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PLASTIC SURGERY
By Dr. Yannis Liapakis
info@myplasticsurgery.gr
Non-invasive Plastic Surgery
Procedures are aesthetic
treatments for individuals who want to improve the appearance of an aspect
of their face and/or body, but do not wish to undergo the risk of
complications, side effects and recovery time associated with more invasive
Plastic Surgery procedures.
Botox
Botox Cosmetic is a purified
protein
produced by the
Clostridium Botulinum bacteria.
A small amount of Botulinum toxin
can be injected into the muscles that are responsible for creating wrinkles
or undesirable facial muscle effects.
The treatment is quick and
lasts three-four months. It usually takes a few days to notice the
wrinkle smoothing effect, and some of the common areas treated with Botox
include crow's feet, frown lines
and forehead wrinkles.
Complications include
occasional bruising and, rarely, asymmetries, which dissolve. Botox
Cosmetic can be used by almost anyone; however,
patients who are pregnant,
breastfeeding or who have a neurological disease should not use it.
Hyaluronic Acid
Injections
They can be used to add volume to
deflated or depressed areas in the face. When injected, hyaluronic acid acts
like an inflated cushion to support facial structures and tissues that may
have lost volume and elasticity due to aging and other causes. It is also
hydrates the skin by bringing water to the surface which helps give it a
refreshed and more youthful appearance.
Because hyaluronic acid
is chemically identical to the acid in the human body, allergy to it is very
rare. The procedure itself does not require anything but a topical
anesthetic administered to the site of injection. The augmentation usually
lasts from between three and eight months depending on body chemistry and
the treatment takes between fifteen minutes and half an hour. It is
considered to be an outpatient procedure and the people return to their
normal activities the same day.
Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy involves the injection just under the skin of a specially
prepared mixture of vitamins and amino acids. The ingredients in the
mesotherapy preparation injected into the mesoderm (or surface layer of the
skin) depend upon the problem area being treated. It causes the fat cells to
dissolve and the fat to then be passed out of the body.
Many areas of the body with localized fat deposits may benefit from the
treatment, including upper arms, the abdomen, the back roll (the fat that
runs between the waist and the bra line), love handles, inner and outer
thighs, knees, and the area under the buttocks.
Each treatment takes around 10-20 minutes to perform and is generally not
painful. The initial course of mesotherapy injections should be one-two
treatments with two weeks interval. There is no recovery time needed and you
can return to your normal daily activities immediately.
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BLEACHING OF TEETH:
Myths and Truths
By Nikos
Papadakis
Dental Surgeon
Causes
of discoloration: The
colour of teeth is influenced by internal and external factors. External
discolouring is caused by foods rich in tannin like coffee, tea, and red
wine. Cigarettes and antiseptics contained in
mouthwashes if used extensively colour the teeth
intensely.
Internal discolouring is caused by root canals, decay,
dental "black fillings" and from various antibiotics like tetracycline if
taken before the age of eight.
There are two methods of bleaching:
Chemical bleaching is
done with dental splints the patient must wear for some hours during
day/night for some days or even weeks. The agent used is hydrogen peroxide
or other oxides in various contents from very light preparations to very
dense, always however with pH acidity. The small content preparations are
preferred for home use while the dense preparations are only used in the
dental office because, among other things, the gums must be carefully
isolated to avoid chemical burns. Also
the ingestion of the whitening agent
creates many gastroenterological problems.
Photochemical bleaching
uses laser and is considered the latest and safest technology. With the KTP
laser, we have immediate results in 90 per cent of the cases within the
first visit. If the discolouration
is very dark, then, a second visit is required where the patient only pays
for the whitening agent.
Results from a one-hour visit will last from
one year to four or five. The duration of the results depends exclusively on
the patient, because a lot of cigarettes and coffee will decrease the
duration dramatically.
How must you be careful?
1)
The correct choice of method by the doctor is very important. But don't go
overboard. 2. Do not exaggerate in the requirements of white. No method of
bleaching will give you the nuances we see in magazines and television. 3.
Before bleaching, the dentist should define your type of discolouration.
Perhaps the cause is some genetic problem or it can be caused by a
systematic use of antibiotics or intake of iron supplements. And watch out
for mouthwashes. 4. Careful in the use of whitening toothpastes. Most have
rubbing agents like “sand”, that in using daily will destroy your teeth's
veneer.
5. You should abstain from using bleaching products sold
in supermarkets and which are placed on your teeth using a brush or tape.
Not only they can burn the gums but they can also destroy the natural veneer
of your teeth.
Restrictions: Bleaching should be
avoided during pregnancy and young people under 18. It should also be
avoided by smokers and patients that consume big quantities of red wine, tea
and coffee and who are not willing to cut these habits and people with
receding gums.
Side effects:
Sensitive teeth and gums can appear after bleaching and last up to 48 hours.
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