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The notion that most women prefer to undergo breast augmentation (also known as breast enlargement) is old fashioned. And many Hollywood stars agree. Heidi Montag has just fearlessly acknowledged that bigger breasts does not always necessarily mean better. Heidi underwent two surgical procedures to enlarge her breasts first to a C-cup, then to an F-cup. Four years later, with an F-cup, she finally admitted that she “couldn’t conceptualise the weight of her F-cups in her body. They were as heavy as bowling balls” – and had a breast reduction to C-cups again recently. Even artists like Sharon Osbourne, Victoria Beckham, Heather Morris, Jenna Jameson, Tara Reid, Kimberly Stewart, Pamela Anderson, and Courtney Love have opted for breast implant removal or to at least go down a cup or two from their previous set of implants. That they have chosen this is not a surprise at all, as overly large breasts can sometimes result in both health and emotional problems. The days of overly-big breasted women are now slowly dissipating. Owning a slim body with proportionate-sized breasts is the new buzz in town.

Dr. Mohamad Nasir, one of our Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgeons, says that before surgery, patients need to develop an understanding of the right breast size to suit the proportion and shape of their bodies. To decide how this is done, he says, that “The dimensions of the breasts will be measured in terms of the width and height of the patient.” He further explains that cosmetic surgeons recommend their patients to obtain breast implants that will enhance their femininity, instead of just opting for a particularly large chest. Equally, if women choose a breast reduction, they should also consider what size would suit them. Far from being a rare case, breast reduction is actually quite common, and Dr Nasir outlines some of the many reasons why women consider undergoing the procedure:

• • Pain in the shoulders, back and neck caused from extremely large breasts
  • Uneven growth of the breasts, when one is noticeably bigger than the other
  • The weight of their breasts disrupts daily activity, even sleeping
  • The skin beneath the crease of the breasts is constantly irritated
  • Acute embarrassment about their large breasts
  • Difficulty in choosing the right bra or finding clothing that fits comfortably
  • The skin of their breasts look stretched and their areolas have enlarged due to this

If it is breast augmentation that the women are after, cosmetic surgeons firmly believe in helping women to choose reasonably-sized implants, and even have special padded t-shirts that clients can try on to view their figure before surgery, helping them make the right decision. Dr. Nasir further explains, “Making sure that women choose the right implants for them is an effort to prevent the patient from having backache, shoulder pain and bad posture from adding in implants that weigh too much for the waist to support.” Ultimately, the final decision of augmentation or reduction, and just what the right size is, lies with the patient herself – a doctor can only give their professional opinion. Just make sure that you comprehend the risks and benefits of breast reduction or augmentation surgery, while keeping a realistic expectation in mind.

Many have heard of the wonders this treatment delivers but what exactly is it? Known as ‘PRP’ in short, it stands for ‘Platelet Rich Plasma’. It’s basically what it is, concentrated of platelets in small volume of plasma. Platelets have great ability to repair, regenerate tissue of skin.

What is the treatment process like ?

Platelets generally get activated via vibration & heat. And once it is activated, it reproduces a variety of growth factors.  Prior to treatment, a sample blood sample about 10-20ml is collected and placed into a centrifuge, where the blood sample is spin at a very high speed.  An anticoagulant is added to prevent platelets activation prior to its use.

Is everyone fit for this treatment? Some indications of suitability of patients to undergo this treatment are: alopecia (hair loss), skin rejuvenation (aging skin), acne scars, wound healing (post-surgery) and sports injury (ligament/ tendon).

What other treatments can be done together with PRP?

1. Fillers: Fill specific lines and folds, when combined with PRP, it improves overall volume, fullness, and skin tone.
2. CO2 fractional laser: This ablative lasers generate thermal energy targeting skin at specific depth, sparing tissue around from damage. This prompt epidermal regeneration is made better with PRP regenerative properties.

