A woman who favors unique jewelry is a woman who prefers to be unique. Unlike others, beaded bracelet jewelry allows women to create signature variations. Each bracelet is as individualized as the woman who wears it - from elegant chic to simplistic minimalist.

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, a popular jewelry maker has its own in-house studio where dedicated designers work hard to ensure consistent innovative integrity and originality in their products. The factory employs 250 highly trained silversmiths and goldsmiths who perfect every design into a finished jewelry product.

Each piece of jewelry is handcrafted from 14K gold and sterling silver. In 2003, the jewelry line made its debut in North America to rave reviews from women who love creating their own look and style with bracelets.
Each bracelet is divided into three sections by small threads. A woman chooses the beads for her bracelet, which are each equipped with interior threads, allowing them to be spun individually to a bracelet segment in any order desired. The beads move freely and rotate slightly with the wrist’s movement, creating an undeniable eye-catching and stunning effect.

In addition to its dramatic appearance, the bracelets tell personal stories with the use of charms along with Murano glass beads and semi-precious gems. One glance at her bracelet, the wearer is reminded of special moments which have been commemorated with fun charms and birthstones set in a design totally unlike another. The designs become a snapshot of a woman’s life. Earrings, rings, necklaces, and brooches are also available to complement the signature bracelet.
Women find they are unable to just buy one bead. And some women have gone on to create other bracelets to add to their collections. Upon the recent opening of local retail jewelry stores, one bracelet-clad woman came to the new store to purchase another bracelet - the 11th in her collection.

Adding to their own collections, women honored at GLAMOUR Magazine’s 18th Annual Women of the Year Awards in October 2007 were presented with a customized bracelet that reflects their personal style and achievements. Every year GLAMOUR Magazine honors women from a variety of fields including entertainment, business, sports, music, education, and politics. Among the honorees, A-list actress Jennifer Garner was recognized for her work with the American Lung Association and the Children’s Defense Fund. Her reputation for being one of the most grounded women in Hollywood was reflected in a jewelry design punctuated with gold and “key to my heart” charm.

Designer/activist Donna Karen has been dressing the modern American woman with her own label since 1985. Karen has started her own initiative called Urban Zen which blends Eastern and Western medicines and yoga practices to support integrative healing at hospitals. Her special bracelet was inspired by this woman’s reputation as a “style force.”

“Hit maker” Shonda Rhimes is credited as the first African-American woman producer of a top television show, Grey’s Anatomy. Through the show Rhimes aims to “celebrate the imperfections that make life so interesting.” Her bracelet designed with the glitz of gold also sparkles with a signature “R” charm and safety chain.

Other GLAMOUR Women of the Year winners wearing included Elizabeth Edwards, Victoria Hale, Lara Logan, Alice Water, Abigail Breslin, and Toni Morrison.
Whatever a woman’s accomplishments, unique bracelets allow her to express her own look and style. She may feel Bohemian romantic, elegant chic, charmed sophisticate, or raw grace from one day to the next. It’s her choice. Designs are described as romantic, modern, and reflections of timeless symbols of love - attributes for which any woman can relate.
Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, contact Lewis Jewelers at 877-88-LEWIS

Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website.

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Have you ever stopped to consider how much time you might use in a lifetime while shaving in the shower, not to mention the price of shaving cream, razors and blades and gallons of water used?

We were curious and so we found the answers in a May 2008 Zoomerang hair removal survey that found women spend more than $10,000 on hair removal products and services over the course of a lifetime. Not only shaving with razors, women spend a lot of time and effort with creams, lotions and waxes to remove hair.

And yet it keeps coming back. Sometimes it happens quickly and just when you don’t want it to be there. And then there’s the other side of shaving, with nicks and cuts that need to be disguised until they heal, not to mention the potential of ingrown hairs that need attention.

Women responding to the survey reported they will spend more than 58.4 days removing hair from their bodies during their lifetime. The survey also revealed that women remove unwanted body hair for an average period of 53.6 years using methods including shaving, waxing and depilatory creams. A lifetime of hair removal adds up to more vacation days that most people have for several years.

