'Defining Beauty'

For those looking to improve their breast shape and/or size, breast augmentation is an option to explore. But through exploration, many women come across the same questions and concerns, leaving them to wonder what they should and shouldn’t believe. That’s why we reached out to  find out what the most common myths are regarding breast implants:

1) Saline is safer than silicone.
False. “Saline implants were largely used because silicone implants were thought to cause medical problems. That was never proven to be true,” says Beverly Hills, CA, plastic surgeon John Anastasatos, MD. “In scientific studies and in real life, silicone implants perform equal to or better than saline implants, which are filled with salt water. They produce more of a natural feeling,” adds Dallas plastic surgeon William P. Adams, Jr., MD. However “saline implants require less surveillance and don’t necessitate MRIs,” he continues.

2) Under the muscle is more natural looking than over the muscle.
False. “The practice of placing breast implants under the pectoralis major muscle depends on individual breast anatomy and the type of breast implants selected. Some patients get better, more natural-looking results with the breast implants under the pectoralis major muscle, while others over the muscle,” says Dr. Anastasatos. It really depends on your unique anatomy.

3) You cannot breast feed after you have had a breast augmentation.
False. When a breast augmentation is done via an incision through the inframammary fold, armpit or belly button, there is not usually a problem with breast-feeding.

4) Natural breast augmentation with fat is better than breast implants.
False. Taking a person’s own fat with liposuction and adding it to the breasts may create future problems because some of the fat transferred will perish within a year, says Dr. Anastasatos. “It’s a new technology, and there is no regulatory approval in the U.S., so the technique is not yet standardized,” says Nashville, TN, plastic surgeon Pat Maxwell, MD. So at this point, “the procedure is very controversial, and there is concern about the long-term safety and efficacy,” says La Jolla, CA, plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD.

5) You need breast implants for a breast lift.
False. Breast implants are not a treatment for breast sagginess. Only a breast lift (mastopexy) corrects sagginess.

Having a breast augmentation, usually requires a few operations in a lifetime. With the Brazilian furry PU coated silicone implants, the capsular contraction rate is far less.

A few years ago, a certain filler was touted as the non-surgical boob job/jab…

Macrolane, an injectable filler used for “lunchtime boob jobs”, is to be withdrawn for such purposes this week. A survey by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) found that 25% of its members noticed patient complications from the filler. Experts warn it could affect breast cancer screenings but manufacturer Q-Med said there was a lack of consensus. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said Macrolane could effect mammogram readings and make diagnosis more difficult.
Source: bbc.co.uk/news/health-17794288

Despite public knowledge of the dangers associated with indoor tanning, about 10 percent of Americans still use tanning beds each year. More and more evidence continues to surface pertaining to the risks associated with tanning beds. The latest was presented at the 10th AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held October 22 to 25.

The study confirmed the association between tanning bed use and an increased risk for three common (and sometime deadly) skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

For the study, the researchers followed 73,494 nurses who participated in the Nurses’ Heath Study II from 1989 to 2009. They tracked tanning bed use during high school and college years as well as when the women were between 25 and 35 years old. Researchers also tracked the overall average bed use during that time in relation to basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Researchers found tanning bed exposure led to higher skin cancer risks. The risks for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma increased by 15 percent for every four visits made to a tanning booth per year, compared with those who did not use tanning beds. Moreover, the risk for melanoma increased by 11 percent.

“These results have a public health impact on skin cancer prevention for all three types of skin cancer. [They] can be used to warn the public against future use of tanning beds and to promote restrictions on the indoor tanning industry by policymakers,” says lead researcher Mingfeng Zhang, M.D., research fellow in the department of dermatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. Follow-up studies are already being planned.

Get Lovely Lower Legs

With so much emphasis on our tummies needing tightening and our rear ends needing lifting, sometimes we forget about the area below the knee. But our calves are just as important as those other body parts, as they carry the weight of our day, take us to new heights and come in handy when flirtatious situations present themselves. Here are some tips to tone yours up for your next stroll in stilettos.

Create smaller calves. Consider speaking with us about using anti wrinkle injections off-label to minimize large, bulky-looking calves. Botox paralyzes the muscle, causing it to atrophy to some degree. You may need multiple treatments, but the result will be less-bulky legs.

Slim down cankles. When fatty deposits live in the lower part of the leg, there is less distinction between the calf and ankle and the ankle looks sort of swollen with the engorged fat cells, creating the dreaded “cankle” look. They can also be caused by edema, pregnancy or kidney problems; so get checked out for those before proceeding. If your doctor confirms that fat is the problem, one option is liposuction, which can help create a more defined lower leg. The recovery is lengthy, and swelling may last a while following liposuction in this area.

Banish veins. Although it’s been around for quite some time, sclerotherapy is the gold standard for eliminating spider and small varicose veins. During the procedure, the physician will inject a solution that causes the veins to collapse over time. Because these are surface-level veins, your body won’t miss them.

Remember it’s all about balance and harmony.

