Plastic Surgery Advice

admin asked:

The American Society of Aesthetic Lipodissolve [ASAL] objects to the inclusion of “Lipodissolve” in the recent warning against injection therapy (MESOTHERAPY) for localized fat reduction issued by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery [ASAPS]. The procedure, Lipodissolve was introduced by the founders of ASAL in 2001 as distinct from “Mesotherapy”. The ASAL took care to include ingredients which were safe and whose mechanism of action was understood. The ASAL diligently limited training only to physicians and their nurses to perform the procedure. The ASAL and its original cohort, “Network Lypolysis”, thus trained more than 300 physician in Europe, and so far, more than 200 physicians in the United States.

ASAPS is incorrect in stating that there are no data relative to the effectiveness and safety of the procedure. As it relates to Lipodissolve, more than 50,000 treatment sessions have been reported in European and American peer reviewed journals demonstrating: a] objective evidence of improvement, based on actual measurements and pictures, in approximately 90% of the patients, and b] a paucity of serious side effects.1-4,6,7 Serious side effects reported with liposuction such as death, fluid overload, epinephrine and lidocaine toxicity, thrombosis, fat embolism and complications of general anesthesia have not been reported with Lipodissolve therapy.5

The main ingredient in the Lipodissolve formula is phosphatidylcholine [PC], a lipid. It is dissolved in a bile salt [deoxycholate], which is how it exists in bile where it helps to breakdown the ingested fat cells and digest fat on a daily basis. When injected in to the unwanted superficial body fat, it similarly breaks down fat cells and “digests fat”, as it does naturally in proximal duodenum. In the subcutaneous area the dead fat cells are then gradually removed by the body’s physiologic repair mechanisms, the same way as after any trauma or even after liposuction which leaves dead fat cells in the area to be removed by similar physiologic processes. PC along with other phospholipids are significant dietary source of essential fatty acids. Mammalian cell membranes are primarily composed of PC and other phospholipids mixed with cholesterol esters and salts to maintain fluidity. In other words it is not some foreign or toxic substance.

ASAPS’s statement that this “procedure is not FDA approved” is misleading. FDA approves drugs and devices, not procedures. ASAL maintains that there is no FDA approval requirement relative to phosphatidylcholine for two reasons. One, it is a “supplement” and as such has been used for years for liver health, cholesterol and other possible benefits. Supplements do not require FDA approval and can be administered by injection,(as are vitamins and minerals as in Meyer’s cocktail, intravenous nutrition or hyper-alimentation consisting of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, lipids, and others. Second, in Lipodissolve, the ingredients are mixed by a compounding pharmacist upon a physician’s order for specific patients, which does not require FDA approval [FDA Modernization Act Section 503a Compounding Pharmacy].

Lipodissolve is not a surgical procedure. Accordingly, ASAL has compiled an advisory board that includes highly credentialed physicians with diverse but relevant backgrounds in the fields of dermatology, aesthetic surgery and internal medicine. These individuals are experienced clinicians, speakers, writers, researchers and teachers, and provide advice regarding the procedure and its evolution. They conduct training workshops for other physicians in the U.S. So far the North American advisers have performed more than 2,000 Lipodissolve procedures with satisfactory results in more than 90% of the patients – without any serious side effects. The ASAL has an on going monitoring process to record these events.

References:

1. Hasengschwandtner,F. Phosphatidylcholine treatment to induce lypolysis. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005; 4:308-313

2. Duncan, ID, Hasengschwandtner,F. Lipodissolve for Subcutaneous Fat Reduction and Skin Retraction. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2005-September/October; 25(5):530-43

3. Heinrich, K-G. Efficacy of Injections of Phosphatidylcholine into Fat Deposits, A non-surgical alternative to liposuction in body contouring. Presented as a scientific publication at the convention “Operative Dermatology” at Frankfurt, October 28-31, 2004

4. Palmer, M, Curran, J, Bowler, P. Clinical experience and safety using phosphatidylcholine injections for the localized reduction of subcutaneous fat: a multicentre, retrospective UK study. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2006; 5:218-25

5. Platt, MS, et.al. Deaths associated with liposuction: case reports and review of the

literature. Journal Forensic Science. 2002, Jan; 47(1):205-7

6. Duncan,DI,Chubaty,R,Clinical Safety Data and Standards of Practice for Injection Lipolysis: A Retrospective Aesthetic Surgery J, 2006;26:000.

