Blogs & Articles

The Lap-Band is an option available to individuals looking to lose weight surgically. During the procedure, a silicone-filled bag is placed around the top of the stomach through a laparoscopic incision. This major procedure has a shorter healing period and less risk of infection compared to other weight loss surgeries. Two other common types of weight loss surgery include gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy.

Lap-Band vs. Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass is an extreme weight loss surgical procedure. It is generally performed in a way that requires the stomach to be cut open. During gastric bypass, parts of the stomach are removed and the intestines are reorganized in order to bypass certain functions. This surgery greatly affects the way that food is digested.

The Lap-Band procedure is much less involved, poses a lower risk for infection, and allows patients to remove the device once their specific needs have been meant. In comparison, gastric bypass surgery is permanent and permanently change the way a person lives their life in relation to food.

Lap-Band vs. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

During a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, a large portion of the stomach is removed. The remaining stomach forms a sleeve-like structure that makes you feel full sooner while eating. Although this procedure is performed with the laparoscopic method, it still carries a higher risk for infection because parts of the stomach are being physically removed from the body. Unlike Lap-Band surgery, a vertical sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible and cannot be adjusted according to an individual’s weight loss needs.

Weight Loss Surgery Statistics

Before deciding on any weight loss procedure, it is important to look at the statistics associated with each procedure.

Average hospital stay:

• Lap-Band surgery: One day or less
• Gastric bypass: Approximately 3 days
• Sleeve gastrectomy: Approximately 3 days

Complication rates:

• Lap-Band surgery: 6%
• Gastric bypass: 24%
• Sleeve gastrectomy: 18%

Risk of illness after 30 days:

• Lap-Band surgery: 1%
• Gastric bypass: 6%
• Sleeve gastrectomy: 6%

When determining the best weight loss surgery for your particular needs, consider the importance of a reversible procedure, a shorter recovery time, and a lower risk of infection when exploring your options and making your decision.

The facelift is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures. It is performed on both men and women who want to reduce some of the signs of aging on their face and look more youthful.

How does a facelift work?

A facelift is just like it sounds – it lifts the face by pulling skin back toward or into the hairline. This tightens the skin to give it a more youthful appearance. Many individuals choose to have a facelift because their skin is becoming saggy and is less elastic than it was before.

What does a facelift entail?

There are different kinds of facelifts to suit each individual’s particular needs:

• Mini facelift: The mini is often referred to as the “weekend facelift.” It is the least invasive option available and the most affordable, but its results are not as dramatic as others. This lift focuses on key areas rather than improving the look of the entire face. Plastic surgeons who utilize the mini facelift often utilize laser and endoscopic options that allow for smaller incisions.
• Mid-facelift: A mid-facelift focuses on the cheek area (the middle of your face) rather than the jowls or lower face line. It is most often used for those who have lost volume in their cheeks and want to rejuvenate the middle area. This procedure is often used in conjunction with other methods to give a more youthful appearance.
• Full facelift: The full facelift is the most common type and the most traditional. It addresses all areas of the face, from the neck to the forehead. Full facelifts are often used for those who are experiencing signs of aging throughout their entire face, and is the only procedure that allows for all of these issues to be corrected at once. While the full facelift is the most common, it is also the most invasive and requires more downtime. However, the results will last longer and allow you to continually look younger.

A facelift is a great way to enhance your appearance and improve your self-confidence, allowing you to reduce the signs of aging on your face. Choosing the right type of facelift is important, and a plastic surgeon can help you decide which type is best for you based on your current appearance.

A nerve disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome is aggravated by certain activities and pressures that are put on the wrists. Although carpal tunnel syndrome primarily affects the fingers and the hands, it can travel all the way up your arms and into your shoulders. The condition is uncomfortable and can also mimic more serious issues. In order to determine whether or not you have carpal tunnel, it is important to understand the symptoms of the disorder and its causes.

With the rise of technology and the constant use of small cell phones and repetitive hand movement caused by cell phones and typing, the cases of carpal tunnel syndrome are expected to rise.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is generally caused by excessive use of the fingers, hands, wrists, and arms. It occurs when the median nerve has pressure placed on it in the carpal tunnel area of the wrist. Constant and repetitive motions, such as typing, can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. It can also be the secondary result of an arm or wrist injury, and more commonly occurs in individuals who are overweight or have some type of swelling in the arms or joints. Other risk factors include continuous awkward hand positions and excessive vibration to the hand and wrist area.

What are the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?

