Thursday, 11 March 2010

Everything You Need to Know About Breastfeeding and Macrolane Breast Enhancement

Surveys report that a large percentage of women would consider having a cosmetic enhancement procedure if they were unhappy with their appearance. Fortunately, women who would like to change their appearance by smoothing out wrinkles with Botox or by disposing of their excess hair using lasers can now do so quite easily. However, many of these women do not recognise their bodies or their face anymore due to age or childbirth and there are few people who would criticise a woman for wishing to reclaim her body.

But what happens to the women who have a cosmetic treatment to find themselves pregnant again soon after?

If you have had Macrolane injections instead of a full surgical enlargement, there is little to worry about.
Surgical implants can affect a woman's ability to breastfeed in the future so if at the time of the surgery you think you may have children in the future and may want to breastfeed, this should be discussed at length with your surgeon at the time. This is because implants can be inserted via the nipple, although it is more common for a surgeon to cut under the breast tissue so that saline implants are under the pectoral muscle. A less invasive way of enlarging your bust is to have the aforementioned Macrolane injections.

What is Macrolane?
Macrolane is a non-surgical body shaping treatment that is most popularly used for breast enhancement through a series of injections. The substance that is injected is a clear, crystal gel that is specially formulated for its intended purpose meaning that the Macrolane will not migrate or interfere with mammogram results. Macrolane is a perfectly safe treatment as it consists of hyaluronic acid - a substance that occurs naturally in the body anyway. Due to the nature of this treatment, the effects are only temporary as the Macrolane slowly absorbs itself into the body with no harmful effects.

What effect can Macrolane help me achieve?
Macrolane can help women boost their assets by up to 1 and a half cup sizes if they are looking for more subtle results than a surgical breast enhancement can give. Other benefits to this body contouring treatment might be a fullness restored to the breast after breastfeeding.

For the best results, Macrolane is injected on top of the breasts, behind the breast tissue and underneath the breast to 'perk' them up and add fullness. After Macrolane, your breasts should feel firm and full. Once the swelling has gone down after the treatment, the breasts should feel natural to the touch.

Is Macrolane right for me after breastfeeding?
No respectable surgeon will give you Macrolane injections if you are breast feeding as the breast tissue is tender and will change over the period of a few months meaning the treatment's success is compromised. However, if you had Macrolane injections just before you became pregnant; the Macrolane in your breast will not harm your baby nor should you experience any pain during breastfeeding as a result of having the Macrolane injections.

If your child is no longer breastfeeding, you may feel your breasts are no longer as full as they were and you may be disappointed with their appearance. So how soon can you have Macrolane after breastfeeding has ceased? As with everything, common sense should be applied. Dr Bassi from The Cosmetic Clinics group suggests that the best time to have Macrolane injections is about three months after a mother has finished breast feeding. This is to be sure that breast tissue has returned to normal and ensures that an accurate assessment can be made of the patient's suitability for the treatment.

Who should not have Macrolane Injections
Obviously, as previously mentioned, mothers who are breastfeeding or recently finished should wait for a few months before embarking upon the breast enhancement treatment. However, for the best results, your skin should still be quite firm and supple. The outcome of injecting Macrolane into saggy skin will not be favourable. Dr Bassi from Cosmetic Clinics likened the effect to a 'cricket ball in a sock'. Hardly glamorous imagery! This is why younger women with 'good' skin will see better results than older ladies who may be better suited to a surgical augmentation.

Macrolane lasts for 12-14 months, and after a positive experience with Macrolane, many women are happy to return to their doctor for top up injections. However, over a period of time this can become very costly and women who are pleased with the results of Macrolane often opt for surgical breast augmentation as it requires less maintenance in the long run in spite of the initial cost, risks and pain. In the mean time, women who are not sure if permanent surgery would yield the desired results can test out the waters with Macrolane.

Cosmetic Clinics is made up of a group of highly qualified and experienced doctors who specialise in non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the UK. To discuss Macrolane and your eligibility, contact us via our website.

Sunday, 28 February 2010

How old do I have to be to have Botox?

“I’m 24 and I’m considering having Botox. I already have crow’s feet beginning to develop around my eyes and I am concerned that in 10 years time, I’ll look like I’m fifty! Am I too young for Botox or is there another treatment that will help me look my age?”

Botulinum Toxin Type A is the chemical that is known as Botox. Typically, younger people are discouraged from having Botox injections. Too often, young celebrities like Heidi Montag, Katie Price and the Minogue sisters embark upon Botox injections from an early age. They end up looking ‘stretched’ and generally quite strange after years of unnecessary treatment.

Doctors who administer Botox injections upon patients who don’t need them are more likely to be the unscrupulous type who may not be as careful as the more experienced professional. Too much Botox can temporarily paralyse. At Cosmetic Clinics, we do not always treat patients on their request – if we don’t think you need a particular treatment, we will tell you so and advise of any alternatives that may help you achieve the desired effect.

If you are young, it is doubtful you actually NEED Botox. You would be advised to have a healthy skincare routine for a number of years before considering Botox. Drink plenty of water, stay moisturised and wear a SPF 15 cream on your face as a minimum requirement. Don’t smoke and eat a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins and protein.

