All About SmartLipo

SmartLipo is the latest form of liposuction technology that combines traditional fat removal methods with laser technology for maximum results. Laser technology, which is used routinely in dental procedures, lasik eye surgery, facial rejuvenation and hair removal, is what sets SmartLipo apart from its competition.

“Laser” is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Medical-grade lasers create a powerful light beam that is adjusted to a specific frequency range to precisely treat targeted areas.

SmartLipo differs from traditional liposuction in that it uses a carefully calibrated laser to liquefy fat deposits through the top layer of the patient’s skin. The fat is then removed through a tiny incision in the skin made by the doctor.

What makes SmartLipo different from traditional liposuction is that it can also seal blood vessels as it liquefies the fat cells. This reduces swelling, bleeding and bruising and gives the patient less down time. SmartLipo may reduce downtime drop reduce complications.

SmartLipo is also an FDA approved liposuction treatment that has undergone rigorous clinical trials. The laser used also stimulates the production of collagen in the skin, giving it a firmer, more youthful appearance. Delaware residents who are interested in liposuction will benefit greatly from the advantages that SmartLipo has to offer over traditional liposuction.

While SmartLipo is considered minimally invasive, it is still a procedure that should be performed by a physician. When considering liposuction, choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience in the latest technologies in fat removal.

Cigarettes Not Only Cause Wrinkles, They Cause Acne

Cigarettes are undoubtedly bad for you. They’re expensive, have been linked to cancer and are known to cause premature wrinkles. If that isn’t enough to make someone kick the habit for good, the American Academy of Dermatology recently published a report claiming that smoking is correlated to adult non-inflammatory acne.

The study, which was done in Rome, found that 85% of the women had comedonal post-adolescent acne (CPAA), a type of acne characterized by black heads and large pores. Prior to the study, CPAA was believed to be less common than cystic inflammatory acne.

Not only did the majority of subjects have CPAA, 72.9% of the women with CPAA smoked. On the contrary, only 29.4% of women with cystic inflammatory acne identified themselves as smokers. The study also found that the more the women smoked, the worse their CPAA was. Smoking showed no effect on the skin of women with cystic inflammatory acne.

The average smoker spends $2,000 a year alone on cigarettes. Add in medical costs, skincare treatments and other related expenses and you have yourself one expensive habit. Not only that, the negative effects to your health should be enough to persuade anyone to quit. For Delaware residents who are interested in quitting, the state Quit Line is an excellent resource for support advice.

Get Botox®, Get Happy!

The running joke with Botox® is that patients can’t frown or show emotion. A recent study has found that this inability to show emotion may make you a happier person.

Botulinum toxin, the active ingredient in Botox®, is used to temporarily weaken the muscles in the face that cause wrinkles. This not only gets rids of lines in the face, it also limits the body’s ability to move the muscles in the face and express emotion.

The study, which was administered by Barnard College in New York, found that people who have a limited ability to physically express emotion might in turn feel less emotional. Botox® prevents feedback to the brain about such facial expressivity, therefore tricking the brain into thinking that there is less emotion felt during an event.

Joshua Davis, a psychologist at Barnard, and his colleagues showed people emotionally charged videos both before and after they were injected with Botox®. After viewing the videos, the subjects that were injected with Botox® exhibited a significant decrease in the strength of the emotional experience as opposed to the control group.

The study findings tie into a long-standing idea in psychology that dates back to Charles Darwin. The facial feedback hypothesis, which was later developed by William James, simply states that facial movement can influence emotional experience.

If simply frowning can ruin your mood, then not being able to frown should make you a happier person. Now that’s something to smile about!

Adding a Boost to Your Booty

Not everyone is blessed with curves like Kim Kardashian or Scarlett Johansson. Cameron Diaz was even quoted in Marie Claire saying: “I’d love a bigger butt, more meat on my bones. I’d love to be more voluptuous…” Curvaceous celebrities like Kim and Scarlett have ignited the latest trend in plastic surgery: buttock augmentation.

There are numerous methods to naturally boosting ones backside, including everything from gluteus exercises to padded jeans. Although these methods may provide a temporary improvement, the more permanent method is through buttock augmentation via fat grafting (a.k.a. Brazilian Butt Lift). Using fat grafting, patients have fat removed via liposuction from another part of their body and injected into the buttock. The patient benefits from having two cosmetic procedures in one.

Fat transfer is in no way a new technique in plastic surgery. Fat grafting has been used for years to restore fullness to aging faces.  Recent research has found that fat also has a high level of stem cells that can be transferred through grafting. This allows the patient to have minimal volume loss after some of the fat dies off or regenerates following the procedure. Even though regeneration is possible, patients should expect to retain about 50% of the volume from their augmentation.

For slender women with low BMI, such as Cameron Diaz, you may be out of luck. The “Brazilian Butt Lift” is usually performed with the patient’s own fat, and therefore the patient must have enough fat in other parts of the body to harvest. For Delaware residents considering buttock augmentation, you should seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in fat transfer and liposuction to perform your procedure.

