SunSafe RX to Protect Your Skin

April 18, 2018 by 2 Comments

At our house, we are always looking at new ways to protect ourselves from the sun’s harmful effects.  Some of us, mostly the men of the house, burn with just the mention of Summer, let alone the actual sun.  But we are trekkers and must be in the sun, so what to do? Well, lots of sunblock, for one.  We also found a product called Sunsafe Rx.  Sunsafe Rx is a natural supplement which helps protect against both UVA and UVB rays from the sun.  All you do is take them daily as directed and the benefits last all day long.  Not only does this help with sun protection, but also has anti-aging benefits.

There are powerful antioxidants in Sunsafe Rx which are good for both your skin and your eyes.  All the ingredients in Sunsafe Rx are natuaral and proven to help skin health.  Sunsafe Rx is also made in the USA, and is manufactured and tested in an FDA-regulated GMP-certified facility.  Sunsafe Rx prevents skin aging by preserving collagen and elastin and inhibiting the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and sun spots.  For your eyes, lutein and zeaxanthin protect from the oxidative stress of UV rays and may help fight the causes of age-related macular degeneration.  This is probably the only sun protection you actually want ending up in your eyes. Sunblock, not so much.  Sunsafe is great not only for those sunny Summer days but for year round, whether in the sun or not.  Some extra health boosts for your skin and eyes are never a bad thing. SunSafe Rx is available now on their website sunsaferx.com and retails for $29 for 30 caplets and up to $89 for 120 caplets.

Filed Under: health, review Tagged With: , , , ,

To Write Love on Her Arms Founder Jamie Tworkwoski To Speak At NCSP’s “Rally To Prevent Suicide” In Washington, D.C. this Saturday, April 21st

April 18, 2018 by Leave a Comment
To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) announces founder Jamie Tworkowski will speak at the National Council for Suicide Prevention’s (NCSP) first national Rally To Prevent Suicide this Saturday, April 21st from 5:30pm-6:30pm on the West front steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Alongside the NCSP, the National Council for Behavioral Health, the American Psychological Association, the Cohen Veterans Network, and other leading health organizations, TWLOHA will add their voices to the call for Congress and the President to make suicide prevention a public health priority. For more information, please visit: www.rallytopreventsuicide.org.
On the upcoming event, TWLOHA founder Jamie Tworkowski shares: “We’re so excited to participate in the Rally to Prevent Suicide. It’s an honor to stand alongside so many organizations and individuals who are working hard to save lives. We’re proud to represent the TWLOHA community on Saturday in Washington, and you’re certainly invited to join us!“
Between 1999 and 2015 suicide claimed 604,878 American lives and an estimated 15 million more attempts. Current data indicates increases in middle-age adult suicides and in youth (ages 5-14) suicides reaching a 40-year high, compounded by 20 veteran suicides every day and additional active duty military suicides daily.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Rally to Prevent Suicideand show their support for improving the mental health of all Americans and preventing the tragedy of suicide. Attendees will be able to hear from top leaders in the field of mental health and suicide prevention and listen to stories of hope and resilience from individuals who have struggled personally and families who have lost loved ones to suicide.
To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. It exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since its start in 2006, TWLOHA has donated over $2 million directly into treatment and recovery and answered over 200,000 messages from over 100 countries.
This past September, TWLOHA wrapped its 6th annual campaign to honor National Suicide Prevention Week and World Suicide Prevention Day. The organization was overwhelmed by the amount of love and support shown during this year’s campaign, titled, “Stay. Find what you are made for,”during which over $103.5K was raised for treatment and counseling. The campaign was shared by supporters all over the world, including NBA player Kyle Korver, US Women’s National Soccer Team stars Alex Morgan, Christen Press, and Ashlyn Harris, actress Shantel VanSanten, Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman, Dustin Kensrue of Thrice, actress and singer Debby Ryan, The Ready Set’s Jordan Witzrigreuter, and Jess Bowen of The Summer Set, all of whom were featured in a special video message directed by Dustin Miller, a Florida-based filmmaker and longtime TWLOHA collaborator: https://youtu.be/37cB2CQt_YA.
WHAT: “Rally To Prevent Suicide”
WHO: National Council For Suicide Prevention, TWLOHA Founder Jamie Tworkowski, and more
WHERE: Capitol Hill | West Front Steps | Washington, D.C.
WHEN: Saturday, April 21st | 5:30pm-6:30pm
National Council for Suicide Prevention:
The National Council for Suicide Prevention, a national coalition of seven leading nonprofits working to end suicide in the United States, works to advance suicide prevention through leadership, advocacy, and acting as a collective voice for those impacted by suicide.
Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, health Tagged With: , , ,

