FreshLook Cosmetic Colored Contact Lenses Review

FreshLook Cosmetic Colored Contact lenses - The World's Best Selling Cosmetic Contact Lenses

Do you want to change, enhance or illuminate your eye color?

Nowadays even if you have a perfect vision, you will be able to use Cosmetic lenses to enhance your overall appearance.

Contact lens Company like Ciba Vision has since design and produce several cosmetic lenses that is cater to suits any individual needs and requirement.

Below are the 3 major cosmetic contact lenses from Ciba vision:

1. FRESHLOOK簧 ONE DAY

Freshlook One day is designed with the comfort and convenience of Focus dailies and combines the patented 3 in 1 technology from the beauty of Freshlook colorblends.

FRESHLOOK簧 ONE DAY are available in 4 beautiful shades - Gray, Pure Hazel, Blue and Green. With the daily use application, you will be able to use a fresh new pair daily and explore different personalities every day.

2. FRESHLOOK簧 COLOURBLENDS

Freshlook colorblends has patented three-in-one technology that blends three colors into one to create the most natural, subtle eye color change for a beautiful look.

Freshlook colorblends are available in 12 exciting colors -, Green, Brown Blue, Honey, Turquoise, Gray, Amethyst, True Sapphire, Pure Hazel and the latest 'Vibrant' additions - Sterling Gray, Gemstone Green and Brilliant Blue.

3. FRESHLOOK簧 ILLUMINATE

FRESHLOOK簧 ILLUMINATE is designed Asian eyes, for a natural look.

They are designed with unique starburst pattern that will blend the colored ring into the iris of the eyes to make eyes naturally larger and more attractive.

Freshlook illuminate consist of a Special dual-layer color printing technology that enhances all shades of Asian eyes. This unique color of the lens will compliment with light to blend to the shade of the wearer's eye for a subtle and natural look.

Freshlook Illuminate lenses are so natural-looking; you can wear them every day!

Always ask your eye care professional for advice or for more information regarding the suitability of the cosmetic contact lenses

Professional Cosmetic Colored contact lenses resources online; http://www.contactlensxchange.com

Treatments Your Cosmetic Dentist Can Do for You

If you are concerned about your appearance because of your teeth, you might need a cosmetic dentist to help you with that. A cosmetic dentist is responsible for improving a person's facial features by focusing on the dental attributes of that person. You will benefit from the assistance of a cosmetic dentist if you need to boost your confidence with a beautiful smile. A cosmetic dentist offers different types of treatments. Here are some of them.

Veneers

Veneers are artificial teeth enhancers. They are made of porcelain to replicate the natural appearance of the teeth. They are also very thin so that they may fit the teeth without making them bulge. A veneer is actually designed to be placed over a damaged or chipped tooth. They can also be adjusted to take the shade of your natural teeth. Once they are placed, check their color. If you are not satisfied, ask your doctor to enhance the color before they are cemented.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is very popular among actors and actresses. Because these people are supposed to look gorgeous in front of the public, they make an effort to appear flawless. They go to a cosmetic dentist to get their teeth whitened. Although there are many available teeth whitening products available in the market, the product and the method used by a dentist is still the most reliable and effective option. If you have undergone teeth whitening treatment, you should refrain from eating foods that may discolor your teeth. You must not also eat or drink anything that is extremely hot or cold.

Crowns

A crown is an artificial tooth that is specifically made to look like a normal tooth. It is placed over another tooth to create a more pleasing dental appearance. Before this crown is placed, the tooth is reshaped so that the crown will fit perfectly on it. The crown is also assessed to make sure that once it is placed, the patient won't feel uncomfortable with it. It is also securely inserted to permanently fasten it.

Dental bridges

A dental bridge is another artificial replacement of a missing or damaged tooth. It is a false tooth that is permanently placed in a fixed position. It is attached protectively to the teeth so that it cannot be removed easily. While dentures can be removed, dental bridges are fastened and cannot be taken out by any simple methods. You will need the assistance of a dentist if you want to take off your dental bridges.

Everyone wants to have a beautiful smile to enhance a person's facial features. A smile is the most inexpensive accessory you can have. However, if you don't have nice teeth, it is difficult to flash an irresistible smile. It will also be costly if you need to get treatment for your dental needs. So if you want to save money for any possible dental treatment, take care of your oral health. Practice proper oral hygiene and do not forget to visit your dentist regularly.

Cosmetic Surgery and the Benefits of Lasers

When the first lasers (Light wave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) were invented few people envisaged that its applications would be directed towards the treatment of humans. And yet it has. Today, the use of lasers is applied in different ways towards making the lives of people all over the world much better. For instance, people are able to enjoy improved communication between their electronics because of its use. They are also able enjoy its many medical benefits for example a number of clinics across the country offer the option of laser surgery Philadelphia. Surgical practices involving the use of lasers have increased greatly in recent years. These range from simple eye surgeries to those of cosmetic surgery, Philadelphia.

Lasers today are used in a wide range of surgical procedures. They are commonly applied in those requiring cosmetic improvements such as the fields of dentistry, dermatology and head and neck surgery. The use of lasers in these procedures permit surgeons to achieve the desire results with a reduction in blood loss, less risks of injuries and a faster recovery time amongst patients.

However not every surgery with the use of a laser has to involve a scalpel. When used as the focal instrument, the actions of a laser are non invasive and mostly pain free. It is because of this that they have gained prominence in the field of medical cosmetics. For dermatologists, lasers are the primary instrument used in the reduction of wrinkles on the face of a person. With its focused actions, lasers can be used to soften many of the wrinkles found on the face. Lasers can also be used for the removal of many of the scars or blemishes found on the face. Blemishes such as these are often triggered by the presence of abnormal blood vessels. Many of these blood vessels can either be removed or softened with the use of lasers. Alongside scars and birth marks, people are also able to have tattoos, warts and spider veins reduced with the surgical actions of a laser. The removal of these blemishes might however require one or multiple sessions depending on the depth and degree of the blemish.

Lasers are also used for the removal of many of the skin lesions that might occur. Such procedures are bloodless and are made possible because of the water that is found present in the cells of the skin. For people who require smoother skin, cosmetic layers can either be used in the removal or introduction of body hair.

There are simply too many cosmetic advantages that can be gained with a laser. Today, there are a number of dermatological clinics which offer specialized treatments for people who require laser procedures. Because these treatments are bloodless and non invasive, most people are able to return to their lives immediately after the procedure is completed. In order to benefit from the best possible treatment, it is recommended that people only use the services of competent and well qualified dermatologist surgeons or plastic surgeons.

What Are the Most Common Cosmetic Surgery Procedures?

Cosmetic surgery is here to stay. More than ever before, people are resorting to plastic surgery to improve their appearance. The most common cosmetic surgery procedures are rhytidectomy (facelift surgery), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), rhinoplasty (nasal surgery), breast augmentation and breast lift, abdominoplasty, buttock enhancement, and liposuction.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery for the Face

The following procedures improve the facial appearance by minimizing the effects of wrinkles and sagging tissue and enhancing the facial contour:

• Rhytidectomy (Facelift): A facelift can be done at any age. Usually, people between age 40 and 70 consider this option. It corrects the problem of excess skin in the forehead, upper face, jowls, chin and neck and tightens the facial muscles. Small incisions are made along the hairline or other areas around the face to correct various issues. A forehead lift reduces wrinkles, lines and furrows on the forehead and corrects overlying skin folds and drooping brows. Thin upper lips can be treated by the injection of fat grafts or by implanting Alloderm grafts. Chin augmentation can improve the chin contour by the insertion of an implant and chin bone reduction surgery. The loss of muscle tone that leads to jowls can also be corrected with facelift surgery. Eyelid surgery aims at removing crease and fat in the upper and lower eyelids.

• Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): This procedure is done to improve the appearance of sagging eyelids, a problem that occurs with age. Pockets of fatty tissue in the upper eyelids are removed. The lower eyelids are addressed by removing or repositioning excess fat. Blepharoplasty results in crisper looking eyes and a more alert expression.

• Rhinoplasty (nasal surgery): A rhinoplasty or nose job gives you a more aesthetically appealing nose. This nasal surgery can correct dorsal fullness, a distorted nasal tip, a hump, asymmetry, and nostrils that are too wide.

Plastic Surgery for a Better Looking Body

People go in for surgical procedures for a better looking body. Some of the popular surgical procedures for an enhanced physique are:

• Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift: Women go in for breast augmentation to enhance the size of their breasts. It involves the placing of saline or silicone implants for more proportionately sized breasts and improved breast volume. A breast lift or mastopexy raises and improves breast contour by removing excess skin and repositioning the nipple higher.

• Abdominoplasty: This is a popular surgical procedure that gives your abdomen a flatter, sleeker and toned look. The tummy tuck, as abdominoplasty is also called, removes stubborn fat and skin from the abdomen, tightens the abdominal walls and removes stretch marks if any.

• Buttock enhancement: Cosmetic surgery for the buttocks enhances their shape, making them fuller and rounder. The Brazilian butt lift involves removing fat from one part of the body and injecting it into the buttocks to give them a better volume and shape.

While all of the above-mentioned cosmetic plastic surgery procedures are suitable for women, the options that men can benefit from (but are not limited to) include brow lift, face lift, arm lift, tummy tuck, thigh lift, breast reduction, rhinoplasty, and buttock enhancement.

Liposuction for Localized Fat Loss

If diet and exercise fail to work when it comes to the fat in specific areas like the chin, abdomen, hips, thighs, upper arms, buttocks, back, knees, jowls, and neck, then liposuction is the answer. There are various techniques such as tumescent liposuction, ultrasound liposuction, power-assisted liposuction, and laser liposuction. Laser liposuction uses laser energy to disrupt fat, which is then suctioned off. The laser-assisted technique offers excellent results with the least side-effects.

