2008 September | Ultimate Body Makeover

Archive for September, 2008

How To Grow Gorgeous Long Nails

Long fingernails, the kind that’s manicured and trimmed to perfection rather than the raggedy talons favoured by bag ladies and street bums, show more class than a designer dress, in my honest opinion. The great news about this is that anyone can afford to look classy and well-groomed, because practically everyone has nails. Now, while most people would prefer shorter nails due to an active lifestyle (athletes come to mind), those with extra time on their hands to maintain the state of their digits might opt for longer nails. Those with high-visibility jobs like receptionists, managers, sales people, and folks in the entertainment business often consider nail care a huge part of their grooming habits. Nails make about a good first impression as a firm handshake.

Now, while manicures and spas can make your whole hand look glamorous after you’ve stepped out of the salon, bear in mind that great skin, and consequently, great nails, are often products of a good diet, proper nail care, and a healthy lifestyle. A great nail polish and hand moisturizer merely mask what is, on any given day, really dry and chapped hands and nails. Understand that our nails grow about an eighth of an inch per month, and you can go on from there. If you find your nails grow too slow, something might be wrong with your diet. Adding Vitamins C and E to your daily nutritional intake is a safe bet, but you can also opt to use a moisturizer with these vitamins mixed in. Or, consider using a Vitamin E capsule as a helpful addition to your nightly cuticle massage. You can prick the gel capsules with something sharp, and then pour the oil from it onto your cuticles and nails. But make sure your hands are clean and dry before doing so; and always do it before bedtime so the oil can be absorbed by your skin and nail tissues as you sleep.

If you find that your nails easily chip in spite of what you do, then some patience is required. You can’t have long and beautiful nails overnight if they’re brittle to begin with. It might have to take around three to six months to have the length you prefer, but if you’re the impatient sort or have an occasion that warrants longer nails, you can always go for acrylic extensions. Most nail salons now carry this kind of service, for a reasonable fee. Now, if you want all of your nails grown the natural way, make sure you clean your hands and nails on a regular basis. Take particular care not to chew at your nails, or even let saliva (the very fluid that helps masticate food, so it’s acidic!) come within spitting distance of them. You can trim your nails very carefully using the right clipper (straight-edged ones are normally preferable over curved versions). And if you’re going to use a nail file, make sure it’s of fine grit and not as coarse as sandpaper, because that’s the building block of chipped nails. File in one direction only to ensure an even length all throughout. You will find that, if you do the trimming and filing on a weekly basis, it would be easier to maintain your nails and have them grow in the shape and length you desire.

Taking A Stab At Lipodissolve

Getting flabby around the mid-section? Thinking of giving up that diet that’s just making you crabby, craving for carbs, and still with a flabby mid-section? Actually considering surgery to make your tummy concave instead of convex in those new skinny jeans? Well, take heart. Here comes lipodissolve, a supposed fat-melting technology that promises the same results as a regular liposuction, only without the surgery. A modern miracle, you say? Let’s take a closer look at what it promises first, before we go calling all the body image saints, their seraphim, and all their beard-trimmers to shower us with lipodissolve manna, shall we?

In a nutshell, lipodissolve is a syringe-induced fat-melting series of medical treatments, also known in medical and cosmetic surgery circles as mesotherapy or lipolysis. Still very much “lipo” by nature, this aims to get rid of all those love handles brought about by the love of an excessive lifestyle, or even saddlebags most attribute to the middle age spread. The ingredients usually include multivitamins, alpha lipid acid, enzymes, and a chemical called (hold your brea

Vaginaplasty For a Younger You

Simply put, a vaginal rejuvenation is the cosmetic procedure with the objective of tightening one’s female genitalia. It falls under surgery, and has enjoyed an upsurge in popularity among women who want to keep their womanly bits in their pre-pregnancy state. After childbirth, the vaginal and vulva muscles get relaxed to the point of being slack, and could lose strength, and in some unfortunate cases, even muscle control. So whether for aesthetic, pleasurable, or whatever reason clients can come up with, a lot of ladies are opting for this type of surgery nowadays.

