and lighter until the pigmentation is restored. Possible side effects include burns from the laser, scarring, and abnormal skin pigmentation. The at-home way to help out your skin’s texture is with some good old-fashioned exfoliation, but – of course – results aren’t as dramatic.

Lip Injections ~ Full, pouty lips are associated with youth and sensuality (and Angelina Jolie, but that goes without saying). Too bad getting your lips shot up with some nice hyraluronic acid seems to have gotten a bad rep because of a few trout-pout celebrities. Restylane, the current product of choice, is injected into the lips in tiny amounts with an ultrafine needle. This soft tissue dermal filler creates volume and fullness that lasts from six to nine months. When done properly, it looks natural and sexy. When the doc gets needle-happy, it’s headlining tabloid news in the case of celebrities. If you’re not ready to get poked, try a crafty makeup trick like delicately applying an extra-light concealer to the skin around your lips to make them appear more prominent. You can also apply a dab of light, shimmery eyeshadow to the center of your lower lip. Angelina who?

Eyelash Lengtheners
~ Long lashes rock. How can we get ‘em when mascara isn’t cutting it? You can opt for eyelash extensions, which entail a technician gluing synthetic eyelashes onto your own eyelashes – one lash at a time – using tweezers. They’re meant to last 2-3 weeks but have been known to fall out sooner. For a great video on the procedure, check out www.lprdayspa.com/treatments/new-services. If the thought of someone using glue mere centimeters away from your eyes is petrifying, there’s another form of terror called Latisse, the first and only FDA-approved prescription treatment for growing longer, fuller and darker lashes. The application process is simple enough: you place a drop of solution on the applicator, slide it along the skin of eyelid margin where the eyelashes meet the skin, then blot off any excess. Good news first: it’s getting fabulous reviews, such as a 4.6 out of 5 rating on makeupalley.com, and 88% said it was worth it on realself.com. With so many people saying their lashes are very noticeably longer and thicker, this sounds like a dream product. Now the Debbie Downer disclaimer, per Latisse.com: “May cause eyelid skin darkening which may be reversible, and there is a potential for increased brown iris pigmentation which is likely to be permanent.” D’oh!

Botox ~ Many a celebrity has copped to getting a “little” Botox here and there. The more the giggly confessions come in, the more accepted this “non-surgical, physician-administered aesthetic treatment for moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people ages 18 to 65” (per botoxcosmetic.com) is becoming. This cougar-approved treatment – now available at spas and medical offices alike – has the doctor shooting up your face with a few small injections, thus decreasing muscle activity that causes wrinkles. You’re in and out in fifteen minutes with no downtime, alas the term “lunchtime facelift.” You’ll notice an improvement within days, and results last up to four months. Sound simple? Millions of men and women agree. Per Forbes.com, Boxtox has increased in popularity more than any other procedure, both surgical and non-surgical. It jumped from 65,157 treatments in 1997 to 2.4 million in 2008! Aging-conscious people as young as in their twenties are getting it as preventative maintenance. Beware, however, of the “Botox addict” phenomenon, when people feel that once they start thwarting off the signs of aging, they can’t stop. This leads to session after session until everyone but the addict seems to notice: “Dude, your face is frozen”. A little goes a long way!

Invisalign ~ If you’re a grown-up girl or boy unhappy with your crooked teeth but unwilling to wear metal, teeny-bopper braces (and we can’t imagine why), welcome to the world of clear braces. Invisalign, the industry’s most popular product, straightens teeth by using a clear set of customized aligners that get switched out every two weeks. They’re advertised as being comfortable, discreet and easy to apply. Self-conscious adults who never got their teeth fixed in their youth are especially attracted to treatment, which costs around $5,000. On realself.com, 80% of people said Invisalign was worth it. Those dissatisfied commonly cite inconvenience, discomfort, and lack of results as complaints.

Permanent Makeup ~ Some women are taking makeup to a whole new (permanent) level. Rather than apply their eyeliner every morning and deal with touch-ups throughout the day, they’re getting it tattooed on once and for all. Sparse eyebrows? No problem. They can be permanently filled in and you’ll never be without a defined arch again. Ladies who’ve been cosmetically inked (also known as micropigmentation) say they love the hassle-free, waterproof benefits and waking up looking put-together. This is one makeup look that requires complete commitment.