2018 World Health Run – Run With Us or Follow Along on Social! #GlobalHealth #Running #HealthForAll #PeaceCorps @WorldHealthRun

April 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Follow us on social media tomorrow as we participate in the very first World Health Run!

In order to raise awareness of health equity, health as a human right, the many challenges some people face in seeking health care, and the challenges that health systems face in trying to provide comprehensive care, we are gathering stories and reflections from individuals around the world. We will highlight responses to questions on social media in the hopes of encouraging an open conversation that represents everyone.

Please go to www.RealVoices.World to participate!

We are very proud that this event offers the opportunity for individuals and groups to support some pretty terrific organizations and their high-quality work.

We are all proud, of course, to be a part of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. The 2018 conference was inspiring and we were thrilled to be a part of it. In addition, the Rotary Club of Chicago, National Peace Corps Association, and Peace Care are collaborators in this effort. Take a look at their websites to see what kind of work they do. We’ll be telling you more about them through social media, as well.

In addition, this run supports many local organizations and the communities with whom they partner around the world. We will distribute a report several weeks after the run to let you know about these groups, and we will distribute a follow-up report later in the year to let you know about the impact of our collective effort.

Our principal goal is to raise awareness about health equity in the U.S. and Globally. If you are keen to learn a bit about the topic, the World HealthOrganization is a great place to start.

Did you know that:

  • In the U.S., “Native Americans and Alaska Natives have an infant mortality rate that is 60 percent higher than the rate for their white counterparts. 1 In 2013, infants born to African American mothers experienced the highest rates of infant mortality (11.11 infant deaths per 1,000 births), and infants born to Asian or Pacific Islander mothers experienced the lowest rates (3.90 infant deaths per 1,000 births).2” 3
  • Globally, every day, about 800 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal mortality is a health indicator that shows very wide gaps between rich and poor, both between countries and within them.4

(these are quoted directly from Baciu 2017 – referenced below)

We believe that by bringing broader communities together to advocate for better health.

Check out our 2018 World Health Run Music Mix!

We are thrilled that this event is gaining traction as being a premier opportunity for committed individuals and organizations around the world to come together to raise awareness about health equity.

Virtual World Health Run

Date: April 7, 2018

For World Health Day 2018, as stated during registration, there isn’t a physical run near you. Therefore, you will be participating in the VIRTUAL RUN. (We are working diligently to organize a physical run near you year. We’ve made a lot of connections this year and we are already making some terrific plans for moving forward).

DIRECTIONS:
As a VIRTUAL runner, you have a terrific opportunity to plan out a terrific route and raise awareness. We encourage you to get a group together if possible.  If you need some help planning a route, www.plotaroute.com is a terrific resource. Not only can you plan your own route, but you can locate previously planned routes near you.  Please let us know if you find a route that would be a great location for a physical run for next year!

We recommend that you go for your run on April 7, World Health Day, so that we can unite around the world on that day. With that being said, the virtual run does afford a degree of flexibility that can be convenient for those that are traveling or experiencing other challenges with their schedule.

We would love for you to engage with us on social media when you do run. Help us show the world that we care about health equity.

Above all, go have a great time, wear your shirt with pride, and feel good about this event. We are making an impact together.

