Cosmetic plastic surgery involves techniques designed to enhance the physical appearance through surgical and medical methods. It is specifically concerned with the maintenance of an aesthetically appealing appearance, restoring youthful looks, or enhancing it beyond the average level toward an aesthetic ideal. Through surgical procedures, patients can have fewer wrinkles, a slimmer body, and fuller breasts, among other aesthetic benefits. Advances in Plastic Surgery About fifty years ago, only the rich and famous could afford to undergo surgical treatments, and at the time, the subject was whispered about and considered a taboo by some. Celebrities and other affluent people would disappear for a few months, and return to society looking younger and more beautiful, much to the shock—and disdain—of most of modern-day society. Over time, however, the practice of plastic cosmetic surgery became accepted and even encouraged in society. Today, there is open acceptance of cosmetic procedures, so much so that TV shows about the profession have become commonplace, and even popular. Due to the prevalence of surgical enhancements, technologies and techniques have been further developed so that a wide range of choices is available, from tiny tucks and snips to full-blown facelifts and massive body contouring. New advancements in the field have also lessened the recovery time and possible health problems. The Most Prevalent Procedures The most common surgeries today include: Breast Augmentation Breast augmentation is designed to make the breasts bigger through the insertion of implants. For some ladies, this cosmetic plastic surgery procedure can improve their self-image, thereby improving how they feel about their bodies. Others also undergo this treatment to restore their breast size after...
Technology has advanced to the point where science fiction now meets reality. One key element from sci-fi that is now part of daily life is lasers. It is used to read DVDs, cut and shape metal in laboratories, fix damaged eyes, and now, used to rejuvenate the skin and make people look and feel years younger. Laser Skin Resurfacing This is done through what’s known as laser skin resurfacing, a cosmetic procedure that is continuously gaining popularity in the industry. This is a treatment that is deemed very safe, very convenient, and most importantly, very effective. It is truly a viable option for those looking to have rejuvenated skin. Skin resurfacing uses a variety of lasers, depending on the situation and what is required by the cosmetic surgeon and patient. The general ones include the CO2 laser, which is the highest intensity and most powerful, Erbium lasers which are less powerful, but more precise than the CO2 laser, and the Fraxel laser, which is very non-invasive and has very little side effects, but requires repeated trips and sessions over the course of a number of weeks, sometimes even months. Skin Resurfacing Procedure The skin resurfacing procedure involves the patient being sedated and anesthetized, along with having the eyes covered to protect them from being damaged by the light of the laser. Once the patient is ready, the surgeon takes the laser machine and passes it over the target area, removing damaged layers of outer skin while stimulating the production of new skin cells and collagen in the underlying layers. This results in having a smoother, healthier, and most importantly,...
A laser is a high-energy light beam that transfers energy into the skin tissue to effectively treat skin irregularities. A laser skin peeling can be used in the treatment of many different problems areas such as wrinkles and blemishes on the face. Laser surgery also erases birthmarks, skin lesions, spider veins and tattoos. Since the cosmetic surgeon uses the minimum intensity level, more than one treatment may be necessary. Laser cosmetic surgery is performed in an outpatient or hospital setting. Additionally, laser cosmetic surgery has been proven to help with hair transplantation. Lasers prepare the targeted areas where the transplant will take place. Eye Cosmetic Surgery Eye cosmetic surgery, or a blepharoplasty, is a procedure that corrects the overall appearance of the eyes. This can be done by reshaping the upper eyelid by either repositioning or removing excess tissue of the surrounding muscles and tendons. Eye plastic surgery can be done to correct peripheral vision problems or fix bagginess and wrinkles surrounding the eyes. Incisions are made along the natural crease of the skin that protrudes over the eyelashes, and below the lashes of the lower lids. After the procedure, which takes about 1-3 hours, swelling and bruising will occur for up to two weeks. Final results will be seen within several months. In a non-surgical blepharoplasty, applications of a topical acid and/or the use of lasers are utilized to lower and strengthen the volume of skin in the lower and upper eyelids. Additionally, injectable dermal fillers are utilized to temporarily raise the volume in the trough area between the cheek and lower lid. Non-surgical skin care vs. surgery...
