A rise in problems ranging from burns to scars to infection, or even worse, are definitely on the rise with these spas opening just about everywhere these days. Scary, isn’t it?

One way to know if a MediSpa is probably a safe place in which to have a procedure performed is if there is a physician on board who is there during the treatments. And I don’t mean a dentist over-seeing Botox treatments. I mean a dermatologist. Someone who deals with the skin, as most of these treatments are preformed on the skin.

And if the prices at these MediSpa’s sound too good to be true, then they are. For instance, the makers of Botox Cosmetic charge $500 per bottle, to each and everyone it sells too. So if a Botox treatment price is too low, then you risk that the product being used is either not Botox, or a diluted version.

Better be safe than sorry. Call ahead. Be aware. Ask questions. These are medical procedures.

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Today is the Great American Smokeout. What does that mean? Stop Smoking.

Really, you know smoking is bad for your health. I know it is addictive, as I used to smoke. Luckily, quitting was easy for me. I don’t know why, but after smoking for over three years, I was trying to get pregnant and knew I had to quit. And I did.

The American Cancer Society is the official host of this annual event, and they are a great resource for educating yourself in how to stop smoking. Your doctor is a great resource too. I urge you to make an appointment with your Doctor and talk to them about quitting smoking if you feel that you cannot quit smoking on your own.

Please, give it up. For one day. At least today. Then one day at a time, until you give it up for a lifetime.

And on the totally vanity side of smoking, you may think it looks cool, but just look at those wrinkles around your mouth, and know that they are simply not attractive.

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Forget those run of the mill, on every corner nail salons where you might leave with something not so pretty (can you say fungus?) for the low price of $20. Yuck. I rather indulge myself just once a month with a pretty (and safe) pedicure from a reputable spa. And I only pay $45, including a tip.

I have been drooling over the latest Summer nail colors, and cannot decide which of these I should bring in for my next pedicure appointment.

First there is Essie’s Jumpin’ Junkanoo, a beautiful brown based pink,

and then there is OPI’s Koala Berry – the perfect summertime berry color.

Suggestions?

Post from: Aging Fabulous

With the recent plastic surgery sudden increase in the United States, prospective patients looking to enhance their appearance are going to great lengths to get the surgery,and many look for bargain prices.

Today, cosmetic surgery is a booming business in places like Mexico, Latin America, and Europe where their low prices are the main draw. Dr. Salzhauer is aware of the dangers of foreign cosmetic surgery versus the safer and regulated surgical environment commonly found in the United States.

He told me how each year, thousands of prospective patients bargain hunt for plastic surgeons in foreign destinations – price being the main attraction. But we all wonder what risks the patients really taking to save a little extra cash when going under the knife?

The Dr. explains, “a bargain at the outset could result in more money spent on revision surgery or fatally worse, death or disfigurement at the hands of an incompetent surgeon or in a compromised surgical setting. Despite the warnings, people continue to sign up for bargain plastic surgery vacations.”

He continues, “patients may take unnecessary risks, when choosing to go outside of the U.S. for cosmetic surgery, by unknowingly selecting unqualified physicians and having procedures performed in non-accredited surgical facilities. It’s unfortunate that there are some surgeons who are in this profession for the business and not for the patient’s well-being. I have seen and re-operated on almost all cases of botched up plastic surgeries,” said Dr. Salzhauer. He went on to say, “From implants that look as if they were crudely fashioned to those that have become infected or dislocated and have to be removed, to botched facelift, eyelid and nasal surgery, and even liposuction with results ranging from poor to non-existent including incisions placed in bizarre places. Patients put their trust in our hands and it’s our responsibility to always provide the best and safest care possible.”

I had a few questions for Dr. Salzhauer:
What separates the standards in the United States from those of the other countries? According to Salzhauer, “in the U.S., there is a plastic surgery standard that is higher than anywhere else in the world. This includes a high level of sterility, the quality of the technological or surgical equipment, and most important of all, a surgeon’s training. Foreign countries often have neither the money nor the resources to have a generalized standard of care. Contrast this with the U.S. where we have no shortage of patient advocates and medical and state boards which ensure doctors are adhering to specific guidelines.”

Does this mean that plastic surgery in foreign countries is uniformly dangerous? “Certainly not,” says Dr. Salzhauer. “In most countries, one can find qualified plastic surgeon and expect successful results. However, these are not usually the places that offer bargains.”

What accounts for the discrepancy in foreign versus domestic cosmetic surgery? “Hospitals in America go to great lengths to make sure the doctors who are granted affiliation or surgical privileges are trained and board certified in the sub-specialty in which they are practicing. In addition, doctors in large American cities must remain incredibly competitive as far as their knowledge and skill. It would therefore be much less likely for a patient in the U.S. to have problematic results. Post operative care is also a crucial element of plastic surgery. This is another major red flag associated with foreign plastic surgeries. Even if a patient has excellent results at the time of their surgery, if certain are not properly identified, they can lead to an unsatisfactory final result.” Dr. Salzhauer stresses, “The most important aspect of surgery is not only the surgery itself, but the frequency and thoroughness of follow up visits and post-operative care.” He adds that “patients need to be advised when they can resume activities such as work and exercise, therefore, it is essential that a patient’s doctor is accessible, which is a challenge for surgeons in other countries.

