Category: Surgery

For many generations past, people have been employing doctors of all kinds to perform eye surgery when problems of the eyes arise.  Such surgeries were documented in the Middle Ages and are mentioned in the Bible and in ancient Hindu documents, too.  Modern surgical procedures and our current understanding of bacteria, viruses, and other germs have made eye surgery a much safer procedure than ever before, as has the evolution of surgical tools.  Modern medical science is now able to save vision when it previously might have been lost to injury or infection and, when the eye is otherwise healthy, today’s eye surgeons can improve a wide array of visual acuity issues as well.

Injury or sudden, severe infection may require immediate surgery, with no time for advance preparation.  In the many instances where surgery is more elective, scheduled long in advance, it is wise to refrain from the use of cosmetics and other skin care products in the eye area for at least a week before the surgery is to be performed.  This absence of chemical products will ensure the eye itself is as sterile and free from foreign substances as it can be.  The cleaner the eye at the time of the surgery, the less risk of complication the patient will experience.

After any surgical procedure, these same chemical substances should be avoided until the surgeon says the eye has healed completely.  In some cases, this may take a week or two but complications to healing can delay that time.  When in doubt, ask your surgeon before applying cosmetics after eye surgery of any kind.

One of the most respected breakthroughs in recent eye surgery techniques involve the use of laser technologies to replace many traditional surgical tools.  In many cases, laser surgery is less invasive than traditional techniques, leaving less damage from which to heal, fewer scars, and a shorter healing time in general.  Less pain and fewer restrictions on the recovering patient’s activities are also associated with laser eye surgery.

The most common reason for eye surgery is to remove cataracts, a cloudy film that develops in the eye’s lens that can cloud or block one’s ability to see clearly.  Often associated with aging, cataracts can also be the result of injury or illness and many forms of it are congenital, developing before or shortly after birth.  The oldest known forms of eye surgery were done to remove cataracts.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates about 48% of all cases of blindness in the world today are attributed to cataracts, representing about 18 million people.  In the United States, about 42% of all people between 52 and 64 years of age have signs of age-related cataracts.  That percentage goes up to 91% for those age 75 and older.

In rare cases, the manipulation of the iris, the colored part of the eye that surrounds the black pupil, leaves the pupil itself smaller and more rigid than it was before cataract surgery.  In many cases, the patient isn’t bothered by this outcome but when it is bothersome, many eye care professionals will administer intracameral phenylephrine as a first course of treatment.  If this medication doesn’t relieve the patient’s discomfort, there are several surgical procedures that can be considered but only an eye surgeon can determine which procedure is most appropriate for which patient.

In rare cases of extreme injury or infection, a patient’s eye must be removed altogether, a surgical procedure known as enucleation.  This particular form of eye removal involves excision of the entire eyeball but the muscles and orbital contents surrounding the damaged eye remain intact.

Whenever possible enucleation is avoided so before undergoing this type surgery, ask your doctor about any other treatment options that can be explored to save the eye before surgery.  After surgery, prosthetic eyes can be used for cosmetic purposes.  Discussing this possibility with your surgeon before undergoing surgery is always a good idea.

One of the most remarkable medical technologies developed in recent years is laser eye surgery, or any number of surgical procedures performed on the eye using laser technology.  There are several different types of lasers or techniques that can be used, depending upon physician training and the visual issues that are meant to be corrected.  Laser eye surgery is seen as miraculous by some patients but not every person is a candidate for this type treatment.

The vast majority of patients seeking laser eye surgery are nearsighted, also called shortsighted or myopic.  Surgery works best when myopia (nearsightedness) is mild to moderate.  Severe myopia may be better treated by other means, some surgical but others not.  People experiencing farsightedness (hyperopia) and those with astigmatisms are usually not considered for laser eye surgery but more and more people with these issues are enjoying success with laser surgery, thanks in large part to the continued efforts at improving the technique and adapting it to a wider array of visual problems.