While women report a small monthly spend on shaving, $15.87 per month, the lifetime investment for females who shave adds up to $10,207. That money added to 58.4 days spent shaving would make a nice vacation.

Depilatory cream- or lotion-users are paying slightly more than those who shave for their hair removal, $10,555 through their lifetime, yet they only remove hair one to two times per month. So creams and lotions decrease the amount of time but increase the cost. In the current economy, the number of people using hair removers has the potential to decrease.

Waxing is by far the most expensive form of hair removal. While respondents reported waxing only one to two times per month, women who wax will spend an average of $23,000 on hair removal in a lifetime. Women can spend time performing the wax treatments themselves and cleaning up the resulting mess, or make and travel to appointments to have it done professionally. Even with professional waxing, many people can have ingrown hair issues and need to purchase additional lotions to decrease the discomfort.

The hair removal study was conducted to determine the cost savings benefit of laser hair removal verses a lifetime of shaving or waxing. On average, women can save $7,000 by receiving laser hair removal on the areas of the body they typically shave. When compared to a lifetime of waxing, women can save $20,000 by receiving laser hair removal on the areas of the body they usually wax.

As people are more time crunched than ever, laser hair removal has evolved into a lifestyle decision. Like Lasik surgery for contact and glasses wearers, laser hair removal is a decision to free yourself from one of the most mundane processes in your life - hair removal. Eliminating the time and money spent on hair removal, like contacts and glasses, offers more time to do other, more enjoyable tasks.

In addition, laser hair removal is a procedure that will help conserve water. Fifty-two percent of women surveyed reported shaving with the water running the entire time. Women surveyed reported an average shaving time of 10.9 minutes and an average of shaving 12 times per month. With the average shower using five gallons of water per minute, this means the average woman will use 7,848 gallons each year and a total of 420,652 gallons of water shaving throughout their lifetime, nearly enough water to fill an Olympic-size swimming pool. Only two percent of women shavers do not use water when shaving. However, dry shaving can increase the risk of ingrown hairs and nicks, not to mention those red bumps that can crop up while shaving.

Most women don’t look forward to shaving. It’s generally considered a chore, something to avoid and a half-hearted wish to be in a European country where shaving isn’t a common practice. Regular maintenance is required and unavoidable with shaving, lotions and waxing.

Hair removal was one of the earliest applications of laser technology; and improved treatment protocol from national laser center chains have deemed it more effective than ever before, succeeding even with the darker skin tones or light-colored hair that were not amenable to treatment by more conventional lasers.

The most effective laser hair removal process combines pulsed, high-intensity light with precisely controlled radiofrequency waves to damage follicles. The result of permanent hair reduction can often mean: no more shaving, waxing or bleaching of the treated areas.

AmericanLaser.com is the largest and most successful laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation and cellulite reduction therapy company, with more than 220 locations in the United States. For more information, please visit AmericanLaser.com.

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So you’ve decided you want to have some minor work done. It may be laser hair removal, a cellulite treatment or skin rejuvenation. Now you need to decide where to have it performed and by whom.

After checking with friends and family for references and suggestions, make sure you do some “investigating” on your own to ensure that the experience you have will be a safe and successful one.

Prior to selecting an aesthetic treatment center, follow our tips for researching and selecting the most reputable treatment center to quell any uneasiness and find the service you’ve been looking for, leaving you with more time to move on to other activities that you can enjoy with a new you.

Experience
How many treatments have been performed at the location? How many treatments have the doctor and the aesthetician performed? If you’re seeing an aesthetician or technician that is supervised by a doctor, remember that the technician probably performs the majority of treatments day in and day out, so it’s best to ask the person performing your treatments.

Customer service/satisfaction
Ask if you can talk to current and past customers. Someone who has had the treatment you are considering can be a great resource. That person can have valuable information about what to expect during and after any procedures. However, remember that every individual is different, and someone with different skin tone or skin conditions can have results that will vary from yours.

Incident/injury rate
Ask for the center’s incident and injury rate. This will give you a good indication of the level of success the center has and their openness and willingness to talk about all aspects of the company. A low rate should provide reassurance that you’ve made the right choice, while a high rate should be a flag to ask more questions and seek more details before making a decision.

