The abdomen, or stomach as commonly referred to, is perceived as being critical to the figure and most women agonise about “excess baggage” around the midriff. Many elect for abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery to get the middle region of their anatomy in shape.

What Is A Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty and body contouring, which is also called a tummy tuck, is performed on both men and women anxious to get rid of excess skin and fat from the abdominal region. The skin and muscles here sag due to various factors.

People who have had multiple pregnancies, people who are obese, those whose muscles have detached them from the rest, individuals who have suddenly lost an unusual amount of weight, and those who are simply prone to weight gain.

These are usually candidates for abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery, which has become a common cosmetic procedure across the world.

Body sculpting is major surgery and a patient needs to be prepared for it both medically clinically.  The most important condition is that candidates should maintain a constant weight for at least a year before surgery.

Painkillers and Blood Loss

Also, painkillers that inhibit clotting must be avoided. This is because patients often lose a lot of blood during abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery and clotting is therefore important.

Some patients need to take analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs regularly for conditions such as migraine. It is important to disclose every detail of your medical history to your doctor so that he can switch drugs if necessary or make any changes that are required.

High blood pressures patients too are at a slightly higher risk those others. Blood pressure needs to be monitored and controlled well before abdominoplasty and body contouring surgery because this could lead to undue loss of blood.

Most smokers don’t realise it when they light up but smoking constricts the blood vessels. After major surgery, those areas that are sensitive need normal and a healthy blood supply for the growth and regrowth of tissue.

Risk of Tissue Death

Vasoconstriction could lead to the death of tissue as such tissue does not get sufficient oxygen, nutrients and fluids. It’s called necrosis and abdominoplasty patients simply cannot run this risk.

Hence smokers are advised to stub out the habit at least four months before surgery.

The actual surgery is a lengthy procedure and requires extreme skill. Make sure your surgeon is experienced and comes with a good reputation as well as credentials.

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and body contouring is different from liposuction in one significant way. While the former removes both skin and fat, the latter sucks out excess fat alone.

Most of the skin removed in abdominoplasty lies below the navel. After the skin that remains is redraped, the abdominal region gets a new and much more contoured appearance.

Since body contouring involves major incisions in the skin, scars are bound to remain. A skilled surgeon will know exactly how to minimize this and conceal some of the scars.

Firm and Flat Look!

There’s another thing patients must be prepared for and that is the relocation of the naval. This does not mean that it will be positioned in a different place! All it means is that it is usually detached from the earlier flabby tissue and embedded in the tissue and skin that remains.

Post-surgery, the abdomen looks firm and relatively flat and often gives patients a confident feeling.

Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and body contouring is a common procedure but is does carry some risks. Surgeons need to educate patients about these so that they can take an informed decision before electing for the operation.

Patients may run the risk of bleeding or haematoma, infections, tissue and fat loss or death, or even a pulmonary embolism.

This is a condition where a blood clot occurs and lodges itself in the pulmonary artery to the major artery of the heart. In extreme cases, patients of abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and body contouring have thus suffered paralysis or a heart attack.

Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) and Body Contouring is a post from: Skincare

Breast augmentation or augmentation mammoplasty is the most common type of plastic surgery in the United States.

Reasons for Breast Augmentation

This type of surgery is undertaken mainly for cosmetic reasons. But there are other reasons as well. For instance, individuals who have undergone a mastectomy for cancer and have lost a breast or a potion of their breast may also choose to have the surgery.

Others who have a congenital chest defect may also benefit from breast augmentation while it is commonly performed in patients who undergo a sex change.

The surgery is done to basically increase the size and volume of the breast and give it a fuller and firmer shape and feel. An implant is essentially a prosthesis that is inserted or implanted in the breast muscle and is e made of two different kinds of material.

Types of Implants

One kind of implant is made of a silicone shell and filled with saline liquid. The other kind is made of a silicone shell and filled with silicone gel.

Though breast augmentation surgery of the kind we know today is a modern procedure, women have been getting implants since the 19^th century! And some of the materials would make the 21^st century woman even baulks.

Some of these implants in earlier times were made of fat from a different area of the body itself. Doctors have even used paraffin injections, silicone injections, or even cartilage to get bigger and firmer breasts.

Other more unbelievable experiments implanted glass balls, rubber, even wool and polythene chips to get the same effect while still other choices included sponge, polyester and Teflon!

