Plastic Surgery

You are a woman and you want to look better and beautiful all the time. The only problem is you want to look like a celebrity. This is a possibility today since cosmetic surgery has become a fad among ordinary people.

Gone are the days that only the celebrities in Hollywood can afford cosmetic surgeries. And there are more reasons to undergo the knife and needle than just to look fabulous and desirable.

The influence of Hollywood stars and models made it possible for ordinary people to think about cosmetic surgery. The procedures are expensive and painful, but for those who want it, the pain and expense are well worth it.

There are many reasons why people undergo plastic surgery. Reconstructive surgery is used to fix damaged or deformed body parts, while aesthetic and cosmetic plastic surgery is for the improvement of one’s body.

The most common parts of the body that undergo plastic surgery are:

• Breasts - The type of plastic surgery that is done for women’s breasts are breast reduction and breast augmentation.
• Ears - Ear reduction and fixes are done especially to those who have large and protruding ears.
• Eyes - Eyelids correction and eye bags removal are the most common procedures.
• Face - Facelifts and cosmetic plastic surgery to fix wrinkles, acne scars and creases on the face are the most popular among other procedures. It is most common among older female celebrities.
• Hair - Hair filling to fix balding scalp is done with the use of the patient’s own hair. This is popular among men who have thinning or balding hairlines.
• Nose - Rhinoplasty is the type of plastic surgery that is used to fix the shape of the nose or treat an underlying medical condition such as crooked nasal bones that block the nasal passages.
• Tummy - Tummy tuck, liposuction and abdominoplasty are for fixing and flattening saggy abdomen or tummy.

Although plastic surgery is now safer and better, try to think more than twice if you wish to undergo this treatment. There are many people who undergo plastic surgery and regret the procedure afterwards because of disappointments and relationship issues.

Is this what you really want? Are you doing it for yourself or for others? Ask yourself first if you do need to undergo plastic surgery. Think, rethink and ask your loved ones of their opinions before making a final decision.

The concept of cosmetic surgery does not end on just beautifying women; it is a way to uplift self-esteem and self-image. You may notice that some women who were beautiful before cosmetic surgery would still go for the procedure. It is because of their low self-image/low self-esteem that pushes them to do it.

Most of the time, cosmetic surgery becomes the best resort to improve oneself. Women of today are challenged by the desire to look better to be accepted by the society. However, there are implications in resorting to cosmetic surgery. Aside from the pain and expense, relationships and attitude problems may arise.

If you are the type of modern woman who might consider cosmetic surgery in the future, think about it now and do some research. Ask yourself if you want to change or alter who you are from the inside and out.

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LASIK

LASIK or Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis is a type of corrective eye surgery to treat conditions such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. This is the most commonly done refractive eye procedure, partly because the procedure is relatively painless and produces quick results.

How LASIK is done

In LASIK, a microkeratome is used to create a small circular flap in the cornea. This flap is then held out of the way so that a laser beam can be focused on the corneal tissue. This beam is programmed to remove a definite amount of tissue from the cornea with each pulse, thus flattening the curve of the cornea and allowing it to refract rays better, giving the patient clearer vision. After the procedure, the flap is then put back into place to cover the area where the corneal tissue was removed.

Conditions that can be cured by LASIK

Nearsightedness- in this condition the eyeball is longer than normal or curves too sharply, causing the light that enters to focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it. Signs of nearsightedness include blurry distance vision which becomes clearer when squinting.

Farsightedness- this is a result of the light landing behind the retina instead of on it and is often the result of a shorter-than-average eyeball or a cornea that is too flat.

Astigmatism- astigmatism is the most common vision problem and the result of an irregularly-shaped cornea. In some cases it may be caused by an irregularly-shaped lens which is located behind the cornea (lenticular astigmatism).

Preoperative Preparations

The first step that your doctor will do is make a thorough assessment to make sure that you do not have any conditions that will disqualify you from having the surgery. These conditions include an immune system disease, persistent dry eyes, and certain eye characteristics (for example, deep set eyes may make the procedure more difficult and prone to more risks).

