 |
 |
 |
 |
Procedures - Other
 |
Other |
Hair Transplant
Everyone loses some hair every day, just by virtue of being alive. The evidence is in your comb, your hairbrush, and the bottom of your shower. Every hair on your body is genetically programmed to grow, rest, and then drop out.
Most people lose around two hundred hairs per day. You’ll notice the most hair loss after a long sleep, while brushing or combing your hair. Hair loss becomes excessive if you notice areas of your scalp balding, large chunks of hair that pull out easily with a light tug, or large amounts of hair left in your brush or comb after one brushing or combing. People with longer hair may notice more hair loss than others. This can be deceiving because each hair is two to three times as long as people with shorter hair, and the longer hair is much more noticeable. However, a sudden increase of hair loss can be an indication of other problems.
Most people who lose their hair have one thought in mind: how to get it back! Millions of people over the centuries have tried everything from live toads and incantations to greasy ointments whose purveyors promise a lush crop of hair overnight. But the truth is there are only two ways to restore hair loss: surgery and prescription medications. A skin lesion is an area of the skin that is different from the skin surrounding it. There are many types of skin lesions, including:
The purpose of this recording is to describe each of these types of skin lesions, so that you can decide which one, if any, applies to you. You can then consult your AudioHealth Library Directory for other recordings on these different skin lesions.
A cut, scrape or tear in the skin is an area that has been forcibly pulled apart or opened up usually by injury and may be bleeding. This type of skin lesion can range from a mild abrasion or small cut that responds well to home care to a more serious cut or tear that requires stitches.
A rash consists of groups of reddish blemishes that may be flat or raised and that may be surrounded by larger areas of skin that are red and swollen. Rashes may be itchy, crusty and leak fluid, depending on the type and cause. They may be caused by infectious diseases, insect bites, or allergies.
Local skin infections include boils, abscesses or cysts. Boils are infected, pus-filled swellings in the skin and may be located in or near hair follicles. They are most often found on the back of the neck, and in other moist areas of the body like the armpits and groin. Sometimes several boils form close together in a cluster called carbuncles. Abscesses are collections of pus anywhere in the body. A cyst is a closed sac containing either fluid or solid material.
A mole is an area of the skin that is colored differently usually a dark brown. Its color comes from the same cells that give color to the skin, hair and eyes. Moles may be located anywhere on the body even on the scalp under the hair. They may vary in size and may be flat, raised or hairy. Moles are important to watch as they can become cancerous in rare cases.
A skin tag is often confused with a mole. It may be flesh-colored or darker and look like a little flap of skin. Skin tags usually grow on the neck, underarm or groin areas, and under the breasts of women. They are harmless in that they never become skin cancer. However, if they become irritating, they may be removed by a doctor by either freezing with liquid nitrogen or cutting with a scalpel or scissors.
A wart is a small growth that is rough and raised, but is the same color as the skin surrounding it. Warts are caused by a virus and may be contagious and multiply to form more warts.
Pimples are the term given to skin lesions made up of small pustules that comprise a condition common to teenagers called acne. Teenagers with acne usually develop pimples that form a hard tip called a head. The head is usually black, white or yellowish. Pimples can also be embedded deep under the skin and make the skin appear swollen. These pimples usually develop on the face, center of the chest, upper back, shoulders and around the neck, and can be painful.
A blister is a build-up of fluid under the surface layer of the skin that may be caused by friction or rubbing, pinching or heat. Common sites of blisters are the hands and the feet. Sometimes blisters accompany certain types of rashes. If the friction, rubbing, or some other type of pressure continues to be applied, the skin may become thickened over time, and eventually develop skin lesions called calluses or corns.
A scaly, red, dry patch of skin may be a sign of several skin conditions, including: psoriasis, skin cancer, eczema or cellulitis. This type of skin lesion may appear on the face, hands, legs, or scalp. It might have seemed like a great idea when you got that tattoo a few years back - but now you'd like to get rid of it. If this sounds all too familiar, don't despair, it might be possible to have the tattoo removed. The reason we say that it "might" be possible to have it removed, is based on the fact that there are many different things that need to be evaluated to determine what your choices are and what the end result will be.
Tattoo removal should begin with a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is trained to do the procedure. It is important that the doctor you select to remove your tattoo has experience in using the different kinds of lasers used in the removal process.
During your consultation, the doctor will examine your tattoo and ask about where it was done and who did it. Pigment colors will be determined, along with the detail of the design - the more colors and detail in your tattoo, probably means that it will take more treatment sessions to remove it. Tattoos that were done by professionals usually include more detail and a variety of pigment colors, so they usually require more treatment sessions to remove. The doctor will also consider the size and location of the tattoo along with the individual qualities, such as color and texture, of your skin.
The best way to determine if tattoo removal is best for you is to meet with a doctor who is trained in the use of lasers and does tattoo removal on a regular basis. Make a list of questions and take it along with you for your first consultation. Make sure that you get satisfactory answers to all of your questions. If anything is unclear, ask the doctor to explain it again. It is extremely important that you understand the procedure and what to expect both during and following the treatment. Don't be afraid to talk with the doctor about your concerns and expectations. Together you can decide if tattoo removal is the right choice for you. Remember, if you don't feel comfortable with the first doctor you talk with, make an appointment to see another doctor who does tattoo removal. Your relationship with the doctor is as important as the treatment - so be sure that you feel confident in the doctor you choose to remove your tattoo.
Millions of men and women are bothered by spider veins—those small, unsightly clusters of red, blue, or purple veins that usually appear on the thighs, calves and ankles and occasionally on the face. An estimated fifty percent of the adult female population and fifteen to twenty percent of men share this cosmetic problem.