However, some young people find that after losing weight, their face has lost a healthy, plump look. Skin may be ever so slightly looser and the patient may appear gaunt and unhealthy. In this case, we would suggest the patient consider dermal fillers to plump out their face to restore vitality.

Monday, 15 February 2010

Vaser Hi Def Treatment comes to the East Midlands

Dr Bassi, lead physician for the UK-wide Cosmetic Clinics group has announced today that he is now the only doctor based outside of London qualified to carry out Vaser Hi Def treatments.

Only five doctors in the UK are currently qualified to carry out the treatment, however, Dr Bassi is the only doctor based outside of London who is qualified to carry out Vaser Hi Def.

Vaser Hi-Def is the latest development in Vaser fat removal treatment. If you have worked hard at the gym for rock hard abs but can’t shift the top layer of fat hiding your muscles, this is the solution you are looking for.


Perfect for the abdomen, buttocks and pectoral areas, Vaser Hi-Def is an advanced Vaser treatment that selectively removes small deposits of fat.

This cosmetic procedure should be seen as a sculpting procedure rather than a weight loss method. It was developed to create and enhance athletic appearances in people who are of a ‘normal’ weight or build. Vaser Hi-Def is intended for people who have a good degree of muscle tone already, the pictures showing patients before and after treatment speak for themselves.

Dr Bassi has been an aesthetic doctor for over 10 years. During this time, he has completed specialist courses in Europe, the US and the UK. He is constantly expanding upon his knowledge and experience so he can provide the latest cutting edge treatments.

For a consultation, visit http://www.cosmeticclinics.co.uk or call 0844 880 7729

Thursday, 11 February 2010

Who has the worst celebrity breasts?

Katie Price’s breasts have officially been voted the worst celebrity breasts in a survey conducted by The Good Surgeon Guide.

The former page 3 model who has become a tabloid favourite and reality TV star has won the dubious accolade after respondents to The Good Surgeon Guide’s poll revealed that her generously enhanced bosoms were ‘tacky’ and ‘unattractive’. Other celebrities who were unfortunately to make the “worst boob” list included Alicia Douvall, Amy Winehouse, Tori Spelling and Jennifer Ellison.

Christiana Clogg, founder of the Good Surgeon Guide said that these days, when it comes to breast enhancement, less is definitely more. Patients are more likely to opt for tear drop shape implants similar to Victoria Beckham as the natural look is most certainly back in vogue. Ms Clogg commented, “It would appear that women are more in favour of the natural look nowadays and feel it says something about their personality as well as their look.”

If you are looking to emulate the breasts of the celebrities who were voted as having the best breasts in the business, such as Cheryl Cole, Kelly Brook and Danni Minogue, then you should consider macrolane injections to give a subtle boost and enhance the natural shape of your breast.

Macrolane is a non-surgical way of shaping and enhancing smaller breasts. A clear crystal gel is injected into the breast with the treatment taking around 45 minutes in total and performed as a walk in, walk out procedure. The injections are administered whilst you are under a local anaesthetic and unlike surgical breast enhancements, there is no scarring and no time off work required. Because the substance that is injected is made from hyaluronic acid, an acid that is already present in your body, it is highly unlikely that your body will reject it. Macrolane was specially developed for its purpose which means that it doesn’t ‘migrate’ or interfere with the breast tissue or mammograms.


If you are considering non-surgical breast enhancement, contact Cosmetic Clinics to find out where your nearest clinic is.

Friday, 29 January 2010

Why do women have lip fillers?

Lip fillers are growing in popularity because women are looking for ways to cheat time and stay looking vital and youthful without having to resort to drastic and dangerous surgeries.

“Do whatever makes you happy.”

That is the mantra of the liberal, life-loving. However, when you see yet another celebrity (this time, Cheryl Cole) denying they have had a cosmetic procedure in spite of appearing to have seriously inflated boobs*/lips*/bottom*. *delete as applicable. It really does make one wonder if all the effort was necessary or even really wanted. We all know that cosmetic surgery rumours heighten a celeb’s profile, think about what it has done for Victoria Beckham!

Cheryl Cole is 26 years old and clearly doesn’t need any anti-aging treatments like Botox or Restylane lip fillers. Typically, plump and full lips are a sign of youth which is why women have their lips done in the first place. They are losing collagen as a direct result of aging and their lips are starting to thin a bit. Lips are so sensuous; you eat, speak and kiss with them so theoretically, the bigger the better right? Well, no actually. The birth of lip fillers was accompanied with the insult ‘trout pout’ for when lip surgery/fillers goes very, very wrong (think Lesley Ash, Jocelyn Wildenstein or Pete Burns)

Badly done lips stick out like a sore thumb. After all, who wants to look like they have two thick slugs stuck on their face masquerading as lips? Fuller lips do make a woman look younger, but it takes a talented doctor to know how much filler will make a woman be transformed from drab to fab with just a few Restylane injections.