As Dr. Salzhauer explains “an additional danger patients run into when having surgery performed in a foreign facility is that often, facilities abroad designed for elective surgery are run more like clinics rather than actual hospitals. Usually the surgery is performed in conjunction with another doctor who may or may not be certified in the same specialty. There may not even be qualification boards in that country.” As Dr. Salzhauer points out, “when a patient sees a doctor in private practice, as here in America, that surgeon — plastic or otherwise — obviously has a more principle responsibility for the well being of the patient. In a clinic, there is often no single doctor who is responsible to handle problems that arise.”

What recourse does a patient have as a result of botched surgeries in a foreign country? “Little if any,” reports Dr. Salzhauer. “There may be no venue for legal recourse for a patient encountering a problem as a result of sub-standard care in a foreign country. Geographic distance would render legal action both costly and inconvenient. The patient originally seeking a bargain will wind up spending even more money, not to mention the time and effort involved.”

Great advice!

To learn more information on Dr. Salzhauer or his practice, please visit Bal Harbour Surgery

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Nowadays, when I am at the beach, I plop myself down under an umbrella, but what about the years in the past?

I remember sunning myself for hours on end as a teenager. I used Crisco, Baby Oil, and tanning oils with no sunscreen in them. You know all the tings that promised the deepest darkest tan. So un-safe.

Please practice safety in the sun. Every 67 minutes someone dies from melanoma – the deadliest type of skin cancer. We must do something about it, especially now, as May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

I was so glad to hear that Olay has teamed up with the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery to bring more awareness to this very serious Cancer. Visit their website to get the facts and set yourself up for a free screening.

First be scared. Here are some frightening statistics that I found on the site:
* One person dies every hour from skin cancer.
* One in five Americans will develop skin cancer.
* Skin cancer in women under 40 has tripled in the past 30 years.
* Five sunburns double a woman’s chance of getting skin cancer.
* UV exposure at tanning salons is just as risky as sunbathing outside.
* People with fair skin that burns rather than tans, people with red hair and people with blue eyes are at greater risk of developing skin cancer.
* People who have many (extensive) freckles on their upper back are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer.
* People who have a history of sunburns, especially during childhood, are at a greater risk.
* The depletion of the ozone layer may be significantly affecting the incidence of melanoma.
* Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and exposure at high altitudes are the most dangerous times to be exposed to the sun.
* Those with an impaired immune system — especially those who have had an organ transplant, leukemia or lymphoma — are at a greater risk of melanoma.
* According to one study, the use of a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher during the first 18 years of life would cut lifetime risk of melanoma by 78%.

I am urging you…

Be smart. Play it safe. Sun-Safe!

Post from: Aging Fabulous

This year, we are doing something different in my family. Today is my mother’s birthday. Her wish is for us all to make our Doctor’s appointments a little early this year. As we have been dealt with a devastating blow just two months ago when my brother was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma Multiforme (a very aggressive, cancerous brain tumor), she wants us to do what we can for not only prevention, but for early diagnosis.

There are so many things that we cannot prevent, but as well, there are so many things that can be prevented with diet and medicine. And early diagnosis is such a key in fighting so many diseases. It is unfortunate when a disease cannot be detected through standard medical tests and only presents itself with symptoms, as in the case of my brother. Be sure to discuss with your Doctor anything that is bothering you, symptom-wise, even if you feel funny asking them about it.

So, I made my annual physical appointment, mammogram, GYN visit, and scheduled a meeting with a gastroenterologist about possibly having a colonoscopy. I will be 40 this year, and my sister is having one tomorrow, as she had a little problem, and my father just had a pre-cancerous polyp removed from his colon last month.

Please join me and make your annual Doctor appointments if you have not yet this year, or have let them lapse. We cannot age fabulously, if we cannot age healthily.

Post from: Aging Fabulous

But it seems that I’m not alone. I found some statistics put out by the National Sleep Foundation and it reported that at least 63% of Americans are suffering from lack of sleep! They attribute it to holiday shopping and all the various deadlines that seem to crop up at this time of year. Well, I’m definitely guilty of that. I have been in malls more this week, than I have been home and althougth I have loved every minute of it, I think it’s catching up with me.

One suggestion is to cut back and do something enjoyable. And that’s why I’m thumbing through this book! And I thought that I knew everything there was to know about Christmas!

More info about The Christmas Almanac (Little Big Book)

Post from: Aging Fabulous