Plastic surgery is gaining immense popularity each year, with approximately 2 million surgical procedures being carried out in the United States. Women are not the only people undergoing cosmetic surgery even men are showing greater interest in plastic surgeries. The desire for looking good is at its peak among most men and woman. Among the common plastic surgery, liposuction is a surgical procedure, which suctions fat from particular areas of the body in order to provide a slenderer and shapelier silhouette. The most popular type of liposuction is the tumescent liposuction, where a solution of saline, an anesthetizing agent and a drug to tighten the blood vessels are impregnated into the specific areas. This liquid is then emptied out of the body along with the fat, using diminutive hollow metal instruments named, cannulas. This can cause a short-term fluid retention in the patient’s body; however, that diminishes in few days.

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An increased number of women are undergoing breast augmentation surgery and the count has reached up to 350,000 in America. There are many reason for which the surgery is done, be it to enlarge both breasts or to make uneven breasts equal in size. Silicone implants, which were once banned, are increasing in popularity these days primarily because most women get a realistic feel of silicone. Sagging skin can make life miserable. Sagging eyelids can make vision to be impaired. For many such cosmetic reasons, people undergo eyelid-reshaping surgery, popularly called as Blepharoplasty. Lower eyelids with puffiness are common signs of aging, which be reduced during the procedure to gain a more youthful appearance. The average recovery time is 10 days, with the swelling becoming less obvious for weeks or months.

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Woman who suffer from excess skin after their pregnancy, often go for the Abdominoplasty surgery. Popularly called as lower body life, this surgery removes surfeit skin from abdominal area and as well tightens the remaining skin. The skin is ideal for people who suffer from skin hanging from their abdomen. Well, most patients who undergo this treatment procedure are likely to resume regular activities in 2 or 3 weeks. However, they may have limits when it comes to physical activities for a prolonged period. Breast reduction is another common surgery that is gaining immense popularity among woman with overly large breasts. The difficulty to find suitable clothing or experiencing a chronic back pain is common among women with heavy breasts. This surgery, besides reducing the size and weight of breasts helps relieve back ache and improve posture.

Cosmetic surgery is a swelling practice. One out of every 50 common persons gets a plastic surgery to improve his appearance. The industry is blooming along with the latest technological developments that aid in performing simple, painless surgeries that are ever benefiting. Dominating the field are LASER and Lipolysis. Breast enhancement has been evolving too.

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A practice called Advanced Laser Lipolysis is the solution to fat and flab reduction with as little pain as possible. In this treatment, some saline solution is injected into the flabby muscles, which dissolves the fats that can be sucked out and the skin is tightened. This process is painless but causes discomfort and tenderness for a few weeks. It is effective and permanent and results in youthful appearance of the patient. It can be used on the hands, legs, face and thighs. However obese people must not resort to this treatment as it doesn’t help lose weight, just removes fat deposits. Its side effects are bruising, swelling and pain. Pain relievers and ice packs can be used to easy the pain away. However, it takes a few months for the treatment to take effect and the patient to look good.

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Breast enlargement was a practice followed initially only by celebrities but now is used by common people too. The most common material for implants is silicone, which is used in the form of a gel. It is also supposedly the safest, but this statement brings about conflicting debates. A scar is made during the surgery, but can be subtly hidden. Breast feeding may or may not be possible after undergoing this operation. Side effects of this could be excessive bleeding and infection to the body. It even requires six months for complete recovery.

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Macrolene is an alternative product that is injected into the breast tissue that helps increase up to one cup size. This can be performed without any major surgery. Macrolene is a non-animal product that is stabilized hyaluric acid in gel form. It is absorbed by the body. It can be used both in the regions of breasts and buttocks. The effects can be visible in just thirty minutes and only around a 100 ml of the chemical is required for an increase in one cup size. Consultation is a must before undergoing this surgery, as it is latest and still evolving, caution is needed. It is however a safer alternative to silicone implants.

Acne is a common occurrence in teenagers and young adults, due to hormonal factors. Due to some reasons, it occurs in adults too. This condition can be helped by using ointments, creams, good diet and proper stress control. Acne can lower self-confidence of people  and can make them feel inferior. A simple way of treating acne would be the LASER method, which helps eradicate the acne. The procedure is growing attractive and is totally effective. One advantage of this treatment is that it only targets the location where the acne exists and doesn’t harm the good skin around. It is a favorable alternative to ointments and creams which can at times be messy or expensive, or both. LASER also builds healthy tissue and new skin cells. It doesn’t cause any infection or bleeding at all as only the damaged tissue is removed, leaving the rest behind. Painkillers can be used to relieve pain.

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Unwanted hair can be a real menace for both men and women. The regular methods of hair removal are not that effective and even time consuming. The usual treatments i.e. waxing and shaving are costly or painful. Tweezing tends to cause itchy skin and irritates the body. However, LASER can be used for this, but is both expensive and requires the patient to attend multiple sessions. An unconventional method of hair removal is the IPL – Intense Pulsed Laser, a latest advancement. This method is both less painful and quick. It is performed by trimming the hair to a very short length and a gel is applied all over the area from where the hair is to be removed. Then, a device shaped like a wand is used to remove the hair. This technique is non-invasive and can be performed on all types of skin.

