FABULOUS BEAUTY BLOG ARTICLE INDEX – by Lois W. Stern

My first experience on the LTV Cable network, The Writer’s Dream was such fun! Linda Maria Frank is such a relaxed host that I forgot I was on camera and just spoke from the heart – telling about both my books and the emotional roller coaster that started this voyage. Although these books are both about aesthetics (beauty of the face and body), my next interview will be about Inner Beauty, beauty of the mind, spirit and soul.

Stay tuned to this stunningly frank interview, where I discuss intimate subjects such as sexuality and transference (falling in love with your plastic surgeon), watch this video.

Then you too will know some of the secrets hidden in these books.

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DON’T MISS THIS LIVE INTERVIEW WITH LOIS ON The WRITER’S DREAM

Click on either cover to learn more

Beauty Within

Beauty Without . . .

What’s Your Passion?

Click to Discover the Many Dimensions of Beauty

Lois W. Stern

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH STEM CELL FACE LIFTS?

May11

Are you beginning to see ads for Stem Cell Facelifts? If so, I’m not surprised! I too am convinced this is the wave of the not-too-distant future. But many of these Stem Cell Facelifts of today are simply fat removed from one part of the patient’s body and reinjected into other parts, as treatment for aesthetic concerns such as crows feet or mouth to jaw marionette lines. Fat transfer as such is nothing new in cosmetic surgery. It has been used by plastic surgeons since 1983 and is considered extremely safe, but not as long lasting as the fillers of today.

But stem cell treatments are a bit different from simple fat transfer, a refinement of the process if you will. In a true stem cell treatment, once the adipose tissue (the fat cells) are removed from the body, the actual fat is separated from the richer stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cells, which are far more potent than the remaining fat cells. Once separated from adipose tissue, they are reinjected into the patient’s body without further manipulation. The SVF cells are neither cultured, further enriched or changed in any way.

My education on Stem Cells in Plastic Surgery began with noted plastic surgeon, Dr. Alan Kisner, when he wrote a chapter for my book: Tick Tock, Stop the Clock ~ Getting Pretty on Your Lunch Hour. He explained both the huge potential for the use of adult stem cells in medicine, but also the obstacles to its use:

“For the cosmetic surgery patient, fat seems like an ideal material for soft tissue augmentation, but it has been impermanent due to resorption. In order to become permanent, grafted fat must create it’s own blood supply.”

Dr. Kisner went on to explain how fat grafting, one technique being used to circumvent this problem, involves injecting small amounts of fat (less that 0.1 cc at a time) in discrete layers to gradually build new tissue layers. By allowing time and space between these microinjections, new blood vessels are able to grow within the grafted fat, enabling them to establish permanence. Aside from the skill and specialized training of the surgeon, he emphasized that fat grafting is a slow process that requires patience on the part of both patient and surgeon. In this same chapter, Dr. Kisner spoke about pioneering research now underway to separate the fragile stem cells, in order to enable them to more readily produce their own blood supply.

That said, you can see why this emerging technology of SVF cells holds huge promise not only to the field of cosmetic surgery, but to the pioneering field of regenerative medicine, by enabling the body to repair, replace, and regenerate damaged, aging or diseased cells, tissues and organs.

Funny how things happen through connections over the Internet. I recently posted an article, Stem Cells in the News, where I spoke about a stem cell procedure gone wrong after a surgeon injected both stem cells and derma fillers into a patient’s face, causing a well-meaning but disastrous result. One of my readers, Jonathan Schwartz, commented that this was true stem transfer facelifts have not been FDA approved. We got into further conversations, spoke on the phone, and he subsequently sent me further material to digest. It turns out he is the President and CEO of MedicalMarvels LLC, a company doing pioneering efforts in regenerative medicine.

A large body of scientific evidence suggests that adipose-SVF may act by replacing lost or damaged cells, reducing inflammation, improving the function of cells at the site, and recruiting cells from other parts of the body to assist in these processes.