Listen along to the Official World Health Run Music Mix! Let us know what we should add.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, fitness, health Tagged With: , , , ,

How to Make Your Own Natural Face Masks

April 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 

Buying quality skin care products is expensive. Many popular brands contain unwanted chemical additives and preservatives. This may motivate you to look for at-home alternatives to these products.

If you have a little time and only a few ingredients, you can make face masks at home. These do-it-yourself masks are easy and fun to make, and their benefits to your skin rival those of the most expensive commercial masks. Try some of our easy recipes and see the benefits first hand.

Before using any of these masks, it is best to wash your face with warm water and a gentle cleanser. This allows the mask to penetrate into your pores. After using the masks, rinse your face clean with lukewarm water. Then rinse it with cool water. This closes your pores. Gently pat your face and neck dry.

  1. Banana Facial Mask

To make a banana facial mask, the easiest way is to simply mash up a ripe banana and apply it to your face. This mask is smoothing and moisturizing, providing a fresh faced glow.

If you have a few more ingredients around the house, try mixing a little plain yogurt and honey into your mask. The yogurt adds moisturizing power and the honey naturally fights acne.

  1. Strawberry Mask

Another fresh, seasonal ingredient to mix into your DIY facial mask is the strawberry. Strawberries are naturally very high in Vitamin C. They also contain several beneficial fruit acids to combat skin aging and soothe acne prone skin. Salicylic acid, an ingredient in many over-the-counter acne products, is present in the strawberry.

This exfoliating mask will brighten your skin. Mix a few mashed strawberries with a little lemon juice. Apply gently to your face and neck. After 15 minutes, rinse the mask from your face. This mask works even better if used after exfoliating the skin with a natural scrub such as brown sugar and honey.

  1. Oatmeal Facial Masks

Oatmeal is a proven moisturizing ingredient that soothes the skin. It is used in many commercial lotions and bath products, especially for those with dry, itchy skin. See the benefits of oatmeal for yourself by trying one of these facial masks.

In a blender or food processor, puree a small amount of whole rolled oats with a little milk until the mixture has a soft texture. You can also use cream if your skin is severely dry. Gently smooth this mixture over your face and let it sit for 20 minutes.

For oily skin, mix oatmeal, honey, and apple cider vinegar. Vinegar is an astringent which gently dries the skin and also combats bacteria without being too harsh. The oatmeal will absorb excess oil from your skin.

Let 3 tablespoons of oatmeal soak for a few minutes in ¼ cup hot water. Then add a teaspoon of honey. Blend these ingredients together. Whisk in 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. When the mixture has cooled a bit, gently smooth it over your face and neck. Let it sit for 20 minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

  1. Avocado Masks

Another superfood ingredient that is great for your skin is avocado. Avocado contains high levels of oleic acid, a plant acid that helps your skin retain moisture. Avocado is also a source of antioxidants and Vitamin C. The plant oils in avocado keep your skin soft and supple.

For a moisturizing mask, mix ½ of a mashed ripe avocado with a little plain Greek yogurt. Add a teaspoon of olive oil to make the mask even richer for your skin. Blend well and let it sit on your face for 15 minutes.

Avocado also goes well with oatmeal in another moisturizing mask. Mix ½ cup of mashed ripe avocado with ½ cup of oatmeal. Blend the mixture well and apply to your face and neck.

With only a few simple ingredients from your pantry and from the produce section, you can make easy DIY facial masks for any skin type. Try some of these recipes today and see the benefits for yourself. Alternatively, you can be creative and mix some of these recipes together for your own special touch.

Filed Under: beauty Tagged With: , , ,

Cure Morning Back Pain Instantly With These Ideas

March 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Do you ever wake up with a really sore back? We’re talking so sore it almost hurts to continue lying down. In some ways, this is beneficial as it means you get out of bed quickly! On a serious note, waking up in pain every day is never fun – or normal. If you fall into this category, here are a few things you can do to instantly cure the pain forever!

