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Monthly Archives: August 2011
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 30, 2011
Even though weight loss can be as simple as a healthy diet and consistent workout regimen for many people, it is a struggle for those who are severely overweight or medically obese. Even though some obese patients are successful with weight loss programs that include bariatric surgery, a change in attitude and educating oneself about food and nutrition can also help the individual lose the weight for good. Addressing issues such as a food addiction, poor eating habits and getting off the yo-yo diet cycle can all help to increase chances of success with any weight loss program.
Individuals undergoing a medically-supervised weight loss program and those who have already undergone bariatric surgery are often referred to a dietitian and counselor to help them adopt new eating habits and prevent falling back into their old regimen. Counseling can help many people overcome an obsession with food, which often leads to overeating and then overcompensating with a dangerous diet.
The key to overcoming this type of obsession is to make peace with food and realize that it is important for your body to receive clean food that provides real energy. Food is a source of energy and nothing more. People who overeat or abuse food are often dealing with underlying emotional issues that must be addressed through therapy and counseling. Once that is resolved, they can adopt some healthier eating habits that fuel the body and mind, instead of fulfilling some other type of unmet need.
Anyone undertaking a diet plan or behavior modification plan for overeating will also need to hold themselves accountable for their eating habits and weight loss goals. Keeping track of progress, maintaining a food journal, and seeking help from a dietitian or nutritionist are necessary for achieving long-term weight loss success and also for enjoying a healthier lifestyle.
Eliminating extreme diets, a obsession with food, and misinformation can help a lot of people lose weight in the long-term and keep it off for years without trying.
Learn more about bariatric surgery and weight loss here.
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 25, 2011
If you’re a soon-to-be-bride getting ready for the Big Day, you may have considered a makeover to ensure you look picture perfect for your wedding. Some brides are taking things one step further by going under the knife for a plastic surgery makeover instead. The VH-1 hit reality TV show called Bridalplasty has shed some light on this emerging trend that, according to Newport Beach-based plastic surgeon Dr. Tenley Lawton, is spreading across the country.
Brides today are seeking out everything from breast augmentation to rhinoplasty to achieve their ideal look for their wedding day. Dr. Lawton reports that, “Brides are spending anywhere between $200 to $12,000 on procedures to help them feel and look their best on their wedding day.” She says that the most popular procedures for upcoming weddings include: Botox, Juvederm, breast augmentation, body sculpting and rhinoplasty. Many of these procedures are performed with local anesthesia, which means the bride can enjoy a speedy recovery. Some require very small incisions, so it’s unlikely that wedding guests would even be able to tell that the bride has gone under the knife.
“Typically, for most cosmetic procedures, it takes about six months before final results are seen,” she says. ”What is most important is a woman has a realistic outlook on cosmetic surgery. They need to remember their future husband loves them the way they are. A little enhancement is one thing, but be cautious not to over-do it,” says Dr. Lawton.
Dr. Lawton is taking advantage of this sudden increase in demand for bridal makeovers by offering a new bridal consulting program. She typically charges $150 for a consultation, but is waiving this fee for brides interested in getting some of today’s most popular cosmetic procedures in preparation for their big day.
Dr. Lawton has a practice in Irvine, California. More information about Dr. Lawton can be found here.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a plastic surgery makeover before your wedding day, take some time to look at these plastic and cosmetic surgery before and after photos. These will give you a better idea of what to expect from various procedures, and can also help you track down a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to perform the procedure.
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 24, 2011
Many women gain up to 35 pounds during pregnancy and this extra body fat can be distributed in common problem areas including the buttocks, thighs and stomach. While some women are able to get the baby weight off fairly quickly after the baby, others struggle with losing those pounds with diet and exercise alone. Weight loss experts recommend a healthy diet and a consistent exercise regimen to get the extra weight off, but some moms can also benefit from a little help from their local plastic surgeon.
Liposuction continues to be a part of the “mommy makeover” package where women undergo several procedures at once to restore their pre-baby figure. Liposuction can remove the fat cells permanently and some techniques work by smoothing out sculpting the skin tissues to create tight and taut skin, and a more natural appearance. If you’ve tried diet and exercise, but find that you are still carrying some extra baby weight, going under the knife may be your best bet for achieving your ideal look and shape.
