Mother’s Day vouchers for ‘mummy makeovers’ are madness writes Wendy Tuohy

EACH to her own when it comes to cosmetic surgery, but one way not to sell more of it (or any of it to me) is by marketing to the insecurities of us mothers by trying to sell us “mummy makeovers”.

In fact I’d put money that any mother propped on her pillows on Sunday week who receives a Mother’s Day card with a voucher for a “mummy makeover” inside, will be one grumpy mummy.

By “mummy makeover” we’re not talking swapping up your hair and makeup or going for a bit of pampering, we’re talking literal cosmetic chop and change — to that tired-looking “post-baby” face, boobs, “tummy” or even your, um, parts.

We’re talking switching back the dial to as close to eye-bag free Kardashian level, Kate Moss jeans-fitting, Elle-trim wetsuit hips, selfie-MILF perfection.

Every woman has the right to whatever she wants to do with or to her own body and not be judged, go your hardest.

But those of us who plan to age disgracefully (ie. naturally) do not want the gods of Facebook’s advertising algorithms suggesting we pay someone to suck out, lift up, plump, tighten or “sculpt” away all physical traces left by motherhood.

Hands off Dr Nip ‘n’ Tuck — the bits you can see and the bits you can’t.

I want to look as good as I can, for sure.

We’re not all supposed to be Kim Kardashian. Picture: Rick Diamond/Getty

Or ex-supermodel Elle Macpherson at 52. Source: Facebook

Yes Kate, you’re looking great. Picture: David M. Benett/Getty

But all of those signs my body built and carried three babies, bore them, fed them, lugged ‘em around on a hip and is still running ragged to raise them well (going with too little sleep, too little exercise and sometimes maybe a bit too much comfort-mashed potato) is not something I want erased, “made over” or cosmetically wiped out.

One of the more depressing news items I’ve read in the last few years is the fact so many women think they not only need to have their breasts “repaired” after feeding, but also feel the very parts that pushed the baby out are no longer pretty enough and need surgical “correction”.

Now, “mummies” also think they need to achieve the dreaded Barbie look (all over).

Last year the internet fell head over heels for the cuteness so-called “Dad bod” — “a physique that looks like a formerly fit athlete has gone a bit to seed and grown a nice layer of protective fat around his muscular girth.

A body that says “I go to the gym occasionally, but I also drink heavily on the weekends and enjoy eating eight slices of pizza at a time,” according to Time magazine.

Yet it offers mummies constant reminders — via personally directed ads — that babies and lack of personal time, sleep and a personal chef notwithstanding, we should still be as sleek and slinky as ferrets.

Please note, would-be cosmetic surgery standard setters, even Elastogirl from The Incredibles — a mother of three who could still pull off plenty of super human super hero stuff — had curves (bless you compassionate cartoonists).

Like I said, do what you like if it makes you feel good, there’s no shame in going under the knife.

But do it on your terms and not because any one, or any thing, or any Hollywood super babe/mum with a live-in pilates instructor makes you think the signs of motherhood are, per se, “unattractive”.

Some of us just tolerate the tracks of “mummy” time on our faces and bodies and souls.

Some of us don’t mind them, and some even like them, because they’re tangible reminders of just what awesome things our bodies have pulled off.

Those of us in the last group are not in the market to be marketed “solutions” for our mum bods, or get them hollowed out, filled in, tightened or perked up.

If you really want to make us happy please send cheese* (*and wine) this Mother’s Day.

Wendy Tuohy

Herald Sun

Thailand entices the Middle East market by offering a Quality Leisure Destination through Thainess

This year, there are a total of 66 exhibitors from Thailand joining ATM 2016, most of which are hotels offering unique products and services such as pool villas, boutique experiences and total privacy. In addition, there are a number of health & wellness companies, attractions, and a Thai cooking school.

DUBAI - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is participating in the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which are being held in Dubai, UAE, from 25-28 April, 2016, to provide the opportunity for Middle East travel operators to learn more about Thailand’s initiative to best cater to the Middle East tourists– the ‘Quality Leisure Destination through Thainess’, spearheaded by the ‘Amazing Thailand Luxury’ campaign.

This year, there are a total of 66 exhibitors from Thailand joining ATM 2016, most of which are hotels offering unique products and services such as pool villas, boutique experiences and total privacy. In addition, there are a number of health & wellness companies, attractions, and a Thai cooking school.

During the ATM 2016, TAT hosted the Amazing Thailand Luxury Networking Reception in the famous Burj Al Arab Hotel on 26 April, 2016, allowing the chance for top Thailand’s travel executives led by Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor,  to mingle with representatives from the Middle East travel and hospitality industry and members of the media. The launch event gave people the chance to network and learn more about the latest developments in Thailand’s travel industry as well as to discuss prospective business and partnerships.

The event was aimed at boosting the numbers of luxury tourists from Middle East nations by promoting Thailand’s wide range of high-class attractions and experiences as well as fine dining, health and wellness opportunities, family friendly resorts and attractions, as well as world-class shopping. These are all backed by the touch of Thainess and innate hospitality that makes every visit to Thailand a unique and memorable experience.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said, “Middle East travellers are renowned for recognising quality and for seeking out family friendly luxury offerings, all of which Thailand is famous for. In terms of accommodation, healthcare, shopping and cultural experiences, Thailand’s standards are always high. By marketing the kingdom as a ‘Quality Leisure Destination through Thainess’, we are positioning ourselves as a unique nation that serves the needs of luxury lovers while also meeting their religious requirements.”