Invest In A New Mattress With The Right Support

Most people find that their morning back pain is the result of a bad mattress. If a mattress is too soft or firm, then it can cause muscular irritations. Essentially, you develop lots of little knots that create trigger points, which cause the pain. This is either because the mattress you use is so soft that it causes your lower back to sag down and arch, or because it’s so hard that your back just can’t handle the pressure for eight hours straight! Regardless, as it shows on www.Mattress-Guides.net, you can find mattresses that have just the right amount of softness, while still maintaining a bit of firmness. This type of mattress is great for sore backs, and you’ll notice the change instantly! If you can’t afford a new mattress, then try getting a good mattress topper instead to provide additional support.

Stretch Before Going To Bed

One of the easiest things you can do to get rid of morning back pain is to stretch before you hit the hay. There are many simple stretches you can do to get rid of lower back pain, and I’ve embedded a video to show you some of my favorites. Basically, you want to target your hips and lower back. Tight hips cause back pain because one of your hip flexor muscles actually attaches to your lumbar spine (lower back) and can pull down on it, causing a painful arch. Loosening these muscles helps prevent this from happening, and stretching your lower back also helps relieve any tension that’s built up throughout the day. Also, I’d suggest adding some self-massage in as well before you stretch. Use something like a foam roller or lacrosse ball to do this.

Sleep On Your Back

If you sleep on your front or side, then this might be why you wake up with back pain. Sleeping on your front is particularly bad because it causes an excessive arch. If you’ve been paying attention, then you’ll notice I’ve already mentioned this is a bad thing! It puts too much stress on your lower back muscles, which causes the pain. Sleep on your back, and you keep everything in perfect alignment. As a result, you’ll wake up pain-free.

 

Persistent lower back pain is by far and away one of the most common health issues out there. So many people go to sleep and then wake up with a nagging pain that doesn’t go away for a few hours. Try these ideas out, and you’ll see an instant change overnight.

 

Filed Under: health Tagged With: , ,

How Shea Butter Can Help You Achieve Gorgeous Skin

March 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), famous for its high fatty acid content, primarily oleic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid. These fatty acids play key roles in managing certain body functions like controlling inflammations, renewing cells, and maintaining vascular health.

 

While it can be eaten and used as a cooking oil as long as it is 100 percent pure and unrefined, shea butter is more popular as an ingredient in beauty products like moisturizers and lotions. This is because shea butter melts at body temperature, making it easier and comfortable to apply, and is also absorbed rapidly by the skin.

 

But apart from these rather simple properties, why is shea butter such a popular ingredient for beauty products, like Skinfood’s range of hand and foot creams, lotions, lip balms, and body oils? Let’s take a look.

 

Shea Butter is a Natural Emollient

What makes the body respond well to shea butter is that its biochemical properties resemble that of the human body’s natural moisturizers produced by the sebaceous glands. Shea butter is also a naturally occurring lipid, making it a natural (and powerful) emollient. You can apply 100 percent pure shea butter onto your skin like a lotion or use products that use it as an ingredient  if you don’t like the slightly smoky, nutty smell of unprocessed shea butter. Either way, shea butter will work wonders to moisturize and soften skin that’s prone to roughness, dryness, and scaling or flaking.

 

Shea Butter can Smooth Out Wrinkles

There are many ways that shea butter can help with healing and preventing the further formation of wrinkles. For one, shea butter forms a protective barrier on the skin, shielding it from elements like pollution, sunlight (shea butter contains low levels of SPF), and harsh winds which can all contribute in the premature development of fine lines and wrinkles. Shea butter also contains high amounts of vitamins A and E; the former aids in faster, more efficient cellular turnover and collagen production, while the latter moisturizes, nourishes, and further protects the skin from both external and internal elements. If the skin is has sufficient collagen and moisture, it is less likely to develop wrinkles and has an easier time to recover from such damage.