Then he does a more thorough exam on your eyes to note the irregularities and to determine how much correction is needed. A wavefront scanner if often used to create a more precise map of the irregularities in your eye.

Patients are often advised not to wear make-up and eye creams the day before the surgery. Those who wear contact lenses need to remove their lenses a few weeks before the exam since contacts can change the shape of the cornea.

During the Procedure

Patients are often given a mild sedative to keep them relaxed. Anaesthetic eye drops are applied on the eye to numb the eye, rendering the procedure painless. The doctor then uses a microkeratome to cut a flap on the eye and the laser is used to ablate the eye tissue. The entire procedure may take a short as 5 to 30 minutes.

After the procedure, the patient is often given medications to relieve any pain. The eyes may burn, itch or become watery a few hours after surgery, which is why patients are often advised to rest after the procedure. A shield is placed over the eye until it heals.

Outcomes (Prognosis)

Patients will be able to see the day after the surgery, although the full effects of the surgery will only be experienced a few months after the surgery, as vision gradually improves. Improvement in vision is also affected in part by the condition of the patient’s vision before surgery.

Risks

As with any other kind of surgery, LASIK carries with it certain risks that you have to be aware of if you are planning to undergo this particular procedure. Some of these risks include:

Undercorrection- this occurs when too little corneal tissue is removed and is more common in nearsighted patients

Overcorrection- when too much corneal tissue is removed, this may not cause a return to normal vision at all, but the formation of new vision problems. Overcorrection is often more difficult to repair than undercorrection

Astigmatism- this is often the result of uneven tissue removal. Patients may need to have another surgery to correct this problem

Gray halos and double vision- although this goes away after the application of eye drops, some cases may require a second surgery

Dry eyes- this may also be relieved by eye drops but a second surgery may be needed in some cases

Infection, tearing and swelling- the flap may become infected, and tearing may occur if you accidentally rub your eyes right after the procedure

It is important that you consult your doctor immediately once signs of these complications appear for prompt correction.

Patients who have undergone this particular surgery often report of a great improvement in their quality of life, including improvement in personal safety, greater confidence and self-esteem, and better participation in sports and other activities. If you are suffering from a vision problem that can be corrected by LASIK, discuss your options with your doctor.

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Facelifts

A facelift procedure is also called a rhytidectomy, and is usually done in order to improve one’s facial appearance and make a person look good.

How would you know if the facelift procedure is good for you?

Primarily, a facelift procedure is not just to treat wrinkles or make it go away. Facelifts may also help improve any damage brought about by the normal process of aging or any form of skin loosening. This includes creases usually found in the mouth and nose.

Variations in facelifts

Whether your wish is to have a feather facelift or deep plane face lifts, a surgery is always available to meet your varying needs. Meanwhile, facial implants are those that are inserted in the face areas in order to restore a youthful and more balanced appearance of the skin. The purpose of facial implants is to strengthen a jaw line that is weak or accentuate one’s cheekbones. Usually, face implants are done along with plastic surgery facelifts.

Thread Lifts meanwhile is different from facelifts but both are similar cosmetic facial procedures that are gaining popularity. However, there is a facial cosmetic procedure that is less invasive than a conventional facelift. This is called thermage and it is a procedure that uses radio waves in order to improve the contours of the face thereby reducing wrinkles.

Another kind of facelift is one that is done on the eyes or eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty. This specific surgery aims to correct nerve-damaged or oversized disproportional eyelids.

Meanwhile, a forehead lift or brow lift is a procedure done on people aged forty years old and seventy years old. This facelift treats furrows and deep facial lines which naturally accumulate along with age.

The chin also experiences surgery via an augmentation or reduction. Whether it is for cosmetic purposes or corrective purposes, there are facelift options to resize the chin or to reshape it. Having a surgery chin helps one in achieving a balanced facial appearance.

All in all, the general costs of facelifts depend much on the surgeon, the region and the extent as well as the type of facelift surgery you choose. An accurate quote is impossible as a lot of factors contribute to the bottom line cost.