7. Hasengschwandtner,F, Furtmueller,F, Spanbaner,M,Silye,R.Detailed Documentation of Lipolysis Treatment: Blood Values,Histology, and Ultrasound Findings.Aesthetic Surgery J 2007, 27:204-211

jewellery asked:

Everyone is a unique individual. There are tall people, small people, big and obese people and people born with larger then normal and crooked, fat, or hooked noses that can alter or even plague their appearance. Cosmetic surgery has a cure for these awkward shaped and formed noses, the rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty is the medical term for plastic surgery of the nose including the cartilage and bridge. It can also correct a nose disfigured and broken due to an accident or similar. Many of these rhinoplasties are also done to correct inner nasal problems like deviated or blocked septums which can increase vulnerability to nasal and sinus infections like sinusitis and aggravation of allergies.

There are two different types of rhinoplasty; augmentation (building out and or restructuring of a bent or misshapen nose) and reduction (the most popular form). A plastic or cosmetic surgeon can completely reshape a nose into almost any shape or style. Being that the smallest changes in nose shape make for the most profound results, rhinoplasty is one of the most precise of cosmetic surgery options. Just a millimeter too much or too little can make a nose look unnatural like with Bruce Jenner, Kenny Rogers or Michael Jackson.

The most popular form of rhinoplasty is the nose reduction. The surgeon nowadays will use computer imaging along with the patients wants and desires show a before and after picture so the patient can see their expected outcome. Prior to the recently made available computer imaging, rhinoplasty reduction patients had to rely on their surgeons idea and word on how it would turn out. Computer imaging will also show what each little amount shaved off or reduced will do.

Most good surgeons will stress that the resulting nose should fit the face and look as natural as possible (this may or may not be possible in augmentation cosmetic surgery of accident victims). Just like with breast surgeries, face lifts, TCA peels and other skin peels, and dermabrasion, no one wants anyone to say it is obvious they had plastic or cosmetic surgery and that they look fake.

After the computer imaging the type of surgery is layed out and then performed. There are several parts or areas of the nose that may need surgery, general shape, tilt, bridge, cartilages, nostrils, and columella (the bottom of the nose). In most cases reduction rhinoplasty is a short operation (about 30 minutes) which requires full anesthesia. After surgery, the patient will have their head wrapped in bandages to ensure proper shape of the nose while healing and to prevent the bones returning to their previous positions.

Swelling may persist for several weeks, but after removal of the bandages most patients will see a huge improvement. To see actual before and after footage of rhinoplasty reductions watch Dr. 90210 as they usually have one on every show. Reduction rhinoplasties are one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures performed in the U.S.

admin asked:

Some women and men consider plastic surgery to take care of signs of aging. Others consider it after losing excessive amount of weight. No matter what the reason, if you find yourself pondering cosmetic surgery, doing your research is essential. You need to make sure that you understand what the procedure entails, the risks involved, and what you can expect after the surgery is complete.

When women and men are asked which part of their bodies they wish to improve, they typically answer with more than one area. The desire to change parts of the body is natural, especially if diet, exercise and genetics get in the way of improvement.

What patients need to keep in mind, however, is that while plastic surgery is thought to change appearance, it might not always end successfully. There are always possibilities of minor to serious risks and outcomes are unpredictable. Those considering going “under the knife” need to have these risks in mind before coming to a decision.

Most patients who think about having plastic surgery have to do a little “soul searching” to see what they expect surgery to accomplish for them. This will help clarify the decision to have plastic surgery and put needs into perspective.

If you are considering surgery, being honest with yourself is the key to success. Think about whether or not you are a good candidate for plastic surgery. Ask yourself if you have a stable emotional outlook. Ideally, good candidates are those who have a good self-image but want to improve on a specific body part. Those who are pre-occupied with the way they look or believe that plastic surgery is the answer to their life problems are usually not looking for self-improvement, and therefore make bad candidates.

Most plastic surgeons assess their patients during the first consultation. By speaking to a patient, they can determine the true intentions behind their reason for wanting plastic surgery. Some surgeons introduce new patients to former patients so that the new patients can see the results or speak to someone else with a similar experience.