Although ongoing research and development have expanded the number and types of surgical procedures available, laser eye surgery, in general, is basically the same.  During the procedure itself, the laser beam slices through the outermost layer of cornea, leaving just a flap connecting it to the eye.  Once the flap has been created, the surgeon folds it back, out of the way, and uses the laser to reshape the eye’s natural lens underneath.  This reshaping alters the patient’s visual acuity.  To complete the surgery, the flap is returned to its natural position, where the healing process secures it over time.

Other surgical procedures, used before the advent of laser eye surgery, were often painful and took a substantial amount of time for healing and recovery.  One of the most desired aspects of laser surgery is the reduction in pain and the shorter recovery time.

Patient expectation following laser eye surgery is generally rather high but many patients discover complications that leave their vision affected in ways that were nonexistent before surgery.  Some people see halos or ghosting (double vision) and others develop problems with glare and loss of contrast, which makes the vision seem foggy.  Some patients also develop hemorrhages in the eye as a result of surgery and almost one-third of all patients report excessively dry eyes six months after surgery, according to a March 2006 issue of the medical journal, “American Journal of Ophthalmology.’  In some cases, the dry eye issue is permanent, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

It’s these post-surgical complications that led the FDA to issue the following statement regarding laser eye surgery:  “Before undergoing a refractive procedure, you should carefully weigh the risks and benefits based on your own personal value system, and try to avoid being influenced by friends that have had the procedure or doctors encouraging you to do so.”

FDA approval for laser eye surgery limits treatment to only people 18 years old or older.  Before that, eye development hasn’t yet stabilized, making a permanent fix, such as eye surgery, inappropriate and capable of only short-term improvements at best.  To address the changes in vision that naturally occur in everyone, FDA guidelines require a patient’s visual acuity be stable for at least two years before undergoing surgery.

After the age of 50, other means of visual correction may be more appropriate than laser eye surgery.  Regardless of age, only a qualified surgeon can determine which patients are best suited to eye surgery and only after a complete eye exam involving full dilation of the pupils of the eye.

The familiar term, LASIK, is an acronym for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, which is a form of surgery ophthalmologists perform on patients suffering from a host of visual complaints, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.  This type surgery, using a laser instead of more traditional surgical tools, is called refractive surgery because it alters the shape of the surface of the eye so light, and therefore vision, is processed differently.  Refractive surgery techniques are not limited to the LASIK procedures and lasers are used for other surgical procedures as well.

Most candidates for LASIK surgery have a history of wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction and view surgery as a final solution to the daily hassles associated with glasses and contacts.  Studies vary but the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery estimates a 95.4% rate of satisfaction following LASIK surgery.  This success rate, reported in March 2008, involved evaluation of 19 studies involving 2,200 patients and review of more than 3,000 LASIK-related articles published in medical journals during the previous 10-year period.

Nearsightedness, or myopia, is the most common ailment treated via LASIK but, as technologies improve, more and more patients suffering from farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism are undergoing laser surgeries, too.  Best results seem to come from patients who experience only mild to moderate levels of visual distortion.

Individual need determines which variation of LASIK is most appropriate for a given patient but the training and expertise of the surgeon is another consideration, as procedures vary.  In any case, the best outcomes are achieved only after a thorough eye examination that involves full dilation of the pupils and the results evaluated by qualified professionals.  LASIK is not a cosmetic procedure and must never be taken lightly.

As a general rule, surgery involves using a laser to slice off the corneal layer that covers the eye lens, leaving just a flap of tissue holding the flap to the eye.  This flap is then folded back, revealing the surface of the lens underneath.  At this point, the surgeon will guide the laser as it resculpts the natural curvature of the eye lens.  Visual acuity is determined by the curvature of the lens and distance from the retina at the back of the eye.  LASIK optimizes curvature to produce the best vision possible.  Once the eye has been resurfaced, the corneal flap is replaced so the healing process can reattach it firmly and permanently in place.

