If you are among the people who dislike going for jabs, Botox jabs in particular, you will no doubt be looking for alternative products that will make you look young again. Or at least get rid of those horrible wrinkles. Luckily for you, there are no lack of alternatives in the market today.

Here are some Botox alternatives you can consider :-

1. Even before Botox became such a craze, topical creams and chemical peels are already being used by people wanting to look more beautiful. These may provide effective results but it may take some time to show. While a Botox jab gives you immediate gratification (for about 6 months), topical creams don’t. You must keep using them every night (in some cases, even at daytime) for long periods of time before you can see visible improvements.

Topical applications can help to relax the wrinkles and improve the face although temporarily. These creams hydrate the skin because of the vitamin-enrichment and other nutrients they contain. There are lots of such anti-wrinkle and anti-aging creams on the market today but one of the most effective is Revitol anti-aging cream. You can use this cream for treating ugly wrinkles without the dangers of a Botox jab.

2. Another Botox alternative is a face-lift surgery. Although effective, a face-lift surgery can be more expensive and riskier than a Botox treatment. Facelift can successfully removes fine lines and wrinkles. But it is considerably more expensive than a Botox injection.

3. Skin surface peels are another Botox alternative. Chemicals are used in such a treatment. Dermabrasion, trichloracetic acid, laser peels, and strong phenol peels, can “peel” the outer dermis of your skin, thus giving you a “new skin”. Although effective, skin surface peels are also very expensive when compared to Botox. Beside this, healing may take a long time and scarring or having an uneven skin colors may happen.

Unless you are living in a cave, you must have read of or heard of the word Botox. Film stars swear by it, rich aging housewives can’t do without it. But exactly is Botox? What can it do for you? Read on…

Botox is a protein complex generated from the bacterium clostridium botulinum. You will be shocked to know this substance is actually a poison - it is from the same source of the poison found in contaminated foods. Botox injection was originally used to treat nervous twitches of the eyelid muscles. But somehow, someone found that if a small dosage is used or injected into the facial muscles, it helps reduce signs of aging.

Although Botox has been the top rising star in the cosmetic anti aging industry, it has not offered an instant solution to all men and women. Some people don’t like the “restrictive” nature of a Botox jab - it actually “freezes” your face so that laugh lines (wrinkles) won’t show up. Some people like it for the so-called anti-aging effect, others disdain it and prefer other alternatives that are safer. After, Botox is a poison and frequent injections of a poison into your skin cannot be a good thing. (By the way, a Botox jab does not last forever, you need to go for injections every few months).

Because of the obvious disadvantages of Botox jabs, there is a growing demand for Botox alternatives. With big demand comes big suppies. You can now find a proliferation of Botox alternatives in the market - from over the counter products to ones recommended or provided by the dermatologists or doctors.

Depending on what you prefer, you can choose from a variety of such products. More details in the next post…

As you already know, dieting is a complex routine that needs strict discipline. Thuus more and more overweight people are seeking help from surgeons!

Yes, surgery to remove excess body fats is getting more popular among the overweight. This type of surgery, known as abdominoplasty, is effective although there are always risks of surgical failure.

Abdominoplasty (commonly known as a tummy tuck) is so popular because it gives great results with very few incidences of complications. This is probably due to the careful procedures that each patient must undergo before going under the knife.

If you intend to go for abdominoplasty, take note that you need to go for a series of examinations that will determine if you are fit enough for the surgery. This is to reduce the risks of complications during sugery. If your health is not so good, you may be asked to trim off some weight before the actual surgery. This may seem like a contradicting thing but it is safety first.

During the operation, fats are surgically removed from under your skin in the tummy area. The effect on your weight will be almost instant but there could be some scars around your tummy area. Abdominoplasty is effect in reducing your weight and fats because it works directly on the source of the problem.

After the tummy tuck procedure, you will have to follow a number of guidelines that will help narrow down the possibilities of complications and unwanted side effects. For instance, you may not be allowed to leave the hospital confines right after the procedure. This post-operation confinement is so that the surgical team can supervise your condition. But if the surgeon deem you to be healthy and fit for discharge, he may allow you to leave the hospital within hours after the surgery.