Some doctors also refer to this procedure as Vaginoplasty. As opposed to Labiaplasty, which only aims to “prettify” the labia by reducing their size or making them asymmetrical, a Vaginoplasty or vaginal rejuvenation goes beyond the physiological. Mincing no words, the number one reason for undergoing such is really because of sexual satisfaction. Tightening and enhancing one’s vaginal sensitivity is the desired effect, especially for women who’ve given birth several times already. Sometimes, a Vaginoplasty is done in conjunction with another cosmetic surgical procedure that’s also fast becoming a trend: the Hoodectomy. This is more popularly known as “clitoral unhooding”, and is to primarily heighten sexual sensation and arousal via clitoral stimulation. So it’s safe to say that plenty of women do it for peace of mind, as well.

But is it for you?

Shopping around for a female genital cosmetic surgery clinic is easy enough, as these are just a couple of clicks on a search engine away; or else in a directory of medical specialists. But bear in mind that this is a very delicate procedure to undergo. A formal training in OB-gynecology, urology, plastic or cosmetic surgery, or a combination of some of all of these, is a must. Once you find a surgeon who specializes in vaginal rejuvenation procedure, do not be afraid to ask questions about his or her background, and maybe even for client testimonials in a discreet manner. You have every right to feel that you’re in medically capable hands. Plus, you have to remember that whatever reason you may have for choosing to undergo this kind of female genital cosmetic surgery, a combination of satisfactory medical and aesthetic results should be in evidence after all is said and done.

It’s going to cost a pretty penny, as should be mentioned from this early onset. Depending on location and the kind of doctor you’ll approach, expect to shell out anywhere between $4000 and $10000. This may include all the anaesthetic, facilities, doctor’s fees, and other post-operative fees. But really, if you are aiming for lasting results “down there”, saving up for a vaginal rejuvenating surgery might just prove to be a very good investment. All those creams, douches, and gels being advertised to tighten the vaginal muscles don’t do anything more than a few hours’ worth of giving a sensation of the vaginal walls constricting. This is merely due to a combination of chemicals, and nothing more. So if you really want a sudden change in your intimate life, consider a Vaginoplasty today.

Understanding How LASIK Works

If you wear lenses or spectacles, then your ophthalmologist has most probably informed you about LASIK. In fact, if you’re reading this article, you’re probably considering the surgery but are just not very sure. You’ve probably heard of LASIK as:
• a fast and painless surgery
• the best alternative to contact lenses and spectacles, or even,
• a one-time corrective surgery for perfect vision
While all of this is true, there is a lot more to LASIK surgery that you need to know before you decide to go through with it. And you’ve come to the right place. This website will provide you with all the information you need on LASIK and will explain to you in easy terms what LASIK does, whether you require it, and what you need to be aware of if you decide to go under the laser.

How do we see?

LASIK is a surgery that corrects refractive errors, much like your spectacles or lenses. In order to understand the surgery, you need to first understand how you see. You see an object, when light rays reflected by the object enter the cornea or the outermost layer of your eye. The cornea then bends (refracts) the light rays in order to focus them on the retina of your eye. The retina is a tissue lining the back of the eye ball. The rays form an image on the retina. A refractive error occurs when there is a flaw in the shape of the cornea and it cannot focus the rays properly on the retina creating a blurred image. Spectacles, contact lenses as well as LASIK surgery, correct this error, in different ways. In LASIK it is done by surgically reshaping the cornea.

How LASIK works

LASIK is the abbreviation of Laser-Assisted In situ Keratomileusis. Imagine viewing a cross-section of your eye, seeing the layers front to back. During LASIK, a blade device called the microkeratome or a laser device called a laser keratome is used to cut a hinged flap in the cornea. This flap is folded back revealing the middle layer of the cornea called the stroma. Parts of the stroma are then vaporized with what is known as an excimer laser in order to reshape it. (The surgeon will know beforehand how much reshaping is required) The flap is then placed back on the cornea and allowed to heal. The entire procedure takes no more than 20 minutes.

