Archive for October, 2009

What is the Cause of Age Spots? October 31st, 2009

Author: Tisha Miller
Source: ezinearticles.com

Are you wondering what the exact cause of age spot is? You need only to look around you and you will see the screaming evidence.

The sun is the major culprit. When we are exposed to the sun frequently and we do not have proper sun protection, we become a lot more predisposed to the development of skin aging. Most people think that age spots only happen when we get old. But recent studies say that more and more people who have not even hit their 30s yet have noticed this problem populating their dermis. This is because the UV rays of the sun are harsher now more than ever. It is best to avoid it from 10 am to 3 pm. In fact, there are also tests and observations that say those who work outdoors (like lifeguards and tour guides) are more likely to have age spots than those who work in an office.

We should never underestimate the effects of UV rays. Start by using sun block every day even if you will only stay at home. It is always best to be properly protected. Choose a moisturizer that can lighten those age spots. If you don’t treat them now, chances are, they will surely get worse over time.

Your moisturizer should include gentle lightening agents like Extrapone Nutgrass. This natural ingredient is remarkable because it lightens your dermis, evens out your complexion and targets those dark pigmentations all in a day’s work. While other lightening ingredients leave a tingly and a burning kind of sensation on your face, Extrapone Nutgrass do not. In fact, it can get rid of the redness and irritation off your skin to expose a smooth and soft dermis.

Your moisturizer should also contain antioxidants as this is your protection against harmful free radicals that can speed up our aging process. If you do not want wrinkles in addition to age spots, make sure your moisturizer has Nano Lipobelle HEQ10.

Nano Lipobelle HEQ10 has been held in high esteem because of its effect on harmful free radicals. It can penetrate deeper into your dermis because it has smaller molecular structure. This means the effects are better than other antioxidants.

Now that you know the sun is the cause of age spot, it is high time you do something about it. Start searching for the best moisturizer now that can protect you and bring back the youthfulness of your skin.

And to help you get clearer and younger looking skin, I would like to share with you one anti aging skin care range of products that I discovered. They contain more active ingredients than any other cream on the market. These ingredients are effective moisturizers, because they penetrate deeply to “nourish” the skin. So, they never feel greasy.

I have never seen any other natural products that are as good and report no negative or adverse effects. They are hypo-allergenic, fragrance free and can be used on any skin-type. If you want to see and discover similar results, you should visit http://www.goodhealthyskin.com to find out more.

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Sun Damaged Skin Treatment Information October 31st, 2009

Author: Ryan Cote
Source: isnare.com

External elements, known as extrinsic factors, can prematurely age your skin. Excessive exposure to the sun is an extrinsic factor that aids in damaging your skin. Your skin naturally ages intrinsically, or internally, but exposure to the sun accelerates the aging process.

Sunlight harms your skin, most particularly the upper layer of skin known as the epidermis. The ultraviolet light of the sun damages fibers in the skin referred to as elastin. Dermatologists have a special term, photoaging, for the premature aging caused by exposure to the sun’s rays and this condition occurs over a period of many years. Fair skin tends to show signs of photoaging more profoundly than dark skin because of the level of pigmentation in the skin.

Signs of damage due to exposure to sunlight include wrinkles, roughness, leathery texture, age spots, blotchy pigmentation and a reduction of flexibility. Skin that has been hurt by the sun may also be more prone to bruising. A major cause of skin cancer is the damage done by exposure to the sun. Exposure to the sun can also include tanning since you are still putting your skin into contact with simulated sun rays.

There are several ways to minimize the damage done to your skin from exposure to the sun. For effective sun damaged skin treatment, avoiding the sun between the hours of ten in the morning and three in the afternoon, when the sun is strongest, is helpful.. Use a sunscreen or moisturizer with an SPF number of 15 or higher to block harmful rays. The higher the SPF number, the more protection the sunscreen offers your skin. Wear protective clothing, such as hats, sunglasses and light, long-sleeved shirts to shield the skin from sunlight. Also, keep away from the use of sunlamps or tanning beds.

Minimizing the effects of exposure to the sun can enhance the appearance and well-being of your skin.