As medicine evolved, the implants were refined till silicone and saline were decided upon. The implants used in any country must be certified by the government medical authorities.

Breast Augmentation Surgery

So how exactly is breast augmentation surgery performed? The surgeon makes three basic incisions in three different places – around the edge of the areola, under the breast and in the armpit. 

Next, an incision is made to accommodate the implant. This could be in one of two places – either subglandular or under the glandular breast or submuscular or under the chest muscles themselves.

Next, the implant is inserted and the skin is sewed up. It’s not a complicated procedure and scars heal easily, especially if the doctor is highly skilled.

Post-operative care is important after breast augmentation and the kind of dressing used may make all the difference between success and failure.

Elastic dressings are recommended to support the implant and breast muscle so that it embeds itself comfortable in the chest.

Implants can also be inserted – believe it or not – endoscopically. This is done by inserting an endoscope near the naval and is used when patients are afraid that the normal procedure will leave them scarred.

In fact, scarring post-surgery is a concern for many women. If the surgery is performed purely for cosmetic reasons, anything that leaves a trace is obviously undesirable.

Patient Expectations

Patients are usually told to expect some scarring under the armpits where incisions are made to insert the implants. But these, and scars in other locations, usually heal and fade in a year’s time.

Patients of breast augmentation surgery are also advised to stay away from the sun for about 118 months as this will darken the scars.

Overambitious patients who demand rather large implants relative to their body size may end up with stretch marks around the breast.

Hence, it is important to be realistic when choosing the size and nature of the implants.

Another common complaint is numbing of the breast. Though the implants do get softer with time, they will never feel like normal tissue does.

Hence expectations from breast augmentation surgery must be realistic in their expectations.

All about Breast Augmentation is a post from: Skincare

Unusually small breasts are usually a cause of cosmetic concern for women opting for breast surgery to increase their volume and size. But there are many who opt for breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) and breast lift (mastopexy) surgery.

Breast reduction and breast lift surgery involves the removal of skin, fat and glandular tissue from the breast. It is performed on both women and men.

Abnormal Breasts

There are a small percentage of men who have small breasts. It is a condition called gynecomastia.

These are not simply overweight men but individuals whose hormonal system has led to the development of this female secondary sex characteristic.

Women who elect for breast reduction or a lift are often afflicted with a condition known as gigantomastia. They have unusually large breasts. This is not only ungainly and attracts unwanted attention but is could cause medical complications.

Women with gigantomastia may need to remove as much as four pounds of tissue from each breast to reduce them to what is normal for their body weight and height.

Gigantomastia is not a life-threatening disease but is progressive and requires treatment. This is because with time, the breasts place an unusual strain on their necks, shoulders and back, leading to chronic pain.

Mammoplasty Techniques

There are different procedures to remove excess tissue though they all use essentially the same technique. The difference lies in the location of the main incision.

Also while some techniques remove the nipple-areolar completely and sew it back on again, others work with the skin and tissue around it so that it does not come off.

The most oft-used breast reduction and breast lift procedure makes a vertical incision from the nipple downwards to open the breast for removal of the excess tissue.

The other technique, though not very popular, makes a keyhole incision. This circles the nipple-areolar and travels down the centre of the breast. Then, another incision is made under the breast.

Breast reduction and breast lift can also be performed through liposuction and many woken prefer this technique because of minimal scarring.

Liposuction for Mammoplasty

Liposuction for breast reduction and breast lift are used on women whose breasts are very large but not gigantic.

The type of technique used depends on both surgeon and patient and patients must be informed of all the relevant details so that they can make an informed decision.

The technique also varies with the size of the breast and the composition of the body tissue.

Reduction mammoplasty is a routine for surgeons, and though the risks pf this procedure are not usually serious, patients must be informed of some changes they may have to get used to.

Post-Surgery Results

In most women, both breasts are usually asymmetrical and this may persist post-surgery too. Scarring may be more visible in some women and this must be taken into account by women who prefer to wear revealing attire.

Some women experience fluid retention while many say that surgery reduces the ability to breast-feed.

In the context of cancer, medical research suggests that the greater the amount of tissue removed during breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) and breast lift (mastopexy), the lower the chance of contracting breast cancer.

Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty) and Breast Lift (Mastopexy) is a post from: Skincare

We cannot avoid the effects of ageing, and quite often the first signs are seen on the brow and forehead. With the advent of cosmetic surgery, a procedure called a brow lift (forehead lift) can work wonders for your appearance.