Aside from the above, surgeons may prescribe the use of compression garments that will effectively cut down the healing period of the wound. You will also be told what are the things you he must and mustn’t do within the duration of healing. Normally, you will be advised not to stretch the abdominal muscle excessively as this may hurt your recovery.

If you are overweight especially around the tummy, you must have tried dieting at some point in your life. Needless to say, it has not worked very well for you. You are not alone. Scores of overweight people fighting obesity are also having problems losing weight through dieting alone.

Yes, dieting may seem to work for a week or two. You may lose a few kilograms and are probably over-joyed but then the trouble begins. You start to get complacent, you give in to your cravings and start bingeing. A little bit of that juicy hamburger won’t hurt. But one thing leads to another and very soon you are back to square one.

Dieting takes a lot of self discipline and self control. It requires a large dose of self sacrifice. Most people can’t stick to a strict diet because of work pressures, hunger pangs, etc. So it is not surprising that dieting is not the miracle answer that most overweight are seeking to lose those unwanted fats.

But surely there are easire, more effective ways to lose weight? Yes, there are. Among the most effective method is surgery. But because weight loss surgery is both expensive and risky, it should always be your last resort. If all else fail, if you really cannot get rid of that bulge, no matter what.

What type weight surgery should you go for? What can you expect of it? Find out more in the next post…

You must have read lots of magazines, be it on fashion, business, sports, medicine, etc. Notice those surveys? Well, don’t believe them all, especially when it comes to choosing a plastic surgeon.

Here’s why magazines surverys are not to be trusted when choosing a surgeon :-

1. Surgeons are busy people, very busy. Think about it. How do they find time to ever participate in these surveys? Even if some do, they are in the minority. So these surveys normally don’t have a large enough sample size to be effective.

2. Surgeons are people. Surgeons are businessmen. They can get their friends and ask them for support in these surveys.

There are better ways to qualify a surgeon. Some were discussed in my previous posts. Here are more significant factors to consider in finding the best plastic surgeons:

1. Your surgeon must have earned a degree from an accredited medical university or institution.

2. You should find out how many plastic or cosmetic surgeries he or she has performed successfully in the past.

3. Your surgeon must be well recognized among their friends, patients and medical institutions. Ask around.

4. He or she must be well trained on plastic surgery procedures. Look out for other qualifications, commendations, citations, testimonials etc to support his/her expertise.

In summary, always keep in mind that plastic surgery is a major event in your life. There are risks - health and monetary. You need to think carefully before commiting yourself to one. And do know that surgery can be very time consuming too. Your recovery time can take months if not longer.

As I said in an earlier post, your plastic surgeon can make or break your dream of looking better. He/she can be your best friend or worst enemy. Like they say, you can’t choose your parents, but you can choose your plastic surgeon!

Ok, so what must you look out for when choosing your surgeon? You can find the best plastic surgeons in states like New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois and California (the five most popular locations). But you still need to qualify them.

Here are 5 points you should look for in a plastic surgeon:

1. Make very sure that the surgeon is a board passer or an MD. It is crucial that he or she is a board-certified plastic surgeon as you don’t want an uncertified “surgeon” to work on you, right?

2. Don’t take his/her word for it. Check if he/she is really a plastic surgeon, that’s logical but often overlooked step. A plastic surgeon should have a license to perform a surgery. Look out for that license which are often displayed in their offices.

3. Try to avoid salons and spas when you shop for plastic surgeons - unless you know for sure that they are legitimate, lincensed and up to it.

4. Search engines like Google can give you reliable information if you know how to do it right. Type the surgeon’s name, click on the search or find button and it will display your search query in a matter of seconds. Do look for a surgeon that is a pioneer on surgical operations. Better still, look out for written publications that the surgeon may have written. You may also check that the surgeon has also taught many students as most good ones do that.

5. The last check - find out how many years he/she has been in practice. The longer the better but do also take into consideration the surgeon’s age. If he/she is too old, you can expect more mistakes - and mishaps.

If you are thinking of going for plastic surgery to correct or beautify a certain part of your anatomy, then you should think carefully when choosing your plastic surgeon. He/she is the person who will make or break your dream, so choose wisely!

