Ezine 45 August 2006

Summer Savings

Save 10% in August! Simply type "august" into the coupon filed during checkout to redeem your savings. Note: This coupon cannot be combined with any other coupon.

Skin Care Tip:

How to Care for Oily Skin

With summer in full bloom, those who suffer from oily skin tend to have more problems during this humid season. With extra oil come more acne breakouts and more complications regarding how to care for your skin. Cleansing the skin with a mild, but not harsh cleanser is important both day and night during these humid summer months due to the skin’s extra oil production and sweat glands working hard to cool down your skin. All of this contributes to clogged pores and blackheads. Mild exfoliation, such as gentle scrubs or use of Alpha- or Beta-Hydroxy Acids (Salicylic Acid), kept to a minimum of two to three times a week, help the dead skin cells and extra sebum (oil) and sweat from clogging the skin.

Wearing a sunblock daily is important, especially one that does not clog the skin. Mineral makeup in powder or a light liquid form can help protect the skin from the sun’s harsh summer rays. Light gel or lotion-based moisturizers are important and protect the skin’s barrier function, which if depleted, can cause surface irritation or skin conditions to form.

The best physician-strength acne washes are from neaclear and LaRoche-Posay. These seem to be the most popular, best tolerated and most effective. neaclear was started by a plastic surgeon. These physicians are skin specialists and know more about your skin.

Important Notes:

Due to the new policies of the following companies, we are not allowed to advertise our discounts for them online. For all our loyal customers, we are very proud to offer the opportunity to still receive great discounts. Simply type the following coupon code during checkout on any of the following product lines:

Obagi - "obagi" - 10% off

La Roche Posay - "larocheposay" - 10% off

SkinCeuticals - "skinceuticals" - 20% off

Revivogen - "revivogen" - 10% off

These offers DO NOT have an expiration date. These offers CANNOT be combined with any other coupons.

Anti–Aging Tip:

Why you are doing everything right and still not losing Weight

You watch what you eat, you exercise daily and you consume several glasses of water daily, but you still have a belly hanging over your pants. We have a few suggestions to help to burn off those extra pounds with these tips:

• You’re Starving Yourself: Not consuming enough calories, especially from protein forces your body to conserve calories and also helps to break down it’s muscle tissue to fuel itself. Muscle is the key to metabolism and the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism. Try eating between 1600 – 1800 calories daily to keep your metabolism from cutting down.
• You Eat Too Fast: Most of us eat too fast so that by the time we are finished, our stomach does not have time to alert our brain that we are full. Try to chew, swallow, put down your fork and take a sip of water before taking your next bite, which should allow your body to feel full when it actually really is.
• You Eat Refined Foods: Most white breads and cereals are processed and contain very little fiber. Foods rich in Fiber help control blood glucose and insulin levels. Eating a variety of whole-grains, nuts, and beans are high in fiber and keep glucose and insulin levels in control.
• You Don’t Sleep Good: Sleep deprivation causes a rise in glucose and insulin levels in their bloodstream which works in opposition when you are trying to lose weight. Try to sleep at least 8 hours and try to go to bed at the same time every night which will help keep your body’s sleep rhythm in conjunction with weight loss.
• You Believe Exercise Makes you Thin: Exercise alone will not help you lose weight because the more calories and weight you burn, the bigger your appetite gets. By controlling portion size and eating a balanced diet, you will not only feel full but your body will not overeat and cause weight gain.
• You Lack Food Preparation Skills: Eating out several times a week not only forces you to eat fattening foods, but you tend to slack on controlling your portions. Cooking at home helps you cook with less fat and control your portions. You will also be in control to eat more healthy fruits and vegetables, as well as a balanced diet.
• You Don’t Drink Enough Water: Water is your friend and helps to flush the waste products your body makes when breaking down fat or protein for energy. Drinking a minimum of 6-8 glasses daily helps your body digest foods and keeps your metabolism from slowing down.
• You Let your Weight Loss go to your Head: Most people drop a few pounds, get close to their desired weight and next thing you know, they’re eating junk food and back to their original weight and then some. Eat that piece of pizza today, but remember that one day of junk food is not going to kill you, just eat healthy starting tomorrow. As long as you eat healthy most days, you will not go back to your original weight.

Plastic Surgery Tip:

Important Questions to ask your Plastic Surgeon

When considering Plastic Surgery there are both good and bad stories that we have all heard. You do your research, look at patient pictures, speak with people who have undergone the surgery you are about to, and met with the doctor and feel comfortable and ready. You still feel nervous, and worry about you being the next horror story. We are giving you some advice to ask your Plastic Surgeon prior to your surgery date:

1. What Board Certifications does this Doctor have?
Doctors board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are the most reliable. Be careful because some doctors can be certified in other areas of medicine and have only undergone a training course or “claim” to be double or triple board certified, but there is no such thing.

2. How long has the Doctor been Performing this Procedure?
Experience is a major turning point when choosing a plastic surgeon. Most Plastic Surgeons have a website with a variety of information regarding each procedure as well as brochures in the office. You should be able to consult with your doctor before making any decisions about possible risks and complications.

3. Can I see Before and After Pictures?
Most credible surgeons have a variety of photos on-line or in their office of their patients and their work they have performed. Carefully view each photo and try to get a feel of how you will look after the surgery. Your surgeon should be able to tell you approximately what and how much they will remove or add.

4. Can I speak with an actual Patient who has undergone this Procedure?
Speaking to the doctor’s actual patients will give you an idea of what to expect regarding pain, post-surgery recovery and any possible complications that may go wrong. These conversations are private and you may ask them anything without worrying.

5. If this Procedure is performed in a Surgery Center, are the Facility Medicare Certified and State Licensed?
If a facility is certified by both, they are to be under strict safety, operational, management, and sterilization protocols. The doctor most likely has a Surgical Assistant as well as an Anesthesiologist on hand so the doctor can perform the surgery efficiently and effectively.

6. What is the Payment Schedule?
Most likely you can pay by cash, check and credit cards. Most Plastic surgeons accept all credit cards, but verify prior to payment. Some offices do offer payment plans as well as a separate fee for the Surgical Center. You should get all this information in your initial consultation.

7. Who will perform the Surgery and Post-Operative Care?
Most Plastic Surgeons perform their own surgeries. Discuss prior to surgery if a resident or surgeon-in-training will be assisting or performing the surgery. Most offices have the Nurses do post-operative care to remove sutures and bandages and the doctor will follow-up to each appointment after the Nurse has completed her job.

Hopefully this information will be helpful in your quest to getting the best procedure with the best results you can achieve.

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.

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...