As far back as George Washington and his dentures, American politicians have had to factor their looks into the calculus of their own electoral likability. But now the relentless technology-driven news cycle — in which politicians find themselves on call for talk shows and perennially downloadable — is increasing the scrutiny of public officials.

早在〔美國國父〕喬治．華盛頓為他的假牙所苦之等，美國政治人物在評估他們勝選的可能性時，都要計入容貌的因素。如今，在無情的科技驅動下的新聞周期，使政治人物發現，他們隨時得上談話性節目，而且永遠可以下載，已經增加民眾對政府官員的監督。

Under pressure to look seamless without looking Botoxed, some are turning to doctors to get them camera-ready with laser treatments.

這些政客面臨強大的壓力要看來無懈可擊，但又不能一看便知打了肉毒桿菌，有些還為了上鏡，請醫師幫他們做雷射治療。

In Washington, no one embodies this convergence of politics, looks and media status more than Dr. Tina S. Alster, dermatologist to the powerful.

在華府，沒有人比提娜．艾斯特醫師這位權貴的皮膚科醫師，更能將政治、外貌、和媒體地位兼容並蓄，融為一體。

Designer-clad, immaculately blond, conversant in foreign and domestic politics and an habitue of the Beltway social circuit, Dr. Alster has a roster of patients she will not name because of doctor-patient confidentiality. But she is not averse to describing them in general terms.

艾斯特醫師身穿名牌服飾，一頭完美的金髮，嫻熟國內外政情，同時也是華府環城高速公路社交圈的常客，她有一群病人，由於醫病間的保密條款，她不願透露姓名。

"I certainly see members of Congress and the White House, heads of state and royalty," Dr. Alster said in her new office on K Street. "I also have a lot of ambassadors."

「我的病人的確包括國會和白宮成員，以及國家元首和王室成員，」艾斯特在她位於華府Ｋ街的新辦公室說。「另外還有很多大使。」

Dr. Alster, 47, is an expert in using lasers, which can treat any perceived blemish, be it wrinkle, sunspot, pimple, pore, scar or birthmark. With this kind of specialty, she is tailor-made for the digital era of Webcast presidential announcements.

47歲的艾斯特，專長是雷射治療，任何可見的瑕疵，包括皺紋、雀斑、面皰、毛孔、傷疤或胎記。有了這項專長，她簡直是為數位時代網路直播總統宣示量身訂製的。

"She is the Rolls-Royce of skin care," said John B. Breaux, a former senator from Louisiana. Mr. Breaux said Dr. Alster has treated his face for hidrocystoma, a type of benign cyst.

「她是皮膚照護界的勞斯萊斯。」前路易斯安納州參議員布洛克斯說。布洛克斯說，艾斯特醫師曾幫他治臉上的一種良性囊腫。

Dr. Alster said she is also treating two presidential candidates, a statement that is difficult to confirm because she would not name them. Now that candidates are already campaigning, tweaking their appearance without making changes that are noticeable to TV viewers or bloggers has become more challenging, she said.

艾斯特醫師說，她下在為兩位總統候選人治療，但由於她不願透露姓名，所以無從證實。但由於候選人已經展開競選，整修他們的儀容，而希望電視觀眾或布落客不至於察覺，挑戰性愈來愈高，她說。