Lasers Hair Removal and Beauty Tips

Short sight or “Myopia” is ability to see near objects clearly and disability to see far objects clearly. During adolescence, the power of glasses changes along with the change of height and voice. The change stabilizes at about 20 years of age. This power usually remains with out much of change up to the age of forty. It is not possible to treat myopia with medicines or special food.

Radial Keratotomy is a simple surgical procedure, which can treat powers up to - 5.00 Diopters (points). It is not as sophisticated as Laser treatment but is very much cheaper and gives good results for myopia up to - 5.00 dioptors.

However, the advent of laser has reduced the popularity of radial keratomy. Excimer Laser treatment is the latest method of treating short sight. Both the eyes are treated at the same sitting to avoid gross difference of power between the two eyes. Very rarely one eye is treated at a time. A week’s rest is advisable after LASIK laser treatment and a month after PRK.

There are two types of treatment available:

1. PRK or surface treatment: In PRK, the laser is applied directly on the surface of the cornea after removing the epithelium (skin of the cornea).

The laser reshapes the cornea into a lens of required power. The skin of the cornea grows back in about 4 to 7 days after treatment. Till the skin of the cornea grows back, the patient will have irritation of the eyes and will find it difficult to open the eyes. The visual recovery will start only after the skin grows back. Patient will have to apply medicines for 3 to 6 months after PRK. PRK has an upper limit of minus 9.00 Diopters (points) for treatment. PRK is cheaper than Lasik treatment.

2. LASIK (laser treatment under the partial thickness corneal flap): In this treatment, a computer-controlled kerotome (Blade) cuts the cornea to raise a 60 to 80-micron (1 micron = 1/1000 mm.) corneal flap. Laser is applied under the flap.

The corneal flap is replaced after the procedure. Here the skin of the cornea is not removed and so the patient’s discomfort is minimal. The visual recovery is rapid and the patient is able to regain near normal vision on the very next day. Medicines have to be applied for a month following LASIK Laser treatment.

The major draw back of Laser treatment is that it is not possible to guarantee a 100% cure for every body. Some people may have - 0.5 or -1.0 Diopter residual power. But for a person who was wearing - 10.0 or -15.0 Diopter glasses prior to laser treatment, these small residual powers are not significant. Being a surgical procedure, LASIK also has it own risks like all other surgical procedures.

Acne is a very common skin problem and though there are cosmetic cure like laser and dermabrasion to cure acne, it is better in the first place to control your breakouts through natural remedies, the right nutritional balance and proper skin care.

Here are some easy things you can start doing today to help you heal your acne:

1. Wash your face twice a day with an anti-bacterial soap – This should be done religiously once when you first wake up in the morning and then, right before you go to bed at night. However, take care not to scrub or use any sort of rough cloth.

2. Keep your hair off your face – Hair has oil and dandruff which triggers breakouts. Also, try to wash your hair everyday and after workouts.

3. Take a potent multi-vitamin – This will ensure that the acne is not due to lack of nutrition. Our body often fights back the lack of nutrition is by producing excessive sebum, clogging pores, and reducing the ability for your skin to heal and fight bacteria.

4. Do not squeeze your blackheads and pimples – If you squeeze, scratch, rub or touch your pimples and blackheads, you are actually rupturing the membranes below your skin, causing infection and sebum to spread underneath your skin. The result is more pimples.

5. Wash your pillow case every other day - Your pillow case absorbs the oils from your skin and when you lay your face on it, it reapplies the dirt and oil causing breakouts.

6. Apply a honey mask to your face - Honey does wonders to the skin with its antibacterial properties and thus it heals minor blemishes.

7. Include chromium, Vitamin A and zinc in your diet - Taking a chromium supplement once a day will help heal your pimples quickly and prevent future breakouts. Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and actually prevents acne. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins. Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil-producing glands of the skin.

Acne breakouts leave back embarrassing scars and the problem of getting rid of these is one of the most common ones that people face today. One of the methods to get rid of them is laser skin resurfacing.

You can easily opt for the skin resurfacing treatment with an appointment from a dermatologist. These dermatologists recommend a process called subcusion where the upper layer of the skin is lifted so that circulation can be increased to encourage the skin to heal faster. They also use a chemical peel which basically burns away the top layer of your skin to reduce the appearance of acne marks. The methods of resurfacing the skin have been helpful in getting rid of these acne marks faster. The results of laser resurfacing are particularly noticeable after the initial healing and for about a year thereafter.