The biggest sign of carpal tunnel syndrome is a tingling or numbness in the arm that is similar to the feeling that is experienced with the hand “falls asleep.” These symptoms usually occur at night, but can also happen at any time of the day. Other symptoms include a dull, aching in the wrists up to the elbow, stiffness in the fingers, and an overall numb feeling that can be felt anywhere from the tips of the fingers all the way up to the shoulder. While it is not unusual for these symptoms to affect the entire arm, they most commonly occur in the lower part of the arm, below the elbow.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosed and treated?

In order for a doctor to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome, he will need a medical history and an explanation of the symptoms. Your doctor may use tests to rule out other, more serious conditions. There are many treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome, but the most common is a combination of physical therapy and the use of a brace. For extreme cases, surgery is used to relieve the pressure that is on the nerve.

An umbilical hernia is when the lining of the stomach begins to protrude outward around the navel. It can be the result of many different things and is more common in children, especially newborn babies. The hernia typically does not cause pain for children, but can be painful for adults. Although an umbilical hernia is generally harmless and will go away on its own, it is important to have a doctor monitor the hernia to ensure that it is not progressing or causing further problems. There are many risk factors that give some individuals a higher change of having a hernia, but they are generally able to be treated easily.

Who is more at risk for a hernia?

Babies who are born prematurely show a higher instance of umbilical hernias at birth. Additionally, women who carry multiple babies at one time have more umbilical hernias than those who do not and individuals who are obese are also at an increased risk.

Umbilical hernias can also begin showing up after a long period of coughing or vomiting. While coughing and vomiting does not necessarily cause a hernia, it can cause one to become more prominent.

What are the signs of an umbilical hernia?

The first and most common sign of an umbilical hernia is bulging of the stomach. The stomach will protrude out around the belly button area and can feel like a hard knot or a soft lump. If an umbilical hernia is present, the bulge will appear bigger when a person laughs, coughs, or strains in any way. Umbilical hernias rarely cause pain for children and babies, but adults may feel pain ranging from mild to severe in the area that the hernia is protruding.

When should I seek treatment?

It is a good idea to seek treatment any time that you think a hernia might be ailing you or your child. They are generally harmless, but can lead to problems such as intestinal blockage. Umbilical hernias in infants will generally go away on their own after 12 months without need for any additional treatment. Older children and adults who are experiencing umbilical hernias are usually recommended to have surgery to prevent further complications. The surgery that is performed is minimally invasive with a short healing period.

If you believe that you or your child might have any of the symptoms of an umbilical hernia, it is important to check with your doctor. A hernia can be determined by a quick physical examination, and your doctor can help you determine the best course of action.

Aging can be a challenging change to face, and unfortunately, it’s not something you can deal with privately. The process of aging often leaves behind tell-tale signs of its presence, most of which are physical rather than emotional or mental. Fortunately, there are many cosmetic procedures that exist to minimize these signs and restore a more youthful appearance.

Here are the seven most common physical signs of aging:

• “Turkey Neck” – As one of the most common signs of aging in men and women, turkey neck is characterized by a loose, textured effect on the skin under the neck, similar to that of a turkey. It can be corrected with laser treatments, Botox injections, and light therapies.
• Spotted Hands – Hands that show brown spots and have a lack of collagen in them are a very common sign of aging. Laser therapy can treat sun damage and collagen fillers can be injected to make the hands look more youthful.
• Thinning Eyebrows and Eyelashes – The hair on your head isn’t the only type of hair that thins with age. Your eyebrows and eyelashes can lose their fullness as well. There are special treatments and medications that can increase the growth of hair in the eye area.
• Drooping Joint Skin – Skin around the elbows and knees is often the most ignored when moisturized and most abused during daily activities. It can become droopy and sag. Knee lifts are a drastic measure to increase the look of the knees, but skin tightening injections can increase the look of the skin without major surgery.
• Fine Lines and Wrinkles – Fine lines are found throughout the skin and are a precursor to wrinkles, which make a bigger indent in the skin. Botox injections and fillers can be used to reduce their appearance.
• Thinning Lips – Just like every other part of the skin, lips can be affected by age. They can become lackluster, thin, and even begin to lose their elasticity. Collagen injections can improve their appearance and injections can help stabilize the skin around the lips.
• Sagging Breasts – The longer breasts are subjected to gravity, the further they will begin to sag. A breast reduction surgery can help women with larger breasts by keeping the weight down and not pulling, while a breast lift surgery can also help reduce sagging.

An ACL injury is one of the most common types of knee injuries. The anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, is a ligament located in the knee that connects the patella to the tibia. The muscle is used in everyday activities but can easily become torn during extensive activity or high demand sports. As a result, athletes are most at risk for this type of injury – especially those that do a lot of running, stopping, or jumping, like soccer, football, and basketball players. Female athletes, possibly due to differing body composition, tend to be at a higher risk than male athletes.

