A Look at the Many Uses of Botox

Although many people think that botox is only used to treat wrinkles this is not actually the case. There are many different conditions that can be successfully treated using this kind of injection. Here is a look at what this substance is, how it is administered and some of the conditions that it can treat.

Many people are very nervous about the idea of injecting their bodies with this substance. This is not surprising since the same toxin that can cause severe food poisoning is found in these injections. It can prevent nerve signals getting through from the brain to the body and basically causes temporary muscular paralysis.

Our skin moves due to the actions of muscles underneath the skin. We tend to wrinkle most severely in areas where the skin has moved again and again. When we squint, smile or make other facial expressions our skin moves repeatedly and can cause deep creases and lines to develop. By paralyzing the muscles under the skin using modified botulism toxin the creasing will be stopped. Although it is not a permanent solution it can make lines and wrinkles look better.

Some people sweat excessively. In the past there was little that could be done to treat this condition. Now, however, it is possible to use botox injections to reduce the body’s ability to sweat. This discovery was very surprising since sweating has nothing to do with our muscles and it was thought that botulism toxin was only useful on muscular conditions. Now many individuals who are embarrassed by their sweating are using this treatment method to significantly reduce the amount of sweating that takes place.

Migraine headaches can be chronic and debilitating for many people. Depending on the cause of these chronic headaches, injections of this toxin into the head and neck have been proven effective at reducing the frequency with which these headaches take place. The substance is still being tested and may only give a slight improvement but for some people this is worthwhile. This treatment can only be used on chronic migraines however.

Scientists are still searching for other conditions, such as muscular tics and spasms which may be treatable using this substance. Conditions such as upper motor neuron syndrome and cervical dystonia may benefit from the use of botulinum toxin. Other conditions including asthma are now being looked at as they may also benefit from the use of botox.

Although it is fairly safe to use this substance to deal with different conditions it is not without some risks and dangers. Administration is performed via injection and you need to make sure that it will be injected into the right areas of the face or body. In some individuals there may be the risk of an allergic reaction and there have been cases where the paralysis spread far beyond the area where treatment is required. It is always something to speak to a doctor about before beginning treatment.

Individuals need to remember that botox is not a permanent solution. Treatments will need to be repeated at regular intervals in order to maintain the desired effect.

Choosing a laser hair removal Toronto clinic and practitioner for the first time can be difficult. Make sure to choose the reputable laser hair removal as well as Botox Toronto clinic and you feel comfortable with.

A Beginner’s Guide to Cosmetics Laser Treatments

As women and men begin to age they may start seeing some unwanted changes in their skin. These changes can include wrinkling, discoloration and changes in skin texture as well. The first line of attack is normally to use skin care products but in some cases they will not be enough. Cosmetics laser treatments may be able to improve the look and feel of aging or damaged skin. Here are a few examples of different laser treatments that are available.

Many people think that all of these treatments work on the surface of the skin but this is not the case. There are certain varieties that will work beneath the surface of the skin. This can help to give long lasting results and may be more appropriate with certain conditions or issues.

One of the main uses for these treatments is to remove discolored areas of skin. These devices can remove areas that have excess pigmentation. These treatments are often used to remove age spots or sun spots. These two conditions are caused by the melanin in the skin darkening unevenly. Melanin is a protective element in our skin that helps prevent sun damage but it can start darkening unevenly as we age.

Many people will develop broken blood vessels or areas where blood vessels and capillaries have begun to grow out of control. These can sometimes appear on younger people as well as those individuals who are dealing with aging skin as well. A port wine stain, a type of reddish birthmark, can be easily removed using laser treatments. Lasers can safely remove areas where excess blood vessels have formed or where capillaries have ruptured and become visible such as in the case of spider nevi.

Although these devices are often used to treat areas by burning them away or vaporizing them there are also treatments designed to fight wrinkles and sagging skin. Although these treatments are safe they do injure the skin. If the process is controlled, it can actually help to firm up the skin. As we age, our skin loses collagen and this causes it to become loose and sagging may begin. By causing injury to the skin this concentrated beam of light forces our skin to produce collagen and this can cause it to firm up temporarily.

For anyone who has unwanted hair on their face or body these devices can be used to remove it for extended periods of time. They do not work equally well on all hair colors or skin colors and this type of hair removal can also cause mild pain, redness and swelling.

As technology continues to be developed there is an increasing list of conditions that can be treated. This is because a wider variety of lasers are being developed that are capable of acting on different layers of the skin or which are more effective at dealing with certain skin pigments. It is important to make sure that the right kind of laser is being used to treat your condition.

If you want to find a professional who is capable of treating your skin issues with cosmetics laser treatments you should be able to find one online or in a local phone directory. Always make sure that they have been properly trained in the use of a laser and follow any after care instructions you have been given to make sure that your treatment is as safe and effective as possible.

Choosing a Smartxide CO2 as well as broken capillaries Ottawa clinic and practitioner for the first time can be difficult. Make sure to choose the reputable Oshawa clinic and you feel comfortable with.

Cosmetic Surgery: Why to Get It, And Where to Find It

In French, they call it chirurgie plastique. Other places, it is simply known as cosmetic surgery. There are many reasons why individuals seek it, and even more places now than ever to receive it. This short guide will talk about the reasons for it, and where to get the best deal on it.

Plastic surgery is known for being something that celebrities would get when their age started showing too much. It has more recently risen to popularity as somewhat of a medical procedure. Individuals who are in accidents that are damaging to their appearance often receive this type of surgery.

Finding the best doctor to perform the procedure can be tricky. However, if you are armed with the right information, and great reviews, you will find the right person for you in no time. Start your search by talking to people who have openly discussed their plastic surgery procedures.

These people will be able to give you the freshest view of the latest practices. If things went well, they’d probably be willing to give you a business card or two to pass around. They will even give you directions to the nearest professional for the procedure.

