Plastic Surgery Pittsburgh: Pebrero 2015

Biyernes, Pebrero 27, 2015

Would You Be Pissed If You Didn't Get a Diamond Engagement Ring?

One woman who proudly wears a sapphire explores our fascination with the rocks.

When my now-husband, Chris, and I decided to get engaged, he was making peanuts as a line cook at a busy New York City restaurant. Since his salary didn't exactly scream "baller" and our rent was high, I told him that I didn't want a diamond ring.

I meant it—it made zero sense to put him in a bad financial position just so I could sport a flashy rock on my finger. And since his finances would eventually merge with mine, I was even less psyched about the prospect of a pricey ring.

Most people I talked to thought it was "awesome" and "ballsy" of me to buck tradition—they'd never even thought of getting engaged with anything other than a honking diamond. One friend even jokingly said, "I actually feel less cool now for having a diamond ring."

But one friend of a friend wasn't so impressed. "I don't get it," she told me after we met at a party. "Don't you think you deserve a diamond?"

Nope. Absolutely not.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not anti-diamond engagement rings. Many of my friends have gorgeous rocks that they love, and I love that they love them. It just wasn't for me—I couldn't get my head around the fact that I just had to have a certain type of ring to show that Chris really cared about me.

Curious to know where our diamond fetish came from, I reached out to Ira Weissman, founder of the diamond educational website, The Diamond Pro. He says that while rings have been a common engagement gift for ages, before the 1940s, the idea of giving a diamond engagement ring was practically unheard of. The concept was actually created by a famous diamond company, which had just discovered a massive stock of diamonds that far exceeded the current demand. They teamed up with a popular ad agency to try to increase the global demand, and the "A diamond is forever" campaign was born.

"The brilliance of this line is that it speaks to both men and women...in politically incorrect gender lines," says Weissman.

In addition to the marketing campaign, the company did celebrity product placements and even gave lectures in high schools around the country on the importance of a diamond engagement ring. Seriously.

Clearly, it worked. In 2012 alone, Americans spent nearly $11 billion on diamond engagement rings and jewelry, according to Bain & Company's 2013 Global Diamond Industry Report.

But for men like Chris who aren't rolling in it when they're ready to propose, the expectation that they'll pop the q with a huge diamond is incredibly stressful. And that's no way to kick off happily ever after.

I took the practical stance when we went ring shopping and flat-out told Chris that I just wanted something affordable, but marriage and family therapist Jane Greer, Ph.D., says there's a more delicate way to approach the conversation. "Make it about what you want, rather than implying that he can't afford it," she says. "You can say something like, 'If you had all the money in the world and could buy me a $10,000 diamond, I'd still love to have a ruby.'"

When he proposed, Chris made a point of saying that he planned to get me a diamond one day. He's talked about doing it several times since then, and I've stopped him every time. And even though he proposed years ago, Chris has said several times that he feels bad that he never gave me a diamond.

That's just messed up.

I got the man and a pretty engagement ring. And that's good enough for me.

7 Pictures That Will Make You Lose Faith in Your Ability to See Color

If dressgate freaked you out, you have to see these.

By now, you're probably well aware of (and have maybe even become an active participant) in the dressgate debate. Is it white and gold, or is it blue and black? The controversy is so maddening because most of us think of color as something concrete. But the thing is, it's not. Well, not exactly, anyway.

"The perception of color is strongly influenced by context," reads the portion of Neuroscience, 2nd edition about cones and color vision. That means that the exact same hue can look totally different, depending on the background it's on (this is called "color contrast"). These images help to illustrate this concept (slash will trip you out and make you question your life all day long):

nih.gov

The red squares (or are they pink?!) at the top of the "X" are the exact same color as those at the bottom.

UWGB.EDU

This one's actually part of a series of artwork by Kristy Deetz that's all about how the same shade can be made to look different.

ROBSON# VIA THE CREATIVE COMMONS

Neuroscience, 2nd Edition

From Neuroscience: "The brown tile at the center of the illuminated upper face of the cube and the orange tile at the center of the shadowed face are actually returning the same spectral light [a.k.a. color] to the eye (as is the tan tile lying on the ground-plane in the foreground)." Crazy, right?!

