Everyday we see advertisements in magazines, commercials, and on the Internet boasting about skin care procedures like wrinkle reduction, removal of dark spots, and microdermabrasion to name just a few.  Many of these ads seem to promise the world, but what kinds of results do they deliver?  One important thing for consumers to know is the US Food & Drug Administration does not regulate skin care products, so the benefits of the products may be exaggerated and/or not thoroughly tested.  In addition, active ingredients in products consumers buy in department or drug stores are generally less than what your dermatologist uses in his/her office.  Dermatologists are physicians who are specially trained to treat the skin, hair and nails.  Dermatology embraces cosmetic treatments in addition to medical treatments.  Because your dermatologist is a medical professional he/she has access to products that are more powerful and that can deliver better and longer-lasting results than what one can get at home.  West Houston Dermatology and Stephen Mahoney, M.D. offer a multitude of cosmetic procedures from Botox to CoolSculpting.