Could an Anti-Aging Superstar also Help Acne?

Just when we thought resveratrol couldn’t have any more benefits, another study comes out to prove us wrong. Found in the skin and seeds of grapes, resveratrol has already made waves with its anti-aging effects both internally and topically.


Published in the April edition of the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, the new Italian pilot study found a 66.7 percent mean reduction in acne lesions in patients treated with a resveratrol gel. And just to be certain of their findings, the researchers took images, recorded the type and number of lesions and gave each patient a score based on the Global Acne Grading System before treatment. Plus, the patients only put the resveratrol gel on half the face. The other half was treated with a plain gel as a control. As you may have guessed, the plain gel didn’t do too much relative to the resveratrol (only a 9.7 percent reduction in acne lesions).

So while more research is needed on resveratrol’s potential acne fighting power, we’re excited about the possibility of having a beauty ingredient that basically takes care of all our facial needs single handedly.

Steps for a Flawless At-Home Facial

Before doing a facial, it’s important to assess what type of skin you have. If you haven’t been advised by a licensed aesthetician or dermatologist, there are some easy ways to figure out your skin type, says Suzy Johlfs, general manager at Spa Anjali at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa in Colorado.


Look at your skin after a typical cleanse in good light. Larger pores and shininess indicate oily skin. Tightness and skin flaking indicate dryness. More even skin tone with occasional oiliness in the T-zone and dryness in the cheeks, lips, and eye areas indicates combination skin. Once you know your type, follow Johlfs’s steps below.

Flawless Facial Steps
1. Apply skin-appropriate cleanser to damp face using gentle circular motion and rinse well with warm water.
2. Proceed to a gentle granular product, exfoliate for one minute, and rinse or use warm damp towel to remove product.
3. Balance PH and prep skin to receive nutrients with appropriate toner for skin type. Dab toner onto clean cotton ball and gently swipe across entire face.
4. Follow toner application with nutrient-rich mask. Apply evenly over face and neck. Leave on for several minutes (follow product-specific instructions).
5. Remove with warm, damp washcloth. Apply skin appropriate serum.
6. Seal in nutrients with moisturizer and finish with eye cream application around the eyes.

Pretty Polish for Fool-Proof Nails

I’ll be the first to admit my DIY mani-pedi skills aren’t exactly stellar. They could perhaps pass for poor at best—on a good day. I’ve been aware of it ever since I started trying it out at the tender age of 10, but it wasn’t until my college-aged brother commented the last time he saw me that “something doesn't look right with your nail polish” (this coming from an individual who views daily showers as a luxury, not a necessity) that I knew I needed help.


Last week I found my miracle-worker: Paul & Joe’s Nail Enamels. Just in time for the slew of Spring colors that are hitting the shelves, the new shades—think a pastel palette of vibrant greens, muted yellows and shimmery pinks—are fresh, fun and, best of all, somehow manage to make it look like someone else applied them. One shade gives you a sheer, clean look, while stacking on a few coats creates a rich hue, regardless of your skill level.
Maybe there’s hope for me yet

High Definition Liquid Lens Can See Beneath the Skin’s Surface

On the horizon of dermatologic technology is a new portable imaging device that delivers a high resolution 3-D image of what lies beneath the surface of the tissue it’s in contact with. In doing so, the device could aid in future skin lesion diagnosis.




Using optical coherence microscopy, where a special liquid lens with water in place of glass changes shape to take thousands of pictures with near infrared light, the device compiles images to create a single comprehensive image of all the tissue up to one millimeter deep. That doesn’t sound that impressive, but due to the infrared light used, the device gives micron-scale resolution compared with the millimeter-scale resolution often found in ultrasound technology. Talk about going under the microscope.

Recently presented at the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting, the technology could someday enhance and expedite diagnosis of moles or suspicious skin lesions, saving patients time and money.

Would you rather just remove moles that have the potential to become cancerous or trust technology like this to tell if there is real cause for concern?

How much younger will a facelift make you look?

The results of a cosmetic surgical procedure vary from patient to patient, depending on the doctor, the technique, and one's own physical features. These variables can make having accurate expectations a bit of a challenge. But when it comes to facelifts, a new study may allow prospective patients to get a better idea of their potential age-reversing outcomes.

