Is Cosmetic Surgery Right For You?

For many of us, we go through most of our lives paying minimal attention to our skin. Sure, we moisturize and hopefully use our SPF30 on a regular basis but pamperingour skin on a daily basis is not practical for most people.

Then one day we wake up and notice that the face we've paid little attention to over the years has just started looking a little worn. We might begin to see a few morenoticeable lines or we might look a little tired with bags under our eyes. Our eyelids may look a bit droopier and our cheeks might sag a little more than they use to.

Ten to twenty years ago there weren't many options to droopy, saggy, wrinkled skin but today we have lots of them and cosmetic surgery is looming to the top of the list as one of the most popular remedies around.

Did you know that according to the American Societyof Plastic Surgeons, men accounted for 1.2 millioncosmetic procedures in 2004? It's a known fact thatmen don't want to look any older than women do.

According to the American Society of PlasticSurgeons (ASPS) the top 5 cosmetic procedures were:

For women:

1 Liposuction

2 Breast Augmentation

3 Eyelid Surgery

4 Facelift

5 Chemical Peel

For Men:

1 Nose Reshaping

2 Eyelid Surgery

3 Liposuction

4 Hair Transplantation

5 Breast Reduction

The new five-year trending data shows cosmetic procedures are up 24 percent from 2000.

Also in the running are the non-surgical procedures which have increased as much as 7% in 2004. They include such procedures as:

- Botox

- Laser hair removal

- Chemical peels

- microdermabrasions

So is cosmetic surgery right for you?

Well, I can't speak for everyone but there are a few things to consider and some questions you should ask yourself before going under the knife..

First and foremost, cosmetic surgery is 'surgery' and it hurts - ouch! As with any surgery, there is a healingperiod and there is swelling and puffiness immediately afterwards. Don't expect to look beautiful right out of surgery. It's going to take some time and patience.

Understand that a nose job or a face lift won't necessarily make you beautiful and it probably won't change how the world feels about you. In fact, patients have been known to feel a sense of disappointment after their procedures and for this reason it's important to understand how significant the changes will be, they may only be very subtle.

If you're considering plastic surgery ask yourself these things first:

Why do I want cosmetic surgery? Who am I doing this for?

If it's because your friend says you have a big nose or if you think looking more beautiful for your husband he will pay more attention to you then,you're a poor candidate. Hoping to impress your friends or hoping your husband will be more attentive are poor reasons.

A new face, nose or body won't change how others feel about you and if it does, it will only be temporary.

Can I afford This?

Most cosmetic surgery is not covered by health insurance unless it is health related. If you have to scrape money together to do this you're better off looking into non-surgical or less invasive treatments.

What if the results are not what I expected?Again, there's a chance that expectations won't be met. Be sure you are ready financially and emotionally to undergo more treatment if you're results are underwhelming.

As with any high cost, risky procedure, think it through.Don't act on a whim. Discuss the procedure with relatives and friends. Get some outside opinions.

If you're still interested in pursuing cosmetic surgery be sure you are in good health. A good candidate doesn't smoke, is emotionally stable and does not experience any major health disorders such as heart disease, diabetes or blood pressure issues.

Breast Implant Size - Not Too Big, Not Too Small

The most important part of any surgery, cosmetic or otherwise, is researching of the surgeon who will do the surgery. When considering breast augmentation, you want a cosmetic plastic surgeon who specializes in breast augmentation. He should be certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons as well as trained by Allergan or Mentor, who are the manufacturers of today's implants.

When you are considering getting breast augmentation it's hard to know what size is "right" for you. Breast implants are not sized the same way bra's are and for good reason. We have all seen how a 36C by one manufacturer is a 34B by another. The makers of breast implants size are based on cc's (cubic centimeters), which is how much saline or silicone in contained within the implant.

That doesn't mean you can't use the bra size when talking to your plastic surgeon, it just means you shouldn't be surprised if the doctor refers to the cc size. Before you meet with your surgeon for the first time, you may want to look for pictures of women who are of the same general size and shape of your body with breasts of the size you think you would like. A visual image is helpful in imagining what size is right for you.

