Lunchtime facials.

It used to be that the only way to get younger looking skin after a certain age was to put yourself under the surgeon's knife. No longer. Today women can choose from a variety of noninvasive approaches to stem time's ravages, ranging from Botox injections to laser treatments to chemical peels.

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Most procedures can be done in an hour or so in your dermatologist's office.

Just ask Sandra Hill. The 58-year-old school nurse from Gaithersburg, MD, recently underwent thermage, a relatively new procedure that uses radiofrequency waves to tighten skin and induce the production of collagen, a protein responsible for your skin's elasticity. As it breaks down with age, so does your face. "I had some lines in my face and some puffiness under my eyes," Ms. Hill says. "I didn't want to take time off for a face lift, and I wanted something noninvasive and with a short recovery time."

Three weeks after undergoing the $3,000 procedure, she says she can already see a difference and she's thrilled with the results. Though most of her patients, like Ms. Hill, are satisfied with the procedure, the efficacy of thermage remains controversial, says Amy H. Kassouf, MD, of University Dermatologists, Inc., in Cleveland, OH. "Women need to know up front that at least 10 percent of patients don't respond to the treatment and it can take up to seven months to see improvements," she says. "But, it is low risk and has essentially no down time, so for someone who wants some improvement and does not want surgery, it is a reasonable procedure."

Ask cosmetic dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD, director of cosmetic dermatology at the University of Miami, what women should consider if they're thinking about cosmetic procedures and she tells you her favorites: Botox injections for the upper third of the face, where the drug, which is actually a poison that acts by paralyzing muscles, temporarily paralyzes the facial muscles responsible for wrinkles, then skin "fillers" on the bottom third. These include Hylaform, an FDA-approved gel made of chemically modified hyaluronic acid, a key component of connective tissue (like your skin). Injected into wrinkled areas, it adds volume, creating a smoother appearance that lasts about 12 weeks. (11)

Dr. Baumann warns her patients away from permanent skin fillers such as silicone or Artecoll, which she says can be dangerous and may result in lumpiness after several years. As for microdermabrasion, an exfoliant method that removes the outer layer of skin: It's a waste of money, she says. "You can get the same results with an exfoliating scrub." Dermabrasion, in which the underlayer of the skin is exfoliated, provides better results, she says, but takes 10 days to heal.

Another favorite is intense pulsed light, or IPL, which delivers intense pulses of light to the dermis, or deepest layer of the skin, helping repair collagen. The procedure also delivers short pulses of light to the top layer of the skin, erasing fine lines, brown spots and visible blood vessels. About four to six sessions are usually required, each costing $200 to $400.

Of course, in addition to cosmetic procedures, women turn to creams, lotions and oils for their skin, creating a $5.5 billion industry in the U.S. (12) But with thousands of products priced from a couple of dollars to hundreds of dollars, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. In fact, a survey by the American Academy of Dermatology found that 94 percent of women are confused by the myriad of anti-aging treatments available both over-the-counter and by prescription. (13)

Bottom line, says Dr. Baumann, you should never spend more than $30 for a face-care product. Also, drugstore lines, in most cases, are actually better for you than fancy cosmetic products.

Dr. Kassouf likes products that contain vitamin A, or retinoids, for their anti-aging effects. Because retinoids can irritate your skin, she recommends starting with the lowest level (available in over-the-counter products) and working your way up to higher levels in prescription medications as necessary. She's also keen on products that contain green tea. But you don't have to buy an expensive product containing the antioxidant. Just apply cooled tea directly to your face and drink it regularly. Both seem to limit both the kind of sun damage you get from daily living, says Dr. Kassouf.

"There is no one answer for everyone," notes Dr. Baumann. "It's best to have a dermatologist evaluate your skin and provide specific recommendations."