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Informative Articles

Are Your Cosmetics Wreaking Havoc on Your Skin?
We all have times when our skin looks less than gorgeous. At those moments we inevitably reach for the miracle products -foundations, concealers, powders-we rely on to cover up the flaws we'd like to hide. Yes, makeup is a great temporary fix, and...

Laser Body Hair Removal: An Overview of the Treatment Process
Laser Body Hair Removal is growing rapidy in popularity as men and women become more conscious of their body image. It is estimated that about one million Americans used laser treatment to remove body hair in 2003; this number has doubled since...

Liposuction: Risks and Benefits
Liposuction surgery is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery in the United States. More than a quarter of a million liposuctions were performed last year. It can be an effective means of removing excess body fat in healthy people, but...

Move Your Body From The Inside Out
You have permission to publish this article in your ezine or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. Move Your Body From The Inside Out Take the first step in...

Organic Cosmetics, Toiletries to be Defined
The U.S. Agriculture Department is now applying its strict organic food standards to personal care products as well. There are hundreds of soaps, shampoos, skin creams, and cosmetics that call themselves organic, but until now those labels have...

Should I Have a Face Lift
Good question! A face lift is major surgery and surgery means blood, mess, discomfort, stitches and time out to recover. A face lift is expensive too. There are risks to consider, one is hematoma when the blood collects under the skin and...

The Maharishi Ayurveda Natural Medicine Approach to Beauty and Skin Care
The Maharishi Ayurveda Approach to Beauty and Skin Care The Three Pillars of Beauty Maharishi Ayurveda (MAV), the modern, consciousness-based revival of the ancient Ayurvedic medicine tradition, considers true beauty to be supported by three...

The Truth About Acne Skin Care
Let's face it, you are engaged in an ongoing battle when you are afflicted with acne. While acne treatments for a mild case of acne are usually successful, moderate acne is a greater problem. Even dermatologists cannot cure a severe case of acne but...

Turning Back Time With Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is very popular right now because people the world over are realizing that they can change the way they look and feel relatively easily with the help of a cosmetic dentist. If you were born with unattractive teeth, if they are...

What To Consider Before Having Hair Transplants
Before considering having a hair transplant you might want to realize that there are a lot of drawbacks to hair replacement procedures. These include scarring, a disfigurement called cobbling and the reluctance of the new hair to take to the scalp....

 
 
 
You're Having Cosmetic Surgery?

So you've had the consultation, scheduled your surgery, and arranged vacation time from work. The day before surgery, you'll probably pre-register at the surgery center or hospital, have blood taken to check your iron level and blood clotting abilities, and sign lots of paperwork and consent forms. You may have had pre-op markings done now, or your surgeon may wait until just before the procedure. Markings are done with permanent markers and help guide the surgeon during the procedure. (Body parts look and act differently when you are lying down compared to when you're standing up, so the surgeon needs to record exactly where those folds and contours are before you get on the operating table.)

One of the most difficult parts of surgery preparation is taking preoperative photos. It's hard to stand naked in front of someone you hardly know why he or she takes detailed photos of the body parts you are most self-conscience about. Just relax and know that the photographer has done this hundreds of times and will understand your nervousness. He or she will make you as comfortable as possible--both physically and emotionally.

You may be on a liquid diet today, or you may have been instructed not to eat anything after midnight. If you are prone to nausea with anesthesia, you may consider maintaining a liquid diet the day before surgery even if it isn't part of your pre-op instructions. Abstaining from solid food twenty-four hours prior to surgery often helps alleviate some of the queasiness many patients feel.

Hopefully you have strictly followed your doctor's instructions for preparing for surgery. It is important that you don't have any alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or blood-thinning medications in your system when you undergo surgery. These factors can negatively impact your

 


surgical procedure and your recovery. Alcohol, caffeine, and some medications can cause too much bleeding during and after surgery. Nicotine constricts blood flow to the tiny blood vessels in the skin and can keep you from healing properly. And don't think you can sneak and smoke--it will be obvious to your doctor if there is nicotine in your system.

Post surgical instructions are also critical for a good result. If you are instructed to refrain from exercise, lifting, and sexual activity, make sure that you abide by these instructions. These activities raise your blood pressure and can cause bleeding at surgical sites. If you are instructed to keep ice packs on surgical areas for the first twenty-four hours, be sure to switch them out frequently (have someone there to help you), so that they remain effective. The ice will make a huge difference in the amount of swelling you experience. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your post-surgery instructions, now is the time to discuss them with your doctor and staff. Tomorrow will be a very busy day for all of you, and you may forget any questions or discussion items that aren't settled now.

Now that you've handled all of these items, the only thing left to do is put aside the anxious anticipation and get a good night's rest. Tomorrow your only job is to show up. The surgeon, nurses, and staff will tend to every little detail to make your procedure go as smoothly as possible and to keep you relaxed and comfortable. Here's to a quick recovery and great results.

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Helping my visitors find Cosmetic Dentistry, Nursing Homes and cosmetic surgery tips.