Eric Swanson, MD, surveyed 82 women and 11 men—average age, 57—who had undergone a facelift between 2002 and 2007, and the findings were published in a recent edition of the ASPS's official journal, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

In tune with previous studies about surgical satisfaction, the vast majority of patients reported improved self-esteem, higher quality of life, and positive reactions to their new appearance. But is that appearance significantly more youthful?

When the patients were asked how much younger they believe the facelift made them look, the average subjective assessment was 12 years, with some patients claiming to look as many as 27 years younger.

"These findings support the recommendation of surgical facial rejuvenation to patients who wish to look younger," Dr. Swanson writes. However, at least one patient said he or she did not look any younger, indicating that both results and self-evaluation vary greatly among patients.

It should also be noted that the majority of the survey participants underwent other procedures, like browlifts and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), which may have enhanced the perceived results of the facelift.

The Next Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid has been the go-to buzz word in anti-aging for the past few years. The supermoisturizing, wrinkle-reducing wonder seems to be able to do it all—minus any scary side effects.

But a new ingredient out of Spain, called Hyadisine may be giving the anti-aging all-star a run for its money. Claiming to provide a long-lasting moisturizing effect, along with an immediate wrinkle reduction, hyadisine is sourced from a marine bacterial strain collected from a colony of mussels living in the Bay of Douarnez in Brittany. According to the manufacturer, in vivo tests showed that the active can improve the skin’s appearance and reduce fine lines in a matter of hours.

So do you believe the hype? Would you buy a topical product that contained the new ingredient? Share your thoughts below.

Does Extra Sleep Make You Smarter?

A typical adult spends one third of their life asleep. I’m sure you and I can agree that a good night’s rest is vital to our wellbeing, but there is actually very little scientific consensus on why we need sleep.

A recent study conducted at University of California, Berkeley observed 44 healthy young adults and subjected them to multiple memorizing tasks. Half of the group was given a 90-minute nap while the other half stayed awake. Those that napped performed significantly higher than those who did not. Additionally, the nappers had an apparent improved capability for learning.




The researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that spurts of sleep spindles (fast pulses of electricity generated during non-REM sleep) might be networking across the brain to make way for leaning. Because this process is most likely to occur during Stage 2 of NREM sleep, those who sleep less than seven hours are short changing themselves, having fewer spindles and a reduced ability to learn.

The results of the study indicate that sleep is essential not only after learning, in order to consolidate the material that has been memorized, but also before learning so we can retain new information the following day.
 Do you feel a difference the next day when you don’t get your full eight hours?

How To Mask Imperfect Skin

If there is one thing that everyone in Southern California wants, it is to look naturally beautiful. LA is the land of effortless beauty. Our scene is sitting around poolside with a Mojito and perfect, glowing skin. As a beauty expert in Southern California, I am constantly asked how to look naturally beautiful.

Here are a few easy steps to help you achieve natural-looking beauty:

1. Do your part. Give nature a little help and use a great mask. Currently, I can’t get enough of REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask. I apply this gel-like organic goo to my face, and 10 minutes later I have softer, clearer skin with a J. Lo glow!

2. Use a tinted moisturizer with an SPF 15 or higher, Stila makes a great one. Skin will look moist and even, and you’ll be protecting it from skin’s arch enemy, sun.

3. Use a little concealer under the eye and around the nose or anywhere you may need a little more coverage (Smashbox Camera Ready Concealer is great for on-the-go touch ups).

4. After that, all you need is a bronzer, Orlane’s is to die for and you can even use it on the body, lightly dusted on the high points of your face (think of where the sun hits your skin naturally such as the cheekbones and nose) and then a light coat of mascara.

5. Add a nude lip gloss and Ta Da! You are beautiful. Naturally.

New Facial Filler to Debut

Fillers have greatly improved over the years. Going from basic collagen to multi-tasking fillers that restore volume and stimulate one’s own collagen production and fillers mixed with lidocaine that make the treatment as painless as possible, consumers in the know are always looking out for the next great thing. Yet another filler to treat facial volume loss is on the horizon. How is this one different? It’s thicker.