The best way to learn more about the most common cosmetic surgery procedures is to consult an experienced plastic surgeon. Established surgeons with AAAASF-accredited plastic surgery centers offer most of these options and more.

Cosmetic Regulations For Personal Care Products

Cosmetic regulation is a misnomer. The FDA (Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) was created in 1938 and is the designated government agency that should control the Cosmetic Industry as well as the Food and Drug Industries. However, although it does a fair job in food and drugs, it virtually has turned its back on cosmetics and allows it to govern itself.

Cosmetics have a very rich history and from the time of the Egyptians to current day the obsession for fair, beautiful skin has helped this industry to grow and prosper to over 50 billion dollars annually. The Cosmetic Industry, in all countries, is controlled by government bodies and agencies. These agencies presumably are in place for the purpose of keeping a tab on the quality of cosmetic products that are being produced. Cosmetic regulation of personal care products that are produced is the primary responsibility of these bodies. Therefore, in theory at best, US cosmetic regulations for personal care products rests with the FDA.

The question becomes is the FDA truly regulating or governing the Cosmetic Industry?.

The regulations framed under the FDA are quite similar to other countries but there are certain unique features. Though one of the FDA's functions is to regulate the Cosmetic Industry, it gives more emphasis on the regulation of food and drugs. For drugs that are manufactured in the US, prior to their release into the market, they will require the necessary certification from the FDA. However, because personal care products are not considered to be food or drugs, they require no prior certification by the FDA or any other governing body before they are introduced into the marketplace. In fact, the FDA relies solely on the discretion of the cosmetic companies to determine the safety of products marketed to consumers. If the cosmetic company says their new product is safe, it is allowed to go to market without any pre-market testing. Therefore, in effect, cosmetic regulation is left up to the cosmetic companies and thus, is a self-regulating industry.

The following are direct quotes from the FDA website:

"Cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA pre-market approval authority, with the exception of color additives."

"Cosmetic firms are responsible for substantiating the safety of their products and ingredients before marketing."

According to the FDA there are specific definitions for cosmetics and drugs and one must first go through them to understand the fine difference that exists. Cosmetics are the articles that are sprinkled, poured, applied or rubbed on the body to clean, promote, beautify or even alter one's appearance. Some of the products that fall under this category are perfumes, hair colors, toothpastes, lipsticks, eye and facial makeup, shampoos, fingernail polishes, skin moisturizers, permanent waves, and deodorants. This even includes the ingredients that may be used as a component to manufacture the cosmetic products.

Regarding these ingredients used in the manufacture of personal care products, there is another act known as The Substances Control Act of 1976. This act grandfathered in 62,000 chemicals in existence up to 1976. Of all new chemicals submitted for approval, their record indicates that over 80% are approved within three weeks and only five chemicals are known to have been restricted or banned. It should also be made known that no pre-testing on animals and/or humans is required before submitting a chemical for approval. Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Union has banned over 1100 toxic ingredients used in the manufacture of cosmetic products. Now, with this in mind, let's apply this knowledge to the FDA and its control, or the lack thereof, relative to the Cosmetic Industry.

We know that the FDA allows the Cosmetic Industry to police itself. In fact, if cosmetic companies do not even have to register with the FDA, and if these companies are not required to get approval by the FDA of new products to market, and if these companies do not have to identify the ingredients used in the manufacture of their personal care products, and if these ingredients can be approved by The Substance Control Act of 1976 within three weeks without any pre-testing, then it is safe to say the only conclusion to arrive at is, the Cosmetic Industry is out of control. After all, if no one is in control of cosmetic companies, it only stands to reason, that the industry is out of control. It's interests lie in sales and profits and not in the well bring of their consumers. Cosmetic regulation is virtually non-existent and, therefore, places the burden of safety directly on the shoulders of consumers. The toxic ingredients in cosmetic products has been discussed in depth in some of my previous articles. The consumer must read labels and research ingredients themselves to insure the safety of the product and not rely on any government agency for the regulation of personal care products.

How Much Does Plastic Surgery Cost?

Beauty does have its cost, and when you are looking into plastic surgery, you should definitely make yourself aware of the actual cost of the procedure you want done before calling any surgeon's office. Everyone has had a friend who claimed to pay $1,000 for breast implants or $3,000 for a nose job, but most of the time, these discounted plastic surgeons are a really bad idea. After all, this is your body, and even bad work you have done will be permanent, or at least will cost a lot of money to be able to fix.

For this reason, it is never worth going to a non-accredited, cut-rate facility to get work done. We have all seen celebrities who have paid good money and still had horrible work done, so why make the whole process even more risky that it already is?

Make sure you know how much a procedure should really cost when done right.

Getting work done can also seem relatively inexpensive when you are just looking at the cost of the surgeon. But like any surgery being done, whether it be out of medical necessity or aesthetic preference, there are other fees you will have to pay for anesthesia, the use of the operating room, and the cost of implants.

The price estimates you see mentioned below are all-inclusive, taking into account any fee you might incur, as well as the cost of the surgeon. However, if you simply call a surgeon who you were considering going to and ask for a quote, they will probably only quote you the surgeon fee. When you call, be sure and ask about those other fees so you get a clear idea of how much the work really will cost.

The cost of plastic surgery is generally the same anywhere in the US.

It is interesting to note that the price of any procedure is relatively static, no matter where you go in the United States. Of course, there are doctors in Hollywood and Beverly Hills whose services may cost much more. Any particularly famous plastic surgeon may charge quite a bit more than the price you see quoted below. But the following estimates are about how much it should cost to go to a good surgeon almost anywhere in the US.

-Botox costs anywhere from $200-$400 per area that you want done.

-collagen injections range from $500-$1500 per area.

-permanent eyeliner or lip liner costs anywhere from $300-$1000.

-getting rid of a tattoo with a laser costs $300-$800.

-getting rid of spider veins with a laser costs $400-$1000.

-hair removal with a laser costs $300-$800.

-a tummy tuck costs $6000-$8000.

-liposuction costs depend on how much of your body you want it done on. If you only have 1 area done, it costs $2500-$4500. 3 areas cost $5500-$7000, and 5 areas costs $8000-$10,000.

-breast augmentation with silicone implants costs $6000-$8000, and a breast lift costs $5000-$6000.

-for men, pectoral implants cost $6000-$7000.

-chin or cheek implants range from $3000 to $4500.

-a nose job costs $5000-$6000.

-an eyelid tuck (for both upper and lower lids) costs $4000-$5,500.

-an entire face lift costs $7000-$9000.

-just a forehead lift only costs $3500-$5000.

-if you want your lips augmented, that is $600-$2000.

-a deep chemical peel is $3500-$5000.

-dermabrasion is $2000-$4000.

and finally, labiaplasty is $2500-$4000.

So, if the surgeon you are looking into going to is always at the upper range of these prices, or even higher, you may want to consider going to a different surgeon. But, just like when you find an honest car mechanic that knows what they are doing, the higher price for a really good surgeon may be worth it in the long run.

Plastic Surgery Enhances More Than Your Appearance

An integral part of leading a healthy and active lifestyle is looking as good as you feel. If you care about keeping in good shape physically and do make the effort to maintain a healthy diet you will go a long way towards maintaining a young and attractive image. However, sun damage, weight fluctuations, health issues, and (for women) pregnancy, will eventually take their toll on your body. That's where plastic surgery can play a significant part in helping you maintain or enhance a healthy lifestyle.

The obvious benefit of plastic surgery is that it can improve your physical appearance, but there are emotional benefits as well. Improving or correcting one aspect of your body you've always felt self-conscious about can help you to appear visibly younger and/or in better shape which in turn will also improve your self-esteem and confidence.

According to one Miami plastic surgeon, "Many of my patients who have had plastic surgery afterwards tend to be more active, healthier, and more involved in living life to its fullest than they were previously, and when compared to most people in their same age group."

Throughout the plastic surgery process patients are given strict directions on things they can and cannot do in order to make sure they have the safest and best experience and results. Things such as refraining from drinking alcohol and smoking are extremely important for an optimal recovery and result. Cosmetic surgery is not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise. They actually go hand in hand with plastic surgery to obtain the best possible results. Throughout the recovery period your surgeon will you instruct and encourage you to maintain an exercise routine and a healthy diet.

"After surgery and when their results are really becoming evident, the most common question I get from my patients is, "Can I go to the gym?", says Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer.

Most patients will be so delighted with the results of their plastic surgery that they will be instantly motivated to make important changes in their diet and exercise and activity level. Simply being able to wear more revealing clothing following breast augmentation or liposuction or showing off a new hair style to complement their new nose can give patients a renewed vitality that carries over into a resolve to change unhealthy habits and adopt a new and healthier lifestyle.

It is important to consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your plastic surgery options. Deciding to have surgery is an important and very personal part of how you see yourself and how surgery can enhance your specific lifestyle. It is important to follow the given instructions both pre- and post-operatively not just for your safety but so you can obtain the best possible results.

Your improved self-image and satisfaction with your improved appearance can lead to a healthier and more active lifestyle as your mind and body work together to enhance your life as a whole. For some patients, plastic surgery may be a turning point or new beginning at some pivotal point in their lives, so finding and speaking to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon can be your first step towards an improved look, outlook, and a healthier and happier lifestyle.