PRP is usually done:

Advantages of PRP Rejuvenation:

• No risk of allergy
• Natural collagen
• Little to no swelling
• Enhance lasers and improve healing

Genes do a play a role in whether you get acne. If you have ever wondered why some people are not bothered with skincare and yet have flawless skin, whilst others who are careful still end up with acne, then you have genetics to blame for it. For some acne clears up by late teens, while others have acne till late adulthood.

Acne can be annoying and is often a cause for embarrassment, it is normally associated with teenagers. Below are the visible signs and symptoms to look out for. Depending on the severity, acne can cause emotional distress and scars on the skin, the earlier you get treated by a dermatologist, the lower the risk of such problems.

Symptoms of Acne

• Non-inflammatory Acne (will not cause scarring):
  • Whiteheads (closed plugged pores)
  • Blackheads (open plugged pores)
• Inflammatory Acne (which often leads to scars)
  • Red Bumps (papules)
  • Pimples (pustules), i.e. those with pus
  • Large, solid, painful lumps beneath the skin (nodules)
  • Painful, pus-filled lumps beneath the surface of the skin (cystic lesions)

What Causes Acne?

Acne usually occurs during puberty, when the body is going through hormonal changes. The problem starts with oil glands, they produce an oily substance called sebum. It typically appears on your face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders, because these areas have the most oil, hair follicles also connected to oil glands.

The follicle wall may appear bulging and produces a whitehead, or if the plug is open to the surface, then it darkens causing a blackhead. Blackheads are pores with congested bacteria and oil, which turns brown when exposed to the air.

Pimples are raised red spots with white centre, it develops when blocked hair follicles become inflamed or infected with bacteria. Blockages or inflammation that develop deep inside hair follicles produce cyst-like lumps beneath the surface of your skin.

Things to Avoid:

• Excessive Washing (it can aggravate the situation making it worst)
• Strong Facial Cleansers
• Avoid Facial Scrubbing
• Oily Sunblock
• Greasy Hair Treatments
• Stress (for adults)

Treatment

There are many ways to treat acne. The main concern would be to unclog the pores and to keep them clear. By doing so, the bacteria that grows in clogged pores can be controlled; thus, reducing acne flare-ups. Treatment should also regulate the secretion of sebum to a manageable level.

Dermatologist can treat acne with creams, oral medication, chemical peels, LED light or laser treatments depending on severity. It is important to note that laser may not always be the best option for acne, but would be good for acne scars.

Most acne treatment will cause the skin to peel. Do note that this is not due to skin allergy, if this happens, let your Dermatologist know, and they will advise you on how to minimize the effect.

Oral Medication

There are 3 groups of oral medication: oral Vitamin A, the hormonal medication, and the oral antibiotics. Your dermatologists will discuss which is best suited to you.

Chemical Peel

Chemical peels – a treatment where it peels one or more top layers of the skin, dislodging the dead cells and clogged pores; thus, allowing acne creams to penetrate better. Repeated treatments lead to regeneration of skin cells, stimulates collagen growth, clears acne and lightens or improve acne scars. Generally, you would need several treatments before you see results of cleared acne.

LED Light

LED Light treatment or phototherapy uses light emitting diodes or various wavelength and its useful for combating inflammatory acne. Red and blue light therapy can be used together to treat active acne, the blue light helps reduce bacteria, whilst the red light helps with skin healing.

Laser

Lasers can reduce the size of your oil glands making acne less active and skin less oily. It can also improve acne scars, removing the redness of the skin. Although it is an effective method to treat acne, it should not be the first line of defence, as it could be costly. Non-laser treatments can be equally effective in combating acne.

Acne Scars

As mentioned previously, there are many types of acne scars. The shallower scars can be removed through various means such as creams, chemical peels or lasers to flatten the scars; however, if they are deep then you may need subcision or scar surgery before applying laser treatments. Our dermatologist can identify the types of scars and determine which treatments would be best suited.

Acne in Adults

Some acne persists into adulthood, they fall into two categories: those who have acne in their teenage years, and those who had clear skin as teens but develop acne in their middle age.

