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Month: December 2014

What Is Melasma?

Posted on by David Jagroop

There are many different types of skin conditions out there, some of them are more common than others. Today we’re looking at a very common skin condition called Melasma. What is it, what causes it and are there any treatments available?

Melasma, also referred to chloasma, is a skin condition where light to dark brown or greyish pigmentation develops, usually on the face. It typically appears on the upper cheeks, upper lip, forehead and chin, although the forearms can also be affected.The condition can affect men, but it is very rare, and over 90% of those who suffer with melasma are female, mostly between the ages of 20 and 50. It can affect any skin type, but is more common about people with darker or olive skin like Hispanic, Asian or Middle Eastern individuals. Melasma usually becomes more noticeable during the summer months and fades during the winter. It is not an infection, it is not contagious and not caused by an allergy. Also it is not cancerous, and will not become cancerous.

What causes melasma?

The exact cause is unknown, but several factors do contribute. Birth control pills, pregnancy, hormone replacement therapy (HRT and progesterone) antiseizure medications and other medications which make the skin more prone to pigmentation after exposure to UV light are all thought to be triggers of melasma. The condition can run in families, suggested that genetics could be a factor and the condition may be hereditary. Exposure to the sun without the proper protection is thought to be the main cause of melasma, particularly among individuals who are genetically predisposed to develop the condition. Clinical studies have shown people are more likely to develop the skin condition during the summer, when the sun is most intense, and the pigmentation becomes less visible during the colder months.

Melasma also commonly develops in pregnancy and is often referred to as “the mask of pregnancy”. In fact women may find that skin which is already more pigmented, such as nipples, freckles or scars, may become even darker. These changes may be caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy. Pregnant women experience increased estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) levels during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Melanocytes are the cells in the skin that deposit pigment. However, it is thought that pregnancy-related melasma is caused by the presence of increased levels of progesterone

Are there any treatments for melasma?

Wearing sun protection every day will help you to avoid melasma and prevent current pigmented patches from getting any worse. Any day you plan to spend time outside you should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to any exposed skin. Even when the weather is cloudy, UV rays can still penetrate and damage skin. Try to make applying sunscreen part of your daily routine as UV light intensifies pigment changes. If you have developed melasma during pregnancy and the pigmented patches are bothering you then try concealing make-up while you are pregnant rather than lightening products, the changes may go away on their own after birth.

If these pigmented patches make you feel self-conscious, or they haven’t faded a few months after giving birth then there are treatments you can try.

1) Clear + Brilliant

This gentle laser treatment is best suited for mild or superficial cases of pigmentation. The laser works from the inside out to remove signs of damages and leave skin looking brighter, smoother and more evenly-toned. Although skin may feel dry and rough for a few days after treatment, while the top layer of skin heals, results can be seen within a week. A course of treatments is usually recommended to see the best results.

2) Skin Peels

Also known as chemical peels, skin peels use chemical compounds or acids to remove damaged layers of the dermis and encourage the growth of new skin cells underneath. It is suitable for all skin types, even dark skin which is at risk from pigmentation with other skin resurfacing treatments. This procedure is highly effective and patients can resume their normal activities quickly, but as the treatment cuts into the skin extra care needs to be taken in the sun after treatment. You should wear SPF30 every day.

3) Fraxel

For moderate pigmentation that Fraxel is an ideal treatment. This is a slightly more aggressive laser treatment which to eliminate the skin of dead cells and to stimulate collagen production. Fraxel can be used to lighten areas of dark skin and has proved particularly effective at treating pigmentation and melasma. The use of a laser ensures that the skin heals quickly and it is important to remember that no tanning of any kind is permitted either during or for three months after treatment.

There are skin products, such as Obagi, which are designed to lighten the skin. If you are interested in these ask your aesthetic practitioner, and let them know if you are breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant. You practitioner will examine your skin and help you decide which course of treatment is best for you. Book your complimentary skincare consultation here.

For more information on Melasma visit the British Skin Foundation

Breast Lift vs Breast Augmentation: What’s The Difference?