Facial Muscles

This kind of cosmetic surgery attempts to counter the effects of gravity, stress, and intense activity of facial muscles which result in lines and furrows and drooping brows. These make you look tired, sad or angry and add years to your face.

To get an idea of what a brow lift can do for your face, look in the mirror and gently raise the skin above your brows. The result will be a smooth forehead, raised eyebrows and a youthful look.

Brow lift surgery is usually performed on people with the following conditions: sagging and low eyebrows, horizontal creases on the forehead and frown lines between the eyebrows.

A brow lift tightens the forehead muscles and tissues from their sagging position and removes excess skin that has lost its elasticity from the forehead and upper lids.

A brow lift does not alter the lower lids and lower part of the face. Cosmetic surgery for eyelids and facelift can be combined with brow lift surgery.

Traditional Brow Lift

In traditional surgery for brow lift, an incision is made across the top of the scalp, beginning above the ears, usually behind the hair line.

Sometimes, the incision is in front of the hairline or towards the middle of the scalp. The doctor determines the placement of the incision to make it as inconspicuous as possible. The muscles of the forehead are then tightened and extra skin and tissues are removed.

The forehead skin is then raised to lift the eyebrows and eliminate deep horizontal creases. The incision is then closed with sutures.

Endoscopic Procedure

Advances in this medicine and cosmetic surgery have resulted in endoscopic surgery. This technique uses a long thin tube with a light and camera at the tip.

A number of small incisions are made just behind the hairline and the endoscope is inserted into them to allow the surgeon to carry out the same procedures that are done in the traditional brow lift.

The advantage of this type of surgery is that it is less invasive and results in less scarring and quicker recovery. However, endoscopic surgery may not be beneficial in people with deep creases and saggy skin on the forehead.

Endoscopic brow lift surgery in men is becoming quite popular.  It can be used in bald men and those with a receding hairline, as the incisions can be strategically placed to make them less noticeable.

Recovery varies from one person to another. Post-operative pain, swelling and bruising may last for a week to ten days.  This can be controlled with medication.

Cold compresses can be used to reduce swelling.  A certain amount of numbness and itching may also be felt.  Avoid straining and bending for the first few days.

Most people will be able to resume their normal activities within two weeks.

How Risky Is It?

Though complications are not common, this type of surgery does carry some risks. These include infection, bleeding, nerve damage and pooling of blood below the skin.

Benefits of brow lift surgery are increased confidence and a youthful appearance.

Before electing to undergo a brow lift (forehead lift), you should talk to your doctor and carefully weigh the risks against the benefits.

All about Brow Lift (Forehead Lift) is a post from: Skincare

Using chemical peels is a re-emerging art. It refers to the application of chemicals on the skin, usually on the face. These chemicals burn off the damaged outer layers, which peel off to reveal smooth and fresh skin beneath.

Ancient Practice

Chemical peels of lactic acid have been used since the days of ancient Egypt and were probably responsible for their famed alabaster-like skin!

In the middle Ages, the nobility used old wine containing tartaric acid as a chemical peel. Thus, chemical peels are a re-emerging art in modern times.

Chemical peels can be of different depths. A dermatologist usually performs deeper peels. Superficial peels can be carried out by a beauty therapist. Sometimes peels have to be repeated a few times to give maximum effect.

Peels can be applied to other parts of the body such as the hands. They are used to treat damage caused by prolonged exposure to the sun, and to get rid of freckles and wrinkles.

Chemical peels are also used to reduce facial scars caused by acne, to control acne and to remove pre-cancerous growths on the skin.

Types of Peels

There are different types of chemical peels. Alphahydroxy acids such as lactic, glycolic or fruit acids are the mildest forms of peels and produce superficial peels. They result in smoother and brighter looking skin.

These peels are also used to reduce fine wrinkles and even out pigmentation. Alphahydroxy acid chemical peels are sometimes mixed with a facial wash in low concentrations for daily use to improve the texture of the skin.

Trichloroacetic acid peels are used for moderate to deep peels, depending on the concentration used. The depth of penetration increases with higher concentrations.

Concentrations higher than 35% are not used because they can cause scarring. The treatment is painful and results in swelling, redness and crusted areas for about a week.

However, significant improvement in skin texture is seen with Trichloroacetic acid peels, which are used on darker skinned patients, to correct skin pigment problems and remove blemishes.

