Friday, March 28, 2008

Plastic Surgery: Questions You Should Ask Before Going Under The Knife

Plastic surgery today has undergone a wide acceptance by society. Its popularity is most likely due to popular television shows and celebrity surgeries having removed the stigma to the point where it is considered an attainable and reasonable means of improving the appearance for almost anyone.

Additionally, the advancement of plastic technology means that many procedures are now quite common and offer very little risk. There are now limitless possibilities with plastic surgery, whether it is in the face, body or limbs. If your body bags, wrinkles, sags or pouches or if you feel something is too large, too small or even the wrong shape, cosmetic surgery can probably fix it. However it is important to keep in mind that no surgery is risk free and any person seriously contemplating plastic surgery should take the time to ask important questions as a part of their pre-surgery research.

One of the most important questions to ask, is "what are the risks?" And since all surgery carries some inherent risks, this is an aspect of cosmetic surgery that should be considered carefully before making a final decision. Even if your doctor is experienced and the risks are minimal you may still develop complications either during or after your surgery. You should therefore be sure to thoroughly review your health history with your doctor before commencing with any plastic surgery.

A good cosmetic surgeon will take your reasons for surgery into consideration and will be honest about the risks. Are you sure the risks outweigh the potential benefits? What, if any, follow up will be done by the surgeon? Will the doctor make adjustments if needed? How will complications be handled? How much time will you need to recover and what are the expected side effects of surgery?

Another important consideration you should carefully examine is your reason for plastic surgery.

Although the makeovers on television may give the impression that cosmetic surgery can improve the quality of your life it is vitally important that you have a realistic outlook on the impact of surgery.

When discussing cosmetic surgery with a doctor, they should also tell you the options that are available and any alternatives to surgery. You shouldn't be pressured into unnecessary surgery. An informed consent document should be signed prior to surgery.

Fourthly, since not all surgical procedures need to be preformed in a hospital, another critical part of your research should be to thoroughly investigate the accreditation of your surgeon. You should check to make sure that your plastic surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS) or a similar a organization in your country.

Ask the surgeon if they have hospital privileges. Having hospital privileges means that a hospital committee has approved the doctor's training and competency to meet their criteria for performing a similar operation in their facilities. Also, even if your surgery is performed in an office, verify that there will be appropriate medical personnel on hand and that the facilities are clean and medical waste is properly disposed of.

You should ask your personal physician for referrals as well. It is important that you find a surgeon that you feel comfortable with. You want to feel free to ask questions and to make certain they understand what you are hoping to achieve - after all, this isn't a hair cut - you want it to be right the first time.

Last, but not least, cost is an important consideration when thinking about plastic surgery. And while this may be the first questions that comes to some people's minds, in reality you should only consider this after determining whether you really need surgery. Costs vary widely and should not be the basis for your decision. The qualifications of the doctor and your comfort with him or her are of far greater significance than the cost since you will undoubtedly pay more if you encounter complications or are unhappy with the results.

Furthermore, depending on the reason for the surgery you may have some of the costs covered by insurance or state run medical programs. However, if cosmetic surgery (also called 'elective') is not seen as a medical and necessity it will not likely be covered by insurance.

In conclusion, if you are considering plastic surgery, be sure to take your time to do proper research before making your final decision. Be sure to make the price of the surgery itself only one of the determining factors and not the only one. After all, there are other things that are more important than money.

Sandra Clair writes for Lasik Eye Surgery Information which provides information on Lasik eye surgery, including LASIK Cost, LASIK Eye Surgery, LASIK Eye Surgery Canada, LASIK Eye surgery Price, LASIK Eye Surgery Risks, LASIK MD, LASIK Plus, LASIK Surgery and LASIK Vision Institute

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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Giving Your Siding a Facelift

If you are looking to add some value and glamour to your home there is nothing quite like redoing the paint or siding. Now the question is presented, which type of exterior should you choose for your home? The largest deciding factor in this choice is likely going to be what type of exterior is already on the home. If you have vinyl siding, or stucco, or simply painted wood it will usually be more cost effective to stick with what you already have. However here are a few more things to consider when this choice presents itself.

There are four basic types of siding on the market today. Vinyl siding, stucco, aluminum siding and wood. Stucco is a great exterior to deal with and is very easy to keep in pristine condition. A good power washing can bring life back to the most distraught looking stucco quite easily. What to look for to decide if your stucco needs to be redone is crumbling around the bases and edges. Stucco is also easy to paint. When dealing with vinyl siding it is not a good idea to paint this surface as vinyl can bend easily and cause the paint to crack and peel.