What are the symptoms of an ACL surgery?

Symptoms of an ACL tear are similar to many other sports injuries. The symptoms will often feel like an over-exaggerated sprain in the knee. Swelling, discomfort while walking, tenderness, and loss of range of motion are all symptoms that an ACL injury has occurred. Many patients also feel like their knee is not connected to the bottom part of the leg and mention that they feel their knee will “give out” if they put any weight on it.

What kind of treatment is needed?

Understanding the type of ACL injury that has occurred is the determining factor behind the treatment needed for the injury. There are three levels of ACL sprains that can happen. A grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 ranking are how the injuries are determined with increasing levels of severity.

• Grade 1 ACL injuries are not very common and generally do not involve much treatment, other than temperature therapy and rest. This is because the muscle has only been stretched and is not separated in any way.
• Grade 2 injuries are more severe and often require some sort of physical therapy to treat the ligament. This type of injury causes the ligament to stretch to the point of becoming loose while creating small tears and may require that the patient wears a brace for an extended period of time.
• A grade 3 injury is the most severe and most common type of sprain seen in the ACL. At this level, the ligament becomes completely detached and breaks into two pieces. A grade 3 injury requires surgery, physical therapy, a brace, and may prevent an athlete from participating in sports in the future.

Individuals have been dealing with the obstacle of losing weight for ages, it seems. While there are several options that can be used to achieve the amount of weight loss desired, such as diets, exercise, weight loss pills, and more, one of the most popular weight loss options available is surgery.

A more permanent option, weight loss surgery allows you to work closely with a doctor to determine a safe, reliable method for weight loss that works by changing the shape of your stomach and limiting the amount of food you can consume. For example, gastric banding works by using an inflatable band to squeeze the stomach into two sections while still connected, thereby decreasing the amount of food the stomach can take in. Gastric bypass is a restrictive and malapsortive surgery that cuts the stomach into two separate stomachs, then removes or bypasses a part of the digestive tract to restrict food absorption.

Weight loss surgery is accessible by individuals of all walks of life. In fact, several celebrities have turned to weight loss surgery in order to achieve changes.

These celebrities include:

• Sharon Osbourne – Co-host of CBS’ The Talk had gastric band surgery in 1999, and lost over 100 pounds.
• Al Roker – Meteorologist on NBC’s the Today show weighed 320 pounds in 2002. After gastric bypass surgery, he lost 100 pounds and 12 inches off his waist.
• Roseanne Barr – A comedienne who had bypass surgery in 1998, Barr lost over 80 pounds. Other sources say over 200 pounds.
• Randy Jackson – Former celebrity judge for the FOX network show, American Idol. After having the gastric bypass surgery in 2003, Jackson lost 113 pounds and went from a 4-XL sized shirt to an L.
• Star Jones – Former co-host of ABC’s The View, Jones had gastric bypass surgery in 2003 when she weighed 307 pounds. Within three years of the surgery, she lost 160 pounds.
• Carnie Wilson – Former vocalist with the band Wilson Phillips, Wilson had gastric bypass surgery in 1999. She lost 150 pounds.
• Anne Rice – This famed author lost over 100 pounds after having gastric bypass surgery in 2003.

Please note: By clicking on the celebrity’s name, you will be directed to the source of our information.

You’ve made it through the hardest part – you’ve had the surgery that you’ve been needing or desiring. Now it’s time for the recovery process. The time frame of your recovery will depend on the type of surgery you’ve just experienced, but the basics of how to make it through the recovery process are similar. The top priority when it comes to recovery is being comfortable at home, and following your doctor’s directions regarding work and physical activity.

Here are some must-haves to ensure you’re comfortable and relaxed during your recovery:

1. Prescribed Medication

After the surgery, your doctor will most likely prescribe a pain medication. It is important to have this on hand and in easy reach if you need them. You may also have been given antibiotics to ensure no infection occurs. Make sure your prescriptions are filled ahead of time and near the area where you’ll be spending most of your time.

2. Reusable Ice Packs

You may experience some uncomfortable swelling once the surgery is complete. To help with this often painful medical side effect, make sure you have some reusable ice packs in the house. These will conform to the shape of the body part better than traditional ice packs. In a pinch, you can use a bag of frozen vegetables.