Peels Are Low-Risk

Chemical peels are a re-emerging art because of the variety of chemical substances that can be used safely and effectively. Phenol is the strongest chemical used in peels and produces a deep skin peel.

Phenol peels are used to correct skin damage caused by prolonged exposure to the sun or ageing, to remove deep wrinkles and pre-cancerous growths.

It is a very painful process and is usually carried out under general anaesthesia. Phenol peels are rarely used for facial peels because of the risk of scarring and possible toxic effects.

But before you use a peel, it is mandatory to prepare the skin appropriately so that your skin does not get damaged. Your doctor will prescribe pre-treatment creams to be applied on your face at night for weeks before the peel procedure.

These creams exfoliate the skin and reduce pigmentation, thereby improving the results.

The use of chemicals on the skin is bound to produce after effects. Redness and mild swelling are commonly seen after superficial peels, but these usually disappear after two days.

Peels and After-Effects

Moderate depth peels produce severe inflammation and swelling which remain for about a week though a red blush may remain for several weeks. Phenol peels result in significant swelling of the face and eyes for a period of time after the procedure but this eventually clears up.

As with any kind of procedure performed on the skin, after care is critical. The skin is the outer protective organ of the body and is readily prone to infection.

There are many dos and don’ts that need to be strictly observed. After a chemical peel, keep the treated areas cool and moist.  Use a good moisturizer daily. Protect your skin from the sun for at least six months after the procedure.

Do not pick or scratch the treated areas as this will cause scars and delay healing. But modern science has made strides and when used expertly, it is easy to see why using chemical peels is a re-emerging art.

Chemical Peels – A Re-emerging Art is a post from: Skincare

Dermabrasion is a surgical skin procedure that is also called skin planning. Think of it as sandpapering the skin.

When is dermabrasion used? It was the Egyptians who first experimented with dermabrasion more than 3,500 years ago, using sandpaper to remove the superficial layer of the skin as a beauty procedure.

What is Dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion basically removes the top layer or stratum corneum of the epidermis or the skin. This procedure is used to treat scars like acne scars, chicken pox scars, scars caused by trauma or injury, and those left by invasive surgery.

Dermabrasion is also used to remove fine lines or wrinkles on the face as well as scarring left by prolonged exposure to the sun.

The idea is to remove the topmost layer of the skin to expose the raw layer underneath. The superficial layer then regrows or rejuvenates itself, minus the scars.

Dermabrasion is not recommended for people with darker skin. It also works well with even skin and raised scars, but not when the scars are sunken.

General or Partial Anaesthesia

Dermabrasion is performed under general anaesthesia or partial anaesthesia, which is also called twilight anaesthesia or conscious sedation.

This medical procedure is performed with one of many types of equipment, which includes manual dermabraders, motorised dermabraders also called electric sanders, or lasers. The latter is more precise as it allows the surgeon to exercise more control. It is also less bloody.

Electric sanders use a hand piece with a wire brush that rotates at high speed. It destroys the top layer of skin composed of dead keratin cells.

The skin underneath is raw and bloody and very, very tender and it takes several weeks to heal, and several months for an entirely new layer to form. This process is called epithelialization.

Post-Operative Care

Post-operative care is especially important and delicate and could make all the difference between success and failure. This is especially so as facial skin is sensitive and very visible.

If car is not taken after dermabrasion is performed, it could result in hyperpigmentation. It is of utmost importance that the abraded skin not be exposed to the sun for weeks, till the skin heals from the procedure. Failure to do so could leave the skin spotty and blotchy, which defeats the very purpose of surgery.

The layer of skin that is left exposed and raw will be tender, swollen and red for a couple of weeks after surgery. This initial phase subsides after a few days.

Slowly, the raw skin crusts over and the healing process begins. Topical medication needs to be applied regularly; the abraded area needs to be free of germs and the entire process takes several months.

What is Microdermabrasion?

Do not confuse dermabrasion with microdermabrasion. The latter is a very superficial process and can be performed even by beauticians. It does not involve any blood loss and is not a surgical procedure.

Microdermabrasion is a process where the skin is “sandblasted” or blasted with crystals of aluminium oxide. It may be used for very fine and superficial scars and wrinkles and to “make the skin glow”.

Dermabrasion on the other hand, is a surgical process and must be performed by a skilled surgeon.

