Facts about Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is a surgery performed after a mastectomy for breast cancer. The breast, or breasts, is rebuilt to be about the same size and shape as before the mastectomy was performed. With breast reconstruction surgery it is possible to add a new nipple and areola. Most women choose to have this procedure performed after a mastectomy for cosmetic and psychological purposes. Breast reconstruction is always performed by a board certified plastic surgeon. If you are considering breast reconstruction surgery, try searching for plastic surgeon Los Angeles.

The choice to have breast reconstruction is the patients' and not anyone else's. Try to learn as much as you can before having this procedure done. There are many resources available to research this surgery as well as many support groups that can help you through the emotional and physical aspects of cancer recovery.

Women choose to have breast reconstruction for many reasons, some of which are: to make the breasts look balanced when wearing a bra or bathing suit, to regain breast shape, nipple and areola, and so they can avoid the use of an external prosthesis. If only one breast has been removed and reconstruction is performed, you will be able to notice a difference between the two when topless. When wearing a bra or bathing suit though, they should look nearly identical.

The psychological benefits of breast reconstruction are many. For most patients, regaining their self confidence and self-esteem are worth it. Breast reconstruction is not, however, a magical cure. It will not cure anything about your body you were unhappy with before surgery beyond the breast that is reconstructed. There is also the possibility that you will not be completely satisfied with the final results. It is important to be realistic about your expectations about surgery. Make sure you are making an informed decision before undergoing this procedure.

There are two ways to have breast reconstruction: immediate and delayed. Immediate reconstruction is performed at the same time as a mastectomy. This option is advantageous because the chest tissues aren't damaged by radiation therapy or scarring, often leading to better results. Delayed reconstruction means that rebuilding is started after healing from the mastectomy. For women who need radiation to the chest area after surgery, this is a better option.

Some women find it too difficult to think about breast reconstruction after a cancer diagnosis, and that's ok. There's plenty of time to worry about reconstruction later, if you decide to have it done at all. You may decide that you don't want to undergo any more surgery and pain. Scarring after surgery is natural. You may not want to deal with more scar tissue. Healing may also be affected by overall health, previous surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, smoking, alcohol intake, diabetes, some medications and more. Speak with your medical team to be sure breast reconstruction surgery is a wise choice for you. To speak with a renowned surgeon, visit http://ping.fm/eIb9B His work has been featured on the Tyra show, Doctors and he is well known for his philanthropic work, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty and more.

Cellulite and How to get rid of it with Liposuction or an Alternative

Cellulite is a "topographical skin change." This means that it is a change in the way the skin goes from smooth to dimpled and bumpy or lumpy. What causes cellulite? No one knows for sure, but it theorized that cellulite may be triggered by the female hormone estrogen. This theory is in place because most post pubescent females have cellulite. Some men do too, but far fewer have it than females. It is also theorized that men have thicker skin than women, and therefore have less visible collections of cellulite.

Other descriptions for cellulite are: adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, gynoid lipodystrophy, orange peel syndrome, and cottage cheese skin. Cellulite is really just collections of fat that get stuck in fibrous connective tissues predominantly in the buttocks and thighs.

Gender, face, biotype, distribution of the fat in the body, insufficient circulation, genetics and predispositions to lymphatic conditions all seem to be contributing factors to the development of cellulite. Diet can improve or worsen the appearance of cellulite, as can weight bearing exercise and stress reduction. A high stress life leads to increased levels of catecholamines, which are linked to the evolution of fat to cellulite. Wearing extremely tight clothing can also increase the formation of cellulite by decreasing blood flow.

There is no cure for cellulite. There are temporary fixes and ways to drastically improve the appearance of cellulite. One medically approved non surgical procedure is called the ACCENT YOUR BODY treatment. The ACCENTâ„¢ is an FDA-approved, non-invasive, non-ablative machine using the most advanced radiofrequency technology to treat cellulite (skin wrinkles). This FDA-approved medical technology is the ONLY system on the market that provides both unipolar and bipolar radiofrequency technology. This is important because it allows the practitioner to treat cellulite at two different tissue depth levels. One radiofrequency provides deep dermal heating which causes those deep bundles of fat to lose their ties to the connective tissue thereby bringing about skin remodeling and new collagen formation. The other radiofrequency improves blood circulation to the treated areas to help drain fatty deposits and toxins. The dual-frequencies work in concert to ultimately shrink fat cells leaving a much-improved overall contour of the skin surface.

Another option is liposuction. When this surgical procedure is performed, a small incision is made in the area to be suctioned and a small vacuum device with a wand is inserted under the skin. The wand is then scraped back and forth and side to side underneath the skin to remove cellulite and excess fat. A certified plastic surgeon Los Angeles should do liposuction procedures rather than dermatologists.