Some of the latest liposuction techniques including VASER lipo and SmartLipo use various technologies to “melt” the fat before it’s extracted, which makes it much easier for the surgeon to remove small pockets of fat and leave the tissues looking firm, tight and toned after the healing process is over. These innovative techniques promise less downtime than traditional procedures, and can also cause minimal scarring and pain.
For many women, a liposuction procedure is the most effective way to get rid of inches and lose body fat that doesn’t seem to be responding to diet and exercise alone. Losing the excess weight after the baby can be much easier with the help of a plastic surgeon, but the new mom still needs to commit to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating properly to stabilize their weight.
Talk to a mommy makeover specialist in your area to find out if you would be a good candidate for the liposuction procedure.
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 23, 2011
Kate Winslet is among Hollywood’s actresses who are famous for their curves, and seems to be unfazed by the pressure to be stick thin and achieve the “Hollywood ideal”. Now, she’s taking an active stand against cosmetic surgery, reportedly forming a “British Anti-Cosmetic surgery League” with fellow actresses Rachel Weisz and Emma Thompson. Winslet has stated that the press took her comments out of context, and that she hasn’t actually formed a “league”. However, she has made statements that are against plastic surgery in general.
Winslet recently told US Magazine that cosmetic surgery would be against her morals, and that she appreciates her natural beauty. Bloggers and the media are reporting that the league was formed to speak out against ageism, and gives stars like Winslet a chance to voice their opinion on whether plastic surgery is a good fit for women today, and today’s image-obsessed culture. HollywoodLife editorialized a statement that Winslet made about “founding a counter movement to the cosmetic procedure craze sweeping Holllywood”, says GossipCop.com.
Still, many celebrities aren’t afraid to vocalize their opinions about going under the knife. Celebs who have not had plastic surgery – but have been accused of going under the knife – include Salma Hayek, Kim Kardashian, Eva Longoria Parker and Drew Barrymore.
Stars like Jodie Foster have told the press, “I’d rather have a comment about who I am than about something that identifies me as being ashamed of who I am. It’s not my thing, [but] I don’t have anything against it for other people.
Julianne Moore is another actress who has spoken out about plastic surgery. In a 2008 interview with Britain’s Observer Magazine, she states, “I don’t know why women do Botox. It doesn’t make them look younger, it just makes them look like they had work done.” She does understand why actresses choose plastic surgery, though. “It’s hard for actresses”, she says. “Our faces get to be blown up 50 feet wide, and you see stuff that otherwise you wouldn’t. People freak out.” (Source:OCregister.com)
If you’ve been thinking about going under the knife to look like your favorite celebrity, set up a consultation with a plastic surgeon in your area. Your plastic surgeon can discuss your options and recommend a treatment plan that will help you achieve your goals. Take a look at these plastic surgery before and after photos to see examples of successful outcomes of various procedures by board-certified plastic surgeons near you.
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 22, 2011
If you consider yourself to be a Botox addict or have been thinking about getting Botox injections to eliminate wrinkles on your forehead, you may be a good candidate for a Xeomin injections, a Botox alternative. Xeomin is scheduled for release in the United States in spring 2012 and will join the lineup of Botox competitors, including Botox.
Botox continues to be among the most-coveted types of minimally-invasive surgery in the United States and is especially popular among baby boomers who want to eliminate lines and wrinkles around their forehead. Deep furrows along the forehead can make you appear much older than your real age, and the only other option to get rid of them is with facelift surgery. Botox is an affordable alternative to surgery, and is also less painful. Just one injection every few months is all it takes to get rid of those lines and wrinkles, and achieve a more youthful look.
Xeomin is derived from botulinum toxin Type A and works in the same way as Botox . The toxin relaxes the muscles so that it’s impossible for you to frown or create creases and wrinkles on the skin. The treatment is performed within a few minutes, and you’ll walk away with smoother skin and a more youthful look. Xeomin was created by Merz Aesthetics and has now gained FDA approval for cosmetic use.