But that's not the only way colors can fool your eyes. There's also something called "color constancy": when two different colors are made to look the same. Here are some images that illustrate this concept:

asu.edu

pratt.edu

socr.ucla.edu

It's important to keep in mind that all of this is normal. In fact, to reassure you that there is actually nothing wrong with your eyes, here are some color vision tests just for fun:

Those were 12, 42, 74, and 6—if you got those, you're good to go. (If not, you likely already know you're color blind, but see an optometrist or opthalmologist if you haven't already discussed this with a professional.)

But really, what color is that damn dress?!

A photo posted by Daminem (@daminem_) on Feb 27, 2015 at 7:08am PST

Huwebes, Pebrero 26, 2015

Say When: Do You Know How Often to Replace Your Hair Dryer?

Do you wait too long to say so long? The power is in your hands.

The post Say When: Do You Know How Often to Replace Your Hair Dryer? appeared first on SELF.

Your Brain on a Rom-Com

So that's why that Ryan Gosling flick gave you all the feels.

The best-ever excuse to admit you're a sucker for sappy stories: They're ace for your health. Here's how the plot unfolds...

The Meet-Cute

Feel a little thrill at the would-be couple's first run-in? The actors' body language determines how you interpret the scene. Staring into each others' eyes? Ahh, love. Trying to stare into each others' eyes but ogling elsewhere? Oh yeah, lust.
Awkward conversations (or sassy monologues) aren't just funny. They help out your ticker. Belly laughing can lower blood pressure as much as exercise does (and can burn 40 calories per 10 minutes!).

The Buildup

Your brain's empathy center is now activated and ordering a release of hormones such as dopamine and oxytocin, which make you feel as if you are the one falling in love. Cue butterflies in your stomach or a faster heartbeat.
Seriously, you really feel it. Studies suggest that when the (so-hot) hero strokes the (way-gorg) heroine's arm, the area of your brain that interprets touch can light up.
And just like that...trouble in paradise. Rom-com writers use fights and breakups to hold your attention, because strife prompts your noggin to dredge up your own romantic woes. You now totally identify with these characters.

The Happy Ending

Problems solved. You walk away in a much better mood, thanks to a laughter-induced endorphin rush. A feel-good finale also puts the kibosh on stress hormones. In fact, watching a romantic comedy before bed can help prevent insomnia.
The story's comical moments can imprint in your brain, allowing you to recall your fave film's dialogue whenever you want—a process that can boost your long-term memory.
And by churning up personal issues—along with possible resolutions—the movie can prompt a cathartic release of feelings. That's why cinema therapists (yep, they have Ph.D.'s and everything) find flicks so useful: The plots can unlock reactions that might otherwise have remained buried.
Score! One study found that couples who watched, then discussed, such films were more likely to still be a pair three years later.

Sources: Stephanie Cacioppo, Ph.D., The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine; Michael Miller, M.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine; Birgit Wolz, Ph.D., cinema therapist in Lake County, California

For more sex and health news, pick up the March 2015 issue of Women's Health, on newsstands now.

Is It Possible for Every Woman to Get Her Abs Back Post-Pregnancy?

...Or should you just accept the fact that some pooch is permanent?

Popping out a baby does a number on your body: Your boobs get droopier, stretch marks crisscross your middle, and your vagina, well, let’s not even go there. (Hint: Expect pigment changes.) But of all the issues brought on by a bun in the oven, one of the most frustrating is post-pregnancy belly flab. Is the squishiness fixable, or are flat abs a thing of the past? Even super glam Reese Witherspoon said in a recent interview with the blog Cricket's Circle that her abs were "nonexistent" after she gave birth to her three kids. So we went to an expert to find out if it's actually possible for every woman to get her core muscles back in pre-baby shape.

The truth: Though genes and your before-baby fitness level play a role, you might have to accept that some pooch is permanent. “A small number of women will be able to get a flat stomach again, but for the majority, it may take a lot of time or not happen at all,” says Alissa Rumsey, R.D., certified strength and conditioning coach and spokesperson for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “It took nine months for your belly to stretch out to accommodate your baby, so it’s reasonable to expect it to take at least as long to lose the belly fat.”

And this is assuming that you gained the recommended 25 to 30 pounds of pregnancy weight. Putting on more than that means the fat may end up being stored as visceral fat, which is tough to get rid of. The other thing to keep in mind is that a after-baby belly jiggle may not have anything to do with your abs. The bulge can be the result of stretched out skin that’s lost its elasticity, and all the crunches in the world can’t firm it up again, says Rumsey.

