Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group

According to a new study conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), patients that undergo the cosmetic procedures liposuction and/or abdominoplasty (also known as a tummy tuck) benefit from higher levels of self-esteem and a better quality of life.

The study was included in the April issue of ‘Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery’. The results found that those undergoing both liposuction and abdominoplasty reported the best benefits, despite the fact that these surgeries take longer to recover from and can be more painful than other procedures.

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Suffering from acne can be both embarrassing and annoying; with one of the major side effects being the damage acne can do to your self-confidence. Your acne could be caused by any number of factors, such as your external environment or your hormone levels, but no matter what the reason for yours is at the Harley Medical Group we have a range of non-surgical treatments that can help.

To help you in deciding which would be best for you, here are our top five treatments:

1. Aesthera PPx/Isolaz laser treatment

This laser treatment is the only one of its kind to have been approved by the FDA for use on comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads), which many other treatments are unable to affect. During the procedure Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is used to encourage growth of healthy skin and the treatment is completely painless. You won’t need to have any numbing creams or injections prior to the laser treatment and it can be carried out on many areas of the body.

Apart from helping with active comedonal, pustular and inflamatory acne, this procedure can also reduce the appearance of blotchy skin pigmentations, freckles, sun damage and thread veins to the face.

The procedure itself is incredibly quick and easy, often taking just five minutes when treating areas of the face. It can be used on both young and old skin and is ideal for men and women, with visible improvements just 24-48 hours following the treatment.

2. Acne skin care products

At the Harley Medical Group we have many specially formulated skin care packages that have been created using the best ingredients possible. Our problem skin treatment package has been tried and tested and is proven to help in producing visible results in a reduced amount of time.

Our acne package includes a gentle cleanser, an anti-microbial cell renewal cream, an ultra-anti-bac cream, an anti-oxidant oil free moisturiser and an enhanced performance SPF25 cream for the morning.

The products contained within this package are designed to help in reducing swelling caused by papules, pustules and other common types of acne, as well as clearing pores and encouraging healthy skin.

3. Obagi blue skin peel

Skin peels are one of our most popular non-surgical anti-ageing procedures, but they’re also an effective treatment for acne. Both active acne and acne scars can be improved with our Obagi blue skin peel, which can remove layers of damaged skin from the face, which encourages healthy skin to develop.

We mix a low concentration of TCA (trichlororoacetic acid) with a blue base that a nurse can then apply to the patient’s face. This type of skin peel can be regulated, so the nurse can apply the mixture to a depth that it required, meaning you get the maximum benefit.

Following an Obagi blue skin peel patients often remark that, not only has the appearance of their acne reduced, but fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, patchy pigmentation and sun damage has also been reduced.

4. Medical microdermabrasion

Many people decide to combine our Obagi blue skin peel and medical microdermabrasion treatments together to get the best results. Medical microdermabrasion is ideal for treating acne prone skin and can help with reducing the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads.

One of the main reasons why this treatment is so popular is that the results are instant, although the fact that it’s painless is also a big factor. During medical microdermabrasion a handheld device containing a controlled flow of fine medical grade crystals is passed over the face, removing the top layer of dead skin cells as it goes. This reveals healthier, younger looking skin that is much smoother, thanks to the fact that the treatment promotes collagen growth.

5. Diet

It has been proven that a change in your diet could have a dramatic impact on the quality of your skin and can go some way to improve acne prone skin. If you have acne you should visit your doctor for tips on what changes you could make to fit in line with any treatments you decide to undertake. For instance, drinking more water and eating regular meals that are packed with the right vitamins and minerals will certainly help.

If you’re interested in any of these treatments, do get in touch today to book your free consultation.

If you happen to keep a close eye on the catwalks you’ll have noticed that, as of late, one of the biggest trends is naturally glowing skin.

It isn’t just the models that have been toting this beautiful style either, as lots of celebrities have been spotted with brighter skin recently too. Celebrities like Sienna Miller and Gwen Stefani are constantly on this bandwagon, and even the Duchess of Cambridge herself has been photographed with gorgeous, glowing skin.

