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April 26, 2018

Not Your Momma’s Hair Mousse 20-Year Stylist and Natural Curl Guru with Tips on Mastering Mousse

Styling mousse first came on the scene back in the 80’s when big hair was the thing. Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston were the ladies who set the hair trends back then. I’m sure if you see pictures of your mom from the 80’s, you will see the waterfall bangs and curls that were teased, fried and crunchy. It was a cool look then. It’s not cool now. Hair styles and the products we use have changed over the decades.

Maya Smith, International Master of Natural Curls and founder of The Doux®, a haircare line she created specifically for naturally curly hair, has seen the evolution of mousse from the very beginning to now. We caught up with Maya and scored some amazing tips and insights to help you know which ingredients to look for and how to best use mousse to maximize your modern style.

Q: First to get things clear, what is the purpose of mousse? How has it changed from when you first saw it back in the day? What is the main difference from the mousse we see today and those from the 80’s and 90’s? Were they intended for different kinds of styles, textures?

A: When I started in the industry, the 90’s hair was in full effect. Naturally curly girls used mousse to create the Hillary Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel Air) “wet” look. For volume a diffuser was used to get hair to stand up at the roots. The visual results were awesome, but if you tried to re-style your hair once it dried, you were in big trouble! While it was used on curly weaves, extensions, and wigs, mousse wasn’t even an option for girls with super-tight curls or kinky textures. These days, mousse is still used to achieve great definition and shine, but less emphasis is placed on how high your hair stands up, or how stiff the overall look is. It’s much more about softness and movement.

Q: What are some ingredients to look for? What’s good and what should be avoided?

A: Always be sure to look at the ingredients when shopping for products because this can make a big difference. Ingredients such as sodium laurel sulfate (SLS), Isopropyl, and Prolyene have been found to cause breakage and dry out your hair. The best way to achieve healthy hair is to have that balance between protein and moisture.

Q: What causes that crunch and what were some of the problems with the mousse options available that inspired you to create your own? Can mousse be combined with other products? What are the benefits of combining products and steps?

A: It’s common for mousse to be combined with gel or cream because most mousses on the market contain alcohol to make the hair dry faster. They are also polymer rich, which creates a sticky coating on the hair, much like a hairspray. This can leave hair feeling dry and stiff. We formulated our Mousse Def as an all-in-one solution for this problem. It creates the shine and definition of a mousse, yet leaves hair soft and touchable with no flaking.

Q: How does mousse compare to gels and balms? Are gels a thing of the past? Can a balm be used in place of a mousse?  

A: Mousse and gels are water-based products that contain polymers and holding agents that “stiffen” on the hair shaft in order to hold the hair in place. On the other hand, balms, pomades, and control pastes are what we call emulsions, are a mix of oils and water. The Doux’s Bonita Afro Balm is an emulsion developed for moisture and softness that also contains a small amount of polymer for a softer, more flexible hold.

Q: Finally, are Salon or Professional brands worth the money? Do they contain better ingredients?

A: Yes. Products that were formulated for salon use typically contain a higher quality of ingredients. They also contain less water and fillers, so you’re getting a more concentrated product with longer-standing results.

Q: What other advice can you offer to girls with natural curls who want to mix up their hair styles?

A: Try something new. Gone are the days when heavy pomades and gels were your only styling options. Girls who have natural curls deserve to enjoy lighter products that are easy to apply, and create bounce and movement. Maximizing your natural God given hair is what’s popular now.

About Maya Smith:

Maya Smith is an International Master Stylist and Founder of The Doux Salon and haircare line now available in Target. With over two decades of styling experience Maya dedicated two decades to cracking the code on curl care, maintenance and expert styling. When it comes to caring for one’s natural hair and styling it, according to NaturallyCurly, Maya is among the best there is.

While still in high school, Maya got her hair cutting license and graduated from beauty school. Soon after graduating high school, Maya began following her passion and worked as an assistant for celebrity stylist Tracy Johnson. She learned from Johnson and progressed as a hair stylist for celebrities and entertainers. Years later the military wife would relocate to Germany, where Maya opened up her first salon The HoneyComb, a mecca for textured hair care for women from all over Europe, The UK, and as far as Africa. Maya’s unique system of textured hair styling sparked the development of The DOUX® haircare products, first launched overseas, and distributed throughout Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Currently, Maya leads a carefully selected team of stylists at The DOUX® Salon in Macon, Georgia and celebrated the arrival of The DOUX® in select Target stores nationwide. Maya Smith, wife, mom of 5 and savvy business woman is an example not just for women of color but for all women who believe their gifts can impact the world, striving for entrepreneurial endeavors with grace, ease and hustle.

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April 23, 2018

Tips to enhance the visual appeal of your fashion website on Instagram

Fashion and beauty are a demanding industry, and there is much competition in the field. You will find many people looking for ways and means to get access to the latest products and brand to look and feel good. Now, if you are the owner of a fashion website, it is smart to use Instagram for promoting and marketing your business. Instagram is a visual platform and ideal for you to convert leads into sales.

