Everyone wants to look beautiful and attractive. It is in human nature to experience and explore new things, which sometimes involves great risks. The motivation to take risks comes mostly from dissatisfaction with what you have or lack of awareness. However. sometimes such adventure can cost us dearly.

Mostly, readers just read the advertisements of different treatments, especially those related to skin, and go to the doctor and there the problem begin.

The first thing you should ask the the surgeon is whether he or she is certified by PAPS (Pakistan Association Of Plastic Surgery). Before consulting a skin specialist, just check his or her qualification and experience. If you are satisfied, only then you should opt for a treatment from  him. You should also check in which field the surgeon got his special training because a doctor first becomes a surgeon, then a plastic surgeon and finally a cosmetic surgeon. Cosmetic surgery requires the most time consuming training, but most doctors who get a diploma in plastic surgery call themselves surgeons.

There are few things which a client should ask a consultant:

• Does the surgeon have proper equipment and hospital privileges to perform the treatment?
• What can be the risks and possible complications involved in a particular surgery?
• How long would it take to recover?
• What will be the option if you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your surgery?

Plastic surgery comprises two main categories

Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery’s primary goal is improving one’s appearance. Several untrained people had begun the business to capitalize on its popularity and were bringing a bad name to qualified doctors. Several beauticians were also practicing cosmetic surgery and offering laser treatment although they are not qualified. Cosmetic surgery is a delicate combination of treatments and a team of relevant doctors, including plastic surgeons and dermatologists, are required to carry out safe cosmetic surgery with desired results.

This surgery covers fat removal, tummy tuck, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, breast reshaping, augmentation and reduction, scar revision, Botox and collagel implant, mole removal, hair transplant and face lift.

Reconstructive Surgery

It is performed to improve personal health, body function or alleviate disease and is often considered medically necessary to correct the faults of trauma, serious effects of surgery and diseases. This surgery covers micro vascular surgery, ear reconstruction and nose reconstruction.

In Pakistan, according to research about 50% people who approach a plastic surgeon for treatment have suffered burn injuries, 15% have congenial deformities, 10% skin cancer, 10% hand injuries and only 3 to 5% come for cosmetic surgery.

It is surprising that in Pakistan the ratio of men and women who opt for cosmetic surgery is almost equal, whereas in the West the ratio of men who go for such treatment is very low as compared to women.

Operating Cost

The operating cost od cosmetic surgery is very high, therefore only very rich people and celebrities go for cosmetic surgery. Celebrities are more interested in this because they have to look gorgeous on screen all the time. On average, cosmetic surgeons treat about 60 to 70 patients a week.

Men usually visit skin specialist for hair loss,nail fungus and acne, while women want to get rid of wrinkles, scars, birthmarks and skin tightening. Mostly the charges of treatment vary according to the typr of treatment a client need.

Side Effects

Almost every treatment has some temporary side effects, such as swelling, bruising or visible incision marks. It may take days, weeks or even months before these signs disappear and you can fully appreciate the results of your surgery. But there is no need to sit at home and wait. There are variety of makeup products and techniques that can be used by both men and women to camouflage the temporary side effects of surgery and help you face the world with confidence and ease. There are risks involved in everything, but with awareness and carful choice we can minimize the risks. So, one cannot deny that plastic or cosmetic surgery involves risk, but it has benefits as we..

Some Facts About Cosmetic Surgery is a post from: Neel's Corner

                                                                          By Dr. Behrouz Hashim

It is a known fact that in Pakistan one can go to almost any pharmacy and ask for any medicine and they will sell it without a doctor’s prescription. 34 pharmacies I visited did not have any record of patients who buy Valium, Lexotanil, Cortisone, Oestrogen, Testastrone, Novalgine, Chloroquine, Ativan, Serenace halcion etc. not a single pharmacy visited, nor most others, keep records of prescriptions. Many people also abuse prescriptions:

• A 9 year old girl was brought into me because she could not wake up in time to go to school and miss the school bus about twice a week. This girl was self-medicating herself with three to four teaspoons of cough syrup, 10mg Valium and an Ativan every night to prevent headaches the next morning.
• A 13 year old boy used to drink more than two bottles of cough mixture daily, bought from his pocket money , to hear stereo music much better, when he was high.

Commonly used drugs for self medication include: pain killers, sedatives, sleeping pills, anti depressants, anti- inflammations, antibiotics, skin bleach creams, eye drops, diet tablets, sex stimulants, hormone tablets and heartburn tablets. Very few people including many doctors and nurses are aware of drug interactions. For example: Clozapine is an antipsychotic drug. It is from the benzodiazepine family of tranquilizers. If Clozapine is used with Lithium or Valium, or even Heparin, Digoxin or alcohol, it can trigger Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome which is characterized by high fever, convulsions, irregular heart beat, B.P, fainting, coma and even death.

Ciprofloxacin, a common new antibiotic should not be taken with milk or other dairy products for at least two hours. The same is true of other tetracycline but no nurse, doctor or pharmacist tell patients this simple fact due to sheer carelessness.

Vitamin maniacs are also getting more and more common. There are many types and combinations of vitamins, with and without minerals as well as other trace elements so it is best to be sensible and not jump from one to another. There is also a craze to get vitamin B Complex and calcium injections. It is important to measure the level of vitamin B and calcium existing in blood. AIDS and Hepatitis is fairly common and few really need vitamin injections form, so why run the risk of unnecessary injections?

Many people do not have a proper record of the medications that they are allergic to, and most only vaguely point it out to doctors.

Before taking the next tablet, syrup, injection or medication in any form, making note of the following factors might come in handy:

• Possible side effects.
• Reaction time.
• Effect on other medicines and special precautions for use.
• Effect on food.
• Storage methods.
• What to do if a dose is missed.
• Less expensive generic varieties available with the same potency.
• Usage instructions during pregnancy.
• Expiration date.

There are 750,000 known drugs and chemicals registered with the Micromedex Poison Control computer files in the US, but how many people have access to a poison control center?

Self Medication: Facts and Effects is a post from: Neel's Corner