To ensure that Middle East travellers as well as tourists from other Muslim nations get the most out of their Thai travels, TAT is working with tour operators, hotels and other businesses; such as, hospitals, health centres and restaurants to ensure the needs of Middle East visitors are met. Many hotels and businesses now employ Arabic speaking staff and there are many restaurants in Thailand that offer halal dishes both local and international.

A mobile application has also been designed to help Muslim travellers find the nearest mosques, halal restaurants, and other facilities of cultural importance to Muslim travellers.

As a result of these efforts, the Master Card Crescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index 2016 ranked Thailand second place on the list of non-Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) destinations for the second year running.

With the collaboration from its strategic partners in using both social and traditional marketing tools, including celebrity marketing, Thailand has been able to better reach high-quality target markets in the Middle East, no matter coming as a family or alone; for business or pleasure; either honeymoon couples, or those who need healthcare services.

The Middle East remains one of the key markets to raise Thailand’s quality tourism benchmark, especially for people seeking luxury experiences and healthcare. The importance of the Middle East Market has been noted as 67% of Middle East visitors make repeat visits to the country, an outstanding record that underscores Thailand’s enviable status as a top leisure travel destination.

Thailand welcomed 571,920 visitors from the Middle East region in 2015, with 163,960 visitors from the UAE, 90,012 from Oman, over 85,597 from Iran and 71,000 from Kuwait. In 2014, Middle East visitors to Thailand stayed an average of 11.88 days, and spent an average of 171 US dollars daily, compared with an average 9.8 day stay for other nationalities who spent about 148 US dollars a day.

2016 is a year of events and several celebrations in Thailand and below are some of the upcoming major events in the kingdom:

TTM+ 2016: The Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) 2016 that will be held on 8-10 June, 2016, in Chiang Mai.

Lady Month: August is going to be promoted as the ‘Lady Month’ in accordance with the 84th birthday anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen to encourage more female travellers to visit Thailand. A variety of activities will be conducted to promote this market; such as, a fast track immigration lane for ladies, special offers and discounts for female shoppers, a lady’s golf challenge, lady celebrities and bloggers to Thailand, plus more.

In the region, the TAT Dubai and Middle East Office will soon unveil its new Ambassador to promote Thailand as a chic leisure destination for women.

Theodore Koumelis 

.traveldailynews

Jamu, The Art of Health and Beauty in Indonesia

Havana (Prensa Latina) Seating among small pots containing boiling water, Indonesian Sucri is preparing a medicinal herb potion for her 10-year-old granddaughter to go to school under protection.

At the age of 44, Sucri treasures a traditional medicine background worthy of an encyclopedia and like her mother did in her times, she shows her granddaughter Warni how to make jamu and the property of every plant, seed and flower.

The woman is one more than 25,000 sellers in the island of Java, an exclusively women's profession.

She has been waking up at two o'clock in the morning to select the basic ingredients, cook them and bottle them. Then, she goes out, just at dawn to sell the aromatic liquid.

Her sister Hani explained that she always prepares more cooking at noon and sells it door to door until the time for the Maghrib, the Muslim prayer, prayed just after sunset, as all women in her family have done for several generations.

They make from three to six US dollars a day and it is really difficult to survive with such low income in the capital city, Jakarta, with a 650-square-kilometer surface and 18.6 million residents in the metropolitan area.

Most of them have large families, a situation that forces them to work long hours, including holidays.

It is a very hard work, but we drink kunir asem, a thick yellow beverage made with curcuma and lemon. It is energetic, cleans the body of toxins and leaves a softer skin, she said.

She reiterated that men were inclined to remedies aimed at increasing virility, while women prefer weight-loss or beauty remedies.

More than 60 percent of the Javanese population turns to jamu. However, the future of the beverage is threatened by professionalization of the job and the proliferation of pills, tee bags and instantaneous compounds sold at any supermarket or drug store.

To Hani, the Indonesian traditional medicine seeks balance among the different forces, symbolically represented by opposite cold and hot, inner peace and connection between the universe and nature.

The beverage keeps a tight relation with the care of the skin, hair, massage and baths, the meaning of which go beyond beauty and entail highly symbolic and religious rites.

For centuries, natives have used the flowers, spices, woods and scent oils they find in their rich natural environment to make true welfare rituals.

Jamu consists of a series of treatments (tonic beverages and natural bodily cosmetic products that help us keep balance in and out of our bodies.

This art does not age. It is good to relieve either children, young or elderly people, according to their specific needs. It does not distinguish social classes. It is extensively used by the population in towns and cities.

It proposes a turn to nature and natural products that help keep the human organism healthy and in perfect balance.

Some of the mainly used products are roots, such as curcuma or ginger, spices such as clove or cinnamon, all leaves from trees and plants from the region, the tamarind fruit or calamansi, jasmine flowers and gramineas

Indonesian elderly people say that a zip of jamu at dawn cleans your body of toxins, another at noon allows good digestion and just at dusk, it gives you the possibility to live spiritual and bed pleasures.

iom/rc/arc/ydg

plenglish

Care of dry and itchy skin

Atopic or allergic dermatitis is a common condition that shows up as dry skin and inflamed rashes.

A woman's history of allergy affects the odds of her child developing it within six months of birth.

From age six to 12 months, the odds are further raised if the child attends a daycare centre and his mother also has a history of allergy.

If the condition sets in after the child turns one - in what is known as late-onset atopic dermatitis - it is linked to two other factors.