How can you optimize Instagram for your fashion website and business?

Instagram is the ideal social media platform for your fashion website however it must be optimized to the full extent for you to get noticed. The following are some salient tips you can use for enhancing visual appeal for your fashion website-

  • Be unique- You should be different and unique in your posting strategy. Do not do the same thing what other companies are doing. The mission here is to stand out and be different from the others. To present ideas and fashion images, be creative and create an impression that leaves a positive impact.
  • Quality matters- Your targeted audience deserves good quality posts, and this is why it is wise to post pictures that have high resolution. They improve credibility for your brand and look attractive. This invokes trust and confidence in your buyers.
  • Post pictures of people- Pictures of people are very popular on Instagram, and as per a study conducted by the Georgia Institute of Technology with Yahoo, it has been observed that social media posts with faces get more likes over other things.
  • Bright colors- Bright colors have a distinctive appeal, and the use of them increase sales and engagement.
  • Use longer captions- Long captions help you provide more reader information. They are effective for you to gain better sales and increased engagement.

Make people discover your fashion brand better

After you take consideration of all the above factors, the next step is to make people find your brand and begin their purchases. There is no point in creating a fashion website and page on Instagram without people noticing you. Now, the question is how they will find you?

Hashtags – Make use of them for people to find you

Hashtags allow people to find you and know more about your brand. Hashtags allow you to be specific and this helps your customers to find you faster. When you use hashtags, you can increase followers for Instagram. Many people are looking for you. If you use the wrong hashtags, people will not be able to find you. The hashtags should be relevant to fashion and beauty. At the same time, you must make sure that you have trending hashtags that are popular and widely searched in the market.

Create sharing content and links

Merely sharing content on Instagram is not the key to attracting customers to your fashion brand. The content you share must also contain the links to the products you sell in the market. These links in the content will make the post fun and interactive. It is crucial for you to create a relationship between fashion brands and your followers. You as a fashion website owner should know what your targeted audience likes to respond to. This will help you create the right mix of content to share with your targeted audience online. You may use product reference numbers along with the links to make your products shoppable.

Create inspiration for the targeted audience

You may create inspiration for your fashion brand when you may ask your targeted audience to come forward and share their style. This inspires followers to come forward and get featured in your posts with their unique styles. You can also highlight the scene inspiration where you can post pictures of what goes on behind the scene in your business. This gives you the opportunity to get personal and close to your followers. In this way, you can give them a different perspective of your brand.

You can also create inspiring Instagram Stories that highlight fashion shows. These Stories are online for 24 hours, and they promote prompt sharing. In this way, you can share pictures of a fashion show with your targeted audience and introduce them to the amazing world of fashion and the latest styles that are available in the market.

Instagram is an amazing platform for you to promote and market your fashion website. Use it to the optimal and allow your targeted audience to see the inspiration behind your style and designs. In this way, you can reach out to a large section of society with success. Instagram is the right platform if you have a fashion brand and using it to reach out to your customers is indeed a wise and prudent choice!

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April 20, 2018

Tips for Dressing Abroad: Know What to Wear and What to Avoid

Safety should be a huge factor of concern when you are in a foreign country and, sometimes whether or not you stay safe,may be determined with what you choose to wear when you are among the locals. This is why it is imperative to choose your attires wisely, lest you offend the cultures, religious beliefs and morals of the host country and sometimes, just out of your dressing, you make yourself a target for the bad guys because you will advertise yourself to everyone that you are a tourist. Consequently, as you prepare with the renew my passport issues, also have in mind that you will need to choose just the right kinds of clothing based on your destination, and below we offer a few suggestions to help you go about it-:

Religiously inappropriate clothing

If you are traveling to countries in the Middle East where they have very strong affiliations and beliefs towards a particular region, it is wise to dress conservatively to avoid offending. If you are you in the United States or Europe, no one would mind if you put on tight fitting clothes or slightly revealing attires, but if you were to try that in UAE, the reaction would be completely different. You are a visitor in their country and so it is not respectful to offend them with your dressing.

For ladies, dresses such as leggings, bra tops, miniskirts, tank tops, and dresses that leave the cleavage revealing should be avoided always. For men, shorts and sleeveless tops should not be encouraged since in this part of the world, the only body parts that should be revealed through dressing should be the hands and feet and the face for men. So pack your clothes and dress with these in mind.

Flashy Jewelry

Irrespective of your collection of flashy jewelry and the desire to show them off everywhere you go, you should think twice about carrying them along when traveling abroad. This is for two main reasons. First, your expensive collection of diamond rings, watches and pearls may get flagged as someone else’s collection abroad. Besides, you don’t need to impress anyone with your bling abroad and they will be safe in your safe at home. Secondly, depending on where you visit, you could be making yourself a target by the bad guys who would be more interested in your gold earrings or expensive watch than they are interested in your life. Of course, no one would take note when you flash out such jewelry in England or New York, but if you try that in Pretoria, South Africa, the story would be completely different.