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Laser Hair Removal: Your Choice? October 31st, 2009

Author: Noel Matthew
Source: isnare.com

If you have heard all the facts about laser hair removal, you already know your answer to that question. But, although it is heavily advertised, most people actually do not know all that much about laser hair removal. But, this is okay because you can find quite a bit of the information you need to make a decision on it right here on the web. Laser hair removal works by targeting the dark material on the skin. There are many more facts that you need to know though, before you can make a decision.

How It Works

How does it work? Laser hair removal works through a light wavelength that targets these dark colored materials on your skin. This is usually the pigment of the hair. It works through a hand held device that targets these areas and removes hair from them. It works the best on those with fair colored skin and dark colored hair. The darker the skin’s pigment the more difficult the procedure of laser hair removal will work on you.

What To Know

Although laser hair removal has been around for a long time, it has only been used commercially for a handful of years. In that time period, many have found great success with this process. But, the hair removal is not always permanent. Hair that does come back can be lighter in color in some people. For others, it does remain gone. Laser hair removal is quite expensive as well.

Problems With Laser Hair Removal

When used properly, there are few problems, medically speaking, that can occur during laser hair removal. Yet, many people complain that it is a painful process. You will not be given any medication, as the pain isn’t horrible, but it is uncomfortable. Also, if done wrong, laser hair removal can cause a number of issues such as burns, skin that is discolored for months at a time, lesions, and patchy hair regrowth.

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Microdermabrasion October 31st, 2009

Author: Mary Desaulniers
Source: articleage.com

As a child, I remember watching the eggwhite lady “do” my mother’s face; she came by once every two weeks to give my mother an eggwhite facial so that her skin could stay taut and firm. And it was in this way that I was introduced to the meaning of “feminine mystique”? the world of ageless skin.
I remember feeling very privileged to be allowed entrance into this kitchen-turned-spa. The routine was absorbing: first, the cucumber cleanser?a concoction the eggwhite lady made with diced cucumber, sour milk and a small rotary blade. She spread the mixture ever so lightly over my mother’s face; this was followed by a gentle massage up along the temples, round the cheeks, down towards the chin, then around the neck, followed by a steaming hot towel and a rinse.
Only then was Mother ready for the eggwhite ritual?whipped egg whites and honey applied carefully over the entire face except for the cotton pads around the eyes. No one spoke during these moments, as words would have broken the spell. The eggwhites were magic crystals meant to stiffen over the skin and in the stiffening tighten up the loose and wayward cells that had spread through the outer dermal layer. Those were days when you pulled in wayward skin as you would children?with a stiff upper lip.
Mother never saw how ridiculous she looked with eggwhites spread over her face like a nylon mask and the eggwhite lady never flashed a mirror before her until her skin had been powdered, eyebrows plucked and redrawn and lips painted like a bowl of cherries.
I mention all this, because in our plexi-glass, techno-habituated world, we fare no better. The eggwhite masks have been replaced by its more technological variant?”microdermabrasion.” Back in the fifties, no woman (least of all Mother who was herself brittle as eggshell) would have accepted a word that sounded like a road blaster. But in our highly specialized and technological world, anything that sounded less than new or revolutionary would never make its way to the marketplace.
And so it is with eggwhite facials?which have now been replaced by a facial of another kind?a fine mist of aluminum oxide particles sprayed over the face and neck area, then sanded away by a hand-held micro-blaster that literally grinds away lines and brown spots and everything that smacks of aging imperfections.
To my generation (50 plus), immersed in the bias of technology with its implicit faith that science will redeem all natural inclinations, including aging, these words sound very seductive: “microdermabrasion” actually sounds abrasive enough to be effective. Short of surgery, microdermabrasion is a non-invasive form of the extreme makeover. It is non-invasive?because it uses no laser, no scalpel and requires virtually no recovery time.
In fact, microdermabrasion sounds like a miracle: your skin gets sand-blasted; it will feel raw and red, but only temporarily; the redness lasts only a couple of hours and the rawness is nothing a face cream will not soothe away. Is it effective? Yes?but only after 10 treatments, once every two weeks; the lines will disappear; blemishes and pigments of all kinds will seem less prominent, if not invisible. The cost is less than a dinner outfit?about $150 to $200 per session. Aside from the 10 visits spread over 5 months, the procedure sounds quite palatable.
I have not tried microdermabrasion yet, although it does sound more seductive each day, especially for someone like me who has become fixated on the unsightly sun-caused pigmentation over my skin. But then, I think of my mother and her generation and their implicit faith in the eggwhite lady. And I cannot help but sense that we have all been duped by an unspoken insistence that we need to defy nature at all costs. In the end, does it really matter whether those lines are erased or not? When my mother passed away at age 52, no one mourned the lines under her eyes or the dark patches over her skin. The memories we have of her then and still are those of a gentle, sun-shy woman who loved us to the bone, who loved brush painting and Chinese opera and gave unceasingly to those less fortunate.
Copyright 2006 Mary Desaulniers
A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is helping people reclaim their bodies. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn their bodies into creative selves. You can visit her at http://www.GreatBodyat50.com or learn how she lost her weight at http://www.greatbodyproteinpower.com