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When it comes to celebrities, a lot of stars and starlets opt for cosmetic surgery to turn back the clock and stay looking younger for longer. Many have admitted that there’s greater pressure on celebrities to keep looking youthful and vibrant, and that the long hours, stress and workload can take its toll.

Earlier this month reality TV star Kim Kardashian was spotted leaving a salon with slightly red and blotchy skin, which many people have linked back to medical microdermabrasion. This procedure can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, sun damage and patchy pigmentation, and the results can be seen after just a few minutes, and can last for weeks.

Kim has undergone cosmetic treatments in the past, having had Botox injections around the eyes. However, she has denied undergoing invasive plastic surgery and has said she’ll only ever try Botox again when she turns 40, due to an allergic reaction she sustained to the hugely popular anti-ageing treatment.

Speculation around Ashley Judd has also appeared in newspapers and magazines after the TV and film star was photographed earlier this month looking quite a bit puffier in the face. A representative claimed Ashley’s fuller face was down to a sinus infection and cold, for which she had been taking medication that caused the puffiness. Others believe she may have had dermal filler injections though.

Similarly, Lindsay Lohan’s recent stint as a hostess on popular US TV show ‘Saturday Night Live’ has caused fans to wonder whether she’s had cheek implants. Madonna and Kylie Minogue are both said to have undergone this procedure as well, which is becoming increasingly popular thanks to the younger looking appearance they can create.

Do you know of any other celebrity cosmetic surgery rumours? What are your thoughts on Kim Kardashian, Ashley Judd and Lindsay Lohan’s “new” looks?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that thousands of women in the UK and across the world have to deal with, and it can produce some very distressing side effects.

At the Harley Medical Group we can provide some assistance for one such side effect.

Excessive facial and body hair is a common issue among those diagnosed with PCOS, but with our laser hair removal packages, women everywhere can be rid of their unwanted hair. Laser hair removal is the most effective method of hair removal and can help to remove between 80 and 90% of all hair that is treated. Not only this, but it can also be carried out on practically any area of the body, so whether your PCOS has caused excess facial hair or body hair, we can help.

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Laser hair removal is one of the UK’s favourite non-surgical treatments, although, in the past, only those with dark hair colours such as black and brown could opt for laser hair removal. This isn’t the case at the Harley Medical Group though, as our high-quality laser equipment allows us to carry out this procedure on men and women with blonde hair, as well as other lighter hair colours.

You’ll probably have noticed that your local beauty salon also offers laser hair removal treatments, but a lot of the time they’ll be using equipment that’s less powerful than the equipment we use. As we have regulated cosmetic surgery clinics throughout the UK, staffed by qualified nurses and surgeons, we can use incredibly advanced technologies and equipment for laser hair removal.

It used to be the case that lighter hair colours simply didn’t have enough pigmentation to absorb the laser, which is naturally attracted to darker colours. Now, thanks to the development of specialised equipment for blonde hair, we can carry out laser hair removal for blonde hair, as well as for those with grey hair, white hair and fine vellus hair.

During the laser hair removal procedure we use a fractional laser that can go through the epidermis (skin) layers and destroy the root of the hair being targeted, which is why this form of hair removal is about as permanent as you can possibly get. Most patients, whether they have light or dark hair, find that the procedure can remove between 60 and 95 per cent of hair in the area treated.

There are some huge benefits to laser hair removal, such as getting rid of unwanted and embarrassing hair on the face, hands and many other areas of the body, and removing painful ingrown hairs. Having laser hair removal could also mean that you won’t have to shave or wax ever again. When you consider the fact that you could end up shaving as much as 11,540 times in your life, this is definitely a plus!

At the Harley Medical Group our laser hair removal techniques are even FDA (Food & Drug Administration) approved, meaning you can trust us with your hair removal needs.

To find out more about laser hair removal or any of our other treatments and surgeries, get in touch today.

Film documentary Saving Face last night won an Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

The film, co-directed by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, highlights the plight of women in Pakistan who face the threat of being burned with acid if they jilt a man’s advances or get into an argument with a man.

In her acceptance speech, Sharmeen said: “All the women in Pakistan working for change, don’t give up on your dreams, this is for you.”

