• Preparing Yourself for Cosmetic Surgery

    Date: 2010.03.18 | Category: Cosmetic Surgery | Response: 0

    Cosmetic surgery has definitely gone through an ever evolving process that has not only improved in terms of method, as well as availability. For one thing, it’s become a part of life for some of us. With the advent of technology, we have reached a time in our lives where we can advertise ourselves on the internet. We have high-fidelity cameras, low-budget high production studios and the right search engines that can make us popular for a fraction of the cost. And believe me, cosmetic surgery hasn’t lagged behind just yet.

    Although there will always be the risks involved, they have dramatically lessened over the years thanks to more sterile means of keeping equipment clean, and producing more cutting edge tools that are effective as their predecessors. This not only means fewer complications, but also faster rates of recovery and more importantly, more natural results.

    Why Should I Change the Way I Look?

    According to recent survey, numbers have spiked over the years. The data suggests that about 10 million people have undergone both surgical and non-surgical procedures to make themselves look better. Experts all agree that cosmetic surgery is a personal choice that is fueled by emotional and social factors. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    People want to look less aged so they can pursue personal and/or professional endeavors that were not previously available to them. While some people just would like to get rid of a feature about them that they don’t like at all.

    Okay, So What Should I Expect?

    Not a lot. Although cosmetic surgery can, in fact, dramatically change the way you look, you won’t feel like superman. What tends to change is how people perceive you, although it might give you a considerable advantage when it comes to first impression, you’ll still have to prove you’ve got the stuff to keep people interested in you.

    Some patients have good reasons why they want cosmetic surgery while some haven’t thought through or have bad reasons. Choosing to go with cosmetic surgery is easy, going through with it tends to be the hard part that you should might as well consider rather than ignore.

    If you’re just doing it as a “pick-me-up”, forget about it. You’re not thinking it all the way through.

    Expecting Results

    When it comes to this type of surgery, you have to be completely honest about yourself and why you’re doing it in the first place. Be in mind that not all cosmetic surgeries are for beautifying purposes, they also serve to repair or reconstruct either genetic deformity or an unpleasant scar from an accident.

    Cosmetic surgery will not only take chunks of your time but it will also need your effort and more importantly your emotions. Always think it over carefully and access whether your surgery will affect you positively or not. It could risk making you worse than you were before, or it could turn you into an instant hit at your office; either way, think it long and hard.

  • Popular Cosmetics: The Big Six

    Date: 2010.02.26 | Category: Cosmetic Surgery | Response: 0

    There are currently six popular kinds of surgeries that are quite the rage in most countries. They are your liposuction, breast implants, nose jobs, eyelid surgery, Botox injections and facelifts. Here’s a brief breakdown of all of them.

    Liposcutions

    Liposcution (or Lipoplasty for you medical majors out there) is also known as body sculpting. To put it bluntly, they cut off unappealing flabs of fat in a much quicker time than exercising. The surgeon basically “sucks out” the fat through a small incision. This costs about 2,000 American usually, depending on the skill of the surgeon. As an afterthought, the side effects are minimal depending on how much fat you’ve drained from your body. You’ll have the usual bruising and swelling sensations on top of numbness from left over anesthetic.

    Breast Implants

    Breast implants are quite uncomplicated in their own right, but their aesthetic qualities make them popular to women who want to increase their bust size. These are essentially specialized bags of saline that are either sandwiched between your chest muscles and breast tissue OR between your chest wall and your chest muscles. This’ll set you about 3,000 bucks and up depending on where you do it and what surgeon you’re employing.

    The good news is that you’ll be operational after a day or two of surgery. But the kick back is that you won’t be able to take a bath for at least a week after surgery. Exercise is also out of the question during this period as it may aggravate your surgery.

    Nose Jobs

    It takes a real artist to shape your nose, which is why it’s as expensive form of surgery. It’s the surgeon’s job to cut, remove and reshape the look of your nose (which is made of cartilage and bone, mind you). It takes at least two days of recovery after the operation as you night time to heal the swelling and the bruising. The swelling part will eventually fade in a few weeks. As for the price, it’ll set you around 4 grand depending on the surgeon or the clinic.

    Eyelid Surgery

    Eyelid surgery is practically about shaping your eyelids. Its objective is to remove the bagginess then tighten the skin around the lids in order to give you a more youthful appearance. This type of surgery, however, does not remove finer wrinkle lines around the eyes. Aside from the usual bruising and the swelling, you’re likely to experience blurry vision due to the surgery as well as teary eyes for a week or so. Prices usually start at $2,000 and can go up depending on the definition you want on your nose.