Frequently Used Terms Related to Eye Surgery

While talking to your ophthalmologist about LASIK, you are bound to get confused by certain terms he uses. Most terms you will understand while reading the explanations in the later sections. The following guide will get you familiar with others that might not appear in the explanation but you might come across when discussing LASIK with your doctor.

Ablate – in surgery, is to remove.

Acuity – clarity or sharpness of vision.

Astigmatism – a distortion of the image on the retina caused by irregularities in the cornea or lens.

Endothelium – the inner layer of cells on the inside surface of the cornea.

Epithelium – the outermost layer of cells of the cornea and the eye’s first defense against infection.

Excimer laser – an ultraviolet laser used in refractive surgery to remove corneal tissue.

Hyperopia – the inability to see near objects as clearly as distant objects, and the need for accommodation to see distant objects clearly.

In Situ – a Latin term meaning “in place” or not removed.

Keratomileusis – carving of the cornea to reshape it.

Laser – the acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A laser is an instrument that produces a powerful beam of light that can vaporize tissue.

Myopia – the inability to see distant objects as clearly as near objects.

Ophthalmologist – a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of visual disorders and eye disease.

Optician – an expert in the art and science of making and fitting glasses and may also dispense contact lenses.

Optometrist – a primary eye care provider who diagnoses, manages, and treats disorders of the visual system and eye diseases.

Pupil – a hole in the center of the iris that changes size in response to changes in lighting. It gets larger in dim lighting conditions and gets smaller in brighter lighting conditions.

PRK – the acronym for photorefractive keratectomy which is a procedure involving the removal of the surface layer of the cornea (epithelium) by gentle scraping and use of a computer-controlled excimer laser to reshape the stroma.

Radial Keratotomy – commonly referred to as RK; a surgical procedure designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness) by flattening the cornea using radial cuts.

Refractive Power – the ability of an object, such as the eye, to bend light as light passes through it.

LASIK – What are the Risks Involved?

The risks related to LASIK are not so much due to flaws in technology, as due to inefficiency in handling the technology. The risks are results or consequences when surgeons do not administer the treatment well and patients do not choose surgeons well. If the procedure is carried out as it should be, it is close to perfect, and patients will not develop any permanent damage. However, in the rare case that you’re not sure of your surgeon’s credentials, it will help to know what you stand to lose. This section deals with what might go wrong with LASIK surgery for various reasons.

Symptoms like halos, glares or double vision that hamper vision during night-time or in fog are developed with some patients. Not all patients attain perfect 20/20 vision – many still need glasses after surgery or require additional treatment. Some patients develop permanent dry eyes that cause much discomfort and blurring of images. Many complications arise due to flawed cutting of the flap. Some common complications are:

Irregular astigmatism: Develops when laser correction is not centered properly on the eye, causing one to see double images.

Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis: Occurs when foreign matter gets collected beneath the corneal flap causing inflammation that at times can lead to scarring. In rare cases there might be permanent vision loss if treatment is not sought immediately.

At times the corneal flap is cut too deeply or too much tissue is removed from the cornea. This condition is called keratectasia or keratoconus. It results in distorted images that cannot be corrected with further laser treatments. Rigid contact lenses or implants are then used to hold the cornea in place.

Dry Eyes are a very common symptom that occurs for about 6 months to a year after the surgery. Artificial tear drops and prescription dry eye medication can provide some relief in this case. The symptom very rarely becomes permanent, unless the patient has been suffering from this condition prior to the surgery. Such patients are however, eliminated as candidates for surgeries.

At times, due to carelessness on the surgeon’s part, you might be overcorrected or under corrected leading to less than optimal vision. This happens when the diagnosis is incorrect or when the specifications are not accurately programmed into the software guiding the laser.

Patients at times develop eye infections, irritation and inflammation requiring antibiotic eye drops and anti inflammatory medication. Such infections happen particularly when the blade device (microkeratome) is used to cut the flap as opposed to the laser keratome.