More than 7 million non-surgical cosmetic procedures are performed annually in the U.S., and many millions more in Europe, India and around the world.

In growing numbers, women in New Delhi, Bangkok, New York, London, Paris and Sydney are visiting dermatologists, aestheticians and plastic surgeons for injections of Botox, Restylane, and other soft tissue fillers, for laser skin treatments, for removal of tattoos, varicose veins, and unwanted hair.

The top procedures for women are soft tissue fillers, Botox, and chemical peels, followed by microdermabrasion, treatment of leg veins, and laser hair removal.

Cosmetic Skin Treatments For Women
When someone tells you how well you look, and you're happy with what you see in the mirror, it does great things for your confidence.

Younger-looking or clearer skin can make a big difference to how you feel about yourself. Even subtle changes can have a significant effect.

A sympathetic cosmetic specialist understands how important your appearance is, and has the skills to bring out the best in you.

All the Consultant Cosmetic Surgeons who operate in The Taj Medical Group of hospitals are fully trained and experienced in the latest techniques, and are on the specialist register of the General Medical Council and or are American Board Certified. Your chosen consultant will take charge of your care - from your first consultation, through to your treatment and follow-up appointment.

Thread Veins
Thread veins are very small veins that are most commonly visible on the cheeks, nose and legs. In some people they expand and show through the skin, giving a red or purplish appearance. Sclerotherapy is often used to treat thread veins in the legs. The treatment involves injecting the thread veins with a chemical using a very fine needle. This makes the walls of the veins stick together and gradually disperse. Laser treatment is often used to treat thread veins on the face. The veins absorb the laser light and are destroyed. Lasers can cause an uneven colour on brown and black skins, so the treatment may not be suitable for people with these skin types.

Other treatments for thread veins include high-intensity light treatment, which uses pulses of intense light and VeinwaveTM, a treatment that uses a fine, heated needle. There are advantages and disadvantages to all forms of thread vein treatment and your specialist will advise which is most appropriate for you. However, you will usually need a course of treatments or a combination of treatments to achieve the best results. All procedures carry risks as well as benefits.

Varicose Vein Treatment
Varicose veins are swollen veins (usually on the legs) that look lumpy and bluish through the skin. They occur when the valves in the veins become weak, allowing blood to collect in the leg veins instead of travelling back to the heart. There are a number of options for removing varicose veins and restoring a smoother appearance to your legs. The most common varicose vein treatment is an operation called ligation and stripping where your surgeon makes a small cut in your groin at the top of the main affected vein. This vein is tied off (ligation) and then carefully removed through the cut (stripping). The surgeon may also remove individual smaller veins using small cuts along the leg.

You may sometimes need to stay in hospital overnight after ligation and stripping. Your legs will be tightly bandaged and you may need to wear pressure stockings for one or two weeks, depending on your consultant surgeon's advice. Your consultant surgeon will advise you how long it will be until you can return to your normal activities. You should also refrain from driving until you are confident that you can perform an emergency stop without discomfort (this will probably be at least one week).

Other options for treating varicose veins include :

• Sclerotherapy - a chemical solution is injected into small veins.
• Microwave Treatment - a fine tube is inserted into the veins and microwave heat is used to shrink them.
• EVLT (endovenous laser treatment) - a fine tube is inserted into the veins and laser light is used to shrink them.

All operations carry risks as well as benefits.

Mole Removal
Moles (also called melanocytic or pigmented naevi) are areas of pigmented skin. Raised or flat, moles can be present from birth or can appear later in life. Most moles are harmless, but you may wish to have a mole removed for cosmetic reasons.

Sometimes a mole has to be removed because there is a risk it has become malignant (cancerous) or because it has become a nuisance (for example catching on clothes or a razor).

Various methods are used to remove moles. Raised moles can be treated with shave excision, where the mole is cut down to the level of the surrounding skin, either using a scalpel or electro-surgery. Flat moles or moles that are suspected to be malignant (cancerous) are cut out entirely and then the wound is closed up with stitches.

Scar Revision
Many people feel unhappy or self-conscious about scars resulting from an injury or a surgical procedure. Scar revision treatment aims to improve the appearance of a scar. There are many ways to perform scar revision surgery, depending on the size and type of scar. The scar will not disappear after surgery. All scars are permanent. The aim is to make your scar less noticeable. In most cases there is about a 90% chance of improvement.

