Cosmetic 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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

Many patients decide to get a facelift , brow lift or eyelid lift to make the skin regain more of a youthful look. If done correctly, you face can look fantastic and you will experience minimal pain within the process. As many individuals age, they notice little things in their skin that can cause them to look aged. Since most people want to look their best, they may want to correct these imperfections for a variety of reasons. Plastic surgery procedures can help some individuals regain more self esteem and can also help people feel better about themselves. Since more and more individuals are getting divorced, they may want to look their best while trying to find a mate. Many people also feel a bit of age discrimination in the work place and may feel like a more youthful look will help them advance in their career. More and more individuals are considering facelifts, brow lifts and eyelid lifts. Brow lifts and eyelid lifts can lift drooping eyebrows caused by aging. You can also remove...