Doing a phone book or Internet search are two other ways to find the best doctors for the procedure you want to have done. Keep in mind that doctors that perform plastic surgery is going to perform a different type. There may be one or two doctors that have specialties in more than one form of surgery. When searching for an office by the phone book, look under “specialty surgeries”. This is the best chance to get the results you are seeking.

The Internet has one advantage that the phone book does not. The Internet provides information that is quicker to get than a phone call. There is no need to be put on hold. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can be on the website of the doctor of your choice, and reading the information he has provided for you online. It is easy to do if you know how to get there quickly.

Using specific keywords is one way to accomplish this. Use words that indicate the location you are searching for. For example, try the phrase “plastic surgery in Baltimore” if you lived in Maryland. This is one way to be specific. The results page will only show you results in that area. When you are the page, check out the pricing, the types of procedures, and the consultation offer. Do not forget to schedule this. Most doctors will not see you without an evaluation first.

Cosmetic surgery is widely known for what it has done for older celebrities. Now it is becoming popular for other reasons too. It has been known to save the lives of those who have been in otherwise fatal accidents, and it has been known to provide less self-consciousness for those in other unfortunate circumstances. Knowing where to go to receive the best care is important.

Offering Chirurgie Esthetique, plastic surgery, and Chirurgie Esthetique services since 1992, Montreal’s most trusted cosmetic surgeons will deliver the care you deserve.

Don’t Suffer in Silence – Remove Your Warts and All

Many people suffer with skin conditions that can leave them worried, scared and feeling like they could be on the next episode of embarrassing bodies. But most of the time these conditions are fairly normal and easily treatable.

For a lot of skin conditions an over the counter or prescription treatment can be bought to sort out the problem and get you back to your best, but there are others such as warts that require a registered doctor to take a more serious course of action.

There are a variety of treatments that are available for a variety of conditions such as wart and verrucae, mole removal and laser resurfacing that can help to alleviate lines and wrinkles.

Warts or verrucae have traditionally been treated by completely getting rid of the infected cell through the use of a variety of methods. Acid can be applied to destroy the cell, liquid nitrogen therapy can freeze the offending wart, electrocautery can be used to cut it off and carbon dioxide ablation uses a focused light beam to clear the problem. The negatives of these forms of treatment are that warts are sometimes resistant to them and they may cause permanent scarring.

There is however a form of wart treatment that doesn’t face the same problems as the traditional methods. Pulsed Dye laser treatments are a more recent technique that can selectively destroy warts without scarring the skin around them. The laser works by thermally destroying the wart and the blood vessels that supply it and can even treat warts that have become resistant to previous treatments.

Moles can be removed by excision or shaving of the skin, depending on the decision made by both the doctor and the patient. Excision is used if the mole is a particular size or if the doctor is concerned about certain aspects of it. After treatment a scar will be left that is bigger than the original mole and this will be stitched and dressed with stitches being removed after 7 days. Shave excision is used when the mole that is to be treated is raised. An anaesthetic injection will be given before the doctor shaves the protruding skin into line with the surrounding skin. The wound left by this process will develop a scab that will take 7-10 days to heal before falling off leaving the skin pink although this will fade over time.

If your skin problems are more cosmetic and you are going for a more youthful look laser skin resurfacing can be used to remove lines and wrinkles by removing the top layer of skin and uncovering the fresh and smooth skin beneath. The lasers restructure the skin by applying high laser power in short bursts to the affected areas and can reduce lines or in some cases get rid of them altogether.

So if you need treatment for a skin condition or you just want to make your skin look vibrant and vivacious don’t suffer in silence – remove your warts and all.

Gill Grozier – sk:n was established in 1990 and is the UK’s leading provider of skincare treatments and products including: botox, laser hair removal and laser tattoo removal. Contacts For interviews, images or comments contact: Gill Grozier Marketing Manager Email: gill.grozier@sknclinics.co.uk

How the Internet Can Help You to Search For Cosmetic Surgery Toronto

Up until around ten years ago the idea of having cosmetic surgery was really seen as something done by people for medical reasons or the rich and famous trying to keep their looks. However, it is now much more common for normal members of the public to think about going to have different things done which has seen a real rise in the number of cosmetic surgeons out there. So if you live in the Toronto area and you are thinking about having something done you should start by looking under cosmetic surgery Toronto.

You shall then be faced with a list of cosmetic surgeons who work in the Toronto area and you shall also notice most of them have websites. You should therefore take your time to go through the different sites and try to learn as much as possible about the surgeon.

When you are looking at their website try to find out as much information about their background as possible so you can see how they came to be a cosmetic surgeon. You should also pay attention for any links or images that show they have been certified by local and national cosmetic surgeon associations.

What these associations do is give you a lot more confidence about their ability as a surgeon as they have been shown to be more than competent and that they can be trusted. If there were any doubts about their ability then they would not belong to them and they would also be unable to practice.

It can also be beneficial if you know other people who have had work done in the area as you should ask them who they used then look at the relevant website again. This can be important because if it is someone you trust and they recommend someone then it is easier for you to then trust the surgeon.

You should be asking them about the treatment they received both before and after the surgery as well as the relationship that they had with the surgeon. Both of these things are very important especially the relationship as a good one makes it easier to relax and trust them and their ability.

When you feel ready for it you should arrange an appointment with a surgeon so you can sit down face to face with them and discuss what you are wanting done. This is the time to ask any questions that you have as you are not agreeing to having any procedure carried out but just enquiring about the possibility.

You should always use this appointment to let you judge how you feel you can get on with them by going with your first impression. Make sure you ask them about the procedure as well as what you should do to prepare for it along with tips on after care and what they provide you with so you can see if they are organised and if you are happy to put your body in their hands or not.

State-of-the-art plastic surgery institute offers the most modern treatments and procedures for cosmetic enhancement including and face lift.

