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Archive for May, 2011

Obagi Transformations: Mandy’s Story

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 by Newswriter

Last month, you heard the story of Kristen, a 33-year-old woman who treated her bad complexion with a customized skin therapy regime with Obagi Nu-Derm. This month, Obagi’s “Watch the Transformation” series of videos on YouTube continues.

Mandy is 29 and suffered from the effects of sun damage, which included brown spots on her nose and poor skin tone on her forehead, as well as loose facial skin. She always had freckles as a child, but eventually realized that her skin was no longer smooth and youthful. “My mom told me when I was a kid that freckles were angel kisses, but it turns out they’re actually sun damage!”

She used the Obagi C-Rx system, a skin care system that corrects early signs of aging and prevents further damage to the skin from the sun and other factors, much like the Obagi Nu-Derm system corrects more significant damage that has accumulated over time.

Over the weeks, Mandy found that the Obagi system caused a transformation in her skin. Her sunburn lightened up, and spots and freckles disappeared. She found that her cheeks were firmer and tighter, and that the skin coloring on her nose was more even.

“It’s fun to have a glow about you, to have people notice it’s fun to have smooth skin that’s not full of spots. I don’t look like a leopard anymore.”

Obagi products are an alternative to other skin treatments such as CO2 laser resurfacing and chemical peels. Each Obagi program is customized to meet the patient’s unique needs. If you’re considering a prescription-strength skin care regime that outshines popular drugstore brands, contact a physician who has experience developing individualized Obagi programs.

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TUBA is the Best Breast Augmentation Procedure Available, Says Expert

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 by Newswriter

Transumbilical breast augmentation, or TUBA, is one of the most challenging procedures in the field of cosmetic surgery. It involves inserting a tube into the bellybutton and through the abdominal fatty tissue to deliver an implant without breast scarring.

Some have argued that the procedure, which requires the use of an endoscopic camera, has an increased risk because the surgeon does not directly access the breasts. However, according to a review of 3,300 consecutive TUBA cases performed by Dr. Robert A. Shumway from 1994 to 2010, TUBA appears to be faster, safer, and more effective than other methods of breast augmentation.

All surgeries carry certain risks, but Dr. Shumway’s assertion that “TUBA is about as safe as breast augmentation can get” certainly seems to be borne out by the numbers. Here are the postoperative issues and complaints encountered by Dr. Shumway after 17 years and 3,300 TUBA patients:

  • Capsular contracture, which occurred in 69 cases, was the most common complaint. At 2.09%, this was much less than the national average for other augmentation methods.
  • There was one possible infection, treated with an overnight antibiotic intravenous.
  • There were no acute hematomas, and delayed hematomas occurred in less than 0.05% of cases. All were surgically treated and fully resolved.
  • A few other complications had rates of incidence up to 0.18%, and included minor naval scars, breast asymmetry, and size dissatisfaction. These could be resolved with followup treatments.
  • Two patients experienced implant extrusion, one because of a self-induced injury and the other due to unsanctioned postoperative medication and underwire bra use.

The doctor recommends that TUBA patients tell their cosmetic surgeon about over-the-counter and prescription drug use, including those taken in the weeks before and after the surgery. He also recommends the tumescent anesthetic method for its safety and effectiveness, and strongly encourages ongoing postoperative care. Of course, the best way for patients to ensure their safety is to be careful in selecting a qualified and experienced surgeon with training in proven techniques.

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Making a Deposit at the Fat Cell Bank

Monday, May 16th, 2011 by Newswriter

With the move to more natural foods and lifestyles, many people are seeking to attain the results of traditional cosmetic augmentation without the use of implants or facial fillers. The growing popularity of autologous fat grafting, which transplants fat from one part of a patient’s body to another, has meant that more cosmetic surgery patients are able to achieve their desired all-natural beauty.

But there are benefits to this procedure that extend far beyond the augmentation of breasts or lips; a company in Dallas, Texas called BioLife Cell Bank has established a bank into which patients can deposit fat extracted in the course of liposuction. The fat can be stored for future cosmetic use and may someday have significant implications for medical and genetic research.

Fat extracted from a patient’s body has a variety of applications:

When used for filling out the face, scars, and depressions, transplanted fat can last longer than facial fillers, which often (depending on the type) need to be applied every six months to 1 year.

With this new fat bank, patients can have their fat retained for future use, instead of having it extracted repeatedly for different procedures over time. In the video above, Tina LeBoeuf, a breast reconstruction patient and mother of 3, is having fat taken from her lower body. Her surgeon will be using some of it to reconstruct her breast, and the rest will be mailed to BioLife Cell Bank, ready to be withdrawn at any time. Future procedures would require office injections rather than a stint in the O.R.

The stored fat may also have important applications in the future, since stored fat contains a high concentration of stem cells, which have been shown to have a number of medical applications.

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Posted in Body Cosmetic Surgery, Injectable treatments | Comments Off

Cosmetic Surgery Declines Among Teens

Monday, May 9th, 2011 by Newswriter

There has been a significant decline in the number of cosmetic surgeries among teenagers 18 and younger, according to statistics released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Nonsurgical procedures such as laser hair removal and chemical peels were the most popular cosmetic procedures among teens in 2010, while the most common surgery was otoplasty, which corrects the appearance of protruding ears.

Otoplasty is the most popular cosmetic procedure among children under 18, mostly around the ages of 5 or 6. Recovery from otoplasty is usually fairly quick and the procedure can prevent teasing. Rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping, is also popular during the mid-teen years, and can correct functional problems with the nose at the same time that it improves the appearance.

Other procedures involve reducing breasts, in boys and girls, or correcting breast asymmetry in girls. Liposuction is rare among teenagers, as cosmetic surgeons will often have serious reservations about performing it unless there are clear and unequivocal reasons in favor of it.

The statistics reveal a stunning 38 percent drop in the number of surgical procedures over the last two years, from 203,308 procedures in 2009 to 125,397 in 2010. Both figures are much lower than the 298,704 procedures reported in 2001, and seem to contradict a general impression that teenage cosmetic surgery has been on the rise in the past decade.

How do cosmetic surgeons decide whether a procedure is appropriate for a teenager? They’re always sure to talk with them first. It’s important that the physical feature in question has basically finished growing, since continued growth could distort the effects of the surgery. Cosmetic surgeons also discuss the procedure with the teenager, so that they can:

  • dispel myths and misconceptions
  • set up reasonable expectations for the surgery
  • carefully consider benefits, drawbacks, and risks
  • explore postoperative issues and recovery times

These steps are necessary to ensure that a teenager fully understands the nature of the procedure and will emotionally benefit from the experience.

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Posted in Body Cosmetic Surgery, Facial Cosmetic Surgery | 1 Comment »