All about Dermabrasion is a post from: Skincare

Individuals who opt for eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) usually want to get rid of droopy eyelids, bags under the eyes or sagging lids. This is achieved by removing skin, muscle and fatty tissue from the eyelids, lending the face a youthful appearance.

Droopy Eyelids

Sometimes, senior citizens whose eyelids have drooped naturally over time, elect to undergo eyelid surgery as it improves their vision. Simply put, removing droopy eyelids clears the field of vision.

The eyelids droop as part of the natural ageing process. This happens because the skin loses its natural elasticity and succumbs to gravity.

The upper lids form an extra fold while bags collect at the base of the lower lid. There is another reason why the eyelids begin to bulge.

This takes place when the fatty cushion that protects the eyeballs from the skin begins to bulge and spill over into the eyelids. Again, this is an age-related problem.

Not For Wrinkles

It is important to note that eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty will not work on wrinkles, dark circles or crow’s feet. These are best treated by other cosmetic surgical procedures such as laser resurfacing.

In fact, blepharoplasty is usually performed along with other procedures such as a facelift or a forehead lift.

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a fairly simple procedure that takes only a couple of hours. You can get one eye done at a time or both in the same session. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia.

Upper and Lower Lids

The procedure is slightly different for the upper lids as opposed t the lower ones. The doctor will make small incisions in the upper eyelids along the natural folds of the skin.

Then, the excess skin, fat and muscle are removed before the skin is sewed together with tiny sutures. The stitches remain for about a week before they are removed.

There are two procedures commonly used for surgery on the lower lids. Neither leaves any mark or scar.

Surgery on the lower eyelids may be done using one of several

In transcutaneous surgery, the doctor makes an incision along the margin of the eyelash. The excess loose muscle, fat and skin is removed through this incision. There is a fine scar post-surgery but this invariably fades with time.

The other procedure is the transconjunctival technique. Here the incision is made inside the eyelid and is therefore not visible at all.

What Are The Risks?

It takes a week or two to recover from eyelid surgery. Your eyelids will probably temporarily swell and you will experience some redness. But this should last only a couple of weeks.

After eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), some patients do experience continued dryness of the eyes, bleeding from the lids, and discolouration of the lids. In rare cases, where the doctor has not exercised sufficient skill, there may be difficulty while blinking.

All about Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) is a post from: Skincare

It is looked upon by many as the answer to ageing, or a counter to the ageing and sagging process. And though a facelift (rhytidectomy) does tend to peel back the layers of time, it cannot prevent the effects of the march of time.

Facial structure

Let us first study the anatomy of the face. It is classically divided into three regions – the upper, middle and lower. The upper region includes the forehead and eyes and is left untouched by a facelift.

The two lower regions of the face and neck are the target of a facelift. That is, the surgical procedure targets the cheeks, jowls, neck and temples. What the procedure does is removes excess skin, fat and sagging muscle.

It also relocates the fatty pads under the skin, especially the cheeks that lend it a spongy feel. Muscles are also tightened so that the face appears to be “lifted”, resulting in a younger look.

What id doesn’t do are treat crow’s feet, wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes. This is very important to note because many individuals assume that a facelift covers the entire face.

Other Surgical Procedures

In fact, a facelift should complement other surgical procedures such as a brow lift or eyelid surgery or dermabrasion, depending on the patient’s specific requirements. But it is not an “anti-ageing answer” to all these ills.

Before we explain what a facelift (rhytidectomy) is, don’t confuse it with a “weekend facelift”. Yes, there are such things! It is a quick-fix minor procedure that makes minor alterations to the skin. So if you are worried about a major facelift, there is another option.

Each individual has different facial characteristics and your doctor needs to examine them closely before presenting options. Strides in medicine now allow your face to be reshaped and re-sculpted to a fairly large extent unlike earlier.

He will then make a computer image of various permutations and discuss your options with you. One of these is whether you want a complete makeover, which would require other procedures as well.

Surgical Procedure

Once the decisions are made, you are ready for surgery. The incision starts at your temples and follows your facial contours along the hairline and around the ear.

The surgeon then makes the necessary changes in the muscle, fat, skin, and connective tissue in your face and reshapes what he wants, takes out what is excess and redistributes fat pads.

The same is repeated in your neck and chin area to remove jowls and “a second chin”.

How Long Does A Facelift Last?