At Cosmetic Clinics, we aren’t ‘scalpel jockeys’, we are professionals who take pride in our work so if we don’t think a treatment is right for you, we will tell you so.

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Laser Hair Removal

For some, hair removal is a costly, painful and inconvenient necessity. Could this be down to a cultural dislike of female body hair? I think this is entirely possible because whenever you see a picture of a woman showing off body hair, for most, the instant reaction is to screw up your face in disgust and say, “urgh!” It really is the last taboo when it comes to the female body and I do not see this one disappearing soon.

Julia Roberts bravely (?) flashed her hairy armpit to the word at the Notting Hill premier in 1999 and most recently, actress Mo’Nique made the world gasp at her hairy legs. She won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress but this did not stop Mo’Nique raising her dress to show off a seriously unkempt pair of legs. Goodness knows why she did this because I thought she looked amazing… up until that point.

I know I don’t feel my best if my legs aren’t smooth. There is no respite even when you wear trousers, as the hairs seem to rub mercilessly and almost create static! Again, if you want to wear knee-length boots, this can be uncomfortable even with two days of leg hair growth.

Yet losing the body hair is also a problem. Shaving can cause nasty nicks and waxing hurts no matter what anyone tells you! Last year I had my bikini line waxed, but the finer hairs that were apparently hiding beneath the more visible thicker hairs were left behind and I had a very red and blotchy bikini area, which I had to continue plucking at home. Very unattractive! The masochistic waxing lady didn’t even shape the remaining hair. I left the waxing studio feeling sore and worry for myself. I could use a depilatory cream but they usually smell pretty nasty and they are messy to use and take too long if you’re in a hurry to get to work.

There is electrolysis as a more permanent option but it is very costly and can be very painful. As with everything, there are risks e.g. infection or the treatment may not work. In the wrong hands, electrolysis can cause permanent skin damage. This is why I opted for laser hair removal for my armpits. It got to the stage where I was shaving my armpits every day because I couldn’t bear the tiniest bit of stubble.

So how does it work?
Laser hair removal works by laser energy being turned to heat energy when absorbed by the hair follicle, this causes thermal damage to the follicle without any damage to the surrounding skin, thus ceasing growth in the treated follicle. It is not 100% permanent, but the more treatments you have, the longer the effects should last.

It was the perfect option and I am so glad that I had it done, look at the pictures! I will be going in to have treatment on my legs next. Thank you Cosmetic Clinics!

Women's Body Hair - by louisa hastings

Sunday, 10 January 2010

Why Choose Dermal Fillers?

For a variety of reasons, maybe weight loss or age, a person may find that their face is beginning to look drawn and gaunt. Young skin looks plump and taut thanks to collagen, but as we age, the collagen in our skin slowly decreases. Fortunately, there are lots of non-surgical methods that can be used so that a patient can regain their former youthful looks.

The obvious answer to filling lines and wrinkles is to have Botox. Whilst this is a fantastic method for smoothing lines and wrinkles, not everybody is comfortable with the idea of having Botox injected into their face as an over-zealous practitioner could wipe out a patient’s ability to move their face.

The best non-surgical alternative to Botox is dermal fillers. This is a very useful method of smoothing lines and wrinkles and does not paralyse a person’s face into an expressionless mask. Dermal fillers can also fill out a person’s face to replace fat and plump out areas that have come to look somewhat gaunt e.g. cheeks. A patient can have fillers as a means to fill acne scars or change the shape of their chin or the tip of their nose.

If you are wondering why dermal fillers have become so popular, I can explain why: The effects of dermal fillers are immediate - so you do not have to wait for weeks until the swelling has gone down to see how the procedure has turned out. However, patients may experience very slight bleeding where the needle enters the skin. This is completely normal and is no cause for concern. There may be slight swelling or redness in the treated area although this will go down very quickly.

Typically injected into the lower two halves of the face (Botox is better for use on the forehead), the effects of dermal fillers are softer than other treatments and are often preferred to invasive, painful and expensive surgery which carries the inherent risks of infection and use of general anaesthetics. Compared to a surgical facelift, there is no contest between this and dermal fillers on the subject of cost. It is also very apt to mention that with dermal fillers there is no extensive aftercare and time off work required.

Most of today’s dermal fillers contain hyaluronic acid – this is a compound naturally found in the skin and is critical to the structural integrity of the dermal collagen matrix. What consumers will find is that there are several types of filler such as Radiesse which is more suitable for filling acne scars and treating lines around the nose and mouth. Typically lasting 16-24 months, patients looking for a dermal filler more suitable for filling out cheeks may consider Belotero. It pays to do your research!

Treatment
Patients may be given a local anaesthetic or a topical anaesthetic cream to numb the treated area to avoid discomfort. The treatment typically lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. There is no cutting of the skin and few risks although this should always be discussed at length with the professional involved in the procedure.

When looking for someone to provide dermal fillers, be aware that doctors, nurses and dermatologists can administer the treatment. When looking for a professional to provide dermal fillers check they are qualified to do so. All of the doctors affiliated with Cosmetic Clinics will be more than happy to reassure you by showing their credentials.