Unlike Botox, this formulation doesn’t require refrigeration prior to use, which means it could end up being a much less expensive and convenient option for many physicians and medical spas around the country – which translates to lower costs per injection for the consumer.
Physicians around the country have been waiting for Xeomin to come to the U.S market, just so that they have another option available for patients pursuing non-invasive wrinkle treatments. In recent years, demand for Dysport has increased as more patients are comfortable with straying away from Botox and trying something new. Xeomin may enjoy similar success and the treatment can be tailored to meet the patient’s needs.
Talk to a plastic surgeon that offers minimally-invasive surgery to learn more about Botox alternatives and non-invasive options for wrinkle treatment.
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 21, 2011
Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Phillip Straka is taking the lead on improving the patient-doctor relationship by using a Facebook page as an online marketing tool. According to a recent study produced for the HealthCare New Media Marketing Conference by Q1 Productions, 80 percent of Internet users have jumped online for health population. Now that Facebook has approximately 750 million users, there’s a good chance that many plastic surgery patients are also using Facebook to find information about plastic surgeons in their area.
Doctor directories like LocateADoc.com are among the best ways to find a plastic surgeon and learn more about different procedures. Many plastic surgeons on LocateADoc.com have also created a Facebook page to represent their business, and to engage their patients and prospective patients in a new way. Some also post plastic surgery before and after photos on their Facebook page, giving patients a better idea of what to expect with their procedure.
Dr. Straka says that Facebook gives him a chance to respond to patients with more personalized feedback, and provide comments that actually provide value for each patient. He has been able to generate a consistent following and connect with a large patient community as a result of his efforts. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in breast enhancement, and is taking an active role in educating patients about different breast implant types, and options available for women interested in breast augmentation and related procedures.
He states, “By engaging with patients before, during, and after their consultations and procedures through Facebook, my team and I are able to develop and strengthen patient relationships quicker than we were able to in the past.” Ultimately, this allows him to provide patients with a more personalized and even more pleasant experience. He can also glean some important information about each patient by communicating with them through this social networking channel beforehand.
As today’s leading plastic surgeons jump on the social media and online marketing bandwagon, it’s becoming easier than ever to find a doctor that can meet your needs, and learn more about procedures that interest you. If your plastic surgeon has a Facebook page, take some time to look at plastic surgery before and after photos, and also read Wall posts to see what patients are saying about the practice.
Source: Digital Journal Press Release – Houston Plastic Surgeon Utilizes Facebook to Interact with Patients
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 20, 2011
Sagging skin around your eyes can add decades to your appearance, which is why many people pursue brow lift surgery or skin tightening treatments that help to lift up the skin and create a more youthful look. New technologies are now emerging that can address the problem of sagging brows, and these new techniques don’t even require going under the knife.
The Ulthera skin tightening device is slowly making its way into plastic and cosmetic surgery offices around the country, and may be an attractive alternative to brow lift surgery, or the endoscopic brow lift. This skin tightening device works by smoothing out the skin and lifting up the tissues around the eye area. The Ulthera device uses ultrasonic energy to trigger collagen growth under the skin, and can make the skin appear tighter and firmer. This technology has been around for decades but is only now being used for skin tightening treatments and has been producing predictable results for those seeking a brow lift treatment.
Unlike brow lift surgery which typically involves some downtime and pain, the non-surgical brow lift produces real results without a single incision. Patients can look much younger after a simple skin tightening treatment that makes the skin smoother and eliminates wrinkles and sagging tissues around the eye area. The eye area “opens up” slowly as the skin continues to become tighter and stronger.
The treatment is performed in just under an hour and there is no anesthesia involved. You can return to regular activities immediately after your treatment, and will see progressive results for several weeks and months after your session. It’s the ultrasound energy that stimulates collagen production beneath the skin, and as your skin becomes firmer and tighter, you’ll notice that the entire brow area is “lifted”.
Learn more about how Ultherapy can be an alternative to brow lift surgery here.
If you’re interested in this type of brow lift alternative, set up a consultation with a brow lift doctor in your area.
