Issue #2 summary - GO BACK TO ARCHIVE

Resurfacing
Lasers have replaced chemical peeling and dermabrasion in popularity for resurfacing procedures and is considered by many experts to be the safest and most effective. Although recovery is irritating, it is not generally painful. Few complications arise.
    A variety of lasers are manufactured for different purposes. They can be distinguished by the colour and frequency of light they produce, and their beams are sensitive to different colours of the spectrum, which is why some lasers are best for removing coloured areas on the skin, such as brown spots and tattoos. For larger areas, scanning lasers use a wider beam to treat an area of possibly 1/2Î3/4 inches in diameter in less than a second compared with a conventional laser's one-eighth to one-tenth of an inch. As the face is our most apparent feature, it comes as no surprise that it is the most treated.
    The most common lasers used for facial resurfacing are carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium YAG, which remove areas of damaged or wrinkled skin layer by layer. Often, the procedure is done with another cosmetic operation, such as a facelift or eyelid surgery. Laser resurfacing is still a relatively new procedure. Nevertheless, it has been shown that, at least in some cases, this surgical method produces less bleeding, bruising and post-operative discomfort than other resurfacing methods.
    Laser resurfacing is performed using a beam of laser energy that vaporizes the upper layers of damaged skin at specific and controlled levels of penetration. All resurfacing treatments work essentially the same way. First, the outer layers of damaged skin are stripped away. Then, as new cells form during healing, a smoother, tighter, younger-looking skin surface appears.

Liposuction
Slimming is a big industry. The money spent on diet books, exercise videos, and all other weight-reducing paraphernalia could, ironically, feed the planet. Cosmetic surgery clinics are well conversant in fat reduction. American Board of Plastic Surgery members perform liposuction more than any other cosmetic surgery operation. In 1998 in the US, there were 172,079 liposuctions, an increase of 57 per cent since 1996 and up 264 per cent since 1992. In the UK figures are not as readily available, but a report by market intelligence company Key Note estimates 9,385 liposuction or liposculpture treatments were performed in 1997 compared with 8,455 in 1996.
   Basically, liposuction is a surgical technique for "sculpting" parts of the body by reducing localised fat. Those who exercise regularly afterwards tend to get the best long-term results.    Liposuction is chosen by all ages and all types of people: men, women, models, actors, teenagers, and athletes. Some men even use it to produce "washboard abs", the sculptured abdominal muscles favoured by body-builders. Like most cosmetic surgery procedures, liposuction has evolved from being a high-risk operation. Originally, incisions of one-half to one inch were made, bleeding was often heavy, hospital stays of up to a week were not uncommon, bruising lasted for weeks, scarring was very apparent at the incision site, and returning to normal activity took from two to four weeks.
   Modern liposuction is another story. Pain, excessive bleeding, infection and other complications are rare; incisions are as small as one-eighth of an inch; scarring and blood loss are minimal; bruising is mild; little bed rest is needed, and patients usually go home the same day after surgery and, in two to five days, resume normal activity.
   A number of misconceptions surround liposuction - the biggest revolves around large people losing bags of weight. The truth is that liposuction is not a treatment for obesity and could be very dangerous if attempted. Large volumes of spot fat can be extracted but this is more risky and most likely would require a stay in hospital to monitor major fluid shifts. Dividing an operation into two or more stages is a far safer alternative. Misconception number two is that fat cells migrate to treated areas from other parts of the body to keep an even distribution of body fat. Although fat does not migrate, excess calories will continue to be stored in the untreated areas and can reform in the liposuctioned sites as well.

Here’s looking at you
Considering all the references to men's and women's eyes in literature and conversation, it is not surprising that eyelid surgery is so frequently performed. Eyes are a focal point, and as such they are subjected to much scrutiny by ourselves and others who, quite naturally, 'look us in the eye'.
   In the US, according to the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, eyelid surgery is the third most popular cosmetic surgery procedure. In actual fact, the eyelids are only one part of the eye region operated on. Eyelid surgery, technically called blepharoplasty, corrects not only the eyelids but also eyebags. Excess fat, skin and muscle are removed, and when properly performed the benefits are a brighter face and a more youthful appearance.    Conditions commonly treated are:1) Hanging skin from the upper eyelid. This tends to show excess wrinkling, often accompanied by bulging because of an accumulation of underlying fat. Women frequently have difficulty applying makeup to this area. In some cases, hanging skin over the upper eyelid can be removed to restore peripheral vision.2) Excess and wrinkled skin from the lower eyelid, with or without underlying bulging fat, which produces bags. But this procedure has limitations. It cannot alter dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nor can it change sagging eyebrows. However, these conditions can be tackled with additional procedures such as a browlift, facelift, or skin resurfacing. Your surgeon might recommend, say, skin resurfacing to remove fine line wrinkles. Procedure In upper eyelid surgery, the surgeon first marks the individual lines and creases of the lid to keep the scars concealed along these natural folds. The incisions are made, and excess fat, muscle and loose skin are removed. The incisions are closed with fine sutures to reduce scarring. In lower eyelid surgery, the surgeon makes the incision in an inconspicuous site along the lashline and smile creases of the lower lid. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are then trimmed away before the incision is closed with fine sutures.

Breast reductions
Breast reduction, or reduction mammaplasty, helps women of all ages to overcome the discomfort large breasts can cause. The procedure removes fat, glandular tissue, and skin, making the breasts feel smaller, lighter, and firmer. It can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The goal is to give the woman smaller, better-shaped breasts in proportion with the rest of her body.
   Breast reduction is usually performed for physical relief rather than simply cosmetic improvement. Breast reduction is not recommended for women who intend to breast-feed, because the surgery removes many of the milk ducts leading to the nipples. Breast reduction is not a simple operation. As with any surgery there is always a possibility of complications, including bleeding, infection, or reaction to the anaesthesia. Some patients develop small sores around their nipples after surgery but these can be treated with antibiotic creams.
   The procedure does leave noticeable, permanent scars, although they'll be covered by your bra or bathing suit. The procedure can also leave you with slightly mismatched breasts or unevenly positioned nipples. Some patients may experience a permanent loss of feeling in their nipples or breasts. Rare, but still necessary to point out, is that, the nipple and areola can lose their blood supply and the tissue consequently die. The nipple and areola can usually be rebuilt, however, using skin grafts from elsewhere on the body.
   The surgeon will examine and measure your breasts, and will photograph them for reference. He or she will discuss the variables that may affect the procedure - such as your age, the size and shape of your breasts, and the condition of your skin. You will also discuss the new position of the nipple and areola. They will be moved higher, approximately even with the crease beneath your breasts.

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