Technology/equipment
What type of equipment does the aesthetic treatment center use? Is it the latest and most up-to-date that you’ve read about in fashion and beauty magazines, or is it some earlier equipment that you may not have heard about? Once you find out which equipment is being used, search online for the name of the equipment to get a good feel of reviews for the devices.

Training/research
Ask the aesthetician or technician what type of training is required. State requirements can vary, so you may want to consider a center that has been franchised, which can offer consistent training across all locations and will have several policies and procedures in place based on the experiences of those performing treatments across the country.

Be an informed consumer
To understand how laser hair removal works, it is important to understand hair and how it grows. Human hairs are made up of three parts: the bulb at the base of the hair follicle (which produces hair), the shaft and the hair. The bulb and the shaft are embedded beneath the surface of the skin, therefore the hair is the only part visible to the naked eye. The hair growth cycle is comprised of three stages: telogen, catagen and anagen.

At any given time, approximately 30 percent of your hair is in its anagen growth stage, which is the only time the hair is susceptible to laser hair removal treatments. Each laser hair reduction session will permanently damage 30 percent of the hair follicles in the treatment area. Essentially, laser hair removal works by damaging the hair follicle.

The only way to permanently reduce the amount of unwanted hair is to damage the hair follicle to a point where is unable to produce hairs. The hairs that are destroyed with each treatment are destroyed permanently. While patient protocol is determined on a case-by-case basis, on average our center recommends a minimum of six treatments, spread about two months apart per treatment.

Modern laser hair removal provides permanent hair reduction and is really a marvel of technology and has effectively removed the discomfort that was once associated with laser hair removal and are still associated with some of the older equipment that is out there in non-specialty clinics.

For those interested in body shaping and reducing the appearance of cellulite, VelaShape is the first treatment approved by the FDA to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite and reduce thigh circumference. VelaShape is a clinically proven procedure that many Americans are choosing instead of surgical techniques. The noninvasive VelaShape device uses something called el’s technology, invented by laser developer Syneron. It employs bi-polar RF waves and infrared energy to improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of cellulite and cut down on localized fat deposits by literally shrinking your fat cells.

No matter which type of treatments you may be seeking, plan to spend some time researching the exact procedure that you’d like to have, what side effects if any exist, and find out about the aesthetic treatment center by asking friends and family and interviewing the technician that will be performing the treatment.

An informed consumer can make smart decisions by performing basic research to become knowledgeable about products and services. When considering laser hair removal or various skin rejuvenation treatments, knowing what devices are used, how many times the technician has performed them and talking to previous customers can provide a wealth of information.

AmericanLaser.com is the largest and most successful laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation and cellulite reduction therapy company, with more than 220 locations in the United States. For more information, please visit AmericanLaser.com.

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There are some people who suffer from dry and cracking skin. Others have to cope with overly oily skin, and many suffer from acne and other skin ailments. These are not new. For centuries we as humans have been plagued and irritated by these issues. While the technological advances of our day have made us better equipped and more knowledgeable about these ailments, the ancient cultures of this world were well aware of the remedies for such things. They had experimented and tested and finally applied various solutions to these skin problems, and the results were powerful. This is quite impressive because of the capabilities that those cultures had for experimentation. They developed enhanced formulas and concoctions that would better their skin quality, and over time, they improved their processes to treat a larger variety of ailments. Let us not forget that these cultures began their processes farther back than the fourth century B.C. They have given us a huge stepping stone to be able to fulfill our own need for natural cures to own common irritations.

Now that technology has given us huge advances in our ability to see the world around us and magnify the world itself. We can see the fundamentals that have built this world. As we analyze the ecosystems in which we live, we rediscover that there are indeed many natural ways to solve reoccurring problems. Technology in our day has twisted the market to make synthetic products seem like the only option. Synthesized solutions are labeled with natural titles and use the phrases that denote an organic product when in fact, there is quite possible not one natural ingredient in those products, and if there is, it was more than likely chemically influenced and treated during growth. The FDA itself has no regulation or definition of what products are organic. The FDA does not control what products go into the market place when it comes to skin care and cosmetics. They claim this because of the variety of allergies that exist even when dealing with entirely natural ingredients. This gives the market free reign on what it produces without regard for the best possible product.

