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Showing posts from May, 2009

Turning Back The Clock With Cosmetic Facelift Surgery

It seems that every time we turn on our televisions, open a magazine, or listen to the radio we are met with another reference, story, or advertisement for cosmetic facelift surgery. No longer are the masses content to just grow old gracefully; not when there are medical miracles happening that can prolong youth and sustain beauty. And while cosmetic facelift surgery is certainly not for everyone, in many it has transformed the way they feel about aging – putting their appearance back into their control. Cosmetic facelift surgery works to erase common signs of aging – drooping eyelids, deep fold and wrinkles, loose skin, and loss of definition. It can be an incredibly successful surgery that – when healed – can restore ten years to your face. But, as with any surgery, cosmetic facelift surgery must be approached with caution and education. First and foremost, you must decide if cosmetic facelift surgery is something that you want to do for yourself or something that you feel must be do

Stem Cells For Osteoarthritis: I Look Ten Years Younger Since my Facelift… But my Knees Still Feel Their Age… What Can I Do?

One of the first articles to mention stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis was an article published in the December 2003 article Arthritis and Rheumatism (Murphy JM, et al. Arthritis Rheum. 2003; 48: 3464-3474.) The research team took two groups of goats and created osteoarthritis in their knees by removing the medial meniscus and cutting out the anterior cruciate ligament. After six weeks, one group of goats received an injection of sodium hyaluronan (a lubricant commonly used to treat symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee) while the other group received a single dose of 10 million stem cells, originally extracted from the goats’ bone marrow, and then suspended in sodium hyaluronan before injection into the knee. In the knees which had been treated by stem cell injections, researchers observed a regeneration of joint tissue and a decrease in cartilage degeneration. The authors commented on their findings… "there may be a therapeutic benefit associated with local delivery of stem

Facelift Alternatives, A Complete Guide

Lately I've noticed a stubborn little crease on my forehead. I lift the skin just a bit, mimicking a facelift - and the crease disappears. During a facelift, the surgeon makes an incision, usually around the hairline, and then pulls the facial skin upward to smooth loose skin and wrinkles, and provide a more youthful appearance. While a facelift can provide dramatic results, I'm not quite ready for all that. I'd just like something to freshen my face a bit. And yet I'm smart enough to know that some products and procedures billed as facelift alternatives are likely to have more of an effect on my wallet than on my face. But how to separate the facts from the fictions? I turned to an expert for help - and here's what I learned. Topical Treatments Dr. Joel Schlessinger, MD, FAAD, FAACS, president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, assured me that creams can be very effective when targeting specific problems. No single cream can do i

Benzoyl Peroxide Products Get A Facelift

One of the problems with benzoyl peroxide topical acne treatments is that they can be quite irritating, particularly to sensitive skin. Those fans of benzoyl peroxide will thus be pleased to learn that one skin care company that supplies prescription acne and skin care products is releasing a treatment with a delivery system that reduces benzoyl peroxide's irritating effect. Called NeoBenz Micro, this acne treatment will be available only by prescription, which is one drawback. On the plus side, it should mean that the acne sufferer is given the appropriate strength to their particular needs. It is aimed at helping people with mild to moderate acne, and comes in three strengths. These are 3.5% benzoyl peroxide, 5.5% benzoyl peroxide, and 8.5% benzoyl peroxide. The difference in this treatment as compared to regular benzoyl peroxide solutions, is that it is a time release product. The method designed by SkinMedica, NeoBenz Micro's developer, uses very small 'sponges', ca

Facelift Surgery

When people talk about cosmetic surgery, the facelift is often mentioned. A facelift is a complicated process that will change your facial appearance, giving you new definition or even a new look. If you are contemplating getting a facelift, then there are several aspects of the procedure that deserve careful consideration. Being educated about all parts of a facelift will help you determine if it is a procedure with which you will be happy. Most surgeons consider the facelift to be one of the most complicated types of cosmetic surgery. Prior to getting a facelift, you should verify that your chosen surgeon has an adequate amount of experience and can offer you the best procedures both during the surgery and during the recovery process. This will help to make sure that the cosmetic surgery is performed appropriately. When considering the facelift procedure, it is vital to consider the different areas on which you will have work done. The first aspect that will disappear with age is the