There is at present no benefit is payable, either by Medicare or by a health fund for adipose-SVF treatment. You may be able to claim a tax refund of 20% of the cost, if your total health costs are above $2,000 in a year. We recommend seeking independent advice in this area.

Medical Marvels LLC is an emerging leader in regenerative medicine using adipose (fat) derived stromal vascular fraction containing adult stem cells for pioneering regenerative medicine. Regenerative Medicine is a rapidly expanding set of innovative medical technologies that restore function by enabling the body to repair, replace, and regenerate damaged, aging or diseased cells, tissues and organs.

To date, this company has developed proprietary technology that allows for the efficient and reproducible separation of stromal vascular fraction (branded “Cellication”) containing adipose stem cells and extracellular matrix that can be performed in doctor’s offices, medical facilities and hospitals. This company is also engaging in clinical studies at major medical centers to obtain FDA approval for clinical indications.

Stay tuned folks. We haven’t heard the end of stem cell face lifts yet!

To get notification of my future beauty postings, click on the word FOLLOW in the upper left corner at the top of this screen. But if you also want to read inspiring stories from my Tales2Inspire “Authors Helping Authors” project/contest, FOLLOW my blog at: http://www.winningtales.wordpress.com. Or get them all in on place if you LIKE my Facebook author page at: http://www.Facebook.com/tales2inspire. Hope to welcome you soon.

STEM CELL FACELIFTS IN THE NEWS

Apr21

Three years ago a Los Angeles woman had a new cosmetic procedure, a stem-cell face-lift. During this procedure the surgeon liposuctioned adult stem cells from her stomach fat and after isolating them, injected those cells back into her face and around her eyes. In this case the doctors extracted mesenchymal stem cells—which can turn into bone, cartilage or fat, among other tissues—and injected those cells back into her face After some time, the woman was experiencing difficulty opening her right eye, and whenever she tried, she heard a strange sound. Eventually she consulted a second plastic surgeon, complaining of these symptoms. At first the consulting surgeon thought she was exaggerating, but she did indeed have a swollen, drooping eyelid. This was no overactive imagination at play! After more than six hours of surgery, the consulting surgeon and his colleagues had dug out pieces of bone fragments which had been growing in the flesh around the woman’s eye. The strange sound the woman was hearing whenever she tried to open her eye was bone grinding against bone.

Why did this occur? During the patient’s initial aesthete treatment, her surgeon had injected some dermal filler along with the stem cells. Although plastic surgeons have safely used dermal fillers for more than 20 years to plump up the skin and obscure wrinkles, the principal component of such fillers is calcium hydroxylapatite, a mineral which encourages mesenchymal stem cells to turn into bone, the probable explanation for this woman’s unanticipated predicament.

THIS STORY WAS REPORTED IN SCIENTIFIC AMERICA.

Although the consulting surgeon successfully removed the pieces of bone from his patient’s eyelid, no one can say for sure if her saga has ended as some living stem cells possibly have remained, to turn into bone in the future.

We all tend to get excited when we read about the next NEW thing to enhance our beauty. But MORE is not always better and NEW hasn’t yet stood the test of time. Cosmetic surgery is a constantly evolving field, but let’s be cautious and let the science precede the hype.

For more in depth information about Stem Cells, where we are now and where we are headed, read Dr. Alan Kisner’s informative article: STEM CELLS IN THE NEWS.

TURNING BACK THE HANDS OF TIME – BREAKTHROUGHS IN SKIN CARE

Apr14

I came upon this article in one of Susanne Warfield’s recent newsletters and felt it was worth sharing.

Beauty Breakthroughs from the American Academy of Dermatology will change the way you view skin care

photo courtesy of shutterstock.com/lev dolgachov

“Does anyone remember that hilarious, yet somewhat true, scene in the 2008 Sex and the City movie when Samantha chastises Carrie for becoming engaged to Mr. Big, and proposes Botox as a more viable option? She proudly states, “Honey, you know me, I don’t really believe in marriage. Now, Botox on the other hand, that works every time.” This may be a fictional scene from a movie, but the sentiment could not hold more true for many women today. “Looking and feeling younger” is a claim many beauty companies and plastic surgeons have used to steer women towards extremely expensive creams that sometimes have less than desirable results, or procedures that are uncomfortable and in some cases painful.’