It is also important to consider post-operation recovery time. Many patients don’t consider the time it might take to get back on their feet and return to work or normal daily activities. Recovery might take longer than what the surgeon initially expected. Also keep in mind that most procedures take up to 2 years after surgery for the results to be visible.

 

In any case, those who consider having plastic surgery are advised to seek the opinion of a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, who has the necessary skills and background to understand patient’s needs. They can assess if a candidate is right for surgery, inform them of options and take care of their concerns and questions.

Patients need to keep in mind that plastic surgery is a form of self-improvement and not a way to achieve perfection.

 

admin asked:

The common injection used by every Beverly Hills facial plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery center for battling those frown lines, crows’ feet, and other facial lines and wrinkles is also, it turns out, a good way to battle migraine headaches. Botox for migraines is an increasingly popular procedure pioneered and patented by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. William J. Binder.

As reported in Time magazine, “As many as 9 million of the estimated 28 million Americans who suffer from migraines find no protection or relief from pain killers or preventive medications… Half the 28 million Americans who get migraines never see a doctor about them.” The effects of migraine headaches can be reduced by several over-the-counter drugs. There are also whole classes of medications which are aimed at preventing migraine headaches from the start. These include beta and calcium – channel blockers that improve the flow of blood to the brain, anti-depressants that regulate levels of the brain chemical serotonin and various anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-seizure medicines (epilepsy and migraines, for reasons no one yet understands, seem to have common origins). Unfortunately, millions of migraine sufferers simply do not respond to such aforementioned treatments. For these patients, many are flocking to sunny California, where the favorite experts in Beverly Hills Botox – Botulinum Toxin A – reside. In Beverly Hills Botulinum Toxin (Botox) is a purified biological protein that is produced, under rigorous laboratory conditions, by the growth of Clostidium Botulinum bacterium. Botox, when injected, weakens and affects only the muscles that are treated. The safety profile of Botox is unparalleled in that there are no major or permanent side effects reported for cosmetic use in over 30 years and after millions of injections. The discovery of the Botox migraine treatment was a lucky accident. Plastic surgeons using diluted botulinum toxin to remove wrinkles started hearing about a secondary effect. “Patients”, remembers Dr. William Binder, “came back saying ‘not only have my wrinkles disappeared, but my headaches are also gone.’” As word spread in the medical community, more doctors began offering Botox to their migraine patients.

admin asked:

It is a sad fact that many tragedies occur due to the unaccepted and inexcusable conducts of other people. Such conducts of other people often result to loss of lives. This is termed as wrongful deaths.

Wrongful death is simply defined as a death caused by the fault of another. Wrongful deaths vary on different circumstances – arising from different events caused by negligent individuals.

Most of wrongful death cases happen on avoidable circumstances. The responsible parties who could have had avoided those painful and tragic events may be charged with a wrongful death claim. Surviving family members of a wrongful death victim may sue the person or people responsible for the death of their loved ones.

One may have a wrongful death claim on any of the following circumstances discussed at length below:

Vehicle Accidents

The most common circumstance resulting to a wrongful death is vehicle accidents. Every year, millions of people all over the world get killed from these terrible vehicle mishaps. Since most of automobile accidents are caused by negligence of other drivers, wrongful death torts on the road are prevalent.

Wrongful death involving vehicle-related accidents could be avoided if drivers drove with full attention and extra caution. When drivers are reckless, there is a large tendency that they may hit pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycle bikers, other vehicle drivers and their passengers.

Medical Malpractice

Wrongful death from professional malpractices could also be prevented if practitioners or professionals do not make any mistake or errors with their line of work. Many wrongful deaths arise from this type of negligence, most commonly medical malpractice.

Family members of the deceased victim may sue the health care providers who have breached their duty in providing care, which resulted to their patient’s death. The death could have been due to a plastic surgery malpractice, a misdiagnosis of a severe disease, emergency room negligence, delivery malpractice, and any other form of hospital or medical negligence.

Product Liability

Manufacturers or sellers can be held legally responsible for a wrongful death when the products that they produce and/or sell are dangerous and defective where it caused the death of a family member. A wrongful death claim on the grounds of product liability may be due to a defective drug, malfunctioning auto part, a faulty or missing safety device, malfunctioning medical devices, faulty scaffolding, and others.