The Quest For Youth: Five Anti-ageing Weapons

For knights and damsels alike, the battle against the march of time has always been a fierce one. Over the years, many have tried and failed to keep Age, that great grey beast, at bay. Eventually, those lines and wrinkles become etched in, those dismal eye bags refuse to go away and the war is lost for good.

Or is it? A new age of cosmetic heroes could be the answer to our troubles. Scientists and beauty experts have been working tirelessly for generations, and we now hold a range of powerful anti-ageing weapons that could be the secret to dispatching the beast, tail between its legs, into the distance.

In no particular order, here is our pick of the bravest and the best.

Anti-wrinkle creams:

There is now a staggering spectrum of anti-wrinkle creams available, in every price range. Do they all work? And how do you choose the right one?

It is generally accepted that there are four steps to effective skin care. These are: cleansing, toning, exfoliation and moisturising. Find a product including elements to carry out all these steps, and you have won half the battle to keep your skin looking young and healthy.

Botox and injectables

‘Okay,’ you might say, ‘Creams are all very well but I think I need to take the next step’. You would be far from alone in having a think about the Botox injection. Last year, over four million Americans opted for this quick and easy anti-wrinkle treatment, which uses a naturally occurring chemical to cause muscle relaxation in the face.

Juvederm and Sculptra are two new injectable ‘skin-fillers’, that produce almost instant results by plumping out the skin and reducing sags and wrinkles, using the compounds hyaluronic acid and collagen, both of which are produced by the body and decline with age.

Skin tightening

Often used together with microdermabrasion, skin tightening is a laser treatment that restores tautness and smoothness. It does this by stimulating the body to produce more collagen, which is the compound that keeps our skin tight and elastic in our youth. Sadly our bodies get lazy as we grow older, and sometimes need a tiny nudge to get back on their fighting feet.

Facelifts

Loose, drooping skin is one of the major blows dealt by age. Declining muscle strength in the face results in baggy skin around the forehead, chin and neck. One of the most effective ways of turning the clock back on this process is the simple facelift. This involves surgical tightening of the skin, which gets rid of that sag, and cleverly hides the scars at the hairline. The result is a dramatically younger-looking face.

Forty winks!

You heard it here first: your mother was right all along. Sleeping Beauty had the right idea when she took her famous catnap. Research has consistently shown that if you want to wake up to a healthier, more youthful you, getting a good amount of sleep is essential.

Combine beauty sleep, a healthy diet and an active lifestyle with your pick of these top anti-ageing options, and you might just have stumbled upon the Holy Grail.

Gill Grozier – sk:n was established in 1990 and is the UK’s leading provider of skincare treatments and products including: botox, laser hair removal and laser tattoo removal. Contacts For interviews, images or comments contact: Gill Grozier Marketing Manager Email: gill.grozier@sknclinics.co.uk

Cosmetic Surgery Has Been Around For a Very Long Time

It might seem that cosmetic surgery is a very recent invention. In fact this is not true as it has been around for many thousands of years. The first documented record of any kind of plastic surgery taking place was two thousand years before Christ in India. This kind of surgery is called corrective, restorative, or it can be a kind of microsurgery.

Reconstructive surgery was also performed in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome. It did not become commonplace until better methods of anaesthesia were invented. Before this time it was obviously excruciatingly painful as it involved removing flaps of skin to rebuild other areas of the body. There was also a great risk of infection until modern methods of sterilization and infection control were invented. The introduction of penicillin was a massive leap forward.

In eighteen twenty seven a surgeon named John Peter Mettauer performed the first successful cleft palate operation. He even designed the instruments for the operation himself. Towards the end of the nineteenth century a lot of surgeons were experimenting with rhinoplasty, or nose reductions or reconstructions.

It was during the course of the first world war that many new techniques were pioneered. A New Zealand surgeon named Harold Gilles was instrumental in helping many young men who had badly disfigured by their injuries. His work was carried on during world war two by his cousin Archibald McIndoe.

McIndoe set up a burns unit that would become famous throughout the world for young airmen who had suffered terrible burns during the fighting. The members of this very select group were called the Guinea Pigs, and they had their own club called the Guinea Pig club. McIndoe helped many of these brave men to recover from their injuries with his pioneering surgeries.

The work of this burns unit still continues today in the McIndoe burns unit in the Queen Victoria hospital in the town of East Grinstead in southern England. The survivors of the Guinea Pig club still meet today. At the end of world war two it had nearly seven hundred members, and there are still two hundred remaining members who get together regularly.

Today this kind of surgery is widely used for cosmetic reasons. There are quite literally millions of procedures done throughout the world every year. Cheek lift surgery, cosmetic eyelid surgery, cheek augmentation and a face lift are just a few of the many procedures that are now available.

The massive rise in demand for cosmetic surgery procedures has perhaps come about in the pursuit for perfection. The media is full of images of women and men who represent an ideal image. These people have the time and money to devote to their appearance, and quite often their profession demands it if they are in front of the cameras. The media is quick to comment if one of these stars looks tired or gains a few pounds so the pressure to be thin and fabulous looking is immense. This pressure filters down to the rest of the ordinary mortals who want to look like the stars they idolize, and so they may be tempted to turn to surgery to try to achieve the same kind of perfection.

State-of-the-art plastic surgery institute offers the most modern treatments and procedures for cosmetic enhancement including and plastic surgery Toronto.

How to Find a Reliable Botox Chicago

Being beautiful is something we all want and the more beautiful we get the more desperate we become to take it one step further. Some are not so eager about their appearance and are content with minor improvements but most of us are not wired that way. “Beauty is skin deep” is not a line that we all agree on.

In our quest for beauty, we have invented newer ways and one of them is Botox treatment. Are you eager to get a Botox treatment but cannot seem to decide which Botox doctor should you go to? Well we will tell you al you need to know in order to find the perfect doctor for you.