Lipo or body sculpting is the only way to shape certain areas….

No one wants unwanted bulges, and those that appear where you want a smooth contour – like the love handles or bra bulges on your back—can be tormenting. You may want liposuction to take away the fat, but what remains could result in loose skin. Liposelection by Vaser is a liposuction technology especially useful for the love handles, back and anywhere where you want not only fat gone, but smooth skin left in its place. It works quite simply: The tip of a tiny wand (called a cannula) emits ultrasonic waves when inserted into the skin. This liquefies the fat for easier suctioning, and it heats the internal tissues for contraction. Kiss those love handles good buy and grab on to something else!

Tough areas to lose also- inner thigh, saddle bags, chin, arms….

The best technology, and techniques available at FRESHface clinic.

Keep looking great! Have you seen our promotions?

http://www.freshfaceclinic.com.au/specials.html

I can’t wear a bikini, because I hate my belly button”
“My navel sticks out too much”
“I have skin hanging above my belly button”

Do you have an innie or an outie? Would you prefer one over the other? According to some recent reports, more people are seeking cosmetic surgery to turn their outie into an innie. While it’s not the most common plastic surgery procedure, umbilicoplasty, or the reshaping of the belly button, is definitely gaining some popularity. Traditionally, it has gone hand in hand with a tummy tuck.

Innie belly buttons are much more common and some people may feel self-conscious about their protruding navel. A study conducted in 2000 revealed that most women consider the most attractive navels to be small and t-shaped.

While most umblicoplasty procedures are to alter an outie bellybutton, it is possible to eliminate protruding skin, correct an odd shape or re-size a large belly button. Your plastic surgeon can give you all the options.

Dr Young can assess yours, and most of these can be adjusted under local anaesthetic, bear in mind you may have a small hernia, that too will be fixed!

This points below are a summary from a recent Dermatology Journal.

1. Every civilization has had an unwavering reverence for the sun

2. Before the industrial revolution a tan was a sign of lower class field workers and “porcelain paleness was the epitome of high society” and after that workers went into factories and those with leisure became tanned.

3. Fashion Icon Coco Chanel  sparked the tanning craze in the western world  proclaiming “a 1929 girl must be tanned….A golden tan is the index of chic”

4. Bikini’s were introduced in 1946 and the “California Beach Culture” of the 1960’s further exposed the skin and increased sun exposure.

5. A 1907 study in France noted the grape pickers developed increased numbers of cancers on sun exposed areas.

6. Over the past 40 years, the association between sun exposure, prematurely aged skin, and cutaneous malignancy has become indisputable.

7. However the desire to tan is higher than ever before.

8. In a survey of 8,000 Americans 94%  were concerned that exposure to UV light could lead to skin cancer, yet 68% felt they looked better with a tan.

9. The first ad for a sun lamp appeared in Vogue in 1923 and there are up to 50,000 indoor tanning facilities in the USA.

10. There is little sound evidence for any medical benefit from recreational tanning.

11. We are currently experiencing a skin cancer epidemic and exposure to UVR remains the single most modifiable risk factor for the prevention of skin cancers.

12. Sunlight is 95% UVA and 5% UVB.  UVB is a complete carcinogen and are largerly responsible for sunburn, tanning and carcinogenesis.

13. Tanning is a response to DNA damage.

14. Cancer Stats

a. The WHO estimated in the year 2000 up to 70,000 deaths worldwide were attributable to excessive UV exposure.

b. In the USA skin cancer represents for more that 50% of all malignancies

c. Mortality from melanoma in the USA occurs at the rate of approximately one life per hour or more that 8,000 deaths annually.

d. Although melanoma only represents 3% of total skin cancers, they are responsible for over of 80% of skin cancer deaths.

e. Skin cancer incidence is rising faster than any other cancer and the lifetime risk of an American to develop melanoma has increased 2,000% in the last 75 years.

f. Melanoma is currently the second most common cancer (after thyroid) form women in their 20’s.

g. Residents of New Zealand and Australia have the highest melanoma rates in the world due to largely fair skin and live close to the equator.

h. Caucasians have 23 times higher incidence of melanoma than blacks.

15. Red heads, fair skinned people and light eye color are at more risk, as is excessive sun exposure before the age of 18, and sunburn at any age have been repeatedly shown to increase one’s lifetime risk for development of melanoma.

16. “A single severe in childhood may double the risk of melanoma” (ref 77 in article).

17. The tanning industry generates $5 billion annually, up from 1 billion in 1992.  1 million people tan daily and 70% are Caucasian females form 16-49.  30% of teens between 13 and 19 are tanning with girls 2-3X over boys.

18. Indoor Tanners are

a. More likely to tan outdoors

b. Less likely to use sun protection

c. Less knowledgeable about skin cancer risks

d. More influenced by social factors

e. More concerned about weight

f. More likely to smoke

g. More likely to binge drink

h. More likely to use recreational drugs

i. More likely to have parents who tan

19. 20 minutes in a tanning bed is equal to 2-3 hours in the noon day sun.