    Botox Injections

    Botox does about one thing well: it smoothens out lines and wrinkles around the eye area. What this procedure does is paralyze muscles on your forehead. The great thing about these injections is that they have a very quick recovery rate. The only downside is that you have to have maintenance if you want to keep your face that way. Its 400 dollars or so for each treatment.

    Facelift

    Facelift basically stretches your skin to your scalp, thus tightening and soothing the skin. The bruising will fade in about two week’s time, but the swelling tends to dwell a few weeks longer. Surgeons recommend that you should be away from the sun and avoid straining it too much. This’ll set you back about 5,000 bucks.

  • Considerations to Cosmetic Surgery

    Date: 2010.01.24 | Category: Cosmetic Surgery | Response: 0

    Cosmetic surgery has advanced throughout the years thanks to advancement of technology as well as breakthroughs in understanding the human physiology. There had been two major reasons why people use surgery: beauty and repair. It’s no secret that some people aren’t happy with the way the look and so they go under the knife to change their looks so they can be more confident about themselves. But don’t think that cosmetic surgery is just skin deep; this branch of surgery has also helped people who have severe disfigurements get cosmetic changes that allow them to walk amongst people without having to be laughed at by their deformities.

    The Safety of Surgery

    Just to get things straight, licensed cosmetic surgery is safe. There are a lot of successful operations in the recent years that range from liposuctions, breast augmentations and facelifts that have had happy customers.

    One thing is certain though: things can go wrong, even at the hands of a professional. However, these incidents are quite rare. According to a recent survey only four percent of these surgeries have ended in certain complications. The reasons for some of these complications are that some clients opt for cheaper operations in the hands of less reputable or ill-equipped surgeons. Cosmetic surgery is expensive for a reason.

    Passing the Grade

    Now don’t think that because you have the money you can just waltz in by. There are procedures in place that are considered before the surgeon readies his/her knife. Protocol requires tests to be performed in order to make sure that you are healthy enough to have the surgery. Hypertension, diabetes, malnourishment and lung disease can potentially disqualify you since they can complicate your condition during surgery. If you’re a smoker this also makes it difficult. Surgery requires you to quit at least two weeks prior to surgery.

    Risks

    Again, things can go wrong even under the most careful of hands. But believe it or not, one of the more common mistakes that clients make is to make the call to the wrong kind of doctor. You can potentially risk your health or even your life by getting an uncertified doctor.

    The equipment that the doctor uses during the surgery can tell you a lot about him or her. For instance, if the doctor doesn’t sterilize his equipment, it can potentially cause hematoma. Unwieldy equipment can mess with the accuracy of the results and give you irregularities on your face.

    Anesthetics are also an important part of the surgery. Although their primary purpose is to numb the pain enough so that it can be tolerable, they tend to have side effects use as blood clots, paralysis and even abnormal heart rhythms if the dose is incorrectly administered to the patient.

    So Is It Worth It?

    Cosmetic surgery may not exactly be a gamble as some people picture it out to be, but it does have its clinical uses. The important thing to understand here is that you must remain safe during surgery. So if you think you haven’t thought about it enough, take all the time you need!

  • Questions You Might Want to Ask about Vitamins

    Date: 2009.11.23 | Category: Supplements | Response: 0

    Vitamins play essential roles in various processes and in metabolism of the body. Since they are not naturally found in the body, you have to get it from other sources such as food. Our body cannot synthesize vitamins while plants like an apple tree can. This is the reason why it is important to have fruits as part of your daily menu.

    What are the sources of these vitamins?

    Your body only needs small amount of these vitamins that could be provided by regular intake of food sources such as fruits (Vitamin C), green leafy vegetables (Vitamin A) and meat (Vitamin B).

    Eating a balanced diet is enough to meet up with the body’s needs for vitamins. Today, most of us rely on pills and capsules that provide the body with these nutrients. However, eating the natural sources of these vitamins is still essential to achieve the recommended intake of vitamins.

    Why are vitamin supplements necessary?

    The amount of the nutrient (vitamins) that you get from food naturally is enough for the body’s processes. However, intake of food such as white sugar causes the depletion of vitamins during digestion. Furthermore, other factors such as living environment may also cause the depletion of these micronutrients in the body. In cases like this, vitamin supplements are necessary.

    What is the Treatment for Vitamin deficiency?

    A prolonged depletion of vitamins in the body poses risks to one’s health. Each vitamin has its own function which means that a decrease on a certain type may manifest different signs and symptoms. Vitamin A deficiency, for example, may cause visual problems, Vitamin C (scurvy), Vitamin D (bone problems) etc.