Firstly, you should know what you are going for so you need to know a few basics about Botox. The Botox injection is a chemical which removes the wrinkles from the desires areas by relaxing the muscles. Some people misunderstand it as a permanent solution to wrinkles but they are completely wrong. The Botox procedure needs to be repeated after every few months, or it starts loosing its effect and the wrinkles start reappearing. A repetition of a Botox injection every 6 months is typically suggested by the doctors.

The price of a Botox injection and the charges for the procedure vary depending on the product and the doctor. As per the quality of the product, a typical unit of Botox ranges between $ 9 and $16.

The fee of the doctor can vary depending on how experienced he is and a typical injection might be charged at $ 400 to $ 600. The Botox prices may also fall within the ranges that have been specified here. You should not think about cost cutting while selecting the product or the doctor as you obviously want to get the best results.

For finding the best Botox doctor in Chicago, it is advisable that you get names of the prominent ones and then check if they have the proper affiliations with reputable organizations. If a doctor is not affiliated you should avoid going to him for Botox treatment. Going to an experienced doctor will ensure that there are no problems during the procedure and you get the desires results.

When choosing a Botox doctor, make sure that he is a plastic surgeon or a cosmetic surgeon. Other than that cosmetologists are also qualified for doing these kinds of procedures. If you are choosing a doctor other than these three, then you might be at a risk of complications during the procedure.

While there are no long standing complications associated with the procedure, yet if someone makes a mistake the side effects can last up to 4 months. The skin where the Botox is injected can go lax and sag for the said time period. It might appear something trivial to someone else but for someone who goes in hoping to look fabulous, it can be a huge blow. So be very vigilant when choosing a Botox Chicago doctor and make sure that he has lots of experience in the relevant field.

If you want to know more information on botox, please visit; http://botoxchicago.org/

Oriental Eyelids and Plastic Surgery Answers

Question: I’m a 28 year old Chinese female and dislike my eyelids. My eyelids have always had a flap of skin that hangs down to my lashes. I would like to have the extra skin removed from my lids but am afraid of not looking Chinese to my family. Can you do eyelid plastic surgery and still have a patient look Oriental?

Answer: You ask some very good questions about Oriental eyelids. Please read below and contact me at Orange County Plastic Surgery if you have any further questions concerning this, or any other cosmetic surgery procedure.

First of all, Oriental patients do have different eyelid anatomy than most Caucasian patients. In the typical Oriental type of eyelid patient, the superior palpebral fold (the upper lid fold between the lashes and brow) is absent. This occurs in approximately 50% of Oriental patients and is a genetic feature that is passed on from parents to their children with a dominant gene. The Oriental eyelid without a palpebral fold is often referred to as a “single eyelid”, while an eyelid with a fold is called a “double eyelid”.

Operations designed to construct a superior palpebral fold are becoming more popular in Oriental patients around the globe. This surgery has become commonplace in large cities in the Orient as well as in the United States areas, especially in areas like Orange County containing large Oriental populations. The “single eyelid” occurs because a muscle called the levator palpebrae ends within the substance of the lid, instead of attaching to the top of the cartilage plate in the lid, and is not caused by a skin excess! In such procedures, every attempt is made to create the desired fold but not to alter the general shape of the eye or to destroy the web that many Oriental patients have medially, near the nose. Destroying this epicanthal fold would make a lid look more Caucasian and destroy this important Oriental feature of an eyelid and give the patients and eyelid version of Michael Jackson’s nose – this is to be avoided!

As mentioned, 50% of Orientals lack the palpebral fold, but the other 50% do have such a fold – the Oriental eyelid procedure is designed to create such a fold and still leave the patient looking Oriental. A surgeon doing such surgery should be familiar with the differences between Oriental and Caucasian anatomy. It is possible to get a very good result with this plastic surgery procedure, but as with any cosmetic procedure, it is important to research the options and all potential outcomes. It is also important to communicate with your surgeon about how you would like to look after the surgery and obtain comprehensive pre-procedure and post-procedure information.

If you have any specific questions about the Oriental eyelid, plastic surgery procedure, or any other cosmetic procedure, your best bet would be to see a qualified, board certified plastic surgeon to review your options. A plastic surgeon should be able to work with you to get a result with which you are satisfied!

Dr. Juris Bunkis, MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call OCPS at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information.

Eyelids and Brow Lifts, Questions and Answers

Q: My upper lids droop over my eyelashes and I would like to have them fixed. I have seen two plastic surgeons, one who agreed that he could help me with my upper lids, another who told me I’d have to have a brow lift as well. My brows are fine with me and I do not understand why a brow lift would be necessary? Why would a surgeon recommend a procedure I did not ask for?

A: You really should go and have another talk with your plastic surgeons – if one recommended a brow lift, he should have explained why he did so. Rarely would we suggest a procedure about a body part not brought to our attention by a complaint originated by a patient. For example, we would never comment about very large or small breasts if a patient came in to discuss an abdominoplasty (i.e. “tummy tuck”).

The two exceptions I can think of relate to chin implants and brow lifts, but in such a situation, I sure would hope that the patient left the consultation with an understanding of why we are recommending the brow lift or chin implant procedures! Patients with weak chins who come in complaining of a large nose or a droopy neck cannot get a great profile without addressing the weak chin because the chin, nose and neck all contribute to the profile. Likewise, if a patient complains of heavy upper eye lids, we have to analyze the balance between the eyelid and brow position.

As a plastic surgeon, our duty is to lay out the options for a patient and each person has to choose the procedure(s) that will give them their desired results. In a pure upper eye lid blepharoplasty, the thin skin excess of the lids is removed but the distance from the lashes to the brows is not changed. In patients with low brows, removing the thin, excess upper lid skin may not be appreciated unless the thicker tissues just below the brows are raised as well. This is not to say that every low brow must be raised when doing an upper lid procedure, but the patient has to understand that only the thin, upper lid skin excess will be removed, that the thicker brow hooding will be unchanged, and that the distance between the brows and lashes does not change with an isolated blepharoplasty.