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The Shih Tzu's Relationship To The Pekingese October 31st, 2009

Author: Connie Limon -
Source: articledashboard.com

Some westerner breeders challenge the assumption that the Shih Tzu from Tibet were on occasion interbred with the native Pekingese to reduce the Shih Tzu to a smaller size. However, there are those in China at the time who probably have a better position to know exactly what did happen. There are several statements made by different people who was actually in China at the time the Shih Tzu were crossed with the Pekingese. Colonel Valentine Burkhardt for one points out that the Shih Tzu were most definitely crossed with the Pekingese. The Chinese did not breed by pedigree. They bred according to the image they had of the Lion Dog. Cross-breeding with the Pekingese was apparently done to reduce the size of the Shih Tzu. It is also felt the cross-breedings occurred to flatten the forehead, making it more lion-like in Chinese eyes.

There was a definite “Peke cross” in England in 1952 with the specific purpose of eliminating certain faults in the breed. The cross was done with the full knowledge of the British Kennel Club. This cross was made under the supervision of Miss E.M. Evans, a distinguished breeder of the Pekingese, who grew to love the Shih Tzu and felt a conviction that this step was necessary for the betterment of the breed in England. In defense of her action, she explained that the Shih Tzu in her homeland of England were “too large, too high on leg, too long of muzzle with very bad pigmentation and too closely inbred.” Miss Evans bred a Shih Tzu bitch, Elfann Fenling of Yram, to a beautifully coated black and white Pekingese, Philadephus Suti T’Sun of Elfann, who had perfect pigment and large dark eyes. His only fault was straight legs. The offspring of this outcross were bred back to purebred Shih Tzu, one from each generation, and the successive breedings were fully recorded with the British Kennel Club in the crossbred register. This outcross proved to be quite successful in correcting the pigmentation and creating the shorter leg Shih Tzu.

During this time period the Shih Tzu were mostly terribly big, near 18 pounds in weight. The smallest one found by Mrs. Jungefeldt was black and white named Fu-Ling of Clystvale. He was low on legs, strong chest and weighed about 9 ? pounds, and probably the smallest Shih Tzu in England at the time.

This article is FREE to publish with resource box.

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Anti-Aging Skin Care Facts October 29th, 2009

Author: Juan Brou
Source: ezinearticles.com

More effective anti-aging skin care treatments are available than ever before.Each treatment has its pros and cons.With the right skin care treatment; you can maintain a youthful appearance and a healthy complexion at any age.

Here is a list of skin treatments that are available so you can pick the right one for you. As a practicing plastic surgeon for nearly fifteen years, I have been impressed with the advances made in medically supervised skin care. The list below consists of the best treatments to date.

All of these skin care treatments are available at my Medical Spa, which is part of my Plastic surgery clinic in Oklahoma City.

Skin Care FAQ

Q. How does Botox really work? And is it safe?

A. Botox helps relax the face muscles, giving a less stressed and worried look.Botox as a cosmetic treatment is a purified protein that’s administered in very small doses via injection in order to temporarily improves the appearance of frown lines between the eyebrows in people. Candidates for Botox treatments are adults aged 18 to 65.

