Rethinking Cosmetic Surgery

Here are some other thoughts that came to mind after I wrote my  post about whether or not cosmetic procedures deserve an absolute yes or no.

1. The effectiveness of creams and lotions

Most people would rather buy a skin care product instead of going to see a doctor to treat signs of aging.  There many different kinds of products on the market these days. They seem to promise a lot in terms of making our skin look younger.  In the long term of things, do they actually deliver? They will plump up creases in our skin, making lines less apparent.  But do they erase wrinkles all together? Probably not.

Another piece of logic to consider is that they can’t  address sagging skin.  Collagen is the protein that keeps our skin firm. As we age, it deteriorates. For the most part, creams and lotions will not be able to address the breakdown of collagen.

Skin products often prey on the wishful thinking of consumers.   This is due to  skillful marketing as opposed to scientific logic.   A brand may boast about a particular  vitamin or protein.  But other questions remain. Is the amount of the ingredient enough to really make a profound change? Even if the ingredient is needed by our bodies, will it matter if it is applied topically?

As opposed to products, cosmetic procedures actually work with the structure and anatomy of our skin to create real improvements.  These days, there are so many options that are minimally invasive (e.g. dermal injections) with little to no downtime. With these advances, it is now possible to achieve the youthful appearance that we could only yearn for with products alone.

Now I am not saying that all skin care products are crap.  Many of them are useful for prevention and maintenance.  But once the fine and deep lines start to appear, cosmetic procedures offer a more effective course of action.

2. Our self image

Aging is a natural process.  Therefore, should we just be forced to accept the signs of aging and learn to be secure with this? Well, its really up to the individual. But let’s be honest with ourselves. Just about everyone likes and appreciates physical attractiveness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with admitting this.  Studies in psychology show that we are wired to have this inclination. Because this tendency is innate, the image of ourselves that we see in the mirror do affect us at a conscious and subconscious level.  When we look our best, we feel great and our self esteem is high.

This is not to say that cosmetic surgery is the answer to having high self esteem. Think of the person who is obsessed with physical perfection and goes overboard with cosmetic procedures. This, of course is not healthy.

The way we feel about our appearance needs to be balanced with the way we feel about other parts of our lives.

As I mentioned before, cosmetic procedures are now undergoing a new age.  There are many options that are minimally invasive and give very natural looking results.

Fraxel on Extra TV

Fraxel laser is probably the hottest procedure in skin care at the moment. It is used for fine lines, deep lines and even acne scarring. Of all the various treatments that are available, it has the highest level of patient satisfaction.

The trend in cosmetic procedures is moving towards minimally invasive treatments, as opposed to “going under the knife.”

Dr. Persky is a lifechanging expert on Extra. Here he is performing fraxel repair on anchor lady, Marta Waller

Of course in considering any type of cosmetic procedure, it is quite helpful to learn about it by asking questions. Here are some frequently asked questions that Dr. Persky answers.  For the full list, click here.
1. What is Fraxel?
2. How is it different from other lasers?
3. How does it work?
4. How many treatments are required?
5. How long is downtime?

Loving IKEA

Getting IKEA catelogs  in the mail is always fun.  The clean and simple look brings calm and serene possibilities to our living spaces. Real life has a lot of clutter. But the possibility of sheer stylish minimalism is always a nice thought.

I believe there is something for everyone at IKEA.  I’m not a complete IKEA nut. My apartment is very eccelectic, and not some type of showcase for the brand. What  I do have a penchant for are their storage solutions and their accessories (e.g. coffee tables, kitchen tools etc.).

Today I found an actual social network of people who love IKEA. I can’t really think of other interior design brands with their very own online fan club of enthusiasts. Pottery Barn and Z-Gallery don’t have social networks. And neither does Shabby Chic.

I suppose it must be fun to blog, post pictures and make friends with other people who have renovation and decorating projects. This network is something I will definitely be checking out.

Common Mistakes in ABA Therapy For Autistic Children

The principles behind ABA Therapy are so simple that many of us tend to underestimate its importance.   ABA  is an acronym that stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis. This is the framework through which behavior can be examined and modified. There are three components that make up this framework.

1. Antecedent of the behavior. This refers to the trigger in the environment that causes the behavior to occur.

2. The Behavior.  Example: screaming, answering a question etc. The behavior occurs after the antecedent.

3. The Consequence.  The consquence can be pleasant, as in postive reinforcement.  Punishment is when the consequence is unpleasant or aversive. A third type of consequence is when nothing happens at all. This is called negative reinforcement

Easy enough? The simplicity of the ABA framework is a big reason why it is not implemented correctly.  Many people make the mistake of thinking that they’ve already mastered ABA because they can explain the three basic parts.

The skillful application of these principles is a whole other challenge to be dealt with. Each autistic child is vastly different from his/her peers.  Their caretakers who implement ABA programs must have a solid understanding of how to utilize ABA for the child’s unique needs at any given moment. There are additional questions to consider

• what rewards should be used?
• how often should the rewards be given
• when should the rewards be used?

