Monday, February 11, 2008

The Short-Scar Face Lift

When going under the knife for anti-aging facial surgery, there are two separate issues to consider ? skin quality and excess skin quantity.

While the quality of the skin can be assisted to some extent (reports vary as to how much) with non-invasive treatments such as skin products, laser and botox, excesses of loose skin coupled with gravitational aging conditions such as sagging jowls do require surgery.

Instead of going for ?the works? as in a full face lift, many patients today are opting for short scar options (known as ?ponytail friendly? as the scarring is not obvious even when the patient wears their hair pulled back afterwards).

A well-known New York plastic surgeon says in regard to the mini-face lift procedure, "Aside from the shorter scar, there's no wind-tunnel look because we work on the deeper layers and reposition the fat and muscles, so the result is more natural."

Another less-invasive option is the ?mid-face lift?. However it is not recommended because it is often done through lower-eyelid incisions and can cause a noticeable, unwanted change in eye shape.

So what is the short-scar face lift?

The surgeon makes incisions at the hairline and around the ears and vertically lifts the fat, muscles and skin. The result is elevation of the skin and support of both skin and underlying tissue and muscles, especially in the mid face and jowls areas.

The procedure is usually done under local anaesthetic and is not longer than 90 minutes. You can expect some discomfort for the first day, which can be alleviated with painkillers.

Apart from a little bruising and swelling, the procedure has many advantages over the full face lift.

If you are considering facial cosmetic enhancement discuss this method with your surgeon as a possible solution to your needs. Also do thorough research beforehand.

Nicolet is a well know author which writes for a top plastic surgery South Africa website. Visit her site to get plastic surgery Cape Town advice.

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

DMAE: Facelift in a jar, or fantastic fraud?

As a practicing Aesthetician one of the biggest skin product questions I get is - what is DMAE and how does it work?

Over the past several years, the interest in DMAE has skyrocketed - in part due to the amazing results many women have claimed to receive after beginning to use it.

DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol) has been referred to as a "facelift in a jar", however, contrary to what many people will tell you, it remains a mystery as to how DMAE topical actually works to firm the skin. What is being studied is the possibility that DMAE protects the skin's cell membrane and through extending the cell's life, contributes to plumping of the skin.

And Plump skin usually means a fuller, healthier looking face - hence the reputation as a quick, easy and inexpensive home facelift solution.

Many websites and companies which sell DMAE cream claim that it does improve the skin's firmness and tone while increasing smoothness and brightness. And there are many women who have used DMAE claiming this to be true.

For many consumers, DMAE has proven to be the elusive "fountain of youth" amongst the many creams, lotions and promises that preceded it on the marketplace.

The best thing about DMAE is that whereas most creams can make the appearance of lines and wrinkles less noticeable - DMAE has actually been proven to have a positive effect on sagging of the facial skin. The results I have observed are never quite that of a face lift - but it is possible that DMAE can reduce further sagging - really providing users with a lift - both literally and figuratively..:-)

Like anything else in the beauty and skin industry, you have to be careful when buying new products to ensure you are getting good and authentic ingredients from a reputable company. We have all heard the stories of fly by night operations arriving on the scene to "service" the latest fad, only to disappear weeks, if not months later leaving lots of disappointed customers in their wake.

The key is to ALWAYS be an informed consumer - make product choices based on good research, recommendations and a keen understanding of your needs and goals when it comes to your skin and appearance concerns.

As a side note - for those clients who have problems applying a topical cream or lotion, DMAE, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C Ester also come in pill form and have some amazing other stated benefits as well.

Among them are:

DMAE: Increases your energy, and Memory/Learning Cognitive skills. Alpha Lipoic Acid: Protects your liver and brain function, reduces risk of cataracts.

Vitamin C Ester: Promotes a healthy immune system and stronger bones.

Do we know these to be true?

Only time will tell, but if proven through additional research, these ingredients may have many exciting anti-aging properties for your entire body, further reinforcing my belief that they should be an integral part of your present skin and beauty regimen.