Botox has been used therapeutically for nearly 20 years to treat a variety of medical conditions in more than 75 countries. It’s one of the most widely researched medicines worldwide, and as a cosmetic enhancer is used in extremely small doses. In some cases, side effects after Botox injection include headache, nausea, temporary eyelid droop, respiratory infection and “flu” syndrome.

Frown lines aren’t caused by sun damage or skin breakdown, but rather by overactive facial muscles. When these facial muscles contract, the eyebrows are drawn together. Over time, as skin becomes less elastic, repeated frowning can result in moderate to severe lines between the brows.Botox works to reverse this.

Facial fillers, on the other hand, mask wrinkles by adding volume around the muscles through injected materials. Botox, however, blocks the chemicals that cause facial muscles to contract, thereby relaxing them. It is the only product that affects the muscles which produce wrinkles.

Botox is arguably the most common popular procedure performed by plastic surgeons, and most patients are very happy with the results.

Q. What is Juvederm, and how does it work?

A. Juvederm is a smooth gel filler that plastic surgeons inject underneath the skin in order to instantly smooth out wrinkles, lines and folds. It’s derived from hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural complex sugar that is found in all living cells and is a major component of the skin’s connective tissue matrix.HA is one of the most common materials used for temporary reduction of wrinkles, lines and sagging skin, and it produces an instant, smooth, and completely natural-looking effect.

Wrinkles and facial folds occur over time as skin components break down following exposure to the sun and other elements. The skin loses its structure and volume; lines and wrinkles are the result.

Juvederm is manufactured by Allergan, Inc., and its effects generally last for six months, sometimes longer. For best results, do your homework ahead of time, and make sure your procedure is done only by a board certified plastic surgeon.

Q. What’s the difference between Juvederm and Prevelle? Don’t they do the same thing?

A. Yes and no. Both are effective wrinkle removers that are injected into the skin, and both use hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural complex sugar found in all living cells, including the skin. However, Prevelle Silk also contains lidocaine, which makes the treatment less painful. Both injectables offer immediate, natural-looking results, with minimal post-procedure irritation and little or no down time

Q. Is “laser resurfacing” the same as a “laser peel

A. Yes. Both terms are used to refer to a procedure that smoothes the facial skin by using a laser to “refinish” damaged areas and shrink fine wrinkles. Laser skin treatments also correct areas of uneven pigmentation, resulting in a fresh, smoother complexion.

Laser skin treatment involves a beam of laser energy used to vaporize the upper layers of damaged skin with extreme precision. As new cells form during the healing process, the result is smoother, tighter and younger-looking skin. If the imperfections are deep, your plastic surgeon may recommend that your procedure be performed in two or more stages. To maintain results post-procedure, use sun protection and a skin-care regimen recommended by your doctor.

Good candidates for laser resurfacing are men and women who have: fine lines, especially around the eyes; vertical lines around the mouth; facial scars caused by acne, accident or injury; lines on the cheeks due to sun damage; or areas of uneven pigmentation, such as “age spots.”

Laser skin resurfacing is not always a good choice for people who have skin that is olive, brown or black; people who are prone to abnormal (keloid-like) scarring; have taken the drug Accutane during the past 18 months; or who have an active skin infection.

Q. Do I have any other skin care options besides laser resurfacing?

A. Of course. Laser skin resurfacing provides the greatest precision, the deepest results and the most predictable outcome, but it’s not the only choice for skin resurfacing. Many other options exist including creams, chemical peels and quick treatments.

Retin-A:A prescription skin-refinishing treatment that involves regular applications of a vitamin A-enriched cream.

Chemical Peels:Medically safe acids are applied to the face, neck and chest to burn off top, tired-looking layers of skin.The acids used in peels also come in varying strengths in prescription-strength facial washes and creams.Glycolic acid, TCA Acid and Salicylic acid peels are available.

Dermabrasion:In-office treatment with no downtime.A motorized brush removes the surface layer of skin.