Synthetic products can have almost the opposite effect at times, and if they do accomplish what they are created to do, the side effects can be harmful. Often chemical agents and by-products will penetrate the skin and enter the body to hinder immunities and weaken the body. With organic products, however, there are no harmful chemicals that can enter the body. The user can be absolutely sure that when applied correctly, these products will enhance skin quality and give years back! With something as important as the skin that protects us, we cannot afford to pass up this quality investment.

Bart Icles is an expert in the field of organic skin care. Visit Skin Botanica today for more information or to get started! You can also check out Eminence Skin Care if you are in need of Eminence Skin Care Products.

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When someone says ‘diamonds are forever’, they very often refer to a De Beers advertisement or product used for many years to promote this product as an exquisite gift for their loved ones. However the diamond gem has been a subject of much controversy and struggle, especially for the people in Africa. As the movie ‘Blood Diamond’ will summarise, it has been a product of mush bloodshed, conflict and a high number of death tolls.

Since diamonds are girl’s best friend, many people are unaware of its importance in the world. This is not merely just a pretty little gem nested onto an expensive metal ring. These are something that has seen much historical controversy in the war torn parts of Africa. However, on the flipside, where diamonds are mined legally, they have played a part in improving the quality of life in Africa, more specifically in funding for education for young people, health education, and livelihood for many of the African people and create developmental projects.

Where the term conflict diamonds is used is when the diamonds are traded illegally, which is believed to fund conflict and military weapons in war torn areas, such as central and Western Africa. The first known instances of conflict diamonds came about during the early 1990’s in Sierra Leone, whereby illicit mining of diamond were performed funding the conflict ridden country. Other areas of conflict were notable in Liberia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Ivory Coast.

Sierra Leone was one of the countries which had suffered a brutal civil war for over ten years, from 1991 through 2002. This had sparked the Revolution United Front (RUF) who had terrorized the population, taking control of the diamond trading and using the funds to prolong the war. Approximately half a million of Sierra Leones people were forced to flee the country, with thousands missing and numerous killed.

The UN had established one of the biggest Peacekeeping group (UNAMSIL), sending a mission to Sierra Leone in order to disarm and demobilise the illegal trading. By 2002 the mission had succeeded in their goal, abolishing the conflict diamonds trade. The mission had also enabled peace in Sierra Leone, with the country becoming a Democratic country. However, the diamond mining now plays a crucial part in developing the country, with the funding enabling a more stable future for the country. This is done through Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).

The KPCS was set up in 2003 to prevent the illegal trading of rough diamonds, by creating a non-conflict rough diamond trading. In order for countries to participate they must ensure that the diamond gems are traded legitimately and are not used to fund any rebel group of any sort. These countries will need to become a member and must go through a strict procedure to warrant them as legal trading. This has contributed to the abolition of conflict diamond trading.

In November 2006, 71 countries had become members of this organisation making it possible to stop conflict diamond from entering into the trading process. Since this process has been in place and actions have been taken to counter conflict diamond trading, countries like Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Angola have received the benefits of the diamond trade. This has enabled improvements in the healthcare system, with Sierra Leone exporting three percent of the worlds diamond in 2006.

Diamond manufacturers in the UK now trade with conflict free diamond, making sure that they provide sufficient certification to prove it is conflict free. The Kimberley Process functions on the basis of safely trading diamonds, continuing to reduce the level of illegal diamond trading to less than one percent (a dramatic decrease) and investigating into any suspicious trading that may be operating.

For people looking for that extra special diamond, it is worth researching into whether this is conflict free through ensuring they have legitimate certification, are able to answer your questions on the subject of conflict free diamond and hold a conflict free diamond policy. The certification is warranty free and must be cleared through the Kimberley Process and/or System of Warranties. Never be afraid to ask questions about this, as you want to walk away reassured that the special diamond ring is benefiting the country and not funding conflict.

Anna Stenning has studied the historical background of diamonds, the conflicts over diamond mining and the devastating affects it has had on parts of Africa.