That basic difference may not seem like a big deal at first, but this product’s viscosity may help improve results, especially in cases where patients need greater facial volume. From Allergan, maker of Botox Cosmetic and Juvéderm, Voluma is already available in Canada. Recommended to treat areas needing more volume, the new, thicker hyaluronic acid filler from the Juvéderm line promises a smoother look and feel for areas such as the cheeks, cheekbones and chin.

Results from Voluma last up to a year or longer, and the product is expected to launch in the U.S. later this year.

The Chemistry of Mascara

 I have some vague recollection of first learning about chemical bonds and hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of molecules sometime in high school. Important chemistry concepts indeed. My curiosity about mascara (which is one of two MUST HAVES for me in the make-up department, the other is more crucial: under eye concealer) and especially my new affection for L'Oreal's Beauty Tubes Extend Lash provoked me to make a demonstration video about three different types of mascara: water soluble, water proof and the new Beauty Tubes. It's sort of long, but it is a real time demo/discussion. I wish I could say I was a polymer chemist, but I'm not...I know just enough to be dangerous!

Without turning this into a full-fledged chemistry tutorial, I will quickly quickly discuss various type of chemical bonds as this plays a part in how the various mascaras work. We can divide chemical bonding into two types: covalent and non-covalent.  Non-covalent then can be further subdivided into three different types: ionic, hydrogen and van der Waals.  Overall, covalent is a very strong type of bond formed primarily by sharing electrons (there can be single or double bonds, but we won't worry about that here). 

Before we go onto weaker types of bonding, let's quickly talk about polar vs. non-polar molecules: In a polar covalent bond, electrons are shared unequally, usually between two different atoms such as -O-H (oxygen and hydrogen) and -N-H (nitrogen and hydrogen) resulting inpartial negative charge on one side of the molecule and a partial positve charge on the other. We most certainly see this in water, and this sets up an opportunity for spontaneous electrical attraction and bonding.

On the other hand, the bond between carbon and hydrogen -C-H has the electrons attracted more equally by both atoms and is fairly non-polar. We will see the importance of carbon-hydrogen bonding in the formation of oils, waxes, lipids and plastics in a bit.

Above is an image from Essential Cell Biology by Alberts, et al about Water as a solvent.  When a substance dissolves in a liquid, the mixture is termed a solution. The sugar in this image is the solute and the liquid that does the dissolving is the solvent.

For our discussion of mascara, we will focus on non-polar covalent bonding and the weaker hydrogen bonding.

Water is held together by hydrogen bonds. In each molecule of water, the two H atoms are linked to the O atom by covalent bonds. Again, without all the details, water is highly polar because of the imbalance of electrons between the O and the Hs. Two water molecules, when in close proximity to each other can establish a weak bond called a hydrogen bond. These can be broken by random thermal motions and each bond lasts only a short time.

 Molecules such as alcohols or urea (see above image) that contain polar bonds and can form hydrogen bonds mix well with water. (molecules that carry positive or negative charges-ions-also dissolve readily in water). These molecules are termed hydrophilic, meaning that they are "water-loving"

Hydrophobic molecules are generally uncharged, form few hydrogen bonds and do not dissolve in water. In these molecules, the H atoms are covalently linked to C atoms by nonpolar bonds.

Let's look at a few molecules from the water soluble (hydrophilic) mascara: (water, glyceryl stearate, ammonium acrylates copolymer, polyvinyl alchohol, alcohol)

The fact that the first molecule listed on the ingredients is water gives a clue that the next items are water soluble. The ammonium (contains Nitrogen) indicates that we have a molecule with a potential to be hydrophilic because it will most likely be in a polar molecule. Alcohol has the ability to dissolve both polar and non polar substances--a very good solvent.  Polyvinyl alchohol has many purposes, one being that it is a good adhesive to the lash.

