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Entries from July 2008

More Southern California Breast Reduction Patients Choosing Outpatient Settings

July 30, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Outpatient surgical facilities are becoming increasingly popular among Los Angeles and Beverly Hills breast reduction patients. Some of the factors contributing to the rising popularity of the outpatient option are safety, lowered cost, and high quality of care.

In recent years, breast reduction patients in Southern California have begun to show an increasing interest in having their procedures performed at outpatient surgical facilities instead of hospitals.

There are a number of reasons why breast reduction patients are beginning to favor outpatient facilities over hospitals. One factor that has likely contributed to this trend is the strict safety standards required of outpatient facilities. In 1996, it became mandatory for all outpatient facilities that administer sedation or general anesthesia in the state of California to be accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). Under AAAASF regulations, outpatient facilities are required to meet stringent standards for operating safety, equipment, staff, and surgeon credentials.

Prompted patients’ increasing interest in outpatient facilities, a recently published a retrospective review of his Southern California breast reduction patients who had their procedures performed in an outpatient setting over the last 11 years found that complication rates among outpatient breast reduction patients are comparable to those of patients whose procedures are performed in hospitals.

The study confirmed what we had known for some time: outpatient breast reductions can be performed safely at accredited outpatient facilities.

Another advantage of outpatient facilities is that in many cases they offer patients a more affordable alternative to the hospital setting. In fact, studies have shown that a procedure performed at an accredited outpatient facility may cost only one-half as much as the same procedure performed in a hospital. High levels of safety combined with lowered costs certainly have contributed to the rising popularity of outpatient facilities among breast reduction patients.

In addition to safety and lowered costs, women appreciate the privacy and comfort that the outpatient setting offers. Because outpatient surgery centers are smaller than hospitals, most patients find that the staff is able to provide a much more personal level of care than they would find at a hospital. Most Beverly Hills breast reduction patients find it to be more convenient and relaxed than a hospital.

Some of the most important considerations for all plastic surgery patients are their safety, the cost of the procedure, and the quality of care they are going to receive. Outpatient surgical facilities are becoming increasingly popular among breast reduction patients because they offer hospital-quality care at a lower cost and in a setting that is extremely safe and more comfortable than a hospital.

Founded in 2004, The Patients Advantage (www.thepatientsadvantage.com) is fast becoming the largest matchmaker of boardcertified cosmetic surgeons in the world. With more than 5,000 surgeons, The Patients Advantage is recognized as a leading information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

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Tips To Removing Acne Scar Tissue

July 23, 2008 · 1 Comment

Acne is a problem that many people face every day. But even when acne se ha ido, the battle against long-lasting effects is far from over. Any type of acne, whether mild or severe, has the potential to leave scars unwanted. However, there are ways to remove acne scar tissue that will leave you feeling better about their appearance of the skin. 

Scars, by their very nature are difficult to remove. Therefore, eliminate acne scar tissue may require an aggressive approach depending on the severity of skin damage. Some of the most widely used methods of removing scar tissue acne include laser surgery, chemical peel, dermabrasion, collagen injections and punch grafts. The laser surgery helps eliminate acne scar tissue using a high energy light which is used to burn away damaged skin. Chemistry peels, moreover, are useful to remove scar tissue from acne scars literally peeled away the top layer of skin and let the underlying skin heal.

Dermabrasion uses an electric machine that ABRADE skin and removes the top layer to expose a healthy underlying layer. This is commonly used for small scars. Collagen injections are used to inject the collagen under the skin, which is used to replace the body’s natural that has been lost. If you need help eliminate acne scar tissue from deep wounds involving the use of punch grafts, in which small skin grafts used to replace damaged skin. As the name implies, is a hole ‘punching’ in the skin, in order to remove the scar, which is then replaced with healthy skin.

The approach of eliminating acne scar tissue that is ultimately chosen will vary from one patient to another. Ultimately, the decision will be based on a number of factors, including age and general health of the patient, prior medical history and severity of the scars. In acne remove scar tissue, patients may need some minor treatments, while others may require a more aggressive approach to rid your body of the effect of acne.

For more information on this or any other cosmetic surgery topic, log onto www.thepatientsadvantage.com.

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The Five Myths About How to Eliminate Stretch Marks

July 17, 2008 · Leave a Comment

It’s easy to get lost in the sea of stretch mark elimination methods. Before you pick a method however, it is well worth your time to first check what works and what doesn’t.

Myth #1: There are various surgical procedures to eliminate stretch marks.

As of the moment, abdominoplasty is the only surgical method that is known to have the highest chances of removing stretch marks. This method however will only eliminate stretch marks in the tummy area and is very risky and expensive. It is not even originally intended for stretch mark removal but for extra fat removal. Only those who are close to their ideal body weights and have only a little fat to remove are considered good candidates for abdominoplasty.

Dermabrasion and laser treatment are two other procedures for stretch mark but these are medical and not surgical. As most people would know however, dermabrasion is simply a more complicated form of exfoliation which is only a marginally effective method to eliminate stretch marks. Laser treatment on the other hand is a new method that does not have a long and proven track record in removing stretch marks.

Myth #2: Getting a tan can eliminate stretch marks.

Because of silvery color, most people have the misconception that they can cover up stretch marks with a tan. This however, will only serve to worsen the whitish appearance of stretch marks as the surrounding healthy skin darkens in color. This is because stretch marks are scars and if you’ve ever tried to tan a scar, you would know that they are particularly resistant to color changes. Most of us also know that tanning is not always very safe.

Myth #3: Apply make-up on stretch marks to cover it.