If a patient desires a more open – eyed look, this will only be accomplished if a brow lift is added to the eye lid procedure. Not only will the eye area look more open following a brow lift, but during a brow lift, the frown lines between the brows will be minimized because we can remove some of the muscles that cause these frown lines, called the corrugator and procerus muscles. And finally, occasionally I’ll see a patient with hooding caused by low brows who thinks they would like an upper eyelid blepharoplasty, but when I gently elevate the brows, I can see that this patient does not have an excess of thin, upper lid skin, just low malpositioning of the brows and I will recommend to this patient that a brow lift be performed without a lid procedure per say.

A brow lift is a minimally invasive procedure. In the endoscopic brow lift, a few half inch incisions are made behind the hair line, allowing the instruments to be inserted. The tissues are freed from the bone, the muscles sculpted, and the brows raised a few millimeters. The brows are fixed in their new position with a variety of devices. The incisions are rarely perceptible after healing has taken place. Occasionally, a brow lift will be performed as an isolated procedure, but more commonly it will be combined with a minimally invasive midface or thread lift, an eyelid procedure or a standard face lift.

If you have any specific questions about cosmetic procedures, you should see a qualified, board certified plastic surgeon to review your options and have additional questions answered!

Dr. Bunkis,MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call OCPS at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information.

Are There Alternatives to Liposuction?

Q: I am a fit 54 year old, have had a face lift and look good for my age, but I have a few fatty deposits over my hips and cellulite that don’t go away with exercise and are driving me crazy. I have heard of nonsurgical fat removal – is there any way, shy of having liposuction, which will remove my cellulite and fatty deposits?

A: First of all, congratulations on being fit at 54 and for caring how you look! General health wise, there is nothing better that you can do for your body than to keep fit and to keep excess weight off!

In order to answer your question, I’d first like to give you some background about fatty deposits and cellulite. We all have fat within our bodies, some fat is necessary, but too many of us have an excess of fat. Our body needs energy to survive, and that energy comes from what we eat or drink. No matter whether you are consuming protein, carbohydrates or fat, the body breaks down the food you take in into tiny molecules. The body uses what it needs to survive, and all of the excess, no matter whether it started as protein, carbohydrates or fat, gets converted by the liver into fat. This fat is transported by the blood to fat cells throughout the body for storage. On days when you do not consume as many calories as are needed for survival, the stored fat gets returned to the liver where it is re-manufactured into usable parts throughout the rest of the body. We all know that fat is stored in different ways and places in different people. Women tend to store their excess fat over the hips, thighs and in the external layer, between the skin and muscles, over the abdominal wall. Men tend to store their excess abdominal fat internally, around the intestines, as well as externally over love handles and the chest.

Cellulite refers to the surface irregularities seen over the thighs, hips, and buttocks of almost all women, and is rarely seen in men. Men and women store fat differently under the skin, men more in horizontal layers with a smooth surface, while women store the fat more in a perpendicular manner, which leads to the objectionable surface lumpiness.

Now that we understand about excess fatty deposits and cellulite, let’s discuss what can be done to improve cellulite or remove unwanted fatty deposits. Let’s start with cellulite. There have been many, many treatments varying from home remedies, commercially available creams and ointments, wraps, garments and machines that have been promoted as providing cures for cellulite. It has also been claimed that caffeine, through its ability to constrict blood vessels, can make your skin appear tighter and improve cellulite.

I well remember when, about 20 years ago, Endermologie® was introduced, received a lot of interest from the press and doctors were lining up to purchase these $150,000 machines. These machines basically used rollers that the company claimed, sent a message to the cells, triggering actions such as fat break down and collagen production. The company claimed that cellulite was removed and inches would come off the treated areas. Multiple treatments were required. After any one treatment, the cellulite did seem to improve, probably from the swelling caused by the localized trauma, but unfortunately, a month later, when it was “time for another treatment”, all the cellulite would be back in its full glory. What patients ended up with was basically an expensive massage! This machine simply did not live up to its claims or patient expectations.

Next came mesotherapy or Lipodissolve®, a “non-surgical alternatives to liposuction”. Mesotherapy involves a series of injections that may melt away unwanted small, localized areas of fat. While the main ingredients used in these injections vary, the chemical cocktail typically includes phosphatidylcholine/deoxycholate (PCDC), multivitamins, alpha lipid acid, enzymes and plant extracts. Phosphatidylcholine is FDA-approved to break down blood fats that may increase risk for heart disease, but it is not approved for injection or any other purpose. Use of this substance to dissolve superficial fat is performed in an off-label manner. During these treatments, your doctor injects the chemical cocktail into the fat layers. The injection is relatively painless, with no need for anesthesia. The medication produces a chemical reaction which dissolves localized areas of fat. Benefits can be seen within three weeks of the treatment but proponents claim that several treatments, four to six weeks apart, are required to produce the optimal result. After a treatment, the patient can return to their usual activities. Approximately 100,000 Lipodissolve® treatments have been performed in the United States and Europe and some papers have been written, showing post treatment improvement, but problems remain, and because of these problems, Kansas and Nebraska, are in the process of enacting legislation to ban Lipodissolve®. ANVISA, the Brazilian version of the FDA, banned the use of phosphatidylcholine-based products for injectable fat removal, and Health Canada, the Canadian FDA, has ordered physicians to stop marketing and administering the products. We know that these injections can liquefy fat, but where the fat goes is anyone’s guess. Harmful deposits in the liver or blood vessels could lead to serious medical problems including fatty plaque and increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has reported that infection, disfiguring masses of inflamed tissue and tissue death can occur after Lipodissolve®. I have seen a number of previously treated patients with indentations in the treated sites. Ignoring the health issues, from a purely aesthetic point of view, the main problem with Lipodissolve® is that the results are unpredictable and that surface irregularities are quite common. Lipodissolve® is still in the experimental stage. Clinical studies in the United States that look at the safety and efficacy of Lipodissolve® are underway. This is a treatment that we would only recommend under special circumstances at this time.

