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Archive for March, 2011

Laser Treatment Minimally Effective for Sagging Arm Skin

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 by Newswriter

Doctors from the University of Florida have confirmed an infrared laser device is minimally effective in treating loose arm skin without surgery. The procedure is a milder but less effective alternative to arm lift surgery, they report.

There are many reasons why upper arm skin becomes loose. Fluctuations in weight, the processes of aging, and even hereditary factors can cause droopy, sagging skin in the arm, armpit, and chest. People with excess skin on their arms often feel embarrassed and hide their upper arms.

Brachioplasty, or the arm lift, is a popular surgery that removes this excess fat and skin and improves the appearance of upper arms. Fatty tissue is removed through liposuction and excess skin is removed. The remaining skin is then pulled tight and sutured together so that the arms appear leaner and smoother. As with all surgical procedures, some scarring may result, but patients typically find that the surgery is well worth it. Now it seems that there is a confirmed non-invasive alternative, but its effectiveness is limited.

Previous studies have shown that the infrared laser device, called the Cutera Titan, has been effective in tightening skin across the body. The light heats the dermis beneath the surface of the skin and contracts the collagen so that the skin tightens. However, the Titan had not been previously tested in the upper arm area, until a recent study published in Dermatologic Surgery explored the use of the device for treating loose arm skin.

Twenty women with loose arm skin underwent 2 treatments with the device, and outcomes were measured 3 months later. The study found that there was a marked decrease in arm circumference, and investigator and participant evaluations revealed some minimal improvement in skin tightness. However, blinded photographic assessments and spectrophotometric analysis showed no improvement.

The authors conclude that while the Titan is safe and well-tolerated, it is minimally effective in treating arm skin laxity. The arm lift remains the most effective option for patients who wish to tighten the appearance of their arms.

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Study Reviews Risk of Quitting Smoking Before Surgery

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 by Newswriter

A recent study shows that quitting smoking two months before surgery may not affect the risk of post-operative complications.

However, cigarette smoking has been proven to increase the risk of complications across a wide variety of surgical procedures, from lifesaving surgeries to cosmetic procedures like facelifts. “Compared with nonsmokers, smokers who undergo surgery have longer hospital stays, higher risk of readmission, are more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit, and have an increased risk of in-hospital mortality,” write the British researchers who authored the study.

Surgeons know that surgery is riskier for smokers, but nobody is certain how long it takes for cessation of smoking to translate into postoperative benefits. This latest study challenges the old assumptions that one could quit smoking several weeks before surgery and thereby reduce the associated risks.

The study authors call for further research on the effects of only a few days’ abstinence from smoking, since their analysis did not account for the symptoms of short-term tobacco withdrawal over that short a time.

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Breast Augmentation and Breast Reduction on TODAY Show

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 by newseditor

In their recent Life Changers series Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb have been highlighting different ways that Cosmetic Surgery can impact every day life. This episode introduces two women with very opposite perspectives.

The first guest, Erica Moseley, who was an A-cup and had always dreamed of larger breasts says, “I would be in my room praying ‘Please let me wake up and have boobs’ and it just didn’t happen, so one day I just woke up and said ‘It’s happening, I’m getting it done.” Strutting her stuff with an invigorated smile and just 12 days after breast augmentation, she is “more than happy” with the results.

Jeanne LeBlanc, 4’9” with a triple-D wanted her smaller frame to be more proportioned and opted for a breast reduction. Her surgeon Dr. Steven Teitelbaum reports that, “She has neck, back, shoulder pain, rashes under her breasts. The bra strap hurts her and her bra strap even creates a groove on her shoulder. So she just has about every kind of symptom and reason to have a breast reduction” On the show after the surgery Jeanne comments “I saw my stomach – I saw my stomach for the first time in the shower.”

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Dr. Teitelbaum, also a guest on the TODAY show, talks about some of the improvements in technology over the last 20 years and how health insurance can help in some cases with the cost of breast reduction surgery. It is safe to say from this video that the size of the breast is not the important factor, but the comfort and confidence of the patient.

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Antioxidants May Promote Healing After Surgery

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011 by newseditor

In a recent clinical study out of Brazil, physicians asked 60 women to significantly increase their intake of fruits and vegetables during recovery from abdominal cosmetic surgery. Their findings reveal some promising potential benefits of an antioxidant-rich diet, not just after cosmetic surgery, but also for treatment of inflammatory conditions.

The authors hypothesized that a diet rich in fruits and veggies would produce an anti-inflammatory response in the participants. In this case, they decided to examine the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and levels of C-reactive protein, a common marker of inflammation and infection.

The participants were interviewed the first day after elective cosmetic surgery. They started the experimental diet on the third day and doctors followed their progress for one more month. They explain the post-operative diet as follows:

“Six servings each of fruits and vegetables, reflecting a diet rich in such foodstuffs, were advised. Seven easy and convenient recipes were developed by the team with the objective of improving palatability and intake.”

Results of the study showed that both the control group and the dieting group experienced a reduction in C-reactive protein, but according to the study authors, “a more expressive decrease could be demonstrated for the high fruit and vegetable participants.”

Although the authors caution against making any hasty conclusions, they do suggest some interesting benefits based on the findings. In particular, they argue that fruits and vegetables are safe, tolerable and inexpensive. They also mention a “synergistic” effectiveness associated with good nutrition.

This study is currently accessible for free through Pubmed.gov

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