Treatments range depending on the area to be treated, and the extent of damage wished to be improved, and can be injection based like Botox or Sculptra, or based on the use of laser technology or other thermal systems. At the far end of the spectrum is the facelift. A surgical procedure, the facelift involves incisions all around the face so that the surgeon can lift and reattach the skin. This surgery requires several days of recovery, and the patient is required to be under general anesthetic as the surgery can take several hours. The results are very evidently noticeable, and can often take 5-10 years off of someone’s age.

Noninvasive means, such as laser resurfacing and injections are gaining in popularity. Radiofrequency technologies such as thermage or fotofacial treatments are revolutionizing the way laser resurfacing works, and are able to provide focused results after a period of sessions. Thermage treatments, for example, optimize the desired contour of the face by mapping the change on a computer, and then temporarily tattooing this grid onto your skin during treatment.

Injections are also common for those who want more immediatley apparent results. Radiesse is an injection treatment that adds calcium based microspheres to the inner layers of the skin. These calcium microspheres help to initially tighten the skin and improve elasticity. They also provide a foundation for collagen to continue growing, so the treatment lasts long after the session.

Sculptra is another form of injection that is based on poly-L-lactic acid microparticles. These microparticles stimulate collagen growth, which in turn improves the elasticity and smooth, taught texture of the face. The injections add volume to the face. The most notable aspect of sculptra treatments is that it can last up to two years. Results are noticed after several sessions interspersed periodically over a few months.

The newer and noninvasive treatments are all designed to work after several sessions, and it is important to consider this when weighing the options.

It is normal and necessary to have a certain amount of fat in the body. It serves to insulate and protect the body and internal organs. It is only when fat accumulates under the skin and distorts the body outline that it can be safely removed. Some areas where this particularly happens are the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, buttocks, upper back, and neck. Even individuals dedicated to a healthy diet and physical fitness may experience stubborn fat deposits resulting from genetics, body chemistry, aging and other causes.

Liposuction provides the best results for individuals who:

· Are physically fit

· Exercise regularly

· Are not more than 25 lbs. overweight

· Do not smoke

· Have tried and failed through diet and exercise to get rid of the fat deposits

· Are socially embarrassed by local areas of fat

Advantages of Tumescent Liposuction

In the early days of liposuction, surgeons attempted to remove the fat cells without injecting any fluid first. That proved to be troublesome, and tumescent liposuction improved on it by having quite a large volume of saline solution injected before fat removal starts.

The saline solution contains lidocaine as an anesthetic and epinephrine to shrink blood vessels and reduce bleeding. It is matched in salinity with the body’s natural salt content. When the fatty tissue is suctioned out, the saline solutions comes out with it, diluting the fatty tissue and helping to give smoother results.

· The use of local rather than general anesthesia eliminates nausea and other side effects

· Recovery time is reduced

· Blood and fluid loss decreases

· Lidocaine blocks what might otherwise be felt as a stinging sensation

· No need for IV fluids during the procedure

· The more advanced micro-cannula reduces post-surgical bruising and swelling

· Smaller incisions mean reduced scarring

For some individuals, flabby skin continues to be a problem after the liposuction procedure has removed the underlying fat. SmartLipo may be a good option for these patients, because it is more effective at tightening skin while removing fat deposits.

Individuals who are very overweight and have many areas of large fat deposits are not good candidates for liposuction. They will be asked to lose weight first through diet and exercise or perhaps through gastric bypass surgery if they are obese. Obese people who lose a great deal of weight in anticipation of liposuction may find an abdominoplasty is also necessary to remove excess skin and tighten muscles.

As with all cosmetic surgery, it is vital to have realistic expectations for the outcome of your procedure. Liposuction can do wonders to improve the shape of your body and improve self-esteem, but it will not change who you are.

How Diamonds are Certified

The grading report describes certified diamonds on the basis of four qualities. These are carat, clarity, color and cut, and therefore are sometimes known as the “Four Cs” of certification. The report is for the benefit of those who create and market diamond jewelry, as well as those who purchase it – either as collectors, investors or both.

