Dr. James Barber - Cosmetic Surgery Blog

Friday, February 29, 2008

Structure of the skin and what a laser can do

The skin is the largest organ of your body. It has three layers, the dermis (Latin for skin) is the living skin layer, and the epidermis is the outer skin layer and is composed of dead skin cells. The subcutaneous layer is the deepest layer and is where the larger blood vessels and glands reside.

The dermis is continuously regenerating itself, passing older skin cells from the interior to the exterior of the body. The epidermis is the final stage of skin growth and is continually being sloughed off. Through this process the skin is constantly renewing itself.

As we age, the epidermal layer of skin appears less supple and dryer, and often shows more age spots and blemishes. With the use of a specialized laser, the physician can stimulate new cell growth by ablating the epidermis and causing minor trauma in the dermal layer. Much like sunburn, this traumatized layer is more quickly replaced by newer, fresher looking skin from underneath. Laser skin resurfacing can make you look years younger, reducing wrinkles and sun damage.

Laser skin resurfacing is not for everyone, and in consulting with Dr. Barber you should consider your other options, such as microdermabrasion and Obagi Blue Peels.

posted by Patti at 2:42 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Body Image and Sexual Satisfaction

Sexuality involves not just a physical, but an emotional disrobing, and when you have sex with your partner, you reveal not only your body, but your feelings about your body. If you feel uncomfortable about a particular feature of your body, such as your breast or your stomach or your buttocks, these feelings can inhibit you from committing yourself emotionally and physically to your intimate relationships.

Emotional Security

Self-confidence is the foundation of any healthy relationship. A person who feels confident in himself or herself does not seek excessive validation from a partner. Demanding excessive validation leads a person to seem needy or annoying, and a person who cannot get by without that validation will often stay in an abusive or damaging relationship. Even enriching and long-term relationships can be negatively impacted by persistent insecurities, as the insecure partner withdraws from situations where the source of insecurity is given attention.

For insecurities about the body, this often means that sexual contact becomes a source of anxiety.

Body Image

Body image refers to our perception of our own bodies, the emotions we feel about how we look. Unfortunately, many people, especially women, constantly exposed to a barrage of media images of more or less perfect bodies, airbrushed on magazine covers or cantilevered into haute couture gowns for short walks down the red carpet, feel negatively about their bodies. Common areas of concern include:

If you feel concern about any of these areas, you are constantly aware of your perceived shortcomings. The truth is, there is nothing wrong with your body, nothing that needs to be "fixed," but the disparity between how you feel you should look and how you actually look creates negative emotions. These negative emotions are what cosmetic surgery can fix.

posted by Patti at 2:39 PM 0 comments

Monday, February 25, 2008

Male Breast Reduction

Gynecomastia is a common condition in men. The term means "woman breasts" and is not today generally regarded as having shamanistic power as in days of yore. Instead, it can be embarrassing if left untreated. Some estimates indicate that 40% - 60% of American men has some degree of gynecomastia. Frequently, men are turning to cosmetic surgeons to help alleviate the problem where diet and exercise fall short.

There are many known causes of gynecomastia, including:

  • Puberty
  • Steroid abuse
  • Obesity
  • Genetic disorder
  • Decreases in testosterone production
  • Increases in estrogen levels
  • Certain medications

Underlying factors that may be causing gynecomastia should be dealt with first. If the problem is due to drug abuse or excessive weight, intervention and a strict diet might be indicated. It is imperative to address external factors before choosing a more radical option like surgery. Conservative alternatives include:

  • Changes in diet
  • Exercise
  • Weight loss
  • Drug rehabilitation

Often, there is no known cause for this malady and only surgical reduction of the breast tissue will alleviate the problem. This may require only liposuction or it may also include the removal of glandular tissue. Some insurance companies may cover all or part of the procedure if the removal of glandular tissue is indicated.

posted by Patti at 12:25 PM 0 comments

Friday, February 22, 2008

More men interested in cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery is not exclusive to women. More men than ever are turning to their plastic surgeon to address issues with their physical appearance than ever before. The stigma of plastic surgery is dissipating. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were over 1 million men who elected cosmetic surgery procedures in 2006, with over a 40% increase in male surgeries since 2000.

Some of the most common procedures elected by men are:
  • Rhinoplasty commonly referred to as a nose reshaping. Due to the high incidence of broken noses in men and the attending medical problems that can come from disrupted nasal passages, this procedure is more socially acceptable for most men.
  • Hair transplantation
  • Breast reduction (Gynecomastia) surgery
  • Liposuction

Not all the procedures are surgical in nature; men are also electing minimally invasive procedures as well.

Minimally invasive procedures include

As technology and medical advances continue, more procedures that are cosmetic in nature will be safely performed on men and women in increasing numbers. As the social stigmas associated with enhancing looks through surgery abate, more men will likely turn to cosmetic surgeons to improve their appearance.

posted by Patti at 2:35 PM 0 comments