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 18, 2011
Heidi Montag is among the most well-known celebrities to have gone under the knife, and has been in the media spotlight in recent years for her extreme plastic surgery makeover. She has reportedly spent thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery procedures including breast augmentation, nose job surgery and lip augmentation and even underwent ten procedures in a single day to achieve her ideal look. The 24-year-old star of the MTV reality series “The Hills” recently told The Daily Beast, that she does not “regret anything” about her plastic surgery transformation but if she could go back in time, she probably would not go under the knife.
In 2009, Montag made the headlines for undergoing ten different procedures including breast augmentation, a nose job revision procedure, Botox, liposuction and a brow lift – all over the course of a single day. She has been singled out as a celebrity who just wants to attract attention with these extreme measures, and the star was featured on the cover of People magazine and other popular publications because of her cosmetic transformation.
Montag certainly received plenty of attention, but she feels that she was “too caught up in Hollywood”. She has stated herself that she had become incredibly self-absorbed and conscientious about herself and her image, and admits that she underwent plastic surgery to change her appearance to boost her image. In May 2011, Montag claimed that she is done with plastic surgery “for now” and is now focusing on her movie career. She told People magazine, “Obviously when I get a little older, I’ll take it from there. But for the moment, I don’t want anything to do with plastic surgery.”
We covered the ins and outs of Heidi Montag’s plastic surgery “addiction” earlier this year.
Learn more about the latest plastic surgery procedures and cosmetic surgery treatments by setting up a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon in your area.
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 16, 2011
 Weight Loss Many doctors recommend weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, for the severely obese because diet and exercise alone cannot help to reduce body weight to a healthy level after reaching a certain threshold. For many people, weight loss surgery eventually means fewer health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure or even a stroke over the course of their lifetime. This can also mean fewer medical-related costs for treatment. Results of a new study from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis finds that bariatric surgery is also a cost-effective solution for patients who are mildly obese.
According to this study, patients who have had the surgery are more likely to keep the weight off over time and have fewer medical problems associated with being overweight. The amount of money they invest in a bariatric surgery procedure could translate to substantial savings in healthcare costs over the course of their lifetime, and committing to a healthier lifestyle over the long-term would further reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases.
Su-Hsin Chang, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in the Division of Public Health Sciences and first author on the study published in the journal Maturitas states, “If lifetime medical costs are taken into consideration, surgery saves severely obese patients money”. The average cost for bariatric surgery ranges from $20,000 to $25,000 for the initial surgery, and patients do incur more costs for follow-up care and treatments. However, this initial cost could end up reducing many of the costs associated with the treatment of obesity-related diseases, many of which aren’t covered by medical insurance.
Learn more about the cost of bariatric surgery here.
Posted by Medical Staff Writers on August 14, 2011
 Nose Job If you’ve been obsessing about the size and shape of your nose and have considered a nose job, your surgeon may request a screening to make sure you are not suffering from a mental illness called body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). One of the common signs of BDD is an unnatural preoccupation with slight or even imagined defects of the appearance, which may include the nose shape or size, excess body fat or even breast size. Many people with BDD tend to have a history of wanting or undergoing cosmetic surgery to “fix” their appearance and are often returning to the doctor’s office for more procedures because they are simply unhappy with the outcome.
According to the results of a recent study, up to one in three nose job patients have BDD and are actually fueling their problem. According to David B. Sarwer, associate professor of psychology at the Center for Human Appearance at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennyslvania, “Patients with more severe BDD struggle to maintain social relationships and have difficulty getting to work or staying employed. Almost all of us will get up in the morning and look in the mirror and see something in our appearance we may not like or wish looked different. But for patients with B.D.D., that thought never leaves their mind.”
He points out that BDD is an unhealthy obsession with one’s appearance. The recent report that evaluated 266 patients, about 43% showed signs of the disorder, even though their noses appeared relatively normal.
If you are considering getting a nose job, take some time to look at these nose job before and after pictures so that you have some realistic expectations about the outcome of your procedure, and make sure that you’re doing it for the right reasons. Poor self-esteem or a lack of confidence cannot be “fixed” with plastic surgery alone, and any form of obsession may be a sign of mental illness.
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