You Can Improve Your Sun-Damaged Skin With Laser Treatments

Currently, there are many lasers used for facial and skin rejuvenation and to treat sun damage and photo-aging of the skin. One older laser system, the carbon dioxide laser, has been very effective for treating sun damaged skin but has fallen out of favor. This is because it routinely caused extensive rawness of the skin that typically required over 2 weeks of “hiding out” or “downtime” to recover. In addition to the time it took to heal, it frequently caused skin discoloration and occasionally scarring. Many lasers available today require very little downtime and yield some improvement of the skin but are not nearly as effective as the carbon dioxide laser. As with any procedure, anyone considering laser skin treatments should first consult with a plastic surgeon prior to under going their chosen procedure.

Protruding Ears Are Usually A Family Trait That Surgery Can Fix

Just as it is with all facial features, the size and shape of the ears are a family trait. For example, parents and grandparents with protruding ears, often have children with ears that share these same characteristics. Ear deformities can benefit from correction through surgery, and successful results can be seen in subjects as young as 4 years old. By this age, the ears have almost reached maturity and adult size, so very little change is expected after the age of 4.

During an ear surgery procedure, the plastic surgeon repositions the flexible ear cartilage. The incisions required for this procedure are usually placed behind the ear where any resulting scars will be the least visible. While there are several variations in techniques for ear surgery, the goal of the ear surgery procedure is the same in all cases - to provide a normal, more balanced appearance to the ears.

The Different Types Of Breast Implants

Most people these days are familiar with the popularity of Breast Augmentation surgery. What most of those people do not realize is that there are different types of implants used in breast augmentation surgery, and each type of implant has its different applications, that depend on the preferences of the augmentation patient, the plastic surgeon and lastly, the surgery technique used for the placement of the breast implants.

The saline implant has an exterior sack comprised of solid silicone, which is filled with a saline solution similar to the solution that is used for intravenous fluids during and after surgery. The main advantage of this solution is its safety. Should a saline breast implant leak, the saline solution is absorbed into the body.. Another great advantage of saline breast implants is that the saline breast implant poses a low infection rate, usually less than two percent.

The silicone implant is filled with a silicone gel surrounded by a solid silicone sack. More than a million women in America today have these silicone breast implants. Some patients and surgeons alike agree that the silicone breast implant results in a more natural looking breast.

Cohesive gel implants (also referred to as the "gummy bear" implant) are silicone implants that are filled with a thicker silicone gel that holds its shape and form much like a "gummy bear". If you one were to cut into a standard silicone breast implant, the liquid silicone gel escapes from the implants shell. Conversely, when you cut open a "gummy bear implant, the implant itself maintains the shape and integrity because the thicker silicone gel does not leak. These shaped implants are designed with the main focus being a natural look. Cohesive Gel implants maintain their shape in an upright position, which lessens the chances of the implant's shell folding or rippling.

When electing to have breast augmentation surgery, one should always consult with a cosmetic surgeon before to the surgical procedure. This is an important step that should be taken seriously. With any surgical procedure, there is a level of risk, and anyone considering a breast implant surgery procedure become informed of the risks involved, and fully understand the procedure, and be realistic about the results of this type of surgery procedure.

Breast Reduction Surgery And You- Can it Help?

Breast Reduction surgery, also referred to as Reduction Mammoplasty, is a surgery procedure meant to reduce the size and weight of the breasts through the removal of excess breast tissue, fat and skin. With a breast reduction surgery procedure, the surgeon not only makes the breasts more proportionate to a woman’s figure, but also lifts them.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, more than 100,000 Breast Reduction surgery procedures were performed in 2005 on women who had excessively large breasts, conditions also known as Macromastia, Mammary Hypertrophy and Mammary Gigantism. Some girls develop breast overdevelopment (Mammary Hypertrophy) during puberty, while some women develop overly-large breasts (Gigantomastia) during pregnancy. All of these women chose breast reduction surgery because it was the only way to correct the physical and emotional issues that are caused by excess breast weight. For many women with Mammary Hypertrophy, the sheer weight of their breasts makes it impossible for them to maintain a regular exercise routine.