Perhaps you have friends who have already had breast augmentation done and you like the look... ask them of how many ccs their implants are and if they are saline or silicone. You might also ask them who they used for a plastic surgeon and what the surgeon's qualifications were.

When trying to decide about the right size there are a couple of different things to try to "see how they feel". The first idea is called the rice experiment. What you do is, buy an inexpensive bra(s) of the size you think you want, then by filling a pouch with the rice (measurements below) you can place the pouch in the bra and then feel how larger breasts are. Rice is the most popular filling for this test because it adds additional weight as the breast implants do. Oatmeal and potato flakes are other fillings used but are lighter in weight and possibly won't give the same feel.

* 1 cup = 236 cc

* ½ cup = 118 cc

* ¼ cup = 59 cc

Breast implants run from 125cc to the largest legal size of 1200 cc. With the measurements above you can mix and match to get that "right" one for yourself. You can place the filling in an old knee high stocking which would make it more comfortable to wear during your tests.

By taking notes on how much filling you are using with the bra's, you would know what you like. You might want to wear these test breasts around the house and under your regular clothes, just to see how they feel.

Remember when considering your new breast size, that your skin will need to be stretched over the implant. This is one of the factors your surgeon will take into consideration when making his recommendations during your consultation. On the other hand, most breast revisions are for larger implants so you don't want to go too small.

If you don't want to try the rice experiment, there are professional sizing kits available to purchase of around $50. They have bra with special pockets to insert their implants in to give you an idea of sizing. The other DIY option is the one women have used for generations that involves using socks to fill the bra. This isn't a very exact approach although you could bring in the number of socks you used and give them to the doctor.

There is no absolute right way to make the decision on what size is right or wrong for you. All of these suggestions are temporary in nature and just like Goldilocks; you can try all of them to help you find just the right size.

Getting the right breast implant sizes is a challenge for you as well as the surgeon. The correct implants give you a good figure and raise your self-esteem. Visit http://www.envisionimplants.com to get information on breast implant sizing to make this important decision. Technorati Profile

Plastic Surgery Gone Bad - The Facelift From Hell

Having plastic surgery in the form of a facelift is pretty common, and the surgeons have gotten quite good at it. However, there are horror stories about face lifts that have gone bad.

The most common bad face lift is when the skin is stretched too tight. If you live near a retirement community, you may notice a lot of the older women walking around with "that alert look" or a "look of constant amazement" on their face. Sometimes it seems that the surgeon pulled the skin so tight, that they cannot close their eyes. Many times the skin will stretch out with time and face returns to normal looking, but sometimes, it never does.

The next most common bad facelift is when the face ends up with scars. Most plastic surgeons are very good at small sutures, that leave little if any scaring, but occasionally, the scars never go away. There are a lot of different reasons for this, infection, reaction to the stitches, skin type, the list goes on. Sometimes, the surgeon just blows it, and the patient ends up scarred. Sometimes a second operation will be necessary to keep the patient from looking like something from a horror movie.

The best way to prevent these bad face lift surgery experiences from happening to you is be sure that your surgeon is well qualified. He may be more expensive that the guy operating out of his garage, but he is less likely to leave you scarred for life.

If you have a lot of sagging skin or numerous wrinkles, you may want to minimize the amount of stretching that your surgeon does. You may end up with some of your wrinkles left behind, but it is a better looking alternative than having "that alert look" and not being able to sleep at night because your eyes will not close anymore.

Having a facelift is a great way to look younger. You go to sleep and you wake up ten years younger, what is not to like about that?

A face lift is a great way to look younger almost overnight. Before you have face lift surgery, you should learn what the pitfalls are. You can learn more at http://www.my-new-face.com

Cosmetic Surgery Treatment For Massive Weight Loss Effects

After working hard at diet and exercise, you have lost a massive amount of weight only to find you have excess skin that just won't go away. The good news is that there are cosmetic surgery procedures that can remove that skin and tighten up what remains leaving you with a more toned appearance.

Both sexes can be benefited from a number of facial procedures that are available for addressing specific problem areas. A face lift (rhytidectomy) generally deals with the lower portion of your face. Because of weight loss or age, your eyelids may now have drooping skin. The procedure is called blepharoplasty and is done on both men and women making them look younger and refreshed.