If you’re a new mom dealing with a wobbly middle or a future mom freaked out by the news, don’t be discouraged. Reframe it like this: It’s actually freeing to know that it's unlikely you'll look like Fit Mom (or Reese Witherspoon, for that matter) once you’ve delivered a kid. Good for them for being so devoted to staying in shape. But if rock-hard abs are not in the cards for your body, why sweat it? Instead, focus on being healthy and getting to a good fitness level for you by easing back into your pre-baby fitness routine on your own schedule.

Martes, Pebrero 24, 2015

Is There Anything You Can Do to Stop a Cold Before It Starts?

Because sneezing and coughing are not how you want to spend your day

The typical adult averages two to three colds a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And whether you’ve already topped that number or you've somehow stayed congestion-free this season, you'd probably try pretty much anything that promises to stop a cold in its tracks before it gets into your respiratory system. But the truth is, once a cold virus enters your system, nothing will truly prevent it from running its course. That's right: So-called cold fighters such as vitamin C, zinc, and herbs like garlic just aren't supported by science, says Holly Phillips, M.D., a women's health specialist in New York City. And while OTC meds can ease symptoms, they're no cure for the congestion, runny nose, and body aches that confine you to the couch for three to 10 days, surrounded by tissues and comforted by a Real Housewives marathon.

RELATED: You Have a Cold—Now What?!

That said, you're not totally defenseless. If you can keep your immune system strong, you'll be more likely to fight off a cold virus invasion, says Phillips. Consider these immune system boosters your anti-cold arsenal.

Score quality sleep. We know, easier said than done. But the fact is, inadequate sleep makes a dent in your immune system. "The exact mechanism of how sleep deprivation does this isn't entirely clear," says Phillips, "but some studies have shown that it derails T-cell functioning and increases inflammatory cytokines, both of which lessen our ability to fight colds and the flu."

Load up on plant food. Fruits, veggies, and whole grains pack high quantities of antioxidants, which are critical for cell repair and give your immune system a lift, says Phillips. "They minimize stress on the immune system so it can better fight off infections." Bring this list of antioxidant-rich foods with you next time you go grocery shopping.

Eat more mushrooms. They have immune-upping powers—and no, not the Harold and Kumar kind. We're talking about shitake mushrooms, which have a special place in ancient Chinese medicine. "They likely enhance cell lines involved in fighting infections, like interleukins and interferon," says Phillips. Make them a regular part of your meal plans by tossing them into stir-fries or salads.

Cut stress. You've heard it a million times, but it's important, so it bears repeating. "Like sleep deprivation, long-term stress releases a cascade of stress hormones into your system, which ultimately lowers production of white blood cells, which are critical for fending off infections," says Phillips.

Stay hydrated. We're talking hot soup, tea, and other steamy liquids, which help loosen mucus and make a sore throat feel better. Even room-temperature liquid can work. "Adequate hydration helps the body fight infection," says Phillips.

A Great interview discussing Neograft. Hair Loss Treatment Tips with Dr. Hurwitz

This is an interview discussing Neograft Hair Systems. The Hair loss treatment is discussed, as well as what to expect from the procedure. It takes about one day, and follow up treatments are included in the price of the procedure. Watch the Hair Loss Treatment Interview Video below to learn more.

10 Women Talk About What They Learned from Being Cheated On

First and foremost: This is not your fault.

There's no beating around the bush when it comes to cheating—it sucks, it can be super hard to recover from, and it can leave you feeling insecure, mistrustful, angry, and every emotion in between. But after all that, there are lessons to be learned, whether about yourself, relationships, or just how to heal.

We checked with Women's Health readers and women we know who have been cheated on, and they opened up about what they learned from the awful experience:

"The biggest lesson I learned was not to let someone else's actions affect how I feel about myself. I think the first instinct is to question what you did wrong, but you have to realize that it wasn't you or anything you did, no matter how many excuses a cheater throws at you. They are only trying to justify their own selfish actions. Love yourself enough not to let them." —Candace D.

"Trust your gut. If you feel something is off, it is." —Jen H.

"What I learned is to not carry the distrust forward. Your next love is not at fault, so you need to heal before embracing another." —Shannon O.

"I learned how to drop a man in two seconds." —Fox V.

"The best revenge is success [and] happiness...and not violence." —Kay K.

"I learned to love myself more. I found out that life should not be about suffering, that love comes first from within. … No matter how much this sound like a cliché, [there are] great blessings hidden in those situations that have hurt you the most." —Sofia H.