Open-toe shoes and sneakers

In most parts of the world, sneakers are reserved for sporting activities. Italians and Spaniards frown a lot at crocs and tennis shoes and you may want to think twice if you wanted to wear such in Madrid or Rome. Instead, think about comfortable leather shoes while you are in the cities, and be sure to keep them clean and polished. White, lace-up tennis shoes are one of the items people use to identify American tourists.

Unless you are going to the beach, always stick to closed shoes because they are relatively comfortable and they will also protect you getting cuts on your toes or from insect bites. Flip-flop and open toes may not be advisable they make you prone to getting infections you may not be aware of, and so to just stay safe, stick to closed shoes while traveling abroad.

How about wearing shorts abroad

Americans love their shorts and this is a fact they are willing to let anyone in any country know, even if it offending them. While you deal with you renew my passport issues, also think about how you will deal with the short issue if your destination is Indonesia or Vietnam. In these countries, shorts are not things you wear for a daily use and which you could comfortably use for going into the malls or walking the streets. As a matter of fact, you should wear them only indoors, but when you venture out, you must be inappropriate pants. If you love your khaki shorts too much, then reserve them for the beach, but not walking in the streets.

Clothes with national flag colors, curse words or religious images

Attires with curse words, military symbols, religious symbols or those with national flag colors should be avoided when you are traveling abroad. The same is also the case for clothes that might have words or writings who meaning you don’t understand. Such clothes may unintentionally start unnecessary emotional debates that might not have very good endings. Additionally, countries hold different opinions about others, and you may not know what the residents in your host countries think about your country so that you parade your national flag colors in front of them. Can you imagine what would happen if you went to Baghdad wearing a shirt with American flag colors?

Bright colors

Unless bright colors or bold patterns is what you have found the locals wearing, then you should avoid having bright colored clothes. Stick to conservative colors such as gray, turn, and navy. The idea is to fit and blend among the locals, but if you wear very bright colored clothes, you will attract unnecessary attention and you could be easily singled out as a tourist or foreigner, even by the bad guys.

Inappropriate colors

In the West, black colors are for wakes and funerals, but in Asia, white is the color for funerals. You should have in this in mind lest you end up offending a mourner while you are on a short holiday. Again, if you will be traveling in Central Africa, drop the blue and the black because they are the favorite colors for tsetse fly who will swim towards you without mercy.

Backpacks and cameras

The easiest way to sell yourself off as a tourist or a foreigner in that country is to have a backpack and have your Nikon camera easily visible. But you can blend by carrying a small handbag and then put the camera inside.

 

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April 19, 2018

5 Ways to Learn Fast and Retain More

The sooner you realize that learning never ends, the more willing you’ll be to expand, elevate in your profession, thrive in your life and even generate more income. Learning and studying can be difficult once we are long past our college years.  For all the old dogs who might be reluctant to learning new tricks, we tapped the expertise of Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a New York based Neuropsychologist and Teaching Faculty at Columbia University to share 5 ways to learn fast and retain more so we can quickly grasp new concepts, technologies, business strategies and up-level our willingness to learn. 

Independent learning is the hot new brain trend. Thanks to digital media, we see a new renaissance when it comes to learning. On the professional side, nearly two-thirds of U.S. workers have taken a course or sought additional training to advance their careers, according to a March 2016 study by Pew Research Center.  On the personal development side, a simple Google search can lead anyone to a plethora of courses on everything from mastering personal finances, parenting, our relationships, nutrition, cooking, designing clothes, home organization and design.

“The key to longevity is the learning and application of new things. When we stop learning, we stop growing and that is a slow death to our brains and bodies. Luckily today there are online seminars and other ways to learn that speak to our interests. It’s also incredibly convenient to learn,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

What are the best ways to learn new things quickly? Dr. Sanam Hafeez offers the following 5 ways to learn fast and retain more.