And from the waterproof (hydrophobic) mascara (petrolum distillate,  polyethylene, caranuba wax, pentaerythrityl hydrogenated rosinate, tall oil glycerides)

If you see the word wax, or oil or fat, then you know you are dealing with hydrophobic molecules (all cell membranes have a long hydrophobic portion). These all are long hydrocarbons and must be dissolved in an oily substance (petroleum distillate) to be able to be in liquid/gel form in order to be applied to the lashes. The only way to dissolve these from the eyes is an oily make-up remover or a harsher solvent that can break the covalent bonds. We follow the rule "like dissolves like".

When looking at the formulation list for the Beauty tubes, I sense a more sophisticated polymerization (forming of long chains of molecules from smaller parts) and plasticizing process occuring there. This doesn't surprise me as I've never had flaking or smudging at all. The point of weak bonding is clearly between the polymerized mascara and the lash, hence when water is added, any bonding breaks at that point and the mascara comes off in a tube or string. I was looking at the list of step one and saw several waxes that melt easily in the presence of warm water. I can see this being able to support hydrophobic, non-polar polymers of the actual mascara, but allowing the interface to be weak enough to not require a solvent to remove, and warm water being sufficient to loosen the formed polymer.

Why Hair Turns Gray!

From FASEB Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology: H2O2-mediated oxidative stress affects human hair color by blunting methionine sulfoxide repair.

Gray hair, according to new findings, is caused by a massive build up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear on hair follicles. The peroxide winds up blocking the normal synthesis of melanin, your hair's natural pigment.
All hair cells make a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide, but as you age, the amount increases. Essentially, you bleach our hair pigment from within, and your hair turns gray and then white.
Researchers made this discovery by examining cell cultures of human hair follicles. They found that the build up of hydrogen peroxide was caused by a reduction of an enzyme that breaks up hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
They also discovered that hair follicles could not repair the damage caused by the hydrogen peroxide because of low levels of the enzymes MSR A and B, which normally serve this function. The high levels of hydrogen peroxide and low levels of these enzymes also disrupt the formation of tyrosinase, another enzyme that leads to the production of melanin in hair follicles.

Why Hair Volume and Shine are Mutually Exclusive

You've all seen close up images of human hair (usually taken with a scanning electron microscope).  If you recall, hair is made of layers of scales of keratin, much like a stack of paper cups.  If those scales lie flat, the hair is smooth and reflects light, thus looking shiny.

 If the scales separate from each other, the hair will look less shiny but will have more volume as the scales between individual hairs will push each other away.
Since we rarely want flat or dull hair, we need to make some compromises between volume and shine.  
Shine products, however, are great! They can allow some of the scales to separate and fill in leaving the hairs somewhat thicker but also smooth and shiny.

Hot Trends for Fall 2010

 

Beauty bloggers across the Internet have been busy for months predicting what hot new trends will be hitting salons and runways this fall. Here are just a few of the upcoming trends that have been burning up their blogs.

What’s Hot In…
HAIR
Knots and buns are some of the most popular hairstyles for fall 2010. From gravity-defying severe top knots to loose and casual buns, these hairstyles have hundreds of different variations and can go from everyday casual to a glamorous night out.
•For a messy top knot, volume is key. Back comb and apply hair spray generously to create texture. fasten it into a high ponytail. Then, sweep it around and fasten with bobby pins. Hair should appear loose and resemble a birds nest.
•To achieve a sleek and sexy top knot, neatly brush hair up, slicking it with gel. Twist the hair into a tight knot and secure with bobby pins.
•For a look that’s a bit more refined than a messy top knot but not quite as severe as the sleek knot, try a textured look. Instead of volumizing all the hair, gather many small hair sections at the top of the head to create an appearance of a textured top knot.
An update on the classic bed head look: Long hair with matte waves is a slightly more refined option this fall. The key to achieving the non-glossy look? Liberal use of hair powder at the roots and ends.

1. Prep hair with a styling spray, spray on roots and comb through hair.
2. Part hair down the center.
3. Blow dry hair, scrunching hair as you go. For curly hair, dry straight with a paddle brush.
4. When hair is about 90 percent dry, separate hair to create two pigtails. Secure pigtails with pony tail holders.
5. Take one side and twist hair in one direction; hair will naturally twist itself into a bun. Secure at ear level with bobby pins. Repeat on other side.
6. Blast buns and whole head with dryer until hair seems dry.
7. Leave hair in buns for 10-20 minutes to set. Take hair out of buns and finger-comb waves. Apply hair powder to roots and ends and run your hands through to evenly distribute.
8. Spritz hairspray to hold waves in place.