Laser resurfacing is a process where the upper layers of damaged skin are burned or vaporized for acne scar treatment by applying a controlled burning laser beam. The area treated recovers rapidly with newer skin and healthy tissue. When the treatment is done in fractions, this allows the skin to rapidly recover with little downtime. The essence of fractional laser therapy is that only selected areas of the damaged skin are treated with the ablative laser light beam.

Some surgeons combine laser resurfacing with other procedures to produce maximal effect. The advantages of laser over other resurfacing methods (deeps chemical peels and dermabrasion) include greater precision, less bleeding and discomfort and, possibly, shorter recovery time.

Possible adverse reactions include additional or excessive scarring, infection, loss of normal skin pigmentation, skin redness and dryness, and others. In particular, people with darker skin are more likely to develop uneven pigmentation whereas people who were on accutane (a common acne treatment that has the side effect of thinning the skin) or those with certain connective tissue disorders are more prone to scarring.

Cryosurgery is a highly effective treatment for a broad range of benign skin problems like actinic keratosis, solar lentigo, seborrheic keratosis, viral wart, molluscum contagiosum, and dermatofibroma and is a suitable option for treatment patients with light skin and for treatment of lesions in most non–hair-bearing areas of the body. Spray methods include the timed spot freeze technique, the rotary or spiral pattern, and the paintbrush method. Cryosurgery has been used to treat skin lesions for approximately 100 years though over the past 50 years, much experience has been gained in the use of cryosurgery to treat skin lesions.

Besides requiring little time and fitting easily into the physician’s office schedule, this treatment also has the advantage of a short preparation time, low risk of infection, and minimal wound care. In addition, cryosurgery requires no expensive supplies or injectable anesthesia, and the patient does not have to return for suture removal.

Potential side effects include bleeding, blister formation, headache, hair loss, and hypo pigmentation, but rarely scarring. Skin lesions often can be treated in a single session, although some require several treatments.

The first cryogens were liquid air and compressed carbon dioxide snow. Then came liquid nitrogen and currently is the most widely used cryogen. It is particularly useful in the treatment of malignant lesions. Temperatures of −25°C to −50°C (−13°F to −58°F) can be achieved within 30 seconds if a sufficient amount of liquid nitrogen is applied by spray or probe. Generally, destruction of benign lesions requires temperatures of −20°C to −30°C (−4°F to −22°F). Effective removal of malignant tissue often requires temperatures of −40°C (−40°F) to −50°C.

Photo rejuvenation involves using an energy-delivery device to improve skin texture, fine wrinkles, scars, and hyper pigmentation (skin discoloration such as sun spots, age spots, and freckles). Photo rejuvenation falls into three categories: mechanical, thermal, and chemical. Mechanical methods include lasers, thermal include Thermage, and chemical includes chemical peels.

Photo rejuvenation technology is always changing and improving. Some of the most common problems of sun damaged and aging skin which can be treated with photo rejuvenation are:

Photo-Aging, Hyperpigmentation, and Large Pores: Intense pulsed light (IPL) systems have proven useful for sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and large pores.

Skin Irregularities, Fine Lines, and Dark Skin Discoloration: CO2, erbium/YAG, and combination CO2-erbium/YAG lasers have been beneficial for skin irregularities, wrinkles, acne scars, and certain types of skin discoloration.

Sun Damage: Pulsed dye lasers or IPL are used for sun damage and aging skin.

Melasma: Kligman’s formula followed by frequency-doubled Q-switched laser or IPL has been effective for the management of melasma, a patchy or generalized dark or tan discoloration of the skin.

Pigmented Lesions: A combination of a frequency-doubled Q-switched Nd:YAG (KTP) laser and also an IPL is useful for pigmented lesions. However, laser treatment is not recommended for removal of dark moles.

Wrinkles and Sagging Skin: For different signs of aging, such as droopiness of the tissues, loss of volume, and loss of elasticity, and surface discoloration, one can opt for various treatments like dermabrasion, chemical peel and laser resurfacing, infrared light, low-level laser, IPL, and even radio-frequency devices.

IPL therapy does help in collagen and elastic fiber production. Collagen supports fibroblasts, which act as bridges of support for the skin just below the skin surface. Collagen production decreases with age, so the stimulation of collagen production through light therapy or lasers can help reduce the effects of aging on the skin.

Scars: Keloid and hypertrophic scars respond to 585-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatments. Raised scar edges may require an additional laser such as the Er:YAG or CO2 laser system.