How Safe Is Plastic Surgery? Dangers of Cosmetic Procedures

Many people wonder every day whether plastic surgery is truly safe as well as how safe a cosmetic surgery procedure truly is. The fact of the matter which one must always keep in mind is that a cosmetic surgery procedure is just that, a surgical procedure and although it is no longer considered to be experimental, it still caries with it certain risks and possibilities of various complications. The only real difference between it and other forms of surgery is the fact that it is elective. What this means is that it is not a necessary surgical procedure which offers any real form of medical health improvement. If it does, then it is not considered plastic surgery but rather reconstructive surgery.

Furthermore, much like any surgical procedure, the safety issues which have brought up a number of concerns is usually attributed to the patient's selection of surgeons. All to often a story comes up in the newspaper that this person or that person underwent a plastic surgery and it was botched. Upon further digging, in many cases it was found out that the patient in an attempt to save some money chose a not so legitimate person to perform the procedure. This is even the case in many high profile persons and their close family members. On top of all of this, you have to check the background of the surgeon. Selecting an inexperienced surgeon is probably the worst thing you can do. An inexperienced plastic surgeon has a higher possibility of messing things up and botching the plastic surgery.

So basically, the concept of plastic surgery being safe all comes down to you, the patient. When looking into surgery it is important to interview several surgeons. Much like an employment interview, your goal is to find the most qualified surgeon you can get and attempting to cut corners in the cost department by selecting a surgeon who may be less than qualified is no one's fault but your own.

Make sure that the surgeon has performed the procedure in the past, check out the before and after photographs of their past patients. From these photographs you will be able to judge the surgeon's artistic skills. Furthermore you will want to make sure that the plastic surgeon is a certified member of the Board of Plastic Surgeons and that his or her certification is in the particular field of surgery that you want performed. All of these things will help you ensure that the surgeon is capable of performing the procedure without any major issues which leaves the only real possibilities of complications to you body's own anatomy.

Natural Skin Care Products - A Reality Check

Your face is what people see when they meet and greet you. Your face becomes even more prominent in the winter months when the rest of your body is covered with long sleeves and trousers. For some reason, we tend to pay more attention to our faces as the daylight hours get shorter and we make note of the wrinkles.

That is usually the signal to embrace a new skin care regimen.

The end result - we spend lots of money on products that we believe will reduce some of the finer wrinkles and give our skin a better looking appearance.

The trend this year in skin care products is to go natural.( If you think about it, to say you want to go green in skin care products doesn't elicit a very pleasing vision.)

One of the problems with natural products, however, is they often cost more than products already on the shelf. By the same token, most of us will rationalize the cost by declaring we are willing to pay more if the natural products work better and do not create an allergic reaction.

We may be in for a surprise! Buying these pricey products for gentler, problem-free skin care may not necessarily be a better option.

"The perception is that natural ingredients are more pure and kinder to skin than something made in the lab, but nothing could be farther from the truth," says dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD, past president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.

It is true that not all artificial ingredients are harmful. Just because something synthetic is an ingredient is not enough reason to stop purchasing a particular product. The fact is most skin care products are a combination of natural and artificial ingredients and they do not cause any problems.

Many of us have decided to go natural because we have been told to avoid certain ingredients that may be harmful to our skin and even more so as we age. These include preservatives and other ingredients such as petrochemicals. The trouble is that purchasing a natural product doesn't guarantee you won't find those ingredients in the product. There are no government regulations to date about what natural products can contain and cannot contain.

Besides, even an all-natural product can cause an allergic reaction. For example, the popular natural ingredients such as tea tree oil, feverfew, lavender and jasmine brought on allergic or sensitivity responses in some people.

What is important before you buy any skin care product is that you research it. Check each ingredient by looking at the label. Know what you may be sensitive to even if it is listed as a natural ingredient.

History of Cosmetic Surgery

The ancient Greeks and Romans have been credited with performing some of the first, albeit basic, plastic surgery operations. They were known for repair type procedures for battle wounds done out of military necessity. While this seems a far cry from modern day aesthetic surgery, it has also been found that there is evidence of rhinoplasty in India from the same and earlier periods. Cosmetic surgery has a long and extensive history around the world, even if modern cosmetic surgery is only recently surging in popularity.

There are definitely more operations done because of vanity, because a person wants to look a certain way, than because they need to have something fixed that has gone wrong. Even so, many of the techniques used in modern cosmetic surgery, particularly facial surgery, were borne of military necessity on the field of battle as far back as WWI. The situations that arose in these battlefield procedures could be quite dire, and prompted a good bit of experimentation because - as harsh as it is - there was sometimes little to be lost from the attempts. Reconstructive surgery and skin grafting techniques grew in leaps and bounds during this period.

There is a famous British sailor who is known as the first person to have benefited from plastic surgery, though that title is admittedly a little dubious. Scarred and injured in battle in 1916, Walter Yeo had major damage done to both his eyes and mouth. His injuries were covered by a skin graft over his eyes and mouth. It was not attractive but it was functional.

Now it takes much less convincing to have a procedure done. There is a certain obsession with cosmetic surgery in the US and the Western World, and it is reaching greater and greater heights every year. In 2011, in the US alone, there were 1,638,524 surgical cosmetic procedures (according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). This is roughly double what it was about ten years prior. The number is climbing, still.

In the future I believe that we will continue to see more and more plastic surgery as it becomes more common throughout the generations. When children think that it is normal for their mother to have a lift at 45 and their dad to have calf implants, they'll think nothing of doing the same and maybe more when they are grown. And that process will repeat exponentially throughout generations - not to mention that procedures will inevitably come down in price as technology and technical skill of the industry increases.

The most common operations now are breast implants, chin implants, facelifts, and liposuction. While plastic surgery gets bigger and bigger in popularity, people consider their alternatives less and they are perhaps more eager to get a surgical operation. It remains to be seen whether this will truly be in the best interest of our culture or not.

How Plastic Surgery Can Be Helpful for You

Plastic surgery sometimes gets a bad rap. When people think about plastic surgery, they might think about "The Real Housewives" show or celebrities in Hollywood getting cosmetic procedures. The whole thing kind of has a negative or superfluous connotation. People might think that these procedures are only used by people who are rich, who are scared of aging, or who are self-conscious about their appearance. But this is not just what plastic surgery is used for.

It is actually more often concerned with restoring something that was damaged or was never completely correct. Instead of being used for just superfluous things that people want to change about themselves, it can be used to genuinely help people. It is often used in hand or microsurgery, and to treat burns. I think that it is also used for things like hair lips, which can negatively affect both the way that people perceive them and their health.

Amazingly, reconstructive techniques have been around since eight-hundred BC. It was first used in India. Romans and ancient Egyptians also performed these types of surgeries. Because it was against the Roman religion to dissect humans or animals, they only did these kinds of surgeries for simple things like helping fix or restore ears.

It was used extensively in World War I to help soldiers who had suffered from disfiguring injuries while fighting in the war. It was important to try to help those soldiers fit back into normal life, not just psychologically but physically. Injuries like that could haunt people and give them a constant reminder of the pain they went through. Then in World War II, surgeons were able to pioneer different treatments for people that suffered severe burns during combat. Again, these procedures helped restore these soldiers, and later other people, back to what they looked like before they were injured.

So in many ways, plastic surgery can be used to truly help people. It can help repair birth defects like hair lips. Or it can help a person recover from a disfiguring injury like a severe burn or a dog bite. These procedures can help people feel better about themselves and make them look more acceptable in society. It can raise people's self-esteem. Just as importantly, it can help them regain normal functions of a human.

Even the cosmetic branch can be helpful. There are some women who have large breasts and they no longer want them to be that big. It can cause them back problems and self-esteem problems. They might feel like they don't quite fit in. So having a breast reduction can truly help them, both with physical problems and self-esteem problems. Also, for other cosmetic surgeries like a tummy tuck or a face-lift, it can give someone the self-confidence to go out in the world and live life. It can also help them love themselves more. Though people might think it's ridiculous, these types of procedures can be very helpful for a person, both physically and mentally.

Look and Feel Years Younger With FDA-Approved, Non-Invasive Cosmetic Procedures

Photorejuvenation, laser hair removal

Recent breakthroughs in laser technology and photo rejuvenation can erase years off your age without costly and invasive surgical procedures and with no downtime. According to the International Spa Association, non-invasive cosmetic procedures have tripled in the last five years. This is due, primarily, to the successful introduction of laser and photo rejuvenation technology for skin care, which is safe, effective, non-invasive, and causes nearly no downtime. Some of these non-invasive cosmetic procedures can be combined for better results in a physicians office.

Photorejuvenation process using IPL represents a breakthrough in age-defying skin care. Photorejuvenation IPL skin treatments are safe, effective, and a popular way to improve the signs of aging on the face, neck, chest, arms, and hands. This is an office procedure performed by a physician or trained medical staff member and typically requires four to six sessions of about 20 minutes each, performed at three to four week intervals. Photo rejuvenation technology can provide dramatic results for a variety of benign conditions, including age spots, sun-induced circles, symptoms of rosacea, birthmarks, unsightly veins, acne scarring, and other blemishes. Photorejuvenation skin treatment can be used in conjunction with Botox?, Restylane?, and microdermabrasion. Photorejuvenation is slowly and gradually reducing the number of facelifts that are performed because most facelifts and other surgical procedures are too invasive for younger patients and baby boomers, who simply want to revitalize their appearance without recovery downtime. Photorejuvenation can be used in conjunction with some medications to treat long-lasting acne in teenagers and adults.