One, the child may have been given probiotics when he was between nine and 12 months.

Two, he could have been given antibiotics between his birth and sixth month.

These local research findings were published online in April last year in the International Archives Of Allergy And Immunology.

There search is part of an ongoing project called Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes, which was started in 2009 with about 1,200 expectant women.

It is a collaboration between the National University Health System, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and A*Star's Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences.

Atopic dermatitis has been highlighted as a likely first step in the "atopic march", which is the progression of allergic disorders from early childhood onwards.

Dr Lynn Chiam, a dermatologist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Medical Centre, said: "In the atopic march, young patients develop atopic eczema early on, followed by a typical sequence of allergic rhinitis and asthma.

"One allergy may subside as another starts, or the allergies may overlap so that they suffer from more than one at a time. Some may persist for years, whereas others may resolve with age."

The researchers note that, because of this march, the predisposing factors for atopic dermatitis must be identified.

Professor Lee Bee Wah, one of the study's authors, said atopic dermatitis is likely to be caused by a combination of an abnormal skin barrier - often manifested as dry skin - and a propensity for the skin to get inflamed.

Those with an earlier onset of atopic dermatitis seem to be at a higher risk of developing environmental allergies, she added.

Dr Chiam, who was not involved in the study, postulated that the higher odds of getting atopic dermatitis after attending a daycare centre may be linked to the child's exposure to viruses, pollution and an altered skin hygiene.

But Prof Lee, from the department of paediatrics at the National University of Singapore's Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, pointed out that the risk from probiotics may be confounded by the tendency of mothers to use it on their children who are already at risk of atopic dermatitis, hence giving the false impression that probiotics increases the risk of atopic dermatitis.

As for antibiotics, animal studies suggest that they alter the "good" bacteria in our body and reduce our defence against inflammatory conditions.

Antibiotics are prescribed to treat bacterial infections but viral infections are, by far, more common in children, she said.

She emphasised that the factors mentioned, including maternal history, probiotics and antibiotics, may not be direct causes of atopic dermatitis but may raise the risk of a child developing the condition.

Here are tips from Prof Lee and Dr Chiam on caring for children with atopic dermatitis:

MOISTURISE SKIN WELL

Choose a moisturiser that suits the child's skin. It should not make the skin red and should not sting .

Commercial moisturisers aim to replace the natural moisturisers that our skin produce. Choose one that contains products of filaggrin - a protein that helps to keep skin condition healthy - such as arginine, sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid and ceramides, to rebuild the child's natural skin barrier.

A good example is the Cetaphil Restoraderm moisturiser. An ideal body wash should also contain these filaggrin products.

DO NOT IRRITATE SKIN

Avoid excessive heat, use of harsh soaps and applications such as liniments and powders, which dry the skin. Instead, use bath oils or non- soap cleansers. After a shower, dab the skin dry instead of rubbing it .

For those whose skin condition is made worse with heat and sweat, it is important to stay in a cool environment. Avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and the use of thick woollen clothes which may further irritate the skin.

BEWARE OF INFECTED ECZEMA

Broken and oozing skin is often a sign of infected eczema. Keep fingernails short and remind children not to scratch, which will worsen the rash. Apply cold packs to reduce the itch. Atopic dermatitis is particularly prone to bacterial infection. When infection occurs, eczema often flares and it may need medical treatment.

KNOW AGGRAVATING FACTORS

Illnesses, fevers, stress, insufficient sleep and tiredness can aggravate eczema. Some of these cannot be avoided but, in these situations, skin care may have to be intensified.

Joan Chew

straitstimes

What parents should know about teen genital cosmetic surgery

Warning: The contents of this interview may not be suitable for young people.

There's a long list of things teen girls agonize over: Size. Skin. Style.

Now there's a new concern — one that has doctors worried: Genital plastic surgery.

According to a report in the New York Times, there is an uptick in the number of teen girls seeking the procedure. The number of girls 18 and younger who actually went through with the surgery jumped from about 200 to 400 in one year. A group of gynecologists has issued guidelines to help doctors process these requests.

But why is this a concern for teen girls, and what do parents need to know?

New York Times reporter Roni Rabin and Dr. Julie Strickland, chair of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' committee on adolescent health care, joined host Deepa Fernandes.

INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS

On what genital cosmetic surgery is:

Dr. Strickland: "The kinds of procedures that teens are seeking out are really to modify the appearance of the external genitalia primarily... For some time we have known that adult women often seek modification of their external genitalia. Often that is a result of the normal aging process, or disruptions of their appearance during child birth. This is a little bit different in that, what we're seeing is more concern about teenagers who are unhappy with the native appearance of their genitalia or are concerned about the variation in size and shape."

Why this is something teenage girls are concerned about:

Dr. Strickland: "We certainly all have seen an uptick in concerns of, and much heightened awareness of, what the genitalia look like as far as teens. You know, many teens come in without really an accurate perception of the large variation of normal. So we often get more of a request to evaluate and to educate on what kind of procedures can be done to modify the appearance. A lot of them really don't realize the extensive surgical nature of what they're asking for, but they just come in with a general unhappiness and a need for reassurance that their genitalia is normal. We don't really know why that has happened, but certainly there's a cultural change that has occurred in that girls are much more aware of sort of an idealized image."