“Well, mark your calendars because today the way you view your anti-aging routine will change forever. Researchers at the American Academy of Dermatology have discovered a new method using plant stem cell technology to extract antioxidants from plants in their most pure and stable form. This will allow for beauty products to be extremely effective in treating the signs of aging and cuts down on the contaminants, like pesticides and heavy metals, which can potentially be found in products today.’

“Looking to find the best anti-aging product right away? While more research is needed, it has been found that two of the most popular and beneficial antioxidants come from berry extracts (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) and soy extracts. Unfortunately, we all cannot hop into a time-machine and wind up back in high school, but with these beauty breakthroughs at least we have a chance of looking that way.”

* Susanne S. Warfield, President/CEO of Paramedical Consultants, Inc. (www.PCIJournal.com) Official Publication of the Society of Dermatology SkinCare Specialists. Warfield has over 31 years experience, is a leading expert on business, legal and liability issues that affect physician and esthetician relationships.

Susanne was the author of the chapter titled “Why an Esthetician?” in my book, Tick Tock, Stop the Clock ~ Getting Pretty on Your Lunch Hour, where she details the work of the esthetician.

THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE by Lois W. Stern

Apr7

As spring approaches, our thoughts are likely to turn toward refreshing our summer wardrobes. We all want figure enhancing clothes, but if you have fat deposits in unwelcome places, it’s sometimes hard to find clothes designed to conceal those bulges. Despite good health and a reasonable level of fitness, some people may still have a body with disproportionate contours due to localized fat deposits. These areas may be due to family traits rather than a lack of weight control or fitness. What do you do?

What do you do? From least invasive to surgical options, here are some answers.

Diet and Exercise: The first line of defense should always be diet and exercise. It takes some work, but when effective, is so rewarding. However, when an overall slim body is marred by the appearance of selective fat deposits that just won’t disappear, there are several other solutions.

Cellulite treatments as Endermologie and Velosmooth: mechanical systems that use motorized rollers to break down cellulite, slim the body, and firm the skin over areas of stubborn fatty deposits. These treatments, which are said to feel like deep tissue massage, work best for those who are physically fit and only moderately oveweight. A series of treatments is required to obtain results. Candidates are advised to exercise regularly and drink plenty of water to help eliminate fat through their perspiration and urine. Although effective and non-invasive, these are generally not permanent forms of cellulite reduction, as maintenance sessions normally are required. Most recent annual statistics gathered by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons indicate that 37,916 such procedures were performed in the US last year.

Cooling devices: Some of the newer non-invasive systems for body contouring include:
Ultrasound body contouring: based on a mechanical vibration emitted from specialized ultrasound equipment, Ultrasound is designed to permanently destroy fat cells. The objective is to deliver ultrasound energy precisely focused to destroy fat cells, while leaving neighboring tissue unharmed. Treatment is said to be painless for most patients with no downtime or post-treatment restrictions.

CoolSculpting (AKA Zeltiq): based on a cooling process that kills the fat cells underneath the skin, literally freezing them to the point of elimination. Only fat cells are frozen. Healthy skin cells remain intact. Once crystallized, the fat cells die and are naturally eliminated from your body. To learn more about these fat cooling devices,Click here.

Injection Lipolysis: Initial studies by the ASPS concluded as follows: “All patients showed remarkable reductions of fat deposits treated with injection lipolysis. Using the correct technique, injection lipolysis is a safe and efficacious alternative to lipoplasty on smaller areas for patients objecting to, or unable to undergo, surgery. It is not a replacement for a necessary change of lifestyle, nor is it a method of weight reduction or a treatment for obesity. The ideal patient is one with small to medium fat deposits that cannot be reduced by exercise and diet.” Personally, I would like to see studies comparing fat reduction results obtained through cooling devises as opposed to injection methods.