Premise Liability

A wrongful death may occur in another’s premises, either in a public or private property. Property owners’ are held liable for a wrongful death arising out of a premise liability accident such as a drowning injury accident, construction accident, amusement park or zoo accident, elevator or escalator accidents, slip or trip and fall accident, or any accident caused by the owners’ breach of their duty of care.

Legal Representation

Wrongful death lawyers can be very helpful for the survivors of a wrongful death victim. They can help family members with their claims. Responsible parties should pay the price for their negligence and carelessness. They owe it to the loved ones of a victim to afford due payment for their pain, suffering and losses.

Henceforth, it is very important that the victim’s family hire their wrongful death lawyer to be able to assure that the death of their loved one will be given justice. The competence of a wrongful death lawyer will also increase the possibility of recovering the biggest amount of settlement or damages from the liable parties.

Our professional personal injury lawyers have the capabilities of expertly handling our clients’ wrongful death claims. For immediate response to your inquiries, please visit our website.

jewellery asked:

Alvin Starkman  M.A., LL.B.

 

When I first gave up the practice of law in Toronto in favor of early retirement in Oaxaca, I assumed that the years I would add to my life by leading a much more stress-free existence in Mexico, would be lost by the inferior health care system to which I would be exposed, subjected and restricted.  This, then, is my assessment of the extent to which my presuppositions have been accurate, together with information and advice for both vacationers to and would-be ex-patriot residents of Oaxaca.

 

Aside from the small, private hospitals, often referred to as clínicas, there are four publicly funded and insurance – based hospitals in the city, as well as a hospital just outside of the city offering specialized treatment for a number of serious ailments. There is the Red Cross facility available to all, often used for emergency treatment only.  The civic hospital provides free services or treatment at a modest cost based on a sliding scale respecting means.  ISSSTE is a federally funded facility restricted to government employees who are members of a union.  Finally, there is IMSS, a federal insurance program available to ex-pat residents and Mexican citizens alike, with an extensive network of clinic doctors and a large hospital.  It’s funding is provided in large part by business owners. Aside from these hospitals, there are several, small, easily accessed clinics scattered throughout suburban and rural neighborhoods. 

 

For the vacationer, and the ex-pat with a VISA permitting residency in the country, the most common means by which to obtain emergency treatment is through Red Cross, IMSS (which accepts patients without coverage on a pay-per-service basis) or a private hospital.  However, the last of these three is the only one in which you can be reasonably reassured of being attended in a timely fashion by extremely competent and efficient personnel.

 

WHAT TO DO AS A VACATIONER

 

If you do not have out-of-country healthcare coverage, by all means go out and buy it before leaving for your trip.  However, it’s advisable to first inquire of your credit card company, to ascertain if in fact you already have at least some coverage simply by virtue of, for example, having a gold or platinum card.  You can then make a more informed decision concerned whether or not to purchase coverage, and if so at what level. On the other hand, a broken leg, gastrointestinal problem or other non-life threatening ailment can be attended by a private doctor or clinic without breaking the bank.  Of course for an outlay of more than $100, it’s nice to be reimbursed.

 

If you intend to make a claim to your private carrier, credit card company or government funded health care plan, ensure that you not only keep all receipts, but request a written diagnosis and treatment plan, and that the prescriptions you are given indicate for what purpose each medicine is being prescribed (i.e. antibiotic, analgesic, etc.).  Many doctors provide all required information simply as a matter of course.  Accepted practice, at least except for when narcotic medications are being prescribed, is for the pharmacy to return prescription forms to you.  Often medical plans require translations of each document that is presented to them as a prerequisite for processing and reimbursement.  When in doubt, submit all documentation with your claim, making sure to determine if originals are required, and keep copies.  Frequently, as is the case with Ontario, it’s a two step process. Treatment receipts and diagnosis is submitted to the provincial plan.  Once you’re notified of the portion not covered, prescription receipts together with a request for reimbursement for the amount not covered by the province, is submitted to one’s private plan.  In theory, between the two plans, 100% reimbursement is achieved. 

 

You can ask the manager of your hotel or bed and breakfast to do you a favor by translating each of your supporting documents, to save you the trouble upon your return home.  Make a note of the then prevailing rate of exchange, and submit a calculation to your plan with your documentation, to more easily facilitate payment.  When a member of a clerical staff is processing your claim, he’ll be less inclined to put yours aside for another day or week if it already contains all the necessary and relevant data, organized in a readable format.