Those who prepare such reports are known as gemologists. These are technicians who generally have a degree in geology, then go on for specialized training in the study of precious gems and stones; they are to field of geology what cosmetic surgeons are to the field of medicine.

What the Grading Report Contains

Three of the criteria used to analyze and evaluate diamonds are thoroughly objective, meaning they can be readily measured and quantified. Carat of course is a measure of mass and weight; a carat is equal to 2 decigrams, or roughly 1.5 hundredths of an ounce. Obviously, the more a gem weighs, the greater its value.

With industrial diamonds, the process might stop right there. However, certified diamonds are those used in diamond jewelry, and thus must be pleasing to the eye. The SI Clarity Grade is another criterion by which gemologists evaluate diamonds. The ideal, perfect diamond is rated “FL” for “flawless.” The stone is virtually clear, with no cloudy or “cottony” areas or visible cracks. Stones that are clouded and/or cracked are labeled “I3″ for “imperfect.”

Color is an important factor when it comes to diamonds. These gems are clear or white to be sure, but can also be pink, amber, blue, green or purple. The saturation of these colors can range from the palest tinge to the deepest, darkest shades as well. Some colors are more desirable than others; rich pink and blue diamonds may command much higher prices than dark amber or even clear ones.

Evaluating the cut is a little more problematic. While it is true that a badly cut diamond may be almost worthless, even among quality cuts, some are more desirable than others. The value of cuts when it comes to certified diamonds is determined by market conditions that may change over time.

Objectivity is Vital

It is important to make sure that the grading report that accompanies any certified diamonds have been prepared by a lab that is unaffiliated with the company or individual who is selling them, for reasons that should be obvious.

This is the reason why there are many weight loss methods devised in this day and age. Some involve the use of pills, while others infuse strict diet and exercise regimens. However, one of the easiest ways to lose fats in key areas of your body is through liposuction. It’s like being slim and more attractive in an instant. You don’t have to diet or to sweat a single drop to achieve the body style you desire.  

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that involves the extracting of excess fat deposits found between the muscles and the skin. The procedure is performed with a cannula, which is a small tube made of stainless steel. This device is actually a very powerful suction pump that has the ability to take out fats that have formed under the skin.  

Small incisions on the skin would have to be made, which will serve as the entry point of the cannula. The tube is connected to a suction pump device in order to collect fats in the problem areas. The tube will create small holes or tunnels in the fatty layers underneath the skin. The tunnels would cause the fats to collapse, making them easier to remove. It will also cause the skin to follow a better body contour.  

What are the benefits of Liposuction?

Liposuction is usually used to remove fats around the waist, abdomen, and thighs. It is usually undergone by women so that they can restore the natural curves of their body. Liposuction is effective for men too and they usually require in it in the flanks area.  

After a liposuction session, the patient will immediately see the effects in her body. Excess fats are trimmed away, thanks to this modern medical technology. Liposuction has become very popular; making it possible to become slimmer virtually overnight.  

Are There Risks Involved?  

Liposuction is a surgical procedure. As such, there will be risks involved. Complications are rare but may arise with patients on a case-to-case basis. The most common problems seen are infections, seizures, nerve damage, and adverse reaction to anesthesia.  

Cosmetic surgeons performing the procedure are challenged to remove just the right amount of fats from their patients. Taking out too much may put the patient at risk of serious health problems. Also, it is very important that the neighboring tissues not be damaged during the entire operation. When the connective tissues and blood vessels are disturbed, complications may arise. Liposuction can also induce fat clots, blood clots, excessive fluid accumulation or loss, thermal burning, pain, swelling, and asymmetry. On a more serious note, liposuction may induce deep vein thrombosis, cardiac arrest, and pulmonary complications, if and when the procedure is not performed properly.

A casual walk through the bookstore or a flip through a popular fashion magazine makes it very clear that America is a nation obsessed with personal image. Along with image, we strive for self-esteem and sometimes even perfection. For some, the choice to undergo the popular plastic surgery procedure known as breast augmentation is one way to get closer to our personal concept of the ideal body. Although breast augmentation does not change the individual, it does increase self-confidence when a woman is happier with the way she looks.