Spider veins are small, thin capillaries that lie close to the surface of the skin. They are connected to a larger venous system, though they are not an essential part of it since they do not actually carry blood to the heart.
Many factors can contribute to the development of spider veins, including:
Spider veins form when excess blood backs up in the blood stream. The excess blood creates pressure. The body releases the pressure by creating new veins on the skin’s surface.
The primary problem with spider veins is their unsightly appearance, but they can also cause aching, swelling, burning and night cramps in legs.
Spider veins and varicose veins are often lumped together, but they are actually very different conditions. Varicose veins are caused by faulty valves in the venous system, creating twisted and swollen veins. Varicose veins are larger, darker and tend to bulge with a rope-like texture on the skin’s surface. Varicose veins are also more likely to cause pain and be related to more serious vein disorders. In contrast, spider veins are smaller and closer to the skin’s surface in a branch-like or linear formation. Treatment of varicose veins is generally considered outside the realm of cosmetic surgery and patients are often referred to a vascular surgeon.
The techniques most used to treat spider veins are sclerotherapy and/or laser surgery. Spider veins on the face can be treated with lasers. Leg spider veins are treated with sclerotherapy. Both are relatively simple procedures with high success rates.
If you are considering having surgery for your spider veins, consult a cosmetic surgeon. Both sclerotherapy and laser therapy can completely remove the spider veins, although laser therapy is effective on smaller areas or less extensive cases of spidering. Studies have shown that 80 to 90 percent of patients treated for spider veins are happy with the results. Sclerotherapy and laser therapy cannot, however, prevent new spider veins from forming. If new spider veins appear, you may need to repeat the procedure.
Eyeliner
Micropigmentation is a relatively new procedure in which organic pigment is embedded beneath the skin to add permanent color to enhance features of the body. The procedure involves the use of a hand-held device that punctures the skin hundreds of times per minute with a very thin needle and pushes the pigment into the desired location. Physicians usually perform the procedure on an outpatient basis and may use local anesthesia with sedation.
Micropigmentation is used for cosmetic purposes: to define the eyes, brows and lips with permanent liner and to permanently create the look of blush and eyeshadow. The procedure also has reconstructive uses. For example, micropigmentation can help restore natural-looking color to nipples following breast reconstruction surgery. It is also sometimes used as an adjunct or alternative to lasers for the restoration of natural pigmentation, and to diminish birthmarks, previous tattoos, or scars.
Position statement: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has not adopted a formal position on the use of micropigmentation. The Society believes, however, that micropigmentation is generally safe, provided an appropriately trained physician is involved in the process to execute necessary precautions and sterilization techniques, and to administer local anesthesia if needed.
Lips
If you swoon at the full, pouty lips of actors like Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts, and lament your own rather thin ones, you might consider having the lips you were born with surgically enhanced. Or, if it's not actors' lips you crave, but the ones you had in your youth, you might look into having your lips returned to the size and shape they once were.
Lip augmentation is an increasingly popular, relatively simple surgical procedure for teenagers, men and women of all ages who want to add a bit of oomph to their lips.
Lip augmentation - also called lip enhancement or lip enlargement - is usually an outpatient surgical procedure to fill in, puff up and generally enhance your own lips. More than 30,000 people have opted to slightly change the appearance of their lips with at least one of the nearly 10 techniques plastic surgeons use for lip augmentation, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Your doctor can extract some of your own body fat from one area on your body - usually the groin - and inject it into your lips. Or, your physician can use a synthetic material, such as Gortex - yes, the stuff that keeps you dry in the pouring rain - to give your lips the "pout" you desire.
Will your new look last forever? Some methods are temporary; if you like your new look, you will have to return to the clinic to have the technique repeated. Temporary solutions appeal to many people who just want to experiment with puffier lips. Yet for others who are certain the new appearance of their lips is for them, more permanent techniques - such as local flaps - would be used.
Usually a safe operation, there are risks you need to know about. You may not be thrilled with the initial results because of the swelling, but this usually resolves within a couple of weeks. Some methods result in temporary bruising and swelling; others require an incision to insert the material that will enlarge your lips.
To ensure you are as educated as possible about the lip-augmentation procedure you want - and the look you desire - discuss with your doctor advantages and disadvantages of each technique. And ask your doctor to see before and after photographs from his/her patient case file. Your lips already are a prominent feature on your face; you - and your doctor - want to be happy with your new, fuller lips.
Individuals who are self-conscious about their legs because they have
underdeveloped calf muscles and lack definition and contour to their legs can
consider calf implant surgery to improve their appearance. The pliable
implants-which come in a variety of sizes and shapes-are placed at the calf
muscle through an incision in the crease of the knee; the result is a calf that
is fuller and more shapely. Implants are made of a solid but soft, inert
material (Silastic is one brand name) which has been tested and used
successfully for years. The resulting appearance is very natural whether the leg
is resting or during exercise. Men and women alike are choosing this
enhancement for a number of reasons. Some individuals want to be able to wear
shorts, bathing suits (or short skirts) with a greater sense of confidence. Some
people have tried and tried to build up their calf muscles through exercise, to
no avail. Other individuals may be victims of disease or injury that has
resulted in withered leg muscles. For them, the surgery can bring back an
appearance of normalcy and boost their self esteem. Your plastic surgeon
will give you recommendations and realistic expectations. Be honest and open
about your desired appearance; the doctor's goal is to give you pleasing results
that will make you happy for a long time.
|
Facial Surgery
| Nasal Surgery | Breast Surgery
| Liposuction | Body Contour
| Other
© Copyright 2000, Toledo Plastic Surgery. All Rights Reserved.