Usually in this situation vinyl siding will need to be replaced if it cannot be cleaned. Aluminum and steel siding is another long-lasting surface that is easy to paint and easy to maintain. Usually a fresh coat of paint will bring this metal surface back to life. Finally we come to wood siding. Paining or staining is an absolute necessity for wood as it needs to be protected from the elements, if not it will rot and decay quickly. Is the wood soft and splintered? Can you see the grain on the back side of peeling areas? If so, then replacement might be necessary. The same is true if your siding appears to be warped or buckled.

The exterior of your home is the first thing that people see so it is quite important to have it in the best condition possible. No mater what type of exterior your home has, a little time & effort can make it shine like new! Don't be afraid to put a few dollars into it either, during the sales process it will come back in abundance.

HomesByLender.com is the elite source for FSBO financing and homes for sale by owners. Utilize our nationwide search to locate FSBO homes in any state or town. HomesByLender.com is your one-stop FSBO information source

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Friday, March 7, 2008

Answers to Common Questions about Face Lift Surgery

Will a face lift make me look youthful again? A face lift can take years off your face if properly done. The medical term for a face lift is rhytidectomy, which basically means ?removing wrinkles through cosmetic surgery.? The procedure is most effective on people who have loose or sagging skin that still retains good elasticity. A successful facelift operation will remove most facial wrinkles, smooth out the grooves beside your nose, lift up sagging cheeks, and make the lips and mouth look fuller and more attractive.

Will a face lift remove all my wrinkles? Not all wrinkles can be removed through face lift surgery. The procedure will not affect your brow or the areas around your eyes. To fix those areas, you can get a brow lift or an eyelid tuck. You may also require some laser resurfacing to remove more wrinkles.

Is it risky to get a face lift? Any surgical procedure carries some risk. The greatest risk is likely to be having an allergic reaction to the anesthesia. Patients with such a concern should consult their doctor about alternatives to getting a general anesthesia. There are also risks of excessive bleeding, infection, and damage to the facial nerves. The best way to counter such risks is to get a highly qualified cosmetic surgeon.

What happens in face lift surgery? In the typical facelift procedure, the surgeon lifts the patient?s skin off the face, surgically tightens the underlying facial tissues, and completes the operation by stretching the skin back over the patient?s face. During the procedure, the surgeon tightens the deeper facial tissues by making stitches, removing or repositioning excess facial tissue, and removing fat through liposuction. The patient has to see the surgeon again after 5 to 10 days to get the stitches out.

Is a face lift painful? The actual operation is performed under general anesthesia, so the patient should not feel pain. After the surgery, the patient will experience pain and swelling for around three days, sometimes for as long as a week. If pain continues past that time, that may be a sign of complications.

Will my face be scarred? A face lift may leave some scars that will heal in time, normally within weeks. In most cases, any scars are located in areas where they can easily be covered up by hair or natural facial creases. A face lift may also leave some bruising and numbness that will fade eventually.

How long will the results of a face lift last? For people in their forties, the effects of a face lift will last for about 10 years. For people in their sixties and older, the effects will last around 5 to 8 years.

To learn more about the dangers of plastic surgery, consult the articles and opinions available on my website: http://www.plastic-surgery-reviewed.info

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Thursday, January 24, 2008

Give Facial Massaging a Try in place of a Face-Lift

Wrinkles, crow?s feet, bags under the eyes and sagging lips are often times associated with an aging face. Many resort to a face-lift or other forms of plastic surgery, but what if you could accomplish younger looking facial skin without spending a dime?

Not to sound vain or anything, I have been often complimented on my so-called facial features like a strong jaw-line and high cheek bones etc

Perhaps, my vegan (mostly raw) diet plays a role in me being so slim and this besides serving as a natural anti-aging strategy, does contribute to the "structure" of my face.

Nonetheless, I do massage my face often and facial massaging also impacts greatly the anti-aging results sought after for the face.

The beauty is it takes less than 4 minutes or so to use and it costs you nothing but maybe the time used.

Here?s exactly how to use massaging for the face.

1. Wash your hands, especially your fingertips, thoroughly.

2. Now with your thumbs firmly gripping your jaw-line, proceed to pressing with the free four fingers the upper jaw line working from the center outwards.