 

Because of these properties, shea butter can also be used to minimize the appearance of stretch marks caused by pregnancy. Just smooth liberal amounts of shea butter onto the areas where stretch marks usually appear, like the belly, hips, thighs, and even under the breasts, even before your start to “show.” Applying shea butter will help increase your skin’s elasticity and thus reduce the likelihood of developing deep stretch marks.

 

Shea Butter has Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Raw shea butter is rich in vitamins A and E, anti-inflammatory agents like cinnamic acid, and antimicrobial components like catechins. All of these combined help reduce swelling, redness, and irritations caused by skin conditions like rosacea, dermatitis, and eczema, speed up the healing of wounds, and reduce the appearance of blemishes. And because shea butter is easily absorbed and can penetrate deeper into the skin, its effects can be experienced faster.

 

Additionally, the vitamin content of shea butter can also help with the management and treatment of acne, reducing overall redness and eventual scarring or skin darkening. It is also gentle enough to use on the lips and the delicate area around the eyes, should these areas suffer from inflammation and/or dryness.

 

African women have been using shea butter for various medicinal and personal care purposes as early as the 14th century. This just proves that shea butter is not a fad — it’s an effective and natural ingredient that will help make your skin healthier and look more beautiful than ever. 

Filed Under: beauty, health Tagged With: , ,

What Are Some of the Diagnosis Related Issues That Can Lead to Medical Malpractice Lawsuits?

March 15, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Medical malpractice and medical negligence related compensation claims are a big deal in the UK. In 2016, £1.7 billion was paid out by the NHS as a result of claims for medical negligence, up from £1.4 billion the previous year. Statistics from 2008 show that during that year the NHS’ bill for medical negligence claims UK was at a comparatively low £583 million, which means that in the past decade the value of medical malpractice and negligence lawsuits has more than doubled and is continuing to rise.

Of course, those figures are for the NHS alone, and don’t take into account all of the medical negligence claims against private facilities and practitioners. One area of medicine where negligence claims tend to be high is in cosmetic surgery, where nearly all procedures are carried out on a private and elective basis. Add to that privately-run clinics, hospitals and nursing homes, and it is clear to see that medical negligence solicitors have their work cut out at the moment.

Medical Negligence Claims in the UK

Medical negligence claims can arise for a huge number of reasons, from surgical errors to negligence during pregnancy. The outcome of a situation, in order for it to be a case for a compensation claim, must be that the patient was injured or otherwise negatively affected by the practice they are claiming against failing to adhere to the expected standards or normal medical protocols, and so as you might expect this can cover an enormous range of things, from birth defects in children to botched plastic surgery.

There is a very large number of different niches to medical negligence claims, considering the amount of things that can possibly go wrong when receiving treatment. For example, many specific medical negligence firms such as The Medical Negligence Experts even go as far as to take claims related to medical negligence in dentistry. However, here we are going to look at one of the more common areas of medicine where medical negligence solicitors often deal with claims – medical diagnosis and treatment.

Missed Diagnoses and Medical Negligence

One situation where medical malpractice laws can be invoked is where a patient’s condition progresses because a diagnosis was missed. This can have serious consequences, particularly with things like cancer which can advance rapidly, and where survival rates are directly related to how early the condition is spotted.

Naturally, in order for a diagnosis to be considered ‘missed’ there would have to have been an opportunity for it to be made, where this would normally have happened. A patient whose cancer wasn’t diagnosed but who never went for any tests or spoke to a doctor about any symptoms would be unfortunate, but not a victim of medical negligence. Negligence becomes a matter when the patient wasn’t offered tests that are routinely done for people like them, or people with their symptoms, where tests were done but the results misread, or where the doctor didn’t take the initial symptoms seriously and didn’t recommend any further tests. These are not the only situations where a missed diagnosis could be considered a medical negligence issue, but they do give you an idea of where a doctor’s responsibility to diagnose conditions begins and ends.