Laser Hair Removal
~ This procedure, all the rage with boys and girls alike, is said to feel like a rubber band snapping against the skin for a quick second with each pulse. The deed is done by a doctor or trained nurse who presses a laser instrument onto the client’s skin where the laser light beam meets and destroys the hair follicle instantly. Laser hair removal runs several hundred dollars per treatment and is best for removing unwanted hair from smaller areas such as the bikini line, underarm, chin, and upper lip. Yes, there is usually regrowth, although the hair comes in more slowly. After multiple treatments, the hair may be bye-bye forever.

Lumineers ~ These porcelain veneers are contact-lens-thin, giving the appearance of natural, healthy teeth instead of the horsey, toothy look. They require just two dentist visits and there’s no drilling involved. Clients go from having stained and/or misshapen chompers to straight, white teeth. Many people are smiling about their new and improved appearance, but a possible negative outcome is getting a bulky and opaque look.

When under The knife feels right.

Breast Augmentation
– So you got the “small breasts are in” memo but you have your own ideas on that subject. Maybe you want smaller-sized implants to give you a nice, natural-looking boost. Or maybe you want big ta-tas for the world to see. Whether your boobie dream is Jennifer Aniston or Jennifer Tilly, breast augmentation is a major surgery that carries risks like serious side effects and complications, and it requires an uncomfortable and sometimes painful recovery period. Now the good stuff: B.A. has a high satisfaction rate. Per implantinfo.com, 89% of women said their B.A. “completely” or “mostly” met their expectations. An accredited surgeon (all plastic surgeons should be board-certified and researched thoroughly!) helps the client make important decisions like what incision site will be used, whether a saline or silicone implant is right for them, and – of course – determining what the all-important size will be.

Brow Lift
~ Designed to give a refreshing boost to droopy, tired-looking eye areas, this cosmetic surgery is also known to give the bonus result of making the whole face look younger. People in their twenties and thirties who have genetically heavy eyelids resulting in low-lying eyebrows are giving themselves a little lift as well. Here are the gory details: the surgeon makes several one-inch incisions are made in the scalp (yes, scalp!). An endoscope is tucked through one of the incisions and the operating instrument goes through the other. The surgeon then alters the brow muscles into their new higher position. You’ll need a good week to recover and for any discoloration or bruising around the eyes to improve. While there’s no visible scar, patients with high hairlines, mostly men, may need a longer incision hidden inside of a deep forehead line. Happy patients claim to finally look as young as they feel. The results last for many years, so here’s hoping for a natural outcome!

Rhinoplasty
~ While noses of various shapes and sizes are finally being viewed as beautiful, some people feel theirs are just too prominent for their face. From smoothing out a bump to reshaping the whole nose, rhinoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States and – much like a brow lift – the results can alter your entire face. Ashlee Simpson is the recipient of one of the all-time best-received celeb nose jobs, which also boosted the business of Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Raj Kanodia. People raved about her new elegant ~ but not overly altered ~ nose. Her procedure also created a buzz about the “closed” rhinoplasty technique, a less-invasive approach in which the incisions are made inside the nose, no bone breaking required. But nose jobs gone bad are an unfortunate reality, too. Overly chiseled noses aren’t aesthetically pleasing. There’s also the case of getting a nose job when your schnoz was just fine in the first place, ala Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey. She found out people enjoyed her large, unique nose and felt it made her endearingly distinct only after she got a nose-job and her career plummeted. Oops. And out of respect for the recently decease MJ, we won’t even mention the horrors that can result in uber-rhinoplasty!