 

Not all women, however, choose breast augmentation simply for looks. Some women deal with issues of asymmetry, which can make it difficult to fit properly into bras or clothing. Others need reconstructive breast surgery due to breast cancer or a trauma. Other motivations include:

 

· Breasts that are too small

· Sagging breasts due to aging

· Changes in breast size or shape due to pregnancy

 

Regardless of the reason, increasing numbers of women who are not satisfied with their breast size and shape are turning to breast augmentation as a solution to improving breast size, shape and fullness and enhancing self-esteem.

 

Good candidates for breast augmentation

 

· Are unhappy with the size or shape of their breasts

· Suffer from a poor self-image

· Are in good physical and emotional health

· Maintain a healthy diet and get regular exercise

· Do not smoke

· Have reasonable expectations for the outcome

 

Understanding the breast augmentation procedure is crucial to comprehending potential risks and your final surgical results. Consulting with a fully-qualified cosmetic surgeon is the best way to become thoroughly informed and have the opportunity to ask questions before making your final decision.

 

It All Begins with Your Consultation

 

It could be said that your breast augmentation procedure begins with your surgical consultation, follows through to the actual surgery, and concludes with your postoperative recovery. The entire process can take weeks or months to complete, and honest communication between you and your surgeon is vital to a successful outcome.

 

Telling your surgeon about your personal, social, and medical history is important. Your doctor will explain about different types of implants and different sizes, offering his or her best advice as to what is best for you. And finally, you’ll receive detailed pre- and post-operative instructions which you should follow exactly to avoid complications.

 

The surgery itself takes about two hours and is performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. But the way you’ll feel about yourself when your breast augmentation is complete lasts for a lifetime.

 

Abdominoplasty, also known as a “tummy tuck”, is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles. It is often requested by people who have had major weight loss or have recently given birth.

Several abdominoplasty procedures are available. A consultation with a fully-qualified cosmetic surgeon will help you understand the procedure that is right for you.

Complete Abdominoplasty

This procedure involves two incisions: one from hip to hip and another to free the navel from its surrounding skin. The skin is folded back from the abdominal wall to allow tightening of the muscles and fascia with sutures. Then it is pulled downwards and tightened. Excess skin is removed and the navel is repositioned higher. Sometimes, liposuction is used to further tighten and tone the abdominal area. A dressing is applied and excess fluid is drained. You may be required to temporarily wear a compression garment.

Extended Abdominoplasty

This is a larger procedure which involves the same steps as full abdominoplasty, and also includes the thighs and flanks.

Partial Abdominoplasty

Also known as a mini-abdominoplasty, this procedure involves just one incision. It runs between the hip bones, along the bikini line as in the other two procedures, but is shorter. Only the lower abdomen, below the navel, is treated. Excess skin is removed and liposuction may also be used to flatten the area.

Recovery and Costs

Recovery from abdominoplasty can take one to four weeks. During this time, your activities will be limited. You may have bruising and discomfort, and must avoid smoking to aid in your recovery. Full recovery can take up to six months.

Costs vary across the country and within specific locales. The patient’s age, weight and physical health are all factors the cosmetic surgeon must take into consideration. Procedure costs include before and after care, surgical suite fees, anesthesia costs, medication costs and follow-up fees. Additionally, a ‘touch-up’ may be needed to reach your goals. When speaking to your cosmetic surgeon about abdominoplasty or other cosmetic procedures, be sure to ask questions so you’ll know exactly what to expect.

• Epidermis on the top – consisting of dying and dead cells in the process of being sloughed off
• The dermis – containing many structures such as hair follicles, sweat glands, blood vessels, oil glands and a matrix of collagen strands for support
• The sub-cutaneous layer – containing fat cells and more structures such as blood vessels

Support for youthful skin comes from the network of collagen fibers in the dermis. Collagen is a tough fibrous connective tissue found throughout the body. As we age, less collagen is produced and the skin’s supporting matrix weakens. This helps to cause lines and wrinkles. Although some skin lotions and creams contain collagen, this is not an effective way to put collagen into the skin. Lotions and creams enter the epidermis but do not penetrate to the dermis. How Thermage Works Thermage treatments are an effective way to tighten the skin’s collagen and stimulate growth of new collagen. It is done with radio energy.

