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Newsletters
 Inside
This Issue
This Is Not Your Parents' Plastic Surgery
William P. Adams, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Director of The Adams-Seckel Center
At The Adams-Seckel Center, we continue to stay current on trends
and issues regarding personal health and wellness, including cosmetic
procedures and the science of anti-aging.
Advances in plastic surgery play an important part in gaining
wider acceptance of the specialty. As plastic surgeons, we continually
refine our techniques, minimize invasiveness of procedures, improve results,
and reduce recovery times. With this in mind, I recently attended another
national conference on plastic surgery.
Additionally, the American Society of Plastic Surgery has
released some interesting statistics. Their research shows that from 1992
to 2000, the number of cosmetic procedures performed by board-certified
plastic surgeons increased by 227%. It is obvious that cosmetic procedures
are no longer exclusive to females or celebrities. They are not just for
the wealthy, and no longer your last resort for maintaining a youthful
appearance.
| Fast
Facts
Nearly half of all Americans know someone who
has had cosmetic surgery, while 3 out of 5 people believe that if
you are not happy with how you look there's nothing wrong with having
elective cosmetic surgery. |
I am very pleased to announce that I am collaborating with
Cenegenics® Medical Institute in Las Vegas as a Physician Partner.
Cenegenics is the recognized leader in anti-aging medicine, dedicated
to the science of youthful aging. I believe that the synergy of combining
youthful aging practices along with cosmetic procedures will ensure that
our patients have the best possible options for maintaining their youthful
spirit and appearance.
I hope you will take the time to visit our web site at www.adamscenter.com
to find out more about us, or call us at 617.262.2208 for a consultation.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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Women's Bodies Through the
Decades - Part II
40s
Your age is a yardstick for health maintenance and medical procedures.
With each passing decade come new issues and specific concerns about how
you take care of yourself. Because women's bodies change over time, it
helps to have a quick reference guide. This guide discusses the changes
your body undergoes, what health issues to look for, and what cosmetic
options are most appropriate. The preventive measures used here assume
that you are in good health with no special health concerns. Picking up
where we left off in our Spring Newsletter, this issue focuses on the
types of changes that women's bodies in their 40s, 50s and 60s can expect
to go through.
Changes to Your Body
As your hormone levels decrease, fertility declines sharply. You may enter
peri-pause and start to experience hot flashes, irregular periods and
dizziness. Your metabolism is still dropping. With each decade your metabolic
rate drops 4-5%. Keeping your weight consistent becomes more difficult.
Collagen production is slowing down as well, and skin becomes looser.
Wrinkles and lines will begin to show or become prominent.
| Hot Summer
Products
15% discount on our Adams-Seckel Center Products:
- Liquid
Oil Absorber
- Unscented
Moisture Cream
- Facial
Cleanser
Our
aesthetician, Diana Caron just returned from a premier skin care
conference in New York. Call her today to find out more about starting
an effective and simple skin care regime. |
Issues to Watch
If you haven't already done so, at 40 you should have your baseline mammogram,
following up with a mammogram every 1-2 years. Don't forget your monthly
breast exam and your annual checkup. Pap smears should be done every 1-3
years and have your eyes examined every 3-5 years. Also, you should have
your cholesterol tested every 5 years. The 40s can find you juggling many
stressful demands, so it's important to be alert to possible stress-related
disorders such as high blood pressure or depression. Doctors also suggest
testing for colon cancer once every 3 years.
Popular Cosmetic Procedures
Women in their 40s tend to have eyelid lifts, liposuction and laser peels
as their first cosmetic procedure.
- Eyelid lifts are popular because the eye area
is generally the first place to show signs of aging. The skin around
the eye is twice as thin as the rest of your face. Eyelid surgery can
remove bags, pouches and excess skin from under and over the eyes. Afterwards,
you'll look refreshed and alert.
- Liposuction is popular at almost any age. As mentioned
in Part I, fat builds up in certain areas of your body, such as the
stomach, thighs, hips, buttocks and no matter how much exercising you
do, nothing seems to help. As women get older they tend to have liposuction
in the chin and neck, as well as those areas that exercise didn't help.