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Many people are now acting upon their New Year’s resolutions but if you are still looking for some inspiration, here are our top suggestions:

1) Regain body confidence
Gaining confidence is a very popular New Year’s resolution and there are many ways in which you can do this. If you have any body hang-ups that you link with your lack of self-esteem, perhaps 2012 is the year that you look to do something to address the way you feel. For example, it could be as simple as changing your diet to tackle problem skin, or if you have successfully lost weight in the recent years but still have stubborn pockets of fat, you might want to start looking into liposuction surgery. Whatever it is that you decide to do we’re certain you’ll be able to get the confidence boost you need.

2) Eat healthily
Having a good diet is incredibly important for your health and you should make sure that you eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water and eat from the correct food groups. This will help to lose weight / maintain a healthy weight, as well as improving the look of your skin. It can also help to stave off the signs of ageing so it is well worth doing. Along with eating healthily you might also want to start taking nutritional supplements – we have a range of AmeriSciences supplements that can be bought online and from our clinics.

3) Start a skincare regime
Whether you have problem skin or not, taking up and sticking to a skincare regime is a very good idea. Our anti-aging products can help your skin to produce more collagen and elastin that can give you a healthy and more youthful appearance. We also have a range of acne products that can remove redness and swelling from hard-to-treat skin.

4) Exercise more
Exercising can help you to increase your muscular strength and keep you healthy; the government recommends that everyone partakes in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, 5 days a week. Exercising can also help your skin though – when you get stressed you can find that you are blighted with problem skin, but as exercising helps to reduce stress it can actually act as a free and healthy solution!

It can be incredibly difficult being a celebrity nowadays – there’s so much pressure to look fresh and young. There are plenty of celebrities who are open about any help they’ve had in this department, and quite a few who like to keep us guessing. if you’re interesting in finding out who’s had a bit of cosmetic surgery done take a look at some of our top guesses:

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If you’re interesting in fighting the signs of ageing there are lots of things you can do. You will need to make some small lifestyle changes to see the results but we’re sure you’ll think it’s well worth the effort. Read our list to get top tips on how to stay looking beautiful as you get older:

1)    Quit smoking
Smoking will accelerate the rate at which your skin ages, meaning you will experience wrinkles and dull skin before your non-smoking friends. If you quit while you’re ahead you may be able to remove any lasting damage caused to your skin and overall health.

2)    Wear sun cream everyday
Everyone knows that prolonged exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, but it will also age your skin and give it a leathery look. You can apply one of our moisturisers with in-built sun protection factor (SPF) every day to help combat the effects of UV rays which are present even on cloudy days.

3)    Eat more fruit and veg
Getting your five a day is incredibly important as it will give your body all of the vitamins and nutrients that it needs to stay healthy and efficient – and you’ll notice an improvement in your skin almost immediately too!

4)    Get some exercise
You should get at least half an hour of exercise at least once a day, which will help to keep your skin cells oxygenated, as well as your body in shape.

5)    Drink more water
Water will help to hydrate your skin, which will reduce the signs of aging. Drink around six 200ml glasses of water a day if you can.

6)    Stay calm
Stress is one of the main causes for early signs of ageing, so try to figure out what it is that is creating your stress and eliminate it from your lifestyle.

7)    Enjoy a cup of green tea
Green tea is packed with antioxidants and can really help to improve the youthfulness of your skin and keep your digestive system healthy.

8)    Use good skin care
Make sure you use good quality skin products in your daily regime. We have a special line of anti-ageing skin care products that have been designed to boost the production of collagen, which is key to plumped up, youthful looking skin.

9)    Consider a surgical procedure
If you’re serious about talking anti-ageing there are a number of procedures you can have done, such as a face lift or eye bag removal. You can also have Botox, dermal fillers or a skin peel, all of which are non-invasive. Check out our website for more information.

10)     Invest in some good makeup
When it comes down to it, makeup can often be a woman’s best friend. You don’t have to wear a lot of it to give you a youthful appearance, just make sure you buy high quality, mineral-based products as they will work better and be kinder to skin.