Roni Rabin: "What the doctors were telling me is this is a generation that is seeing a lot of imagery. And I have to say this because we got beaten up in the readers comments about this: They're seeing pornography. Soft, hard, I don't know. There's all the Instagramming, and the texting, and the social media, and there's a lot more exposure to imagery. And these images, as Dr. Strickland suggested, are usually idealized. They've been airbrushed. They're pretty, and symmetrical, and whatever colored in a way that's not reflective of the wide, human variation that's perfectly in the range of normal, and I think we have to be aware of that. And it also comes in the context of women doing a lot more to their bodies on a regular basis than may have been the case for older generations. Whether it's just polishing your nails and toe nails on a regular basis, and your eyebrows and waxing, and just a lot more grooming overall, and a lot more attention."   

What parents can do before heading to a doctor's office:

Dr. Strickland: "I think just reassurance. There's certainly nothing wrong when a teen approaches their parents because they have concerns about their body or their body proportions. It's important for parents to have a good working knowledge — and they may also need that — about the normal growth and development, and the fact that puberty extends overtime and isn't a static episode in a young woman's life, and that actually growth and development occurs over many years."

by Deepa Fernandes and Francine Rios

scpr.org

The top four cosmetic surgeries men are having

You may be surprised to learn that increasing numbers of men are opting for cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks

You’re probably thinking that you’d never consider going under the knife, but just because you’re not doing it, doesn’t mean other guys feel the same.

The American Society for Aesthetics Plastic Surgery recently released its annual report, entitled Cosmetic Surgery National Data Banks Statistics, and they list the top invasive cosmetic procedures opted for by men in the past year.

Here are the four most popular:

1. Male breast reduction

Some men have a condition known as gynaecomastia, which is the abnormal growth of glandular breast tissue resulting in ‘man boobs’.

This can be a result of obesity, but is not only present in obese men. It can also be caused by a hormone imbalance.

There are no health hazards associated with  gynaecomastia, but it can have a big impact on a man’s self-image and breast reduction surgery is an effective way to treat the condition.

2. Nose surgery

Nose surgery, medically referred to as rhinoplasty, or more colloquially, a ‘nose job’, was the second-most popular cosmetic treatment among men. Rhinoplasty is a procedure for correcting and reconstructing the form of the nose.

There are numerous reasons why men would go for a nose job, and they’re not always about vanity. This is a common way of treating breathing problems caused by a deviated septum.

However, most of the time this type of surgery is purely for aesthetic purposes: perhaps one wants to get rid of the ‘family nose’, or wants a better profile, the list goes on and on.

3. Eyelid surgery

Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for men. Eyelid surgery is usually done to reverse the signs of ageing.

4. Liposuction

Contrary to popular belief, liposuction, or fat removal surgery, is not done only to remove fat around the abdomen.

Liposuction is used to remove areas of fat around the entire body, and to reshape specific areas. Its popularity is not surprising given the pressure on men to maintain an athletic and sexy body.

destinyman

USA - American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Opposes Legislation that Restricts Patient Choice

The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery stands against discriminatory legislation

CHICAGO, April 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landscape of special interest legislation, a problematic trend is appearing in the world of medicine. A series of state-level legislative efforts are attempting to limit the ability of qualified physicians to advertise their services and credentials—under the pretense of truthful advertising and patient safety.

Recent proposals have been introduced that manipulate healthcare transparency campaigns and discriminate against physicians who received fellowship training and certification from boards that are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and American Osteopathic Association (AOA) recognition—two private organizations without government oversight that do not represent the full and growing diversity of medical specialties.

Why it Matters: Patients Have a Right to Accurate Information

These bills aim to stop qualified physicians from accurately advertising their credentials and experience, simply because they are not recognized by certain private organizations with no governmental authority—and the results could be disastrous for patient safety.

"The American Board of Medical Specialties is presented as the sole healthcare authority, but it is not," explains American Board of Cosmetic Surgery president, Dr. Jacob Haiavy. "Truth in advertising is being dictated by their stamp of approval, but this isn't a valid basis for legislation."

Unfortunately, there are physicians who perform cosmetic surgery without pursuing the proper education, training, and experience. The U.S. has no cosmetic surgery residency programs and there are no ABMS-recognized boards that certify physicians in the subspecialty of cosmetic surgery. That is why the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is so important: it is the only board that exclusively tests and certifies physicians solely in the subspecialty of cosmetic surgery.

Diplomates of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery come from a variety of surgical backgrounds, have prior board certification, and underwent extensive fellowship training and examination solely in cosmetic surgery. Although many surgical residencies incorporate some aspect of cosmetic surgery in their training, ABCS diplomates must complete a post-residency fellowship that is more comprehensive and focused solely in cosmetic surgery. Yet, under the proposed bills, these highly trained cosmetic surgeons would be forbidden from advertising their added board certification in certain states.

Consistent with national healthcare organizations' credentialing standards, patients should consider a physician's education, training, experience, and proven competence with respect to their healthcare needs. Preventing patient access to this information by anticompetitive or other improper means directly jeopardizes their safety. It hinders their ability to make an informed decision and confuses patients about which physicians have obtained adequate education, training, and experience.

"It is extremely unfortunate that these organizations are working on behalf of private interest groups rather than simply ensuring the public has access to safe health care," states Dr. Haiavy. "Recent legislation is particularly troublesome because the general public does not necessarily know that the ABMS is not federally mandated to uphold safety and ethics in healthcare."