Posted on by David Jagroop

With so many different surgical procedures available, and different terms used to describe them, it’s no wonder that sometimes people can be left feeling a little bit confused about which procedure is actually right for them. Whether you are considered breast surgery yourself or would just like to have a bit more information about the types of procedure available, this blog will explain the difference between breast augmentation and a breast lift.

Breast Augmentation

Technically the term refers to any procedure which augments, or changes, the breast but it is most commonly used in reference to breast implants or breast enlargement. Breast implants are one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries for women in the UK, as it makes is possible for women of all shapes and sizes to increase cup size and the fullness of their breasts. There are many different types, sizes and shapes of implant available and during your consultation your surgeon will help you decide which implant is best for you.

Surgery usually takes between one and three hours. The implants are inserted using one of three different insertion points: 1) Below the breast: the implant is inserted in the crease under the breast, the breast will then hang over the incision masking the scar, 2) Around the areola: a virtually scar-free area as the incision is made in area which, due to its colour and texture, renders the incision point barely visible, 3) Under the armpit: another virtually scar-free option as any residual scarring is not visible when the arms are no elevated. Working through the incision point, the surgeon will lift the breast tissue and skin to create a pocket and the implant is either placed directly behind the breast tissue or under the chest muscle. The implants are then cantered beneath your nipples, stitches are used to close the incisions and they may also be taped for extra support.

After surgery you will likely experience some drainage from the incisions and in some cases small drainage tubes may be inserted beneath the skin to prevent fluid build-up, but these will usually be removed before you are discharged from the hospital. To control swelling and help your skin better fit its new contours, you will be fitted with a supporting bra that you will need to wear day and night for six weeks following surgery. You will usually be able to resume normal activity within one week, and exercise after six.

Breast implants are also sometimes used for reconstructive surgeries, for example after a mastectomy.

Breast Lift

A common surgery, particularly with older women or after child birth, which lifts the breasts to make them look younger and perkier. Breasts change over time and a number of things can affect their size and shape, including pregnancy, breast feeding, weight fluctuations and gravity – which wears away the natural supportive tissue of the breast. Your age, breast size and shape and the condition of your skin will affect the results of your breast lift, and your surgeon will explain how during your consultation. Your surgeon will also measure your breasts and discuss the placement of the nipple and areola, which will be moved higher during surgery.

Breast lift surgery usually takes between one and half to three hours. The most common technique is to use an anchor shaped incision following the natural contour of the breast, which will outline the area from which breast skin will be removed and define the new location for the nipple and areola. Stitches are used to the close the incision and are usually around the areola, and then extend downwards in a vertical line and along the crease of the breasts. Patients with smaller breasts or less sagging may be suitable for procedures which use different incisions involved less extensive incisions.

After surgery your breasts will swollen, bruised and uncomfortable fora few days but you shouldn’t be in severe pain. You will wear an elastic bandage or sports bra over gauze and then after a few days this will replaced by a soft support bra, which you will need to wear day and night for three to four weeks over a layer of gauze. You can expect some loss of feeling in your nipple and breast skin caused by swelling after surgery. This usually resides within six weeks but for some patients it can take up to a year for sensation to return and occasionally the numbness is long lasting.

In some cases a breast lift is also combined with the use of implant, to restore fullness to the upper portion of the breast. If you opt for an implant then it will be inserted directly under the breast tissue or beneath the chest muscle. 

After surgery you will be given detailed information for your recovery. You should avoid lifting anything heavy above your head for three to four weeks, refrain from strenuous sports for around a month and you may have to avoid sex for a week or two. If you become pregnant this operation should not affect your ability to breast feed as the milk ducts and nipples will remain intact.

What Is Involved In A ‘Mummy Makeover’

Posted on by David Jagroop

what is a mummy makeoverHaving children is a wonderful process, which a number of women wish and hope to experience. However with pregnancy comes a lot of changes to the body. While weight gain and expanding waistline to care for the baby are two of the more obvious ones, you may be surprised by just how much pregnancy changes your body.