Your surgeon may also suggest a brow lift which lifts the position of the eye brows and removes the horizontal lines that may make a person appear angry. With all facial procedures, the incisions are made as small as possible and are designed to be hidden in your hairline or where there are natural folds of your skin.

Your neck may also be showing signs of your weight loss, giving you the "turkey neck" appearance. While a neck lift (cervicoplasty) can't reverse the aging process it can make both men and women appear more youthful. When a neck lift is done, the procedure is similar to the lifts described above with the skin being lifted, tissue and muscle being tightened and excess skin being removed.

The breast/chest area can also be a problem for both men and women. Some men may have had heavy "man boobs" and now have sagging skin left there as evidence of the weight loss. A woman on the other hand might have sagging breast tissue and skin.

A breast lift (mastopexy) on a woman will involve moving the nipple higher and rebuilding the breast tissue that remains. If a woman doesn't have enough breast tissue or perhaps would like to enlarge her breasts she may opt to have breast augmentation done also.

In male breast lift, incision is made at the fold under the breast area; any excess tissue and fat are removed via liposuction with the incisions being closed with fine sutures.

Considering the arm area, the most likely place with excess skin is the underside of the arm. Arm lift,(brachioplasty) can be done by making an incision near your arm pit, liposuction follows to remove fat from the under arms and then the excess skin is pulled towards and the incision is closed.

You might find that you have excess skin and tissue drooping around your abdominal area (both above and below the belly button) along with sagging skin in the buttocks area. During your consultation with your surgeon, various procedures may be discussed such as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). Great care is given to hide incisions in natural folds of the body. The length of this horizontal incision depends on the amount of excess skin to be removed.

As with most procedures, the muscles are tightened through the incision and liposuction maybe used to remove fat and contour to your abdomen. Depending on how much skin and tissue you have remaining, your surgeon may suggest a body lift which is a combination of tummy tuck and butt lift.

Thigh lifts (thighplasty) are done to change the appearance of specific portions of your thighs. Liposuction may be used to define your thighs and remove any excess skin.

With any of these or other cosmetic surgery procedures, you should make sure your surgeon is certified by The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). When you meet your surgeon for the first consult you want to ask what their experience level is, with the specific procedure you are considering. Better to find out before you go through surgery than afterwards.

Prices for each procedure vary by geographic area and some surgeons have "packages" for multiple procedures. Financing is available for plastic surgery through several financing companies although you should explore all your financial options.

Bakersfield plastic surgery can treat the excess skin in your body even after massive weight loss; and give you the desired look. You opt for breast lift, arm lift, tummy tuck etc. as per your requirement. For procedural and financing information, visit http://www.lussiermd.com/.

Cosmetic Surgery Before and After Photos - Look at Them Critically

One key step to finding a good plastic surgeon is looking at before and after pictures. These photos show you the surgeon's former patients and the results of their plastic surgery.

These photos are important for two reasons. For one, they give you an idea of what you can expect from your plastic surgery. They show you exactly what can be done, and they help you decide what is best for you.

They also show you the plastic surgeon's work. These pictures offer a portfolio and help you decide whether the plastic surgeon is right for you. Here are some things to think about when you are looking at a surgeon's before and after pictures.

How Many Pictures Are There?

First off, how many before and after pictures does the plastic surgeon have? This is an important question. A good plastic surgeon should have binders full of photos, and even more to show you on request. They should have pictures of every operation you are thinking about having. Some doctors even have power point presentations ready for their potential patients!

The before and after photos of surgeries are like a resume for the plastic surgeons. They can use them to show you their stuff. If the plastic surgeon has a few sheets of paper with some badly taken photos to show you, you can move on to the next consultation immediately.

Is The Work Done Well?

When you look at the before and after pictures, you are trying to determine how good they have done the job. A big part of looking critically at plastic surgeon photos is simply judging for yourself if they have done a good job or not.

Look at the before picture and consider the patient's plastic surgery objective. Was it accomplished in the second picture? Do they look better? Would you have been satisfied with the plastic surgeon's work?