 

Concerning where to go in the event of illness or emergency, your accommodations host should be able to make recommendations for English speaking physicians with private practices, and for private clinics.   Regarding competency of the former, while there is a medical school in Oaxaca, many doctors travel out-of-state for their post-graduate training such as to universities in Mexico City or the US, and regularly attend conferences and upgrading courses.  Some travel abroad within the context of their specialization training.  Indeed the Oaxacan populace appears to take notice of and prefer those physicians who are able to display foreign diplomas.

 

Our personal experience with emergency treatment over the past 10 years has been nothing but positive for ourselves, our family and our guests, at hospitals Carmen and Molina, both downtown … in terms of competence, speed with which one is attended, and the presence of English speaking ER doctors. On the other hand, we cannot recommend the emergency departments at the civic hospital or IMSS because of delays in receiving treatment, and at minimum in the case of IMSS unavailability of competent medical personnel 24 hours a day to attend to even a commonplace emergency (i.e. suturing).  Having said this, many excellent surgeons with private practices perform surgery at the non-private hospitals where there tends to be the more state-of-the-art and sophisticated equipment. 

 

The normal range in price for a consultation with a family doctor, specialist or dentist, is $20 – $50 (all figures are stated in US dollars and are approximate for 2008 unless stated otherwise).

 

PURELY ELECTIVE AND COSMETIC PROCEDURES

 

Over the past several years Oaxaca has become a popular destination for Americans and Canadians seeking both plastic surgery and extensive dental work.  Word has spread of the competence and quality of work of both nip-and-tuck and dental surgeons, and of course of their extremely reasonable charges relative to those paid to hometown practitioners.  Many foreigners, as well as Mexicans from Mexico City and other regions of the country come to Oaxaca for face lifts, breast reductions and augmentations, liposuction and other appearance enhancing procedures.  A friend who attended for plastic surgery in Oaxaca by a well-known plastic surgeon a couple of years ago, recently commented that she had read an article in a Canadian magazine indicating the cost for the same procedure which she had performed for $500, was $3500 – $5000 at home.  In effect she had a free trip to Oaxaca, and returned home with extra money in her pocket.

 

Our personal experience with dental treatment has been extremely positive.  Cost tends to be about a third to a half of American and Canadian prices, for example for crowns and bridges, implants, root canals, gum and bone work, etc.    While the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) has not yet arrived in most Mexican cities, a dentist with a gentle touch can more than make up for that lack of temporary high while in the chair. 

 

RESOLVING THE EX-PAT CONUNDRUM

 

Get whatever coverage is made available to you both in your homeland and in Mexico, subject of course to affordability. 

 

To my thinking, with IMSS coverage costing under $400 annually for a couple, why not go for it regardless of what other coverage you already have. Then supplement IMSS with international coverage for catastrophic injuries unless you have other similar insurance from another source. Our Oaxacan friends tend to disagree, but theirs is a different mindset where insurance in general has historically not been stressed or valued, be it home, car or health.

 

Some American acquaintances swear by IMSS since it provides regular care including preventive procedures, all dispensed by government employed physicians including specialists, together with lab tests, medication and hospitalization.  There are restrictions the first year of enrolment, and there are caveats. The level of cleanliness in the clinic environment tends to be below the standard to which most of us have become accustomed growing up in the US and Canada. Many physicians have not received the quality of medical education of their private counterparts. The medications provided through the clinic pharmacy are often not the best available in the marketplace for treatment of a particular ailment, because of cost.  Often the wait to see your designated doctor or for your lab tests can be long, requiring a half day commitment for each step in the process:  visiting a general physician, going for one set of tests, then for another, and finally seeing a specialist.

 

So why bother with IMSS at all, with all these downsides?  It’s a failsafe, another form of assurance that you’ll be cared for in the event of a lengthy and serious illness.  As suggested earlier, often it’s the largest hospitals such as IMSS which have the best equipment, and surgeons with private practices who perform some of the surgeries.  And there is no additional cost for hospitalization once you have full IMSS coverage.  While attending a private clinic is more akin to your experiences before moving to Mexico, if you must remain in hospital for a lengthy period of time, the cost of doing so in a clinic could be prohibitive…just like back home. 