These Restrictions are Unlawful

There are multiple medical and surgical specialties that are legitimate and essential but not recognized by the ABMS, such as American Board of Pediatric Neurosurgery or American Board of Spine Surgery—a fact that is supported by the American Medical Association, whose policy on "Board Certification and Discrimination" opposes discrimination against a physician based solely on lack of ABMS or AOA certification.

These proposed bills also directly violate independent specialty boards' rights to commercial free speech under the First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights to due process and equal protection.

"It is concerning to see legislation that both violates American Medical Association policy and protects the interests of only a small portion of the medical community rather than patients," Dr. Haiavy states. "The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and many other non-ABMS boards are dedicated to protecting the safety of the public."

Dr. Jacob Haiavy

prnewswire

FIND PROCEDURE PRICE RANGES FOR YOUR AREA (USA only)

More Teenage Girls Seeking Genital Cosmetic Surgery

Fat thighs. Hairy arms. Muffin tops. Breasts that are too big or not big enough. To the long list of body parts that adolescent girls worry about and want to tinker with, the Internet age has added a new one: the vulva.

So many teenagers are seeking cosmetic surgery to trim or shape the external genitalia that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued guidance from its Committee on Adolescent Health Care to doctors last week, urging them to teach and to reassure patients, suggest alternatives to surgery that may alleviate discomfort, and screen them for a psychiatric disorder that causes obsession about perceived physical defects.

As for why there has been an increase in demand for the surgery among teenagers, physicians are “sort of baffled,” said Dr. Julie Strickland, the chairwoman of A.C.O.G.’s committee on adolescent health care.

For adults, the procedure is marketed as “vaginal rejuvenation,” tightening the inner and outer muscles of the vagina, as well as often shaping the labia; it is geared to older women and women who have given birth. But gynecologists who care for teenage girls say they receive requests every week from patients who want surgery to trim their labia minora, mostly for cosmetic reasons, but occasionally for functional reasons, such as to relieve discomfort.

The guideline does not rule out surgery on the labia, or labiaplasty for teens, but says it is rarely appropriate. “It should not be entertained until growth and development is complete,” Dr. Strickland said.

“The big thing I tell patients about labiaplasty is that there are a lot of unknowns,” she said. “The labia have a lot of nerve endings in them, so there could be diminishment of sexual sensation after surgery, or numbness, or pain, or scarring.”

A 2007 A.C.O.G. committee opinion on cosmetic vaginal procedures for adults, which was reaffirmed in 2014, said the procedures were not medically indicated, had not been proved safe or effective, and could cause serious complications.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery says that 400 girls 18 and younger had labiaplasty last year, an 80 percent increase from the 222 girls who had cosmetic genital surgery in 2014. While the overall numbers remain small, the data probably understates the trend because it does not include procedures performed by gynecologists. A 2013 British report found the number of labial reductions on girls and women done by the National Health Service had increased fivefold over 10 years.

Girls 18 and younger account for less than 2 percent of all cosmetic operations, but almost 5 percent of all labiaplasties. (The most popular cosmetic procedures for teenagers are ear surgery, with 11,288 procedures last year; nose surgery with 10,308; and breast reductions with 3,698.)

What’s driving the trend for labia surgery? Well, for one, doctors say, many young girls shave or wax their pubic hair, exposing the genital area. According to a 2012 study, more than 70 percent of girls and young women ages 12 to 20 said they routinely shaved or waxed the pubic area.

These girls have come of age at a time when they can go online and look up images of the vulva, doctors say. But the images are often air-brushed and do not portray the range of normal variation in shape, color, size and asymmetry, experts say.

“I think the most important thing to understand is that there’s huge variety in anatomy,” said Dr. Veronica Gomez-Lobo, the director of Pediatric and Adolescent Ob/Gyn at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and the president of the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. She often recommends young women look at unretouched photographs of vulvas, like those in the book “Petals” by Nick Karras.

The new committee opinion says doctors should screen patients for body dysmorphic disorder, a psychiatric disorder that can be debilitating and involves being obsessed or preoccupied with a physical defect that is being imagined or exaggerated. Dr. Katharine Phillips, the director of the Body Dysmorphic Disorder program at Rhode Island Hospital/Brown University, said cosmetic treatment does not help the condition, and “sometimes, patients get a lot worse.”

But Dr. Jennifer Walden of Austin, Tex., who has done labia surgery on teenagers, dismissed the idea that girls who wanted the surgery had a psychiatric disorder. “If they’re coming to a cosmetic surgeon, they do not like the cosmetic appearance of it,” said Dr. Walden, who added that she performed the procedure only on patients that she deemed emotionally stable and had their parents’ consent. “But that often goes hand in hand with a functional element in teenagers as well.”

Doctors agree that not all of the concerns about large or misshapen labia are strictly cosmetic. Adolescent girls who are involved in certain sports may experience discomfort, such as chafing or itching in the labia, Dr. Strickland said.

For some girls, surgery may be appropriate, Dr. Gomez-Lobo said, like the teenager who stayed home when she had her period because her labia became so painful and swollen that she was incapacitated, and another girl who quit basketball because of painful, irritated labia. “That’s not an aesthetic issue,” Dr. Gomez-Lobo said.

By Roni Caryn Rabin

 well.blogs.nytimes.

Lots of Americans are strolling around supermarkets, their carts full of non-organic food galore.

That same group likely considers junk food restaurants their 2nd house, acquainted with the menu’s latest triple-burger productions. Nonetheless, these actions are becoming a distant memory now that many individuals have started taking their health very seriously.