Options for scar treatment include laser therapy, dermabrasion, shaving the scar down to the level of the skin, an operation to lift a depressed scar, or treatment using injectable fillers. Your specialist can also cut and re-stitch a scar in order to make it less noticeable, or to lengthen contracted skin and increase the range of movement in the area. The choice of scar removal method depends on the size and location of the scar, whether it is raised or depressed, and whether the aim is to reduce the appearance of the scar or to minimise a physical problem that the scar is causing (such as restricted movement). Your specialist will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each scar removal method to help you decide which is best for you.

Anti-wrinkle Treatment By Injection
Wrinkles are caused by the skin losing elasticity as you age and the long term effects of muscle contractions from smiling, frowning and laughing. They are also worsened by sun damage and smoking. Different injection methods are used to reduce wrinkles and give a smoother, more youthful complexion. One method blocks the nerve impulses that cause muscle contraction, effectively paralysing certain facial muscles and smoothing the nearby skin. The injections will gradually take effect over a week or two.

Another method to reduce wrinkles uses injectable fillers to smooth and plump out wrinkles, crow 's feet, laughter lines, some types of sunken scars, cheeks and lips. The filler is injected using a fine needle, until your facial lines and wrinkles are 'filled out'. Different substances are used as fillers. Some are permanent and some are temporary. Some fillers are manufactured substances, and others use your body 's own tissues, such as collagen, skin cells or fat.

One technique to reduce wrinkles is Isolagen. This involves taking skin from behind your ear and growing skin cells from it in a laboratory. The cells are then injected into your skin where they grow and make more collagen. The new collagen will help to fill out wrinkles and indented scars and several treatments may be needed.

Anti-wrinkle injections are a simple and effective solution to improve certain wrinkles. However, the effect of this temporary improvement wears off gradually so you will need to repeat treatments to maintain results. Your specialist will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different treatment options to help you decide which is best for you.

Laser Treatment For Lines and Wrinkles
As we get older, our complexions inevitably become less smooth. Lines, wrinkles and sun spots develop over time. Some people are comfortable with these changes, others want to improve the appearance of their skin. Laser wrinkle removal therapy can improve your complexion by reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

During laser therapy, your specialist will use a hand-held laser to remove the top layer of skin. For the best results, you may need a course of treatments, or your specialist may recommend that you use other treatments in combination with laser therapy.

After your wrinkle removal treatment, you'll be given careful instructions on how to care for your skin while it heals itself. It is very important to avoid sun exposure after treatment by wearing sunblock for six months after treatment. If not, you can end up with blotchy, unevenly tanned skin, particularly if you have olive, brown or black skin. Your skin may be swollen and weepy for a few days, and red for several weeks after treatment.

Laser wrinkle removal cannot produce the dramatic results of surgical facelifts, but they can reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. However, the effect wears off gradually so you will need to repeat treatments to maintain results. Your specialist will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different treatment options to help you decide which is best for you.

Laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapies for acne scars, injury scars and skin blemishes
Many people have facial scars and blemishes that they would like to reduce. Laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy can provide an effective acne scar treatment, as well as being a solution to scarring due to injuries.

Laser and IPL therapies work by targeting intense light onto the skin. Your specialist will focus the light onto the area around the scar or blemish. The IPL or laser light then penetrates through the upper layer of your skin, effectively 'burning' it off. The treatment stimulates new skin to grow, and when the treated area heals, the scar or blemish is usually much less noticeable than before.

Following scar treatment by laser or IPL, your skin will be red and weepy, and redness will probably persist for several weeks. You'll need to use sunblock on the area for at least six months after treatment. The full results of your laser or IPL treatment will not usually be seen until 10-12 months afterwards. Your specialist may also recommend further therapy six to 12 months after your first treatment.

Lasers can cause an uneven colour in brown and black skins so the treatment may not be suitable for people with these skin types.

The effectiveness of laser or IPL therapies for acne scar treatment and skin blemishes depends both on your skin type and on the extent and type of your scars. Often laser and IPL are used in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures to achieve the best results. Your specialist will advise if laser treatment is suitable for you.

Laser Treatment For Vascular Birthmarks
Many people are born with vascular birthmarks. These birthmarks are made up of clusters of blood vessels near the surface of the skin and may be pink, red or purple in colour. Many of these birthmarks will shrink and disappear on their own with time but some birthmarks, including port wine stains, persist and may thicken and darken over time. Laser therapy can be used to treat many vascular birthmarks, including port wine stains and strawberry birthmarks. The treatment works by targeting intense light energy onto your skin so that it destroys the red pigmentation.