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Dermabrasion: When, Where, Who, What, How

First things first, dermabrasion is a medical cosmetic procedure wherein the skin’s surface or epidermis is removed using the process of abrasion. Dermabrasion is usually done to remove skin that is damaged by the sun or to help lessen the visibility of dark spots and scars. Take note that dermabrasion is not a new medical procedure.

When and where did the process of dermabrasion begin?

Believe it or not, dermabrasion has since been used during ancient times specifically by physicians in Egypt. They used techniques similar to today’s process of sandpapering the skin in order to treat unsightly scars.

But the first recorded controlled-skin-abrasion was done in the year 1905 by a German dermatologist named Kromayer who used rotating rasps and wheels to treat keratoses, scars caused by acne and hyperpigmented areas of the skin. However, it was only during the 1950’s that the process gained popularity.

Who popularized dermabrasion?

It was Abner Kurtin, a New York dermatologist working at Mount Sinai Hospital who first presented patients who went through the dermabrasion process using modified versions of dental equipment in the year 1953. The actual “dermabrasion” term was coined by Blau and Rein in 1954. Later on, Yarborough and Alt contributed further by advocating the use of diamond fraise as well as end piece wire-brushes. Then, the procedure was further improved with the development of anti-viral medications as well as dressings that are semi-permeable, cryoanesthesia and tumescent anesthesia.

What is the purpose of dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion is done to improve the skin of the face or any skin area scarred by previous surgeries or accidents. Dermabrasion is also done in order to smoothen wrinkles on the face or around the area of the mouth. It is also used to eliminate growths that are pre-cancerous.

All in all, anyone and everyone could undergo dermabrasion and benefit from it. Although people who are older and have gone thru dermabrasion may take a longer time to heal, other factors which could affect dermabrasion results include a patient’s medical history, coloring and skin type. People who have dark complexions as well as Asian skin may develop discoloration or blotchiness after the process. It is best to discuss with your trusted surgeon any issues you may have about dermabrasion prior to going thru the process.

Still, dermabrasion remains a tool that is useful for resurfacing the skin and helps enhance one’s appearance, develop self-confidence and even prevent aging.

Dermabrasion before, during and after

Dermabrasion is generally applied to treat deformed skin areas as well as other conditions of the skin such as tattoos, sun damage, wrinkles and age spots. Take note that dermabrasion is generally not effective in the treatment of congenital defects on the skin, moles, burn scars and birthmarks that are pigmented. But what really happens in a dermabrasion medical procedure?

What happens before dermabrasion?

Before going through dermabrasion, the patient’s complete medical history is taken and the person’s general health is carefully examined and evaluated. The consultation begins with the assigned dermasurgeon describing the various anesthesia types to be used, the description of the procedure and the expected results. Possible risks as well as complications are discussed by the doctor. Photographs are also taken before the surgery commences, this is done to further evaluate how the skin has improved. During this time, instructions on pre-operative care and post-operative care are given.

What happens during dermabrasion

The dermabrasion procedure is performed in the office of a dermasurgeon or a surgical outpatient facility. At this time, medication to be able to make the patient relax is given and the target dermabrasion area is cleansed thoroughly using a cleansing antiseptic agent.

The area is then treated with a particular spray to be able to freeze the target skin. Local anesthesia tumescent is used and a rotary high-speed instrument with a brush or abrasive wheel abrades and removes the skin’s upper layer and helps improve the skin surface’s irregularities. This procedure is done to be able to rejuvenate the skin’s appearance as a new remodeled skin layer surfaces thus replacing the previously damaged skin. Generally, the new skin appears more refreshed and smoother and the results usually last remarkably long.

What happens after dermabrasion

After undergoing thru the dermabrasion procedure, the target skin has the feeling of being brushed and burned severely. Certain medications may be prescribed in order to help alleviate the patient’s discomfort as healing occurs anywhere between seven to ten days.

As the new skin heals, it may at first appear pinkish until it slowly appears normal. In a lot of cases, the skin’s pinkish color fades by the eighth or twelfth week. Before that time, make-up could be used to cover the area up. generally, people could begin their normal activities after dermabrasion within seven or ten days.

