Laser hair removal is the most effective hair removal technique among experts within this field, since it destroys the hair follicle making it very difficult for it to grow back. Women and men are increasingly using this technique to avoid having to keep waxing, shaving or using any other method to get rid of unwanted hair. Laser hair removal has many advantages:

• It is a fast, easy, simple, painless and durable way to remove hair.

• It can be performed anywhere on the body for both men and women. It can be applied on legs and thighs, arms and underarms, the pubic area, shoulders and back, upper lip, midline of the abdomen therefore; there is not a single area of the body where it cannot be applied.

• Its implementation is fully customised for each individual in order to adapt to the characteristics of each patient's hair.

• In almost all cases, the hair does not grow back, and experts say it is very unlikely to reappear again, although it is possible for a very few cases.

• The cost of the treatment is high in comparison to other hair removal treatments, but it is certainly worth it with all the savings involved, since you will not need to use any other type of hair removal technique or any other products before or after it.

• Performed only by specialists, its application and results are always checked by an expert.

Laser hair removal has only two disadvantages:

• The price is very high and although the compensation is long-term, 3 to 5 sessions should be performed so that the effects are permanent. The number of sessions varies depending on the coarseness of the hair.

• Pregnant women or those with very tanned skin cannot undergo this type of treatment.

There are many people that put that opt for Botox, as it’s a non surgical treatment that creates beauty of the youth. However, after twenty years of monopoly, the rival of Botox has finally emerged: PurTox.

Both Botox and PurTox have been researched and developed at the University of Wisconsin. The two treatments have the same base component: botulinim toxic A, however PurTox contains a higher purity (hence the name of Pure-Botox), as well as a higher concentration of human serum albumin. These improvements mean that PurTox is deemed more effective than Botox. The main improvements compared to Botox are:

• It reduces the risk of producing antibodies
• It is administered similarly with several mini-punctures within one session which then paralyse the muscle that cause frown lines. Also it is not necessary to repeat the session until 6 months later, therefore it requires fewer injections than Botox.
• The difference in the composition is that it allows you to treat those larger areas (neck, chest, gums and nose sagging) ensuring more natural results, it is also much more rapid and visible than Botox.
• The price of PurTox is also similar to any other Botox treatment

This new treatment has been supported by over 3,000 clinical trials that ensure reliability; there have been no reported incidents and the desired results have been completely satisfactory. But in order to have this treatment, it is required that the FDC (Food and Drug Admission) approve it first.

As with any treatment there is always a matter of a waiting time for it to hit the market, and when it does the “youth-hunters” will then determine whether PurTox is better than Botox. But it is without a doubt that using the purest formula and less intervention will ensure better results, this will most definitely arouse the interest of those who use these types of cosmetic treatments. 

In April 2010, the Hospital Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona conducted the first full face transplant in the world. Previously, there had been several partial operations in various transplant centres worldwide with the first one being in France.

The patient who underwent surgery had lost his face five years ago in an accident and needed to be attached to machines to survive, since that was the only way he was able breathe and eat. He had been in and out of operating rooms nine times until the stage of transplantation.

The operation was attended by thirty professionals and lasted 24 hours, as it is a very delicate procedure. The steps were as follows: first the donor's face was removed, then the bones of the jaw, nose and cheekbone and part of the eye cavity and soft tissues of the face were removed. Meanwhile, the receiver’s face was being prepared by removing the deformed parts and preparing his immune system.

This process also requires the removal of parts of the face for the transplant itself, and the reconnection of veins, bones, muscles and blood vessels that will give mobility to the face, which makes this whole procedure an extremely complicated intervention.

The operation was led by Joan Pere Barret, a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery and director of the burn and reconstructive surgery unit of the University Hospital Vall d'Hebron.

The result of the intervention was considered satisfactory by both physicians and the patient who, after looking in the mirror a few days after surgery, was glad and recognised that his appearance was similar to the one he had before the accident.

Now the patient is in rehabilitation and it is expected that in time he’ll be able to breathe and eat normally and that in the long run, he will recover functions such as speech and will also possibly be able to smile.

The cosmetic procedure of Lip Augmentation is usually associated with the use of silicon, however today the Health Department has prohibited the use of silicon for all lip augmentation treatments, although silicon is still widely used for other types of cosmetic implants. The procedure is not performed like a common operation since the cosmetic medicine is injected into the lips. The substance used may vary depending on the desired effect the patient wants to achieve, as well as the economic resources available.

Those who usually require a lip augmentation are generally women who are around 40 years or older, whose aim is to rejuvenate the appearance of their lips by removing the wrinkles around them. The price of this cosmetic procedure usually ranges between 250 to 3,000 pounds.

Lip augmentation treatments are performed by plastic surgeons that have the relevant certification and permits to carry out such interventions. The substance used to fill the lips, can be depend on the overall desired result of the individual:

•    Permanent results: substances are used where the effects of the treatment will last over a long time, so if choosing substances of this kind, the patient needs to be completely sure that the final result is what he/she really wants, since the implant becomes part of the body and does not disappear. The most commonly used types of these substances are: Aquamid, Dermative and Bio-Almamid Lips.

•    Temporary results: These types of substances are then used for patients who want a lip augmentation that will only lasts for a certain period of time. These substances are highly recommended for those patients who want their lips enhanced but are not completely certain about it, which allows them to check whether the temporary results were what they had in mind. These substance types are known as hyaluronic acid or collagen; these can all be gradually absorbed by the body, and are often used.

A further substance commonly used for lip augmentation procedures is the patient's own body fat, which is removed by liposuction and after being processed is injected into the lip.

All cosmetic surgery requires exhaustive monitoring, regardless of the area of the body being treated. This minimises the occurrence of any complications and allows the patient to recover in the shortest time possible. The postoperative is generally easier if the patient follows the recommendations of the protocol of where the operation was performed.

After the operation, the patient will be taken to a medical ward to recuperate and come around from the anesthetic, and then transferred to another unit for the recovery period. Temperature and blood pressure will be taken regularly to check the progress of recovery.

Once the patient has regained their strength they are recommended to walk to prevent any blood clotting. Sometimes tubes are placed into the surgical wounds to drain any fluid and are then removed one or two days later.

It is normal for the treated area to be bruised or swollen and this usually reduces by itself within a few days, however it’s advisable to warn the patient before they see the area and so they don’t become shocked or stressed by it, because as mentioned above it is only temporary. For those areas where surgical stitches are necessary, it is recommended to wait for them to fall out alone or if needed to go back to the centre later to have the stitches removed.

After being discharged from hospital following minor surgery the nursing period that follows usually lasts between 5 and 7 days, a breast augmentation can last about 15 days. In the recovery phase it is contra to practice any sport and any other activities should be carried out without too much effort. For surgical operations performed for breast enlargement, reduction or obesity, we recommend you to wear only comfortable clothes.

After the weeks of convalescence the patient should return to the cosmetic centre to have a comprehensive check-up to certify there is satisfactory progress of the treated area. This review should be completed after a few months to assess a complete recovery. Although cosmetic operations are not usually related to major complications, patients still need to be aware of any discomfort such as pain, infection or bleeding.

To obtain the best results from cosmetic surgery one of the most important factors is the development of a good postoperative, this is why staff should adequately advise the patient on a proper diet and hygiene, plus specific exercises for the tweaks made indelible. It is important that the patient pays attention to the recommendations, in order for them to take them into account to avoid complications.

Staff must be willing to advise patients during the postoperative period and make them aware of adjusting their lifestyle such as food habits, for example, the amount of nutritious food after liposuction, as the key is to maintain results.