They have actually been learning a large amount regarding the ridiculous amounts as well as types of body and also brain-destroying chemicals they have actually been eating all along. One crucial impact has actually been Vani Hari, aka “The Food Babe,” who sought Train to quit adding Azodicarbonamide– the same chemical that’s in yoga floor coverings– to Train’s breads. With health and wellness coming to be a bigger worry compared to before, people are demanding choices that consist of fresh, entire as well as health foods.

Picking up on the raising needs of health-conscious individuals are convenience food dining establishments, who are working to maintain dangerous chemicals and also non-organic foods from their facilities so that consumers stay in them.

From frozen food to a drive-through offering natural french fries

For instance, Amy’s Cooking area, a preferred frozen food brand, has revealed that by the end of June, it will open its very first Amy’s Drive Via restaurant. Their goal is to proceed giving customers with delicious foods with even more of an emphasis on organic and clean dishes. The drive-through, which is readied to open in Rohnert Park, The golden state, will certainly include things such as french fries made from fresh, natural potatoes as well as trembles, chili as well as burritos. Founder and co-CEO Andy Berliner states, “… we made a decision to do even more of a typical drive-through restaurant, but with natural, vegetarian, pesticide-free, and GMO-free food” in response to consumers’ requests to look into the dining establishment business.

They follow a lengthy checklist of food titans and also restaurateurs that have likewise heard customer demands for healthier alternatives.

From Chipotle to Panera, the healthy activity proceeds

Chipotle, as several understand, is currently One Hundred Percent non-GMO. Their website strongly states their great riddance, health-minded position with duplicate stating, “G-M-Over It” and also “When it pertains to our food, genetically modified ingredients do not make it.”.

Baseding on their website:

Chipotle is on a nonstop quest to resource the highest quality active ingredients we can find. Throughout the years, as we have actually found out more regarding GMOs, we have actually made a decision that utilizing them in our food doesn’t align with that vision. Chipotle was the initial nationwide dining establishment business to divulge the GMO components in our food, and now we are the very first to cook only with non-GMO components.

The motion to serving healthier foods is unquestionably spreading.

Panera also established a “No-No listing,” in which people can see the whole review of foods the chain thinkings of boosting. For example, the hydrogenated soy protein, propylene glycol alginate and maltodextrin as soon as located in their Greek salad dressing are gone. The concept puts on some 150 synthetic chemicals, sugars, colors and tastes that Panera wishes to eliminate from their products by the end of 2016. Panera CEO Ron Shaich states, “I intend to offer everybody the food I desire my little girl to consume. And also if I feel uneasy concerning offering her a few of this things, I do not desire any person else to consume it.”.

When it comes to McDonald’s, they prepare to integrate kale in their menu some time in 2016. Nevertheless, this notion has drawn some objection, with many individuals keeping in mind that merely prior to that news, the junk food titan ran ads that insulted health-conscious individuals and satirized kale in particular. Many people preserve that their action is solely to attend to declining sales, while others claim that tossing a bit of kale on fatty, fried foods isn’t enough.

Saying no to junk foods as well as trans fats.

Also the grandson of the dead Dorito’s developer is taking a much healthier path, noting a separation from convenience food. Tim West, that trained at the prominent Culinary Institute of The U.S.A. and also New York’s St. Regis Hotel, opened a pop-up dining establishment in California called Cool Beans. He offers mainly vegetable as well as bean-based dishes. After growing up on hotdogs, smoked cheese as well as possibly Doritos, West says that he did a complete turn-around as well as is committed to offering people with foods that are good for them and for the planet.

It’s about time such firms as well as dining establishments obtain involved in the organic, non-GMO, tidy food motion. Fast food wreak havoc on the body; a recent study noted that trans fats– which are located in junk foods– also have the capacity to jeopardize memory recall.

Eating healthier is merely the way to visit accomplish optimum physical and also mental healt

exposenewspaper

Americans like large butts: The numbers could not lie.

In 2014, plastic surgeons across the nation performed virtually 10,000 butt enhancements, up from the about 8,500 done in 2012, baseding on new stats from the American Culture of Plastic Surgeons.

Let’s place this into context: The numbers for the Brazilian butt lift, as it’s nicknamed, still typically aren’t anywhere near the popularity of the most common plastic surgery procedures; almost 30 times as several breast enhancement were performed in that very same amount of time, for simply one instance. However the brand-new statistics do show a 16 percent rise in butt augmentations from 2012, maybe an adverse effects of a country’s recurring quest to keep up with Kim Kardashian.

“It’s just amazing, the numbers,” stated Dr. Douglas Taranow, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon in New York City’s Upper East Side. “It’s with J. Lo, as well as Beyonce, and everybody else having a terrific posterior. … I assume people see that and also they intend to mirror image it.”

Taranow claims he started obtaining requests for Brazilian butt lifts concerning three and a half years ago; now, it’s the second most prominent treatment he does. It’s still not quite as prominent among his patients as lipo, but it exceeded breast augmentations in 2014. He claims he’s recently been doing as several as four or five Brazilian butt lifts in a week, as well as while it’s mainly ladies, he’s had two male clients in the past six months.

“Cosmetic surgery used to be a decrease specialized; so, when we did nose jobs, we minimized the nose. But now, as we are more conscious ethnic background and also various physique, we sometimes increase the nose. Well, exact same point with the butts,” said Dr. Robert X. Murphy, Jr., president of ASPS and a plastic surgeon in Bethlehem, Pa.