Top Reason Why People Get Cosmetic Surgery

Coping With Life Changes

Lots of things in life come our way that we don't expect some are positive, and some are negative. We may be dealing with a major lifestyle change, such as divorce or the death of a spouse. We may be about to get married. These and many other types of lifestyle changes prompt people to consider cosmetic surgery as a positive and restorative choice. There are as many stories as people, and we may have a story of our own that motivates us at some point in our life to think about cosmetic surgery.

Your Body After Childbirth

We may identify with the young mothers who come to plastic surgeons complaining about the changes in their breasts and tummies. Childbearing takes its toll, and exercise and dieting can only do so much. Today's fashions emphasize breasts and tummies, and if the breasts are saggy and our tummy skin is wrinkled, then we may want to do something about it.

Extra Fat and Excess Skin

Although we may exercise and eat right, but no matter what we do, we can't get rid of pockets of excess fat or excess skin. This is where cosmetic surgery really shines. Both male and female patients come to plastic surgeons with these issues. If the issue is localized fat deposits, liposuction can be very helpful. If concerned about excess skin, common procedures for women are breast and tummy surgery. Women and an increasing number of men are seeking eyelid and facial/neck surgery to remove excess skin and to give them a fresher, younger look.

Dealing With Excess Skin After Losing Weight

More and more people are having gastric bypass surgery or losing massive amounts of weight. If we lose 75 to 100 pounds or more, we may well be able to hide the excess skin under some clothes, but we'll probably never be happy until the unwanted skin is removed. Sometimes losing as little as 10 or 20 pounds can cause severe skin excess in the breasts or abdomen. Exercise almost never helps shrink the skin following large weight loss. And the more weight you lose, the greater the excess skin problem.

Restoration of Attraction and Sexiness

We may be dealing with changes in our body that affect our feelings about ourselves and find that these feelings carry into our sex life. We're less will­ing to be seen or touched. Our enjoyment of intimacy is reduced, and we don't like feeling that way. Any number of issues can stimulate these feelings, but certain cosmetic procedures, including breast surgery, body contouring procedures, and facial procedures, may help restore our self image and our enjoyment of sex. Patients who have cosmetic surgery for this reason often say, "I'm so happy with how I feel about myself, and now the romance is back in our relationship."

How to Lose Fat

What exactly is fat and is it true there are different types?

When doctors refer to fat, they generally refer to energy storage adipose tissue that is stored under the skin and this is the only layer in which most treatments such as SmartLipo, Vaser and conventional liposuction takes place. Liposuction is not used to remove deeper abdominal fat or the type of fat found surrounding the eye sockets, etc. Most doctors agree that fat is deposited in the abdomen and limbs in either a superficial or a deep layer. The superficial layer is denser and it contains fibrous tissue. The deeper fat layer is less dense and it contains less fibrous tissue.

We all have bits of fat that will not disappear after dieting but will go with fat injections. What are they?
The Flabjab injections, or Lipodissolve, is an injectable treatment that was pioneered by doctors in South America some years ago. Depending on who you talk to, it has been described some as a medicine to be banned or by others as the "greatest discovery in cosmetic medicine since Botox". It has recently been portrayed in the world media as the treatment method used by Britney Spears to lose over 2 stone weight.

Would you prescribe weight loss tablets and how do they work?

Yes, I do. There are 2 or 3 main types that are used. Most are of moderate use and many people hanker back to a previous time of using amphetamines. We presently use Reductil, Xenical and Acomplia capsules. Reductil contains the active ingredient sibutramine, which works by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain. It is thought that sibutramine helps people to lose weight by increasing the amount of noradrenaline and serotonin free to act in the brain. This enhances the feeling of fulfillment from eating, and so makes you feel satisfied after eating less food. Reductil is only licensed to aid weight loss in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and people with a BMI of 27 or higher who also have other obesity related risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.

How does Lipodissolve" work?

Fat dissolving injections initiate a process during which fat is melted away and then eliminated from the body via normal metabolic process. The treatment generally requires multiple injections directly into the area concerned. The majority of patients require two to three treatment sessions to achieve their desired results. Lipodissolve can be used on a variety of areas of the body including the arms, chin, belly, and legs. It can also be used as a method for removing fat deposits that remain unaffected by diet and exercise and as an effective technique for treating cellulite. The Lipodissolve" injection results in healthy skin that actually tightens around the injection site of, creating a firmer, more toned appearance without the need for lift or tuck surgery. Some practitioners have developed exceptional skills in placing the active compound (phosphatidylcholine) into fat pads under eyes in order to remove them and reduce the requirement for blepharoplasty surgery.

Has Lipodissolve" treatment any risks?

The Lipodissolve" procedure has a very good safety record with no reported instances of permanent or life-threatening complications.The most serious risks theoretically include possible interaction with a pre-existing medical condition such as cancer or diabetes, or, in rare instances, an allergic reaction to the solution itself. Minor side effects include temporary lumps, bruising, and skin tenderness, which may occur at the sites of injection. In all cases, these were temporary and generally subsided within a few days.

How much does it cost?

Lipodissolve" is one of the most cost-effective means of achieving fat reduction, as treatments usually cost about ¬300 per session. Sometimes you will require 2-4 sessions. Removal of eye bags costs about ¬350 per session but this procedure is not presently covered by medical insurance. You can find a doctor, who is properly trained and experienced in performing the Lipodissolve" procedure by visiting http://www.network-lipolysis.com and looking under physicians.

Can you tell us about UltraShape®

UltraShape is the first safe and surgery-free body contouring treatment to successfully remove fat cells using ultrasound technology for effective and visible results. It is suitable for removing unwanted fat from the abdomen, inner and outer thighs and flanks. It is a non-invasive procedure requiring no anaesthetic needles or down time. The treatment is performed by a doctor or nurse, taking as little as one hour. After a single treatment, an average circumference reduction of 2.5cm is observed, equivalent to one dress size.

How does it work?

The UltraShape treatment uses high energy focused ultrasound technology to remove unwanted fat. An ultrasound beam selectively targets fat cells in the chosen body region, and disrupts them without harming surrounding nerves, blood vessels or skin. During the treatment, the fat cell membranes are disrupted and dispersed into the fluid between the cells before being transported through the vascular and lymphatic systems to the liver. Once in the liver, there is no distinction between fat coming from the UltraShape treatment and the fat originating from consumed food. They are both cleared from the liver via the body's natural mechanisms. Patients may experience some redness and a mild swelling to the treated area(s), but this should subside within a few hours.

How much does it cost?

UltraShape normally costs 700 per treatment area and 1,200 for two. Most patients would have more than one treatment area and may require multiple sessions.

What is SmartLipo?

Smartlipo is a laser lipolysis procedure, recently popularised by Jade Goody from Celebrity Big Brother. As SmartLipo is performed under a local anesthetic, it is proving to be a very popular treatment with less downtime and side-effects than traditional liposuction. I believe there will be a major market for this in Ireland and I was the first doctor trained to perform this technique in this country. It is used for body contouring and uses a fine cannula to deliver a safe, powerful laser to heat the fat cells, causing them to break down. The fat deposits are simply absorbed and pass out of the body, naturally.

How does the SmartLipo procedure work?

A very small cannula (tube) approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm in diameter containing a laser fibre is inserted into the skin. The cannula is moved back and forth delivering the laser's energy directly to the fat cells, causing them to rupture and easily drain away. The laser energy also interacts with the dermis, resulting in collagen shrinkage to give a smooth, sculptured finish. Due to the cannula's small size, SmartLipo is a minimally invasive procedure and can be performed under local anesthesia. The laser causes small blood vessels to coagulate immediately on contact, resulting in less bleeding, swelling and bruising - and a quicker recovery time than conventional liposuction. Because general anesthesia is unnecessary, the procedure is very safe, with only minimal side effects.

What body regions can be treated with SmartLipo?

SmartLipo is ideal for treating small areas of the face, neck, arms, breasts (gynaecomastia), and areas of loose and flabby skin (floppy skin). It can be an adjunct to traditional liposuction procedures; although I feel it will never replace conventional liposuction. Ideal candidates are in good health, of normal body weight and have realistic expectations for the results. For most patients, typically only one treatment is required. The session may last from 45 minutes to one hour for each area treated. One, two or three areas can be treated at a single session. Overall cost depends on the extent of the treatment. These are usually in the range ¬2,000.

What is VASER Liposelection®?

VASER LipoSelection® is a new and very different way to precisely and efficiently remove unwanted fat. It is an alternative to the harsh techniques of traditional liposuction; using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology to break up fat while leaving surrounding tissue - such as nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue - relatively intact. Patients report highly satisfactory results and low to minimal pain*.

How does it work?

High frequency sound energy emitted by the VASER system breaks up fat on contact while leaving surrounding tissues relatively intact. The fragmented fat flows into the wetting solution and is extracted through suction and massage. This process results in smooth, predictable outcomes. Doctors have experienced great success in treating all of the following areas: abdomen, thighs, knees, buttocks, hips, back, arms, male breasts, love handles, chin and neck areas.

What happens during the VASER LipoSelection® procedure?

First, the area to be sculpted is filled with a special infusion of ligocaine and saline solution that helps numb the site and shrink the blood vessels (to minimise blood loss and reduce bruising). This solution wets and fills the area to be treated, making fat easier to break up with the VASER System's sound energy. Then a small probe transmits sound energy (similar to that used for cataract removal in the eye) that breaks up fat on contact, while leaving other important tissues relatively intact. Finally, suction and massage of the sculpted site removes the emulsified fat quickly.

How much fat can be taken?