  1. Learn in quick sprints.There’s a sweet spot for learning in the 30-50 minute timeframe. Dedicate that amount of time to learning and then take a 10 to 15-minute break to end a learning segment before starting a new task. “You’re more likely to retain more when you focus for a shorter amount of time at once,” explains Dr. Hafeez who helps people with ADHD to enhance their ability to focus and learn. “Using tools like notecards with quick points helps the brain absorb concepts even more,” she adds. Which leads to…
  1. Take written notes and use color!Ditch the laptop and go old school with a pen and paper. Outline important points with a different color pen or highlighter and if you can draw a concept out in the margin, go for it. Writing fuels comprehension and enhances listening skills. Studies out of UCLA and Princeton found students who took notes on laptops didn’t perform as well as students who wrote by hand. “When we handwrite notes we listen then process the information before writing. When we type on a laptop, we transcribe what we hear without any self-interpretation which is where the actual learning comes into play,” offers Dr. Hafeez.
  1. Give your brain time to rest and recharge with sleep.People brag that they work so much and sleep so little. Arianna Huffington’s book, “The Sleep Revolution,” and choice to add nap rooms at her Huffington Post offices turned the light onto sleep as a performance enhancer. “People who get a full 8 hours of deep uninterrupted sleep retain what they learn and have bandwidth to grasp more information quicker. We often feel tired after a course or following instructions. This is because focusing requires energy. Naturally, when we rest we get to reboot the brain,” says Dr. Hafeez.
  1. Read out loud, record, replay.Research has shown that reading out loud engages both senses of sight and sound which heightens retention.“Recording yourself reading and elaborating with your own idea of how the concept resonates then replaying the recording a day or two later, is a great technique that fires up the part of the brain that processes concepts like a computer filing information for later use,” explains Dr. Hafeez.
  1. Break things down and relate it to what you already know.We all heard of the math teacher who used the example of rock concert ticket sales to get kids to grasp algebra. According to Dr. Hafeez, “when we take a concept and link it to something we already know about or have genuine interest in, we retain that concept. Anytime we can internalize a concept is has resonance. It sticks.”

About the Doctor:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. 

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www.comprehendthemind.com 

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April 18, 2018

 Use these 5 Tactics to stay Healthy & Happy

Exercise is considered the best way to stay happy, healthy and being fit. Exercise will boost your mood, energy and helps you to sleep better and increases your self-esteem. Not only does exercise feel good and healthy and even dancing is a way to stay fit and healthy for people of all ages because dancing isn’t just fun- it’s really good for your health. A few things that boost your mood are:

Eating your favorite food and putting good food in your stomach. Whatever, you are putting into your body could impact your mood. Find peace of mind, the most important thing is don’t ever compare yourself to others because if you do so, you will never feel happy and healthier. Wear your favorite clothes which makes you feel good and happy because the way we dress makes an impact on our confidence and the attitude about our day.

  •    Look at the positive side of every situation

As we all have heard it before  “Stay positive, look on the brighter side – Don’t let things that get you down”. So, you need to train yourself to be more positive. Negative thinking will lead to dangerous and bad things. The problem with negative thinking is that this type of mindset and outlook on life can harmfully affect our health.

Basically, staying positive not only make us happier but it actively is helping to keep us healthy. There are many ways which help you stay positive and look on the bright side. You can control yourself of negative thinkers, share positive thoughts with others, search for the silver lining, separate fact from fiction, choose a positive thought, eat healthy and tasty foods etc.

  •    Join a gym or group workout class

A gym motivates you to do a balanced program which includes both aerobic and strength training exercises. These exercises promote heart health and weight loss, it helps to prevent osteoporosis and also improve muscle strength, balance, and flexibility. Nothing feels as good as being fit. Group exercises have many benefits, it’s challenging, they are motivational, it provides structure, group exercise classes will make us more regular and they are fun too, group classes are social because you can have an instant connection with them, again it teaches you to manage your time as well.

  •    Don’t forget your beauty sleep

Sleep makes you feel better. Enough sleep is a key part of healthy lifestyle and it benefits your heart, weight, mind etc. If we did not get enough sleep that can lead to serious health effects. On the other hand, if we get enough sleep then it is good for everything ranging from weight to mood and for the immune system. Stop worrying so much while sleeping.

Good sleep is vital for having a healthy mind and allows you to enjoy life more, getting enough sleep will keep you active for the whole day. As it is correctly said, “Early to bed, early to rising makes a human healthy, wise and wealthy”. Water helps your skin clear, leaving you feeling happier and better about your body.

  •    Practice inner calming techniques like yoga or martial arts

Basically, yoga is likely to keep your body more healthy and than many other forms of exercise. Even Martial arts can also do few of this but they don’t focus on the same level of flexibility and balance as yoga does. Yoga gives you a sense of calm, peace and balance which impact both the emotional well-being as well as overall health. Meditation is a natural anti-depressant remedy which boosts the mental health. Like meditation, martial arts focuses on movements and being present with awareness, embodiment, and precision.

  •    Eat healthy food

We all love to have delicious and tasty food, however, it is important that whether the tasty food is keeping us healthy, fit and weather will have a long life, no this food will not make us feel happy or keep fit. Some tips for good health is: Avoid eating long stored food, shall avoid junk food eating, the highly processed and convenience food. We should all follow a ‘Custom Meal Plan’ to stay healthy, happier and fit. So choose a good and healthy food that leads to happiness and live long.

  “The Great gift you can give to your family is Healthy You“

 

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April 17, 2018

SomaLuxe For The Face, For The Body, For The Hair and More

SomaLuxe Triple Collagen Eye Repair Gel with co-enzyme Q10 & peptides has captivated me.  As we all know, the skin around the eyes is very thin and delicate, so if you have not already, give it some extra TLC.