If any first-degree relative (such as parents, siblings, or children) have acne, you have a 50% chance of getting acne. Some adults have hormonal swings which lead to acne, which is why women are more prone to getting acne, such as when they start/stop taking birth control pills that contain only progestins. They tend to be more severe in adults, causing larger bumps that are often painful and deep seated.

Acne in adults are treated in much the same way as teenage acne, with the exception that most women will need oral medication to get better control of their acne.

Now that you understand about your acne conditions and what has caused it to manifest. It’s important to speak to a dermatologist and get the right treatment. The earlier you realize the signs, the higher chance you have of preventing acne and scarring.

The name holds no secrets. A Tummy Tuck (or Abdominoplasty, for its clinical name) is exactly that: a surgical procedure which aims the removal of excess fat and loose, hanging skin, tucking it back together. It also restores weakened or separated muscles, tightening your abdominal profile for a smoother and firmer waistline contour.

Age, hormone fluctuations and pregnancy can have an adverse effect on abdominal muscles and the aspect of the skin. Weight loss, either achieved by diet and exercise will result in similar problems for your figure: an unaesthetic excess of sagging skin and/or a protruding abdomen, out of proportion with the rest of the body. This can be extremely distressing and affect one’s self confidence and esteem. Undergoing this procedure will definitely help to restore one’s figure and confidence.

Depending on the severity of each case, the patient may need a full tummy tuck, or complete abdominoplasty (the most common) or just a partial procedure. In the first instance, a horizontal-oriented incision will be made between the pubic hairline and navel. The shape and length of the incision will be determined by the degree of correction necessary. Excess skin and fat are removed and the weakened abdominal muscles are repaired and finally sutured. Most surgeons will make an effort to locate the incision precisely, so that the resulting scar will be hidden by the swimwear or underwear. However, if there is excess of fat and skin above the navel, an incision around the navel may also be necessary.

A mini or partial tummy tuck will be all that the patient needs if the amount of loose skin and excess fat are minor and located below the navel. In that case, just a short horizontal incision will suffice to obtain the desired results with less trauma and a reduced recovery period. Moreover, Liposuction can be used in conjunction with the tummy tuck to maximize results in removing the abdominal fat. Your doctor will advise you on the best procedure, technique and on the benefits of this added procedure.

Before Surgery: Be prepared to discuss your detailed medical history with your surgeon. A medical questionnaire will probably be requested and your doctor will make an extensive preoperative evaluation to estimate the amount of correction required. Consider and discuss the risks carefully. Although unusual, some potential complications can occur. Examples of which are bleeding, unfavorable scarring, infection, persisting swelling and pain or deep vein thrombosis and cardiac or pulmonary complications. Stop smoking and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, two weeks in advance surgery. Smoking interferes with the healing process and these drugs can cause increased bleeding.

During Surgery: The tummy tuck is usually done under general anesthesia.

After Surgery: You will be encouraged to get out of bed and do some light walking as soon as possible, to promote blood circulation. You probably won’t be able to stand fully upright until internal healing is complete which may take one or two weeks. During this period, avoid be seated during long periods of time. Apart from the bandage covering your incisions, you may be instructed to wear a support garment for a few weeks. Recovery time depends on the patient’s particulars and their overall health condition, just as much as the severity of the correction made, which could up to last several weeks. Normally, one can return to non-strenuous work after one to three weeks. Sexual activity should be avoided for at least two weeks. Swelling and bruising should be expected and may also last several weeks. Some localized numbness over the abdominal area may be experienced. Remember that total healing may take some months and that only after that period you will be able to fully appreciate the results of your surgery.

A final note: Beware of products claiming to produce miracle results, similar to the ones resulting from a Tummy Tuck without undergoing surgery. Don’t fall for scams. The only proven way to remove redundant skin and excess adipose tissue to obtain an overhaul improvement in the body contour is by surgery.

What should you know before getting Tattoo Removal

Ultherapy is the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive procedure that goes deeper than the skin’s surface. It stimulates your body’s own collagen and elastin and gives a natural-looking result WITHOUT SURGERY or DOWNTIME!