There are limits to how much fatty tissue can be safely taken from the body. One way to get a good idea for yourself is to stand and bend from the waist. The amount of "loose-hanging" fat you can easily grab above / below your waist will approximate what can be removed. Bear in mind that this procedure is not intended as a weight loss solution. The goal is to create a slimmer silhouette. You may not notice a significant amount of weight loss, but should be pleased with your slimmer new shape.

How much does Vaser cost?

As with other treatments, costs can vary among surgeons and depending upon the specific nature of the treatment (location of fat pocket, number of treatment sites, extensiveness of treatment, etc.). Vaser usually costs about ¬4,000, which is the same price as conventional liposuction. After talking many patients, I have found that most would readily pay a few hundred euros more to obtain the benefits of the LipoSelection procedure.

What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty or liposculpture is a procedure used to remove unwanted localised fat deposits from certain areas of the body, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck.

Does Liposuction remove all types of fat?

No, traditional liposuction treatment involves removal of the deeper layers of fat but not the type found around the intestines. Superficial liposuction is used to try and improve skin contour in patients with cellulite or flaccid skin in specific areas. Areas that have an abnormal ratio of superficial to deep fat need to be treated with caution include the gluteal and thigh areas. These areas become important in avoiding potential complications during liposuction as they have increased risk of contour deformities due to minimal amounts of deep fat and adherence of the more superficial layer to the underlying skin. The type of abdominal fat has also to be assessed and appraised properly as many males have a lot of deeper intra-abdominal fat but only a small amount of subcutaneous fat.

Who is a good candidate for Liposuction?

It goes without saying that patients should be in good health. This is important as many fat patients have concurrent illness such as diabetes and heart disease, making them at risk to anesthesia and infections. Many doctors request a patient to lose weight (down to about 20% above normal) before they will proceed with the treatment. This is important as liposuction carries a small but important mortality risk. A perfect patient should also have good skin elasticity and localised pockets of fat. Recent studies indicate rates of approximately 1 per 5,000, with lung clots pulmonary and fluid imbalances the major causes of the problem.

To the Dermatologist, Skin Care Isn't What it Used to Be

Like that episode of Seinfeld, you've usually observed how when you go to an airport to catch a flight, the treatment you get as being a coach passenger is acceptable most of the time, however the civilities are slowly eroding. Whenever you call the airline like a coach passenger, you get an automated voicemail maze; the first-class person gets an authentic person to speak with appropriate away; they get a soft-lit luxurious waiting lounge in the airport with free drinks and peanuts; you're fortunate if you receive a metal chair, sticky with somebody else's popcorn, and fluorescent lighting shining inside your confront.

In case you at any time observed lately, at any clinic operated by a dermatologist, skin care patients normally get coach treatment; the dermatologists act like the consumers who wait for their appointments over on the luxury annexe are the real persons.

If you haven't guessed who the fortunate "real patients" are, who get the kid-glove treatment, they're the types who come in for cosmetic dermatology - not for the suppurating psoriasis and acne like the rest of us. The medical doctors are fairly matter-of-fact concerning the complete offer. Legitimate skincare problems get compensated for by health insurance - a fixed sum that cuts the dermatologist's margin down so far as it's going to go. Skin doctor skin attention for cosmetic purposes, Botox, skin plumping and so on, get compensated for at the marketplace rate - they make a great deal extra cash on this. And obviously, everybody pays additional interest on the cash cow.

The second-rate treatment that genuine skin treatment persons get, goes all of the way. They find it harder to get an appointment, there might or may well not be a right receptionist for pre-treatment counseling, they never arrive at spend as significantly time with the medical professional, and it will become impossible to re-schedule an appointment. Significant sufferers who call with potentially worrisome difficulties, like a stubborn and discolored patch about the skin that may arrive from a sexually transmitted illness or cancer, even now have to wait in line behind somebody who occurs in, say, for dandruff; all whilst, they enjoy the vanity persons grandly welcomed on the other part. The dermatologist skin attention department treats the serious patient as 2nd course, and they do not even care in the event you know it.

Nothing can match the indignity of not even acquiring to see a health practitioner from time to time, although; in a lot of cities throughout the region, the considerable people only get to determine the physician's extender, a unique nurse; and the health practitioner is generally busy attending the authentic clients, most likely using a gold-plated Botox syringe in a single hand. But wait! Possibly that isn't the biggest indignity soon after all. When patients do have the precise skin doctor,skin care, curiously, appears to become the final issue on his mind, regularly. People generally complain that the true problem on their minds is rapidly dismissed as "no big deal", to ensure that the physician can launch right into a income pitch for some beauty cream, lotion or other as quickly as feasible. Persons do complain of how doctors can sometimes dismiss severe cancerous signs or symptoms in favor of your sales pitch.

A clinic for medical skin proper correct care, will often have to work three situations as longer for fifty percent the shell out; and that pay occurs immediately after the health practitioner argues with the health insurance company over what treatments he is allowed to offer the patient, and soon after waiting for them to reimburse him - at times, a month. The vanity skin doctor about the other hand, receives paid out twice that, doesn't need to go via the hassle of arguing with anybody, and gets paid out for the morning. It's not just the fancy personal exercise that does this either. University teaching hospitals are obtaining into it as well, as patients complain. Properly, a single evening, individuals same fancy vanity doctors' clients will go to a dermatologist skin treatment in mind. After which they are going to get to determine how the other 50 percent lives - the decrease half.

Selecting the Good Cosmetic Products

Exposing your skin to many chemicals over a long period of time can lead to long term skin damage. This is because chemicals usually trigger hormone imbalance in your body which is very dangerous to your health. For example, phthalate is a chemical substance that is usually widely used in many cosmetics, perfumes, plastics, as well as nail polish. Research has indicated that a many women who normally sue cosmetics with chemical have higher chances of experiencing fertility problems as well as increase the chances of cancers in their male children. This article discusses five ways that can greatly help you to carefully select cosmetic products.

Additionally, it is extremely embarrassing when someone tells you that your foundation is too light or dark for your skin tone. Even if you had tested various colors at the cosmetic shop before purchasing, you will still feel frustrated as well as cheated. The right material for cosmetics will play a great role when it comes to choosing the perfect cosmetic shade that will not embarrass you. Therefore choosing cosmetic products entails a lot in terms of what actually suits your skin as well as its effects on the health of your skin.

Organic products

When choosing make up products, it is recommended that you go for the organic products. Basically, the organic cosmetic products are usually safer and contain very few chemicals compared to the artificial ones. However, even when choosing the organic cosmetic products, it is good to check the labels to ensure that they do not contain any inconsistencies.

Simple products

Choosing simple cosmetic products will greatly play an important role when it comes to ensuring the health of not only your skin but also your body. Ensure that you use few make up products; this will help you reduce the risks of being exposed to harmful BioMutagens.

Go fragrance free

Choosing cosmetic products that lack fragrance is strongly recommended. This is because many fragrances come with volatile chemicals which have the ability to easily enter your bloodstream and cause great harm to your entire body system.

Reduce the use of nail polish

It is recommended to be moderate with the use of the nail polish. Nail polishes are usually directly linked to birth defects. However, if you are extremely addicted to nail polishes and you cannot do away with, then apply them in well ventilated areas. You should also select the nail polishes that are newer and have no phthalate.

Create a cosmetics shopping list

Create a cosmetic shopping list that contains the cosmetic products that have no BioMutagen.

Cosmetic Dentistry Expert Discusses Connection Between Gum and Heart Disease

For several years now, researchers have confirmed a link between periodontal disease and heart disease. Because of that, dentists are taking additional steps to educate patients on the importance of maintaining healthy gums not just for good dental health, but to promote overall health.

Several studies have shown that the bacteria that causes gum disease is the same bacteria associated with heart disease. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a persistent inflammatory disease that attacks the gum and bone tissue that supports the teeth. It is a leading cause of tooth loss, and almost 75 percent of Americans suffer from the disease.

The American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Periodontology recently published a consensus paper on the correlation between gum and heart disease, which offered recommendations to professionals in both fields for treating patients who have or are at risk of developing heart and gum disease.

It advised periodontists to gather patient information on heart health and family history of heart disease, and it recommended that cardiologists conduct examinations of patients' mouths.

What Causes Gum Disease?
Gum disease usually begins with poor oral hygiene, but also can be hereditary. Everyone's mouth is filled with bacteria, no matter how often you brush and floss your teeth. Bacteria leads to the formation of plaque, a sticky film on the teeth. Gum disease typically occurs when plaque is left to build up beneath and along the gum line.

Maintaining good oral hygiene helps remove plaque, but plaque that is left to harden on the teeth turns into tartar. Tartar harbors even more bacteria in the mouth and can be removed only through a professional cleaning by a dental hygienist or dentist.

In addition to failing to maintain good oral hygiene and have dental check-ups and cleanings at least twice annually, there are several risk factors that can increase the chances for getting gum disease. They include:

o Genetics- some people simply are more prone than others to periodontal disease.
o Stress- research has revealed that stress can make it harder for a body to combat infection, including periodontal disease.
o Smoking- smoking has been identified as one of the primary risk factors associated with developing gum disease. It also can make periodontal disease treatment more difficult.
o Illness- Patients with AIDS, diabetes and cancer can develop gum disease.
o Hormonal changes- these changes in girls and women can make gums more susceptible to disease.
oMedicine- some medications, including heart medicines and antidepressants, lessen the saliva flow. Since saliva serves as a natural protector of teeth and gums, decreased saliva could lead to an increased risk of developing periodontal disease.

Treating Periodontal Disease
Dental professionals seek to treat periodontal disease conservatively once it has been properly diagnosed by measuring gum tissue around each tooth. Healthy gum tissue forms shallow, V-shaped grooves between the teeth and gums, which are known as pockets. Measurements are taken to determine the depth of those pockets. Any pocket depth of more than 4 millimeters, is considered as gum disease.