Eye Repair Gel

Eye Repair Gel

I have used eye creams before but never an eye gel. I took some time to do a little research on Eye Gel. This is what I found out.

Eye gels are light weight and  more soothing and cooling for tired eyes. They are better than creams for reducing puffiness. Eye gels are also absorbed  faster than creams so they leave less residue making it quicker to get your eye make up on.

The one problem that I have with using eye skin care products to stave off  fine lines and wrinkles is that I tend to get milia, tiny white bumps around my eyes. They are minuscule but they bother the heck out of me. They usually go away on their own but I prefer to have them removed as soon as possible by a professional. Both my esthetician and my dermatologist have told me to avoid eye creams as I am prone to the pesky keratin-filled milia.  They both suggested trying an Eye Gel.

SomaLuxe Triple Collagen Eye Repair Gel does not cause milia issues for me.  This is the top determinative factor in my  choice to spread the word about the product.

There are other reason like the power of the peptides that support the structure of the delicate skin surrounding the eyes and the antioxidant Q10.

Find out more about this product on the company website HERE 

brightening peptide serum

Brightening Peptide Serum

The SomaLuxe Brightening Peptide Serum is a favorite of many who need help to even out skin tone and correct dark spots.  One of the key ingredients in this products is Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4. That ingredient is effective against wrinkles but mild to the skin. So not only will the Brightening Peptide Serum give you an even skin tone, it helps battle wrinkles and hydrates.

Check out the website and find something you will love.

 

 

 

 

 

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April 16, 2018

Fat Grafting 101: Your Guide To Facial Fat Transfer

 

Most people want to appear more youthful as they age, but time often tends to take a toll on someone’s face. The phrase “fat transfer” may sound unusual, but the fact is that it’s a healthy amount of facial fat that gives your face a youthful look. Whether you find yourself aging or have lost weight, you may discover that your cheeks or temples appear sunken, or that your face is lacking the youthful roundness it once had. If this sounds like you, you might be a candidate for fat transfer.

How Does Fat Transfer Improve Your Appearance?

In a culture where fat loss is a focus, it may seem strange to say that transferring fat to your face is a good idea. However, when you are young, facial fat is what’s responsible for smooth contours and the youthful “glow” that many young people have. As you age, these contours become less smooth. This is often due to a variety of factors. These factors include a number of things, including weight loss and gravity.

While getting a leaner-looking face as you age may sound appealing, the fact is that a rapid loss of facial fat will often lead to sunken-looking cheeks, circles under the eyes, and hollowed-out temples. With fat transfer, you can improve hollows in your face and smooth out the overall look of your complexion, making yourself look younger and more full of energy.

Where is the Fat Taken From?

This procedure is called “fat transfer,” but before you commit to undergoing it, you likely want to know where the transferred fat is coming from. The fat is transferred from another area of your body, typically from the thighs or stomach. This may sound off-putting, but the fact is that facial fat transfers generally involve small amounts of fat. Thus, while you will have two areas to heal–the site of the initial fat harvest and the transfer site–each area will be relatively small.

The harvesting of fat is typically done very inconspicuously, so you can expect little to no scarring from the procedure. Of course if you are concerned about scarring, be sure to talk to your surgeon–he or she may be able to help ensure that you have as little scarring as possible. And because the amount of fat taken from a different area of your body tends to be very small, you likely can work with your doctor to choose from a variety of areas of your body.

How Does the Procedure Work?

Facial fat transfer is a two=step procedure. In the first step, fat is taken from another area of your body, typically the thighs or stomach. This fat removal is accomplished through liposuction, in which a cannula, or slender tube, is inserted beneath your skin. The cannula then essentially vacuums fat from beneath your skin. Because the only incision in liposuction is the tiny hole the cannula makes, you likely will have either very little scarring or no scarring at all once the incision has healed. And because the amount of fat removed is very small, you also are not likely to notice a major difference in your body contours.

The second phase of the procedure is the transfer of the harvested fat to your face. The fat transfer involves injecting the collected fat under your skin. First, though, the fat is purified. Once it is injected, your surgeon will make sure that it’s spread evenly under your skin to ensure maximum smoothness and best results. And because the injection sites are so small, you won’t experience any lasting scarring.

This procedure is popular with those who want to look younger, but who don’t necessarily want to pursue major surgery on the bones of the face. Because it doesn’t involve your bones, recovery time is generally shorter than the recovery time for rhinoplasty or other major surgeries.

How Permanent Are the Results?

One of the main draws of facial fat transfer is the fact that it’s permanent. Barring extreme weight loss, the contours created by adding a bit of fat to your face are there to stay.

Therefore, facial fat transfer tends to be a preferred method compared to other methods of facial rejuvenation. Other methods tend to focus just on the surface level of your face, but this one works at a level below the skin to help ensure lasting results.

How Can I Choose a Surgeon?