All the adults in the child’s environment must also act consistently and follow standard protocols that everyone is aligned with.

If you are still not experiencing the results you want, here are four likely reasons.

For more excellent tips on successful results with ABA, check out

http://www.lovaas.com

The New Age of Cosmetic Surgery

The field of cosmetic surgery seems to be undergoing a renaissance with all the new, less invasive procedures that are being developed.

Medical advances are now making it possible to stay looking young even as years go by.

Laser resurfacing of the skin addresses lines, damage from the sun and acne scars. Fraxel Repair is a laser treatment that uses carbon dioxide.  This is one of the most popular anti aging cosmetic procedures in the market.  It currently has the highest patient  satisfaction rating of all the various new treatments that are available.

Dermal fillers have been available for many years. They were first used in the 1970′s. Collagen injections gained mainstream popularity in the 1980′s. There were 2 types being used: Bovine collagen, which comes from cows and Bioengineered collagen.  Bruising, herpes and bacterial infections are some of the negative effects associated with bovine collagen. The downside to bioengineered collagen is that it is very expensive to produce.

New types of dermal fillers are now available to effectively fill deep and fine lines. The information behind these links are pretty interesting and worth the click.

Fascian

Fat Transfers

Radiesse

Juvederm

Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast Collagen

Restylane

Sculptra

Collagen Restoration

Collagen is the protein that keeps our skin firm.  Signs of aging occur when this deteriorates.  There are now procedures that stimulate the formation of new collagen.

Cool Touch Laser

Intense Pulse Light

Tuliplift

I consider the Tuliplift to be like a hidden gem among all the cosmetic procedures now available.  Traditional face lifts often produce a “pulled” or a “windblown” look. With the tuliplift, the skin along the side of the face is pulled in 3 different directions to avoid such results.

The procedure was developed by Dr. David Rahimi in Los Angeles.  If you look at the picture on the bottom of this page, you will see the petal shapes that are marked on the patient’s face. Each petal dictates a different direction in which the skin will be pulled.

Helping Neglected Animals In This Economy

Ouch! This is what the recession feels like for many people.  These times don’t make it very easy for many of us to help causes that we’d like to support.

It breaks our hearts to think about animals who need food, shelter and loving homes.  There are many of us who want to do something to help. But with money being an issue, what can we do?

Make Cool Stuff to Sell

One of the members on Dogasaur, Carla Fish, is an artist who makes and sells these truly adorable stuffed animals made of socks

Who would ever guess this beautiful piece  is made out of sock material? Seven dollars out of every sale goes towards an animal shelter. Even though we are in a recession, people are still buying and selling goods. So if you can create something that others will pay for, this money can go towards animals who need help. Carla Fish is truly an inspiration.

You can read more about how to save an animal by adopting a sock here.

Host An Event

Last month, I saw these mini pinchers that were available for adoption outside a Los Angeles dog boutique. It turns out that these dogs were rescued from a horrific puppy mill in Riverside.  Not all the puppies survived. The ones I happened to see were the lucky ones. The vet bills for these dogs were over $17,000!!!

The folks did this  rescue helped to organize an 80′s Prom Party at the House of Blues on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. Proceeds from this event went towards the hefty vet bills for these dogs.

I wrote a blog for Dogasaur with more information about the Riverside puppies and the people who gave so much to help them.  Read it here.

Tipjoy

A few days ago, I heard about this site called Tipjoy.com

It is now possible to earn tips through Twitter. You can create your own fundraising project through this. I’m not sure how effective this is overall, but it’s something worth considering.

Pet Postcard Project

This is where you make a home made card from the photo of your dog or cat. Mail it to the Pet Postcard Project, see the link below. Rachel Ray’s pet food company, Nutrish, will donate one pound of dog food for homeless animals.

Read more here

I really love Rachel Ray for supporting this project. Here is the blog I wrote on Dogasaur.

Cosmetic Surgery- A Yes or a No?

A lot of us have seen pictures of regular people and celebs who have made plastic surgery mistakes.  For example I found this image on

http://www.awfulplasticsurgery.com

Pictures like these convince us  that surgery is a definite and resounding NO.

But think about this.  Yes, there are many people who come out looking awful after cosmetic surgery. This is obvious. What is not so obvious are people who look super terrific. It is unclear whether or not they had something done- right?

Take J-Lo for example. She is 40 years old. Today Yahoo featured this picture in their OMG 2 Hot 2 Handle section.  And  they said she is fit to be carved in marble.

I don’t know for sure if J-Lo had anything done.  All I’m trying to say is that ambiguity is a good thing when it comes to cosmetic procedures that are done well.

If there are ways to stay looking this good when you hit 40, then maybe cosmetic procedures are not such a bad thing after all. The trick though is to find the physician who is right for you.