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One thing about fabric tote bags is that they have so many uses it would be hard to even list all of them. But what is certain that they will never go out of style. They have been used mostly used as beach bags, diaper bags, and even purses. And girls who graduate to higher grades in school are using them as book bags instead of backpacks. The reason is then they are trendier and look more grown up than does a backpack.

One of the reasons that fabric tote bags work so well for everyone is that they are available in plain or printed with any kind of design you desire. Plain bags have become a favorite among crafty people who love to decorate their own bags. Some people even decorate tote bags and then sell them at craft shows and small shops.

These bags are also very inexpensive as well. Many women keep several bags for various uses. They may have one that they use for work to carry their laptop computer, files, appointment book and some office supplies. Then they might have another bag for shopping that is big enough to carry all of their smaller shopping bags as they move from store to store in the mall.

However, a word of caution is that when you carry a big fabric tote bag into a store you will most likely be followed by security since there is plenty of room in it for stolen goods. But since you will not be doing anything wrong then there is nothing to worry about.

Fabric tote bags have gotten popular with busy moms, particularly those that have toddlers. These bags make wonderful diaper bags since they will hold everything you need to take care of your baby. And of course, you can throw in your wallet and personal things as well.

An old trend that is new again is kids in school carrying tote bags in lieu of backpacks. Girls at that age need to carry personal items to school like hairbrushes, feminine products, and they simply can not do without their cell phones. There is enough room in such a bag to put their personal items and all their books and schoolwork in at the same time.

Many busy women prefer these useful bags to pocketbooks for regular use. They make it easy to toss everything into; when you need something on the go, you can reach into your tote bag and grab it. No need to remember which pocket or zipper everything is in.

C.S.Cox has published many ebooks and websites for various services and products. If you found this article interesting and helpful, find out more at Fabric Tote Bag http://www.fabrictotebag.com

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Non-caucasian rhinoplasty surgery presents a special challenge to the surgeon. The goal is to achieve an optimal aesthetic result while retaining a natural appearance for the patient. While some patients (Caucasian and non-Caucasian) like to bring in photos of movie stars or other persons whose noses they admire, other patients simply want their nose straighter, more elegant, more refined and more in balance with their face. This can be achieved while maintaining one’s overall ethnic characteristics and facial harmony.

Some common techniques employed in ethnic rhinoplasty include bridge augmentation and nasal base reduction. Bridge augmentation can be performed using one’s own cartilage (nasal or ear cartilage) as well several well-tolerated implant materials. Nasal base reduction can reduce the size of the nostrils as well as narrowing the overall width of the base of nose.

The Surgery

In many cases the rhinoplasty can be performed with no external incisions. If the nose requires advanced tip sculpting, or reconstruction of the middle third of the nose, you may be a candidate for “Open Rhinoplasty.” The open approach involves making a short incision along the bottom part of the nose which allows direct visualization of the nasal components. This open rhinoplasty incision generally heals with an imperceptible scar which is of no concern to the patient. Experienced rhinoplasty surgeons are equally comfortable with an “open” or “endonasal” approach, and will choose whichever approach best suits your nose.

The rhinoplasty procedure may take from one to three hours, and is usually performed on an outpatient basis in an outpatient surgicenter. Anesthesia for the surgery is usually a general anesthesia or IV sedation, depending on patient preference and length of the procedure.

Recovery

Upon awakening from surgery, your nose will be covered with a firm external splint, which functions to hold the nasal bones in place and to protect the nose. The splint will remain in place for one week. While pain is normally quite minimal, all patients receive pain medication, as well as a brief course of antibiotics and medication to reduce swelling. Breathing is generally stuffy the first week. On postoperative visits, the nose will be cleaned of mucus and debris. You should then be able to breathe comfortably.

Many patients are able to return to work or school after two to three days, however most prefer to take a week of vacation around the time of surgery. While you should expect some post-surgery swelling and occasional bruising after rhinoplasty, your nose will be very presentable at one week. Bruising can usually be covered with make-up at this time. Post-operative swelling or edema will largely resolve over the first month, however you may notice subtle changes for up to 3 months and occasionally up to one year after surgery.