Patients are highly advised to avoid direct as well as indirect sunlight for at least six months as well as to regulalr use sunscreen especially when in the outdoors.

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Cellulite

First things first, cellulite is a condition that occurs not just in women but also in men. This is where the skin area within the pelvic region, abdomen, lower limbs appear to have become dimpled just after the onslaught of puberty.

Believe it or not, cellulite may have existed since time immemorial but the actual term was only coined during the 1920’s. Later on, references to this unsightly skin condition began appearing in English publications specifically the prestigious Vogue magazine.

Other terms used to describe cellulite include, cottage cheese skin, hail damage and orange peel syndrome. In more technical and scientific terms, cellulite is called gynoid lipodystrophy, dermopanniculosis and adiposis edematosa.

But what really is cellulite?

The fact of the matter is that cellulite is a collection of body fat that insists to push itself against the skin causing the skin surface to appear lumpy or dimpled. You know you have cellulite if you pinch the skin on your thighs and lumpy areas appear. But fret not, everyone has cellulite, not just you.

There are numerous factors that affect just how much cellulite a person has. These include genes, age, skin thickness, gender and your lifestyle. However, whatever the cause of cellulite is, cellulite is difficult to get rid of. There are promises and treatments of getting rid of cellulite, but you have to be completely discerning to know which works and which are those that are merely pulling your leg and simply want you to part with your hard-earned money.

Take note that there are treatments made in salons that delude you to believe that they make cellulite disappear when all they do is puff the skin up via deep massage.

The best way and probably the most effective method to get rid of cellulite is by decreasing the amount of fat in your body. Chances are, you may have lots of cellulite when you are overweight or obese. One thing to do is engage in exercise or any consistent physical activity. This could include strength training and aerobic exercise as both help in firming up the muscles and the skin.

However, for the meantime, using a self tanning item or product aids in keeping cellulite a lot less obvious and visible as cellulite is not as noticeable on dark skin.

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Breast Implants

Breast implant or what is also known as augmentation mammaplasty is a surgical procedure used to enlarge or augment the breast to fulfill one’s desire for fuller breast or restore breast volume lost.
The procedure involves using implant of breast-shaped pouches that are saccular in shape, had a silicone outer shell and filled with silicone gel or saline (salt Water).

To make normal breasts larger for cosmetic reason is usually the main purpose for breast implant to be performed. Also, breasts that are unequal in size due to trauma or congenital deformity may also be equalized with this procedure. Male-to-female transsexuals may also resolve to breast implantation to achieve the physical appearance of a female.

The major benefit that breast implant brings is enhancing one’s appearance as it increase the fullness and projection of one’s breasts which lead to an improved and balanced figure therefore the self-image and self-confidence is also boost.

A cosmetic breast implant is usually an outpatient procedure and may be done under local or general anesthesia depending on the preference of the patient and physician. An incision is required to be made through the armpit, under the breast, or around the areola (darkened area around the nipple) as these techniques create the most inconspicuous scars. The implant will then be placed between the breast tissue and underlying chest muscle, or under the chest muscle. All in all the operation takes approximately one to two hours.

After the surgery, normal activities may be restricted for up to one week and stitches are usually removed in seven to ten days. Ideally one can resume all routines, including vigorous exercise, in about three weeks. The scars that resulted from the surgery will be red for approximately one month, but will fade to their final appearance within a year or two.

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Abdominoplasty

There are two main reasons why people go for abdominoplasty: first is to remove excess skin and fat due to childbirth (for women) and second is to repair the abdominal area after massive weight loss. These two reasons branch out from one individual to another, but these factors are always the driving mechanisms behind individual preferences.

When looking into weight loss issues, abdominoplasty should not be the sole solution but rather the enhancing factor after weight loss. In the case of morbidly obese people, an abdominoplasty after a gastric bypass is necessary to reconstruct and fix the individual’s new appearance.

For women who have given birth, reconstructing their abdomen to flatten and to look fit can only be done with abdominoplasty. Ugly wrinkling on the abdominal area is not flattering at all, which is why many married women choose to undergo abdominoplasty after giving birth to their last child.