If you have decided facial fat transfer is for you, or if you want to schedule a consultation to see if it’s the right option, your next big step is finding a surgeon.

However, this can often prove to be a difficult task. For many people, distance is understandably a limiting factor, as nobody has unlimited time and resources to travel thousands of miles to see a surgeon. If you have the finances and ability to travel far, though, it may be helpful to also search outside of your immediate geographic area.

You also will want to look at several examples of each surgeon’s work. You may find that, across even many types of patients, a given surgeon’s before and after pictures catch your eye. If this happens, it’s well worth giving this surgeon a closer look.

And lastly, as you search for surgeons, keeping your budget in mind is useful. Some offices may offer payment plans, and others may be able to refer you to a medical credit agency that can help you manage debt from the procedure.

Ready to Get Started?

If you miss your youthful facial contours and are ready to pursue fat transfer, you may be eager to find a surgeon. If you are in or near the Miami area, Dr. Bustillo may be a good choice for you. Andres Bustillo, M.D. is board-certified and well known for his expertise in various forms of facial surgery and other cosmetic procedures, including fat transfer.

 

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April 12, 2018

Breast Reduction for Men

When you think of cosmetic procedures, you may imagine a breast augmentation, in which the breasts are enlarged. However, breast reductions are also done, albeit less commonly. These are usually done for women whose breast size causes back issues and other problems.

Breast reduction can also be done on men. Some men–and even boys going through puberty–may find that they start to develop breast tissue. This condition is known as gynecomastia. While it has several possible causes, it often requires surgical intervention.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

All men have some amount of breast tissue, but gynecomastia causes this tissue to swell. This often results in the appearance of breasts (sometimes called “man boobs”). While gynecomastia is sometimes only an appearance issue, it causes pain and tenderness in some cases.

It is important to understand that gynecomastia is more than just an accumulation of fat. Excess weight may cause you to look like you have gynecomastia, but true gynecomastia is caused by an imbalance of the hormones testosterone and estrogen. Every man has both testosterone and estrogen, but when testosterone is too low and estrogen too high, health problems can result.

High estrogen in men tends to lead to loss of muscle mass, fat gain, and fatigue, and it also can lead to gynecomastia.

There are several possible causes of high estrogen in men. The use of street drugs and alcohol may increase estrogen and lower testosterone, and anti-androgens used to treat prostate cancer and other illnesses may contribute. Anabolic steroid use also frequently causes gynecomastia, especially in those who do not also use anti-estrogen therapy.

Gynecomastia also affects some adolescent boys. As they go through through puberty, hormonal fluctuations may lead to a temporary overbalance of estrogen. Puberty-related gynecomastia typically goes away on its own, although it make take up to two years.

More rarely, other health conditions, including kidney failure and some tumors, may contribute to gynecomastia. If you find yourself experiencing gynecomastia symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor to make sure there isn’t a dangerous underlying cause.

How Do You Know if You Have Gynecomastia?

The main symptom of gynecomastia is swollen gland tissue in the breast region. However, many men with this condition also have pain and tenderness. In some cases, discharge may come from one or both nipples.

If you are unsure whether your symptoms are simply weight gain or gynecomastia, be sure to talk to your doctor. Your doctor can tell you whether you have this condition, and he or she also may be able to help you pinpoint the cause.

What Can You Do About Gynecomastia?

In some cases, though not all, gynecomastia goes away on its own. However, this medical condition is often embarrassing and sometimes very painful. If your doctor has told your your symptoms may be permanent, or if you don’t want to wait for symptoms to go away, pursuing breast reduction for men may be a good option. In this surgery, the glandular tissue that swells when gynecomastia is present is removed. Depending on how much is removed, a male breast reduction may prevent you from having to deal with this medical condition again.

How Does Male Breast Reduction Work?

There are two possible surgery types for gynecomastia. For less severe cases, liposuction is typically used. In liposuction, your surgeon will insert a cannula, which is a hollow metal tube, beneath the skin. Then, gland tissue and fat is suctioned out, helping to create a flatter chest. The cannula only makes an extremely small incision, so this option typically results in the least amount of scarring. After you are completely healed, you may not even see a scar at all.

If you have a severe case of gynecomastia, however, your surgeon may need to use a method called tissue excision. While this method is slightly more invasive, it is often necessary in cases with excessive tissue swelling, or where the swelling is enough to cause stretching of the skin. Tissue excision results in the removal of more tissue, but it often provides permanent or near-permanent results.

While tissue excision may result in some scarring, plastic surgeons are skilled with the placement of incisions. After healing is complete, you likely will notice little to no scarring.

How Much Downtime Can I Expect?

Male breast reduction is not quite as invasive as some forms of plastic surgery, but it does require some downtime. Many men are able to return to work in a few days, although vigorous physical activity should be avoided for a few weeks. Your surgeon will likely give you a compression garment to wear after the surgery as well. This garment will help minimize swelling and reduce pain. Post-surgical pain is usually minimal, especially with the liposuction option, and you may even find that over-the-counter pain medication is enough to manage it.