Beverly Hills Physicians is an online resource for non-Caucasian rhinoplasty in Beverly Hills. Learn more at http://www.beverlyhillsphysicians.com/about/ and http://lookingyourbest.com/facialplasticsurgery/articles/NoseSurgery-Rhinoplasty.

Technorati Tags: Rhinoplasty, non-caucasian rhinoplasty, non-caucasian, cosmetic surgery, Beverly Hills

The ThreadLift is a non-surgical facelift procedure. ThreadLift candidates include all those individuals with aging signs of the face, including droopiness of the skin of the brow, cheeks, jowls and neck. Patients whose faces are very heavy or very thin are not ideal candidates.

Procedure Description

The ThreadLift is a minimally invasive office procedure performed under local anesthetic that is designed to elevate, reposition and lift lax skin of the brow, face and neck without surgery. It is a combination of several “thread” techniques (Aptos, Featherlift, looplift, Wofflelift) that have been used throughout Europe in the past decade to achieve maximum aesthetic effects with minimal recovery.

The ThreadLift employs non-surgical “cogged” threads and sutures that have been used for decades in cardiac, abdominal, neuro and plastic surgery. The ThreadLift works by having these tiny threads inserted painlessly under the skin. These fine threads are similar to those that would be used to support the deep structures of your face if you were to receive a real surgical facelift.

Using local anesthetic, the threads are passed into the droopy facial element with a special guide needle. The threads are then able to grab on to the droopy soft-tissue and muscle of the desired area. The ThreadLift is done without general anesthesia, a knife, scars or significant recovery. Most patients experience minimal bruising or swelling for 1-7 days.

The ThreadLift is not painful and most patients can return to normal activities with makeup the next day. The threads stay where they are inserted and, like all internal sutures, are generally well tolerated by the body. The threads and their effects are removable, reliable, and reversible.

The ThreadLift shows immediate effects. Patients can achieve 30-70% of what an invasive facelift may achieve and well over 90% of ThreadLift patients report very satisfying lift results. The ThreadLift lasts 3-5 years and can be repeated. Many ThreadLift patients may combine the skin tightening effects of the ThreadLift with other procedures. Patients may choose to re-suspend tissue with this technique in several years or go on to more aggressive forms of plastic surgery at any time.

Recuperation and Healing

The ThreadLift has minimal downtime. You can most often apply make up and return to work the next day. Depending on the patient and the extent of the procedure, you may experience mild to moderate swelling and bruising that would require 1-10 days off work and normal activities. In general, your skin will feel quite swollen and tight for 2-3 days after the procedure. The ThreadLift effects will continue for up to 3-5 years, at which point a second procedure may be performed if desired.

Each procedure takes approximately 1-2 hours depending on the number of sites treated. The doctor may treat the brows, cheeks, jowls and neck, as well. You will be able to go home 1 hour after the procedure.

Beverly Hills Physicians is an online resource for threadlifts in Beverly Hills. Learn more at http://www.beverlyhillsphysicians.com/about/ and http://lookingyourbest.com/facialplasticsurgery/articles/Facelift-Rhytidectomy.

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Many people are pleased with the appearance of their cheek, but others, both young and old, are very self-conscious about the appearance of their cheeks. Most of these individuals complain their cheeks look round and chubby. The cause is cheek fat, known as buccal fat.

Buccal fat are pads of fat that augment the lower part of the cheeks. These “chubby cheeks,” or “chipmunk cheeks,” can result from a variety of conditions. Overweight is one condition, while a genetic predisposition can also cause one to have round cheeks. Buccal fat removal, also called cheek reduction surgery, offers a solution to those who want to reduce the size of their cheeks. Removal of these fat pads can slim the cheeks and contour the face. This can help people achieve a more chiseled and hollowed look.

With the increasing popularity of various cosmetic surgery procedures, including buccal fat removal, it is important that the prospective patient research and understand different issues like what the procedure can and cannot treat inherent risks, costs, and other factors. Keep in mind, cosmetic surgery is just that: a surgical procedure whose results cannot simply be erased. While the information contained in this website will provide you with a good introduction to buccal fat removal, when considering this or any other cosmetic procedure, we recommend that you consult a qualified provider with significant experience.