3. Do 2-3 sets pressing firmly.

4. Now press the areas directly above the jaw line in the same center-going- outwards-direction firmly 2-3 times.

5. Do this working upwards till you reach the forehead line. See illustrations below:

If done correctly you should see little specks of dead skin on your face.

In a feathery motion, pinch at the entire face for as long as you desire (1-2 minutes) using all the free fingers in firm actions grasping the skin.

Now, in a downward-scraping motion using the finger tips, rub the jugular veins located at the sides of the neck (6-8) times, and then massage the outer part of the chest right next to the armpits in a firm circular motion ensuring you breathe deeply as well.

According to the Egyptians (and from my own experiences) this simple procedure has a marked effect on alleviating bags and crow's feet from the eyes and directing the flow of toxins away from the face.

Wash your hands with soap and rinse the face with cool water only-gently but firmly. Wipe dry with a paper towel (or a towel you use only for your face)

Of course other factors come into mind to improve overall health which would be reflected in your face, however, to ?tone? and sculpt the facial muscles and decrease those unwanted lines and wrinkles, facial massaging should be an integral part of your anti-aging strategy.

Here?s to staying, looking and feeling younger AND to health.

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of BodyHealthSoul LLC. Stop by His Website today for more on Healthy Living Tips and information on Anti-Aging

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Thursday, December 6, 2007

A Corporate Facelift With Sound Bytes

 A Corporate Facelift With Sound Bytes

 by: R.J. Paradee

If Baby Boomers can get botox and tummy tucks, then why dont companies receive facelifts to improve their image as well? The telephone is the lifeblood of any business. Use it respectfully. Dont leave your clients on-hold to listen to radio static or elevator music. With digital recording and delivery of sound files, professional production of on-hold advertising is both economical and necessary for a positive image. Thats right its imperative that the first impression a client receives of your business (even though they may never visit) is how theyre treated on the telephone. How many times have you called a business to hear Thank you for calling ABC Dental Office please hold before you can get a word in edge-wise. In many cases , what they have on-hold is your first impression of that company.

Music Selection Should be Appealing

At the very least, make certain on-hold music is a decent selection, and that you have permission to broadcast the music to on-hold callers. After all the music chosen is a direct reflection of your business. If you dont get your licensed music from an On-Hold Message provider, you may obtain permission to play certain music on-hold from ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC, the three large performing rights organizations.

Develop Content That Sells Products and Services

Customers who are on-hold are essentially a captive audience. If you want on-hold time to turn into sales, consider hiring a professional producer to mix radio style commercials with licensed music. The copy should be specifically written to cross-sell your products and services. AT&T studies show that people will stay on-hold longer if they hear messages about your company during the waiting period. Do not rely on the please hold for personal assistance to your call, or thank you for your patience while on hold type of messages. I believe these type of messages hurt you more than help you.

Answer Repetitive Questions On-Hold

As youre on-hold spots are developed, remember this marketing strategy is a customer service tool as well as an advertising tool. Take the heat from your receptionist during busy call periods and answer those repetitive questions in on-hold spots.

On-Hold Advertising is Economical

Advertising sales are based on the number of impressions. If a business had one call placed on hold every ten minutes during an eight hour day 5 days per week, there would be 11,000 opportunities each year to market their business and services.

How to Evaluate an On- Hold Company

Make certain you get both male and female voice talent, and that the professional voice is pleasing. The studio you use should employ scriptwriters and offer a selection of licensed music to choose from. You choose the music from their library, not the on-hold company. You dont want the same stale music everyone else uses. In most cases all that is needed is an inexpensive off-the-shelf CD player.

Facts About On-Hold Advertising

Eighty percent of businesses have nothing on-hold, so businesses that do set up programs are on the cutting edge. Twelve percent of businesses do have a radio or CD tuned in while their customers are on-hold. Only 8% of businesses have on-hold programs.

The number of companies who use on-hold as a time to advertise are growing. Thats because business owners are realizing theres no better way to impress a client who has never been to your office than a well designed, informative on-hold program. Remember in todays competitive market, image is everything. On-Hold advertising is one of the best facelifts a company could have.

By R.J. Paradee, President First Impression Inc. and MediaRight Studios

R.J. Paradee is a host of the coast in his Virginia Beach, Virginia studio. He produces professional quality digital sound at his company Firt Impression and digital video through Media Rights Studios. rj@hearditonhold.comn

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