Flattening the tummy comes with a price. An abdominoplasty procedure usually costs around $4,000 to $20,000. This procedure also requires long recovery time to allow the incisions to heal and for the muscle tissues to repair.

Enough rest and bed time is needed to recover faster. Less stress and strenuous activities should be avoided during the first few weeks. Movement is usually very minimal to allow faster healing.

Is Abdominoplasty for you?

The only way to know if you are a perfect candidate for an abdominoplasty procedure is to visit a plastic surgeon’s clinic. Sometimes, even if you think you are a good candidate for this procedure, there could be some underlying health conditions that need to be addressed first before anything else.

A perfectly healthy person is a good candidate for abdominoplasty because the healthier you are, the faster your healing and recovery process.

As an exception, the morbidly obese folks can address health issues after a gastric bypass and abdominoplasty. Losing huge weight is the first step and repairing the leftover is the next step to achieving a healthier-looking individual.

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Popular Facial Care Options

Facial care and maintaining a healthy body is important to boost your confidence and to look and feel great. Acne pimples generally develop in children over the age of 10 and teenagers and may continue into your 70s. Spectro AcneCare products are ideal for people who experience mild to moderate acne or the occasional pimple. Prevention is your best course of action. Older adults may turn to Botox treatments to target wrinkles in order to reduce the looks of aging.

Green tea protects against heart disease: study

LONDON (Reuters) - A few cups of green tea each day may offer potential health benfits as it may help prevent heart disease. The study showed that green tea improves blood flow and the ability of arteries to relax, said Charalambos Vlachopoulos, a cardiologist at the Athens Medical School in Greece who worked on the study.
Other studies have shown that black tea also has benefits for cardiovascular health.
The Greek team said they believed green tea might be even better because it had higher quantities of beneficial compounds called flavonoids — some of which are lost in the oxidation process that black tea undergoes.
Flavonoids are also found in cocoa, tomatoes and grapes.
“A couple of cups a day would probably be a good dose for people,” Vlachopoulos said. “This is the first study to show these effects for green tea.”
The researchers gave 14 healthy volunteers either green tea, diluted caffeine or hot water on three separate occasions and then measured the function of endothelial cells lining the circulatory system.
These cells help relax arteries and ease blood flow.
“What is important is these effects are evident fairly rapidly, within 30 minutes,” Vlachopoulos said.
The measurements taken 30, 90 and 120 minutes following consumption showed an almost immediate benefit among people who had drunk green tea, he said.
Heart disease is the world’s leading cause of death. It is caused by fatty deposits that harden and block arteries, high blood pressure which damages blood vessels, and other factors.
While the researchers looked only at a short-term impact, Vlachopolous said the team’s not-yet-published studies suggest the protection is long lasting.
“Green tea is consumed less in the Western world than black tea, but it could be more beneficial because of the way it seems to improve (circulatory) function,” he said.

Get Set for Dieting

We see it everywhere; fast food restaurants coming out with “healthy choices” menus, video game consoles trying to get people up on their feet, and endless TV commercials promoting diet clinics and monthly food plans. We are bombarded by all this information and are being exposed to the immense amount of advertising for all the products and services that becoming ever-so popular.
All this information can be confusing and even overwhelming for someone who wants to lose a few pounds or to even try to make healthier life decisions. There is just so much out there available to us that it is difficult just to remember all the options we wanted to further look into and research.

