Archive for January, 2009

Keeping the weight off!

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

Severely obese patients who have lost signifi cant amounts of weight by changing their diet and exercise habits may be as successful in keeping the weight off long-term as those individuals who lost weight after bariatric surgery, according to a new study published online by the International Journal of Obesity.
While weight loss and maintenance were comparable between the two treatments, patients who relied on non-surgical methods had to work harder over a longer duration to maintain their weight losses, say researchers from The Miriam Hospitals Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine.
Findings suggest that its possible to maintain large weight losses through intensive behavioral efforts, such as changing your approach to eating and exercise, regardless of whether you lost weight with bariatric surgery or through non-surgical methods, says lead author Dale Bond, PhD, of The Miriam Hospitals Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine. Behavioral modifi – cations and lifestyle changes are critical components to long-term weight loss maintenance.
Researchers matched each surgical patient with two non-surgical patients through the National Weight Control Registry. All participants – 315 total – lost an average of 124 lbs and had maintained their weight loss for an average of 5.5 years at the beginning of this two-year study.
Individuals were surveyed at both the start of the study and at the one-year follow-up about weight-maintenance behaviors (including food records and physical activity levels) and various psychological factors (such as dietary restraint, feelings of hunger and food cravings, stress and depression). Weight-related information was collected at both the one- and two-year follow-up.
There were no signifi cant differences in the caloric intake or the amount of weight regain between the surgical and non-surgical groups; both regained an average of about four lbs. each year. However, researchers identifi ed behavioral differences between the two groups, with bariatric patients reporting greater fat and fast food consumption, less conscious control over their eating and higher incidences of depression and more stress than non-surgical patients.
Similar differences were observed with physical activity behaviors. Only one-third of the surgical group reported engaging in a level of physical activity consistent with recommendations for preventing weight regain compared with 60 percent of the non-surgical group.
The researchers note that susceptibility to cues that trigger impulsive overeating was the only behavior associated with a greater risk of weight regain in both groups.
These findings underscore the need for eating and activity interventions focused on bariatric surgery patients, says Bond, who is also a research fellow in psychiatry (weight control) at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Future research should focus on ways to increase and maintain physical activity and better monitor psychological parameters in bariatric surgery patients to facilitate optimal long-term weight control.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com.

Risks and Rewards: Weight Loss Surgeries

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

It’s no secret that people will go to great lengths in an effort to lose weight.

Those lengths can include fad dieting, assorted pills and powders and a variety of surgical options.

Among the latter, two of the more common - and commonly debated - are gastric bypass surgery and gastric banding.

The first involves a surgeon bypassing much of the stomach and small intestine. That means your body will absorb fewer calories and can be effective, though there are limitations.

“Those patients, in order to make up for that malabsorption, require a large amount of daily supplements in the way of vitamins and minerals,” said Dr. Chris Cobourn of the Surgical Weight Loss Centre.

“Although it’s insured, there are a very small number of surgeons and centres who perform the procedure, nowhere near meeting the demand.”

By contrast, a laparoscopic banding procedure is easier to get, but it’s not exactly cheap.

It involves a band around the upper part of the stomach which ostensibly tricks it into thinking it’s just ingested a huge meal when a much smaller portion has been swallowed.

Gastric Bypass

In gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) the surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of your stomach and adds a bypass around a segment of your stomach and small intestine.

The surgeon staples your stomach across the top, sealing it off from the rest of your stomach. The resulting pouch is about the size of a walnut and can hold only about an ounce of food. The pouch is physically separated from the rest of the stomach. Then, the surgeon cuts the small intestine and sews part of it directly onto the pouch.

This connection redirects the food, bypassing most of your stomach and the first section of your small intestine, the duodenum. Food enters directly into the second section of your small intestine, the jejunum, limiting your ability to absorb calories. Even though food never enters the lower part of your stomach, the stomach stays healthy and continues to secrete digestive juices to mix with food in your small intestine.

Gastric Banding

The surgeon uses an inflatable band to partition the stomach into two parts by wrapping the band around the upper part of your stomach. Pulling it tight like a belt, the surgeon creates a tiny channel between the two pouches. The band keeps the opening from expanding and is designed to stay in place indefinitely. It can be adjusted or surgically removed if necessary.

LAGB is gaining popularity because it’s a simpler procedure and has a lower complication rate when compared with more-involved procedures. However, LAGB causes less weight loss and a slower rate of weight loss than does the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

This surgery isn’t recommended for people who have certain medical conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, large hiatal hernias or a history of gastric ulcers.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com.

