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.

Hairs have always been a woe to mankind with they growing where we least want it and just not appearing where we most want it. However, laser skin centres now come with a permanent solution to the ugly hair growth through the latest Diode hair removing laser system.

Diode hair removal system is a non invasive light therapy device which targets at removing undesired hair from all parts of the body. The Diode laser is a diode array type of laser approved for permanent hair reduction by the Food and Drug Administration. This laser generates light at an 810 nm wavelength which targets the melanin pigment which is there in the hair follicle and shaft. The patented Chill Tip cooling hand protects the outer layer of skin by decreasing the surface temperature and preventing thermal injury from the laser beam and also has a mild anesthetic to evade the discomfort of the procedure.

Hundreds of hairs are targeted in one flash of light and a complete facial treatment may take just 10 minutes whereas a back or both legs may take 20 minutes. Depending on the hair color & location on the body, several sittings may be needed, with each session usually lasting 5-30 minutes.

This laser works by destroying the hair roots. Starting with a cool gel being applied on the skin, the laser light is guided through a chill-tip probe to the hair roots. When the laser safely penetrates into the skin, it disables hundreds of hair follicles simultaneously. Then the gel is removed and most of the hairs are wiped off with it. The remaining hairs fall out within a week or two.

Though one may use chemical depilators or shave in between sittings, it should be noted that there should not be any removal of hair by epilation, waxing, plucking or threading 4 weeks before treatment to ensure that maximum hair follicles are in the active cycle and can be destroyed by the laser. After the treatment, sun exposure should be avoided and a sunscreen should be used.

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.

Whether plastic surgery is utilized for health purposes or cosmetic reasons, the after effects are the same for everyone that is pain, swelling, scarring, heightened anxiety and, at times, depression. In some cases, medication may be prescribed for the pain and anxiety. But there are also other options that can help reduce the dosage or length of time of drugs are used, as well as aid in the healing process. Regular massage therapy treatments offer countless health benefits on their own, but are now becoming an effective post-surgical treatment for improving skin tone to boosting circulation. Massage is an effective way to help you manage the pain and stress that you suffer after cosmetic surgery or plastic surgery procedures.

To enhancing general health and wellness, massage therapy can help patients prepare for surgery, as well as ease pain and discomfort during recovery. Some of the massage therapy is performed by licensed massage therapists in our spa-like setting.

• Swedish Massage
• Therapeutic massage
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage
• Reflexology

Massage therapy reduces anxiety and stress

One of the primary benefits of massage is a reduction of stress. Numerous studies over the years have shown that massage therapy increases the levels of endorphins and serotonin in the body, thus reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. It also reduces certain hormone levels such as cortisol, which is responsible for increased stress.

Massage Therapy for Pain Relief

The use of massage therapy can ease the pain caused by swelling and the muscle tightness caused by the surgery instead of turning to pain medication. Health experts suggest that massage treatments are an incredibly effective way to handle pain, anxiety, and distress following major surgery.

Other benefits of massage therapy after surgery include:

• Improved blood flow
• Improved skin tone
• Deeper sleep
• Reduced symptoms of depression

Going bald is a fact of life for millions of men. Male pattern baldness is the common type of hair loss that develops in most men at some stage. It usually takes 15-25 years to go bald, however some men go bald in less than 5 years. Adults lose about 10,000 scalp hairs each and every day and the hair usually becomes thin on the top of the head. With male pattern baldness these hairs do not always get replaced and gradually bald areas appear, however this process can take a long time.

There are a number of reasons why men start to go bald. Nearly all men have some baldness by the time they are in their 60s. Hair loss can start in different areas but is usually at the temples and/or on the crown of the head. But if you are a man between the ages of about 20 to 45 and you start to lose scalp hair, then the chances are 95 per cent certain that you are experiencing male pattern baldness.

What causes male pattern baldness?

Most men are genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness. It is the effect of hormones on the hair follicle that produces male pattern baldness. A hair normally grows from each follicle for about 3 years. It is then shed, and a new hair grows from the follicle. This cycle of hair growth, shedding, and new growth goes on throughout life. As follicles shrinks, each hair gets thinner than the previous one. Male hormones are involved in causing these changes.

Testosterone, a hormone that is present in high levels in males, is converted to another hormone dihydrotestosterone, which has an adverse affect on the hair follicles. For this reason, affected hair follicles become more sensitive, weak, shorter hair and sometimes it stops hair growth from the follicle completely. This process gradually depletes your stock of hair and is normal hair loss.

Treatment options

• Finasteride: The enzyme 5-alpha-reductase helps in the breakdown of testosterone to DHT. Use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride can stop or slow the progression of hair loss, its effects are noticeable only after about 4 months.
• Minoxidil: It is an effective treatment for those who do not respond favorably to finasteride. Though topical application of minoxidil can slow progression of hair loss and help regrow some hair, hair loss returns after its use is stopped.
• Hair transplantation: Tiny plugs of natural hair are removed from areas where the hair is continuing to grow and placed in balding areas. This requires multiple transplantation sessions and may be expensive. However, the results are excellent and permanent.