On one level some women may feel a sense of loss about their pre-pregnancy body, and they may have hard time emotionally trying to adjust to their new figure and shape. Pregnancy affects each women differently, some women are able to bounce back within a few months without any signs of previously expecting a child, but for others they may feel like pregnancy has ‘ravaged’ their body. Age and genetics both play a role in how the body recovers after pregnancy, but loose, sagging skin, stubborn fat, stretch marks and a loss of fullness and firmness in the breasts are all common after childbirth and pregnancy.

It is vital that women wait until at least six months after the birth of their child before they consider cosmetic surgery. During the nine months of pregnancy the body goes through incredible changes and it is important that you give your body time to settle down and yourself time to adjust to becoming a parent. You should always aim to use diet and exercise as ways to lose weight and tone your figure, however sometimes even after months of a dedicated healthy regime there are still areas of the body which you haven’t been able to change. We’ve listed some of the most common surgeries requested by women after they’ve given birth.

Tummy Tuck
You will experience abdominal changes after pregnancy. While you carrying your child, the abdominal muscles become stretched and lax, and they often become separated. After childbirth it is important that you allow your body time to heal, before you begin regular gentle exercise. However sometimes because the muscles have become loose and separated, it is difficult to tone and tighten your stomach and you are left with a pouch of soft skin. For some women this can very upsetting, as they feel they still look pregnant. A tummy tuck involves bringing the abdominal muscles together again, tightening them and removing excess skin to reveal a firmer, flatter stomach. When the skin is tightened it can also help to improve the appearance of stretch marks. If it is only your lower stomach you feel needs some extra help then you can have a partial abdominoplasty. This much less extensive than a full tummy tuck, only excess skin and stretch marks below your navel will be removed, and your scar will be smaller than the one associated with a full adbominoplasty.

Liposuction
This is one of the most commonly requested procedure post-pregnancy and can be incredibly helpful. Like a tummy tuck, liposuction is not an alternative to weight loss and you should already be at a healthy weight before the procedure. Instead liposuction is used to target stubborn fat deposits which cannot be shrunk or toned using exercise and a healthy diet. Liposuction can be used on the thighs, buttocks, hips, knees, chin, arms and neck – all common areas where fat deposits lie. Liposuction can is good for targeting specific areas and sculpting the body.

Breast Augmentation
After childbirth, and especially breast feeding, many women mind their breasts have lost the firmess and fullness they used to have. For some women this can be upsetting, they may feel unattractive and be self-conscious about anyone seeing them without supportive underwear. A breast lift, which involes removing excess skinfrom underneath the breast or around the areola, and tightening the tissue and skin of the breast, can help you achieve a firmer, more youthful appearance. This is sometimes combined with implants, to achieve a fuller, perkier shape. If you have smaller breasts and minimal sagging then less tissue will need to be removed.

Skin Treatments
Cosmetic surgery isn’t for everyone though, and some women choose to undergo non-surgical procedures instead. Treatments to rejuvenate the skin, reduce scarring and remove unsightly leg veins are also common. Owing to changes in hormone levels throughout pregnancy, up to 90% of women experience changes to the pigmentation of the skin, this can be temporary or longer lasting. Melasma, often referred to as the ‘mask of pregnancy’, can cause dark pigmented patches to appear on the face and develops overtime as the result of oestrogen and progesterone stimulation. If pigmentation issues persist after pregnancy then Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Rejuvenation is one of the options available to you. It minimises the appearance of pigmentation, but has minimal downtime and a low-risk of side-effects. During treatment a handpiece which transmits a broad spectrum of light is passed over the face. The filters in the handpiece change the wavelength depending on the application and skin type being treated. The light energy is then absorbed by the melanin (the pigment in the skin), without damaging the surrounding tissue., after which the body’s natural processes remove the pigment. Other treatments which can help with pigmentation include Fraxel laser treatment, skin peels and prescription strength skincare. Your aesthetic practitioner will discuss all the options with you to help you find the right treatment for your skin.

These are just a selection of procedures popular with women after pregnancy and childbirth. With all cosmetic procedures, whether they are surgical or non-surgical, it is important to have a consultation beforehand with an aesthetic practitioner who can discuss the procedure with you and explain the risks, benefits and recovery times. If you are interested in a procedure then book a consultation here.

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