    If you have severe vitamin deficiency, medical consult is necessary. The dietary supplement of vitamins may not have the enough amount of the said micronutrient. It may not be enough to correct the deficiency in the body.

    How are vitamins metabolized in the body?

    • Water-Soluble

    Vitamins B and C are called water-soluble vitamins. This is because they are dissolved in water and are carried by blood to be transported throughout the body.

    As it is circulated in the body, the cells wherein these vitamins are needed will utilize these nutrients and the remaining amount in the blood will be filtered out of the body through the kidneys. These vitamins are then excreted in a form of urine. Furthermore, Vitamins B and C are not stored in the body. It is important that they be replenished through a regular intake of these nutrients.

    • Fat-soluble

    However, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the fat tissues and in the liver. These are transported by fatty acids (from the food that we eat) to the whole system to be utilized by the body.

    These Vitamins are the Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Since they are stored in body fats and even in the liver, they can accumulate and reach toxic levels. Furthermore, they are excreted slowly compared to the water-soluble ones. This is another reason why they are more likely to cause toxic effects. It is important that you take supplements with these micronutrients under a doctor’s advice.

  • Why Cosmetic Surgery Is Popular

    Date: 2009.11.14 | Category: Cosmetic Surgery | Response: 0

    People go under the knife because of one simple fact: they want to look more confident about themselves. And since there are is a way to change how you look and at relatively safe procedures, then it’s all a matter of price and skill. It’s littered in gossip mags about celebrities and their enhancements, heck; it’s even populated a lot of search engines out there including Google. But let’s investigate why cosmetic surgery has erupted through the years.

    But the facts are straight about one thing: it’s carved its way into our culture, on top of being surprisingly accessible to the general public. According to experts, cosmetic surgery has exploded since 1997, with a whooping 8.3 million surgeries just a few years ago. The reason for this is because not only has the quality of treatment increased, but it has sufficiently provided the public with accessible prices that makes it possible for them to get treatments. Back then, they thought of cosmetic surgery as a luxury available only to the rich and the incredibly famous; but now, the tides have changed.

    Look Good, Feel Good

    Our society has evolved into a culture that is not only concerned with being healthy, but looking healthy. The baby boomer generation wanted to look and feel good, thus making cosmetic surgery an invention that sat well with their generation. As much as people take their health and longevity seriously, they equally treat cosmetic surgery as part of it. They not only want to feel young, but also look like it.

    The reality of cosmetic surgery is perceived as another stepping stone into perfection. We need to fill a potential, because it’s inherent in our behavior to be at our best. All throughout history, we’ve constantly shaped a perfection presentation of ourselves; making the art of beauty into a type of science that we can dismantle and attain.

    Since we are a social species, impressions are an important asset of success. For example, people who area bald tends to have less authority or charisma than people with a full patch of hair. Although hair is not the one negotiating your deals or making them, it makes an impression on the people you are talking to. Appearance gives weight to any situation it seems.

    Marketing in Media

    The media is, without a doubt, what made cosmetic surgery so “hip” in this generation. Market self-improvement with a knife to a society that wants to look beautiful and you’ve got a generation of eager kids that want to look like a Brad Pitt or a Scarlett Johansson.

    When the media made the hour-glass curve and the skinny models dance, what followed was a whole lot of people that wanted to look like them so everyone will look like them. It’s like a cycle.

    It might seem that I may be condemning cosmetic surgery as a whole, but one cannot ignore its uses. I’m a more natural kind of person, but it cosmetic surgery has landed people jobs, given them spots on television slots. Maybe there is some truth to its popularity; I just don’t see it yet.

  • Vitamin C and Skin Care

    Date: 2009.10.26 | Category: Skin Care | Response: 0

    We are all aware of the benefits of taking vitamin capsules to the body such as its effects to metabolism and body processes. However, we may not be aware of how essential it is in maintaining a healthy skin. All skin types need the wonderful effects of this vitamin; may it be oily, dry, fair or dark skin. Regain the vibrant glow of your skin. Replenish what had been lost and repair what had been damaged with the use of Vitamin C.

    Why is vitamin C considered to be one of the greatest discoveries in skin care? Here are facts about Vitamin C and how it may give you a smoother and healthier skin from inside and out.

    Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbic Palmitate

    This nutrient, also called ascorbic acid, is found in almost all fruits. It is made available in capsules and tablets as food supplements taken orally to achieve recommended intake of Vitamin C daily. Moreover, the form of ascorbic acid that is more stable in water is called ascorbic palmitate. This does not oxidize in water very quickly and retains the same benefits that Vitamin C promises of in skin care.