Upon a periodontal disease diagnosis, a dentist begins treatment by educating the patient on good oral hygiene.

What you do at home is everything. It is recommended brushing with a Sonicare tooth brush, flossing daily and it is highly recommended to use a Water Pik.

Treatment in the office can include deep cleaning by root planing and scaling. Dentists also sometimes medicate the gum tissue with different antimicrobials.

Generally, depending on the progression, you can manage and get it under control by doing scaling and root planing, but if you don't get the desired healing results, the patient may have to be referred to a specialist for surgery.

Surgery can range from lifting back the gums to remove tarter, to performing bone and tissue grafts.a

Repairing Sun Damage - I Had a Great Summer - Now How Do I Help My Damaged Skin?

The kids are back in school, the summer sun is mellowing into autumn. What a wonderful time of year! But every fall, my patients come with the same plea for help. Is this your story, too? You had a great summer - but it took a toll on your skin! You were careful to limit your sun exposure, you faithfully used sunscreen, but there's no perfect protection. And now you can see the discoloration and freckling, redness and blotchy brown spots, the fine wrinkles that come from the drying effects of sun and wind... and you may know there's also damage you can't see: damage to the collagen that keeps your skin youthful. What can you do?

Well, we're lucky to live in a time when the science of cosmetic dermatology just keeps coming up with more and better solutions to reverse the aging effects of sun damage on skin! Here are 5 of the best.

Let's start with the antioxidant vitamin creams. Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is a precursor to Retin-A, which most people know as an acne treatment. Now Retinol is available as a topical cream preparation that helps the skin to exfoliate dead, damaged cells. It also works to fade sunspots and freckles, and with regular use, it will erase fine wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. Best of all, Retinol's action thickens the middle layer of the skin by stimulating fresh collagen production. This preserves your skin's elasticity and fights sagging.

And now there's a newer antioxidant vitamin cream product on the market that brings the restorative powers of vitamin C directly to your skin. Studies show that UV damage actually reduces the presence of vitamin C in your skin, and that applying vitamin C cream restores its ability to protect itself from the free radicals that damage collagen. Other studies show that vitamin C plays a part in your skin's formation of new collagen and elastic fibers.

Used correctly, in the proper formulations, these two antioxidant vitamin preparations rejuvenate your skin with no downtime or harmful side effects. The same is true for three cutting-edge cosmetic dermatology procedures that can reverse the effects of sun damage.

Fraxel laser treatments target laser energy to thousands of tiny MicroThermal Zones, destroying damaged cells below the surface layer of the skin. But the surrounding tissue remains unaffected and intact, leaving healthy stem cells to create your own, new, fresh collagen and elastic tissue in just a matter of days. Your skin is tightened and toned, and the Fraxel laser helps to erase discoloration.

GentleWaves, a non-heating non-invasive technology, uses the low-intensity light energy of LEDs in specially coded pulses. Like the Fraxel laser, GentleWaves causes no surface injury to the skin, so there's no pain and no downtime for recovery. The effect of the GentleWaves light therapy is to modulate cellular activity, increasing the creation of fresh collagen but decreasing the production of enzymes that age and break down skin cells.

Finally, microdermabrasion works on the outer layer of the skin to remove the dead surface cells, cleanse and smooth the skin, refine the pores, and give you a healthy glow. In the process it will obliterate ugly, blotchy brown spots. As a bonus, it also assists in product penetration, giving your skin better access to preparations like those antioxidant vitamins. Since the products don't have to go through the dead surface skin layer, your results are accelerated.

And now that you know how to help your sun-damaged skin, make sure you do it the right way! You'll want to consult with a cosmetic dermatology professional about the best, personalized choices for your particular skin type and condition. When you're choosing an antioxidant vitamin preparation, make sure you're getting medical grade products - meaning that they are dispensed only through a medical professional's office. That's the only way to guarantee the strength and formulation of the ingredients.

What's available in the mall or in the drug store simply doesn't measure up! Some of those products don't even list the ingredients, and (especially in the case of vitamin C, which is naturally unstable) if the formulation isn't correct, the product can lose its potency even before you buy it. It will be ineffective, and a waste of your money! Finally, with professional guidance, you can decide which procedure or combination of techniques is right for you. Then you can remember your great summer without feeling bad about sun-damaged skin!

Discover How to Close Gaps in Teeth With Cosmetic Procedures

A gap in teeth can be an embarrassing cosmetic feature to have. There are many different ways to close gaps in teeth. The methods of correction depend upon the individual, his or her budget, other teeth and jaw problems, and the pain or embarrassment he or she is willing to undergo in order to correct the problem.

A veneer is a common solution, especially for those who cannot afford braces. Usually they are made out of porcelain and require little in terms of an installation process. The fit directly over the tooth and cap it. These can be used exactly the same way as regular teeth--they will not fall out or be able to be removed easily. You can chew with the perfectly fine.

The one major draw-back is that if the gap is extremely large, they would look funny. Because they cap your teeth, the veneers would have to be big enough to cover your whole tooth and cover the space in between your teeth. This can give people the appearance of having huge front teeth.

A better option for huge gaps would be to wear a manner of braces or orthodontic devices. Braces can be expensive and embarrassing for adults to wear. They are the most effective, though, and can sort out a great number of dental problems. They will slowly push your teeth together over a long-enough period to make the roots settle in those locations and stay there.

For adults who dislike the idea of pubescent looking braces, they can get clear ones that may take a little longer to close the gap. They will not be quite as noticeable. There are also ones available that connect to the back of your teeth instead of the front.

There are also plenty of retainers to use. Retainers are taken from molds of your teeth and are slightly adjusted to sit tightly on your teeth. The retainer will get more comfortable as your teeth shift. Many people just wear retainers at night and take them out in the morning. Retainers, because they are not fixed structures like braces, will have to be worn indefinitely.

There are also clear aligners that fit over teeth. They are essentially the same as retainers, only they deal less with your jaw and roof of your mouth and more directly with the teeth. You would leave them on all the time, since they are completely transparent and would not be noticed. After a while, when the teeth have shifted, you would get an updated one that would further tighten and shift things in your mouth.

One should not be overly hasty to close up gaps in teeth. This is especially true for children. Children's teeth will shift drastically on their own as they grow. It may be a waste of money and a lot of unnecessary pain for the child if his or her teeth are going to close up anyway. You may also want to check with an orthodontist for further problems before you start trying to move things around.

Plastic Surgery - Forehead Wrinkles and the Options for Treatment

This is a discussion of wrinkles, how to treat them and the different alternatives out there. To make things more relevant we are going to concentrate on the wrinkles on the forehead to give you some perspective. But, in general, these treatment principles can be applied to anything on the face.

Wrinkles in the forehead are never attractive. They make you look worried, stressed, and aged, etc. There are many different options to rejuvenating the forehead. Included among these different approaches are Botox, brow lifts, chemical peels, facial implants, fat injections, fillers, laser resurfacing, brow muscle modification.

Botox is a very common approach to improve the wrinkles in the forehead area. Botox is a neuromuscular agent that works on the nerves that innervate the muscles and prevent the movement of the muscles. With less muscle movement, your wrinkles are not constantly getting deepened. Over time with continual use, you can decrease the wrinkles that have been etched as well, but this must be maintained. Botox is not a permanent solution. Typically, Botox lasts for about 3 - 4 months. So this is something to consider.

As we mentioned above, Botox can help your wrinkles. Specifically, the wrinkles that are improved are the dynamic wrinkles. By dynamic, we mean the wrinkles that are caused by movement. Botox can also help static wrinkles. The wrinkles that are present when you don't move your facial muscles. But the way to do this is to be on Botox on a regular basis. Through the constant relaxation of your facial muscles, the skin is allowed to regenerate over time. The Botox relaxes the muscles allows the skin to take a break from the constant forces of the muscle movement and the persistent forces on the wrinkles. Because you have skin cells that are constantly remodeling the skin, these skin cells are allowed to remodel the skin without external influences. So previous wrinkles are often reconstructed by these remodeling skin cells and the wrinkles become more erased because of this action without facial muscular influences due to the influences of Botox.

Brow lifts are another way to improve forehead wrinkles. Often times, as a person ages and experiences drooping of the eyebrows, a compensatory maneuver is for the person to elevate the eyebrows to improve their vision. This constant action to lift the eyebrows also causes more wrinkles. Brow lifts serve to reverse this by elevating the eyebrows so that this muscle action and movement is reduced. This prevents some of the wrinkles from being formed. Also, through a brow lift, your surgeon can alter your muscles in the brow so that you will have less movement by some of the muscles that are causing deep wrinkles. The most common area for muscle modification is in the area in between the eyebrows. You can have these muscles reduced so that you have less ability to furrow your brows and create the "11" wrinkles (commonly referred wrinkle).

Chemical peels and laser resurfacing with the CO2 laser are also options for improving wrinkles in the forehead by causing contraction of the skin and reducing the absolute amount of skin in the forehead. The most that has been found to be reduced is about 1/2 to 1cm of skin reduction in the forehead. This, however, might be an exaggeration and is likely more on the level of 1/4cm to 1/2 cm. The way that these moderate and deep resurfacing techniques can improve wrinkles in the forehead is through creating a layer of tissue just under the skin that is responsible for the wrinkle reduction and skin tightening. The other benefits of resurfacing, with either chemical peels or co2 laser resurfacing, are improvement of pigment disorders and skin texture.