Working out and developing muscles has become a popular part of our culture. Whether going to a gym, or exercising from the comforts of home, many Americans are trying to develop a more muscular figure. One such popular area is the calf, or calves. Unfortunately, some can exercise all day, but still find their calf muscles have not developed. Calf augmentation offers a solution. This is a procedure designed to increase the size and shape of the calves through surgical insertion of artificial implants into the calf. Implants used for calf augmentation consist of soft, yet solid silicone; they come in different sizes to suit the patients’ needs.

Calf augmentation is growing rapidly. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 1,170 calf augmentation procedures were done in the United States in 2003, compared to only 149 performed in 2002.

With the increasing popularity of various cosmetic surgery procedures, including calf augmentation, it is important that the prospective patient research and understand different issues like what the procedure can and cannot treat inherent risks, costs, and other factors. Keep in mind, cosmetic surgery is just that: a surgical procedure whose results cannot simply be erased. While the information contained in this website will provide you with a good introduction to calf augmentation, when considering this or any other cosmetic procedure, we recommend that you consult a qualified provider with significant experience.

Beverly Hills Physicians is an online resource for buccal fat removal and calf implants in Beverly Hills. Learn more about this and other plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures at http://www.beverlyhillsphysicians.com/about/ and http://lookingyourbest.com/bodycontouring/articles/CalfAugmentation.

Technorati Tags: Buccal fat, chubby cheeks, chipmunk cheeks, calf implants, plastic surgery, Beverly Hills

We received an email last week that we’d like to share from “Sherri” (Not her real name):
“I’m worried that my younger brother has become a tattoo addict. It started off innocently enough. I even helped him to get his first tattoo when he was visiting me in Berkeley. He thought it was a very California souvenir, and he was eighteen, so I thought if I couldn’t stop him, I might as well help him, and besides, what’s the harm?

Even then, though, I inspected the tattoo parlor with an eagle eye; making sure that it was clean, that the needles were new, and that they used autoclave sterilization. Having grown up in the eighties, I was bombarded with AIDS fears, and I wanted to make sure that little brother didn’t catch something because of a dirty tattoo needle. The parlor passed inspection, the tattoo, was applied, and he left California proudly sporting a snake tattoo on his shoulder, and I thought nothing more of it.

Now it’s almost ten years, and five tattoos, later. I wince whenever he shows me a new addition to his body art gallery, and I hope that he’s as careful with his choice of tattoo artists as I was for him. These days there’s the risk of getting Hepatitis A or B, and AIDS still lurks about in the background like an old movie monster; almost comfortingly familiar, yet still scary as hell. Yes, reputable tattoo artists can make sure that they use the latest sterilization techniques, and I have met some who are almost religious in their cleanliness. Yet still, there’s that nagging thought in the back of my mind; that blood-borne pathogens can find an opening through the smallest of cuts, and from the times that I’ve seen tattoos being applied, I can tell you that blood is definitely a component of this art.

With the advent of reality shows in tattoo parlors like “Miami Ink” and actors making body art trendy, tattoos are more popular than ever, and I wonder how many people have gotten a nasty disease in the process of getting a tattoo. I do think that tattoos are safe, if they’re done correctly and sanitarily. Yet I wonder about tattoos done by amateurs, or as a favor to a friend, or even of a drop of blood falling where it shouldn’t in a carefully run parlor. I’ve thought of getting a tattoo myself many times, but every time I’ve chickened out when I think of the risk involved. The next time my brother shows me another tattoo he’s acquired, I’ll do what I always do: tell him it looks great, and hope for the best. ”

One thing Sherri should remember: Sometimes even the most rebellious young person thinks better of a particular tattoo he got when he was more impulsive. If her brother ever decides he regrets his latest tattoo, removal options are available.

Jonathan Scott has been in the tattoo industry for over 20 years. He is an expert on the application of tattoos and serves as the in house expert on tattoo removal for
Nuviderm Tattoo Fade and Removal.

Technorati Tags: tattoo, body art, nuviderm