LASIK works best on young adults who have enjoyed stable vision for at least two years prior to surgery.  A growing number of middle-aged patients, however, are turning to laser surgery to eliminate the need for reading glasses caused by the aging process.  This procedure, called slight monovision, mimics the effect of bifocal glasses.

To achieve monovision, the LASIK surgeon sculpts the patient’s dominant eye to better perceive distance vision while the non-dominant eye is sculpted so visual acuity is similar to the reading glasses the patient has been using.  Post-surgical results require a period of adjustment, just as bifocal lenses do, but most patients report satisfactory results.  Many surgeons fit a perspective monovision patient with contact lenses that replicate post-surgical effects so the patient can spend a few days becoming familiar with the projected outcome before committing to surgery.

While the vast majority of patients declare the surgery a success, satisfaction cannot be guaranteed nor is it 100%.  Some patients become dismayed with blurry vision following surgery but, in many cases, the blurring clears over time.  Because each patient is unique, the healing process varies from person to person.  Some people report clear vision within a week or two but others experience permanent blurring.

Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis is commonly called LASIK eye
surgery. It is an outpatient surgical procedure most often performed to
correct myopia (nearsightedness). About 70% of all patients undergoing
this procedure enjoy 20/20 vision after recovery. Most of the rest of
the patients experience dramatic improvements in vision although a
small percentage of patients still need corrective lenses in certain
situations.

LASIK eye surgery is an incredibly quick, safe
procedure performed while the patient is awake. In most cases, eye
drops that numb the surface of the eye is the only anesthesia
necessary. Some patients have both eyes done in one session but others
do one eye at a time.

Visual acuity changes as we mature and
generally stabilizes once we reach our twenties. For this reason, LASIK
eye surgery is rarely performed on anyone younger than 18 and some
surgeons advise waiting until the late 20s to be sure the vision has
become as stabilized as possible.

Regardless of age, women
who are pregnant or nursing may experience a change in the refraction
of their eyes and should postpone surgery until the vision has
stabilized after childbirth.

While most people are likely
candidates for LASIK eye surgery, certain pre-existing medical
conditions may preclude the procedure. Patients diagnosed with
glaucoma, herpes infections affecting the eyes, cataracts, lupus,
rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes may be advised to avoid this
procedure.

To determine the degree of success expected from
LASIK eye surgery, your surgeon will thoroughly examine your eyes to
determine exactly where and to what degree the surgery needs to be
done. Microscopic measurements will be taken before and during the
surgery to assure accuracy. Even with this meticulous examination,
however, there is still the likelihood that an overcorrection of
undercorrection of the vision may be achieved.

In such cases,
additional surgery may be in order and glasses are always an option.
Some patients cannot wear contact lenses after surgery due to corneal
scarring that is inherent with the procedure. Others will continue to
require reading glasses or will grow to need them in middle age.

Med-Help is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations.

A plastic surgery is performed chiefly to rectify a physical flaw
but it becomes an awful plastic surgery when instead an imperfection
results from a mistake in the surgical procedure. The number of
cosmetic / plastic surgical procedures performed every year is on the
rise and so is the number of surgeries gone awry.

An awful
plastic surgery usually results when either the patient or the
practitioner makes a mistake in taking a decision. You can easily
identify a bad plastic surgery because it appears clear on the face and
on other parts of the body. A bad plastic surgery not only looks ugly,
it can also be equally problematic, especially if nerves or other vital
organs are affected by the surgery. In complicated cases, an awful
plastic surgery may lead to scarring, deformation and even paralysis.
The scarring caused, can even mar self-confidence and be a cause of
deep distress.

A plastic surgeon takes the help of a second
restorative surgery to cure a condition of awful plastic surgery.
Nevertheless, remember, a re-surgery is only possible when you have
enough tissues left on the face.

