THE LEFT LANE
Acid fixes wrinkles

Advertiser Staff and News Services

More than 5 million nonsurgical wrinkle-removal procedures were done in the United States in 2001. Gannett News Service

The biggest buzz yet in the world of cosmetic quick-fixes has been about fillers with hyaluronic acid — the fluid that lubricates joints in your body. One is a Swedish-made synthetic called Restylane, also known as Perlane. Another European-made product expected to gain FDA approval within the next year is Artecoll, an injectable solution made with microscopic plastic beads and bovine collagen.

If approved, they and a slew of other new products will join the list of "lunchtime procedures" that can iron out wrinkles without actual surgery. The market is huge: Last year, more than 5 million of these quick wrinkle fixes were done in the United States.

In an agreement between corporate cousins, HBO is giving international broadcast rights for its documentary "In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11/01" to CNN International. CNN International will air the documentary, which uses news and amateur footage to tell the story of the attacks on the World Trade Center, several times over two weeks this month. "Airing this extraordinary HBO documentary on CNN International affords millions of people around the world an opportunity to bring the profound events of Sept. 11 and its aftermath into sharper focus," says Walter Isaacson, chairman and CEO of CNN. U.S. viewers won't get to see the documentary unless they subscribe to HBO. But HBO does plan a video release of "In Memoriam," with proceeds going to Sept. 11-related charities.

Post-attack trends

Faith Popcorn has made a lasting mark on our culture since she founded her marketing and trend-forecasting consulting firm, BrainReserve, in 1974 in New York. Here are six trends she says to watch for:

• Anchoring: We are reaching back to our spiritual roots and recalling what made us feel secure in the past to get ready for the future.
• Cashing Out: Working men and women are questioning their personal/career satisfaction and goals and are opting for simpler lifestyles.
• Down-Aging: Baby Boomers, nostalgic for their carefree childhoods, are finding comfort in familiar pursuits and products from their youth.
• EVEolution: The way women think and behave is affecting business and causing a marketing shift.
• Pleasure Revenge: Fed up with denial, consumers are having secret bacchanals. They're mad as hell and just want to have some fun.
• Small Indulgences: Stressed-out consumers are seeking affordable luxuries as rewards.