Just remember that liposuction is not a cure for dieting. You still
need to watch what you eat.
- Laser peels minimize the appearance of fine lines,
wrinkles, scars and other skin imperfections. Peels stimulate deeper,
healthier layers of skin.
50s
Changes to Your Body
Exercise at any age is considered by the National Institute of Health
to be "the most effective anti-aging pill ever discovered."
As you enter your 50s, bone density decreases, but weight training will
help to increase it and aid in calcium absorption. Once you reach menopause
your estrogen levels plummet. Hot flashes and mood swings are commonplace.
See your doctor to discuss your options because the good news is that
you don't have to suffer through these changes without help. You may also
notice that your skin is becoming thinner and more delicate.
| Botox
in Brief
Originally used to treat nervous twitching of
the eyelid, botulinum toxin (Botox) has been used successfully for
wrinkling since 1982. In 2000, it became the number one cosmetic
procedure. Injected in very small doses with a tiny needle, it only
affects the muscles that are treated. After it is injected, the
muscles relax and the skin smoothes out over about five days. The
effect usually lasts about six months, and can be repeated when
needed. Although the risk is very small, Botox is a toxin and should
be injected by a board-certified plastic surgeon. |
Issues to Watch
Along with your annual check up, you need to schedule an annual mammogram.
Now eye exams should be every two years. It is also a good time to be
screened for osteoporosis, particularly if you have a family history or
other risk factors. If weight training exercises are not part of your
regime you should think about adding some to help stop decreasing bone
density.
Popular Cosmetic Procedures The more popular cosmetic
procedures for women in the 50s include the tummy tuck, face lift and
liposuction.
| Did You
Know
Pigmentation spots are known as liver spots? Liver
spots are extremely common after 55 years old. They occur most often
on the backs of the hands, on the forearms, shoulder, face and forehead.
These are the area of highest sun exposure. Their appearance may
be improved by the use of skin bleaching lotions or creams. |
- Tummy tucks tighten the underlying stomach muscles
giving you a flatter, firmer and tighter stomach. Pregnancy, weight
gain and weight loss tend to take a great toll on a woman's stomach
area because it tends to stretch, scar and become loose.
- Face lift is one of the most famous procedures
in plastic surgery. With today's highly skilled surgeons this procedure
is more effective and natural looking than ever. A face lift eliminates
wrinkles, creases and lines while restoring the natural contours of
your face. It can be done alone or in conjunction with other procedures
such as eyelid surgery, a forehead lift or nose reshaping with results
lasting from five to ten years.
60s
Changes to Your Body
As the balance between female estrogens and male androgens shifts, your
head hair thins while your body hair may start to thicken or darken. Your
skin will start to change-irregular spots become visible, pigmentation
changes and growths may start to appear. The good news is that weight
gain usually levels off at this point.
| Top Five Procedures for 2000
The five most popular procedures for all ages during 2000 were
botox injections, liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid surgery
and facelifts. |
Issues to Watch
Thyroid disease becomes common in women in their 60s, so be sure to have
your thyroid tested. After the initial test doctors usually recommend
having a test every 1-5 years. Don't forget to ask for a glaucoma test
during your annual eye exam. With age, cholesterol testing becomes more
frequent and may occur on an annual basis.
Popular Cosmetic Procedures
The most popular procedures requested by women in their 60s include neck
lifts and chemical peels.
- Neck lift is a special procedure designed to tighten
the muscles surrounding the neck. This procedure removes the unwanted
skin that comes with middle age.
- Chemical peels are an excellent way to minimize
the effects of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles over the cheeks,
forehead and around the eyes and mouth. The peel burns away the uppermost
layer of skin. All you feel is a slight burning sensation in the treated
areas.
If
you have a question or a story that you would like to share, please let
us know. We are only a keystroke away at www.adams-center.com
or write to:
The Adams-Seckel Center for Aesthetic Surgery, P.C.
18 Newbury Street, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02116
William P. Adams, MD, F.A.C.S.
Graduate: Dartmouth College, Harvard Medical School
Board Certified: American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Clinical Associate Instructor in Surgery: Mass. General Hospital, Harvard
Medical School
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