Do It Yourself Non-Surgical Facelift

I’m the first to investigate a new anti-aging product or procedure, and have been for the last twenty years. Sometimes I’ve even gone so far as to indulge myself with the promise of eternal youth. So either the earth’s gravitational pull is getting stronger or raising children has finally taken its toll. Here I am, middle aged and wondering what’s the next thing to “go south.” I’m an esthetician with all the tools of the trade. I have all the gizmos and gadgets that when used regularly will minimize the effects of aging. So why don’t I use them on myself? Because it seems that there is never enough time. With all the new technology such as lasers, thermage, microcurrent and magic lotions and potions, there is always a cost. It might be the price, the risks or the inconvenience. What if there was something you could do in the privacy of your own home for as little as 10 minutes a day. I know, I’m beginning to sound like an informercial but the claims are that there really are things you

A Weekend Facelift

Facelift or Rhitydectomy is a popular cosmetic surgery where the skin on the face and neck is pulled back to remove wrinkles, sags, jowls etc to give a firm and youthful appearance to the face. As a person ages, the skin on the face gets wrinkled, the jaw line grows slack and jowly. This is due to gravity, sunlight, wear and tear and stress on the facial skin. In a facelift operation, a local anesthesia or a general anesthesia is given to the patient. Incision starts from the ear to behind the ear and ends near the hairline behind the ear. After the incision, undermining is done. Undermining is separating the facial skin from the underlying tissue below the neck, chin and cheeks using scalpel and scissors. After undermining the facial suspension system are tightened with stitches. Next the skin is pulled backwards and upwards to the required extent. Then the skin is tightened with stitches. The underlying excess tissue may or may not be removed. The excess skin is removed and the incis

So You Think You Need A Facelift

Looked in the mirror only to hypercritically proclaim: "I need a facelift!"? If so, you are not alone. Every person over the age of 40 has begun to see subtle shifting in their facial appearance. Out of nowhere lines and folds have begun their development and all of a sudden, the once tight, sculpted chin has slackened leaving you feeling pretty glum knowing that you are beginning to look older than you ever thought possible. You also know that if you aren't somehow, someway proactive, this aging is not going to correct itself. There are only a few methods that will return the look of youthfulness to your face; some are natural, some are painful and expensive and some are just ludicrous gimmicks that deplete you of funds and subject you to great risk and bodily harm. Which one would you choose? The most talked about anti-aging remedies are terribly risky and dangerous because long term results have not been determined or documented. This includes injections and surgery. I

Do It Yourself Facelift

Do you look great for your age? Do you look 10 years younger than you are? Do people constantly guess your age incorrectly? Are they shocked to find out your real age? How many years younger than your real age do people say you look? How does it make you feel to look so young? What are your secrets to looking young? Is it your exercise, diet, clothes, hair, make-up or attitude? Oprah has asked her viewers the above questions and it is curious to note that most people when they look closely at themselves in the mirror do not look younger than they did ten years ago, especially if they are over the age of fifty. Why? Sagging facial muscles make you look older. Those hidden muscles situated beneath the skin begin to elongate as one ages. When this happens, the elongating muscles drag down the features, making your face look square rather than oval and all of a sudden, it is apparent that you have lost your youthful visage. Using hair color, adopting a youthful attitude, wearing hip clothe