Oklahoma Cosmetic Surgeon Juan Brou is Board Certified with nearly fifteen years of clinical experience. Patients travel from a multi-state area to visit his Oklahoma City plastic surgery clinic. For quality information on all subjects related to plastic surgery, including a vast video library, visit Dr. Brou’s website at http://www.PlasticSurgeon-Oklahoma.com

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The Best Natural Age Spot Lightener Gives Great Results – Is Cost effective And Easy To Use Daily October 29th, 2009

Author: Kathryn M. Reid
Source: articlesbase.com

Don’t you just hate it… when you look down at your hands and notice little brown and black spots appearing — then they get bigger and migrate to other exposed body areas, like your face and neck. You’re either going get them or you aren’t. However, it seems most of us get some eventually. The reason is simple — it’s called “getting old” and there’s not a lot you can do about that. The other main reasons are environmental — particularly exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun which increases melanin production. So… Is it possible to lighten or remove them entirely? The answer is yes to both questions. Using the best natural age spot lightener will improve them — and in some cases may remove them altogether. This is the easiest, most convenient and best cost effective solution, especially if you’ve got lots of them. The other successful method is to visit your doctor or skin specialist and have them cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) frozen off. But, keep in mind this method can permanently damage your skin, and leave clear or white patches and can become expensive. Personally, I prefer the first method, and I’m having success lightening a rather large dark brown age spot just to the right lower side of my neck at shoulder level. There are several natural substances known to be capable of lightening age spots — the following are ones worth evaluating if you’re going to give it a try: Shea Butter — it’s known to reduce brown spots and help blemishes; it is also an emollient used in good quality skin creams to help soften the skin. Extrapolate Nutgrass Root Extract — has been shown in clinical trials to very successfully inhibit the formation and build up of the skin pigment melanin — which is the major contributing factor in liver and age spot growth. Natural Vitamin E – has been shown in many scientific studies to help prevent age spots appearing and can reverse the effects of aging on the skin. It’s also and anti-oxidant that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Make no mistake about it — a natural age spot lightener can reduce and even eliminate brown and black liver spots. With consistent use you will notice an improvement in next to no time.

Kathryn M. Reid is trained in, and has many years experience in skin care management. She now recommends and uses natural skin care creams and supplements daily. To learn more, Go to ==> http://www.best-health-skin-site.com today.

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Hair Loss As A Result Of Aging October 29th, 2009

Author: Patricia Smith
Source: isnare.com

As one ages, several body changes are common. Hair loss is one age-related change that affects both men and women. If you are experiencing hair that is falling out, age may be the reason. If you want to prevent hair loss as you age, it may be important to understand why this occurs and how to prevent problems. This is an especially prevalent problem in aging men, although women may also be affected by it.

Hair grows out from openings in the scalp called follicles. Body hair is a protein-based substance. The life span of one individual hair strand is four to five years before it naturally falls out. At that time, it will be replaced with a newly grown hair, which will then take over that particular follicle. Natural age-related slowing of the body also applies to the speed with which hair in the scalp follicles is replaced. The bodies of younger people ingest and produce the proper amounts of protein to promote hair growth.

However, as one ages, a body’s decreased protein consumption and production affects hair growth due to the amount of protein needed to produce the hair. The body uses less protein because it does not need to maintain growth and change, resulting in decreased protien production. This protein deficit creates a situation in which hair falls out and is not replaced as quickly, resulting in thinning hair and baldness. Another factor in the appearance of hair loss is loss of hair pigment. Consequently, a person’s hair may not only fall out without being replaced, it may also be that the hair that does grow is smaller and thinner.

When it begins, age-related hair loss will affect men and women differently. With women, their chief complaint will be thinner hair due to a loss of pigmentation. Men, however, lose their hair from the front of the scalp to the back. This is not only a result of changes in protein and pigment, but also due to the hormone of testosterone. Testosterone affects the way protein and pigmentation react causing decreased hair production for the body as well as the head, thereby leading to hair loss.

As you age, you may begin to experience hair loss. This isa result of naturally occuring age-related body changes. These changes affect the amount of hormones, proteins and pigmentation being produced. If you are aging, you can be assured that your hair loss is a natural part of the aging process. You can augment your diet with a variety of supplements as well protein to help your hair to age gracefully.