On the color front: Copper hair is the biggest color trend for Fall. Everyone will love the boost of warmth and color copper brings. For those who are hesitant to make the full switch, keep hair colors warm with dark chocolate tones for brunettes, deep mahogany shades for redheads and golden highlights for blondes to achieve gorgeous modern copper-red shades.

NAILSOPI’s new Swiss collection has been getting some major attention lately. The new color line features deep shades of rich color as this season’s new basics. From dark green to glowing red, to metallic shades of pewter and gold to jewel-toned blues, it’s a great collection to complement any fall wardrobe.

MAKEUPDramatic, winged eyeliner is big this season, with generous swoops going well past the eyes, but the twist this fall is that many palettes are embracing colors along with the standard black: brilliant blues, royal purples and even berry reds. A clean, matte face with natural lips is the best compliment to this striking look.
Bright eye shadows are the latest thing to hit the runways. With many fall 2010 makeup collections featuring vivid purples, turquoises, yellows, greens, pinks and teals, they’re sure to be a huge hit with anyone looking for a creative new look. Use several colors together for a fun twist. Pair them with a deep pink or coral lip to complete the look.
Give lips a punch of fall color with hot colors like plum and ruby. These deep purples and bold reds make quite the statement. Make sure lips are exfoliated and moisturized to prevent the color from flaking or looking dried out. Combine with soft gold eye shadows and a natural face. For something a bit more glamorous and black tie, pair with smoldering eyes.

The Psychology and Biology of Beauty

In ancient Greece, Helen of Troy, the instigator of the Trojan War, was the paragon of beauty, exuding a physical beauty.
But why did the Greek men find Helen, and other beautiful women, so intoxicating?
In an attempt to answer this question, the philosophers of the day devoted a great deal of time to this conundrum.
Plato wrote of so-called "golden proportions," in which, amongst other things, the width of an ideal face would be two-thirds its length, while a nose would be no longer than the distance between the eyes. Plato's golden proportions, however, haven't quite held up to the rigors of modern psychological and biological research -- though there is credence in the ancient Greeks' attempts to determine a fundamental symmetry that humans find attractive.

Symmetry is attractive to the human eye

Today, this symmetry has been scientifically proven to be inherently attractive to the human eye. It has been defined not with proportions, but rather with similarity between the left and right sides of the face Thus, the Greeks were only partially correct. By applying the stringent conditions of the scientific method, researchers now believe symmetry is the answer the Greeks were looking for.
Victor Johnston of New Mexico State University, for example, utilizes a program called FacePrints, which shows viewers facial images of variable attractiveness. The viewers then rate the pictures on a beauty scale from one to nine. In what is akin to digital Darwinism, the pictures with the best ratings are merged together, while the less attractive photos are weeded out. Each trial ends when a viewer deems the composite a 10. All the perfect 10s are super-symmetric.
Scientists say that the preference for symmetry is a highly evolved trait seen in many different animals. Female swallows, for example, prefer males with longer and more symmetric tails, while female zebra finches mate with males with symmetrically colored leg bands.

According to a University of Louisville study, when shown pictures of different individuals, Asians, Latinos, and whites from 13 different countries all had the same general preferences when rating others as attractive -- that is those that are the most symmetric.

Beauty beyond symmetry

However, John Manning of the University of Liverpool in England cautions against over-generalization, especially by Western scientists. "Darwin thought that there were few universals of physical beauty because there was much variance in appearance and preference across human groups," Manning explained in email interview. For example, Chinese men used to prefer women with small feet. In Shakespearean England, ankles were the rage. In some African tribal cultures, men like women who insert large discs in their lips.Indeed, "we need more cross-cultural studies to show that what is true in Westernized societies is also true in traditional groups," Manning said his 1999 article.
Aside from symmetry, males in Western cultures generally prefer females with a small jaw, a small nose, large eyes, and defined cheekbones - features often described as "baby faced", that resemble an infant's. Females, however, have a preference for males who look more mature -- generally heart-shaped, small-chinned faces with full lips and fair skin. But during menstruation, females prefer a soft-featured male to a masculine one. Indeed, researchers found that female perceptions of beauty actually change throughout the month.