Healing times will vary depending on both the surgical method used and your individual physiology. At your consultation, be sure to discuss healing time with your doctor. Your doctor can take into account your symptoms and preferences, and he or she can then decide on an appropriate treatment plan for you.

Are You Ready to Get Started?

Gynecomastia can be painful and embarrassing, but you don’t have to let it hold you back. If you are ready to get started on improving your life, the first step is setting up a consultation with a surgeon who performs male breast reduction. At your consultation, your surgeon will examine you and discuss your symptoms to start formulating a surgical plan. And if you are near New York, NY, Madison Plastic Surgery may be the practice you need. This established surgical practice is known for a variety of cosmetic procedures, including male breast reduction. It is the home of Dr. Robert Tornambe, one of New York’s top plastic surgeons.

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April 12, 2018

Five Useful Tips To Get Good Home Design and Renovation

When planning out your home designing or renovating your home, you have to realize that it isn’t just about looking at what looks pretty. There are many details to consider, from hiring the best building designer down to figuring out your schematic plans and finalizing the material and color selections of the home you plan to design. It can get quite daunting, especially for those who aren’t knowledgeable on home renovation and interior designing!

So to help you out, I show you five tips to get good home design and renovation to get the house of your dreams!

These five tips can be done with or without a designer in mind. They are simple changes you can do for your home or implement for a new property to have it look better than what’s planned!

1. Divide and Conquer

Effective planning is the crucial factor for successful home designing and renovation. You’ll have to focus on all the big and small parts, devising a plan for each rare in your house. Brainstorm for what you need to improve in your home and write down your end goals. After that, move on to budgeting, deciding your total expenditure and limit. Keep the budget underestimated and do your research on how much the materials cost. It’s best to take time doing your research to find the best deals at inexpensive prices. Shop online, head on to thrift stores, and start thinking economically.

2. Choosing The Right Paints and Color

Are you planning on painting your rooms? Don’t forget the door as well. If you have a dark room, paint the ceiling, doors, and the trim 50% lighter than the walls. This is to avoid overpowering the space and optimize the room’s lighting.

For those on tight budgets, you can opt for a black and white palter to avoid overspending on different colored pallets. It gives your home a sophisticated look that way! But for those who do want different color schemes, search up for quality and inexpensive paint available in local hardware stores. Wallpaper is also a good choice!

3. Kitchen and Storage Tips

When you are decorating or renovating your kitchen with a company like Unique Fabrications, then you should also maximize your storage as well, particularly in the kitchen. It’s best to utilize the kitchen to the maximum capacity, decluttering everything you don’t need and purchasing more storage that can have you place your kitchen needs in an organized and clean manner. You can follow DIY projects to create your own kitchen cabinets or find thrift shops that sell quality secondhand furniture.

If you do have enough storage room in your kitchen, then there’s no need to replace them. You can repaint it to have the kitchen look newer.

4. Bathroom and Floor Renovation

You’ll be surprised to know that there are a ton of inexpensive products you can invest in for your bathroom to make it look better. Check out anything that needs to be repaired or redesigned to ensure a working toilet and shower. Look into the shower and toilet fixtures or change the paints of your bathroom wall and countertops.

Floor renovation can be quite expensive but giving it a new finish will lengthen its lifespan. Make sure you do your research when hiring someone to repair and change your floor design within your budget. If it isn’t possible, then you can renovate the whole room according to your floor design instead.

5. Lighting and Mirrors

Last but not the least, think about the lighting. This can make or break what your room will look like. After all, having a well-lit room will have it look brighter and bigger! I recommend that you have light that comes through the windows and utilizing mirrors to make your small room look even bigger, which is an inexpensive technique to add beauty to your rooms.

Additionally, you can paint your windows one shade lighter than your room to maximize the natural light that comes through the windows.

Wrapping It Up

Home building and renovation isn’t as easy as hiring people and hoping for the best! There are a ton of steps to do and ways to make the seemingly complicated process even easier. Through learning all about the ways to have a successful home design and renovation, you won’t have any problems with getting the beautiful house you wanted.

Hopefully, these tips to get good home design and renovation gave you an idea on what you can start with, may it be on your own or with a designer. So don’t wait any longer and implement any of these tips today!

If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences on home design, then comment below. I would love to hear what you have to think.

 

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April 11, 2018

What are my Long-Term Lip Augmentation Options?

Lip augmentation is a superficial procedure that is performed to offer the patient fuller, plumper lips. Recently, most people are going for dermal fillers, which get injected into their lips and around the mouth. Most of these fillers are comprised of hyaluronic acid. This is a substance that occurs naturally in the body and helps in increasing the lips’ volume.