As you might imagine, sometimes symptoms simply don’t present themselves until later in the advancement of a disease, or tests don’t show anything that is cause for alarm even though a disease is present, and in these cases the hospital, doctor or other professional is not at fault for the missed diagnosis. However, when the diagnosis is missed in error, or the patient hasn’t been offered the service in terms of tests that would be expected as normal medical protocol for their risk level and symptoms, it can be realistically suggested that the condition would have been diagnosed or diagnosed earlier were it not for their negligence.

These types of cases can result in very large pay-outs, and understandably so, as in some cases a missed diagnosis will lead to a previously treatable condition becoming inoperable, untreatable or indeed terminal.

False Positives

The opposite of a missed diagnosis is a false positive, and this can also be a scenario where medical negligence lawyers may get involved. Some false positives are an unfortunate inevitability of a lot of diagnostic processes, and so a false positive diagnosis of a condition a patient does not have will not usually be grounds for a compensation claim. However, in some cases, a patient may actually start to undergo treatment for a condition they don’t actually have because further testing in line with protocols was not done after the initial diagnosis. This can be where a false positive can become something physically harmful and a matter of negligence.

In some situations, a false positive can cause trauma even when treatment has not yet begun, and if it can be shown that this false positive was a result of diagnostic negligence (for instance, results that were mixed up or misread) rather than the normal margin of error in the tests, or that the information about the diagnosis was presented in an unnecessarily disturbing way (for instance giving a patient a confirmed diagnosis of a life threatening condition without doing further tests), then there is still the potential that this may be grounds for a malpractice claim.

Misdiagnoses

Misdiagnoses are where a condition is present, and a diagnosis is given, but it is wrong. As with missed diagnoses and false positives, this can happen as a matter of course in medicine even when everything is done right, due to the complexities of biology and the limitations of medicine, but in some cases, misdiagnosis can be a medical negligence matter and, when this leads to harm to the patient, it can be grounds for a claim for compensation.

 

Examples of when incorrect diagnoses occur as a result of negligence can be similar to cases of missed diagnosis and false positives – test results or patient records that get mixed up, doctors not taking patients’ symptoms seriously and recommending the right tests, or failures in the processes of taking and analysing samples.

A misdiagnosis can be a serious problem – for similar reasons to other diagnosis related medical negligence. On the one hand, a patient may begin undergoing invasive treatment, such as surgery or aggressive medicine, for a condition they do not have. On the other, they may be diagnosed with a less serious condition than they actually have, and their illness may progress.

The Importance of Medical Negligence Law

Some conditions have very similar symptoms or very broad, vague symptoms and can be notoriously hard to diagnose, and nobody wants doctors to be afraid of doing what they can to help get to the bottom of what a patient is potentially suffering from for fear of lawsuits against them. However, where resources are stretched, or standards are not high enough, cases like those described here put people in harm’s way. It is important that people who are the victims of medical negligence do come forward with the help of the best medical negligence solicitors, so that accurate data can be gathered on how frequently these issues occur, and things can be done from a regulatory perspective to improve healthcare over all.

If you are concerned that a diagnosis you received was related to medical negligence for any of the reasons we have talked about here, your best first step is to talk to a lawyer in the field.

Filed Under: lifestyle items Tagged With: ,

How to Address Signs of Aging

March 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Aging is an inevitable natural process, but everyone would like to keep their smooth faces for a longer time. Thanks to science and technology, you can now maintain your good looks well into old age. Of course, you still need to take care of your health since these procedures only reverse the physical aspects of aging. Here are some ways for you to address aging.

 

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are used to smoothen the face and help it regain shape. Parts of the face that sink as you age can be filled so that you look a lot younger. The benefit of this procedure is that it is painless and does not have any downtime. This is because no surgery is involved.

 

Parts of the face that can be rejuvenated using dermal fillers include the nose, lips, cheeks, and chin. The procedure will only take you about 30 minutes, although the actual time would depend on the specific areas being filled. You will have to be put under local anesthesia, and this can be in the form of cream. Then, the dermatologist will administer the treatment using a sterilized needle. You will then be allowed to sit for a while with a cold pack over the treated area.