Michele Bucci is practicing aesthetician and contributing editor to http://www.beginwiththeskin.com. She writes extensively about skin care issues facing her clients and provides a free resource for everyone interested in having beautiful skin. Read her recent review of three popular DMAE products by visiting http://www.beginwiththeskin.com

Labels: , ,

Thursday, January 24, 2008

The History of Facelifts

The first facelifts were performed in the early 1900s. During these early forms of the facelift procedure, the only concern was repositioning the skin so that the appearance of wrinkles and creases would be corrected. Facelifts were performed by making incisions, pulling back the facial skin, removing excess tissue, and closing the incision.

In the 1970s, doctors realized that although repositioning the skin was key in providing the youthful facelift results people were looking for, the deeper tissues and muscles also had to be repositioned to provide the excellent, long-lasting results people are looking for.

?Although the skin-only facelift is essentially a technique of the past,? says Dr. Douglas Hendricks in Newport Beach, California, ?the facelift procedures of today would not be in existence without the knowledge gained from the early versions of the facelift.?

In 1974, doctors began repositioning the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System (SMAS). The SMAS is the layer of muscle and tissue below the skin, and up until 1974, doctors were performing facelifts by only repositioning the skin.

By repositioning both the skin and the SMAS, plastic surgeons are now able to provide patients with wonderful, long-lasting, and natural looking results. A facelift can reduce the signs of aging like wrinkles and creases in the cheeks, jowls, and neck.

Facelifts today begin with incisions that are concealed within the hairline. From these incisions, the skin is separated from the muscles and tissue beneath. The SMAS layer is then tightened to provide the youthful appearance in the lower face, mid-face, and neck. After the SMAS layer is tightened, the skin is pulled back to reduce lines and wrinkles. Excess skin and fat is removed, and the incisions are closed.

Recovery from modern facelifts is much easier than facelifts of the past. Now, there is less swelling, bruising, and pain than ever before. There are also different procedures, such as mini-facelifts that use smaller and fewer incisions, making recover all that much easier.

If you are considering having a facelift to correct the signs of aging in your face, contact an experienced plastic surgeon near you. During your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will review the entire procedure and listen to your concerns.

Please click here for more information regarding facelifts and other cosmetic surgery procedures in the Orange County area.

Labels: , , , ,

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Face Lift: To Restore The Youthful Look And Vigor Of The Face

With the advancement of age, the skin also grows old. The first phase of oldness can be first noticed in the face. Wrinkles appear in different areas of the face. The vigor, tranquility and the serenity of the face looses its luster with the advancement of age. But the wrinkles of the face can be to a certain extent reduced through certain surgery in the face, more particularly through the process of certain cosmetic surgery. Face lift is a basic form of surgery on the basis of which the wrinkles of the face can be reduced to a certain extent. Face lift is a form of plastic surgery which is generally performed through the process of incisions which are made in different areas of the areas more particularly near the ear. This process of face lift helps in the process of firming the skin and helps the face to maintain the youthful look and vigor. Face lift thus works like wonder in dramatically maintaining the youthful look of the face.

The basic from of face lift can be performed through a medical procedure which requires local anesthesia. Besides surgical procedure of face lift, there are also certain non surgical techniques for face lift which can be performed through lasers, through radio frequency emitters and also through the process of application of certain creams which will help in the process of tightening of the skin. The medical term of face lift is ?rhytidectomy.? Face lift is thus a process which helps in the process of reversing the advancing age which lead in the formation of certain wrinkles in the face. It helps in eliminating the sagging and the creasing procedure of the face. Face lift thus rejuvenates the skin which helps in making the skin more firmed and tightened by way of tightening the areas of the face more particularly in the jowl areas of the face, facial skin and also in the neck skin zones which gets loosened with the advancement of the age.

Thus in whatever way the face lift is performed but the main principle which lies behind the process of face lift is to rejuvenate the youthful age and the vigor of the skin more particularly in the facial areas. Thus old age which basically is the proven age for wrinkles and for sagging of the skin, need not be a matter of much concern because the remedy of it is now in the air with the process of plastic surgery like face lift.

Why wrinkles are a major concern of old age? But there is no need to worry about it as the solution can be had through procedures like face lift. Farzina Naznin as a writer has thus written articles in this context for various sites like http://www.buyhealthwellness.com/ http://www.yourfitnesshealth.com/ http://www.greathealthservices.com/

Labels: , , , , ,