Smart Lipo, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2006, is a less invasive form of lipoplasty that uses laser technology to sculpt the body. During the Smart Lipo procedure, a tiny tube (a cannula,) about the size of pencil lead is inserted through the skin and into the fat layer. A laser fiber sits inside the cannula, which the doctor moves back and forth in a fanning motion. When inserted under the skin, this laser fiber dissolves fat cells with heat. The melted fat is removed through the cannula, just like during traditional liposuction, but because of the heat, there is less fat to remove and the skin is tighter. Although the laser fiber isn’t hot enough to burn gauze held against it, its heat is sufficient to melt little tunnels through the fat, which can then be drained away. This form of body contouring, best suited to patients within 10 to 15 pounds of their ideal body weight, is ideally used on areas for spot reduction, such as under a chin, upper arms, abdomen, thighs, or knees. Results show loss of inches, though not necessarily a loss of a lot of weight.

Liposuction: Spring is high season for liposuction, a cosmetic procedure described by some as a surgical magic wand. But this magic wand is not recommended for weight loss. It is intended solely to remove excess fat deposits on localized areas of the body, to reshape and to improve body contours and proportion. This surgical procedure removes fat from under the skin with the use of either a cannula, to suctions out the fat, or an ultrasonic probe, to break up the fat into small pieces before removing it.

Advantages of Smart Lipo include its slightly lower cost compared to traditional liposuction and the fact that only a local anesthetic is used and the patient remains awake the entire time. Because Smart Lipo causes less trauma to the body, with less bruising, blood loss, or swelling than in traditional liposuction, there is an overall quicker healing time. However, it is is still a surgical procedure that should be performed only by a surgeon trained and experienced in this technique.

The tumescent or super-wet technique requires an infusion of saline solution with adrenaline and anesthetic prior to removal of excess fat. Ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty uses ultrasonic energy to liquefy excess fat prior to surgical suctioning. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), more than 400,000 liposuction procedures were performed on patients in the U.S. in 2007.

For an excellent additional resource for those interested in liposuction procedures, click here.

Reminders:

Do not be taken in by media hype.
Do not undergo any procedure that has not been FDA approved.
Be aware that any licensed physician, regardless of training, legally may perform liposuction.
While some physicians’ professional societies may recommend training before performing liposuction surgery, there is no standardized training for physicians performing liposuction.

BUY HERE.

ANOTHER COSMETIC SURGERY HORROR STORY IN THE NEWS

Mar29

I’m not opposed to cosmetic surgery. Not at all. Those who know me, know that I think it can be a pretty wonderful experience. But today’s headline in the Daily News; Hack plastic surgeon . . . faces murder rap for performing liposuction on heart transplant patient made my skin crawl just a little.

I wondered if this was a scare tactic, or if it was as bad as it sounded. I had to find out so I read the full article. What I discovered was that it was even worse than I had imagined. This plastic surgeon performed a cosmetic surgical procedure on a heart transplant patient without even consulting with her cardiologist. How could he even consider performing a non-essential surgical procedure on a woman with such a medical history? (I also wonder how that woman could have made such a foolish decision, but that’s a discussion for another day.)

I felt incensed! With all the competent, highly ethical plastic surgeons out there, doesn’t it make you wonder how this beautiful 51 year old woman fell into the hands of such an irresponsible one? I immediately went through my articles to find one I had written some time ago: How Do You Find the Surgeon Who Is Right For You.

So here is my plea to you today. If you are considering any type of cosmetic surgery, please do yourself a big favor and read this article first. It just might save your life!

And if you want the details about this surgical horror story, you can read it here.

My Facebook author page is quite new, but gaining momentum quickly. I invite you to LIKE my page. And while you’re there, don’t miss the inspiring stories, my ‘Inner Beauty’ stories.

CLICK HERE.

You can also click on the word FOLLOW in the upper right corner of this blog to stay connected.

RADIANT SKIN – QUICK AND LONG RANGE FIXES

Mar27

I seldom tout products by name here, but prefer to simply offer sound advice from the experts. So the topic for today is: How to make your skin appear brighter, more radiant and youthful looking. Exfoliation is the name of the game.