Since you don’t want to compromise your health and well-being when pursuing plastic surgery, search for the best cosmetic surgeon. The best way to select your plastic surgeon is to do your own research. Take your time, interview at least two or three plastic surgeons, make sure you like the results of the doctor’s work and that you feel you have a good rapport with him. There may be hundreds of cosmetic surgeons in your area, but only a few will offer professional treatments, exceptional follow up services, and provide the right care you need for a successful procedure. So do it yourself, don’t just blindly take someone else’s recommendation. Anyone who refers you to a plastic surgeon has far less at stake in the outcome than you do, so it’s up to you to take responsibility for finding the best doctor.  Just a few extra steps is all that takes you to reduce the risk of a poor quality treatment that compromises your health.

How do you make the right choice?

1. Get a recommendation from a satisfied patient- references from patients is the first place to learn more about the prospective cosmetic surgeon as that patient might be satisfied with the results he achieved.
2. Make sure that the surgeon is board certified in plastic surgery. Remember that the board certification test is a written test; it does not evaluate the surgeon’s manual dexterity, his artistic talents, whether he cares about his patients’ well-being, or whether his results are excellent, just passable, or bad.
3. The next is consultation- none of us are ever offended if a patient has scheduled a couple of consultations. You need to find the plastic surgeon who you like and trust. Trust your instincts, look out for salesmen, don’t get up-sold for something you didn’t come in to discuss and ask about the process of fixing a complication. A personalized consultation leads to personalized results!
4. Learn about financing options- many doctors now offer convenient payment plans and low interest financing to help you manage costs of your services. This can help you plan ahead and make a better decision.
5. Get a referral from a hospital referral line- a hospital referral line will send you at random to one of the plastic surgeons who work at that hospital. Hospital referral lines don’t take skill or patient satisfaction into account at all. but to none of the doctors who don’t work at that hospital.
6. Learn about risks involved with your procedure- no matter how innovative and painless a procedure may sound, make sure you understand all of the risks and potential side effects involved. An honest surgeon will go over both benefits and drawbacks of the treatment, so take the time to learn as much as possible about your prospective procedure.

While women account for the majority of plastic and cosmetic procedures each year, men seem to be changing their attitude about a number of issues that seemed previously to be the preserve of women. Feeling the need to look youthful and appear dynamic well into your 40s, 50s and 60s has led to men re-thinking their attitudes to pills, diet, exercise, face-care products and cosmetic surgery.

Over 1 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures for men were performed, and the most sought-after procedures included eyelid surgery, male breast reduction and microdermabrasion amongst others. So if men are looking for ways to get rid of excess fat, remove fine lines and wrinkles or just enhance the texture and tone of your skin, consider the following cosmetic treatments for that makeover.

-Skin tightening treatments for men is an essential component of healthy, youthful-looking skin. The procedures, such as thermage and titan can help manage sagging skin and increase collagen production. A series of skin tightening treatments can help rejuvenate the skin, and can be combined with injectable fillers for a sculpted look and creating improved facial contours.

-Body improvement for men surgery to create pectoral implants, bulging pecs and buttock enhancements are becoming more and more popular. Cosmetic surgery appeals to our quick-fix, no hassle approach to life. The down side is cost and the dangers associated with elective surgery.

-Hair transplants for men- most hair comes out of the scalp in groups of two or three hairs, 15% in groups of four or five hairs and some 15% comes out as a single strand. The surgeon transplants groups of these various follicle groupings of hair to mimic a natural looking hair pattern as it emerges from the scalp. These procedure are typically less expensive than conventional hair loss treatments.

-Eyelid Surgery for Men can reshape the upper eye area and tighten and tone the skin to draw more attention to the eyes. This can be a valuable treatment at any age, and can be combined with other skin tightening and facial rejuvenation procedures for a complete makeover.

The Titan laser is a non-invasive solution for treating loose skin and offers several benefits. Titan utilizes a safe, infrared spectrum of light that is delivered to the dermis well below the outer skin’s surface. There is no down time and no external injury to the skin. There are no external wounds to care for. A person can return to work right after the cosmetic procedure. It helps stimulate collagen production and can increase the firmness of the skin a few months after treatment. If you’re looking for a simple way to improve skin tone and texture, here’s what you can expect from your Titan treatment.

The procedure can be utilized on a variety of areas including the face, neck and body. The most frequent areas receiving Titan Laser treatment is the facial area, the forehead, neck, cheeks and jowl are the most popular areas. In addition other regions such as the stomach, thighs, and arms can also be effectively treated. The procedure is especially effective in treating the more difficult regions of the body such as the knee and elbows regions.

How the Titan Procedure Works?