This is also a great time to talk with the plastic surgeon and ask questions. Ask plenty of questions about specific patients shown in the photographs. The doctor will be able to give you more details and clarify when necessary.

How Do The Pictures Compare?

Before you go to the plastic surgeon's office, you should look at some other before and after photographs to get an idea of what's good and what's not. The best way to do this is to look online. Type "plastic surgery before and after pictures" into any major search engine and you will turn up more results than you will ever have time to look at. Almost every plastic surgery website has before and after photos.

Looking at other before and after photographs will give you an idea of what to expect, and a better sense of what the results should look like.

How Long Is There Between Before And After?

This is something lots of potential patients don't think about, and it is very important. Always check how much time has elapsed between before and after.

Most plastic surgery operations can be completed in a day or a couple of days. If you see pictures where months have gone by between "before" and "after", this is a tip off. This means that the patient had to go back multiple times.

A good plastic surgeon should have lots of photographs to show you, and you should be able to get a good idea of their work by looking at them. Be sure to ask plenty of questions and shop around before you choose a plastic surgeon.

Plastic surgeon in Burlington county New Jersey is proficient enough to give you the desired look. You can view the before and after pictures of patients before choosing the surgeon. For procedural information and before and after pictures, visit http://www.premierplasticsurgeryarts.com/.

MidLife Women - How Humiliating is That?

Have you seen the tv commercial that focuses on a woman stuck in bumper-to-bumper highway traffic with her partner and kids? She squirms and looks very uncomfortable, embarrassed and maybe even in pain. Suddenly a porta-potty floats gently down from the sky! The woman relaxes and smiles, and a picture comes on the screen showing a popular disposable pad/diaper product.

I find this commercial disgusting and demeaning. It's just a grab for a new market using any angle possible. And it's downright silly too - having a toilet come down from the sky!

It's true that many women suffer from some urinary incontinence or urgency. Sometimes it begins after pregnancy and birth, sometimes with the hormone changes in perimenopause. Some women just 'leak' when they laugh from a young age. But I hardly think a disposable pad for incontinence (billed as the traveller's porta-potty) will make everything tickety-boo!

Yes, these products are helpful in some circumstances, but why, why, why, don't we hear about products that can tone, build and strengthen the bladder? This is a preventive approach and the products that don't heal the symptoms wouldn't be necessary (or not for many years anyway)? Can't our allopathic medical docs get on board with the idea of 'complementary medicine', like in Britain. When allopathic medicine combines with natural (i.e. herbs, homeopathics, mega-vitamins, trace minerals, etc.) we get the best of both worlds. If it's good enough for the Queen of England, why isn't it good enough for us?

Through her 'Odyssey of Change' coaching program, Ellen Besso offers Midlife Women the opportunity to navigate the midlife maze and find joy & fullness in their lives. Personal action plans include strengthening the body-mind connection; releasing beliefs that limit growth; & specific actions to move you forward into your ideal life. Ellen is uniquely qualified to be your guide because she has personally journeyed through perimenopause and into an inspired life as a menopausal crone! Her professional credentials include certification as a Martha Beck Coach and an M.A. in Counselling from City University.

MidLife Women in Hollywood - Reflections on Women's Roles

The other day I heard from a woman who was fired from her management track job for having a close friendship (not yet an affair) with a male colleague. From what I can tell the man was not fired.

Which got me on my soapbox again...My partner was surprised that that kind of dismissal would happen in this day and age. I told him that women are often treated badly and unequally in business out there in the corporate world, (as opposed to our little self-employed, protected non-corporate world of friends here).

Then I began reading the Women in Hollywood blog. First the writer mentioned how some great women's shows are being axed for next year (Men in Trees, one of my favs). On another WIH blog, Kristen Davis, one of the stars of Sex in the City addressed the eternal question of whether the four women get along or hate each other. Kristen's very smart point was that these questions were sexist and that people didn't repeatedly question the Sopranos stars in that way. Opening of Sex in the City in London

Still on WIH blog, Jennifer Fox, writer, producer and subject of Flying, a six-part series on Sundance takes the position that women without children aren't perceived as real women in our society. She says: "We define women as being married mothers actually". I think she has a valid point. Our culture often perceives child-free women as somehow different...lacking...selfish..oh, I don't know...But not complete.