After the surgery, which could take between two to seven hours, the surgeon will stitch your face and bandage your face. Your face is bound to react to all the cutting, poking and pulling and there will be a sense of numbness, tightness and swelling for many weeks.

After that, you can enjoy the effects of your surgery, but only for about a decade! Yes, that’s how long a facelift (rhytidectomy) lasts.

All about Facelift (Rhytidectomy) is a post from: Skincare

Many women want a better pucker or a sexy pout. Many want to follow Hollywood trends that will boost their morale and confidence. And lip augmentation (cheiloplasty) provides the answer to these needs.

Lip Volume

This procedure essentially does two things. It increases the volume of the lips and makes the white roll or lip vermillion more pronounced. The vermillion is the line that separates the pink portion of the lip from the rest of the facial skin.

Lip augmentation is done basically by injecting or implanting one of many products on the market. These products vary with the kind of material that is injected.

Implants and Grafts

Among these products are synthetic materials, your own collagen or animal collagen. It could also be connective tissue or fat harvested from your own body or a donor.

Injecting collagen gives only temporary results as the material is finally absorbed by your body. It lasts from a few months to a year.

Fat injections last much longer but synthetic materials last the longest as these cannot be absorbed by your body. However, synthetic injections could cause an allergic body if your body does not readily accept the foreign substance.

The substance is injected or grafted or implanted below the lip muscle and in the vermillion. A lot more is used for the lower lip as this one is usually has more muscle than the upper one.

The technique that is most popular uses fat that is injected between the lip muscles and the white roll. This results in an aesthetically contoured lip roll and good volume that makes the lip look sculpted.

Minor Risks

Lip augmentation is minor surgery that is performed under local anaesthesia. It can be performed as an out-patient procedure. Since it is minor, there are no major risks.

Some individuals experience bleeding, some contract infections while others may find that numbness which results from damaged nerves. On some occasions, the implant hardens.

The lips are one of the more sensitive areas of the skin and any numbness can be extremely disconcerting.

Post-Operative Care

Post-operative care for lip augmentation (cheiloplasty) usually involves simple medication purchased from the pharmacy. This needs to be taken only for a few days.

All about Lip Augmentation (Cheiloplasty) is a post from: Skincare

Rhinophyma is a skin condition where the rose is red and bulbous. It is actually part of a skin disease known as rosacea, which is characterised by the sudden flushing of the face.

Both men and women suffer from rosacea but rhinophyma is more commonly present in men. It is a condition where the sebaceous glands or the glands in the skin that produce oil are overgrown.

Overgrown Oil Glands

This results in excess oil secretion as well as ugly large bumps on the nose that may grow so large that they may even partially obstruct the patient’s vision.

The parent disease is characterized by bouts of sudden flushing caused by vasodilation. This means that the fine blood vessels on the skin’s surface known as capillaries suddenly dilate and allow the blood to rush in. This ultimately causes the face to flush or blush.

Little is known about the causes of rosacea but its triggers are known. Avoid spicy food, avoid drinking red wine, and definitely avoid too much exposure to the sun.

Rosacea Patients

Rosacea and rhinophyma is more widely prevalent in people with very white skin like the Europeans. It is even nicknames “The Curse of the Celts”. Patients of rhinophyma are typically aged 35 and above though rosacea develops earlier.

There are some famous people who have suffered from rhinophyma like former US President Bill Clinton. Though not severe, it does explain what the skin condition looks like.

Rhinophyma can be classified as granular, fibrous and fibroangiomatous.

Granular rhinophyma is marked by sebaceous hyperplasia while in fibrous rhinophyma; the overgrown nasal tissue is characterized by an increase in the density of the nasal connective tissue.

Rhinophyma Myth

It is a mistaken notion that people with red bulbous noses are heavy drinkers and alcoholics. Though excess alcohol intake does tend to result in vasodilation and a reddish complexion, the commonalities have led people to mistakenly conclude that patients of rhinophyma are boozards.

Rhinophyma is treated clinically with topical applications and pharmaceutical drugs. But many patients, especially severe cases, opt for surgical reshaping of the nose.

Surgery for Rhinophyma

Here, the mass of overgrown oil glands and excess skin is literally scraped off with a scalpel and the underlying skin allowed healing.

The latter process is called re-epithelialization.

Instead of a scalpel, lasers may be used and they are very effective to treat the unsightly skin condition called rhinophyma. The procedure may also involve some re-grafting of the skin.

All about Rhinophyma is a post from: Skincare