The Titan laser can firm up loose skin that is a result of weight loss, aging or pregnancy; Since the laser works by stimulating the formation of new collagen, ideal results will take approximately three to eight months to materialize. While this laser procedure is very effective it does have limitations. Individuals with advanced skin aging coupled with sun damage and excessive wrinkles may not be the best candidates for the Titan laser procedure. Titan laser therapy can be combined with other facial rejuvenation treatments for a complete body or facial makeover. The results of Titan Skin tightening technology may be seen within a few weeks of the treatment, however the full benefits are usually not observed for three to six months. This is probably the most difficult part of this procedure as the effects of the treatment are not seen immediately.

Key Benefits of the Titan Skin Tightening Procedure

• Look years younger
• Treats lax and sagging skin
• Versatile procedure
• Reduce risk of injured fat
• Stimulates long-term collagen growth
• Visible results within weeks
• Is safe, comfortable and non-surgical
• Alternative to liposuction
• No downtime

For many men and women, unwanted hair can be a nightmare. Until now the only options for removing unwanted hair were smelly hair removal creams, sharp razors, stinging wax or painful electrolysis needles and time-consuming, but there is a permanent and painless hair removing option available that is IPL, an advanced approach to beautiful skin, provides the ultimate solution. The IPL process uses intense pulsed light to gently remove unwanted hair, putting an end to routine shaving and waxing and the treatments leave your skin feeling smoother and silkier.

Intense pulsed light therapy treats larger areas such as the back, shoulders, arms, legs and face rather than treating one hair at a time. This treatment is a safe, fast, gentle and effective alternative method for hair removal. The treatment works on most skin types and the total cost of treatment may be far lower than standard hair removal methods. Here’s what you need to know about the IPL laser hair removal procedure:

IPL works equally well on most skin pigmentations without removing any of the pigment for both men and women. IPL hair removal can also safely and effectively eliminate hair of all colors: blond, red, brown, black and even white. With the process, your doctor can gently treat hair in sensitive areas such as the bikini line, stomach, underarms and upper lip, at the same time maintaining a healthy, normal appearance of the surrounding tissue. The IPL laser hair removal device works by emitting a spectrum of light and heat energy directly into the hair follicle, effectively breaking down the hair and slowing down hair growth, as the hair follicle becomes weaker, the hair grows back at a very slow rate and eventually, does not grow back at all.

The benefits of IPL laser hair removal:

• Little or no downtime.
• It works equally well with light or dark hair and skin.
• There is less chance for scarring and pigmentation change.
• Less pain and discomfort compared to other hair removal treatments.
• Combines the speed of shaving with the lasting results by electrolysis.

If you are looking for size reduction through a clinically proven method that requires minimal effort on their part, this article is the one for you. Bader Sultan & Brothers Company, a leading Kuwaiti medical services and supplies company, has announced today the launch of a revolutionary cold laser treatment. This treatment uses a fat reduction technique to help shape the body. The laser is named ZERONA™ which is applied externally and provides results without the dangers associated with surgery.

The high-power, high-heat lasers have been conventionally in various surgical procedures. This new product, Zerona laser, has no thermal effect on the body’s tissue as it produces a low-level, or cold, output. In addition, this non-invasive cold laser helps the body emulsify fat by stimulating biological function. Excess fat is then removed naturally by the body without the negative side effects and downtime associated with more invasive procedures such as liposuction. Patients remain active during the treatment which utilizes the Erchonia.

Steve Shanks, President of Erchonia Medical, praised the product saying, “Our product has undergone extensive research over the last ten years and in 2004 achieved approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use during liposuction. Since 2006 it can be used as a standalone treatment. We know our cold laser can help so many people achieve their goals and contour their bodies with very little effort.”

“I am delighted that my company has signed this agreement with Erchonia Medical and is the first to bring this innovative solution to the Middle East. We are already in the process of establishing relationships with health clinics in the region to make this treatment easily available,” said Mr. Anwar Al Sultan, Chairman of Bader Sultan & Brothers Company. “Dubai Derma is the perfect way to launch the Zerona cold laser here and I am thrilled to have several expert doctors with us to demonstrate the benefits of this solution.”

“This is an amazing medical procedure that will provide relief for so many in our region without the potential hazards associated with invasive surgery and should be considered as an ideal alternative to surgery in select cases,” commented Dr. Ahmed Al Fadli, President of the Kuwait Plastic Surgery Society, Chief of Plastic Surgery in Kuwait, Vice President of the Kuwait Medical Association and the current President of the Pan Arab Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Association. “My clinical trials have demonstrated very positive results so far, with many patients experiencing a 12cms to 20cms reduction in waist and thigh size.”

Dr. Douglas Dedo of the Palm Beach Institute of Cosmetic Surgery and past President of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery added: “This revolutionary treatment can work without any kind of surgery or the need for excessive dieting or exercise; though as a doctor I always recommend a healthy lifestyle for my patients. What is also exciting is that clinical studies have revealed that ZERONA™ can help in the treatment of acute and chronic pain relief as well as in controlling cholesterol and triglycerides.”