Herbs and Supplements to Enhance Healing from Liposuction

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty or commonly known as “lipo”, is a type of surgery wherein excess body fats are suctioned or removed from different areas of a human body. The most common areas are the neck, back of the arms, buttocks, abdomen and thighs. It is proven to be the safest and most popular type of cosmetic surgery along with breast augmentation and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery) and has been performed for decades.

When preparing for surgery, certain measures are recommended before and following the procedure to diminish the side effects. During the recovery process, one can expect common side effects that occur naturally as they are part of the healing process. These side effects may include:

• Bruising

• Numbness

• Swelling

• Soreness

• Inflammation

• Infection

• Discomfort

Why should a patient take herbs and supplements after surgery?

A person’s diet greatly affects the speed of the healing process and may influence the incidence and severity of certain side effects of surgery. The herbs and vitamins that may help you speed up the healing process are listed below.

Herbal Medicine

• Arnica Montana is an herbal medicine used to help diminish swelling and bruising after surgery. The homeopathic product is available as a pill (under tongue) or a cream that is applied on swollen areas.

• Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapples.  Available in 250mg pills, it helps reduce swelling, pain and bruising post surgically. 

• Aloe Vera is succulent plant that is processed into a botanical supplement. It is used to help speed up the post-surgical healing of wounds.

• Quercetin is an herbal supplement that is used as an anti-inflammatory agent to help curb inflammation, a common side effect post-surgery.

Vitamins and Supplements

• Vitamin A is a natural healing supplement that helps in cell growth and in reproducing tissues to quicken the healing of the wound. It also helps to enhance the immune system which protects against infections.

• Vitamin B assists in preventing inflammation of the wound. It also helps increase the production of protein which helps to accelerate the healing process.

• Vitamin C is the most recommended supplement by physicians post surgically as it plays an important role in producing collagen, the product necessary for tissue reproduction. It is also recommended to take Vitamin C before surgery.

• Protein helps to boost the immune system which protects the body from infections.

• Zinc can help enhance the immune system, diminish the incidence of inflammation and protect the body from the growth of bacteria which can infect the wound.

Although most of these herbs and supplements can be found in food, it may be advisable to increase the intake of these products as recommended by your surgeon to augment and speed up the post-surgical healing process.

Non-Surgical Jaw Makeovers for Men can Create Superhero Features

Men are generally competitive beings and yes, like many women, men also compete with their looks. A chiselled chin or strong jaw line can automatically make a man appear to have a stronger personality and look more confident or more masculine. A recent study shows that men with strong jaw lines or a chiselled chin are more successful in the executive world and even in show business, as the strong facial feature is prominent on superheroes as well as on leading men.

Many surgeons report that this is the reason why jaw line procedures are now number two in popularity for male makeovers, next to liposuction.  There are two types of jaw makeovers:

1.       Chin reduction which reshapes the bone structure to give a smoother outline of the jaw.

2.       Chin augmentation which involves implants or changing the bone position.

Men, and women, would prefer to avoid looking as if they have had work done which may be one of the reasons why many non-surgical jaw sculpting procedures have been developed. Non-surgical procedures are not only faster, but also less painful when compared with surgical procedures.

The Different Types of Non-Surgical Jaw Makeovers:

·         Ultrasound and fillers: This procedure involves the use of ultrasound to tighten the skin on the neck area making the chin stand out. Fillers are used to widen and add emphasis to the chin. Men usually need three to five syringes per procedure at a cost of approximately $800 per syringe. Although the results of this procedure are fast, there is a risk of bruising. It is recommended that the procedure be performed yearly as fillers are absorbed by the body which cause the jaw makeover to lose its effect over time.

·         Ultherapy:  This method uses heat through ultrasound to cause an intentional thermal injury. The effect is slower to appear and may take effect after three to six months.

·         UltraTight: Performed with the use of an ultrasonic wand to deliver heat under the skin as a means of regenerating collagen, this procedure requires two small holes, not needing stitches, to be made under the chin. Although it is reported to be a more aggressive procedure compared to others, patients are only required to wear a chin bandage for a day to help the skin heal close to the muscle wall. Results are apparent after swelling decreases.

·         Fat Freezing: Although this procedure is currently available only for the body, it is anticipated that the FDA will soon approve injections that dissolve skin fat on the face and neck.

A strong jaw is desired by many men to improve their look as it is reported to make careers more successful, possibly due to the confidence that a man exudes when he has a superhero face.