Following laser treatment, your skin will feel hot, rather like mild sunburn, and you may experience some bruising in the area. You'll need to use sunblock for two to three months after your treatment.

Usually you'll need a course of laser treatments for the best effect. Laser therapy may not completely get rid of your vascular birthmark, but it will usually make it significantly paler.

Laser Hair Reduction
Some people want to reduce the amount of body hair they have. Intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) and laser therapy are two methods that can achieve permanent hair reduction. Laser and IPL treatment can permanently reduce large and small areas of body hair. Any areas can be treated except those next to your eye. Many people use these treatments to remove hair from their face, upper lip, chin, bikini line, neck, chest, back, stomach, legs, armpits and around the nipples.

Your specialist will perform the treatment by focusing the beam from the laser or IPL device onto an area of your skin. The hair follicle absorbs the light and heats up, destroying the hair and preventing re-growth.

Following IPL or laser hair removal, you may be given an ice pack to reduce redness and swelling, and you'll need to avoid direct sunlight on the treated area for a while. The effectiveness of laser hair removal treatment depends partly on your colouring, with the best results occurring in people with dark hair and light skin. However, laser treatment is not suitable for everyone, for example it may not be suitable for people with very dark skin. IPL is suitable for a wider range of skin and hair colours. An individual treatment of IPL or laser therapy will thin out the hair, so for best results you will need a series of treatments.

Chemical Peels
Many people want to improve the texture of their skin to reduce the signs of ageing, scars or blemishes. Chemical peels can help to restore a younger, fresher appearance by removing a layer of skin with a chemical preparation. As the skin grows back, it is smoother than before and imperfections are reduced.

There are various types of chemical peel - superficial, medium and deep - and they achieve different results. Superficial chemical peels are easy to apply and the time needed for healing is minimal, but they won't achieve long lasting or dramatic results. Medium chemical peels can achieve more dramatic and long lasting results for blemishes, fine lines and facial scarring. A deep peel will help reduce more severe facial wrinkles.

The selected peel will be applied to your face for an appropriate amount of time and then it will be removed.

The recovery time depends on the type of peel you've had. It can take a couple of weeks before you can resume normal activities after a medium or deep peel and even after this time your skin may still be quite red.

Your specialist will give you careful instructions on caring for your skin as it heals, and it is important that you follow these carefully to minimise the risk of complications. You will need to wear sunblock while your skin recovers to avoid developing a blotchy or uneven complexion.

All procedures carry risks as well as benefits.

Dermabrasion
Many people would like to improve the texture of their skin, whether because of acne scars or other scars, sun spots or fine facial wrinkles. Dermabrasion removes the top layers of skin, which helps to reduce irregularities, resulting in a smoother appearance. During dermabrasion your specialist 'sands' off the top layer of facial skin, using a hand-held electrical machine with a small abrading head. When the top layer of your skin grows back the new skin is smoother and imperfections are reduced.

Initially, the treated area of skin will be bloody and crusted, and it may remain pink, sensitive and swollen for several weeks after treatment, but during this time you can gradually resume your normal activities.

Although scarring with dermabrasion is rare, people with dark complexions may develop permanently discoloured or blotchy skin.

Most specialists will not carry out dermabrasion if you have active acne or a bad skin burn, or have had radiation treatments or a chemical peel. This is because of the increased risk of infection and damage to the skin.

Tattoo Removal
A number of methods are used to remove unwanted tattoos and the best method for you will depend on the type and colour of your tattoo. Dark colours (particularly blue and black inks) are more difficult to remove and some modern pastel-coloured inks can also be hard to break down.

Laser therapy is the most common method of tattoo removal. Your specialist will focus an intense light beam onto the tattooed area of skin, the laser light heats up the tattoo ink and breaks it down into small fragments to be absorbed by the body. Multiple tattoo removal treatments are often needed. Lasers can cause an uneven colour in brown and black skins, so the treatment may not be suitable for people with these skin types.

Dermabrasion is another method of tattoo removal where the top layers of tattooed skin are 'sanded' off and dressings are used to help absorb the ink. Again, a course of treatments is usually needed.

Surgical excision, where your surgeon cuts out the tattoo, may also be effective. This will always leave a scar and your specialist will advise how noticeable this will be. It is important that you have realistic expectations of your tattoo removal procedure. Results are often good but, in some cases, it may not be possible to remove all of the tattoo pigment from your skin. There will also be some scarring whatever the method you use.

Tattoo removal and laser therapy are usually an out-patient treatment. Surgical excision may require a general anaesthetic and you should be able to go home later the same day.