Not only for hair removal process, IPL can also be used for treating certain skin diseases. Redness and swelling may occur at the site of function but it is normal. The process is quick- just a 15 minute session is good enough. There are no harmful side effects as there are no chemicals involved and only light is used, which is converted into heat to remove the hair follicles.

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In spite of the growing popularity of various types of cosmetic surgery, caution should be taken while adapting to any procedure. Proper consultation with a skilled, experienced practitioner is suggested.

An excerpt from Elle Magazine:

“THE NEW LASER

Jenny Dickinson tests Advanced Laser Lipolysis at The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic.

The treatment:

Apparently, I’m an ideal candidate for this type of surgery as I exercise often but just can’t shift the pockets of fat on my flanks. Dr Kingdon, my surgeon, makes tiny incisions to introduce a saline solution and laser, which ‘melts’ my fat. He then sucks out the liquefied fat and uses the laser again to help my skin tighten. It’s not painful, but I can feel the heavy pushing and pulling and Dr Kingdon forces the tiny tubes underneath my skin. I leave two hours later, leaking saline and wrapped in a girdle.

The results:

when I remove the girdle, I can see that my shaped has changed: the deposits of fat are gone. But, for two weeks, I’m badly bruised and the swelling means I’m actually bigger than before. Plus, I have to keeo the girdle on. I’m not in pain, but I’m uncomfortable. After six weeks, the swelling has reduced but I’m still quite tender. Three months on, the tenderness has gone and my shape is transformed.”

During a recent luncheon with a good friend we over heard a discussion about breast enhancement at the table next to us. My friend made a comment about celebrities and the type of woman who would undergo such a procedure and I began thinking about the wide variety of women I know who have altered their breasts with delightful results.

The real truth is that there is no single profile for a woman who simply wishes to feel better about her body. If she is a young woman or a mother of eight, there are no set rules for how we should feel about our breasts. Below are some commonly asked questions along with straightforward answers.

Bear in mind that only a qualified doctor is able to evaluate physical conditions and discuss an individual plan of action.

What is the Best Type of Material For Use in Implants?

We have all heard some frightening stories about silicone implants breaking and leaking into the body. Other types of materials have used as well. It would now appear after many scientific studies have been done, that indeed, a cohesive silicone gel implant is the safest after all.

What about the Scar?

This is normally one of the first questions asked during initial consultations. There are a few choices to be made in most circumstances. An incision may be made under the ridge of the breast. The breast

would cover the tiny, hairline scar. Another choice is around the nipple which is all but invisible due to the outline of the nipple itself.

Where Do They Actually Place the Implant?

Normally, the implant is placed right behind a woman’s own breast tissue. You can still breastfeed after the implant which is wonderful news. There are other options should this not be possible.

Will I Be Completely Sedated During the Operation?

Yes. In most cases the patient is sedated and wakes up in a normal recovery room environment.

What Could Go Wrong?

There are rare cases where the woman may be prone to excess bleeding, may contract an infection or the body may react to the implant as a foreign object and then encapsulate it.

How Long Until I Can Move Normally?

The doctor will remove the stitches after one week. You are not to lift heavy objects or extend your arms in an abnormal way for 6 weeks. Please discuss post operative care and all concerns with your physician.

Unwanted hair is a common problem for both men and women, and regular hair removal methods don’t always do the job, or are time consuming. The most common hair removal methods are shaving and waxing, both those can be both painful or costly, or sometimes both. Tweezing is a less common method, but can leave skin irritated and sometimes infected. For the extreme measures, electrolysis and laser hair removal are alternatives, but are expensive and require multiple sessions.

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Intense Pulsed Light, or IPL, is the newest advance in hair removal technology, and is quite quick and relatively painless. The area with hair on it is trimmed to remove excess body hair above the skin, then a practioner might spread a gel across the area with unwanted hair - the gel is similar to the kind used in ultrasounds, and is thick and clear, keeping the skin cool while the light is on it. The practioner, or dermatologist, then uses a small hand-held “wand-like” device and moves it over the area where hair is to be removed. The wand emits a broad-spectrum light that is converted into heat energy, so when the light touches the root of the hair the follicle is destroyed, or at least damaged. The process is non-invasive and can be used on all types of skin.

Skin disorders like rosacea, pigmented birth marks and sun damage can be helped with IPL therapy. Most people experience redness and swelling around the base of the follicles where the hair was removed; this indicates that the treatment was successful, and should disappear within a few hours. Within a few weeks, or sometimes a couple of months - or whenever hair starts to regrow - IPL can be done again, as some follicles aren’t completely destroyed the first time around. Treatment sessions usually last around fifteen minutes on average, which means patients are able to have the procedure done without disrupting their daily activity.