Changing The Face Of Things Through Plastic Nose Job Surgery

To look at television or read the latest magazines, you would think that plastic nose job surgery is as common as taking your shirts in to be dry cleaned. It almost seems as if everyone is having some sort of plastic surgery these days. And the makeover shows that cover the airways validate this position. When people don’t like something about their faces or their bodies a visit to a plastic surgeon can erase the flaw. One of the most common procedures – Rhinoplasty, or plastic nose job surgery – can probably attribute its popularity to just how much it changes the look of the face. For someone whose nose has dominated their features for most of their life, plastic nose job surgery can mean a whole new appearance. It can be a powerful experience. Plastic nose job surgery, however – just like any elective surgeries – should not be entered into lightly. Surgery, of any kind, can be risky so it’s important you’ve accurately weighed the risks against the rewards. Be sure that you’re doing

Cosmetic Surgery Treatment - Reasons For a Nose Job

A nose job is an everyday occurrence now. Open a magazine, and gracing the pages there will be at least a couple of celebrities who have had their noses ‘done’ in an effort to look better. For some, it’s almost as natural as changing their hairstyles. But the truth about nose jobs are not that well-known and there is a lot of information that you must process before you decide to go ahead with a nose job. What does a nose job entail? Though nose job is how we know it, the proper term for the surgery is Rhinoplasty, also known as nose reshaping. Sometimes, a medical condition may prompt a doctor to advise a person to reshape their nose. For example, if one has difficulty in breathing, there is an obstruction in the nose, or if an accident disfigures the nose. However, many people prefer to go ahead with the operation for purely cosmetic reasons. Given below is a list that includes most of the common reasons for people to consider nose reshaping: The nose being too large or prominent A d

Nose Job From 500 BC To 2008

A nose job is medically termed as rhinoplasty. It is the name given to the surgical procedure normally performed by a plastic surgeon to improve the cosmetic appearance of a person's nose. A nose job is the medical alteration of one's nose look to make it look better. Sushruta, a Hindu physician, was the one who first introduced and developed the concept of plastic surgery for noses. It was in 500 BC when he attempted to reconstruct the noses of his amputated patients. During that time, noses were removed as punishment for certain crimes. The procedure surrounding a nose job requires local or general anesthesia, depending upon the extent of the operation. There will be incisions made inside the nose. They can also be made on the skin separating the nostrils. The surgeon would reshape the cartilage and the bone of the nose. Without anesthesia, the patient won't be able to withstand the pain. This is also the reason why nose jobs can only be conducted inside a hospital or a f

A (Nose) Job Well Done Is A Thing Of Beauty

Rhinoplasty can help change unwanted characteristics of your nose and change the look of your entire face. The nose is the center of a person's face, and therefore it acts as the most prominent attention-grabber when people look at you. A beautifully shaped nose can help create overall facial harmony and better appearance for a person, as well as change the entire look of the face. Unfortunately, some people, especially Asian people, are born with flat nose. But still fortunately, they do not necessarily have to get stuck with it for life. Rhinoplasty, also commonly known as a "nose job", has been introduced more than a hundred years ago. Rhinoplasty is a nose-reshaping surgery that helps correct deformities or makes subtle aesthetic changes for cosmetic purposes. In most cases of rhinoplasty performed on Asian patients, the bridge of the nose is raised and narrowed and the nasal width at the nose-cheek junction narrowed. It is precise surgery in which the margin of error

Closed Nose Job Procedure

While it is true that a nose job is one of the most common forms of plastic surgery, there is more than just one procedure. This brings us to the subject of closed nose job. When choosing plastic surgery, it is important to have all of the information and options for your type of procedure presented to you beforehand. This is especially important with a nose job. A nose job is a procedure where the surgeon forms or shapes the nose to a desired position. In performing a nose job procedure, surgeons have two choices on how to proceed: open nose job or closed nose job. An open nose job is by far the most common technique used to cosmetically (and medically) correct issues with the nose. In an open nose job, a small incision is made in the columella, which is the small column of skin that separates the nostrils. When this incision is made, the surgeon is able to lift the skin off of the nose exposing all of the tissue underneath including the cartilage. Surgeons find this easier to work wi