A woman with "F" cup breasts is carrying about six pounds more than a woman with a "D" cup. This additional weight is sustained by the muscles of the neck, back and shoulders, causing chronic pain in these areas. Many women find relief through strong narcotics and muscle relaxants, leading to physical addiction, and emotional trauma. With these considerations, Mammary Hypertrophy is a physical disability. A Breast reduction procedure can be the answer to these issues for women with overly large breasts.

What Is Liposuction Surgery, and How Can It Help Me?

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that helps to sculpt the body by removing excess fat from specific areas of the body. Through a small incision, a slim tube is inserted through the incision to remove the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The cannula is then inserted and moved through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them through a vacuum pump or a large syringe. Liposuction surgery is not a substitute for dieting and exercise, but it can help with the stubborn areas of fat that do not seem to be affected by normal weight loss methods.

Good candidates for a liposuction procedure are people who are within 30% of their ideal weight and have firm, elastic skin with pockets of excess fat in certain areas. You should be realistic about your expectations and in good physical and mental health. Individuals with certain medical conditions may not be suitable candidates for liposuction surgery - check with your plastic surgeon if you have such a medical condition.

Bigger, Easier, Better - LookingYourBest.com Reaches for the Next Level

LookingYourBest.com, the nationwide reference guide to a Who's Who of America's Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons, offers more than just a bold new look with its comprehensive re-tooling. It offers an enhanced experience.

The first aspect of the new LookingYourBest.com that will surely catch the eye is the new layout and color scheme. The old, sterile layout with its pastel colors blending out to the window's edge has been supplanted by a sharp, clean page set against a rich chocolate tone, with deep rose accents and a commanding presence. In all the site wears a more focused, sophisticated feel that visitors are sure to appreciate.

The visual changes, however, belie the underlying metamorphosis that now makes it even easier to seek out doctors and procedures by multiple criteria. A simplified menu and site structure are two of the keys to the improved ease of use, despite the addition of even more data than before. LookingYourBest has long been an excellent source for finding and comparing professionals in aesthetic medicine, both locally and nationally. Now, the search function in both the gallery and surgeon areas has been simplified and visitors are treated to informative videos and 3D procedure animations to further enhance their search.

There's an important difference in the underpinnings as well, though a casual visitor may not even notice. Nevertheless, by streamlining the site's code, the programmers at LookingYourBest have sought to improve what is often the most important aspect of a web site; browsing speed. The new LookingYourBest.com loads faster and is more intuitive than ever.

Thinking of Giving Each Other the Gift of Plastic Surgery?

Important Tips for Would-Be Gift Givers, Recipients

More and more couples are considering plastic surgery as the ultimate gift. However, it is important to weigh the risks and benefits of any aesthetic procedure, as well as choosing the surgeon, and setting that are right for you.

There are benefits to coming in for a consultation with a loved one, but decisions about individual surgeries should only be made by the person who is going to undergo the procedure. Additionally, couples who are both undergoing procedures should time their surgeries so that the other person can be available to care for their partner when they have surgery.

For anyone considering aesthetic surgery, Here is some important advice:

• The idea for plastic surgery should come from the person who intends to have it, not from a spouse, relative or friend.
• Plastic surgery takes planning. If you expect to give or receive a "gift" of plastic surgery, make sure that everyone involved does their homework well ahead of time. A self-motivated, well-informed patient is more likely to be a satisfied patient.
• Patients should discuss risks, benefits, expectations, and desires with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Surgery should be performed at an accredited surgical facility. All members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have significant documented experience in cosmetic surgery, and operate only in accredited surgical facilities.
• Not all patients are good candidates for all procedures. Patients need to be evaluated by a qualified and board-certified plastic surgeon to determine if they are an appropriate candidate for a particular procedure.