Make Mom Proud (May 2008)
"Spa days" are no longer just for Hollywood’s A-list. Across Northern Virginia, spas are catering to people craving a little R&R at all price points. But for this Mother’s Day, we sought out more than just a back-room manicure in what’s really a hair salon. these spas have a dedicated menu of services bound to please even the pickiest of Moms, no matter the price limitations or where her preferences lie. Read more

A Cut Above (April 2008)
Finding a simpatico salon can be hair-raising, especially for newly transplanted Virginians without area friends for guidance. Northern Virginia Magazine solved that problem, polling 2006’s “Best” salons for peer-to-peer recommendations. What qualities define the Bests’ best list? Passion, education and client respect are musts. Read more

Putting a Cap on Anxiety (April 2008)
This inherent desire in people for youthfulness has fueled the field of cosmetic surgery, which has continued to grow at a dizzying rate. According to statistics released by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), consumers spent $12.2 billion on plastic surgery in 2006 to pay for 11.5 million procedures. Although the number of women who undergo plastic surgery far outweighs the number of men, there has been a steady rise in the number of men who seek cosmetic procedures. Read more

Cutting Edge (October 2007)
This inherent desire in people for youthfulness has fueled the field of cosmetic surgery, which has continued to grow at a dizzying rate. According to statistics released by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), consumers spent $12.2 billion on plastic surgery in 2006 to pay for 11.5 million procedures. Although the number of women who undergo plastic surgery far outweighs the number of men, there has been a steady rise in the number of men who seek cosmetic procedures. Read more

It's a Spas World After All (May 2007)
Day spas, those havens from the stresses of modernity, are no longer the preserve of the pampered few. Yet with new spas opening weekly in Northern Virginia, it is easy to become overwhelmed by selection. So we waded through the spas, non-spas and wannabe spas to find places where we would send our girlfriends, our mothers, our daughters and even the guys in our lives—Who knew research could be so relaxing? The criteria were two-fold: the spas had to offer full-service facials, massage and waxing, and also be hip to the latest trends in detoxification, anti-aging and wellness. So here is the run down on the rub down: Twenty great spas. You choose which is right for you. Read more

A Frown Turned Upside Down (April 2007)
On the corner of Dr. Csaba Magassy's desk in his McLean office stands a miniature statue of Venus. The plump, fleshy icon, Roman goddess of beauty and love, is an anachronism in today's Barbie-doll slim ideal of proportion and beauty. For Ann Boyer, neither the mythological nor societal vision of beauty makes any difference to her. "I want to be who I am," she says. Read more

Top Doctors 2007 (February 2007)
Northern Virginia and environs could be considered an embarrassment of riches in terms of excellent medical care, yet one can be at a loss to identify physicians with superb credentials, experience and reputation when such things really matter. On these pages you'll find 100 practitioners who excel in 33 fields of specialty. We profile seven of them. Culled by independent, physician-led research firm Castle Connolly, these physicians are not only highly regarded by their peers, but carefully vetted and selected. Come meet our top doctors. They are among the best in the nation. Read more

2006 Top Dentists (Winter 2006)
"The American ideal of what is white and what is not has completely changed within the last five years," says Dr. Kevin Ryan of the Springfield Esthetic Dental Center. "Lighter isn't good enough." Ryan is referring to the increased desire for extreme tooth whitening, due in part to the plethora of consumer ads and beauty makeover shows that flaunt porcelain perfection. A recent study of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that demand for tooth whitening procedures has increased by more than 300 percent since 1996. Read more