"If someone cheats on you, it's okay if you don't stop loving him immediately. I felt like an idiot when my feelings for him didn't go away the moment I found out about the betrayal. I learned eventually that that was okay and I wasn't a failure of a woman for loving a cheater. It can take your heart a bit to catch up with your brain." —Margo B.

"I learned that I love myself way too much to put up with a guy who doesn't want to only be with me. I also learned to be weary of dudes who are strangely jealous of you. In my case, it meant he was the shady one." —Elizabeth O.

"I learned that it's normal to want to do a bunch of insane, crazy things after someone cheats on you—like, straight out of a Taylor Swift music video things—but that you probably, definitely shouldn't." —Diana T.

How to Make Boring Button Downs Look Crazy Stylish

You style maven, you

Okay, Okay, we’ve all done it before. You go to your closet, grab a button down shirt to wear, finish getting ready, and when you look in the mirror you think, “Wow—this looks so boring.” A button down shirt can be such a mark of cool sophistication (think Audrey Hepburn on a day off) or carry an easy-breezy “I just threw this together, but it still looks great” vibe (think Lauren Conrad). But if you don’t style it right, these shirts can also look pretty dull. To avoid an uninspired result, I have three ways that I like to style mine:

The basic button down: The basic solid button down is the style most in danger of becoming boring or frumpy. First, make sure that your shirt is a good cut for your body—tailoring goes a long way with wardrobe basics. Roll up the sleeves a few times for a more relaxed look since a plain button down can sometimes appear a little stiff-looking. The other key to a basic shirt like this is in the accessories. A cropped skinny jean with heels and a casual clutch take this look from basic to polished in a few seconds flat.

The loose flannel button down: This shirt is something of a staple for the younger half of Hollywood on their days off. While this look can sometimes swing a bit too casual and look a little truck stop, a few key details can bring the look to a more stylish place. Go for an oversized loose fit on the shirt, but don’t go so big that the shirt is wearing you (this is a great choice). Add some classic details like a streamlined heeled boot, classic sunnies, and a modern clutch or purse. For an extra nod to the ’90s grunge era, opt for a skinny jean with a bit of wear and tear to complete the look. Your shirt and jeans say “cool and casual,” but your other pieces say, “I totally have a real job and contribute to my 401k.” A balance of both worlds is key.

The printed button down: To add a little more fun to a structured button down, go for a fun print to bring a little personality to the piece (like this one!). Buttoning the neck to the top and keeping the sleeves down bring a clean sophistication to the look, but the print still keeps the overall feel light and happy. I like to unbutton the last few buttons on a fitted button down, tie the two ends together, and wear a high-waisted jean or skirt with the top. It’s just another detail that keeps the button down from wandering into Snoozeville territory.

Of course, you can do a few other things to jazz up a boring button down (like button it to the top and wear a chunky statement necklace under the collar), but these are a few surefire ways to make sure the button down never veers into (gasp!) boring territory.

Photos by Todd Gummerman

Lunes, Pebrero 23, 2015

How to Fix a Botched Brow Job

Go from sparse and patchy to statement arches in no time.

Whether you went a little tweezer-happy at home (oops!) or booked an appointment with a new waxer that ended in a too-thin job (ugh!), when it comes to growing your eyebrows, the struggle is real. And going on dates and to important work meetings with a botched brow job makes you as self-conscious as walking around with noticeable new strays. Here’s how to minimize your growing pains.

Step Away from the Magnifying Mirror

It might seem like everyone is staring at those tiny little hairs sprouting all over the place, but they can't see them unless they get close... really close. So stop analyzing your brows with a zoom, or you’ll end up over-tweezing again and delaying the rehab process, says Anastasia Soare, brow expert and founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills.

Make Concealer an Everyday Staple

While you let your brows fill in, you don't want to touch any hairs coming in right below them. If the growth is looking very patchy, use a dab of skin-tone highlighter or creamy concealer to camouflage the stubble, says Soare. Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer ($8, ulta.com) and Josie Maran Creamy Concealer Crayon ($20, sephora.com) are two of our favorites.