A plastic surgery is a
hazardous procedure and it can give way to several detrimental symptoms
like anesthetic infections, medicinal reactions, blood clots and
trouble in breathing. Therefore, it is necessary that you stay
absolutely careful and cautious before going for a plastic surgery. It
is not something like visiting a beauty salon.

Not all
cosmetic surgeons can perform plastic surgery. For this, the physician
needs to have special skill and aptitude. The surgeon who is to carry
out the surgery should possess a certificate of the American Board of
Plastic Surgery. It is best for you to go through pictures and
testimonials, which prove how efficiently the surgeon can handle a
case. This is to ensure that the person has special skill in
reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.

Do not always run
after a cheap plastic surgery because this may result in an awful
plastic surgery. If you want the surgery to be done more systematically
then you can consult more than one physician if necessary.

Above
all, you yourself should have a clear conception. Nurture no inflated
expectations as no amount of plastic surgery can change your inborn
features. So, look before you leap and check your doctor’s medical
records to have an idea of his past successes in this particular field.
This is the surest way to evade the risks of an awful plastic surgery.

Vaginal plastic surgeries commonly known as ‘labiaplasty’ in the
medical world, is an independent decision that a woman takes. This
cosmetic surgery is performed by plastic surgeons, gynecologists and
urogynecologists. The vaginal plastic surgery helps many women gain
their self-esteem, by being able to enjoy the thrill of having sex
better.

When a woman has negligible sexual desires and
vaginal discomfort, it goes on to puncture her self-esteem; as a
solution, the woman opts for the vaginal plastic surgeries to
rejuvenate her love life that was about to crumple.

All About The Vaginal Plastic Surgeries

It
is true that a vaginal plastic surgery can change the way you look at
your love life presently, but never take a decision in haste. Always
consult a gynecologist or a plastic surgeon before you go for the
plastic surgery.

The entire process of the surgery requires
a total time of about 60 minutes to 120 minutes. The surgery is made to
correct the structural defects of the vagina as well as keeping in mind
the aesthetic considerations.

The surgeries are conducted
under local anesthesia. The women who undergo these surgeries go
through a bit of discomfort as well as swelling in the vaginal area,
but the problem does not persist after one or two weeks. To completely
recover after the surgery, the time taken by the patients range from
three days to one week or even two weeks.

The Different Vaginal Plastic Surgeries

Vaginal
plastic surgeries are done by tightening the vagina (vaginoplasty),
reconstructing the ruptured hymen to the virgin state (hymenoplasty)
and by reducing and beautifying the labia.

Neovaginoplasty is
a surgical operation that is used for the construction or the
reconstruction of a woman’s vaginal canal and mucous membrane. This
surgery has also benefited transwomen. However, this plastic surgery
permits sexual intercourse, with the sheer absence of the sensation.

Vaginoplasty
uses the autologous biological tissues from various parts of the
patient’s body, such as the skin flaps, oral mucosa, vaginal labia,
skin grafts, testicular skin, penile skin, intestinal mucosa, and other
parts.

Women today are opting for vaginal plastic surgeries
to have greater sensation during sex and to be able to satisfy their
partners better sexually. There are some post-surgical measures that
one must abide by (like refraining from sexual intercourse for a
minimum period of three months) in order to avoid any complications. If
all goes well, the patient will be able to lead a better life, exciting
and honorable.

Plastic surgery gone wrong is an unfortunate case for some, but it
can often be rectified. Plastic surgery helps in the alteration and
rejuvenation of the body as well as facial features. There are chances
of a plastic surgery not going right and this implies a bad plastic
surgery.

You must have heard about a certain plastic surgery
gone wrong, now how do you suppose it occurs? Well, some errors in the
surgical processes are responsible for a bad plastic surgery. Anyone
can tell a facial plastic surgery that has gone wrong, because it shows
clearly. If a facelift has gone bad, then it shows through the tight
and asymmetrical facial muscles of the person who underwent the
surgical operation. A bad facial surgery gets all the more complicated
when the sensation is damaged because they affect the nerves.