Chin Augmentation ~ Weak chin = weak personality? No fair! Chin augmentation, a procedure in which a chin implant is inserted to create a more prominent chin and profile, offers to solve these problems. Chin implants also serve to better balance other facial features (like a prominent nose) and give the entire face a more harmonious look. The implants look like small, crescent-shaped devices and they come in various shapes and sizes. An incision is made either inside the mouth where the gum and lower lip meet or underneath the chin. A space is then created and the implant is popped in. You’ll be rocking a dressing for a few days, during which time a soft food and liquid diet is all you’ll be gettin’. It takes about six weeks for most swelling to go down. Pleased patients report that people tell them they look great, but they can’t say exactly why ~ the whole “Did he/she or didn’t he/she” compliment!

Liposuction ~ Stomachs, waists, hips, thighs, chests, arms, backs, buttocks, chins and necks are all fair game when it comes to the lipo tube (or cannula, the Latin word for reed or tube, as the medical world calls it). The cannula passes back and forth through the fatty areas that get broken down and gradually removed from the body. If too much fat is removed, large dents can result. Satisfied clients look trimmer and have better body contours. Surgeons are quick to point out that lipo is not a weight loss method, but rather a way to improve “trouble areas.” It doesn’t necessarily eliminate cellulite. However, the fat cells that are removed by lipo thankfully do not grow back. Recovery is no walk in the park and tight, skin-compressing garments must be worn on the healing areas. Also, there are more possible complications to contend with than with other surgeries.

Butt Implants ~ Blame it on J-Lo. The derriere madness doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, and women who want the perfect hind view are going to extremes. Through one incision underlying the tailbone, a buttock implant is placed and positioned into each butt cheek. Different cultures gravitate toward different sized implants (the Brazilian Butt seems to be the most popular), but one thing is common in all patients: The recovery is very painful (you’ll never take sitting down for granted again!). And, I shake my head a bit when writing this, even MEN are going for the procedure. Guys, really?

Hair Transplants ~ Early receding hairlines are an unfortunate reality for many men. Some choose to live with it, while others realize there are plenty of girls who enjoy rubbing their hands on a freshly shaved head. Then there are the rest who are hell-bent on having a full head of hair; they’re the ones who undergo hair transplantation. Skin is sliced horizontally from the “donor area” in the back of the head and, along with the still-attached hair, is transplanted into the front bald area through small slits. This is one bloody procedure ~ and should come with the same warning as many others: careful to ask for a natural-looking head of hair, not something that makes folks snicker, “He’s not just the president, he’s also a client” behind your back.

Calf Implants ~ Calf augmentation is commonly done on male bodybuilders who can’t achieve the lower leg definition they desire. You have to be pretty calf-conscious (or crazy?) to go through this one, it’s a doozy: the fibrous covering of the calf muscle is sliced into and the implant is slid in where it rests between the cover and the muscle itself. Patients are stiff-legged for at least a month, and the total recovery period is described as “long term.” You don’t say. Surely there’s a personal trainer out there who can help them get their dream calves the natural way??

Face Lift ~ Men and women who feel they need more than a little nip or tuck pull out all the stops when they sign up for this package deal. When done right, the patient looks years younger. When done wrong, they look tight-skinned and permanently surprised…and sometimes like a very smooth alien. Here’s the table talk: an incision is made from temple to ear on both sides, skin is separated from muscle, fat is removed and muscles are tightened up. Expect an overnight hospital stay and two weeks before you look halfway presentable.

Cheek Implants ~ High, prominent cheekbones have always been regarded as beautiful. If Mother Nature didn’t bless you with cheekbones that pop it like it’s hot, there’s always cheek augmentation – said to take the face from drawn and gaunt to youthful and defined. The implant goes in through an incision made inside your upper lip and – in some cases – gets attached to the bone with a titanium screw. Say cheese!

And in honor of Halloween.
“Beauty” is in the eye…or on/under the flesh…or through the bone…of the beholder!

goldfish_beiz3001Odd and just a little icky.

Really into healthy skin? Into it enough to try the Geisha Facial, which consists of a full facial that includes sterilized nightingale droppings? That’s right, sterile bird poop! This “traditional and natural Japanese ingredient” makes the skin vibrant and soft. It all sounds so purifying until you realize that the treatment includes nightingale excrement. The treatment, “uguisu no fun,” incorporates powdered and sanitized nightingale feces into a facial mixture. Nightingale droppings contain natural enzymes that act as exfoliants and skin brighteners, so what looks unsightly on the ground actually makes your face look great.