Make ups are not stretch mark solutions. These products do not eliminate stretch marks but just mask them. This may be a good technique but only for a limited time. Even the most water resistant make-up will eventually lose its grip at the beach or in the water.

Myth #4: Weight loss can eliminate stretch marks.

There are some people who believe that since gaining weight caused the stretch marks, losing weight can remove it. As scars, they will stay put even if you manage to agreed thin. You may however, be able to reduce your chances of getting stretch marks if you have never been overweight to begin with. A healthy diet and exercise can keep you from rapidly expanding in body size.

Myth #5: Stretch mark product is the answer to eliminate stretch marks.

The main reason why people don’t believe in stretch marks solutions anymore is because the market is simply overflowing with stretch mark products that just don’t work. These products put a bad name on reputable brands.

To get the best out of your stretch mark lotion or cream, make sure you read product specifications, contents and ingredients. If you have very sensitive skin, you would do better with an all natural product that will not expose you to dangerous side effects.

For more information visit www.thepatientsadvantage.com

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Non-Surgical Face Lift Options

July 10, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Non-surgical facelifts are often considered instead of the more dramatic and possibly dangerous surgical option when it comes to looking younger. Not only are they often a cheaper option, but have the advantage of having a much shorter recovery time. These methods often include chemicals or injections so a less drastic method could be the natural face lift option.

Surgery will require you to have a fairly long re cooperation time and it is not without an element of danger. Although an average surgical face lift costs around $3000/$6000, you may find that there are other costs involved post surgery. It is those factors that make non-surgical face lifts more attractive, even though the results do not last as long. Some methods even have an added advantage if a person has some minor skin imperfections as these can often be rectified at the same time. Find out how to chose the right method for you.

Botox is the one everybody has heard of and it has been chosen by many millions of men and women worldwide. It is injected into certain muscles which then relax or get paralysed and so smooth out any lines in the skin. Because the muscles are paralysed, they cannot move and so cannot produce wrinkles. It has been cleared for cosmetic use in 2002 so any long term effects are not known. Injections cost around $100/$200 per shot so the total cost will depend on how many you want or require. It is quick and effective, the initial swelling normally goes down after an hour or so. The effects can last anywhere from three to six months and sometimes longer, depending on the individual. Anybody taking anti- biotics should wait until they have finished the course before using this procedure.

Another popular option that also requires needles is the collagen injection. Collagen, which is part of the skins’ structure, is injected into the affected areas. It fills out the skin which is why it is also known as filler, making it smooth and younger looking. There are several different types of fillers which can be used so it is worth talking to your cosmetic surgeon about the options available. The cost of the injections will depend on the type of filler used. As many of the substances used are natural, they get absorbed into the body, the individual rate of absorption will dictate how many treatments you need in a year.

Number three in the non-surgical face lift table covers several different methods to achieve the same result. A youthful looking face is achieved by gradually removing layers of skin. The methods available are microdermabrasion, where the skin is removed by ’sand blasting’, chemical peel, which uses chemicals to remove the skin, laser treatment, and finally dermabrasion which is a more drastic method and is considered by some as a surgical treatment because of the fairly long recovery time. The final results are a smoother skin, with all the small lines and , perhaps, minor blemishes removed. Any really deep lines and wrinkles will remain but they are lessened. The treatments start at about $75/$150 and can go to over $1000/$2000 but the effects should last for a year before needing further treatment.

There are now a huge selection of face lifting creams on the market, all claiming to reduce the signs of aging. They have a variety of different ingredients so it is just a matter of finding the one that works best for your particular skin type. Using these after any other face lifting procedure may well have a beneficial effect that will prolong the life of the therapy.

When it comes to the safest, cheapest and probably most longest lasting type of non-surgical face lift, you cannot beat a set of well designed facial exercises. The key here is well designed as there many different facial exercises around and some may even increase your wrinkles. Ideally look for those that are isometric as they really improve the muscle and skin tone of your face. There is a misconception that they take a long time to do. Not really so. The first stage may require some time and effort but after a couple of weeks you only need a couple of minutes per day and that can be dome when you apply your skin cream. This natural face lift method can also be beneficial both pre and post operation if you are determined to have some other form of lifting as it gets your face into better shape for any further work.

Finally, if you do wish to have use some of the non-surgical face lifts that use injections or chemicals, always talk it over with your doctor first. When looking for a cosmetic surgeon, always choose one that is a member of an association that is acknowledged by the local authority or medical profession. That way you will have some protection in the unlikely event of things going wrong. The personal recommendation is valuable as at least you know somebody who has been there, had the treatment and is a satisfied customer.

For more information visit The Patients Advantage.

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Beautiful People Earn Up to 15% More Than Average-Looking Employees

July 6, 2008 · Leave a Comment

If you need a reason to justify the high price of cosmetic or plastic surgery, maybe it’s time to blame the boss.

Attractive people are more likely to get a raise, obtain higher positions within the company, and enjoy preferential treatment compared to ‘average-looking’ employees, according to psychologists and researchers who study the role of beauty in society.

While it’s natural to be attracted to those blessed with good genes, making solid business decisions based purely on stereotypes could mean many people miss important career opportunities such as promotions and even a larger paycheck. The difference in salaries could be as much as 15%, say the bloggers at The Digerati Life.

The solution? Enhance your looks with cosmetic or plastic surgery to keep up with the beautiful people and compete for those attractive positions. U.S. News reports on the value of this approach in How Plastic Surgery Can Boost Your Career. Recent studies show that more Americans are turning to plastic and cosmetic enhancements to look more attractive and take off a few years to compete with new recruits at the workplace.

Investing in your looks with cosmetic or plastic surgery could help you stay competitive, boost your performance at work -

- and even get you that raise.

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