Keep Your Brows Groomed and Brushed

Leaving your arches unkempt will only bring attention to their unevenness. Use a pencil or powder in a shade that matches your hair to draw wispy strokes in sparse areas. NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil ($5, ulta.com) and E.L.F. Studio Eyebrow Kit ($3, eyeslipsface.com) come in a wide range of shades. Comb a spoolie brush over your eyebrows to blend the color for a more natural look, and finish by setting the hair in place with a clear brow gel, says Soare.

Give Hair a Nourishing Boost

Just like your scalp needs to be healthy for your mop to grow, the skin around your eyebrows needs to be moisturized and well-cared-for so new strands are strong. A serum with peptides, vitamins, and botanical extracts encourages regrowth, so your wait time for full brows is shorter, says Soare. She recommends her own Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Enhancing Serum Advanced ($38, sephora.com). However, "Keep in mind that serums can only encourage growth based on whether or not your follicles actively produce hair," says Soare. "If the follicle doesn’t [grow hair] by nature or is too damaged, no serum will make hair appear."

Don't Completely Abandon the Cause

To keep your eyebrows polished and in shape, you still need to wax or tweeze them regularly. "Think of this as a building block experience," says Soare. "While you may have over-tweezed or your waxer may have taken off too much, you still need to maintain your shape and get waxed [or] tweezed every two to three weeks to take care of the surrounding areas in which you are not trying to regrow hair." So make an appointment with a brow expert to clean up surrounding areas and trim long hairs. Brave enough to DIY? Use a brow stencil, like Ardell Brow Perfection Stencils ($4, sallybeauty.com), as a guide.

The Biggest Winter Skin-Care Mistake You're Probably Making

Skipping this step in your routine could seriously hurt your complexion.

Be honest: How often do you really wear SPF in the winter? While you might think you can skip it on frigid or snowy days, that's not actually the case.

"Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can stop protecting your skin against harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun," says Sejal Shah, M.D., a dermatologist at Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York City. "Ultraviolet radiation reaches the Earth every day, even when it's cold or cloudy, so you need to protect your skin year-round." In fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, 80 percent of the sun's UV rays can still penetrate your skin on a cloudy day.

But what if you're cooped up at home or in the office all day? "You need to wear sunscreen even when you're outside for a short amount of time," says Shah. "[And] ultraviolet radiation can penetrate window glass, so you need protection when you're indoors as well." A new study published in the journal Science even found that some sun damage (which can lead to skin cancer) continues to take place hours after you've gone inside.

You don't have to slather on a greasy sunscreen that's more appropriate for when you're hanging by the pool, though. For everyday activities, Shah says a daily moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF 30 is just fine. "You need about a shot glass full for the whole body and a nickel-sized dollop for the face," she explains.

We like Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 ($14, drugstore.com) because it helps to even skin tone while shielding you from the sun. And just like you would reapply SPF every two hours to any exposed areas in the summer, the same goes for the colder months of the year.

Makeup with SPF provides some protection, but Shah warns against depending solely on it. "Typically you need significantly more than you normally wear," she says. "Also makeup is not always applied uniformly to the face, so you may not get the same amount of protection [everywhere]." Shah recommends always layering a moisturizer with SPF under makeup.

If you plan on hitting the slopes, prepare accordingly: "Snow and ice can reflect ultraviolent radiation," says Shah. "[Plus], there is more ultraviolet exposure at higher altitudes." She recommends applying a water-resistant sunscreen (just like you'd use at the beach) with an SPF of at least 50. We're fans of Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 55 ($9, drugstore.com). "[Again], sunscreen needs to be applied every two hours or immediately after sweating, swimming, or toweling off," she says.

3 Reasons Your Pores Look So Damn Huge

Plus how to tighten 'em up ASAP

Honestly: How far would you go to change the look of your pores? According to a Harris Poll/L'Oreal survey, 56 percent of women would give up booze, dessert, even social media (#firstworldpores) for an entire year to downsize those eyesores. The national obsession has reached such a fervor, dermatologists even coined the term "porexia"—which is exactly what it sounds like.

Buzzy names aside, there's unfortunately still no miracle treatment to permanently shrink the suckers. (Get on it, derms!) Of course, regular exfoliation helps make them look smaller (clogged pores = large pores). But we've discovered a few unexpected reasons why they could be freaking out—in some cases, at the hands of the products used to fight them. So, if any of the following things describe you, find the smart fix that'll help you whittle your pores...and have your merlot (or whiskey, or Hoegaarden), too.