Another option that was used in the past was collagen. This substance used to be common dermal filler, but today, doctors prefer to use safer methods whose effects last longer. Also, doctors use fat injections and implants for lip augmentation. However, not many people prefer these options due to the risks involved.

Who Qualifies for Lip Augmentation?

Many women feel concerned about their thin lips, and it is the reason they opt for augmentation. This procedure helps them get fuller lips that don’t show lipstick lines by filling the creasing that appears along the lip border as a woman ages. The ideal lip augmentation candidates include:

  • Any adult regardless of age
  • Any patient with extremely thin lips or persons who have suffered age-related lip volume decrease
  • People wishing to undergo this procedure should be medically fit and have measurable expectations of the results

What are the Medical Considerations?

Since it is possible for a patient to suffer from an allergic reaction to the material used during the procedure, it is important for all candidates to let the surgeon know whether they have any existing allergies. If the patient is considering undergoing a lip implant, the surgeon should be made aware of any respiratory issues that could be compromised by the anesthesia.

There are numerous dermal fillers and implants available out there to help with lip augmentation and not all of them are safe for every patient. Before going for lip augmentation, select a highly qualified cosmetic surgeon you can put all your trust in. Also, make sure that the doctor uses FDA approved products. Make certain that the method he chooses is ideal for all your cosmetic and medical needs.

Using Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

This substance can help improve your lips’ appearance through their volume, shape, and structure.

Its results last for up to six months after which you will need to go for more injections if you want to maintain the volume of your lips. There are many hyaluronic acid fillers in the market which are used in the same way and yield the same results too. Some of them even come with lidocaine which is a local anesthetic.

The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Its benefits include:

  • The slow pace of treatment- the injections don’t have to be applied all at once. They can be done gradually until the patient attains the desired results
  • More control over the lips volume- it is easy to control the amount of substance to be injected, which means that the surgeon controls how much lip volume to create for a patient
  • Dissolves easily- the lumps that the gel creates dissolve very easily
  • Reasonably longer results- the hyaluronic acid fillers results last longer although they are not permanent
  • Less bruising- this kind of filler comes with less bruising, unlike the other alternatives.
  • Unlikely allergic reactions- since the fillers are made from substances that resemble those found in our bodies, it is not likely for a patient to get an allergic reaction. However, any patient who is allergic to lidocaine should let the surgeon know before the procedure.

Lip Augmentation with Fat Transfer

Any patient with the desire to get fuller lips but afraid of having foreign substances injected into their bodies can opt for a fat transfer. Since most lip fillers like collagen come from animal or human donors, fat transfer is different. This is because it uses the patient’s own body tissue thus, yielding a soft and natural-looking outcome.

The procedure involves the transfer of fat from a certain area of the body and injecting it into the patient’s lips. During the process, only the patient’s body natural tissue get used, which means that there are no chances of rejection or allergic reactions occurring. Once the surgery is done, the patient will have soft and natural-feeling lips that will last for at least six months and up to more than a year.

The Procedure

The doctor first removes fat from a specific location, usually from the thighs or abdomen through liposuction. This procedure is unlikely to affect the removal area unless the patient is also undergoing a body liposuction surgery. The fat gets injected into the lips using a syringe and a blunt needle, leaving tiny prick marks only.

This type of augmentation is usually done under local, or if need be, light general anesthesia as per the surgeon or the patient’s preference.

What are the Benefits and Risks Associated with Fat Transfer?

This procedure is considered to have relatively low risks. However, any surgical treatment comes with possible side effects. In this case, they might affect the injection area or where the fat was removed. The risks include infections, inflammation, bleeding, and slight discomfort.

However, there is one problem that surgeons are striving to rectify. Some of the fat cells die during the transfer. Any highly-qualified surgeon will, however, avoid this from happening by injecting the fat at intervals as opposed to doing it all at once.

One of the benefits related to this procedure is that it is unlikely for a patient to develop an allergic reaction. Also, the chances of the body rejecting the tissue are minimal since it is from their own body. The results are usually natural-looking.

This is a simple procedure that is usually treated as an outpatient case. Besides, it only requires a couple of hours for patients to recover and go home where after which they can resume their daily activities.

What are the Benefits and Risks of Permanent Lip Surgery?

As compared to other surgeries, lip augmentation is relatively a low-risk procedure. However, every patient should know the possible risks and be prepared. Some of these risks include:

  • Scarring
  • Implant rejection and migration
  • Infection
  • Lip stiffness

The good news is that the risks can be reduced if the procedure is done by a qualified surgeon. This type of lip augmentation comes with one main benefit; it offers permanent results, unlike in the use of temporary fillers.

If you are looking for a cosmetic surgeon to carry out lip augmentation for you, consider Dr. Agarwal of the Aesthetic Surgery Center. Anurag Agarwal, MD FACS is an expert on this field and can be reached at (239)-594-9100 at his office in Naples, Florida. His great work goes beyond surgery as he loves giving back to the society through pro bono humanitarian work.

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