Injectable Dysport (www.dysport.co.nz) takes effect faster and lasts 4 months instead of 3.  My local cutting-edge guy is already using it and says “Hey, this way a woman can look good for the bridal shower AND the wedding!”  Good point, and you could save $400/year if you use a filler regularly.

The good thing about the new “CT scan-aided” virtual colonoscopy is that they can check your bone density at the same time.  Pain-free with no anesthesia, the 15-minute CT scan of the abdomen creates cross-sectional images of the colon, spine and hip, detecting precancerous polyps and bone-mineral loss.  The bad thing is, you still have to do that nasty “prep!”  Expect to see this scan locally this year.

Intra-ocular lenses like Alcon Laboratories’ ReSTOR can help you improve your vision without eyeglasses, contact lenses, or laser surgery.  You heard it here first!  Previously used in cataract surgery, the ReSTOR gives you near, far and intermediate vision and can be implanted during Medicare-covered cataract procedures for an additional fee. (Most implanted lenses require you to use reading glasses for life after your surgery.)  Now some people are having them implanted when they DON’T have cataracts just so they can see at all distances without other forms of correction, a procedure that is NOT, of course, covered by insurance or Medicare. Check it out by scrolling down on www.seewithlasik.com.

Cement in your spine?  Well, not exactly, but since 1999 115,000 men and women have relieved pain and corrected spinal fractures caused by cancer and osteoporosis with balloon kyphoplasty.  A balloon is inserted in the person’s spine to straighten it, then a cement-like material is injected into the bone to stabilize the fracture. Check it out, for you or your mom, at www.spinalfracture.com.  They have a new lumbar spinal stenosis device as well.

Don’t be fooled by the fear-mongering fake credit report companies.  Go to the real ones – TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. You can access each one of these one time each for free during a calendar year, letting you keep track of your credit all year long.  You can begin the process by going to the official government site to get things started.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre34.shtm