Cure for Unsightly Cellulite?

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Findings from a new study published in the November/December 2008 issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal suggest that a combination treatment using laser energy and fat transplantation shows promise in significantly improving cellulite.  Cellulite is a common condition that gives the appearance of lumpiness and dimpling across the skin and is most prevalent in the thigh, hip, and buttock areas. Currently some treatments may provide temporary improvement in the dimpled appearance of cellulite, but to date there is no proven, permanent “cure” for cellulite.

“Cellulite is caused by bands of fibrous tissue that connect the muscle to the skin,” says Alan Gold, MD, President of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). “If these bands are tight and the fat between the muscle and the skin bulges out between them, there will be dimpling over each of those bands. There is nothing otherwise special or unique about the fat itself in those areas.” Almost all women (and some men) have cellulite, stemming from genetic predisposition, hormonal changes and weight gain.

The treatment presented in a study first uses 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser energy conducted underneath the skin to stimulate collagen formation, skin tightening and, on a deeper level, to reduce fatty tissue. Laser treatment is followed by injections of the patient’s own fat to fill in the depressed areas. Along with visible improvement, there are very few adverse effects, most of which are mild and temporary.

“The search for the cause of cellulite and effective treatments is ongoing, however, the combination of a minimally-invasive pulsed laser treatment and autologous fat transplantation represents a viable option for women who have severe cases of cellulite,” says Robert Gotkin, MD, a plastic surgeon in New York, NY and one of the authors of the study. “All treatments have limitations and since cellulite is a chronic condition, the patient must understand that there are no miracle procedures and multiple treatments may be necessary.”

The doctors treated 52 women between the ages of 18-47 with severe cases of cellulite who had not undergone previous surgical treatments such as lipoplasty or subcision (cutting scar tissue just below the surface of the skin). After the laser tightening and fat injections, patients received a massage to evenly distribute the fat and returned the next day for physiotherapeutic postoperative treatments. The follow-up period ranged from a year to almost 3 years, and nearly 85% of the patients rated their results as “good” or “excellent”.

Various methods of treating cellulite have been proposed including:

  • Liposuction
  • Fat Injections
  • Lower Body Lift
  • Endermologie
  • Injection lipolysis
  • Herbal and dietary supplements
  • Creams and lotions

While some of these procedures, such as fat injections and lower body lift, have been shown to be beneficial in appropriately selected patients, others such as injection lipolysis and lotions do not have any scientific data supporting their efficacy. Liposuction, while highly effective in reducing fat deposits and improving contour, sometimes makes cellulite appear worse.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com.

Newer Skin Rejuvenation Methods!

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

The once-popular chemical face peel—long a staple of the cosmetic makeover industry—has gone the way of eight-track tape players, the Macarena and the housing boom. Studies say the latest trend to rejuvenate facial skin is through the use of state-of-the-art technology like Fraxel® and eLight®.

For years, patients looking to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on their faces flocked to dermatologists and aestheticians for chemical peels. Various acids would be used to remove skin layers, resulting in a refreshed look. While safe and effective, the idea of “burning” and “peeling” skin with acid clearly has its drawbacks. The process is often painful and takes days of recovery time, usually spent indoors to avoid exposure to the sun. Decidedly “old school,” chemical peels are still popular among seniors, but are quickly being replaced with “new school” technology.
Latest Trend

The latest trend finds patients opting for less drastic, more technologically advanced and effective methods. Several techniques have emerged as the most popular to replace skin peels.

• Fraxel®
• eLight® Silk Peels
• Silk Peels

Fraxel® Laser Treatments produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of thermal interactions to points along the skins. These areas are invisible to the naked eye, but cause collagen to build while the surrounding area is untreated. This “fractional” treatment allows the skin to heal much faster than if the entire area were treated at once, using the body’s natural healing process to create new, healthy tighter tissue to replace skin imperfections.

elight rejuvenates the skin by using a radio frequency in combination with intense pulsed light to treat pigmented skin lesions, rosacea and other common skin issues previously resistant to other treatments.

Silk Peel microdermabrasion provides gentle, effective exfoliation for the skin. It reduces by fine lines and wrinkles, scars and pigmentation through the use of topical solutions, suction and mechanical abrasion leaving patients with fresher-feeling and better looking skin.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com

The Scars Left After Breast Surgery

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Breast augmentation has its risks just like any other surgeries it involves anesthesia, bleeding and infections that may cause more damage then just scarring. Also, like any other surgery, you can have complications following the surgery you might be having.