Having a Nose Job Done for the Second Time

More and more rhinoplasty patients from the 80’s and early 90’s have requested revision rhinoplasty to meet today’s trend for a prominent nose profile and defining nose tip. Alternatively, rhinoplasty patients of the past may wish to otherwise improve the aesthetic appearance of the nose or increase functionality that has been compromised years after surgery. Functional complications that have arisen from rhinoplasty procedures of the 80’s to the early 90’s include: ill-defined cartilage, unbalanced sidewalls of the nose, reduction in nose tip protrusion, and breathing impediments. Today’s Options There are often several reasons for a previous rhinoplasty patient to request a second revision procedure. This makes revision rhinoplasty surgery more complex than the initial surgery. By the same token, the advantage of secondary rhinoplasty today is that there are improved techniques available for patients to benefit from, including: Grafting Techniques: There are several grafting tech

What To Expect After A Nose Job

Cosmetic surgery on the nose is a commonly performed procedure. If you decide to have it, you need to know what to expect after a nose job. After a lot of research, you have finally decided to get nose job. Of course, you've heard about the surgery itself, the costs involved, and the expectations you can have as results from this type of plastic surgery. The next thing you should consider is what to expect after nose job. Your image immediately following surgery will be startling. You will be bruised and swollen after it has been completed. You probably won't like what you see in the mirror. Your nose might be packed with gauze. You will have a cast on your nose to support the healing nasal structure. Your doctor will tell you whether or not to keep ice or cold compresses on your nose, some people feel that bags of frozen peas make a good ice pack, as they mold to your face. Your nose will be stuffed up, and you'll have to breathe through your mouth. You'll also feel so

How Much Does A Nose Job Cost

Nearly all plastic or cosmetic surgery is considered elective, which means health insurance does not pay for it. This means you need to have a grasp of the full cost of nose job surgery. Nose job is a term which really refers to nose molding or nose forming, and it is one of the world's most common plastic surgery procedures. Many people choose to have it performed because they are unhappy with the shape and size of their nose, and want to improve the look of their face. Once you've decided to have nose job, the second question many people ask is, “What is the cost of a nose job?” As with any medical procedure, the cost of nose job differs depending on who performs the surgery, where it is performed and what resources are needed to complete the surgery. A nose job is one of the few plastic surgery procedures that can occasionally be covered by insurance. Coverage can arise when the surgery must be performed for medical reasons such as to correct a breathing problem. If your nos

Tummy Tuck Alternative

If you were considering a tummy tuck, then you may want to read this article to find out a natural alternative. First off, because I don't know you and haven't seen your body, I can't say for sure if this will work for you or not. I know it'll definitely help your belly region look better, but I don't know if it will do enough for your belly for you to be happy with the results. As with most things, you get what you put into it. If you do what I'm about to talk about with very little dedication and not much enthusiasm, it probably won't work for you... or at least not as well as it could have. This exercise has proven to take off an average of 1.75 inches in less than 1 month for 100's of my clients. The exercise is called "the vacuum pose". It's similar to sucking in your belly, but the focus is on sucking in from your belly button... not your upper belly region. Mentally focus on sucking in your belly button into your lower back. Hold tha

Your Tummy Tuck Recovery - An Overview

Tummy tuck recovery is definitely a concern to anyone looking at the surgery. Many clients are happy to find out that recovery from abdominoplasty is relatively straight forward. Pain can additionally be eliminated by performing your tummy tuck physician's precise advice, like bed rest and taking the advised medications as called for. If you follow your Md's advice, the recovery from abdominoplasty will probably be mostly quick. Recovery from body contouring will rely on different determiners, but is often accomplished in a time line from a week to several months. This relies to a big degree on the nature of the person's treated area. In many operations, the patient will be okay to go back to work after a week or up to two. After that, full recovery will be expected within a few months. After abdominoplasty, many recipients will be asked to utilize some type of specific compression garment. This has been shown to swelling and drive recovery in general. Many tummy tuck patie