And then of course there's the invisibility angle - the idea that women over a certain age (~45) just aren't noticed - it's like they're not even there. That's why two Australian women, who go by the names Loris and Lucy, began their eclectic blog for midlife women.

It pains me that this is happening in this day and age. We only have to look at Hilary Clinton and the ongoing "damned if she does, damned if she doesn't" criticisms of her and her campaign to see that we're a far cry from equality as yet.

Through her 'Odyssey of Change' coaching program, Ellen Besso offers Midlife Women the opportunity to navigate the midlife maze and find joy & fullness in their lives. Personal action plans include strengthening the body-mind connection; releasing beliefs that limit growth; & specific actions to move you forward into your ideal life. Ellen is uniquely qualified to be your guide because she has personally journeyed through perimenopause and into an inspired life as a menopausal crone! Her professional credentials include certification as a Martha Beck Coach and an M.A. in Counselling from City University.

Ladies, Are Your Neck and Shoulders Sore by the End of the Day?

As a voice specialist, I have found that 95% of my female clientele experience soreness in their neck and shoulder regions by the end of the day. Some women complain of a sore jaw as well.

Having worked with thousands of people, it is interesting to note that I have had only a handful of male clientele who complain of pain in these areas.

Why the difference?

Because we women carry our stress differently than men; and, we tend to become more aware of it by the end of the day. While I haven't done a controlled study on the subject, I have found that the stress men carry (if they carry any stress at all) is more likely to affect them in their digestive tract: it is a medical fact that men are more susceptible to peptic ulcers than women.

I would also venture to say that the mothers of the Baby Boomer generation did not experience the tremendous amount of stress that we women of that 'infamous' generation (as well as younger women) do today.

Again, why the difference?

Because our lifestyles have changed drastically since that of our parents or our grandparents; and, we are now faced with not only the stress that comes from raising children and managing a household but the tremendous pressure placed on us by our careers or jobs.

To say that our stress has doubled would be a mistake. Ladies, our stress is ten times greater than earlier generations because of our lifestyle. Raising children is much harder today than it was in the past because we physically spend less time with our children but place more attention on them when we are together.

Look at it this way: for the stay-at-home mom who oversees her kids' whereabouts throughout the day, there is not the same pressure on her to 'give attention to her children' as there is for the mom who picks up her children from daycare and then has to provide dinner, do the laundry, run some errands, take the kids to soccer or baseball practice, give them a bath, read to them, etc. The list goes on and on. And that list is considered the 'small' stuff. We women are built to sweat the small stuff because we are geared for multi-tasking; however, add to our multi-tasking, the problems of the job or the career and we are on overload. It really is too much. And, while statisticians may be concerned about where they're going to put all of us retiring Baby Boomers, I question if our stress won't kill us before it's time for relocation to the retirement center.

Generally speaking, men are not good at multi-tasking: they are built to tackle the problems encountered in their jobs or their careers, that which is considered the 'big stuff'. [I know I am being politically incorrect here but the truth is the truth. If women and men were the same, I would have men with sore necks and shoulders and a lot more women with ulcers!]

So how do we combat this tension? There are so many courses, books, and CDs on alleviating, reducing, eliminating and dealing with stress and yet most of these programs do not emphasize the most important thing you can do. Better negotiation or organization of your time is certainly an option but it will not stop the ache in your shoulders or neck until you do one very simple thing: learn to breathe with the support of your diaphragm and I guarantee you will notice a tremendous difference in how you deal with stress, in how you can eliminate more of your stress, and how you can actually feel good by the end of the day.

In Parts II and III, I will discuss the proper means of diaphragmatic breathing and show you how a simple change in your breathing pattern can have a profound impact on your life, both professionally and personally.

Nancy Daniels is a voice specialist and president of Voice Dynamic. Working privately and corporately, she launched Voicing It! in April of 2006, the first video training course on voice improvement. You can watch clips from her DVD on her website and 'before' & 'after' takes of her clients as well as download an audio presentation in which Nancy describes what voice training can do for you at http://www.voicedynamic.com

Women's Safety Tips - What's in Your Wallet?