Weight-loss diets restrict the intake of specific foods, or food in general, to reduce body weight. What works to reduce body weight for one person will not necessarily work for another, due to metabolic differences and lifestyle factors. This makes it all the more necessary to gather as much information as possible in order to find the right one for you. Also, for a variety of reasons, most people find it difficult to maintain significant weight loss over time — among individuals that have lost 10% or more of body weight, only 20% are able to maintain that weight loss for a full year. This requires trying out different methods and strategies to tackle your weight loss goals. It is important to be well informed of the plan you will go through with in order to get the desired results and also to be cautious not to harm your body in the process of reaching your goals. You must do your research to find the best weight loss program for you. The best way is to go on a doctor recommended diet so you know its a safe weight loss program and you will be able to stay on a proper healthy diet. Celebrities proper diet is the practice of ingesting food in a regulated fashion to achieve or maintain a controlled weight. Here is an all-in-one site that lists out many options available to you and touches on just about everything you need or want to know about weight loss. From detox diets to lapband surgery, and to eliptical training, you can find all the information you need about these increasingly popular trends in weight loss in our society today. There are also numerous related links that can help you browse around and expand your knowledge on the topic even more, or even just to feed your curiosity. All the information offered on this site will help prospective dieters become more knowledgeable of what options are available out there.
Even if you’re not looking to lose a lot of weight or planning to go through a major lifestyle change, there are many tips offered throughout that can help you become conscience of what you are consuming so you can make healthier food choices for you and your family. Mental and emotional health is an important part of overall fitness.

There are many resources that are helpful in providing advice, information, weight loss tips and options for all those who are looking to find out more about everything that has to do with weight loss in our society today.

Detox methodology that might help you

Like every thing else the human body needs to be cleansed inside out every now and then, otherwise the accumulation of harmful, or in some cases even poisonous elements, may cause serious diseases, mental and physical fatigue, pains in various parts of your body, and an overall degeneration. So if you are trying to retrieve that lost spark, if you want to regain that zest for life, natural detoxification is the way to go. Get rid of those terrible toxins by natural body detox methodologies.

Botox treatment process is quite brief, and as mentioned it is efficient and simple to the point that you can go back to your normal daily routine after a treatment and a few hours of rest.

Botox Cosmetic is the only FDA-approved botulinum toxin-A which can be used to treat wrinkles and frown lines. The toxin is minute in dose which makes it safe for patients but potent for temporarily immobilizing the facial muscles to reduce and prevent more wrinkles from developing.

Advice from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery

The ASDS have the following advice for those who are considering Botox Cosmetic:

* Look for a qualified or certified physician to administer the treatment.
* Ensure that the physician is well-trained and qualified to perform facial skin surgery.
* Discuss about the health risks and benefits of the procedure.
* Refrain from drinking alcohol after the treatment.
* Remain upright for a few hours after the treatment.
* Choose only the appropriate medical techniques such as the use of sterile equipments, gloves and proper surgical attire.
* Make sure that the clinic or center is certified for cosmetic procedures.
* Make sure that life-saving equipments are available.

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Tip #1
To make a delicious low fat mayonnaise simply combine one teaspoon Dijon mustard or one teaspoon satay sauce with low fat yoghurt.

Tip #2
Avoid skipping meals. Eating increases your matabolism, thus skipping meals can trick your body into slowing down its metabolism in an attempt to conserve calories during a period it perceives as a situation where limited fuel is available.

Tip #3
Stuffing vegetables such as capsicum and zucchini with tasty fillings of mince chicken, meat or tuna are easy to do and very healthy and low fat.

Tip #4
Pita bread roll ups or wraps with salad fillings, are great for picnics, school lunches or to take to work.

Tip #5
Exerise, exercise, exercise! Healthy weight loss exercise increases your metabolism and burning off excess fat. When is the best time to exercise? Our metabolism slows down about 8 hours after we wake up, so 30 minutes of exercise in the evening, before dinner will increase your metabolism for about two to three more hours just when it was starting to slow down. This produces a significant increase in fat burned off, even after the exercise is over.

Tip #6
Adding alfalfa or mung beans to your salad brings in extra iron.

Tip #7
Good cooking and healthy eating begins with learning about nutrition and how to prepare healthy recipes.

Tip #8
Plan the family menus in advance and just purchase those ingredients at a once weekly shopping trip.

Tip #9
Be positive! The more you feel good about yourself the easier and faster it is to lose weight.

Tip #10
Learn how to make over family favourite recipes by cutting out fats, salt and sugar. Substitute non fat yoghurt for cream, stir fry minus oil and use herbs and spices instead of salt for flavour.

Other healthy weight loss tips