You can't get enough extractions.
Facials can clear out pores—if done by the right hands. "Make sure the aesthetician is cleaning out only the clogged pores—not every pore," says Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, M.D., Ph.D., a New York City dermatologist and consultant for Lancôme. "If you manipulate those that don't need extraction, they may stretch out permanently." Traumatized pores can develop scar tissue that creates an indentation deeper than the pore itself, adds Sonia Batra, M.D., M.P.H., a clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the USC Keck School of Medicine.

Between facial appointments, de-gunk pores (so your skin requires fewer extractions in the first place!) by using an exfoliating cleanser—we like Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Face Polish ($32, lauramercier.com)—or a cleansing brush, such as the Foreo Luna T-Sonic Cleansing and Anti-Aging System ($200, sephora.com), which dislodges dirt and dead cells with pulsing silicone bristles.

You had acne as a teen.
Big whoop. Everyone did. Problem is, the enlarged sebaceous glands that caused them way back when may have never properly shrunk, "even if you're no longer producing a lot of oil," explains Elizabeth Hale, M.D., an associate clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Langone Medical Center. So if three months of topical treatments have done jack, in-office photodynamic therapy (PDT) could be the answer. A photosensitizing solution penetrates pores for an hour, then a blue light is directed at them for up to 10 minutes. Most patients require three to five sessions (at about $500 a pop), spaced two to four weeks apart. A major caveat: The skin will look and feel sunburned for a few days post-treatment.

You're wearing makeup to hide them—but it's actually enhancing them.
Powders may settle into those bitty holes over the course of the day, making them appear larger. Alexiades-Armenakas says she has also seen instances in which mica or talc has become caught inside a pore, enlarging it for good. (Yikes!) Before applying makeup, put on a primer to seal your pores, suggests Batra. Try L'Oréal Paris Revita Lift Miracle Blur ($25, at drugstores).

For more ways you might be unintentionally magnifying your pores, check out the March 2015 issue of Women's Health, on sale now.

Biyernes, Pebrero 20, 2015

Temporary Boob Jobs Now Exist—Here's What You Need to Know

Bigger breasts in a flash?

Want to test-drive a bigger cup size—for a day? Now you can. Breast augmentations continue to be the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure (in fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that close to 300,000 women in the United States had a boob job in 2013). That's why Norman Rowe, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, created InstaBreast, which allows women to try out their new goods before deciding whether or not to get implants.

"It’s not a getting-your-hair-blown-out-kind of thing," says Rowe. "I really designed this as a method to find out if breast implants are for you, what size you want, and what it’s going to feel like. I didn’t envision it as, 'Hey, I have a party tonight and I really want to fill out that dress' or 'I want to stick it to my old boyfriend.'"

We got the scoop on the procedure—from what's used to make your boobs bigger to how risky it might be.

Q: How Does It Work?

InstaBreast is a minimally invasive procedure that takes around 15 to 20 minutes, during which a saline solution is injected directly into the breasts to immediately create bigger boobs that last for up to 24 hours. The solution is eventually absorbed—and wait for it… excreted from your body when you pee. The area is numbed before the injection, and Rowe says that while there shouldn't be any pain, some patients have experienced a little bruising (similar to when you've gotten a shot or had blood drawn), which goes away in about a day or so.

Q: How Much Does It Cost?

You'll be spending anywhere between $2,500 to 3,500 to sport a bodacious body for the day. A breast augmentation, meanwhile, typically costs upwards of $10,000, says Rowe.

Q: What Are Your Other Options?

Prior to InstaBreast, computer imaging and wearing implants in your bra were the only ways you could test-drive bigger breasts before going under the knife. Rowe says that InstaBreast is the most precise way for women to see what their boobs look (and feel) like at a bigger size (granted, he is the one pushing the product).

"[Compared to] taking implants off the shelf and putting them in the patient's bra or taking photos and putting them on the computer to give them an idea, [InstaBreast] is a much more accurate way of giving them an idea of what the implants are going to feel like," says Rowe. He adds that it takes the guesswork out of getting implants and prevents the buyer's remorse that some women experience after augmentation.

Q: What Are The Risks?

"We don’t really know if it’s safe or not in terms of, if you’re injecting things into the breast, could there be any long-term effects on a mammogram or something like that," says Tracy Pfeifer, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City. "It’s probably okay to do it from a safety standpoint, [but] I don’t like to take any chances with the breasts." Rowe, meanwhile, says there aren't any short- or long-term side effects to the procedure.