Fellow women, ask yourself, "What is in my wallet?" knowing that several crimes can take place from just one stolen wallet. Of course you probably have a drivers license and credit card(s), cash, etc. But do you actually know what you would lose if your wallet was stolen this minute?

Wallet Safety Tips:

1. Photocopy the front and back of every card in your wallet.
2. Keep the copy in a very safe, yet accessible place.
3. Optional: Hand deliver a copy to a close, trusted friend or family member who you would call in an emergency.

Hour One Is Critical

The first hour is crucial when your personal information has been lost or stolen. The emergency numbers on the backs of your credit cards, etc. are important for you to access quickly.

Attackers are known for first filling up their gas tanks and then going on wild shopping sprees after stealing credit cards. This is common in the first hour and that is why you need those numbers handy.

The reason for the option of giving a copy to a trusted someone is that if you were to become missing, all of those account numbers can be tracked that much easier. Remember to hand deliver this info as email and text messages are not secure.

Identity Theft Prevention

It is always preferable to have a good identity theft prevention company on your side. There is plenty of information in your wallet to enable this crime to take hold of your good name and the life you have built. Many identity theft victims' identity is never restored completely. Just imagine that someone has purchased a house or vehicle with your name and credit and you are the one left to prove that you are the real you!

I tell the story of my own identity being stolen in my TeleSeminar series. Fortunately, my situation was much less serious than many but scary all the same!

Women are the promoters of safety in the workplace and family so please share this safety tip about copying the cards in your wallet with others. It will help all of us to be safer and less likely victim targets of thieves.

Bonus Safety Tip: Small purses are less likely targets for purse snatchers. And now I would like to offer you free access to printed and audio versions of the "Seven Deadly Personal Safety Mistakes" plus a free TeleSeminar replay about identity theft when you subscribe to my free weekly Safety Quick Tip via email; a 52 week newsletter on Personal Safety. You can get your instant access at http://www.PersonalSafetyTrainer.com

Women's Safety Tips - 3 Common Mistakes Women Make About Personal Safety

Women are often targeted by attackers because we make a few common mistakes about personal safety that present us as easy crime victim prospects.

1. We tend to be accommodating, to a fault
2. We ignore our gut feelings
3. Automatic trust is common with women

A few things to remember as we get into more detail about the common mistakes we make that put us in danger.

1. Attackers are insecure, have low self-esteem, feel out of control of their own lives and choose to control someone or something else in order to feel powerful again.
2. Attackers look for those who appear weaker than they are (mentally, physically) to attack.
3. Attacks may be verbal, mental, emotional or physical.

Too Accommodating

Women tend to be accommodating because we want people to like us and we enjoy being helpful. Although these traits are not bad they may allow us to be taken advantage of and pushed too far. This is where an attacker, known or unknown to you sees weakness and opportunity.

Solution: Establish and enforce personal boundaries. Know what distance you are willing to go and go no further. This will keep you from giving your power away to someone else.

Ignoring Gut Feelings

As women, we are generally much more in tune with our intuition or gut feelings than men are. However, we also tend to overlook, ignore and justify actions that are not in line with our gut feelings in order to be liked and to be nice.

Solution: Realize gut feelings are survival instincts you were born with. They will always lead you the right way. Follow them.

Automatic Trust

Because women have been raised to be nice and do good things for others, we often trust untrustworthy people automatically. We can all think back to a time we trusted someone and should not have.

Solution: Trust you gut feeling (intuition) without questioning or trying to justify it. It doesn't have to be logical to be right. You will "feel" if someone is trustworthy or not. A good personal boundary to establish and enforce is, "If it feels wrong, avoid it."

Although women may be targeted by attackers, these safety tips will help all of us avoid the personal safety mistakes that portray us as good victim prospects.

Bonus Safety Tip: Women are stronger and more capable of protecting themselves than most will ever believe. And now I would like to offer you free access to printed and audio versions of the "Seven Deadly Personal Safety Mistakes" when you subscribe to my free weekly Safety Quick Tip via email. You can get your instant access at http://www.PersonalSafetyTrainer.com