One of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures is laser tooth cleaning. The laser used in this technique is more of blue lamp that’s used to activate the peroxide gel responsible for the whitening effect.  Before starting the procedure, the dentist gives your mouth a proper cleaning. After the cleaning, the dentist puts a cheek retractor in the patient’s mouth.  This allows the dentist to do his job without worrying about the strength of the patient’s jaw.  A hydrogen peroxide gel is then applied to every tooth in the mouth.  Depending on which specific product you use, multiple coatings of this gel may be required.

After the teeth are fully coated, it’s time for the “laser” portion of this procedure.  As mentioned above, this is basically a blue light that sits about two inches away from the mouth.  It illuminates the teeth, working with the gel to create the whitening effect.  The entire laser teeth whitening process takes about an hour.

All of these procedures need to be done in a dentist’s office by a professional. The dentist should also check if there is any hint of gum disease or severe tooth decay because the bleach in the peroxide gel can actually make these problems worse.

One cannot stress enough on the effect of great and sparkling white teeth on your looks. However, having white teeth is great but having healthy clean teeth is far more important.  You should never sacrifice health for aesthetics when it comes to anything.

Removing unwanted hair from different body parts has been a major beauty issue for 80 percent of women around the world. Depending on the amount and quality of hair growth and also the area where the unwanted hair needs to be removed, there are various choices of hair removal procedures. Here is an outline of the most common ones:

Shaving

Shaving is the most common way, painless, fast and cheap way to remove unwanted hair. One requires a razor and a moisturizing shaving cream containing aloe vera and vitamin E for it. The drawback of this procedure is that it causes stubble, cuts, ingrown hair, and skin irritation. Though its effects last only for one to three days, it does cause hair to grow in thicker, contrary to the popular belief.

Waxing

Waxing is another popular and longer lasting hair removal process preferred for legs, hands and pubic areas. Waxing involves using warm or cold wax that is applied to the skin and then quickly stripped off. Negative side effects include pain, ingrown hair and scarring. Also, waxing should not be done on irritated, sunburned or broken skin.

Threading

Threading is most popular hair removal technique for eye brows and upper lips. Threading uses a long twisted loop that is rotated to create coils that trap the hair, which is pulled from the skin and broken off. Though it can lead to pain, scarring and ingrown hair, it has the benefits of being inexpensive and causing hair to become thinner over time.

Depilatory

Using depilatory hair removal products is another way to get rid of your unwanted hair. Depilatory creams contain alkaline chemicals that dissolve hair protein, causing it to break in half. Depilatory products should also not be used on the eyebrows, pubic area or broken or sensitive skin. Side defects include an allergic reaction to chemicals in the product, ingrown hair and dry, itchy and sometimes burning skin.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is a hair removal process in which needles send an electric pulse into the hair follicle, thereby hindering future hair growth. This technique is especially recommended for those with more body hair as well as coarser body hair.

A slow process, electrolysis is nevertheless effective, offering more long-term results, although only after multiple sessions. It costs roughly $50 to $100 per session. Side effects can include scarring, pain and in rare cases, bacterial and viral infections.

Laser Hair Removal

A new hair removal technique is laser hair removal. It is a long-term hair removal technique, although four to six sessions are generally needed in order to remove hair on a permanent basis.

Birthmarks, which appear in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, can be bothersome and a hinderance to one’s confidence and self-esteem. With the increasing popularity of various cosmetic surgery procedures, birthmark removal is no more a big issue now. There are various types of birthmarks including moles (congenital nevi), Coffee-cream spots, flat patches of discoloration, port-wine stains, and several others.

People considering birthmark removal should first find a qualified cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist to perform the procedure. Before proceeding with the procedure, the issues such as reasons for wanting the procedure, desired outcome, various options available, a detailed description of the procedure itself, the risks, limitations, and benefits, should be discussed. The patient’s medical history is taken, and the area to be treated is examined.

Depending on its type, size, location and other factors, birthmark removal can be done either by laser or other surgical procedures. Lasers are used to treat birthmarks that are close to the surface of the skin, such as port-wine stains. This method can be performed at any age. During treatment, short bursts of laser light are aimed at the birthmark in order to shrink it or cause it to stop growing. Multiple visits may be necessary to achieve optimal results. Laser therapy may also be used for hemangioma, however it is not used to treat cases where it is found on an internal organ, or deep within the skin.

After undergoing laser therapy, the treated skin becomes dark purple. This should only last about seven to ten days and disappear soon after. However in some cases, it can take six to eight weeks for the purple area to completely disappear.