When your body tries to heal from burns, cuts or any other wounds, the tissues forms to fill in the injured place. The tissue forms itself across the incision and eventually contracts to pull the edges of the wound tightly together. The scars can become smaller with time or fade but its not always what happens.

Breast Augmentation Scars

Here are four of the places where the incision is made in breast surgery:

• In the navel
• Under the breast crease
• Around the areola
• In the armpit (axillary) area

An axillary incision (armpit)
is about one inch in length and can usually only be seen when the woman raises her arms above her head. In time, this scar will become a faded thin line.

Regarding the incision that is made around the areola, the scar will be virtually invisible. Future breastfeeding is unlikely with this incision as the mild ducts and nerves are damaged with this incision.

For the incision under the breast crease, the cut will be 2-3 inches in length and will be underneath the breast, only very slightly above where the breast meets the chest wall. Your cosmetic surgeon, with this incision, will have a very clear view of his work. In time, the scar will only be a very thin faded line and only visible upon close inspection.

Regarding the trans-umbilical incision, the incision is a little curve inside the navel. With this incision, only one incision is necessary for two implants. Your cosmetic surgeon will create a tunnel from the incision up to the implant site behind the breast tissue. The scar will be visible only upon very close inspection.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica.  See www.arrivacostarica.com

Do Tummy Tucks Work?

Monday, January 19th, 2009

Is a tummy tuck the best choice for loosing those extra pounds? its a pretty difficult to decide to go for tummy tuck. You have to consider if it works and all other things like the after care. Here, we will help you decide if a tummy tuck is what you need.

Recently, tummy tucks have become more in reach for people then it use to. A few years back, only people with a lot of money or celebs could afford it. And now, everybody is having it! Also, if they cannot afford it, they are definitely thinking about it.

Even if a tummy tuck is a wonderful thing to have, you have to be aware of the long recovery time and remember that that surgery is done with anesthesia and it is a major surgery. However, the results are great.

What can you expect?

The reasons for a tummy tuck could be that you exercised and you have some extra skin hanging around or due to pregnancy the muscles in your stomach may have become stretched and flabby.

Those conditions will leave you with a choice between liposuction and a tummy tuck. So which should you go for?

If you loose a lot of weight and you have extra skin that the tummy tuck is the right thing to do. However, if what you want is just get rid of some fat in different areas then you should think about having a liposuction.

You may want to combine the tummy tuck with the liposuction for better results because tummy tucks are no magic procedures so you will still have to take care of yourself by dieting and exercising. The tummy tuck will then just get rid of any extra skin that you may have. It is also very good for getting rid of intra-abdominal fat which builds up your internal organs. This makes the most dangerous type of fat to have.

—A tummy tuck takes quick a long time in the operating theater and then you have two weeks of complete bed rest followed by four weeks of taking things very slowly. You will probably be thrilled with the effects you see early on in your recovery but it actually takes a year to see the total benefits of a tummy tuck. The bad news is that you can expect to feel uncomfortable for up to six months.

Before considering a tummy tuck procedure, think about the following things in order to see if it is the right choice for you:

1. Can you afford it? A tummy tuck may cost in excess of eight thousand dollars. Of course, there are finance plans which you can take out with most surgeons offering this procedure.

2. Can you cope with the scar that you will have permanently across your stomach?

3. Does your partner support you in getting a tummy tuck?

4. How will you manage in the first few following your surgery, when you are quite incapacitated?

Then, if you decide to go ahead with a tummy tuck, think about these things:

1. How long will you need to spend in bed after the surgery and can you take the time off work?

2. Is there an affordable financing plan available with my surgeon?

3. What good will a tummy tuck do me?

4. How long will I take to feel well again?

5. How long will my hospital stay be?

6. When I get home after the surgery, how can I get the help I will need?

If you do a little forward planning you will be better prepared for your surgery and you will feel happier and more relaxed in approaching your surgery. This means you are giving yourself the best chance to be delighted with the results of your tummy tuck. A tummy tuck is effective, sure – but is it the right thing for you?

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica.  See www.arrivacostarica.com

Bariatric Surgery May Resolve Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease!!

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging problem related to the obesity epidemic, and is becoming one of the most common causes of liver disease in the nation. A new study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology reveals bariatric surgery results in improvement of histopathological features of NAFLD.

Complications of NAFLD, including steatosis, steatohepatitis and fibrosis, appeared to improve or completely resolve in a majority of patients after bariatric surgery-induced weight loss, according to the study.