One way to achieve this skin glow is with the consistent use of glycolic peel pads. They come in different strengths. Some do a great job of exfoliating the skin, while others are too mild to achieve the desired effect. And then there are some that might be too harsh for your skin, especially if used on a daily basis. If so, don’t throw them away quite yet. You might just have to modify your routine by using them on an alternate day basis – or even a bit less frequently.

But suppose you’re in a big hurry to achieve that glow – maybe even yesterday? Here is a temporary quick fix. Look for a makeup with light reflecting particles. Foundation with light reflecting particles makes your skin appear to glow because the tiny reflecting particles act like little mirrors, reflecting light and giving your skin the illusion of smoothness. But know that more is not always better. Exercise caution when selecting your foundation.

Too much glitter might make you look like a day-glow commercial. Go for a subtle effect.

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Lois W. Stern

TWELVE QUESTIONS WOMEN DON’T WANT TO ASK THEIR PLASTIC SURGEONS

Mar20

When I speak to women who are considering some form of cosmetic surgery, they often ask me questions they don’t feel comfortable asking their plastic surgeons. Sometimes they don’t even realize these questions are buried deep inside of them. If I sense hesitancy, I advise them to think through this question first:

Is there anything about my life that I am hoping would change as a result of cosmetic surgery?

I have learned how important it is for prospective patients to answer that question honestly before making the decision to undergo any form of cosmetic surgery. Some expectations are reasonable. Others realistically cannot be achieved. But when all is said and done, cosmetic surgery can be an emotional experience for many of us. Here are 12 interesting questions women have asked me,

Click above to see how many of those questions you would like to ask yourself?

Please note that I am an author and journalist (not an M.D.), who writes about cosmetic surgery in addition to many inner beauty subjects.

Lois W. Stern

A – B

C – D

D – H

I – L

M – P

R – T

U – W

Click on either cover to learn more

Beauty Within

Beauty Without . . .

What’s Your Passion?

Lois W. Stern

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THIS STORY WAS REPORTED IN SCIENTIFIC AMERICA.

Although the consulting surgeon successfully removed the pieces of bone from his patient’s eyelid, no one can say for sure if her saga has ended as some living stem cells possibly have remained, to turn into bone in the future.

We all tend to get excited when we read about the next NEW thing to enhance our beauty. But MORE is not always better and NEW hasn’t yet stood the test of time. Cosmetic surgery is a constantly evolving field, but let’s be cautious and let the science precede the hype.

For more in depth information about Stem Cells, where we are now and where we are headed, read Dr. Alan Kisner’s informative article: STEM CELLS IN THE NEWS.

Share this:

Like this:

I came upon this article in one of Susanne Warfield’s recent newsletters and felt it was worth sharing.

Beauty Breakthroughs from the American Academy of Dermatology will change the way you view skin care

Share this:

Like this:

What do you do? From least invasive to surgical options, here are some answers.

Share this:

Like this:

So here is my plea to you today. If you are considering any type of cosmetic surgery, please do yourself a big favor and read this article first. It just might save your life!

And if you want the details about this surgical horror story, you can read it here.

My Facebook author page is quite new, but gaining momentum quickly. I invite you to LIKE my page. And while you’re there, don’t miss the inspiring stories, my ‘Inner Beauty’ stories.

You can also click on the word FOLLOW in the upper right corner of this blog to stay connected.

Share this:

Like this:

I seldom tout products by name here, but prefer to simply offer sound advice from the experts. So the topic for today is: How to make your skin appear brighter, more radiant and youthful looking. Exfoliation is the name of the game.

Too much glitter might make you look like a day-glow commercial. Go for a subtle effect.

If you want to discover more Outer Beauty tips & news and

Inner Beauty inspiring stories, you can find them all on my Facebook Page.

Share this:

Like this:

Click above to see how many of those questions you would like to ask yourself?

Share this:

Like this:

Follow “The Fabulous Beauty Blog”