 

Visiting private physicians, and even biting the bullet and getting your tests done at privately owned laboratories, reasonably assures you of a familiar quality of care.  Coupled with IMSS coverage, you can now be confident that you’re covered in almost all respects.   In the event of a protracted hospital stay you can afford to be there for as long as necessary.  The best locally available equipment will be used in your diagnosis and treatment, and you have a reasonable likelihood that attending surgeons are those who split their time between private practice and clinic work, and performing procedures in one or more large hospitals. 

 

We maintain IMSS coverage, but rarely use it, preferring to tap our Oaxacan social networks for referrals to specialists to the extent they are required.  And in any event, after having been resident in Oaxaca for a few years, those of us who are in our fifties or older have already been introduced to a broad range of specialists.   As strange as it still is to be a Canadian and subscribe to the pay-as-you-play philosophy of medical care, it serves our purposes, with the IMSS safety net just in case.

 

Under certain circumstances you may not want to rely on even the best Oaxaca has to offer.  Indeed the stream of Oaxacans traveling to Mexico City flows briskly and wide.  The middle and upper classes with contacts in the nation’s capital, there quickly seek out the best in terms of physicians and state-of-the-art equipment, for diagnosis and for treatment of life-threatening diseases.

 

Even doctors working in Oaxaca at the IMSS and ISSSTE hospitals can make arrangements for patients to receive treatment not available here, to be attended in Mexico City or other larger centers.  However, the process can be slow.  We know of one case, that of a two-month-old baby with heart problems, who was finally sent to Puebla for surgery at ISSSTE, only to die before the procedure could be performed. 

 

The solution, unless you have quality foreign coverage perhaps as part of your retirement pension plan, is to buy insurance which will pay for treatment in Mexico City, or better yet throughout the world as long as you can make your way to one of the participating top-of-the-line hospitals.  In my case, I have a low annual premium, with high deductible which is waived in the event of accident.  Again, it’s a failsafe mechanism in the event of, for example, a serious car accident, or cancer, stroke, heart attack, or other catastrophic ailment which would otherwise not be affordable.  Oaxaca has less than the best of diagnostic equipment and treatment facilities. My plan provides for a $10,000 deductible, $2,000 annual premium, with member private hospitals in Oaxaca, Mexico City and elsewhere in the republic, and of course abroad including the US, with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester being a participant. 

 

In summary, my medical coverage and plan for treatment is the following.  We have our regular family physician, who, along with our Oaxacan friends, refers us to specialists in which we have the utmost confidence, and to whom we pay per visit. The same holds true for dental treatment.  We have IMSS coverage which we reluctantly (because we don’t use it) renew on an annual basis, but believe it’s worth the price in the event we need extended hospitalization, or to have surgical procedures performed not available in private clinics.  And I have my catastrophic coverage which hopefully I’ll never need to access.

 

Medical care and coverage can be inexpensive, and just as easily it can be costly.  It’s a matter of the individual or family having a philosophy, or set of priorities, before electing to move to Oaxaca.  You have to determine how you want to lead your life in terms of balancing having less disposable income as a result of medical and insurance costs,  with having greater peace of mind in knowing that whatever is thrown your way will be looked after as best possible given your new life in a foreign land. If you cannot achieve a level of comfort in the resolution of these issues and decisions, then perhaps the move is not for you. 

admin asked:

Do you suffer from chronic morning headaches or a jaw that consistently pops, clicks, or locks? If so, it is possible that your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is misaligned.

Many individuals are unaware that they suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The symptoms are elusive and seemingly unrelated. Below are common questions about TMD to help potential victims realize the source of their chronic pain and seek appropriate treatment.

What is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)?

Temporomandibular joint disorder, which is also referred to as TMD, occurs when the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is misaligned. This ball-and-socket joint directly affects even the most minute jaw movements, which can result in great pain and suffering during routine activities.

Do I have temporomandibular joint disorder?

Symptoms of TMD are difficult for an individual to recognize and connect as related to each other. If you suffer from one or more of the following symptoms, it is possible that your temporomandibular joint is misaligned:

Localized pain or swelling in front of your ears Limitation of mouth opening and jaw movement Constantly stuffed ears or earaches Frequent ear ringing Painful and loose teeth Insomnia Chronic morning headaches Regular jaw clicking, locking, or popping

How is TMD caused?