“Even today, the effect of weight loss after bariatric surgery on the liver, particularly NAFLD, remains unclear. There is a lack of well-defined trials exploring this relationship,” said Gagan Sood, MD, of the University of Texas Medical Branch and lead author of the study.

For this meta-analysis, 15 studies were selected for final data extraction. The mean age of the participants at the time of weight-loss surgery ranged from 35.6 to 49 years. Mean BMI at the time of weight loss surgery ranged from 43.9 to 56 kg/m2 and the mean BMI at follow-up liver biopsies ranged from 28.6 to 39kg/m2. Percentage reduction in mean BMI values ranged from 19.11 to 41.76.

The pooled proportion of patients with improvement or resolution in steatosis was 91.6 percent, steatohepatitis was 81.3 percent, fibrosis was 65.5 percent and complete resolution of NASH was 69.5 percent.

Generalizability of these results may require confirmation from multicenter, large scale, well designed trials. Future studies need to be done using uniform histopathological criteria for liver biopsy specimens.

NAFLD encompasses a range of conditions involving the liver that affect people who drink little or no alcohol. The spectrum of NAFLD ranges from hepatic steatosis (fat accumulation in the liver cells) to the more severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis that can progress to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Prevalence of NAFLD is estimated to be around 70 percent in obese individuals and 85 percent to 95 percent in patients with morbid obesity. The prevalence of NASH is as high as 18.5 percent in obese individuals and 33 percent in those who are morbidly obese.

The pathophysiologic mechanisms of NAFLD have not been clearly elucidated as yet, but obesity and insulin resistance are considered to be the main causative factors.


ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com.

Don’t want a surgical face lift?

Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

Not everyone wants to go for a surgical face lift. However, you can get some of the benefits from non-surgical options, if you know the right one to choose. A face lift isn’t something everyone would choose, but there are some ways around that, to get rid of bags and wrinkles without a surgical face lift. Let’s have a look now at some of your choices.

In recent years, the technology has advanced so far that many procedures which were unthinkable then are now actually quite common. There are laser or micro-current face lifts or Thermage (R) skin tightening, which are just some types of non-surgical face lift which have become available in the last few years. They can be really effective and all are non-invasive procedures with few or no side-effects.

Thermage

People of both sexes are opting for Thermage (R). This non-invasive anti-aging procedure is very effective and what is also great is that it is within the reach of most people’s pockets too. Thermage (R) encourages the development of collagen in the skin by applying heat to certain areas. Each treatment lasts approximately an hour and has few side-effects. The side-effects you do have will probably only last a few days.

Microcurrent Face Lift

A microcurrent face lift is otherwise known as a bio-ultimate face lift. It is a very effective non-surgical face lift using slight electrical currents. It is a treatment which people usually find quite affordable. The electrical current triggers cellular changes, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, as well as reducing the adverse effects that the sun has on skin. It will also improve skin tone. The microcurrent face lift is scientifically proven to significantly reduce the signs of aging.

Laser Face Lift

The laser face lift is non-invasive, involving neither anesthesia nor incisions. The laser face lift resurfaces the skin, tightening the outer layers of skin so wrinkles and fine lines are reduced. There should not be any scarring. You may experience some discoloration immediately after the laser face lift but that should not last long. It is a highly effective anti-aging which can be quite easily affordable too.

Wrinkle Creams

Don’t be fooled into thinking that a good wrinkle cream has to cost you the earth. You can find a great wrinkle cream without breaking the bank and that is especially good news to those people who, because of thin or sensitive skin, would not be eligible for other anti-aging skin treatments.

There are also face lift creams, which contain amino acids such as alpha hydroxy acid and acetyl hexapeptide. These help to tighten up the skin and minimize wrinkles and fine lines.

You should ensure that any wrinkle cream you select carries a money-back guarantee. The first wrinkle cream you try may not work for you so you don’t want to lose out financially on it, do you? Also remember that with wrinkle creams, more expensive does not necessarily mean better. The choice of wrinkle cream is a personal thing.

Diet

OK, I’m not going to tell you again that ‘you are what you eat’. Oh wait, I just told you. Oh, well, it’s true anyway. If you eat well it will help you achieve healthy skin that will enable you to look years younger. Many anti-aging diets are now marketed, such as the raw food diet, the Okinawan diet, and the GI diet.

However, you don’t need to choose a specific diet. You can just choose to include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet. These are full of antioxidants, which help to keep you looking young. Also, you should make sure that you drink enough water which will also help to keep your skin healthier and looking younger. Antioxidants help your body to detoxify and get rid of free radicals which age you prematurely. Also, water hydrates your skin so it is plumped up, making wrinkles and fine lines look less obvious.

