Friday, December 11, 2009

What You Need To Know About Anesthesia

If you have been thinking about having cosmetic surgery, you've probably devoted a lot of time to thinking about the benefits and possible risks of the procedure. One aspect of surgery your may have overlooked is the matter of anesthesia. Most surgery requires some form of anesthesia for pain relief.



Before you have any type of cosmetic procedure, you should learn more about the type of anesthesia you will need and what using that kind of pain relief will mean. There are three different types of anesthesia that may be used during cosmetic surgery:



• Local

• Regional

• General



What is Local Anesthesia?



Local anesthesia involves injecting a numbing agent into a localized area.



The area that will be affected by the surgery receives anesthesia to block pain sensation. Local anesthesia is only used during surgeries that are fairly minor and that only involve a small area of the body. In many cases, you will be able to remain awake and alert during the procedure. However, some surgeries require the use of sedation that will allow you to relax or even sleep through the surgery.



What is Regional Anesthesia?



Regional anesthesia also involves blocking sensation to a limited area of the body.



Instead of injecting an anesthetic directly into the affected area, doctors inject a pain blocker into the nerves in the spinal cord. This allows for pain relief in a larger area of the body, such as the legs, abdomen and arms. If this type of anesthesia is used during your surgery, you will probably receive some type of sedation to allow you to relax and sleep during the procedure.



What is General Anesthesia?



General anesthesia is used during many types of major or invasive surgeries. This type of anesthesia is administered by injection into a vein or through inhalation.



Unlike the other types of pain relief, general anesthesia affects both your body and your brain. Patients are rendered completely unconscious so that they do not experience pain during surgery.



Before You Have Surgery



While most people spend a great deal of time considering different aspects of their surgery, anesthesia is usually only an afterthought. Before you have any type of cosmetic surgery, from a minor procedure such as laser hair removal to an invasive treatment such as a body lift, you should always discuss a pain management plan with your doctor.



Discuss your medical history with your doctor and be sure to explain any and all medication you may be currently taking. Talk about what kind of anesthesia you will need during the procedure and the effects it may have. Many patients experience both extreme grogginess and amnesia as they are emerging from general anesthesia, and you should ensure that you receive the appropriate aftercare during this time.

All About Female Body Hair

Most women (and the majority of men) find female body hair repulsive. If it can't be styled in any fashionable way, most women see their best option as being to get rid of it. If you have unwanted body hair, you'll know that it can be really annoying and can even have an effect on your self-confidence.



On the plus side, there are a wide variety of options open to remove that body hair. Most people choose tweezing, shaving and waxing to rid themselves of their unsightly hair. However, none of these methods are permanent, and they usually don't effectively remove the hair in the short term either, producing inconsistent results.



However, there are many more options including permanent electrolysis, removal creams, growth inhibitors and more permanent removal options. Any of these treatments can be effective, depending on the type of hair you're looking to remove.



If you are serious about removing your unwanted body hair, it's advisable to consult a specialist to perform treatment, or advise you of the procedures involved for removing hair on your own.



It is also important to seriously consider your motives, and be realistic in your objectives when thinking about hair removal.



Is it for that improved temporary bikini look? Or are you more interested in ridding your face of that unsightly black hair for good?



Hair removal can take a variety of forms. Many people still swear by the traditional shaving method. It's cheap, easy and quick to carry out, although the hair does tend to grow back rather quickly. There is also the option of depilatories that dissolve the hairs through the use of chemicals for temporary results. Although it's a fast and effective way of getting rid of those hairs, you need to make sure you're not allergic.



If you are in any doubt, it is advisable to seek professional advice.



Waxing is an extremely popular method of removing hair for longer lasting results. When carried out monthly, waxing means the hair takes a longer time to grow back because it is removed by the root, rather than with shaving which simply cuts the hair.



The process of electrolysis, or the removal of body hair by electrical currents, has been an available option for some time. And you can do the treatment in the comfort of your home, with electrolysis kits available from any chemists or beauty supply store.



However, it is generally preferable to seek the help of a specialist, as the process can be painful and can sometimes require repeat treatments for larger areas of unwanted hair.



Laser hair removal is also an increasingly popular method, thanks to its pain-free, and long lasting results. Having said that, it is not guaranteed to permanently remove hair, and can be relatively expensive.