If you are interested in liposuction, ACCENT treatments or other cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation Los Angeles is the place to begin your search. Check out Dr. Jay Calvert of Beverly Hills and Newport Beach. He can be reached through his website at http://ping.fm/DJq5M

How to tell if a Plastic Surgeon is Legitimate

When getting advice about finding a good plastic surgeon, what does everyone tell you first? In my experience, I heard, "make sure they're certified." That's great advice, but I needed to find out what kind of certification the best cosmetic surgeon Los Angeles offers has, what the certification means and how it affects a surgeon's performance and standards. During my search I learned a lot about what to look for and what not to settle for. I learned about what certification means for a physician and a patient. After extensive research and digging, I narrowed down my choices of doctors based on the information I learned about their education, certifications, performance record and results.

All doctors within US borders must be "certified" to practice medicine at all. There is a board certification for every type of medical practice imaginable for doctors who actually specialize in something more than general medicine. So when a doctor's advertisement highlights the fact that they are certified it doesn't really say much, other than they are, in fact, doctors. However, when you are looking specifically for a plastic surgeon, extra certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons does mean something. It tells you that the doctor is specialized in plastic surgery, and they are good enough at their specialty to get the seal of approval from a very picky agency.

A simple Google search of these boards will tell you who the members are and who aren't members. If a dermatologist is trying to get you to have a cosmetic procedure done with them, run in the other direction unless they are certified as plastic surgeons as well as dermatologists. The US government doesn't require doctors to be specialized in certain areas to perform certain procedures. They only require that they be doctors with minimal certification and no specialization whatsoever. Therefore, many doctors who don't specialize in plastic surgery convince patients to have a procedure done with them when they are not the best doctors for the job. So what does that tell you? Find a doctor who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and are proven to have a specialty in aesthetic surgery.

While price is a huge factor when deciding on which surgeon to choose, if you see a clinic or practice that charges a lot less for procedures like rhinoplasty, breast augmentation or liposuction, this is a good sign that they've got a doctor who isn't certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery performing plastic surgery. Steer clear of places like this.

Dr. Calvert is an excellent plastic surgeon, who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He has his CV and his credentials are prominently displayed on his website and provides his visitors with plenty of back up information about how to find the best surgeon for your needs. You can visit his website at http://ping.fm/6fCAX

Making the Most of Your Looks before Deciding on Rox Spa Laser Resurfacing

There are many reasons to not like our skin. Rough patches, wrinkles, Rosacea, scars, acne, blotches, discoloration and age spots are some of the most common reasons people have laser resurfacing procedures performed. Fortunately there are new products coming out on the market that are a vastly improved to help solve some of these problems before deciding to have laser resurfacing performed.

AHA exfoliating cleaners contain glycolic acid. Using this cleanser with oily skin unclogs pores very effectively. It gets rid of acne in older people and can be used with any skin type as an alternative to an in office facial peel procedure.

Instant elasticity essential nutrient facial cream is like a secret weapon of the beautiful people. It can get pretty expensive, but it's worth it. This cream plumps up cells and makes skin look years younger. The formula for this product is different than older creams. This means it's a new product to the market, but is catching on very quickly with manufacturers and should hit main stream markets soon. It is available through some plastic surgeons' websites, but not many other places yet.

Vitamin C serum is another surprising skin product that isn't well known. Some surgeons use it to soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles instead of doing laser resurfacing and facial peels. The serum reduces redness and helps the skin heal after sunburns. It can even lighten skin blotches and discoloration.

Rox Spa has a really good new product called Mend that treats Rosacea. A lot of Rosacea treatments burn like crazy and aren't that effective. When you stop using them the problem comes back again too. Mend is supposed to be really effective though, so I can't wait to try it.

The best defense against the early signs of aging is moisturizers and cell plumper, getting lots of water and vitamins and staying out of the sun. There are a lot of anti-aging serums out there and range in price from cheap to steep. Neutrogena products are always good and are on the cheap end. If you are looking for something a little higher end and sensitive skin friendly, try the Rox Spa line or Jay Calvert line. You can find those at http://ping.fm/X5aSn

If you use these products mentioned above, most likely you will decide to save yourself the pain, suffering and costs of cosmetic procedures. If these products don't work though, you probably should have a procedure like laser resurfacing or a facelift or eyelid tuck performed. Dr. Calvert performs some of the best plastic surgery Beverly Hills has seen in years, and he also creates some pretty good skin products. You can check him out at the link above.