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Saturday, September 9
I Had a Face Lift Today
If I had a face lift today, you may wonder how I am able to sit at the computer and type up this journal. I look pretty much as I did when I got up this morning and I feel fine. After the procedure, my husband and I went to a restaurant for a nice lunch.
Are you wondering why I look pretty much as I did this morning and why I'm not wrapped up like a mummy and in excruciating pain? It's because I had a non-invasive face lift procedure called Thermage.
I think I look better already and my skin feels tighter, but it's not enough that others should notice and it might just be a temporary irritation effect of the procedure. You're still wondering why I did this, right?
Well, my plastic surgeon (and the Thermage website) explained that the treatment causes collagen to grow to re-plump and lift the face.
Given my age (60) and the condition of my skin (very good for my age), I can expect the improvement to continue for the next 18 months. He said the improvement will last for another six years after that.
Everyone is different. He said the results depend on how much collagen you still have; because the treatment works on that which you have - thickening and lengthening it. I've seen the before and after pictures on the Thermage website and in a brochure the doctor gave me.
I'm really excited about the prospect of looking younger and younger each day for the next year and a half (instead of the reverse!). I'm also pleased that the treatment should last almost as long as a surgical face lift and that it was so affordable.
Next time, I'll tell you about the procedure itself and I promise to pull no punches.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Thermage Non-Invasive Face Lift - Blow by Blow Account
Some doctors will want to see you for an evaluation before scheduling the Thermage procedure. I asked mine if everything could be done in one visit because his office is quite far from my home. He was very accommodating.
I arrived at 11:00 and was taken right into the doctor's office. He looked closely at my face and the condition of my skin. Then he explained the procedure in detail and said he would do 600 pulses which would include treatment of the forehead, crow's feet area, mid-face, around the mouth, along the jaw line and the upper neck (in front). He gave me an anti-inflammatory pill to place under my tongue.
I was asked to remove my makeup thoroughly and lie on a reclining chair (as in a dentist's office). A large rubber pad coated with gel was placed on my waist area and a cord was plugged into it. I assumed this was to conduct electricity through my body. Uh-oh, I thought this was going to be radio waves. Nobody said anything about electricity!
Then came the "tattooing". Don't worry, it's not permanent. The doctor placed a transparent flexible sheet with a grid-like pattern against my forehead and carefully rubbed over it with alcohol, transferring the grid pattern to my skin. Then he did the same to the rest of my face and to my neck. I must have looked a sight! Good thing I couldn't see myself.
Come back next time for the rest of my story: Thermage Non-Invasive Face Lift - Ouch and Wow!
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Thermage Non-Invasive Face Lift - Ouch and Wow!
So there I was, stretched out on the "dentist's chair", staring at the bright overhead lights with a rubber pad stuck to my belly and lines "tattooed" all over my face and neck. The doctor showed me the radio-frequency wand which would be used for my Thermage.
Each patient gets their own individual tip. I'm not sure why. Since the procedure is non-invasive, I doubt that it is for sanitary reasons. Perhaps the electronic chip which delivers the charges wears out?
Thermage works by heating collagen fibers beneath the skin's surface. With age, collagen fibers thin, shorten and rigidify. As the face loses collagen mass, the epidermis wrinkles, collapses in and eventually begins to sag.
For some reason, heating the existing collagen fibers with radio waves causes them to relax and lengthen. Just as importantly, the heat stimulates the existing collagen to grow and thicken again. This is why the results of Thermage are not immediately evident, but rather develop over time.
The doctor warned me that I would feel a sensation of heat and at times a bit of "discomfort". If I could not tolerate the "discomfort", he could lower the frequency. To protect the epidermis from burning, a little jet of Freon (I think) is sprayed at the same time the radio waves are transmitted.
Darn, I'm out of time again and I didn't get to the "Ouch and Wow!" part. Next time - I promise.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Thermage Non-Invasive Face Lift - Ouch and Wow 2!
The doctor began zapping my forehead according to the tattoo pattern. That wasn't too bad. A little heat and sometimes a bit of a tingling sensation. However on more sensitive areas of the face and neck, there was definite pain. It reminded me of facial electrolysis.
As the nurse noticed me tensing with the pain, she offered me a small foam ball to squeeze. The doctor told me to breathe deeply. I learned that there is a definite rhythm to maximize the pain relief using these techniques. Inhale deeply. Squeeze the ball tightly and exhale with the pain. It really helped. Kind of like mini-Lamaze, I guess.
Several times, the doctor asked me if I wanted him to lower the intensity. Each time I said, "No". I wanted the maximum benefit from the treatment. The doctor made a first pass over each area. This was the only painful one.
Then he did a second pass at the interstices (between the first points). Finally, he went over the "really bad areas" (his words, not mine - but I think we all know what he meant!). I hardly felt that. An hour after the procedure started, I was done. Big sigh of relief.
I was unplugged. The doctor and nurse wiped the tattoo from my skin.
Next time, I'll tell you about aftercare and answer the burning question, "Would I ever do this again?"
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Thermage Non-Invasive Face Lift - You Bethcha!