Laser resurfacing, or a laser peel, is a procedure that involves the treatment of uneven skin tone, wrinkles and acne scars. Laser peeling improves the appearance of the skin, allowing for a smoother, fresh complexion. Procedure Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that utilizes a laser to create a smooth, new skin appearance. The laser will destroy the outer layer of the skin, which has been damaged by age, spots, pigmentation problems, wrinkles, acne, and the sun. A regeneration of new skin cells will occur, creating a smoother finish. The laser will work to even out pits caused by wrinkles and acne scars. The laser peel will precisely pinpoint the exact problem areas and focus only on those. Cost Laser peels, on average, cost $2,222. However, that price will vary depending on the area of the country you live in, the number of sessions required, and the extent of the treatment. Laser skin rejuvenation usually requires only a topical anesthetic, but for deeper treatments, general anesthesia is available. The charge will increase for general anesthesia, and the use of an anesthetist. Additionally, the patient may have to purchase antibiotics, prescription painkillers, special washes, dressings, and ointments if the treatment is a very deep one. Each cosmetic surgeon is different, some charge extra for those items, while others include them in the laser peel price. Because a laser peel is an elective cosmetic procedure, it is not covered by health insurance. However, most doctors offer financing options where the laser peel can be paid over time. Risks and Complications Laser peels often carry some of the same complications as plastic surgery, such as infection, scarring,...
Wrinkled and sagging skin finds a new ally in this innovative non-surgical process of rejuvenation. Laser skin tightening makes use of an infrared light source, which heats up and provokes a contraction or tightening of collagen. There is likewise an increased turn-over of skin cells, replacing the damaged ones. Results are visible right after treatment, without the prolonged recovery period. Laser skin tightening treatments make use of the TitanTM, Polaris®, Candela or GentleYAGTM systems to name a few. All of these apply the laser technology to heat up the deeper layers of the skin where collagen is found, while cooling down the outer skin so no external injuries are evident. How Does It Work? Just like the popular laser hair removal, laser skin tightening also uses laser light, an intense, pulsating beam of light. The laser frequency waves are applied to the areas of the skin to be treated. It penetrates the lower layers of the skin called the dermis. The waves heat up the water content of the skin that produces a uniformed heating effect in the areas to be treated. It causes the damaged, disorganized collagen fibers to contract while stimulating fibroblasts to produce new collagen. Simultaneously, a cooling system keeps the skin surface from heating up. The collagen remodeling process leads to a firmer, youthful and smoother skin. Who Can Benefit From Laser Skin Tightening? Skin laxity can be attributed to many factors. Among these are aging, pregnancies, and weight loss. Individuals with visible loss of elasticity of their skin but fear face lift by going under the knife can opt for this minimally invasive procedure. Wrinkles...
Our skin is consistently exposed to elements including ultraviolet rays of sun, dust, environmental pollutants, and chemicals in various cosmetics and toiletries. Moreover, our skin also continues to age alongside our body, sometimes in a more accelerated manner than the rest of body because of the free radical and oxidative damage of highly processed foods we ingest. The forces of gravity, hormonal imbalances, drug ingestion, smoking, pregnancy and various illnesses also play their role. The end result is premature aging of skin which manifests itself in lines, wrinkles, blotchy skin color and various types of spots. Various methods have been devised and used for combating these effects and to rejuvenate the skin once again. As expected, face, head and neck are the most common areas for which rejuvenation treatments are sought. The most commonly used and reliable methods for treating the sun damaged and aging skin are chemical peeling, dermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing. Chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing all achieve results in basically the same way. Layers of your skin are removed and, as the healing process progresses, a new, healthier-looking skin emerges. Am I a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing? You will be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have any one or more of the following conditions: Wrinkles including ‘laughter lines’, ‘frown lines’, skin changes around mouth that cause ‘lipstick bleed’ Sun-damaged facial skin Lines around eyes- ‘crow’s feet’ Brown spots or blotchy skin coloring Skin growths that have potential to become cancerous Scars of acne or chicken pox Superficial facial scars from a past injury You will not be...
The use of chemicals to exfoliate the skin dates back to the ancient Egyptians who used lactic acid, alabaster, and salt to smooth out the skin. Much later, in the 1800’s, trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, resorcinol and phenol were introduced as chemical peeling agents. Today, with the advent of more sophisticated methods of skin resurfacing, chemical peeling still remains one of the most widely performed cosmetic dermatological procedures. Chemical peeling, or chemexfoliation, utilizes chemical solutions to be applied to the skin, causing it to peel off gradually. It enables damaged skin to shed off and be replaced by a healthier-looking skin cells. The efficacy and recovery time will depend on the type of chemical used, its strength, and duration on the skin. Levels of Chemical Peeling Superficial Peeling It exerts its effects on the outermost layer of the skin called the epidermis. It is safe for any skin type, with minimal downtime. This is suitable for the following skin conditions: Fine lines due to sun damage Hyper pigmentation or skin discoloration Mild acne scars Dull-looking skin Actinic and seborrheic keratosis Medium-Depth Peeling It affects both the epidermis and the upper part of the dermis. This is also used as a supportive procedure to laser skin resurfacing and deeper chemical peels to blend the demarcation lines between treated and untreated skin. This is best suited for the following skin conditions: Mild to moderate wrinkles due to sun damage Hyper pigmentation Age spots Texture irregularities due to acne scars Actinic keratosis Deep Peels It extends deep into the lower layers of the dermis and yields the most dramatic effect. These are...