What else causes wrinkles in the forehead? A volume loss is one of the main contributors. Volume loss in the forehead allows the skin to come to a closer proximity to your muscles and it allows the muscles to exert more influence on the skin and hence create more wrinkles. Much of the volume loss is from tissue being degraded and reduced over time by the body. From the stand point of wrinkles, the volume loss between the skin and muscles of the face play the biggest part in the development of wrinkles. Again, with the closer proximity of the skin this extra volume can prevent the influence of the facial muscles on the skin. The effects of volumizing has immediate and long term effects. As soon as you volumize the face, the skin will look better. The easy way to imagine this is with a balloon. Notice how when you plump / or pump up the balloon, the more air you put in, the more stretched the balloon becomes. As the balloon stretches, the balloon's rubber covering becomes more stretched. What you often notice is that the balloon appears shinier the more air that is being inflated.

Hence, what you are seeing more and more these days, cosmetic surgeons are using more filler and volumizing approaches to the forehead. Fillers are one way to improve wrinkles by volumizing the space underneath the wrinkles, thereby improving wrinkles in the manner that was described in the previous paragraph. Fillers, however, can be quite expensive. Fillers only fill in small amounts of volume. The situation often requires a more global filling effect to achieve a general rejuvenation of the face. When on ages, they tend to lose a significant amount of volume all over the face. The total amount of volume lost can be in the range of 30-100cc. Fillers typically come in 1cc syringes. When you use fillers you are essentially carrying out camouflage techniques for the most part. Fillers bring volume to only small areas of the face. Sometimes for a more natural look, one requires more overall filling to accomplish overall rejuvenation of the face. Fillers are also more temporary in nature with their results being measured in the 6 months to one year range. So the desire for better and more longer lasting results are being looked into continually.

More and more studies and news reports are focusing on this global volumization of the face for facial rejuvenation. One approach is through facial implants. Cheek and chin implants are the most common. Forehead implants however aren't common. In face they are rare. Lateral Jaw implants are being done but aren't as common as cheek and chin implants. Temple implants are done rarely but more than forehead implants. The advantage of facial implants are there permanence. They won't get absorbed and won't go away. The volume that you get will stay. The drawbacks are the significant surgical approach that will be needed. They have the risk of getting infected. Also the shapes are dictated more with the implant and less on sculpting, although you can shape the implants by carving them there are some limitations.

This global volumization has led to a comeback for fat grafting in the face. Although this technique has been around for decades, it has now been brought back and is as popular as ever. This approach follows this idea of volumizing and replacing lost tissue rather than taking away tissue. With this approach, we are trying to bring back the volume of the raisin back to a grape, the more youthful and natural looking grape. We are trying to avoid the pulled raisin look that traditional procedures have done in the past. The benefits of fat grafting are that they are associated usually with way less discomfort. Fat grafting can be done without facial incisions, general anesthesia, and drains.

Choosing Your Cosmetic Surgeon for Your Genital Surgery

When you have decided that a labiaplasty genital surgery is the right choice for you, the step will be to choose the right cosmetic surgeon for you. Since this individual is going to be responsible for your results, you will want to ensure that they understand what your needs are. Since finding a cosmetic surgeon who performs genital surgery regularly may be tricky to find, you will want to keep the following important factors in mind.

Ideally your main goal should be to find a cosmetic surgeon who performs at least four or five of these surgeries each month. This will mean that they not only have a good set of skills in place, but they will have gained good experience in this very specialised type of genital surgery.

Take this checklist with you when you are going for your consultation with any cosmetic surgeon to help you to make the best choice possible for you.

- On average how many labiaplasty surgeries does this individual perform over the course of an average month and year?
- How many of these surgeries have they successfully completed over their career?
- What are the common infections or complications that this surgeon has experienced with this procedure?
- Do they operate in a State Certified Facility?
- Are they a Certified Surgeon in Gynecology or Cosmetic Surgery?
- Can they show you before and after photo results so you can clearly understand what you can expect?
- Can they explain the process in-depth to you so that you are comfortable with all aspects?

It is essential that you consider carefully the answers you get to your questions. If you're not happy with the answers you were given, seek out another cosmetic surgeon. While some people will look at price and location, the truth of the matter is you need to be comfortable with the surgeon you choose as you will be living with the results of this procedure for the rest of your life. You need to be happy with your choice of surgeon, and be assured you are in safe, experienced hands.

Take the time to do your research fully. Have a good look at all of the surgery options available to you as well as familiarizing yourself with the cosmetic surgeons who carry out labiaplasty genital surgery in your area. The more knowledge you have the more likely you will be to make the best choices for you.

Cosmetic Surgery in Thailand - Advice, Guidelines and Tips

Thailand has earned itself quite a reputation with foreign travelers as a flagship destination for medical, cosmetic and dental treatments. Situated in the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland, Thailand is particularly recognized globally for providing high quality health services at nearly half of the cost in first-world countries.

The soaring healthcare costs in the European and American countries coupled with long waiting times and soaring international demand for high quality yet inexpensive healthcare services, including cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, in many western countries have given a significant boost to Thailand's aesthetic industry as part of its healthcare industry.

Advice for Those Considering Treatment in Thailand
While undergoing cosmetic surgery in the Kingdom, a medical tourist must check in advance what guidelines are placed in for international patients by the Thai Ministry of Public Health (MoPH).

For instance, according to the Thai health ministry, foreign patients can carry medications containing narcotic drugs of Category 2 for personal treatment with the quantity of the medications not exceeding 30 days of usage.

Medical tourists are required to obtain a certificate/medical prescription of the physician if carrying medications containing psychotropic substances of Category 2, 3, 4 into Thailand.

Guidelines
In Thailand, the health ministry also has established some guidelines for medical and nursing standards:

Every doctor requires a medical license to practice medicine in Thailand, and must be supervised by the Medical Council of Thailand.

The MoPH has established standards and assessment procedures for the Hospital Accreditation (HA). More than 351 hospitals in the Kingdom have been awarded the Hospital Accreditation by the ministry.

Apart from HA, many high-tech hospitals in Thailand have acquired additional standards to meet the needs of their international patients.

Currently, there are seven private hospitals in Thailand that have been accredited by JCI. More than 10 private medical facilities are in the process of getting JCI accreditation, while many other hospitals are getting ready for JCI accreditation in the near future.

In addition, a large number of hospitals have secured the ISO9000 and ISO14000 certifications, reflecting the institutions' commitment to deliver top quality services.

Useful Tips for Cosmetic Surgery Seekers
1. Due to the exploding medical boom in this Asian country, a number of hospitals and clinics have sprung up in every corner of the country. But not all of them are accredited. You are, therefore, advised to do extensive research about the reputation and accreditation of the hospitals before zeroing down on one.

2. Undoubtedly, having cosmetic surgery done in Thailand can cut your surgical budget by thousands, but there are some clinics in the Kingdom that charge hidden fees (costs not included in the initial estimate), which can surprise you on the final bill. So, it is prudent to discuss the surgery bill in detail with your surgeon beforehand or if needed you can demand for a break up of your bill to make sure you're not being overcharged.

3. It's equally important to know about the background, experience and education of the surgeon that will perform the procedure.

4. It is believed that hygienic environment can speed up the recovery process post surgery. You are, therefore, encouraged to check carefully the hygiene and infection control standards of the facility where you intend to get the surgery.

5. Asking your friend or family members for referrals and finding out testimonies regarding the facility and surgeon's reputation would be of great help in finding out the best affordable plastic surgery in ultra modern facilities.

With these small points kept in mind, your experience to a cosmetic surgery in Thailand would be hassle free and more memorable.

Chin Implants: Today's Hottest Plastic Surgery Procedure

Across all major demographics, chin implant surgery is the fastest growing plastic surgery procedure trend today. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the number of chin implants performed in the US has increased by 71 percent from 2010 to 2011. In fact, during those years, the number of chin implant surgeries have increased more than breast augmentation, Botox, and liposuction combined.

The recently published studies indicate that the largest increase in the number of chin implants was for patients in the 40-54 age group (77 percent); however, the increases in the 55 and older (70 percent), 30-39 (69 percent), and 20-29 (68 percent) age groups were very significant.

Why the sudden increase in this plastic surgery procedure that enhances and defines the chin line? There are several reasons:

First, there has been a considerable rise in video chat technology. When on video chat, people notice their facial imperfections such as the jawline not being as sharp as they wish, and double chins. Because they want to look their best, they opt for chin implant surgery.

Second, the Baby Boomer generation is getting older, and the first areas to show signs of aging are the chin and jawline. These individuals can use chin implants as a way to look younger. In the right person, a chin implant can delay the need for a facelift by strengthening the jaw line, reducing the appearance of the jowels, and enhancing the neck so that it appears to be more defined and youthful.

Third, many people associate a strong chin with leadership, authority, self-confidence and trustworthiness. To achieve a competitive advantage in the workplace, some men are turning to chin implants.

Unlike other parts of the body, diet and exercise can't change the shape of the chin and jaw line. Therefore, many people prefer to improve the appearance of the chin by having a qualified facial plastic surgeon place a chin implant. Chin implant surgery is sometimes known as chin augmentation, mentoplasty, or genioplasty. This literally means to change the shape of the chin.

Chin implants come in multiple shapes, sizes and materials. Different types of chin implants will enhance different areas of the jaw. Some patients may need more enhancement along the jaw line, others may need more of a pronounced chin, while others may need both. The surgeon and patient will choose the proper implant and size needed depending upon the patient's desired result.

There are different implant materials available. This included silastic implants (hardened silicone), ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene also known ad Gore-Tex), Medpor (high density porous polyethylene), and others. Silastic implants have been around for the longest period of time and have been found to be very safe and effective.

