If we have been looking closely or scrutinizing to a fault -- overly, we are one in opinion with an American dermatologists who has hit out at the countenance of Harry Potter leads. The expert believes that it has sent out the wrong message to kids the world over.

Because, there really were pimples in the three lead actors’ faces but the digital technology mired it all by erasing the young stars' zits. Thanks -- the characters don’t seem to have to deal with such growing up problems in the movies.

That got one Dr. Vail Reese teed off, insisting that acne or pimples are a part of growing up, and will often occur when kids hit puberty.

Mystery writer Martha Grimes is afflicted with spasmodic dysphonia, a rare voice disorder wherein muscles of the larynx, or voice box, move involuntarily, making sufferers sound strangled when they speak.

While there is no cure for this condition, guess which cosmetic treatment is coming to the rescue—again?

None other than Botox, the miracle-working toxin. From USA Today:

Grimes recovered her voice only a year ago, when doctors began giving her poison.

It's one of the more popular poisons: botulinim toxin, or Botox, made by the bacteria that causes botulism, now used as a wrinkle treatment.

Hurricane Katrina was a disaster many residents of New Orleans are still struggling to recover from. More than a year has passed since Katrina took more than 1,800 lives and damaged billions of dollars in property, and survivors of the tragedy are still trying to pick up pieces of their lives.

But with the process of rebuilding paving the way for much disposable income, many of those who are benefiting from this extra cash are finding new ways of coping with the disaster, plastic surgery included. The Houston Chronicle tells us more:

Plastic surgeons across the region are reporting unprecedented demand for Botox injections, liposuction, eye lifts and other cosmetic procedures as patients in a deeply scarred city try to renew their own appearance. Residents might have limited control over the disfigured streetscape, doctors suggest, but they can at least get to work on their personal facades.

Liposuction is a relatively safe plastic surgery procedure, but it’s a fact that over the years, there have been patients who have died on the operating table, many them a result of excessive bleeding. But with a recently developed procedure called water-jet assisted liposuction, plastic surgeons can hope that such fatal occurrences can be avoided altogether.

From Channel News Asia:

Now, a newly developed water-jet assisted procedure promises to reduce both bleeding and the time needed to recover.

Water-jet assisted liposuction uses a thin, targeted fan-shaped jet of water that washes out the fat from the targeted area.

Being a Head of State is a tough job. The more so if that state you’re heading is a country surrounded by enemies just raring to wipe it off the face of the earth. It’s obviously a really stressful job, and it apparently showed on the face of Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of Israel.

Forbes reports that Olmert has cosmetic eyelid surgery last week. The official word, however, says that the surgery was done to improve the PM’s vision, not to make him look better.

The procedure lasted 40 minutes under local anesthetic, and Olmert was completely conscious throughout, said David Baker, an official in the prime minister's office. He said it was done because Olmert was suffering from slight disturbances to his vision.

Plastic surgery has indeed taken a foothold in Britain, with a growing number of people asking for the most popular procedures like liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. Lately, however, Britons are now slowly warming up to the idea of having their chins and jaws worked on cosmetically.

From the Daily Times Monitor:

Disillusioned with weak jawlines or unbecoming jowls, and enamoured with the strong, confident profiles of celebrities such as Claudia Schiffer and Sarah Jessica Parker, or Brad Pitt and Daniel Craig, growing numbers of Britons are deciding to part with thousands of pounds in order to augment their chins.

Europa International, based in London, is running what is thought to be the world's first lottery for cosmetic surgery. Winners are offered money for facelifts, breast augmentations, liposuctions and tummy tucks.

Now British surgeons are condemning the scheme describing Europa International's cosmetic surgery superdraw as an unscrupulous marketing gimmick and warned patients they could be putting themselves at risk.

Reuters has quoted Douglas McGeorge, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), saying:

"I am appalled at this new scheme but unfortunately not surprised…cosmetic surgery can have a major impact on people's lives and make them feel very good about themselves. But it has to be thought out and the limitations and complications of any procedure have to be considered before rushing in."

The year is still young, and the world’s most beneficial toxin is immediately at work working miracles.

Botox, the wildly popular poisonous substance used to smoothen out wrinkles, is helping a disabled boy walk. According to the Mirror:

Callum Boan, who suffers from cerebral palsy spastic diplegia, had Botox injected into his legs to freeze his calve muscles.

The injections, more commonly known for paralysing face muscles to hide wrinkles, work by making his legs flexible.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert recently underwent secret cosmetic eyelid surgery to improve his vision. but Israeli media right away speculated that the media-savvy Olmert had the procedure done to improve his appearance.

Official press release has called the procedure as an "eye treatment" after Olmert reportedly complained of slight disturbances to his vision. Accordingly, the surgery lasted 40 minutes under local anesthetic, and the Prime Minister was completely conscious throughout.

Known to favor expensive suits and flashy ties, Olmert is known to be conscious about his image. He is also a fitness freak who jogs and hits the gym regularly.

Trust no pill to deliver that much elusive 'fountain of youth' – apparently, or at least not yet.

DHEA supplements, marketed as rejuvenating agents and testosterone patches were touted anti-aging treatments. But in one of the first careful studies to test such claims in older men and women, these widely used substances failed to improve the participants' strength, their physical performance, and their body's ability to lower levels of blood sugar, or certain other measures of health.

A Dutch study last year found no benefit of DHEA in 100 men 70 and older. With new tests undertaken, the scientists are now doubtful if the substances actually help older people.