When Jill Reed ventured into the office of a local ophthalmologist and plastic surgeon a decade ago, it wasnt for cosmetic reasons. At the time, her anti-aging strategy amounted to facials and professional skincare products. But as the years passed, Reed, 65, of North Fulton, realized she was on a journey one that would gradually move her from facials to Botox to fillers.

I was a little shy in the beginning, Reed said. But as I experienced one procedure, it would give me the faith and encouragement to take another step should I need it.

She hasnt needed to take another step yet, but like many others in the baby boomer ranks, Reed will never say never. I think in todays times, you dont have to be as embarrassed about a lot of things you may have been 25 years ago, she said. If you have the money and you are able to make those decisions, go for it, girl! Or go for it, guy!

Increasingly, they are going for it. Nearly one-third of Georgians had moved into the 50 and up age bracket as of 2010, bringing with them new attitudes about aging. For some, aging well is best accomplished from the inside out. But others believe there is also nothing wrong with giving the ole tarpaulin a tweak.

The South Atlantic region made up of seven states, including Georgia has the highest percentage of cosmetic surgery practices in the country, according to data from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Georgia ranks a distant second to Florida as the state with the largest number of board certified plastic surgeons.

In 2011, Americans spent nearly $10 billion on 9.2 million cosmetic procedures. Of those procedures, 82 percent were noninvasive, such as Botox and volumizing fillers, while 17 percent were surgical procedures, such as liposuction and face-lifts. Metro Atlanta doctors confirm the popularity of minimally invasive procedures as an alternative for patients who arent ready to embrace full-on surgery whether for economic or aesthetic reasons.

I can take five to six years off a face with fillers, said Dr. Jay Kulkin, founder of the Womens Institute for Health. Some people call it a liquid face lift.

The use of Botox (a muscle relaxer), volumizing fillers and collagen-stimulating lasers can rejuvenate aging skin of all types and temporarily mimic the effects of a face-lift, said Kulkin. Known for his extensive experience in laser technology, Kulkin believes one of the best noninvasive anti-aging therapies is CO2 fractional laser resurfacing. Tiny beams of heat penetrate the skins layers killing old skin cells and forcing the production of collagen, a primary component in skin elasticity.

Injectible dermal fillers, such as Sculptra, are also designed to stimulate collagen growth over a period of time, while other fillers, such as Juvederm or Restylane, give immediate results by filling out lines and wrinkles.

Dr. Tara Margarella, a cosmetic surgeon at Blue Med Spa in Midtown, uses fillers but in some cases prefers fat transfer to reduce the external signs of aging. Lines and hollowness around the eyes, nasolabial folds, thin lips, wrinkled skin and bony hands considered some of the most obvious signs of aging can all be reduced by taking fat from one part of the body and injecting it into the areas lacking volume. Fat, Margarella said, is easier to mold than fillers, particularly in delicate areas, such as under the eyes.

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Anti-aging path is paved with new technologies