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Can Acne Make Your Face Darker? October 29th, 2009

Author: CD Mohatta
Source: isnare.com

Someone who felt that her acne had made her face darker asked this question. What is the truth? Can acne make the face darker? If yes, what happens in the process? If no, why there is no possibility of face skin becoming darker with acne? Let us find out.

Face color-

How does skin get the color? What factors decide the color of the skin? The melanin pigment in skin makes skin look colored. In people with dark colored skin, the density of melanin is high. In people of fair skin the density is low. The skin can get darker only if more melanin is produced. This happens during tanning.

Melanin is formed by melanocytes that are scattered in the last layer of the epidermis. This layer is also called the basal layer. Melanocytes manufacture melanin and send it across to other parts of skin in a pack. This pack is called melanosome. The skin cells absorb these melanosomes and melanin is extracted. Melanin surrounds the DNA in the nucleus of the cell and protects the cell against sun.

Acne- It’s Effect On Skin?

Acne makes skin look spotted. It is surely very bad looking. When acne resolves, it forms scar tissue. These are called acne scars. Most of the times the scar tissues have higher density of melanin. The scars look darker than the surrounding skin. If acne resolves without any scar, the color left may be darkish red that resolves slowly. Another change called Post Inflammatory Hyper pigmentation may take place. This hyper pigmentation is seen at the site of acne. This color takes time to fade away but it is not permanent like a scar.

Acne does not make face darker. It’s the scar tissue that is formed after acne resolves that makes face look darker, but that will also happen only if the spots are many. Otherwise some scars are seen. No darkness is seen all over the skin with acne.

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Laser Hair Removal is Effective and Safe October 29th, 2009

Author: Dave Stringham
Source: articlerich.com

Laser treatment is an FDA approved non-invasive approach to permanent reduction of facial and body hair. Long term studies in the U.S. and Europe have shown the technology to be effective and safe when done by experienced professionals. It is a convenient way to remove unwanted hair without shaving, waxing, or electrolysis. Women most often treat the lip and chin, under arms, bikini line, and legs. Men usually treat the back, shoulders, and upper arms. Many cosmetic surgeons use the Gentlase Plus for all of their hair removal.

Dark pigment (melanin) in the hair attracts and absorbs the energy of the light emitted by the laser. In a fraction of a second, the absorbed laser energy is transformed into heat, destroying the hair follicle, without damaging the skin or surrounding tissue. A certain percentage of the follicles are instantaneously and permanently disabled with each treatment. The process takes from several minutes to several hours, depending on the area of the body involved.

Hair grows in three phases: the growth phase, the mature phase and the dormant phase. The laser affects hair follicles only in the growth phase. Because of this, more than one treatment is necessary to disable all hair follicles. Treatments are done four to six weeks apart, in order to treat hair follicles in the growth phase. Usually three to five treatments are necessary to treat all hair follicles.

Over time, skin will grow new hair from follicles that have never been active before. This is common due to a variety of reasons, such as hormonal changes, aging, maturation, etc. If you experience re-growth, you will notice the texture of the hair is fine and lighter in color. After you have successfully been treated for hair reduction, you may require an occasional maintenance session to eliminate the new hair.

Since it is the pigment in the hair that absorbs the laser energy, darker hair will absorb more energy. Thicker hair will absorb more energy, as well. Thus, the perfect patient for laser hair reduction is fair skinned and has dark hair. Patients with very light, blonde, or gray hair are not good candidates for this treatment. This is why it is a good idea to get rid of unwanted hair before it turns gray.

In darker skin types, or tanned skin, hyper-pigmentation may occur. Hyper-pigmentation is a response of your normal pigment calls to laser stimulation, is basically a dark tan, in a very localized area. Fortunately, it is temporary and will fade over time. If you are tanned however, it is best if you wait four weeks for your tan to fade, to minimize the chances for hyper-pigmentation.

Dave Stringham, the President of LookingYourBest.com writes about plastic surgery in San Diego, California and cosmetic surgery procedures such as san diego laser hair removal, rhinoplasty, lip augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty, and rhytidectomy.

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