 

Once the procedure is over, you can go back to your routine immediately without having to wait for recovery.

 

However, the procedure still has some minor side effects. You should expect some redness on the site of the injection. This may be coupled by swelling. These side effects will typically fade within a day or even a few hours. If you fail to follow your dermatologist’s instructions before the day of the filling, you might also experience some bruising. It is important to always get your dermal fillers from a qualified professional.

 

The results of this treatment will last for between 6 months and two years. If you go for permanent fillers, the results can even last for five years.

 

Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is meant for people with wrinkles, acne scars, or non-responsive skin, usually resulting from a facelift. It is important to note that the treatment is not recommended for people with acne, dark skin, or stretch marks. Ideally, you should consult your doctor before choosing to go for laser resurfacing.

 

So how does the procedure work?

 

The doctor will direct short light rays to the affected areas of your skin, and this will get rid of the skin cells that are damaged on the surface. The procedure will involve carbon dioxide or erbium lasers. Using erbium laser beams results in fewer side effects. If you have dark skin, you would be better off using these rays. This specific treatment also burns the surrounding skin cells less.

 

Patients can even recover from erbium resurfacing in a week. For CO2 laser beams, the recovery will take up to 2 weeks.

 

This procedure is not free of side effects. Typically, you should expect some bruising, redness, and swelling. These side effects are more pronounced in patients who go for CO2 laser resurfacing.

 

Before going for this procedure, your doctor will consider your medical history and the results you expect. You will also need to avoid drugs that can affect the clotting of blood for at least ten days before the treatment. It is also important to note that smoking can increase the healing period.

 

Facelift

Another sign of aging is the development of loose skin and jowls on the lower part of the face. These problems can be addressed through a surgical procedure known as a facelift. The procedure aims at lifting your facial skin and muscles to make them firmer.

 

If you only have little sagging on the face, you can go for a mini-facelift. This involves smaller incisions, usually above the ear and along the hairline. Mini-facelifts can be performed under local anesthesia, although most doctors choose to go with general anesthesia. This procedure can help you get rid of early signs of aging, and, therefore, reduce the need for a standard procedure in the future.

 

People who are already showing extreme signs of aging around the neck and face can opt for a standard facelift. This procedure is more extensive, and this means you will have to get general anesthesia. Again, the surgeon will have to make incisions along the hairline and other areas on the face. Through these incisions, they can reposition the tissues under this skin and get rid of excess skin.

 

Being a more extensive procedure, a standard facelift will require a lot more recovery time. You will be able to get back to your normal routine after about two weeks, but the side effects will take a whole year to resolve. Your doctor will give you instruction on how to manage your side effects. Following this advice will make sure you don’t take too long to recover.

 

Neck Lift

This procedure is similar to the facelift, except that it is done in the jawline and neck. Neck lifts can get rid of excess fat under the chin, loose skin in the neck and muscle banding. If your face is still in perfect condition, but your neck and lower jaw are starting to show signs of aging, a neck lift can be a good solution.

 

People normally combine neck lifts with procedures such as brow lifts, fat transfer, and eyelid surgery. With advances in technology and medicine, these procedures have grown to be very safe. Like facelifts, this treatment will require your surgeon to make incisions in your skin; then, they will remove excess fat and skin.

 

For a safe procedure, you will have to avoid alcohol, anti-inflammatory drugs, excessively fatty foods, and excess sugar for about ten days before the treatment.

 

Conclusion

These four procedures will help you regain the good looks of your youth. It is important to follow the advice of your doctor, and answer all their questions truthfully. This way, you will get a safe and proper procedure. Since these treatments don’t stop the aging process, you should still take care of your body and drink a lot of water regularly.

 

Andrew Jacono, MD is a renowned plastic surgeon based in New York City. Dr. Jacono has been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has made frequent appearances on Oprah’s Face to Face and Discovery Fit & Health.

 

Filed Under: beauty Tagged With: , , ,