While Rowe says that InstaBreast is the most accurate way for women to find out how implants look and feel, not all plastic surgeons are on-board with it. The way your breasts look and feel pumped up with liquid is different than how they'd look and feel if you got implants, says Pfeifer. "The problem with that is when you’re injecting fluid into the breast, it’s very amorphous—whereas an implant has a shape."

Also worth noting: Macrolane, a compound used specifically as a breast injectable, was banned in the U.K. in 2012 because it was thought to cause lumps that made it hard to read mammograms. Rowe says the types of fillers he uses don't pose this risk.

Pfeifer also has concerns that InstaBreast downplays how serious surgery is, whether it's an invasive procedure or not. “I just don’t see the point of it,” she says. “All surgery has a risk benefit. There are always risks. So the benefit to have any risks at all needs to be very high. What is the benefit? Your breasts are a little bigger for a couple hours?"

Q: What's Next For Temporary Boob Jobs?

Rowe is currently working on an extended version of InstaBreast, which he says has been dubbed "vacation breasts" by the media. This procedure would allow patients to test-run a bigger breast size for a longer period of time—weeks instead of a day—before they decide whether or not to get implants.

Ellen's Fifty Shades-Cinderella Mashup Is So Wrong—Yet We Can't Stop Watching

It should be called Fifty Shades of Your Ruined Childhood.

Coming down from the height of the Fifty Shades of Grey craze, you might think we'd be sick of parodies of the box office hit—but you'd be very, very wrong. The newest comes courtesy of Ellen Degeneres, who gave the upcoming live-action Cinderella film the full Fifty Shades treatment. The result is so, so wrong (but so, so hilarious). Check it out:

Is it just us, or can you totally picture this? Cinderella as the innocent and sheltered scullery maid whose life changes after her sexual awakening at a lavish ball, and Prince Charming as the picky and high-powered noble who must seek the perfect fit for what we can only assume is a glass butt plug...

Kind of makes you wish that the newest Cinderella remake got a steamy modern twist instead of a straight adaptation, doesn't it?

Do You Have OCD—or Are You Just Really Anal-Retentive?

Allow us to explain the difference.

You obsess over missed texts. You compulsively clean. But are you OCD? The odds would suggest no.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder affects only about 1.6 percent of American adults, according to the National Institutes of Health. And while people do suffer from sub-clinical symptoms, most people who throw around sayings like, "I'm so OCD about my hair, my closet hangers, etc.," actually just, well, aren't.

"When you are type A, it's part of your personality," says clinical psychologist Jeff Szymanski, Ph.D., executive director of the International OCD Foundation and author of The Perfectionist's Handbook. "It might stress you out, but you like it." (Check out why more and more women are getting hooked on stress.) "You own your perfectionism and maybe even get a feeling of achievement or self-esteem from it," says Szymanski. "For people with OCD, their obsessions and compulsions don't feel like them. They don't identify it as part of themselves. The compulsions are driven not by preference or enjoyment, but by severe anxiety."

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, people with obsessive-compulsive disorder are consumed by fears (called obsessions) that lead them to perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions) in an effort to prevent the situation or temporarily relieve the anxiety.

And while it's not clear why some people turn to specific obsessions and compulsions over others, their underlying theme is anxiety.

In fact, the fifth edition of the DSM includes a new chapter on obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, after increasing evidence has shown that OCD is linked to other high-anxiety disorders, such as body dysmorphic disorder, trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), hoarding disorder, and excoriation (skin-picking) disorder.

What's more, the compulsions are not productive (read: having to get up at 6 a.m. every day for your morning workout or keeping impeccable Excel spreadsheet to-do lists).

To meet the DSM-5's clinical criteria for OCD, people must spend at least an hour per day engrossed in their compulsive activities, which are most commonly cleaning, organizing, and checking.

In cases of moderate to severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, people often devote so much time to their compulsions that it interferes with daily life, says Szymanski. Many people lose jobs, relationships, and become estranged from friends and family.

For those who suspect they may indeed have obsessive-compulsive disorder (take Szymanski's quiz to find out if your perfectionism is healthy or not), it's best to speak an OCD specialist (not just your family doctor or general therapist) about your symptoms and, if necessary, possible treatment options.

"Everyone is obsessive and compulsive on a continuum," says Szymanski. It's just a matter of determining if your quirks cross the line from being cute and productive to anxiety-ridden and destructive.