    Vitamin C, as a topical treatment may give you skin care benefits that regular beauty soap may not give you. This acts in various ways:

    • Collagen Synthesis

    The protein collagen is responsible for maintaining the integrity and the intactness of your skin. The use of topical ascorbic palmitate has age defying properties that would make you younger than your age. It helps prevent wrinkles and fine lines which is one of the consequences of aging.

    Today, a more aggressive beauty secret, collagen injection, is made available in cosmetic clinics for the goal of maintaining a youthful glow. On the other hand, the use of Vitamin C poses lesser risks and is definitely less expensive.

    • Free Radicals

    Using Vitamin C for skin care may neutralize free radicals. These are substances that are produced when the food we eat are oxidized for energy. Together with Vitamin E, Ascorbic acid is proven to prevent the harmful effects of these substances on the skin by neutralizing them. This means that Vitamin C also protects the skin from injurious chemicals in the body such as free radicals. So let ascorbic palmitate be one of your beauty secrets.

    • Environmental Factors

    You might have noticed how painful staying under the heat of the sun is to the skin. Prolonged exposure under the sun may cause skin aging and worse, skin cancer. Evidence shows that Vitamin C can protect your skin from the harmful rays. Aside from wearing SPF 15 sunscreen, applying the topical form of this vitamin may help you prevent premature skin aging and the risk of developing the dreaded skin cancer.

    Vitamin C promises of various skin benefits. It is now available as an over-the-counter solution available in pharmacies and even in dermatology clinics. It is affordable than other beauty products yet the benefits could be the same or even more. Read more about vitamin C and learn more about its skin care properties.

  • Keep Your Memory Through Time With These Brain Supplements

    Date: 2009.09.24 | Category: Supplements | Response: 0

    The brain is the power house of the body. It dictates whatever man does. The most important function of the brain is for memory. An action can never be possible without getting the information from the memory bank. How will you cook if you don’t know the recipe? How will you pay the bills when you forgot how much and where to pay? How can you feel affection when you can’t remember who your partner is or your children are? Preserving memory is as important as preserving health. As a person ages, so as the memory declines too. With the right health supplements, even as you age you will be able to recognize faces of your loved ones and be productive in your home.

    These are five supplements that are effective in enhancing memory.

    1. Vitamin E has been proven to delay the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Nowadays, Alzheimer’s isn’t a disease of the elderly. Even those on their early 40′s start to develop it. This vitamin is a potent antioxidant that helps slow the aging process. It is believed that it works on the brain cells and slow their degeneration. Take it along with Vitamin C a rich antioxidant too.

    2. Vitamins B are known to enhance memory. They have a protective function on the neurons of the brain. Some amino acids are responsible for the destruction of nerve cells during aging. The B vitamins fight off these harmful amino acids to preserve the function of nerve cells. They also improve the circulation of blood to the brain. Production of red blood cells are increased with the help of these vitamins.

    3. Omega 3 Fatty Acids are famous supplements. These don’t only benefit the cardiovascular system to prevent heart attack and disease but also improve the function of the brain. These are healthy fatty acids that prevent inflammation. Inflammation in the vessels can affect the flow of blood disrupting oxygen supply. They’re famous for combating cholesterol keeping the blood vessels healthy. When the brain is fully loaded with oxygen, it works optimally with powerful memory.

    4. Alpha GPC is a newer supplement in the market. It’s a derivative of choline, a type of amino acid. Alpha GPC aids in the regeneration of brain cells. People who suffer from cognitive problems and memory deficits can take this to regain good brain function. It works well since it’s one supplement that is easily absorbed by the brain.

    5. Ginko Biloba is a famous herb that stimulates the brain. It works by pumping adequate blood to the organs, especially the brain. It improves alertness, concentration and memory. With more blood in the brain, more oxygen it has for cognitive processes. It helps sustain exhausting mental work.

    Maintain and improve the function of your brain. Memory decline is the first sign of brain degeneration. Exercise your brain often to delay it’s aging and add on health supplements to revive unhealthy brain cells. Keep your memory sharp as you grow old and you will be the least to suffer depression and dissatisfaction.

  • Cosmetic Use: Understanding Makeup

    Date: 2009.08.09 | Category: Skin Care | Response: 0

    It’s no doubt that women use makeup more than men, but there are available products that make it viable for improving a man’s appearance. To be sure, all cosmetic products require disclosing their contents on their labels so the consumer will know what ingredients it contains. Why, you ask? Because certain chemicals can become irritants to people who have skin allergies like dermatitis. If you suffer from such an affliction, then what you read on the label can help save you the pain and suffering of breaking into an allergic reaction.