A special wand called a ThermaTip™ sends radio waves through the epidermis and into the dermis and sub-cutaneous layers. This heats the three skin layers and the heat causes the collagen to tighten. The skin’s surface is not burned by this heat, as the Thermage system includes a cooling device. Results are both immediate and gradual. Over two to six months, the skin produces more new collagen fibers which restore support to the sagging skin. The new fibers are tighter because the existing ones were tightened by the Thermage treatment. Typically only one treatment is needed. This will be determined ahead of time between you and your cosmetic surgeon. No particular preparation is necessary and there is little time needed for recovery. You may have a little redness or swelling but they will fade in about 24 hours.

Results last for about six months, but may last for several years, depending on your particular skin condition and aging process. Thermage is most often used on facial areas – around the lips and eyes, on the forehead, jawline and nasolabial folds. It can also be very effective on the abdomen, hands, buttocks, arms, and thighs. Thermage treatments should be done only by qualified health professionals.

If you are in or near Orlando, Florida, you could visit the Bougainvillea Clinique, which is an excellent medical spa and cosmetic surgery center. Why not contact cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Hartog today and schedule a personal consultation?

Perhaps you’ve heard about lasers being used for dental procedures and LASIK eye surgery. Today, the same advanced technology is quickly making SmartLipo the procedure of choice for liposuction patients and cosmetic surgeons, because it’s faster, safer and more cost-effective.

SmartLipo can treat smaller areas of fat, such as the chin, or can more accurately target larger surface areas of the abdomen, jowls, face and neck, arms and thighs. SmartLipo melts and liquefies accumulated fat within the fat cells, smoothing and tightening skin more effectively than tumescent liposuction does.

How is SmartLipo Done?

During tumescent liposuction, the surgeon first injects a saline solution containing lidocaine (for local anesthesia) and epinephrine (to reduce bleeding) into the treatment areas. This volume of fluid makes it easier to suction out the fatty tissue.

No saline solution is necessary for SmartLipo. A local anesthetic is still given, but the laser breaks up the fat cells instantly and the fat and fluid released from them drains off into the body’s lymphatic system and is excreted.

Other SmartLipo advantages include:

·         Decreased treatment time

·         Reduced invasiveness

·         Speedier healing time

·         More effective removal of fat

·         Decreased swelling and bruising

·         More effective skin tightening

·         Even less bleeding than in tumescent liposuction

What is a laser?

The word is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is a man-made light that does not scatter its light rays as a flashlight does, for example, or a car’s headlights. Instead, the light rays travel in a parallel and directional way.

They also have a single wavelength, which makes each laser a specific color. This differs from white lights which contain all colors and many wavelengths. Therefore a laser can be precisely directed at a treatment zone and will not affects any nearby tissue.

First developed in Europe, then approved by the FDA in November 2006, the SmartLipo procedure is the first laser-assisted liposuction procedure. Fully-qualified cosmetic surgeons across the U.S. have recognized it as a highly advanced liposuction technology. Cynosure, manufacturer of SmartLipo, reports that the procedure is quickly surpassing traditional liposuction in popularity.

The best candidates for SmartLipo:

·        Are in good health

·        Are within 25 lbs of their normal weight

·        Follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly

·        Have one or several stubborn fat deposits

·         Feel embarrassed because of fat deposits and motivated to do something about it

Most individuals seeking rhinoplasty are unhappy or dissatisfied with the size or shape of their nose because they feel their nose is:

Too large

Crooked

Humpy along the bridge

Too wide

Too droopy or toot thick at the tip

Too flared at the nostrils

Asymmetrical in alignment

Deviated in the septum

The Rhinoplasty Procedure

Rhinoplasty may be performed as an outpatient procedure, or may require a brief hospital stay. It is performed using general or local anesthesia and involves incisions made inside the nose to access supporting bones and cartilage. Your surgeon will consider your skin type, skin thickness, and the position and thickness of the bones to preserve the character of your nose while refining the qualities you dislike.