When viewing profiles, both males and females prefer a face in which the forehead and jaw are in vertical alignment. Altogether, the preference for youthful and even infant-like, features, especially by menstruating women, suggest people with these features have more long-term potential as mates as well as an increased level of reproductive fitness.
Scientists have also found that the body's proportions play an important role in perceptions of beauty as well. In general, men have a preference for women with low waist-to-hip ratios (WHRs), that is, more adipose is deposited on the hips and buttocks than on the waist. Research shows that women with high WHRs (whose bodies are more tube-shaped) are more likely to suffer from health maladies, including infertility and diabetes. However, as is often the case, there are exceptions to the rule.
Psychologists at Newcastle University in England have shown that an indigenous people located in southeast Peru, who have had little contact with the Western world, actually have a preference for high WHRs. These psychologists assert that a general preference for low WHRs is a byproduct of Western culture.

Whatever the reason, the notion that attractiveness correlates with success still rings true. Yet beauty is not always advantageous, for beautiful people, particularly attractive women, tend to be perceived as more materialistic, snobbish, and vain.

For better or worse, the bottom line is that research shows beauty matters; it pervades society and affects how we choose loved ones. Thus, striving to appear attractive may not be such a vain endeavor after all. This isn't to say plastic surgery is necessarily the answer. Instead, lead a healthy lifestyle that will in turn make you a happier person.

Medical Beauty PR: Brazilian Peel

Brazil is a country hailed for both beautiful women and outstanding contributions to the beauty world.
From keratin hair treatments to rich body butters, the organic Brazilian ingredients have done wonders for our bodies. Now, women everywhere can achieve the flawless, airbrushed face that Brazilian women have, too.
Thanks to the facial treatment engineers at Advanced Home Actives, we can now treat our faces to a rejuvenating medical-strength glycolic peel in the comfort of our own homes.
The Brazilian peel is a revolutionary new facial treatment that is five times stronger than any over-the-counter product and has been clinically proven to brighten and tighten facial skin for the youthful look we all crave.
Glycolic peels are a beauty breakthrough. The procedure sounds a bit harsh, but it’s completely noninvasive and promises fabulous results with little redness or irritation.
The natural fruit acids found in glycolic peels go to work on your face, sloughing off dead skin and unclogging pores. The damaged top layer of the skin is removed to reveal a fresh, radiant complexion for a completely natural glow.

Those who have tried Brazilian Peel vouch for the fast results.
Use Brazilian Peel once a week for four weeks, and you’ll see a decrease in wrinkles and fine lines. In addition to a more uniform complexion and pigmentation, your skin will feel smoother and firm to the touch;)

Natural remedies and products continue for their health

Many people are turning to natural products for remedies to non serious health problems.
 Instead of running to the doctor to get a prescription or to the pharmacy to get over the counter medication, people have started to turn to natural products.
On the onset of a cold, many use Echinacea to fight it off!
 Almost all ailments have some natural product that is recommended to help. Whether or not they actually work, may not be proven. However, people are willing to give them a try because there are typically minimal side effects.

The influence of positive thinking on your health

Many people aren’t aware that positive thinking can help prevent illness. It also comes down to the method in which you train your brain.
It’s a psychological fact that if you say to yourself "I will stay healthy" that you’re training your brain to stay healthy.
 However, on the flip side, if you were to say "I will not get sick," your brain only hears the word sick, and in turn, you may increase your chances of coming down with a mysterious flu. Even though the goal is to not get ill, just the mere way that you say the words to yourself, can affect the outcome.