The Correction

A
plastic surgery gone wrong? There is no need to worry, as it can be
corrected. The problem needs to be reworked by another plastic surgery.
Of course, a bad plastic surgery can be corrected only if there is
ample tissue left for doing so. However, in cases where the problem has
got serious, such as in the case of a bad rhinoplasty, it is quite
impossible to rectify. A plastic surgery gone wrong in the face is far
more difficult to amend than a plastic surgery gone wrong in a part of
the body and one must know this fact.

The Seriousness Of A Bad Surgery

A
plastic surgery gone wrong can have effects like deformation, acute
scarring and even lead to paralysis in some cases. Not only physical
damages, a bad surgery also accounts for the emotional stress that a
patient experiences.

Bad plastic surgeries have even proved
to be fatal for some unfortunate people and the side effects, at times,
have proved quite deadly. The slippage and hardening of the implants in
breasts, chin, cheeks and butt lead to very painful experiences for the
patients.

The serious repercussions of a bad surgery might
bring about should not deter you from opting for a plastic surgery.
There are rare cases of a plastic surgery going wrong in comparison to
the many successful plastic surgeries that take place everyday all over
the world.

When going for a plastic surgery, just make sure
you are realistic in your expectations and do not want something that
is unattainable. Get your physical as well as emotional health examined
by your doctor. Be confident and positive on your part, hoping for the
best. Most importantly, inquire into the surgeon’s background –
credentials, experience, and success – prior to undergoing the plastic
surgery.

Is Your Hair Thin? Are You Bald/Balding?
Learn How to Naturally REGROW Lost Hair

Hair transplant surgery is an attractive option for many men faced
with male pattern baldness, which affects more than half the men in the
United States over the age of 50. There are several medicinal options
to stimulate hair growth but these treatments don’t always produce the
desired results, side effects can be unpleasant, and the revitalized
hair growth lasts only as long as the patient is taking the medicine.

Men
most often lose hair on the top of their heads and along the forehead.
Hair on the sides and in the back of their heads usually remains
vigorously growing throughout the man’s life. The hair growing
abundantly is genetically programmed to do so and retains that genetic
programming even if it is moved to another spot on the head.

Hair
transplant surgery “borrows” some of that vigorously growing hair from
the sides and the back of the head and transplants it onto the top of
the head where the hairline has receded or is thinning.

One
very natural-looking type of hair transplant surgery is known as
follicular unit transplantation. Strands of hair naturally emerge from
the hair follicle in groups of one to four strands per follicle. These
follicular units can be plucked from the donor areas and grafted in
natural-looking patterns in the transplant area, where it will continue
to grow for a lifetime.

In other versions of hair transplant
surgery, larger plugs of scalp are taken from the donor areas and are
grafted as needed. This method of transplant can be highly successful
but the final effect isn’t as natural looking as is the follicular unit
transplant.

Still another option for hair transplant surgery
is called a scalp reduction. In this procedure, the part of the scalp
that has become bald is surgically removed. The skin sporting healthy
hair growth from around the excision is then pulled together and
sutured closed. Once the surgical wound has healed, hair can be styled
to hide any remaining scars.

Med-Help is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations.

For people who are nearsighted but are otherwise healthy in the eye
LASIK surgery is a rather painless, safe, and quick procedure which
will most likely bring dramatic improvements to visual acuity. It may
even become possible to throw away tiresome glasses and bothersome
contact lenses and see quite clearly without them.

For
patients with other visual problems of the eye LASIK surgery may not be
the solution. The overall shape of the eye determines visual acuity and
this surgical procedure works in such a way as to correct the elongated
eyeball that causes nearsightedness (myopia).

Patients who
are farsighted, have astigmatism, or have visual problems associated
with the aging process may not be successful candidates for this
surgical procedure. In patients who experience farsightedness or
accurate vision in one eye and nearsightedness in the other eye LASIK
surgery may bring balance to vision and eliminate the need for
corrective lenses.

