Patient Portal

Ezine 129 August 2013

Skin Care Tip:

Hidden Benefits of Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been known since the ancient Egyptians called it the “plant of immortality”. Aloe Vera is a cactus plant. It grows in dry temperatures such as those found in parts of India and Africa and has been used medicinally for centuries. Numerous researchers have studied the benefits of Aloe Vera. They established that Aloe Vera has several properties that are effective in treating a variety of skin conditions, cosmetic disorders, hair and scalp problems and more. It is also believed to be beneficial in treating burns, wounds and diabetes. This plant is fairly popular and is found in many cosmetic products such as moisturizers and hair products. What we may not know about is that Aloe Vera actually benefits us in more ways than we think! For women who use apply make-up, it acts as a moisturizer and is terrific for the face prior to makeup application to help prevent the skin from drying. Men can also use Aloe Vera gel as an aftershave treatment as its healing properties can aid small cuts caused by shaving. This miracle plant also helps with sunburns! This plant contains Vitamin C and E that also improves the skin's natural firmness and acts as a protective layer on the skin to replenish moisture. Aloe Vera gel contains hormones such as Gibberellins and Auxin which provides wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that diminish skin redness. Aloe is soothing and can reduce skin inflammation, itchiness and blistering. Aloe is also used successfully to heal chronic skin problems such as acne and eczema.

Anti-Aging Tip:

Try Having Good Posture!

Over time, poor posture may be caused by habits from daily activities such as looking at the computer, watching television, sitting in office chairs, driving, or even sleeping! Luckily, the main factors affecting ergonomics and posture are completely within one’s ability to control and are not difficult to change. If you work at an office or at a place where you are subject to sitting most of the time, try to get up and move around once in a while! One manner is to take a break from sitting every 30 minutes in order to stand, stretch and walk. As muscles tire, slumping or slouching and other poor postures become more likely. Having bad posture will put extra pressure on the neck and back. In order to maintain a relaxed yet supported posture, change your position habitually. Always keep your body in alignment while sedentary in an office chair or while standing. Try to distribute body weight evenly to the back, front and sides of the feet while standing. While sitting on a chair, take advantage of the chair’s features. Sit up straight and try to align your hips, shoulders and ears in one vertical line. Avoid unbalanced postures such as leaning to one side, stooping the shoulders forward and crossing the legs unevenly.

Regular exercise such as swimming, walking and bicycling will help the body stay aerobically conditioned, while specific strengthening exercises will help the muscles surrounding the back to stay strong. Strengthening your abdominal muscles will help support the upper body and maintain good posture. It is also important to avoid overprotecting your posture! While it is important to maintain a good posture at all times, it is also essential to maintain a relaxed posture to avoid restricting movements by clenching muscles and adopting an unnatural, stiff posture.

Plastic Surgery Tip:

Chicago Tummy Tuck Surgery!

One of the more difficult parts to mold and sculpt on your body is the abdominal area. Although exercise and diet may be the best option for a flatter stomach, it isn’t always the easiest goal to accomplish. Most individuals yearn for a fitter and slimmer physique, and they want fast results. With that being said, studies have shown that nearly 120,000 tummy tucks were performed in the year 2011 in the United States alone. There are a number of reasons to decide to have an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. Tummy tucks can be performed to both men and women. As we age, our abdominal muscles weaken and stretch marks appear. Exercise and dieting can tone muscles but unfortunately cannot control loose or sagging skin. Undergoing an abdominoplasty can help change the appearance of flabby skin that has lost its elasticity and shape and transforms it into a smoother, flatter surface which anyone would be proud to show off! A tummy tuck tightens the inner girdle (the area that extends from the ribcage to the pelvic bone) allowing the abdominal wall to reshape. It is not the same as liposuction, although you may choose to get liposuction along with a tummy tuck. Women who have recently given birth and are going through post-partum frequently seek this type of procedure as they are bothered by their stretch marks due to pregnancy. Stretch marks occur due to the muscle and skin stretching during pregnancy. A tummy tuck can almost entirely obliterate stretch marks!

We live in a society that praises flat, smooth stomachs as the ideal way to look therefore most people yearn to fit in with what society and the media dictates. A flatter abdomen also gives the appearance of a more proportionate and balanced figure. Having a tummy tuck will not only give you a more youthful appearance, it can also give you the confidence of wearing a bathing suit in public! There is an increase in the overall level of both self-confidence and self-esteem thus allowing you to feel great.

To see before and after patient pictures, please click here.

During your consult with Dr. Speron, the patient will discuss their desired goals on an individual level. Then they will further discuss the course of treatment and potential complications at the appointment time. Please check out the wealth of information on our site by clicking here.

Make sure you chose a board certified plastic surgeon. A call to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or ASPS at 1-888-4-PLASTIC (ie. 1-888-475-2784) can tell you which doctors are legitimate plastic surgeons with outstanding qualifications. You can also visit the ASPS web site at www.plasticsurgery.org. The ASPS is the only one of the 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. When considering a cosmetic surgeon, you should also make sure your surgeon is a member of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS). A call to ASAPS (1-888-272-7711) or visiting the ASAPS website ( www.plasticsurgery.org) can help you verify your plastic surgeons membership.

To help you in making your decision, please click here to check out the 7 critical questions to ask any plastic surgeon before letting them touch you!

By far, the most important factor in the success of your procedure is the surgeon you choose. So please choose wisely...

In The News

Dr. Speron and his clinical staff have recently reviewed and recommend the following articles:

Why Choose: prSkinCare.com?

prSkinCare.com? offers the following features to help you feel more comfortable, more knowledgeable, and to save you more money. We offer...

  • Private prices - create an account, log in, and see private prices and products that no one else can.
  • 115% price protection - We guarantee you can't find it cheaper.
  • A staff that truly cares about its customers and wants to provide education about skin care and products.
  • Exceptional Customer Service