Based upon the result the surgeon is hoping to achieve, cartilage or bone may be removed, or a synthetic filler may be used to add tissue. The surgeon then reshapes the nose, places a splint on the outside it to support it during recovery, and may place nasal packing inside the nose for greater support.

Who is a Good Candidate for Rhinoplasty?

The best candidates are physically and emotionally healthy non-smoking individuals with reasonable expectations about how rhinoplasty can enhance their appearance. Rhinoplasty should not be performed in females under the age of 15 or 16, or males under the age of 17 or 18, because the nose is not yet fully developed.

Rhinoplasty Risks

As with all surgeries, rhinoplasty comes with some risks and all reputable plastic surgeons will make sure you are aware of them before your procedure is scheduled. By choosing an experienced and fully-qualified cosmetic surgeon, you can minimize your risks and maximize your successful results.

Temporary side effects are not the same thing as surgical risks. A rhinoplasty will cause temporary swelling and bruising around the eyes and perhaps some nose bleeding at first.

Complications can include:

· Breakdown of skin tissue

· Skin irritation from tape and bandaging used in post-surgical dressings

· Infection

· Swelling inside the nose leading to serious nasal blockage

· Anesthesia complications

You can enhance your recovery period and cosmetic results by closely following your surgeon’s written post-operative instructions, and by going for all your follow-up visits.

Unhappiness with your natural nose shape and size can have a serious emotional impact. If you’ve been unhappy with your nose for quite some time, and you are over the required age limit, rhinoplasty may be a reasonable option for you. In the Orlando, Florida area, Dr. Jeffrey Hartog and his friendly staff are available to answer your questions or schedule a consultation.

Cosmetic surgery can be a very daunting step to take if you want to look younger but don’t want to change your appearance.  When we hear “plastic surgeon” most of us envision nose jobs, breast lifts, and tummy tucks, and probably think, “I would if I had more money,” or “I don’t look that bad!”

Visiting a cosmetic surgeon doesn’t have to mean a full facelift or even dermal filler injections.  There are many ways a cosmetic surgeon can help you look and feel younger without cosmetic surgery!  Following are some anti-aging options for individuals who don’t want to go to the extreme of going “under the knife” for their appearance.

Laser Treatment

Many cosmetic surgeons now use Fraxel® laser technology.  Fraxel laser treatment resurfaces your skin at about 15-25% during each session, and can rejuvenate your skin from such blemishes as:

Fine wrinkles Surgical scars Melasma Acne scars Uneven picmentation Sun spots

Fraxel laser treatment is an outpatient procedure and the side-effects are limited to redness and some swelling which goes away within about 48 hours, often sooner.

Thermage®

Collagen is what makes your skin look young and feel fuller and more resilient.  When you age, your body produces less collagen and your skin begins to sag and get wrinkles.  Thermage® skin treatment is not a laser treatment or injectable filler that replaces your collagen.  Rather, it is technology that allows the cosmetic surgeon to treat your skin with deep, uniform radio frequencies and stimulate the natural collagen in your skin. Thermage treatment tightens the collagen in your skin and stimulates the growth of new collagen, and the improvement to your skin can be seen immediately and may continue for up to six months.

Skin Exfoliation and Facial Peels

Exfoliation is simply the removal of dead skin to allow new skin to surface.  Many dermatologists recommend you exfoliate your skin on a regular basis, but home exfoliation and peel kits can only remove the already-loose skin, not the entire layer that covers the new skin just beneath the surface.  Most exfoliation and peel treatments have limited side effects which may include swelling, redness, and sensitivity to the sun.  Because many exfoliation treatments and peels can be done within a span of thirty minutes or an hour, you could even have your procedure done on your lunch break.