Cosmetic surgery as a sector continuouslies expand, baseding on the report: 15.1 million treatments were done last year, which is up 3 percent considering that 2012. Those numbers took a slight dip in 2009, but have actually been inching up every year given that. As well as the most intriguing findings in this year’s report are all about the booty: 30 percent of plastic surgeons ASPS surveyed in 2013 claimed they were doing butt augmentations, compared to 19 percent in 2012. This is the initial year the plastic surgery association has actually consisted of the treatment in its yearly statistics.

The particular procedure is “butt augmentation with fat grafting,” which indicates surgeons liposuction surgery fat from someplace the patient’s got a lot of it– usually the belly, thighs or hips– and also inject it into the tush. This type of procedure is being used a lot more in various sort of cosmetic surgery, consisting of breast enhancement and also some cosmetic surgeries.

“Fat is among the fantastic sources we have in this nation,” Murphy claimed. “As a cells, it’s been underappreciated.” However he claims doctors prefer it because the fat tissue is flexible, giving the physician more control compared to they have when working with synthetic products, and also individuals like the “twofer” advantage of shedding fat in an area they really did not desire it. But clients additionally incline fat implanting for plastic surgery since the suggestion appears so much more all-natural. It’s still you, after all. Simply … reorganized.

“It’s like, you’re taking it from one area, as well as you’re placing it where you require it,” stated Marissa, an individual of Dr. Taranow’s. She’s a 39-year-old mommy of three that resides in the Bronx and just had a Brazilian butt lift done 2 weeks earlier. (She really did not want to give her surname.) “And also it’s your personal fat; it’s not like you’re obtaining some foreign topic in your body. You hear all these scary stories concerning individuals obtaining these butt injections that are like, points from Home Depot.”

She’s speaking about the dreadful situation of the fake physician jailed in 2011 for infusing a female’s butts with a combination of concrete, Fix-A-Flat, mineral oil and also superglue. Yet there was additionally the 28-year-old mommy of 2 that passed away last summer after getting a round of shots implied to enhance her posterior, or the British traveler that died in 2011 after obtaining silicone injections into her butts in Philly. The treatment’s boosting popularity means that there are a lot of quacks around wanting to make a quick dollar, therefore it’s especially crucial that individuals make certain that they’re in the hands of a board-certified specialist, Murphy says.The internet site for the cosmetic surgery association has a “find a surgeon” tool individuals could utilize as one method to make certain that their specialist is correctly educated.

Murphy says he’s seen many dreadful, in some cases irreparable, difficulties happen to people that’ve visited non-professionals. It could be aesthetic, yet, he advises, “Plastic surgery is still real surgical treatment.”.

exposenewspaper

Give yourself a facelift - from the fridge! From mayonnaise to tighten skin to pepper that plumps your lips, a world-leading cosmetic surgeon reveals all.

Dr Anthony Youn says he can stop you looking like you're ageing. He's spent 16 years researching solutions to ageing gracefully. Some of his solutions can be easily found in your very own kitchen

Ageing is natural but many of us wish it didn't have to happen quite so soon. As one of the world's leading cosmetic surgeons, I'm often asked if I can stop ageing and the answer is I can't - but I can stop you looking as if you're ageing.

Ageing happens more rapidly and dramatically in some people than in others but there are remedies that don't involve surgery. You may be surprised to hear this from me, but most of them shouldn't involve surgery. You can look younger, with smoother and brighter skin, and you can feel better without going under the knife.

I've spent 16 years researching the secrets of other plastic surgeons, dermatologists, make-up artists and dietitians, so I can offer my patients anti-ageing solutions that really work.

I'm convinced that ageing gracefully is about eating healthily, living the right lifestyle (avoiding the sun, cigarettes and alcohol, and managing your stress to relax worry lines) and taking great care of your skin.

The science of home-made beauty remedies has come a long way since teen magazines urged you to spread mashed banana over your face (although it has to be said, bananas are a great source of antioxidants).

I've discovered mature skin really can benefit from the natural healing power of fruit and vegetables - and a few other kitchen ingredients.

The ageing process typically starts manifesting itself in the form of wrinkles, fine lines and age spots. One simple, effective remedy is exfoliation. As your skin cells move towards the surface and die, they should fall off but if they are allowed to build up, fine lines can become more noticeable.

Exfoliation can make skin look smoother and reduce the appearance of fine lines as you reveal the younger cells beneath.

A doctor may be able to prescribe skin treatments that contain powerful anti-ageing ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and retinoids, both of which can have a dramatic rejuvenating effect on ageing skin.

AHAs are fruit acids (including citric acid from citrus fruits), glycolic acids (from sugar cane) and lactic acids (from milk products) found in common foods. Retinoids and retinols are concentrated forms of natural antioxidants (vitamins), which work by neutralising the free radicals (damaged oxygen molecules) that cause visible ageing by breaking down collagen to leave skin looser and more wrinkled.

However, there are AHAs and antioxidants in many common and inexpensive foods, so there's nothing to stop you opening the fridge and experimenting.

I have researched and tested dozens of home-made products. Here's my selection of the best.

THE NATURAL REMEDIES THAT REALLY WORK

Citrus lift

Whisk three tablespoons of orange juice and two tablespoons of lemon juice with 200 ml of plain, unsweetened yoghurt and apply to your face.

Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes, or until dry. Rinse off with warm water. Fruit acids from the orange juice and lemon juice and lactic acid from the yoghurt help to exfoliate the skin, removing the upper layer of dead skin.