20. Evidence shows several positive associations between indoor tanning and melanoma, particular with exposure before age 35.

21. Patients that use indoor tanning think they are protected and hence spend more time in outdoor sun, which is bad.

22. Studies show that up to 88% of tanning salons allowed minors to tan without parental permission and 75% provided reassurance of the safety of tanning.

23. Sun is not necessary for Vit. D which is in many foods, 5 minutes at noon in the June Boston sun is adequate for maximal cutaneous production.  2 glasses of milk or orange juice cover it, as does incidental exposure of face and back of hands.

24. Tanning can produce endorphins and contribute to “tanner’s high”

25. The link between natural and artificial sun and skin cancer is becoming much like cigarettes and lung disease or alcohol abuse and liver damage.

So save your life, and your skin, protect it!

Over time, the texture of our skin naturally changes. Hydration, collagen and elastin are all important factors for smooth, soft, young-looking skin. When hormones, pollution and lifestyle come into play, they can diminish these key factors, causing dramatic changes in how your skin feels. We’ve listened to some of your most common complaints about your skin’s texture and consulted the experts to bring you the answers on how to treat it.

Does your skin feel thin and look translucent? Collagen loss tends to cause the skin to become thin. And it’s especially prevalent in fairer skin tones. How do you treat it?

We have IPL, PDT, LED , skin care, peels, needling and of course Hydrating fillers, so says Dr Young.

Does your skin feel dry and dehydrated? Dry, dehydrated skin is a common change that comes along with aging, since moisture levels drop and water is lost. Diminished blood circulation, harsh ingredients, moisture stripping products, and less-active oil and sweat glands can all lead to dryness. Try treating it by restoring moisture with deep hydrating creams and masks. Also, hyaluronic acid fillers (which bind moisture to the skin) may minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles and reintroduce moisture to the skin.

Does your skin feel rough and weathered? Rough, weathered, leathery-looking skin is the price we pay for spending years in the sun. It damages the skin by causing inflammation, in turn making it look and feel thick. Weathered skin is usually laden with deep wrinkles, too. Protect your skin from the sun with an SPF every day. Prevent further damage to weathered skin with antioxidative and reparative topical products, and fractional resurfacing or pulsed light treatments (to stimulate collagen production).

Does your skin feel like sandpaper? Skin that feels like sandpaper often has a dull and muddy complexion. Dull skin is caused by a buildup of dead skin that stays on the surface for long periods of time. It’s important to rev up the skin’s natural shedding process to remove dead skin and expose fresh skin.

A prescription topical retinoid, glycolic peels, laser treatments and microdermabrasion can increase cell turnover.

Pop in to speak to one of our Skin Care consultants, to get some free advice this winter!

Mac Credit sources fast and affordable patient finance for all Cosmetic, Medical and Dental procedures

Finding the funds or applying for finance can be daunting. It doesn’t have to be. At MacCredit we are happy to take care of those arrangements for you and make sure the payments are affordable.

MacCredit is ideal for procedures not covered by insurance or where there is a “gap” between insurance cover and the cost of the treatment.

Flexibility for any budget

MacCredit can source an extensive range of payment plan options, including:

• Minimum $1500 to maximum of $60,000
• Payment plan terms up to 84 months
• No deposit required
• No upfront fees
• In most cases a conditional approval can be obtained on the same day

So we make your life even easier.

Tretchikoff: The people’s painter. Iziko South African National Gallery, 26 May – 25 September 2011 A retrospective exhibition of the artist, Vladimir Tretchikoff, will open to the public at the Iziko South African National Gallery on 26 May. While Tretchikoff is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s most controversial artists, much maligned in the 1960s and onwards by several members of the established arts community, there can be no doubt that he has become a cultural icon and remains a favourite artist to many South Africans.

Sales of his work have recently reached record levels at auction and there is a considerable revival of interest in his iconic paintings amongst designers, younger artists and critics. Despite this, there has been almost no serious assessment of Tretchikoff’s art and his legacy. This exhibition aims to examine Tretchikoff anew and place him in contemporary perspective.

In his heyday, Tretchikoff’s exhibitions drew record audiences at home and abroad. He pioneered the idea of selling affordable copies of his works, enabling working class people to own art which they proudly displayed above their mantelpieces. Works such as Chinese Girl( the above painting), The Dying Swan and Fighting Zebras have become a vital part of popular culture.

‘In many ways, Tretchikoff is a major figure in the history of South African and world art and ignoring him won’t make him go away. It’s about time that we gave him a critical look and reassessed his rightful place in our art history,’ noted Andrew Lamprecht, exhibition curator and fine arts lecturer.

‘We want to finally acknowledge Tretchikoff as a prominent artist in the country’s history and to acknowledge the millions who loved his work,’ said Riason Naidoo, Director of Art Collections at Iziko Museums.

Tretchikoff will always be connected to Dr Young, since his mother was the muse for Lady from Orient.