The latest nonsurgical technique which is being touted as a magical cure for cellulite and fatty deposits is Cryolipolysis™, using a machine built by Zeltiq, and promoting a “One hour fat fighting treatment”. This is a new technology with very little published information and their machine is not FDA approved yet. From what I’ve read, probes are placed on the skin that cool the fatty layer to about 5 degrees Celsius, about the temperature in a refrigerator. This damages the fat cells and some will die over the next four months. This procedure does not work on large people, or those with a thick fatty layer because the cold cannot penetrate more than a few cm. But for thin people with very small fatty pockets, it might show some promise. The reason it is not FDA approved yet is because there are questions as to what this cold treatment does to nerves, blood vessels, skin, muscle, etc. long term. I see similar question to those discussed above with the Lipodissolve® – where does the fat go, what are the health risks? I simply do not think that loosing an inch off your hips is worth an earlier heart attack!

To summarize, simply put, nothing tops liposuction when it comes to the removal of unwanted fatty deposits (as long as skin laxity is not an issue – if it is, a skin resection may be indicated).

Liposuction is the only scientifically proven method for safely removing fat cells permanently and is the top overall surgical cosmetic procedure performed in the United States. A variety of different cannuals are now used for liposuction, but all are inserted through tiny, hidden incisions and recovery after the procedure is relatively quick and uncomplicated. If you have any areas that are of concern to you, your best bet would be to come in to discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon.

Dr. Bunkis, MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call OCPS at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information.

Botox Pricing Information

Botox is a non-surgical way for people to treat symptoms such as wrinkles or creases that are caused by the aging process. The procedure is done by injection and is very quick; it leaves no trace of scarring and is non-invasive. Botox enhancement can vary in price dramatically from $150 to $500 or more based on these factors…

- The Competence of the Professional

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. This is especially true with botox treatment. The more experience a practitioner has in administering treatment, the more they will charge you. Though this is not a bad thing. It is quite important to make sure that the person applying the botox has experience and is skilled at their job, mistakes can be disastrous and will have to be lived with by you for a number of weeks after the treatment.

- Location

The area where you live can have a big effect on the how much you pay for botox injections. As with most other services, botox injections tend to cost more in big cities, but the upside is that big cities attract the best botox practitioners. So, you will be paying more, but you will have a bigger choice of clinics to choose from, and more experienced people working within them.

- The Concentration of the Botox Used

Pure botox is all pretty much the same, but different botox clinics will use different concentrations of it. The lower the concentration, the less you pay, but the less time the results stay visible for. So, paying a little more for a higher concentration of botox can actually save you money in the long run as you will need to have fewer botox injections.

- Initial Treatment Costs

It is a common strategy for botox clinics to offer low introductory rates and to then hike up their prices after a the first few sets of botox injections. Their thinking is that once you get used to going to their clinic then you will be pay whatever they charge because you will not want to go through the hassle of finding a new one. So, always find out what a clinic’s regular prices are, and do not base your decision on which one to use on the basis of their introductory rate.

- Proper Provision of Information and Advice

Some botox clinics cut costs by getting you in and out as quickly as possible. Though this may not seem like a problem, it means that they cannot give you all of the information and advice that they should do. Botox injections are about more than just the treatment on the day, and they should take the time to explain what you need to do in the days and weeks following. It is really not worth missing out on that information and advice in order to save yourself a few dollars.

Finally, it is important to remember that the price of the treatment is not the be all and end all. What is important is to find a clinic that you trust, considering less about the cost and more about personal safety and after effects.

Learn more about botox and botox pricing by visiting http://starcosmeticmedicine.com.au – Find out how Sydney botox prices compare to those in other cities.

Celebrities Who Botox

The myths surrounding the topic of botox injections as an effective anti ageing treatment have for many years given the procedure an air of mystery. Once the preserve of celebrities and those in the public eye, botox treatment has now become relatively commonplace. Many high street beauty salons offer the opportunity for people to pop in for a quick anti wrinkle injection in their lunch hour. We’ve become pretty blase about the whole thing.

So why has the public accepted botox as a run of the mill beauty treatment? Perhaps it’s because of the number of celebrities who now freely admit to being ‘botox beauties’ and using the treatment to ensure they look their best. Simon Cowell is one such media darling who happily admits to being a fan of the procedure, describing it as ‘no different to brushing your teeth’. There’s no doubt that for a man of 50, Mr Cowell is probably looking better now than he did ten years ago. But even he warns of the effects of overdoing the botox injections, saying that overdoing it can make you look “really, really weird”! Another media star has been accused of doing exactly that. Dannii Minogue wanted to use botox because she wanted to “be the best I can be”, but critics have accused her of having an unusually wrinkle-free and frozen, expressionless face. Miss Minogue has also gone on record that her extensive encounters with the plastic surgeon have not made her happy, so botox still comes with a warning – overdo it and risk crossing over from ‘pretty’ into ‘plastic’.

But get it right, and botox can keep fans and the media guessing about a celebrity’s true age. Beyonce’s flawless skin and lack of wrinkles suggests that she’s no stranger to botox. Her universal status as a celebrity icon shows what can be achieved when you get it just right.

Botox tends to go wrong when it’s used for the wrong reasons or the celebrity falls into the trap of thinking that more is better. There is no doubt that botox injections work – their growing appeal and even television advertising promoting the treatment are testimony to its success. The trick lies in knowing where to draw the line (if you’ll pardon the pun). David Beckham didn’t – taking his wife’s advice and under pressure in the media goldfish bowl that is LA, he went under the needle and was roundly criticised for doing so. But there are plenty of celebrities who have managed to get it right, managing to look just perfect ‘enough’ without the worry of additional crow’s feet around the eyes or forehead wrinkles to detract from their perfect smiles.

