Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

The first hint of warmth can never come too soon. March, anymore, feels as long as two or three months. But, despite what the 10-day forecast may say, spring is on the horizon.

As welcome as that realization is, it’s usually chased by another more daunting one: What has the winter done to me? Buried under chunky sweaters and wooly hats, it’s easy to lose sight of just how harsh that bitter-cold air has been to our skin.

The combination of the cold, stiff winds and the dry air inside and out gradually robs our skin of vital moisture during the long winter months, which can have a long-term negative effect on its elasticity and health.

To counter those effects and begin to restore a healthy glow just in time for spring, I recommend a couple of minimally invasive treatments that can be done during an office visit.

Starting fresh

Microdermabrasion is a chemical-free procedure that removes the dead, dry outer layer of the skin to reveal fresh, healthy skin underneath. A machine with tiny crystals gently exfoliates the surface of your skin removing dead skin cells and debris. It can feel like a gritty facial massage.

It’s suitable for all skin types and colors, and it won’t cause any scarring or color changes.

Almost immediately, you’ll see and appreciate the difference. There are a few more benefits at work beneath the surface. For one, microdermabrasion can improve circulation deep within the skin. Better blood flow means the cells are receiving more oxygen and nutrients, which will gradually improve cell processes and, in turn, elasticity.

Removing dead skin and improving circulation also helps to not only unclog pores—which will improve the absorption of skincare products by up to 50 percent—but reduce the size of them.

Offsetting all that screen time

It turns out that winter’s threats to our skin go beyond the extreme elements outside. The research is still in its infancy, but a few groundbreaking studies have indicated that the blue light from our phone, tablet, and computer screens is leading to premature aging and hyperpigmentation.

A 2010 study found that exposing skin to the amount of blue light we get from the sun caused more pigment, redness, and swelling than when the same person’s skin was exposed to comparable levels of UVA rays. Another suggested that blue light might stimulate the production of free radicals in skin, which can speed up the appearance of aging.

Even if this is the first you’re hearing of the news, you may have already noticed the overnight-influx of cosmetic products that are intended to address these concerns. I offer what I believe to be the most effective formula on the market, SkinMedica’s LUMIVIVE. It’s described as “full atmospheric protection against blue light and pollution.”

LUMIVIVE is a two-step system. The Day Damage Defense Serum provides protection all day long against blue light and pollution while the Night Revitalize Repair Complex enhances the critical sleep-repair cycle. Together, they can offset the 10 hours, on average, we spend in front of a screen each day and restore your skin’s radiant glow within 14 days.

Forget what they say; restore a healthy glow and meet spring with your best face forward.

In the past, for all of its potential to transform, there was no getting around the long weeks of recovery that a tummy tuck requires. But that’s finally changing.

Recent advances have enabled new variations of the tummy tuck to be more efficient and easier to recover from while still effectively reshaping the midsection.

The mini tummy tuck and the drainless tummy tuck are two such advancements. Let’s take a closer look at them.

The mini tummy tuck

While there’s no universal definition for the mini tummy tuck, the procedure is used most commonly to remove loose skin from below the belly button. A mini tummy tuck scar is about half the size of one from a full tummy tuck, and it can be placed lower on the pubic bone so it’s less likely to be seen above a bikini line.

The mini tummy tuck can tighten the look of the lower belly, making it the ideal solution for women with a small but persistent pooch. It also affords more flexibility than the full tummy tuck, which is a procedure best performed once. The mini tummy tuck can be updated or even repeated, which makes it an option between pregnancies.

Generally, you’ll want to take it easy for a week to two weeks after the mini tummy tuck. By that point, the bruising and swelling should have subsided enough to allow you to return to work, but it may be another week or two before you’ll want to attempt anything strenuous.

The drainless tuck

Drains play a key role in a full tummy tuck, helping to rid the body of natural fluid buildup. They can, however, be a major inconvenience during the recovery process. And they come with their own set of risks.

The drainless tummy tuck basically combines liposuction with a full tummy tuck using a particular suturing technique that eliminates the needs for the drains. Liposuction is used to remove stubborn fat from isolated areas of the abdominal area, which tones and sculpts abdominal contours while minimizing the amount of surgical intervention that’s needed.

From there, an incision is made along the abdomen, through which the plastic surgeon can remove loose skin and tighten muscle tissue. The surgeon then uses a technique called progressive tension sutures to secure the abdominal skin to the underlying tissue layers. That creates a tighter bond, leaving little room for fluid build-up.

You should be able to return to work and light physical activity within a week or two of the surgery. And gradually, over the next several weeks, you’ll start to notice improvements in your body contours. In all, it’ll take about six to eight weeks for the final results to become visible.