When performing chin implant surgery, the surgeon makes an incision beneath the chin crease or inside the mouth and designs a pocket to accommodate the implant right over the bone along the lower jaw (this method leaves a very small scar in a well-concealed area.) Then, the incision is closed. A garment or tape is usually used on the skin to hold the implant in place during the normal post-surgery healing.

The surgery, which lasts for less than an hour, can be performed under local anesthesia, IV sedation (twilight anesthesia) or general anesthesia. After the procedure there may be some mild discomfort, often described as a soreness, that is relieved with a pain medication that will be prescribed to you by your surgeon. The sutures generally be removed within the first 10 days.

As with any facial plastic surgery procedure, it's very important to work with a board certified, experienced, highly qualified surgeon when undergoing chin implant surgery.

Cosmetic Dentistry - Trends in Dental Treatments

Cosmetic dentistry treatments today do not only improve the appearance of your teeth, mouth and smile, but also restore specific aspects of, or sometimes overall, oral health.

One good example is the procedure for dental fillings, which was exclusively for treating decayed teeth in the previous years. This is now part of aesthetic oral treatments, since advances in this field introduced techniques where exact teeth colors can be matched with the filling and make your filled teeth look like new and natural ones.

Other procedures included in recent trends are bonding, veneers, dental implants and tooth reshaping.

Bonding, or composite bonding, is recommended by a cosmetic dentist when your teeth have some discoloration or chipped parts. Your teeth will be cleaned and prepared for the resins that will be put to close in gaps, alter the shape and/or cover discoloration. This does not only make your teeth and smile look better. It will also help you bite into food better and avoid mouth injuries, which can happen if you have gaps or chipped teeth.

Similarly, if you have cracked or chipped tooth or teeth, veneers is something you might want to look into. They are thin porcelain pieces placed on the front surface of your teeth. Veneers can improve your teeth's shape and color, as well as prevent them from cracking any further and even fall out completely.

Tooth loss can now be remedied by implants where an artificial tooth is rooted into your jawbone. Dental implants give you a better smile and also help you avoid misaligned bites and possibility of having a sagging face or jaw.

Tooth contouring or reshaping is a treatment done by a cosmetic dentist to repair your crooked, chipped, cracked or overlapping teeth. The procedure, sometimes used to substitute for braces when possible, is non-intrusive as it only involves utilizing a polishing instrument to remove small amounts of surface enamel of one or more teeth to correct their imperfections. The surrounding teeth are also generally polished to match your once imperfect teeth. What makes this popular these days is that it is quick, painless and often inexpensive.

It is true that cosmetic dentistry does not concentrate on prevention and treatment of oral or dental problems. It is also true that it was considered not too long ago as a luxury for many. Today, though, these aesthetic treatments, using recent technological advances, make it possible for you to have not only a better smile, but also better oral health through non-invasive procedures.

Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Dentistry

In a day of advanced technology when it comes to cosmetic dentistry, there are still options available to transform teeth from crooked, stained, cracked or chipped to simply spectacular by minimally invasive methods. This means that there is very little of the existing natural tooth structure that has to be removed or tampered with during the procedure.

This is good news to a lot of people. The other benefit of minimally invasive cosmetic dentistry is that it is often quick and retains more of the original teeth than the more aggressive procedures. Generally, a dentist's goal is to preserve as much original tooth structure as possible while improving the patient's smile, bite and tooth alignment.

Cosmetic dentistry methods that are minimally invasive include laser treatments for gum disease, implants to replace lost teeth, veneers and tooth bleaching. These treatments can usually be done in only a few visits to the dentist, and can provide significant improvements to the appearance of the patient's smile.

Laser treatments for gum disease are much less aggressive than methods that require the dentist to remove gum and/or bone around the teeth. The laser effectively kills bacteria causing the gum disease and completely eliminates the need for surgical remedies.

When a patient has missing teeth due to previous injuries or extractions, a dental implant using a titanium rod is a very effective way of replacing the tooth and improving the smile, eliminating the gaps where the teeth were missing. Dental implants have increased in popularity over the last few decades as a preferred tooth replacement treatment.

Veneers for dental cosmetic purposes basically involves using a type of adhesive to put a pre-formed thin layer of porcelain on the front of the natural teeth. This thin layer of porcelain is made to look like perfectly shaped bright white teeth, and it can hide a lot of dental imperfections. This method generally doesn't require much if any grinding down of the natural teeth before they are applied. Some people refer to this method as instant braces because it doesn't matter how imperfect the teeth looked before they are applied, once applied the patient sports a "Hollywood smile."

Tooth bleaching can be a quick and effective method of removing some types of stains from teeth. Coffee, tea, tobacco and other stains which reside on the outside of the teeth are usually effectively removed by tooth bleaching. Some tooth staining that occurs as a result of antibiotics, is located inside the tooth and doesn't respond as well to this method. While there may be many tooth beaching kits that are available to purchase in local stores, tooth bleaching may be more effective when done by a dentist or dental professional.

The Ill Effects of Body Hair Removal on the Skin

Body hair removal has long been a part of western civilization. But as we move further into the 21st century and plastic surgery and perfect looks become an ever increasing way of life, the demand for removal has become huge.

It is now expected that every woman be rid of underarm, leg, any facial and arm hair. It is even now common for men to seek out hair removal as although a certain amount of body hair is desired in males, too much body hair or back hair is viewed with a certain amount of disgust.

As a result our society has become obsessed with removal. However, removal can take a serious toll on your skin.

How Removal Affects Your Skin

All forms of removal can adversely affect your skin. Whether it is:

o Waxing-skin can be ripped away during waxing causing bleeding, thinned skin and scabbing. Individuals receiving treatment for certain skin disorders such as acne or rosacea may have experience more severe side-effects from waxing.

o Depilatory creams-these creams can result in intense burning and irritated and bumpy skin. They are not gentle on skin and the area it was used on can feel raw for sometime after use.

o Shaving-although shaving is by far the most common form of removal and it has been around for many decades, it comes with its fair share of skin brutality. Shaving can result in "razor burn" which is irritated red bumps that appear after shaving, Knicks or even serious cuts, ingrown hair.

o Laser removal-laser removal is very intense on skin. The skin is heated through the lasers to a high temperature as the hair follicle is fried. Many patients experience irritated skin with scabbing, redness or even scarring.

Keeping Your Skin Healthy

There are ways to combat the ill effects of removal. Individuals using the various removal techniques should be aware of the needs of the skin and the sensitive nature of hair removal treated skin.

Keeping your skin healthy and thus more prepared for removal is not very hard. Taking supplements that help keep skin healthy such as Vitamin E is very important as well as applying moisturizers frequently.

For more information on body hair removal, visit the website of the Austin cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Zimmet of Zimmet Vein & Dermatology today.

Facts About Organic Cosmetic Certification

Natural organic beauty and health products are more difficult to find than you think. Even though there are a great deal of products that are labeled "organic" or "natural," the true meaning of these words is often misunderstood and misrepresented by the cosmetic manufacturers. One must understand that the Cosmetic Industry is self-regulated and therefore, can put anything they want on their packaging, even if it is misleading, simply because no one is watching over them. Although there are organic cosmetic certification organizations most US based cosmetic companies refuse to be certified.

On the other hand, we are fortunate that it will not be difficult to find these natural organic products anymore. This is because the BDIH or Bundesverband Deutscher Industrie und Handelsunternehmen has created helpful guidelines that will aid the cosmetic manufacturers in manufacturing only certified organic/natural cosmetic products of highest quality.

The BDIH is the union of German industries and trading companies for health products, personal hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, and food supplements. This association is based in Mannheim, Germany and has coordinated almost 400 manufacturers as well as distributors of cosmetics, nutritional foods, food supplements, medications, etc.

It was in 1996, while working with some top natural cosmetic makers that the BDIH came up with complete guidelines for certified organic and natural cosmetics. And using the guidelines, a private institution had tested over 2,000 products and had published their findings so that consumers will be informed about them.

What are certified organic and/or natural cosmetics?

These cosmetics are mainly for beautification only but they can also provide care for the human body through their ingredients that come from nature. And getting these natural ingredients was made feasible by the readily available natural raw materials.

At any rate, the makers of beauty products that use the organic cosmetic certification logo or the BDIH seal which represents "Certified Natural Cosmetics" only utilize natural raw materials like fats, waxes, oils from plants, essential oils, and herbal extracts from natural or controlled biological cultivation. With these ingredients, you can be sure that the products BDIH certifies are really safe to use.

The criteria

In order to earn the organic cosmetic certification, there are criteria which must be met.

1. There should be transparency as to the kind of ingredients as well as the process used to make the organic cosmetic products. The process must be non-polluting.

2. The product must contain ingredients of natural origin. The whole composition of the organic product must abide by the strict rules and must be meticulously controlled.

3. The use of petrochemical and chemically synthesized materials is totally banned.

4. The product must be biodegradable. There should be no bio-accumulation in the body.

5. Exposure of the products to radiation is strictly prohibited.

6. The use of genetically modified organisms is also prohibited.

7. The product must have no less than 95% of natural ingredients or must have stemmed from organic farming.

8. Animal testing is not allowed, as nature must be totally respected.

9. Product packaging or wrappings have to be completely recyclable or biodegradable.

10. The exact amount of natural and organic ingredients must be very visible on all the products' wrapping that have the environment-friendly or certified organic logos.

For people who are in search for genuine natural organic cosmetic products, simply look for the organic cosmetic certification seal and you can be assured that the item passed the strict quality standards of eco-friendly production.