Botox is not the ultimate in anti wrinkle treatments. It is merely one of many tools that we can use in our attempts to hold back the years and look our best for a special occasion. A big event such as a wedding or major birthday party might be the ideal time to treat yourself to a quick botox fix just to smooth out those telltale lines. But relying on it as a cure-all is a mistake, as many celebrities have found out. It seems that we don’t want our stars too perfect, but still looking as if they can actually manage to raise a smile when they need to. If you get it right, botox can be a great confidence booster, making you look years younger and just as glamorous as any A-lister on an LA red carpet. The trick is to know when to stop…

Gill Grozier – sk:n was established in 1990 and is the UK’s leading provider of skincare conditions treatment and products including: botox, anti wrinkle treatment and laser treatments such as hair removal and laser tattoo removal. Contacts For interviews, images or comments contact: Gill Grozier Marketing Manager Email: g.grozier@lasercare-clinics.co.uk

Celebrity Laser Hair Removal

If you’re in the public eye, every blemish, every unwanted hair is captured and shown around the world. Small wonder then, that celebrities are happily embracing any technology or procedure that can make them look perfect every time without having to worry about developing a ‘monobrow’ or the telltale wisps of top lip hair that can so easily ruin a reputation. In the pursuit of excellence, many celebrities are turning to the laser to remove unwanted body hair. While some of them are still coy about admitting to ‘tinkering’ with what nature gave them, others aren’t so reticent about owning up to using laser hair removal techniques to perfect their public persona.

Why do they do it?

In an age of instant worldwide exposure, celebrities know that any fashion faux pas or a less-than-perfect hair day is immediately beamed around the world via the Internet. A fan on the other side of the world knows about an unsightly ear hair before the flashbulbs have stopped popping. The pressure is on for our celebrities to look perfect every second they are in the public eye, which is why so many of them call on the skilled hands of plastic surgeons, wardrobe specialists and now, laser hair removal experts. Some are happy to admit their use of such techniques, like Alyssa Milano, who has used laser hair removal frequently. Her dark hair is ideal for this form of hair removal treatment, although recent developments in laser treatments means that even blondes are now seeing great results and minimal risk of scarring.

The pigment in darker hair absorbs the laser light more readily than paler colours, so those with dark or coarse hair are more suited to treatment. And while it’s not completely painless, Alyssa’s frequent visits to the laser clinic demonstrate that it is successful and not painful enough to scare her away from repeated treatments.

Laser hair removal was once the preserve of the rich and famous purely because of the cost involved. Permanent solutions used to cost big bucks. But not any more. The price of laser hair removal treatments has dropped considerably, making it accessible not just to A-listers but to everyone. The advances in techniques also means that the same effective results can be achieved in a much shorter time frame, meaning fewer visits and quicker visible results.

For male celebrities, the most common areas of treatment are to remove ear hair, hair from the back of the neck and between the eyes, avoiding the dreaded ‘monobrow’ look. This is also becoming one of the most common treatments among us mere mortals, with beauty salons reporting a marked increase in the number of men coming in for ‘boybrow’ treatments.

Celebrities are often the first to embrace any new form of procedure to polish up their image. This acts as a good indicator for the rest of us, as the results (if the star is willing to admit to having the procedure in the first place) are clearly visible. For those of us who do not move in the same circles as the ‘beautiful people’, it’s also nice to know that they too have their off-days and that nature didn’t create them as perfect from the outset. Looking that good takes a lot of effort, and by promoting procedures like laser hair removal, celebrities are giving us all hope that we too can look great every time we step outside our front door.

Gill Grozier – sk:n was established in 1990 and is the UK’s leading provider of skincare conditions treatment and products including: botox, anti wrinkle treatment and laser treatments such as hair removal and laser tattoo removal. Contacts For interviews, images or comments contact: Gill Grozier Marketing Manager Email: g.grozier@lasercare-clinics.co.uk

The Truth About Liposuction

Q: I had a friend years ago that had liposuction on the bottom half of her body. 10 years had passed since I saw her; I could not believe my eyes, her face and arms had gained so much weight I didn’t recognize her! Is it true when you lipo from one part of the body it can deposit to other parts?

A: This is an interesting question and addresses a common misconception. Liposuction is currently the most commonly performed aesthetic surgical procedure in the United States. The concept is relatively simple, analogous to a vacuum cleaner that selectively removes excess fat between the skin and the first layer of muscles – it cannot remove deeper fat, for example that inside your belly around your intestines (the deep fat can only be removed by decreasing caloric intake).

The excess outer fat can be reduced by running a metal tube through the fatty layer, creating empty tunnels, which collapse as the patient heals and gives a patient the desired contour improvement. During the liposuction process, the excess fat is physically removed, collected in large bottles (up to five liters can be safely removed in one sitting), and disposed of as biological waste. This removed fat, therefore, cannot go to other parts of your body! Even the thinnest super model has a thin layer of fat under the skin and, when surgeons perform liposuction, at least a half inch layer of fat is always left between the skin and the muscles. The problem is that removal of the fat does not prevent someone from gaining weight in the future!

The equation is pretty basic – your weight is the result of what you consume minus what you burn off. If you eat roughly what you burn, before or after surgery, your weight will be stable and your fatty layer will remain at the same thickness. If you burn more than you consume, your fatty layers will decrease in thickness. Unfortunately, the converse is also true – if you consume more than you burn, whether or not you have had liposuction, your fatty layers will increase in thickness. This increase in thickness will occur over the part that was liposuctioned as well as over other parts that were never suctioned. We all know some overweight people with massive thighs or arms, large bellies, and very full necks, whether they have had prior liposuction or not. Liposuction is designed to treat stubborn area that do not respond to diet and exercise – liposuction is not a weight loss technique and does not prevent someone from gaining weight in the future!