Stop cancer with a good breakfast diet

The battle against cancer can begin as early as you start your day. A simple combination of three ingredients can lead to a reduced risk of developing cancer cells. Aside from being chock full of anti-oxidants, oats are also believed to have a cleansing effect that drag food along, thereby lessening the chances of getting colon cancer. When preparing your oatmeal, use soy milk, which is also rich in anti-oxidants, rather than dairy. To round your breakfast out, replace your coffee with green tea. A report from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that green tea possesses one of the most powerful anti-oxidants around. Just one tip when buying green tea, be sure to check the ingredients before purchasing the box as some manufacturers add caffeine to the product.

Top 10 questions to ask your cosmetic surgeon!

Follow the Scouts’ motto when you’re considering any type of cosmetic surgery – be prepared. Below are 10 important questions to ask your surgeon before going under the knife and ofcourse the answers you should expect, but don’t be afraid to ask a hundred if you need to remember it's your body & you have the right!

1. Can I see a range of before and after photographs?
Don’t be satisfied with the ones on the marketing material as these will of course be the best examples. Instead, ensure you see a range of photographs showing the results of operations performed by your cosmetic surgeon.
2. Please can you explain the procedure in full?
Ensure that your surgeon can fully explain your chosen procedure to you, in terms you understand. If he/she tries to gloss over the details, ensure you dig further – it is important that you are confident in the surgeon’s knowledge and experience of the procedure, and that you know exactly what you are about to undergo.
3. What are the recovery times for my operation?
Make sure that your surgeon is specific, and gives you the worst-case scenario, as well as the best. While you are sure to fit into the latter, it is always important to be prepared. Ask them to explain how long you will need to take off work, what activities and exercise you will and will not be able to do, how long you will have to wear any post-surgical garments for, and when any prominent scarring and swelling should reduce.
4. Will you carry out my surgery, from start to finish?
This may sound like a strange question but some surgeons pass over the closing or stitching to another surgeon once the actual procedure has been completed. Ideally you want to ensure that your surgeon performs everything.
5. Are you board-certified?
The clinic you visit should be registered  & certified, don't be ashamed to see them.
6. What care will you provide to me after my surgery?
Ask for details about the clinic’s aftercare policy – it is absolutely essential that they have a plan in place to check that you are recovering well and that your stitches are removed correctly and at the right time.
7. What is your experience with this procedure?
Some surgeons will specialise in others more rather than what you want, While it is not essential to have a specialist in the procedure you are having done, it is essential to ensure that your surgeon has a wealth of experience, and if he/she does, they won’t have a problem sharing this with you.
8. What are the specific risks involved with this procedure?
Don’t let your surgeon sugar coat the risks. As with all surgery, there will be risks involved and it is important that you know these so that you are able to weigh them up with the benefits of the procedure.
9. What results can I expect from this procedure?
Every body is different and as a result it’s important to understand from your surgeon what results are realistic for you. Don’t assume that the results you have in mind are realistic. Instead, talk these through with your surgeon and get a completely clear picture of the reality.
10. What kind of anaesthesia is required and who will administer it?
This is particularly important to know if you have had a bad reaction to a certain type of anaesthesia in the past, and to ensure that a properly trained anaesthetist will be looking after you.

Inside & Out

“True beauty shines through, for the wise can see through the superficiality of perfect skin, or hidebound social judgements.”
 Inner beauty for a person is to know their strengths and live with them. Confidence is a natural consequence. But it is also inspiring to see the beauty in life itself.
 Outer beauty is something one is born with-or can simply change with COSMETIC SURGERY!! ;)
 while inner beauty is a gift to one’s self. We may not be able to ‘see’ inner beauty in a person, but we can definitely ‘feel’ it.
 A person with an inner beauty always touches people around them. Inner strength is reflected in this inner beauty which comes from a spirit that refuses to get flattened out by the ups and downs of life.
What you are when you are just being yourself—that is inner beauty.
A person who comes close to embodying these qualities is the one who is really beautiful. One should constantly try to be a ‘beautiful’ person, reinventing one’s self through life’s manifold experiences.

Then we come to the conclusion “what’s beautiful?
To be yourself-deeply and totally- is the essential. Inner beauty implies that is just not outward beauty, but a kind of aura that you have that affects you and people around you.
  And eventually, if you love yourself truly, you will look beautiful.
What you are on the inside reflects on the outside.