Study Rules Out UVA as Direct Cause of Melanoma

According to a recent study from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, ultraviolet A (UVA) exposure in early life is no longer considered a direct cause of melanoma. The study, which tested UVA and UVB exposure on fish, found that there was no connection between UVA exposure at a young age and melanoma development and that UVA is unlikely to have contributed to the rise in occurrences of melanoma over the past 30 years.

While the study disconfirms any direct link between UVA exposure and melanoma, UVA rays are by no means harmless. UVA is considered a carcinogen and can suppress the immune system as well as cause premature aging of the skin. The researchers also stated that it is possible that continued exposure to UVA could expedite the progression of cells that are
already pre-cancerous.

The study examined the effects of UVA and UVB light on melanoma-prone fish during the first 5-10 days of their life. While the fish exposed to the UVB light had a 43% frequency of melanoma, the control group had an 18.4% frequency and the fish exposed to UVA had only a 12.4% frequency.

In 1993, a crucial study linked UVA exposure to melanoma. Up until that point sunscreens only protected against UVB rays. This turned into a massive public health concern knowing that UVA makes up 90% of the ultraviolet spectrum. This study caused many people to believe that the high rate of melanoma over the past 30 years was linked to early UVA exposure prior to updates made to sunscreen.

The University of Texas researchers were unable to duplicate the results of the 1993 study performed using the mammalian model. In hindsight, there were numerous problems with the research and sample sizes previously use.  Using a larger sample size to obtain stronger conclusions, The University of Texas researchers did not have the same findings about the effect of UVA on melanoma using the mammalian model.

The revamped mammalian study found that UVA may encourage melanin free radicals that react with DNA to form oxidative damage that will indirectly lead to melanoma, however, UVB exposure was found to directly damage DNA. No direct link between UVA and melanoma was found.

While UVA exposure has been ruled out for directly causing melanoma, further research is still needed to understand what type of indirect damage it may cause. Future studies may prove that UVA and UVB work symbiotically to cause or increase chances of melanoma.  No matter what, I highly recommend to keep sun exposure to a minimum and always wear sunscreen!

Acupuncture for Your Health & Beauty

Acupuncture is common alternative treatment for common ailments and diseases such as migraines, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis. According to a recent article from NewBeauty Magazine, certified cosmetic acupuncturists are using the ancient treatment as an alternative to filler-packed needles.

Celebrities who are known for their holistic tendencies, such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna, are said to be fans of the minimally painful treatment. Some of the results can include reduction of wrinkles and discoloration over time.

While some spas have named the treatment an “acupuncture facelift” on their service menus, this is not condoned by the American Cosmetic Acupuncture Association (ACAA). The ACAA warns that this terminology give clients an unrealistic expectation of the actual results. While the AACA recommends extended acupuncture treatment in order to see desired results, clinical studies have already shown acupuncture to have positive effects on the skin.

Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago and has gained popularity in the U.S. over the past three decades. Besides it's cosmetic benefits, acupuncture is used to treat a large variety of medical problems including asthma, depression, sinusitis, fatigue and low energy. Acupuncture can also reduce pain, swelling and bruising after surgery also. Treatments are surprisingly comfortable an sometimes take just a few minutes. For your safety, I recommend that you seek a certified and experienced acupuncturist for your treatment.

To Your Health & Beauty,

Dr. J. Joseph Danyo

Saving Face: Hidden Dangers of Microdermabrasion

Skin resurfacing is one of the most sought after non-invasive skincare treatments. Skin resurfacing is done with lasers, chemical peels, and quite often microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is often considered a reliable way to treat acne, scarring, and uneven skin; however, the traditional process could be more harmful than they are helpful.

Traditionally, microdermabrasion helps to smooth the skin's top layers by surgical scraping or sanding using aluminum oxide crystals. During the procedure, the outermost layer of skin is removed with a rough wire brush and the dead skin cells and crystals are then vacuumed off. Once praised in the cosmetic industry, the earlier methods are now being criticized by medical professionals due to the negative effects of the aluminum oxide crystals.

 

An article by StyleList.com reports that traditional microdermabrasion treatments can have post-treatment reactions. The named reactions include intense redness, infections, streaking from pressure on the probe, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. When not executed by a trained professional or physician, crystals can scatter into the hair, lashes and ears, which can cause to corneal scratches and abrasions.

Never fear, for there are newer technologies available for microdermabrasion treatments. Most modern microdermabrasion treatments use diamond tips and other alternatives in place of aluminum oxide crystals. If you are concerned about the treatment, make sure to check with your physician about what type of microdermabrasion they use.

Even though microdermabrasion is considered a noninvasive procedure, it is imperative to have your treatment performed under the guidance of board-certified plastic surgeon. Microdermabrasions in Wilmington, DE, can be performed by licensed aestheticians. More aggressive microdermabrasion treatments, however, should be performed by the plastic surgeon themself.