Following treatment, it is recommended that patients do not scratch the treated area. It is also important to stay out of the sun while healing. When in the sun, patients should use sunscreen.

Last but not the least, one must remember that cosmetic surgery is meant for improvement, not perfection. It is important to have realistic goals and expectations when considering birthmark removal.

A medical spa is a hybrid between a medical clinic and a day spa that operates under the supervision of medical doctor. Medical spas can treat facial conditions like brown spots, redness, broken capillaries that cannot be treated at all or as effectively by a traditional esthetician. They also specialize in laser hair removal and Botox and fillers. At medical spa you can get undergo sessions to help reduce cellulite, and get a traditional facial or a session of message therapy all at the same place.

Medical spas vary in type from individual or corporate owned beauty and skin spas to physician owned spas with affiliated surgical facilities. So chances are you will be able to find a medical spa that offers the procedure you want with all the amenities to make your experience an enjoyable one. So, in many cases, if you are just going in for a regular facial and looking for products to improve your skin, you will have the advantage of being able to get the advice of a trained physician, studied in a wide range of skin and facial aesthetics.

What to expect from a Medical Spa?

Thermal waters, mineral salts, and mineral-rich mud treatments are known to benefit certain conditions. Medical conditions and other factors that benefit from medical spa treatments include:

• Rheumatism, arthritis, and other connective tissue disorders
• Relaxing and soothing atmosphere including all the pampering and service you would expect from a spa
• Skin conditions including psoriasis
• Muscle and circulation problems
• Digestive disorders
• A variety of skin care products and creams available for take home use
• Diabetes
• Allergies
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Licensed aestheticians or health care personnel to help with your individual skin and body care needs
• Urinary, kidney and respiratory problems

If you’re searching for insider information about your medical spa destination of choice, head on-line for any feedback from patients and even contact the owner or doctor via e-mail for an overview of the facility. Here are some tips on finding medical spas that ensure patient safety:

1. Search on-line for reviews

2. Check the doctor’s qualifications

3. Steer clear of lasers

4. Make sure the doctor will be present during your treatment

5.  Get a second opinion

If you are considering cosmetic surgery, you must be honest with yourself. Why do you want surgery and, what do you expect surgery to do for you? There are two categories of patients who are good candidates for surgery. The first includes patients with a strong self-image, who are bothered by a physical characteristic that they’d like to improve or change. The second category includes patients who have a physical defect that has diminished their self-esteem over time.

If you’re thinking about getting cosmetic surgery, it’s your job to become an informed consumer. Selecting a qualified doctor, with a lot of training and experience in the procedure you’d like to get, is essential.

Ask the right questions to get the best treatment:

• What state is the doctor licensed to practice surgery?
• Is the doctor board certified? With which board? The doctor should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
• How many years has the doctor performed this type of surgery?
• What are the risks of the procedure?
• Who administers the anesthesia? Ideally, this person is a board-certified anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist.
• Does the doctor have life-saving equipment and monitoring devices?

Plastic Surgeons are actively involved in patient education aimed at informing patients about how their lifestyle choices may affect their safety as well as their outcomes when undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure. Some of the lifestyle factors that your surgeon may wish to discuss with you in your consultation may include your current weight, history of weight fluctuations, nutrition habits, vitamins and herbal supplements taken and exercise habits.

Other Important Factors to Consider for Your Safety

Multiple Procedures: A responsible physician will place your safety first, and will explain to you that only a certain number of procedures can be performed simultaneously to ensure your safety. The Plastic Surgeons opposes the performance of multiple, lengthy procedures that involve the risk of major blood loss.

Length of Procedures: If your procedure is going to take longer than six hours, your surgeon should ensure that your surgery is performed at a facility equipped for such a procedure, and that there will be adequate postoperative care and monitoring.

Risk of blood clots: Some people have a higher risk of developing blood clots in their extremities that can travel to their lungs and heart, possibly causing their death. Your surgeon and surgical facility must be qualified to ensure the safety of the following higher risk patients.

Extent of Blood Loss: Your surgeon or your general physician should perform appropriate blood testing before surgery to ensure that you are not anemic or prone to excessive bleeding. Also, procedures with anticipated blood loss should be performed at facilities where adequate blood and blood components are readily available for infusions.

Please remember to take your plastic surgery endeavor seriously. After all, it is no different than any other surgery that you might undergo. Nonetheless, every year millions of people undergo plastic surgery procedures safely, with the joy of having the outcome that they were seeking.