Whatever option you choose to remove your unwanted body hair, it is always advisable to consult your physician, or a specialist.



This can help avoid any potential complications to delicate areas of your body, which could be seriously damaged by any mistakes of slipping.



Laser Hair Removal Treatment FAQ: Simple And To The Point

What is laser hair removal and how does it work?



It is a relatively new treatment that makes use of lasers to remove hair from the body.



The practitioner uses a hand held device that emits a laser that penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the hair. Once absorbed heat energy is produces in the hair which travels down the shaft and destroys the root.



The laser uses a beam of light which penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the pigment colour in the hair where it is converted to heat.



Is it safe?



Yes.



The laser settings are customised depending on your skin and hair colour. There is very little risk of any damage to your skin.



Will the laser hair removal treatment get rid of my hair permanently?



Tiny hair re-growth is possible but comparing laser hair removal with other methods of hair removal it produces the best long term results. Hair grown after the treatment is usually very thin and weak and can be easily treated.



Does it hurt?



Laser treatment is not completely painless, usually a slight sting can be felt but it is no where near the pain experienced when waxing or epilating.



Most patients can bare it without the need of anaesthesia. However patients with very low pain thresholds can ask for a cream based anaesthesia to be applied to the skin.



Can everyone get it done?



No. I am afraid it is not possible to treat very light shades of hair such as white, grey, light blonde etc.



In addition to hair colour people with dark skin can only be treated with very specialised lasers available at very few laser hair removal clinics. Tanned people with light hair cannot be treated.



The treatment works best on light skinned people with dark hair.



How long does the treatment take?



That depends solely on the size of the area being operated on. It can take anywhere between 10 minutes, for parts such as the chin to about 35 minutes for the back.



What areas can be treated?



Apart from parts very close to the eye all other areas such as legs, back, arms, bikini line, chest etc can be treated.



How much does it cost?



Laser hair removal treatment is not cheap. That depends on the size of the area being treated.



Usually it costs about 200 dollars per session of small areas such as the upper lip/chin rising to 500 for large areas such as the back and the legs.



How many sessions are required?



Many factors come into play and it varies from patient to patient but usually anywhere between three and six are needed for the best results.



What should I expect after the laser hair removal treatment?



The laser treatment area goes pink after the treatment, like sunburn, and stays that way for about one to two days.



Minor discomfort will be felt during this period. The laser treated hair falls off by itself within a few days.



Laser Hair Removal Is A Lasting Answer

Are you annoyed by unsightly hair? Some people could care less if their leg hair was long enough to braid, others go into hiding if they forget to pluck the one hair growing from their chin. If you want to banish unwantedbody or facial hair, there are a few choices, some of which are more or less permanent. Probably the best is laser hair removal. Laser hair removal has gained in favor since it debuted in the 1990's, and many believe it gives the longest lasting results. As with any elective procedure, however, you should consider all of your options before undergoing laser hair removal.



Other options to laser hair removal include shaving (repetitive but effective and cheap in the short run), electrolysis, or the use of an epilator. Electrolysis is the morepainful of the latter two, and can cause damage to delicate skin. It is also a long procedure which works better for limited areas like the chin or the eyebrows. Eventually, with electrolysis, the hair returns. An epilator is less painful and is portable. Women often prefer an epilator on more sensitive skin.



Laser hair removal is a more permanent solution than any of the above.



In laser hair removal, the hair follicle takes in more and more laser light energy, eventually destroying the follicle and removing the hair. Laser hair removal is more efficient than electrolysis in taking the hair off wider areas of the body, such as a man's back. It is good for small areas as well.



There are a few considerations with laser hair removal. First, it works best on people whose hair color is darker than their skin color. Also, recent attempts at hair removal or a few sessions in the tanning bed can undermine the successfulness of laser hair removal.



There are few sides effects to know about, however, but they endure only a brief period of time. Some blistering and redness of the area can be expected as well as dark bumps as the follicles die. Again, all diminish soon. Finally, some hair may eventually regrow, but it is often thinner and fairer.



Laser hair removal can be an excellent choice for many men and women who are perpetually bothered by hair in embarassing places. It is usually a very affordable solution.