When considering any surgical procedure, it is important to find a surgeon who you trust and to have all of your questions answered. You should know all the facts about your procedure and be aware of the risks prior to committing to the procedure or entering the operating room. It may also be a good idea to see photographs of your surgeons previous patients and their results.

Dr. Bunkis MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call Orange County Plastic Surgery at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information. Serving Irvine, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita and surrounding cities.

Who to Believe – My Plastic Surgeon or My Dermatologist?

Q: I am 54 years old and beginning to see signs of aging. I asked my dermatologist for suggestions regarding products and she told me I was “too far gone” and suggested a laser procedure. I saw a plastic surgeon who told me that was nonsense and suggested a face lift instead. I want to look better but don’t know who to believe.

A: I can begin by telling you that both are correct, at least in part, and I am certain that both doctors are giving you advice based on their view points, training and expertise. The problem is that most dermatologists do laser resurfacing and not surgical procedures – they tend to recommend procedures they know how to do, regardless of what is best for the patient. And likewise, many surgeons do not do resurfacing procedures and may suggest a surgical procedure without considering the resurfacing option.

Without a consultation, I will have to answer this question in the most general terms. I will begin by telling you a few words about aging and what we can do about it. Two events happen simultaneously as we age. Surface changes occur from excessive sun damage. You can use sun blocks, hats and sun glasses to minimize sun damage as you get older. A laser treatment will remove these superficial signs of aging, but will not affect the dropping and skin laxity, particularly in the jowl and neck regions, that also occur with time.

These latter changes are the result of heredity and will not be altered by sun blocks or helped with a resurfacing procedure. In order to alter neck and jowl sagging, plastic surgeons pick these layers back up and tighten them as part of any traditional or midface lift procedure. Frequently, brows will be elevated back to where they once were, or baggy eyelids will be addressed at the same operation so as to restore a sense of balance to the final result – for example, very baggy eyelids would detract from an otherwise well done face lift which gave a patient a youthful neck.

Such surgery will not, however, alter sun damage or the quality of your skin. Another very important factor is a patient’s expectations – these have to be met! Some patients want nothing but a total improvement, others are willing to settle for less improvement because they are not bothered by certain features or because they are trying to save money. Your best bet is to find an aesthetic surgeon well versed in both the traditional surgical procedures as well as the various resurfacing procedures (chemical peels, laser resurfacing and dermabrasion) so that you can be presented with all the options and then you can decide which is the best option for you. Though your results may vary from a surgeon’s previous patients, during your consultation, you may ask your plastic surgeon to see photos of patients they have worked on. In this way you can get a better idea of the results of different procedures and decide on what will suit you best.

Dr. Bunkis MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call Orange County Plastic Surgery at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information. Serving Irvine, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita and surrounding cities.

Looking Beautiful on a Budget – Wrinkle Repairs

Q: I am in my early 50′s and I’m starting to see wrinkles. Many of my friends have gotten facelifts and Botox® injections but I’m terrified of needles and knives! Are there any over the counter products that will tighten my skin?

A: Great question! You will know when you are saggy enough to warrant surgery, but in the meantime, there are many non-surgical treatments that can improve the quality of your skin.

Most of us do not appreciate fine facial wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and tactile roughness. Now you can have smoother, less pigmented skin with the newest FDA approved Tretinoin cream, Refissa®. It is emollient based and does not dry out your skin. This product has become the gold standard medical treatment for photo-damaged skin. It works by stimulating cell turn over and causing the sun damaged outer layers to slough off. Refissa® is the first important step to healthier skin. Always remember sun protection year round!

The next step, now that your skin is healthier, may be one of the many peels offered. There are many peels to choose from. For the purposes of this article we will focus on the Microlaser peel. Microlaser peel, the “week-end” skin peel, treats skin conditions more aggressively than the Refissa® is capable of doing. The Microlaser peel is performed with Sciton’s Erbium laser which uses a computer guided scanner to ensure maximum precision treatment uniformly. You will see improvements in just a few days

What exactly does the Microlaser peel treat?

It is a minimal to full epidermis laser peel that precisely removes the outer most layers of the skin. The procedure is individually tailored to the nature of the problem to be corrected: wrinkles, scars, keratoses, pigmentation problems, overall sun damage.

How often does a Microlaser peel need to be done?

As mentioned above, year round sun protection is a key to healthy skin. The results of any treatment, not just the Microlaser peel, will last longer and be more efficacious if you avoid future sun damage. One Microlaser peel procedure will usually be sufficient for a few months but subsequent treatments may be required. As mentioned earlier treatments are customized to each person. During your consultation we can determine what will be best for you.

What can I expect from the treatment?

Smoother, healthier, more vibrant skin. A blended complexion with a lessening of fine lines.

Is the treatment painful?

When you go into the office, a topical triple anesthetic cream will be applied. This application will make the procedure quite tolerable. Afterwards you can have a surface Oxygen treatment.

What is my aftercare? Do I need to wear any bandages or dressings?

No. Microlaser peel is not like a CO2 laser and requires nothing more than a protective ointment like Aquafor or vaseline. This is used as a barrier while you grow new epithelium(baby cells, new skin). You may also go back to your plastic surgeon’s office for oxygen treatments over the next few days.

As you can see, there are options to a scalpel and needle when making your skin look better! Make sure you discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon prior to any procedure.

Dr. Bunkis MD, FACS of Orange County Plastic Surgery is a Harvard trained, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and has 30 yrs of surgical expertise. Call Orange County Plastic Surgery at 949-888-9700, email your questions to info@ocps.com or visit our website for more information. Serving Irvine, Newport Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita and surrounding cities.