When I last wrote (I feel like I'm doing an old radio show - "When we last left Little Orphan Annie, she was cowering in the coal bin with her faithful dog, Sandy ...), my Thermage procedure had just been completed. I stood up from the "dentist's chair" and felt a bit woozy. The nurse said that was from the tension and it quickly dissipated.
I went to the washroom to freshen up and get the first glimpse of the new me. No redness, no swelling. I looked pretty much as I did right before the Thermage. I say "pretty much" because I thought I detected a slightly tightened look but realize that may have been wishful thinking on my part.
My face felt fine. There were a couple spots of very minor tenderness, but nothing I would even take an aspirin for. Then I sat down with the doctor to learn about aftercare.
For two months I am to drink a tablespoon of chlorophyll dissolved in water morning and night, as well as a glass of 1000mg of vitamin C dissolved in water.
In the morning I am to put on a high SPF face cream and at night, an active C, a.k.a. L-ascorbic acid or C esther face cream. My doctor explained that vitamin C is the best thing for collagen.
Who knew? I'm not sure why the chlorophyll and want to research that.
It's now eight days post-treatment. My husband says in profile he sees a remarkable improvement in my neck. I see a remarkable improvement over all. I just look better every day. Friends are starting to look at me funny but no one has asked "the" question yet.
Am I glad I did it? As they say in the movie "Fargo", "You betcha!"
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Thermage Options and Alternatives
If you're interested in Thermage after reading my blow-by-blow account, go to the Thermage website. There you will find lots more information, before and after videos of real people, and even a worldwide Thermage-certified physician finder.
If you live in a high cost country, like the U.S. or Canada, you may want to consider combining a vacation with your Thermage. The money you save on the Thermage will probably pay for your vacation. And since there is no recovery period or post-treatment pain you can enjoy all of your stay.
[Note to publishers: this article can be broken into sections if it fits your format better, but please include the rescource box on each section.]
Leading infant toy producer, Lamaze, has improved its Soft Chime Garden toy to make it even easier for your baby to operate and ensure it lasts through more developmental stages.
Why Lamaze?
Most mums know the brand Lamaze, they come up again and again in lists of recommended toys and with good reason. Lamaze is probably the global market leader in high-quality, educational yet fun toys for babies and toddlers. Pregnancy and parenthood magazines love them and reviews from parents are consistently high. Designed by experts not sales manager, their toys all form part of the Lamaze Infant Development System and are professionally designed to give your child the best start in life. Their toys help your baby develop physical, cognitive and social skills through play and are beautiful to look at as well as the highest quality you could want. You needn't worry about them breaking through being dropped or chewed - all of ours have survived numerous throws out of the pram (isn't it hilarious making Mommy pick it up repeatedly?!) and been through teething!
Why this toy?
I adore this toy partly because it's so cute! It's aimed at children from six months ("moving and doing") but much smaller children will love it too and can be enchanted by it.
It looks like a bunch of five colourful flowers, each one has a smiley face that lights up and each can be played as in individual note or used to make songs play. It is made from a selection of gorgeous soft fabrics and features crinkle areas and ribbons too. It is really multi-functional in aiding your child's development.
Development
It's very easy for baby to hold its enticing and enthralling nature encourages babies to reach for it, pull on it, kick it etc. It responds easily to a child's touch and the reward nature of this toy in terms of lights and sound means that they learn about cause and effect and develop hand-eye co-ordination. In this way it builds general co-ordination and by encouraging grabbing/kicking and so on builds general physical strength. Continual and multi-sensory fun encourages that 'two-handed-and-also-my-feet' type of play which is great for physical and co-ordination development as well as adorable to watch! For younger children you can hang it from an arch of your play mat and let them kick it - it is sensitive enough to respond and reward their efforts with sound.
Visually it is very appealing - children love strong contrasting colours and simple prints and, like all Lamaze toys, this is embodied in this toy. From a very early age (almost from birth) infants love to watch flashing lights and because this has an attachment strap you can hang it from the handle of the infant carrier/car seat and let them be mesmerised. Following the lights will help their focus develop. Another interesting feature about Lamaze toys is that if you look at them you'll see that all the faces have disproportionately large eyes - this is deliberate as it helps babies learn about the importance of eye contact. They naturally focus on the toys eyes because of their dominance and thus develop better eye contact skills with real people.
Aural skills are bound to develop with such a well thought out musical toy. It has three different modes of music to help develop auditory awareness - the idea being that you are teaching the child to distinguish and listen. While it is sensitive enough to respond to the gentlest babies touch, adults will also like the fact that the music is not too tinny and not obnoxiously loud
Interestingly, I took one to a mum and tots group I volunteer with for special needs children and they were also very impressed. One mum commented that the music was good for her visually impaired child, that once it was placed in his hands it was responsive enough for him to play with it and be entertained. She commented that some toys require very specific 'button' pressing to get a sound so this was better for him. Another mum, who was there with a disabled 3 year old agreed, saying that her child's physical problems also meant he sometimes struggled with this as he lacked the co-ordination and that a musical toy he could manage was definitely a winner.
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