Archive for the ‘Cosmetic Surgery’ Category

Cosmetic Laser Treatments

06.02.10

Tattoo Removal

Tattoo removal is one of the many advances made by laser technology, and a blessing for many people. Tattoos can be removed manually, but this can be unpredictable and unsafe. Removing tattoos by laser is much safer with only minor risks. The laser breaks down the ink which is then absorbed into your body. The effect is the same as if the tattoo faded due to time or sun exposure.

The laser has to be able to break down most colours, but yellow, green and fluorescent colours are more difficult to break down. Dark colours such as blues and blacks are the easiest to remove. Flesh colours have been known to turn black under the laser, but these can then be removed eight weeks later.

Side effects can include burns, blisters, scabbing, redness and swelling, as well as changes in your skin pigmentation. However, these side effects are rare.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a great alternative to waxing. Whilst more expensive, it is also permanent after two or three visits, so it could save you money in the long run. It works by targeting the dark pigment in the hairs and breaking them down.

Laser hair removal is most effective on people with dark hair and light skin, since on people with dark skin there is more likelihood that the skin will change colour and the laser cannot target blonde hairs.

You can have laser hair removal on almost any part of your body. It is safe to have it done on your bikini line despite some women’s fears of infertility, because the laser only affects skin level. There are also no links to laser hair removal and cancer. The only possible side effects are the same as those associated to tattoo removal.

Choosing your implant

05.11.10

Saline is the older of the two choices for breast implants and has its pros and cons as the choice for breast enlargement surgery. Saline, salt water, used to always feel hard or unnatural and look like a balloon but now with new surgical techniques such as placing the implant behind the chest muscle they look more natural and soft than they used to. These are the most frequently used implant in the United States. They come in a variety of shells that are filled with saline at the time of surgery. You can choose a size, shape, profile, texture, smoothness and volume that is right for you.

There are no pre-filled shells approved by the FDA at this time but there are sure to be some in the future. For a while these were the only type of implant available on the market because of confusion with the safety of the silicone gel implant. The size of saline implants ranges from 120cc to 960cc and the only approved manufacturers at this time are Allergan and Mentor Corp. Every implant comes with a valve that fits into the female receptor part. Most of the time the valve is located in the front of the breast implant. The saline implant requires a smaller incision that the silicone gel implant but there is a higher chance for a rippling effect to occur on the breast which is not as natural looking.

The two types of saline implant you will have to choose from are the fixed volume implant, in which the entire volume of saline is put in at the time of surgery, and the expandable volume implant, which allows for post operative adjustment. If you decide to choose the popular saline implant for your breast augmentation be sure to research and talk with your plastic surgeon about the pros and cons and which implant is right for your body type.