Firstly, note that surgeons are also sales people as well. Although certainly not in the same class as hard-hitting used care salesmen, surgeons also need to make a living. What does that mean? It means they have their self interest to consider besides helping you. It means they will try to make as much money out of you as possible - of course withing legal and moral boundaries.

So ever believe everything a plastic surgeon may tell you. Use some discretion and think about the issue first, especialy when it comes to costs. One way not to be taken in is to learn as much as you can about the operation that you are going to undergo.

Knowledge is king. The more you know about the surgery (and the surgeon), the more you are likely to have a favorable and successful operation. As an example: a certain company claims that they have excellent plastic surgeons. What do you do? Take their word for it? No, do a search and check everything about the company because by doing this, you will know that the company hires only the best plastic surgeons available.

In the era of the internet, knowledge is at your fingertips (or mouse click?). But the internet also contain “false or manipulated knowledge” so beware. There are several websites that contains listings of plastic surgeons that you can search on. However, in some cases, doctors pay for them to be listed on their database. So do your due diligence first.

Plastic surgery can be a life-saver for some people. For others, it is a “face-saver”. What are the major areas of plastic surgery? This posts take a look at some issues…

There are two major areas of plastic surgery and these are :-

1. Reconstructive surgery
– this procedure aims to mask the destructive trauma effects, surgery or disease effects of a mishap. Reconstructive plastic surgery includes microsurgery and flaps with closing defects which is caused by moving tissue from the other body parts

2. Aesthetic surgery (commonly referred to as cosmetic surgery)
- this procedure is done to improve the features that the patient does not like. Some cases also involves issues like breast reduction caused by orthopedic problems.

Surgeons try to keep fees affordable because cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance companies. Note that the fees differ depending on the kind and extent of the operation you want. In your consultation with your doctors, be sure to get a written note which will state clearly the surgical fee, operating room costs, anesthesia charges in some cases and post operation care. Normally, you will have to pay the fees in full at the pre-operation visit, usually a week before the surgery.

You also have to bear in mind that there are inherent risks in any surgical procedure. Aesthetic procedures on healthy people are generally fairly safe and although complications do occur, they are relatively rare.

Many reconstructive operations are covered by medical insurance but you still need to keep in touch in changes in insurance agencies and industries because these may affect your claims later on.

Lastly, note that the onus is on you to foot the surgery bills although you may be covered. The claim for the fees will be solely your responsibility.

Here is the million dollar question befitting a million dollar industry : “Does plastic surgery have anything to do with plastic?” The answer may be a surprise to you : NO.

It is understandable that many people tend to associate plastic surgery with plastics - after all the word plastic is in it, right? If not, why called it plastic surgery in the first place? Well, the word was derived from the Greek word
“Plastikos” which means to shape or to mold. Yes, it is somewhat misleading but the term “plastic surgery” does not have anything to do with modern plastics.

Now a bit of history is in order….

For whatever reasons, the term “plastic surgery” was chosen by the specialty founders when they invented a unique surgical discipline to correct deformities caused by birth defects such as trauma or cancer. And plastic surgery is also the commonly used term for operative techniques and manuals done for aesthetic purposes.

Through time , plastic surgery slowly evolve to cover other entities, craniofacial procedure and cosmetic surgical operations. Cosmetic surgery is the surgeon’s main activity these days although they still engage in other areas of plastic surgery like skin cancer treatment.

Still other areas include the reconstruction of breasts and treatment and repair of congenital deformities. Behind every successful surgeon is a nurse. She/he plays a critical role in any surgical missions, for example, in repairing children’s deformities.

Now, to succeed with plastic surgery, you need to have a very good relationship with your doctor. You need to trust each, cooperate and work like a team. Your doctor must gain your trust in him and you must have the confidence that he is competent, qualified and thoroughly trained.

As for the consultation fee, you need to know that it is based on the the time assessed for the initial visit plus other surgical fees. Normally, there is no fees for the subsequent visits or for pre-operation appointments. Nowadys, plastic surgeons do accept personal checks and credit cards.