A temporomandibular joint may become misaligned from numerous factors, including:

Poor dental work Trauma due to engagement in a heavy contact sport or whiplash following a car accident Concussion Genetics (Arthritis, Dejenerative Joint Disease) Poor posture Frequent gum chewing Clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth

How is temporomandibular joint disorder diagnosed?

The first step in diagnosing temporomandibular joint disorder is informing your dentist or another oral health professional about your symptoms. Many patients fail to take this necessary step and engage in a stressful cycle of seeking a non-oral health specialists’ help, being medicated for the wrong disorder, and enduring chronic pain.

If your dentist believes a misaligned temporomandibular joint may be the source of your trouble, he will evaluate your bite through moldings and x-rays. The combination of these two methods will give an accurate display of your jaw-bite interactions and determine if your temporomandibular joint is displaced.

What is a TENS Unit?

Some physicians use a TENS Unit (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) to alleviate pain associated with TMD. A TENS Unit delivers a steady, gentle current of electrodes, which relax jaw muscles and relieve some pain. However, this is not a permanent solution.

How is TMD treated?

Each physician treats temporomandibular joint disorder differently. Some will attempt to minimize your pain by employing orthodontics, a TENS Unit to relax your jaw, and at-home solutions, which may include:

Dietary adjustments Anti-inflammatory drugs Limiting jaw movement Splint application

However, these solutions fail to address the heart of the problem.

The only solution to completely eliminate pain associated with a displaced temporomandibular joint is oral surgery, which may include:

Arthroscopy Bite adjustment through corrective jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery) Open joint repair/restructuring

admin asked:

The world of plastic surgery is always changing. As soon as somebody has a simple idea for improvement, imagination becomes science. These days you can get nearly anything you want done at a plastic surgery clinic. Here are 4 new treatments you’ve probably never heard of before!

Get The Washboard With Ab Etching

“Ab etching” is the treatment that gets you the “six pack” stomach. Forget about your sit-up regiment; the way to get rid of that gut is to have a skilled plastic surgeon sculpt it for you.

Actually, ab etching is a tiny liposuction. The doctor sucks some belly away and contours what’s left to your desired firmness. This is the only way known to man to get the “washboard” stomach that so many of us envy.

The difference between ab etching and regular lipo is that it sucks fat from around the natural muscles, and this is why the end result is so natural looking. The muscles that are already there simply get more definition.

Open Your Eyes With Blepharoplasty

Blepharoplasty is eyelid surgery. This is the most popular surgery for women in Japan and Korea who want to give their eyes a more open look. It removes tissue from the upper and lower eyelid. Then, the doctor tightens the tissue around the eyes so it looks natural.

Eyelid surgery is also used by women all over the world to get rid of the puffiness and bags that come with aging. The end result is wider, more youthful-looking eyes. It can also mean increased peripheral vision.

Get Cheeky With Cheek Augmentation

Cheek augmentation is used to get rid of the gaunt, hollow-cheeked look caused by aging or an irregular cheek shape. It can also make cheekbones look more pronounced, and make you look more like somebody from your favorite fashion magazines!

This is just another type of surgery used for facial contouring. You can use cheek augmentation to create a more balanced look in the face. It’s one of plastic surgery’s lightest procedures, taking usually only 30-45 minutes.

The doctor simply makes tiny incisions around the eyelids and lips, and then works a small cheek implant in. The implant can be made into whichever shape the doctor feels is necessary to achieve the result you’re after. The result is fuller cheeks and higher cheekbones.

Baby Got Back!

And don’t forget butt augmentation! Like some crazy dance, this trend started in Latin America and has jiggled itself north. Butt augmentation is for women who simply want a little more junk in the trunk.

It’s not only for ladies in rap videos, either. Many women feel they could benefit from more rear cushion. When you age, your behind can become droopy. And there are those who never had much butt to begin with. Butt augmentation can fix these problems for you.

The plastic surgeon puts butt implants of the desired size into the rear, and pretty soon you forget they’re there. The result is a fuller, more bodacious booty. Plastic surgery offers more solutions to your body problems every year. Keep up with what plastic surgery has to offer!