Apple 'chemical peel'

Harness the skin-tightening effect of egg white and the gentle exfoliating effect of apple juice with this quick mask.

Combine three tablespoons of apple juice, two tablespoons of milk and one egg white and smoothe over your face. Leave for 15 minutes before rinsing off.

The malic acid in the apple juice and lactic acid in the milk act as exfoliants, while the albumin in the egg white has a shrink-wrap effect, tightening the skin, shrinking open pores and leaving your complexion smoother.

Bicarb exfoliator

Mix one tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda with half a teaspoon of honey and 125 ml/ 4 fl oz of milk and gently warm the mixture in the microwave.

Wet your face with warm water, dip a cloth in the milk solution and apply to the skin. Bicarb is a natural exfoliator and can have a subtle lightening effect, and your skin will feel fresh and clean.

Crow's feet banisher

Boil one sweet potato for 30 minutes (or microwave for ten minutes), cool, remove the skin and mash with four or five tablespoons of full-fat plain yoghurt. Apply to the wrinkles on the corners of eyes, leave for 15 minutes, wash off with warm water.

Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant that is similar to the main ingredient in the classic skin remedies RetinA and retinol. The lactic acid in the yoghurt acts as a gentle exfoliator. This remedy can reduce wrinkles both immediately and over time.

Pineapple perk-up

Puree 100 g pineapple (preferably fresh) with 50 ml water, then mix with three tablespoons of polenta grains to make an antioxidant-rich facial scrub. This can be used in the morning to help protect your skin all day.

The exfoliation will slough off dead surface skin cells, helping the vitamin C in the pineapple to penetrate and make your skin feel smooth and rejuvenated.

Coffee skin tightener

Mix three tablespoons of coffee grounds with two tablespoons of olive oil to create a thick paste.

Scrub gently into your skin for one or two minutes, allow to sit for five minutes, then wash off.

Caffeine tightens the skin while exfoliating, and olive oil is moisturising and full of antioxidants. Your skin will feel smooth and tightened for several hours.

Green tea eyelid lift

Steep one green teabag in a cup of hot water, then allow to cool in the refrigerator during the day. Cut a raw white potato into thin slices, drop the slices into the tea and return to the fridge to allow the tea to soak into the potato.

In the evening, place one potato slice on each eyelid and relax for ten minutes. The starch in the potatoes acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, soothing the irritation from a long day of pollutants, toxins and stress.

It is also a mild skin lightener, so it can help to reduce dark circles under the eyes caused by excess pigmentation.

Green tea contains caffeine, which acts as a vasoconstrictor, immediately reducing swelling and tightening the skin under the eyes to reduce puffiness. It is also full of antioxidants.

Keep the remaining potato slices soaking in the tea in the fridge for up to three days, and use morning and night as required.

Magic mayo eye cream

The albumin in egg white is a potent (if temporary) skin tightener and this, combined with the moisture-rich oil, makes mayonnaise an effective eye cream. For best effect use home-made mayonnaise or similar.

Dab a small amount on the crow's feet area with cotton wool, leave for 30 minutes, then wash with warm water and moisturise.

Pepper lip plumper

Lips naturally lose volume over time but plumping them up can be highly rejuvenating. Try this pepper lip plumper remedy.

In a small bowl, combine a teaspoon of Vaseline with a drop of peppermint extract and a pinch of cayenne pepper, then apply a very thin film over the lips.

The pepper will burn slightly, drawing blood to your lips, so increasing their volume.

Sea salt hand smoother

To protect your hands against the ravages of ageing you need to be diligent about applying hand cream.

Mix three heaped tablespoons of oats with 50 ml water in a blender, then add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda and two tablespoons of sea salt and stir together. Rub the resulting mixture onto your hands for several minutes to exfoliate them.

Rinse with warm water before applying thick, rich hand cream and pulling on a pair of cotton gloves (£2.59 from Boots) so your hands stay soft all night.

Sticky tape facial

The most common cosmetic complaint that brings women to my office is those little vertical frown lines between your eyebrows (the '11' sign).

Some of those women ask about facial exercise regimens but I'm afraid I believe these can be counter-productive. Working hard to build strong facial muscles might help you hold a big smile for a photograph but they can't combat sagging.

Facial ageing isn't caused by poor muscle tone, rather it's a loss of collagen and elastin in the skin. In fact, repetitive facial muscle movements from exercise might even cause more wrinkles because the more you crease your skin, the more likely it is that a crease is going to settle in and make a permanent home on your face.

The most obvious 'cure' is Botox, but if fears of 'frozen forehead' or 'evil eyebrow' are steering you away (for now, or until a Botox cream becomes readily available), you might be able to train your muscles to stop contracting by sticking tape over your forehead during the evening and while you sleep.

The idea here is that the tightness of the tape acts as a reminder every time you unconsciously frown, and could even train your muscles at night to contract less during the day.

Any tape will do. You can also buy specially formulated 'frown patches' to wear at night called Frownies (frownies.co.uk).

And do whatever it takes to ensure that you sleep on your back rather than on your front or side. Sleeping on your face really can cause wrinkles - and it's only proper beauty sleep when gravity is working with you rather than against you.

If your face-sleeping habits are deeply ingrained, try putting a pillow under your knees. This takes pressure off your lower back and might just make you comfortable enough to lock you in position.

If you must sleep on your side, invest in a 100 per cent silk pillowcase (from £15), which won't crease your skin as much as cotton and will cause the least possible long-term damage.

dailymail