Then there’s also the Aberdeen Organic Bull Sperm Treatment. Some people just can’t stand their dry, frizzy hair, so that they could go as far as letting salons smear bull semen on it. It is believed that the protein in this ingredient moisturizes, brightens, and repairs your hair like nothing else. It’s combined with Katera root, another protein powerhouse that does amazing things for the hair.It’s touted as the “Viagra for hair” so people are not so fast in dismissing this treatment. And at least you can say it’s organic!

When it was discovered that handlers on a Chilean snail farm had exceptionally smooth hands, the beauty industry took notice. Many believe that the snail secretions (released by snails to repair and protect) are beneficial to human skin as well. As a result, a variety of face creams containing this supposedly therapeutic fluid have become available, the most notable being BioSkincream.

How about a goldfish pedicure? In this procedure, hundreds of miniature fish eat your feet right before your very eyes! But don’t panic. We’re not talking about piranhas here. The treatment uses doctor fish or gara rufa that nibble away dead, scaly skin in a matter of minutes.

“Several beauty salons have picked up on this trend, which has long been used in Turkey, China, and Japan. The fish feed on dead skin, leaving the healthy, new skin exposed. The result is supposed to be soft smooth skin without a hint of roughness,” explained Amy White in AssociatedContent.com.

creepy.

A certain spa in Israel made headlines this year by offers a “Snake Massage” which unleashes six non-venomous snakes on clients’ backs to soothe overworked, aching muscles with a natural massaging action. The owner of the Israeli spa in question says she simply believes that contact with the reptiles is therapeutic. We hear that the treatment has now slithered into the US and will be available in NYC (of course) soon.

If you thought the leech detox went out of style centuries ago, think again: Despite health risks, blood-sucking leeches are still used in Austrian spas today, and they even have a celebrity fan. Last March, actress Demi Moore spoke of her “leech therapy” on the Late Show With David Letterman, telling the host that the experience helped detoxify her blood (whatever that means). Moore went on to describe how four leeches got drunk on her blood (the feasting began at her belly button), how they don’t like hair and prefer waxed or shaved skin, and, yes—how she plans to go back for more. Gross!

Downright scary.

Pearling: This is the practice of permanently inserting small beads made of various materials beneath the skin of the genitals–of the labia, or of the shaft or foreskin of the penis. As well as being an aesthetic practice, this is usually intended to enhance the sexual pleasure of partners during vaginal or anal intercourse. The practice seems to have been fairly common across world cultures and is still done today.

Eyeball tattooing:
Eyeball tattooing has been around for a long time; in the 19th century it was commonly used to correct cosmetic defects in blind eyes. The procedure can be performed with traditional tattoo needle or a syringe. The eye is simply held open while the pigment, which is the exact same type used in a regular tattoo, is injected into the eyeball

Tongue Splitting: Tongue bifurcation, or tongue splitting, is a type of body modification in which the tongue is cut centrally from its tip part of the way towards its base, forking the end. In most cases, the split is created through scalpeling or surgical laser. Self modifiers often choose to achieve a split by gradually tightening nylon bindings inserted through an existing tongue piercing over a long period of time. This method is long, arduous, and requires a high pain tolerance.

Subdermal Implant: A subdermal implant refers to a kind of body jewelry that is placed underneath the skin, therefore allowing the body to heal over the implant and creating a raised design. Many people who have these implants use them in conjunction with other types of body modification to create a desired, dramatic effect.

Extraocular Implant: The implantation of jewelry in the outer layer of the eye, this is one I must admit I had not heard of. Apparently first done in the Netherlands, it has come to the US. According to Dr. Christopher Rapuano, a corneal surgeon at Philadelphia’s Wills Eye Hospital, “You can think of it as crazy. I mean this is invasive surgery where you are cutting the surface layer of the eye open to put a little piece of jewelry in. The first time I read about this I said, ‘Oh, my God, who is doing this?’” The safety of this procedure will have to prove itself over time, since it hasn’t been performed on many people, but the possibility for infection and complications is definitely there.

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