    Again, cosmetics do not get rid of acne; they merely cover it up enough that it does not draw notice on your face. Since makeup is obviously not included in the grander schemes of your body’s processes, can reject it in a variety of ways. For instance, oil-based compounds will no doubt aggravate acne since it can potentially mess with natural oils on your face, thus causing an overabundance of sebum that can no doubt cause acne outbreaks. Since make-ups contain active ingredient whether they’re natural or not, they can mess with chemical processes on your skin that will worsen it rather than make it look better.

    But fear not, the FDA (That’s the Food and Drugs Administration) does insure that what’s contained in cosmetics will not cause any adverse effects skin, they nonetheless take it less seriously than…well, drugs and food that is. Fortunately, there are prohibited chemical additives to make sure that these types of problems never happen. Even coloring agents receive a high level of scrutiny by the administration.

    If you want to get access to more face-friendly makeup, then you should take a gander at mineral makeup. These are vegetable-based beauty products that use little or no additives that could potentially harm your skin from continued use. Although they don’t exactly get of acne, they do have significantly less chances of acne outbreak on extended uses. But these cosmetics tend to favor women who like to go with a more natural tone on their face. Another unfortunate thing about these types of make-ups is that some brands are completely rubbish that sell you snake oil instead of a legitimate cosmetic that does its job.

    It’s best to always read on products you find on the internet. No, I don’t mean that you should just skim through random web pages; what I mean is that you should go to legitimate cosmetic-inclined reviewers who test out products for the consumer’s knowledge. Although some may be biased in terms of personal tastes, they can no doubt give you a decent chance that selecting the right product from the right brand.

    That reminds me, if you are allergic to certain kinds of makeup; always make it a habit of reading these products ingredients after you’ve visited your dermatologist and determined your allergens.

    So all in all, cosmetics aren’t such a bad thing to use so long as you take great consideration in how much you apply on your skin. Less is more!

  • Understanding Cosmetic Surgery: Advantages and Disadvantages

    Date: 2009.07.10 | Category: Cosmetic Surgery | Response: 0

    There is nothing wrong with if you want yourself to look more beautiful or be more confident of who you are. Unfortunately, looks are everything nowadays. Cosmetic surgery is more than just sculpting a more perfect nose; you must not only look beautiful but also feel beautiful.

    However, there has been backlash with cosmetic surgery over the years due to some cases of malpractice as well as complications with surgery. But people are missing the point. You see, cosmetic surgery isn’t only for people to be more confident about how they look, but it also serves to replace what is longer there. People with cleft palates or deformities around their face can benefit from cosmetic surgery so they can better integrate with society.

    But let’s get to the meat of the topic at hand shall we?

    Advantages

    Okay, let’s see how cosmetic surgery can hope to benefit mankind. For one thing, it can “fix” features about yourself that you don’t find particularly pleasing. Facelifts are perhaps one of the more common and less invasive forms of surgery there is since it can take off 20 or so years off your life in terms of appearance.

    Breast implants are also a popular form of surgery that involves surgically placing silicone underneath the breast in order to make it more ample in appearance. For women who have problems with their large breasts can opt from breast reduction so that they can be more comfortable.

    Liposuction is also an option that allows people who are fat reduce weight at a faster pace. This involves surgically removing packets of fat in the body then stapling the skin in proper places in order to complete the surgery.

    Disadvantages

    Cosmetic surgery can either be good or bad depending on what surgery you want and how good your specialist is. Since most of these surgeries can significantly alter the look of your body, those two factors must be considered.

    Cosmetic surgery is pricey. Since it involves delicate care and the proper medicine in order to run smoothly, it can take you couple of grand to make simple surgical procedures. Even Botox injections costs about 400 or so bucks and can go up the roof depending how popular they are. Since surgery is expensive, some people tend to take the surgery on credit or hire less specialized doctors to do the job. The latter, in itself, can prove to be gamble on the surgery and on your very life.

    Cosmetic surgery can have serious implications as you age and can be more pronounced as you advance in years.

    Safety and Regulation

    Safety and regulation are two things that are important to cosmetic surgery as a profession. Proper certification of expertise may mean heftier payments, but that’s the price you have to pay for safer surgeries that have a high expectancy to succeed rather than seedy backdoor “doctors” who perform it at a fraction of the price. Regulation comes in to insure that your doctor is properly trained to do the operation.