The surgery takes about 15 minutes, only
eye drops are needed to numb the eye during surgery, and the patient
remains awake and alert throughout. There are no stitches to heal, no
wound or bleeding to treat, and recovery is quick with results almost
immediately seen. Complete recovery, with stabilized vision, may take
as long as six months.

Nevertheless, there are risks and less than desirable long-term effects associated with this procedure.

The
possibility of corneal infection is always a possibility as is scarring
that may leave a blurred spot in the vision. Scarring may also
eliminate the option of wearing contact lenses if the surgery doesn’t
achieve 20/20 vision once recovery is complete.

For
middle-aged patients who need reading glasses to correct the problems
associated with the aging of the eye LASIK surgery is likely to improve
any nearsightedness but the need for reading glasses will most likely
remain. Younger patients may gain freedom from corrective lenses but
may likely require reading glasses once they reach their mid-40s.

Many
patients report problems with night driving, glare, and haloes around
lighted objects. In some cases, these issues clear up over time but
others experience them on a permanent basis.

Dryness and
scratchiness, sensitivity to light, and permanent vision loss are also
problems also associated with this surgical procedure.

Med-Help is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations.

Desperate to look more stunning and be in the limelight, the
starlets (as well as other celebrities) are seeking the help of
so-called ‘celebrity plastic surgery’. This is a very common practice
amongst famous film stars who would go to any extent to retain their
public-image and rule the hearts of the crazy fans.

Celebrities
go for different types of plastic and cosmetic surgeries, which they
feel, are unavoidable to meet their physical shortcomings. In most
cases, the surgeries have many pros and cons; in spite of all these,
the celebrities choose to undergo the treatments. Sometimes the chances
are very bleak and the celebrity plastic surgery can go completely
awry, leaving the star in a very compromising situation for the rest of
his/her life. Despite this fact, celebrity plastic surgery has gained
significant popularity.

Celebrity Plastic Surgery – A Makeover For The Starlets

The following list shows the names of the celebrities and the surgeries they have had:

Paris Hilton got an eyelid surgery

Paris
Hilton, the most famous heir to the ‘Hilton Group Chain of Hotels’,
underwent an eye-lid surgery. This is a very common celebrity plastic
surgery. To correct her drooping left eye, she contacted a Beverly Hill
Plastic surgeon.

Nevertheless, unfortunately, her endeavor
did not bear fruits and her left eye met with further damages. Had the
surgery gone right, then she could have had two symmetrical beautiful
eyes. Nonetheless, many starlets from the film circuit are opting for
eyelid surgery to become the possessor of a pair of beautiful eyes.

Melanie Griffith had a facial surgery

Melanie
Griffith had a very pretty face; but when she married the love of her
life, Antonio Banderas, she altered her pretty face to impress her
husband.

Jennifer Anniston and Renee Zellweger went for breast implants

There
is quite a controversy over the topic, if Jennifer Anniston or Renee
Zelwegger got a breast augmentation or not. Whether they got breast
implants or not, it is sure that most of the female celebrities opt for
this particular surgery for most of them are proud of their assets and
flaunt them with utmost pride.

Meryl Streep got a face lift

Face-lift
is a very common celebrity plastic surgery. Most of the stars are
desperate to get rid of their wrinkles and posses a flawless skin.
Meryl Streep is one such actor, who went for a face-lift and a neck
lift. She now looks stunning in her flawless facial skin.

Angelina Jolie’s Nose surgery

Nose
surgery is also a very common celebrity plastic surgery. Angelina
gained a stunning nose, which now looks perfectly shaped and sized.
There are many celebrities, who do not have a perfectly chiseled nose
and therefore they go for a nose surgery to correct the flaws.

The
above few cases show that most of the stars go for plastic surgeries to
correct their flaws and enhance their beauties. No doubt, celebrity
plastic surgery is one of the most talked-about topics these days.