3. Proper Nutrition

Even if you haven’t had a surgery involving anything in the gastrointestinal system, you may experience some vomiting or nausea after the procedure. This could either be from the shock you’ve given your system or an adverse reaction to the medication. For this reason, it’s important to have nutritional, but easy to digest foods in the house. Juices and sodas (ginger ale in particular) will help get the medicine down. Make sure you have bendy straws on hand, since it may hurt to sit up post-surgery. Soups and crackers will do wonders for an upset stomach, and they’ll get you needed nutrition if your appetite is lacking.

4. Fluffy Pillows

Let’s face it: the first few nights are probably going to be very uncomfortable, depending on the type of surgery you had. You’ll want some comfortable, fluffy pillows to help you feel more relaxed. They can also help to keep your legs elevated if who’ve had orthopedic surgery or to keep you from rolling over onto a sore body part.

5. Comfortable Clothes

Your most comfortable pajamas and a nice pair of fuzzy, warm socks will be much appreciated post-surgery. Have a few sets handy so that you can change into them. You’ll feel better if you change into a clean, new pair, even if you can’t really shower at the moment.

There is a growing trend in being healthy – making healthier choices, staying active, and eating organic foods. You probably notice that your friends and family members, and perhaps yourself, are making more choices to lower the risks of heart disease, strokes, and cancers. But what about preventing osteoporosis? What does this condition entail, and how can it be prevented?

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that attacks bone mass. It causes bones to become weak and brittle, and makes it easier for bones to break from even the simplest of actions because the bones are fragile and porous. For example, a minor fall could result a fracture if osteoporosis is an issue. The spine, hips, and wrists are all areas that are especially prone to fractures from falls or bumps into furniture.

Who is at risk?

While juvenile osteoporosis does exist, the condition is generally more likely to affect individuals over the age of fifty who have a family history present. Older individuals who are especially thin are also more susceptible, along with postmenopausal women. About half of all Americans over the age of fifty suffer from osteoporosis, and about 80 percent are female.

Although some risk factors are uncontrollable, there are many lifestyle choices that can be made to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. Meeting the daily recommend amounts of calcium and vitamin D through diet or supplements can help strengthen your bones, and avoiding sodium, caffeine, and tobacco can help as well.

How is osteoporosis detected?

Osteoporosis is a silent disease. Many people don’t realize that they have it until a bone fracture actually occurs. Other than fractures, those with osteoporosis may experience frequent back pain or notice a diminished height or “stooped” posture.

Can osteoporosis be cured?

The condition itself cannot be cured, but there are certain medications and lifestyle choices that can relieve symptoms and prevent future bone fractures by improving bone strength. For example, various weight bearing exercises and activities that strengthen muscle mass will also strengthen the bones. Aerobics and resistance exercises are good choices for individuals with osteoporosis, as long as these activities are approved by a doctor.

A combination of vitamin D and calcium supplements are thought to improve bone strength, and vitamin K may also strengthen bone structure in postmenopausal women. However, more research is needed to know for sure which supplements or medications are beneficial.

Plastic surgery is extremely beneficial for patients and can help with both medical and cosmetic issues – improving quality of life and boosting self-esteem. But not all plastic surgeries are created equal. The quality of the procedure that you will experience varies according to each surgeon’s practice, and you could be taking a huge risk with your health if you skip a quality plastic surgery center and doctor.

Non-quality – or “cheap” – plastic surgery can lead to complications, infection and even death. In fact, the majority of plastic surgery complications occur in the practices of doctors who are not qualified or who are not using the correct procedures. If you are considering plastic surgery, you need to take into account all of your potential risks.

It is not uncommon to come across an individual in an otherwise unrelated medical field who offers cosmetic injections after only a weekend seminar on the topic. Instead, an authentic and trustworthy plastic surgeon will always have the credentials needed to perform the type of procedure you are considering. They are also often associated with legitimate and well-known medical associations. Asking your surgeon for their qualifications during the consultation process should help you feel more comfortable with the professional heading up your procedure.

Additionally, doctors offering cheap plastic surgery may not have the necessary tools required to do any type of plastic surgery. Their supplies are often purchased through non-reputable means, which indicates that they are not medical grade or sterilized properly before use. This can lead to very serious infections as non-sterilized tools are placed invasively during a procedure. For example, a doctor offering buttocks implants for an unbelievably low price could involve the use of industrial grade silicone, which is a non-purified material not made for humans to touch.

If you are considering a plastic surgery procedure, it is necessary to understand the risks with seeking a bargain in a facility that advertises bargains and nothing else. Plastic surgery clinics that offer legitimate services at higher prices typically have financing options for cosmetic surgery hopefuls. This ensures patients that they receive a quality procedure with a trusted surgeon without the worry of upfront costs.

When it comes to your body and your health, plastic surgery is not the place to skimp on quality and experience.