So, if you feel a surgical face lift is not for you, you have several other options open to you. Now you’re equipped with that knowledge of the most effective alternatives to face lifts, you can make the right decision on your own anti-aging option.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com.

Complete Your Smile With Dental Implants!

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

If something is missing from your smile, you can fill in the gaps with a safe, effective and affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure. Dental implants are for anyone with a few to several missing teeth, although a good dental implant patient must have a strong and healthy jawbone for successful implantation and dental implant stability.

How Implants Work

Dental implants consist of three parts – the titanium post is the artificial tooth root (the part that is implanted into the jaw bone), the abutment connects the titanium post to the false tooth, and the false tooth is secured into the anchor and post to allow you to eat, speak and chew normally.

First, the titanium post is implanted into the jawbone, and the post is allowed time to fuse to the bone. In 3 to 6 months, the post is exposed and an abutment is attached. Then, after the site is fully healed, the porcelain tooth is screwed into place. It may take several months for the jawbone to grow around the new implant and provide a completely stable environment.

Completing Your Smile

Today’s dental implants are more realistic in appearance than ever before. Thanks to new technology and state-of-the-art materials, dental implants can be closely matched to your natural teeth. Not only do they let you have a complete smile, they also provide much-needed support to teeth and gums.

Dental Implants and Affordability

Think you can’t afford implants? Most cosmetic dentistry practices offer affordable implant financing that lets you make low monthly payments. There’s even low or no interest plans available to help you fit treatment into your budget!

Here are a few of the advantages of dental implants:

• Improved appearance and comfort

• Improved speech, chewing and eating abilities

• Convenience of permanent restorations

• Provides necessary support for the jaw bone, gums and other teeth

• Provides balance to your overall bite

If you have serious gum or jawbone deficiencies, uncontrolled diabetes, or osteoporosis, you may not be a good candidate for dental implants. To learn more about dental implants and how they can improve your smile, see www.arrivacostarica.com.

Teeth Whitening

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009

Tooth enamel is porous and over time, teeth become stained. After years of eating pigmented foods such as blackberries or blueberries, and consuming pigmented beverages like black tea and coffee, teeth become darkened and yellowed, losing their youthful shine. This fact makes teeth whitening one of the most sought-after cosmetic dental procedures in the world.

There are two options to whiten dull and dingy teeth: go to a cosmetic dentist for professional intervention, or use a take-home professional whitening kit.

In-Office Whitening

According to the ADA, the most effective treatments for whitening teeth are performed by trained dentists using a whitening agent and special light. The active ingredient in most whitening gels is hydrogen peroxide. Your cosmetic dentist uses a stronger gel than you can buy in any store, making an in-office treatment more effective.

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The in-office procedure takes a bit over an hour. The cosmetic dentist first applies protective gel to the lips and gums. Then he applies the whitening gel to all the teeth to be treated. A special light activates and speeds the whitening agent. This sequence takes about 20 minutes and is repeated twice more. To finish off, a fluoride treatment is given. A take-home follow-up kit will usually be given, so you can do touch-ups later on.

Temporary tooth sensitivity is sometimes felt with in-office whitening procedures. If that happens, your cosmetic dentist will stop treatment and apply a desensitizing agent to the teeth. Treatment can be resumed at any time. You will be astounded at the different in your smile after an in-office tooth whitening treatment.

At home whitening

There are two options for at-home whitening: using a professional-strength kit with custom-made trays, or choosing an over-the-counter whitener. If you choose a professional kit, your cosmetic dentist will have the trays made for you and explain how to use the kit.

You can wear the two trays when it’s convenient for you. Some people wear them overnight. The whitening agent stops working after about 45 minutes, so you can wear them during the day for that length of time and then remove them. The kits come with a shade strip where you can mark your before and after colors.

Store-bought whitening kits are less effective, as (a) they have one-size-fits-all trays; and (b) they have a less-than-professional strength whitening gel. Teeth get whiter only while they are in contact with the whitening agent. So an ill-fitting pair of trays will give uneven results.

Whitening toothpastes are a poor idea, as they do not contain any bleaching agent, but an abrasive ingredient. They try to scrape the stains off, but also gradually scrape off your tooth enamel as well. This will make your teeth look more yellow, because the less enamel they have, the more the yellow dentin layer will show through.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica.  See www.arrivacostarica.com