Dr. Manoj Kumar

It is human nature to want to look good and feel good. A young, smiling face that greets you in the mirror can be one of the happiest moments on a given day. However, it is not always the case. With age, the image that looks back leaves a lot to be desired. The wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, tanning spots, etc. seem to take away a lot of the beauty. However, with these concerns growing, the cosmetic industry has found out ways to mask these and keep that face in the mirror young and happy.

While earlier only celebrities could afford such treatments, now more and more people have access to simple but effective techniques to keep their youthful looks intact.

What is Botox?

It is a control use of a toxin to get desired paralysis the muscle according to three individual patient. In even extremely minor amounts, this toxin can relaxes muscles and this property of it is used to treat facial wrinkles and fine lines. This was accidentally discovered but is now one of the most widely used techniques in cosmetic surgery.

How does it work?

The nerves send messages to the muscles to contract or relax through neurotransmitters. Acetylcholine is one such neurotransmitter and sends signals to the skin from the nerves. Botox acts by preventing the release of this chemical. The result is that the muscle does not receive a signal to contract. The end result is reduced wrinkles and fine lines.

Uses: The forehead and corners of the eyes are the most common areas that are treated with Botox. The wrinkles are often lost and the skin looks younger and firmer. In addition, Botox is also medically approved for use in the following conditions.

1. Blepharospasm (spasm of the eyelids)
2. Lazy eye (strabismus)
3. Chronic migraine headaches
4. Chronic spasms in the neck
5. Overactive bladder (resulting in frequent urination)
6. Spasticity resulting from stroke
7. Excessive sweating
8. Esophageal motility disorders
9. Urinary incontinence
10. Bruxism (tooth grinding)
11. Crow’s feet (outer corner of the eyes)

With Botox gaining popularity, this list of indications is only set to get longer.

Precautions: This is a highly potent toxin and about 2 kg is sufficient to wipe out the entire human race. Therefore, it is very important to use this under the hands of a trained, experienced professional.

Side effects:

1. Mild pain or redness at the injection site
2. Temporary numbness
3. Allergic reaction to toxin (very rare)

These are very transient and disappear over a couple of days’ time, revealing the real benefits of Botox. Set realistic expectations with your surgeon and be ready to look at a younger, happier you.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Sometimes, even a strict diet and strenuous exercise doesn't give you the body shape you dream of. In such cases, liposuction can be the answer to the problem of excess fat you are facing. Liposuction is a surgical procedure of removing stubborn fat bulges from the body. Age is not a major consideration with liposuction as long as your skin is firm and elastic. Else, your skin may begin to sag in places where the fat has been removed. It is important to note that liposuction does not remove cellulite but only removes fat. Thus, for people with cellulite, liposuction may not give them the results they desire. 

If you're thinking of undergoing liposuction, do not expect the procedure to give you a supermodel's figure. Be realistic in your expectations. Here are a few other things to keep in mind. 

1. Liposuction does not show instant results: Recovery from a liposuction surgery is quick and you may be back to your normal routine within a few weeks. However, the treated area may still look swollen. This can take two to three months to subside. Hence work backwards and time your surgery with regard to major life events.
2. The results are long lasting: Undergoing liposuction surgery does not mean that you will not be overweight again, but it means that fat will not collect in the areas that have been treated. If you do gain weight, the fat will be redistributed to other areas. 
3. Smoking and alcohol must be avoided: Smoking and alcohol both inhibit healing. It also increases your risk of complications during the surgery. Stop drinking and smoking at least three weeks prior to your surgery, and avoid it until your body has healed completely. 
4. Can be beneficial for many parts of the body: Liposuction can be performed on many areas of the body. The thighs, abdomen, breasts and buttocks are common areas where this surgery is performed. Other areas are the back, face and neck. Like any other surgery, liposuction has its risks. While some risks are very rare, others can be quite common. Here are three minor risks that you should be aware of.
5. Excessive liposuction: Removing too much fat can leave your skin looking unnatural and uneven. 
6. Skin discoloration: When making an incision for liposuction, the skin cells in the area may rupture and release melanin into the surrounding area. This can cause prolonged hyper pigmentation that can take 4-6 months to heal. Patients with a dark skin tone have a higher risk of hyper pigmentation. 
7. Swelling and bruising: When liposuction is performed on the lower part of the body, swelling and bruising are common side effects. This usually disappears within 2-3 days. Choosing open drainage vs. placing sutures on the incision sites can reduce the chances of this happening. 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Development of a fetus within a mother's womb is a complicated biological process and also involves many intricate chemical processes.

One well known deformity that has been reported fairly regularly with infants is that of a cleft lip. A statistics of average states that one baby in every 2000 births will be born with a cleft lip.
This is a condition that is easily treatable through surgery.

What is a Cleft Lip?
A cleft lip, which more often than not comes with a cleft palate as well, is a deformity where the lips of the baby's mouth aren't joined properly to the face on the upper lip. It appears to be like a slit on the upper lip that runs to the nose.

In most cases this is accompanied by the cleft palate where the slit may have the shape not just superficially, but the roof of the mouth may also be carved out in a similar shape.

Causes behind cleft lip development-
Some of the factors that may lead to cleft lip and cleft palate developments are mentioned below,

1. Genetic - In most cases these deformities are usually passed on from one of the parents to the baby.
2. Medicinal - If the pregnant mother takes certain anti-seizure or anti convulsing drugs it may contribute to the defects.
3. Infections - If the mother gets infected with certain diseases, it may also contribute to this deformity.

Benefits and need for Cleft Lip Surgery
While for some, cleft lip surgery may be an absolutely a cosmetic procedure, for others it may be essential for correcting other issues.

Some of the major benefits of cleft lip surgery are:

1. Issues with eating food - With cleft lip surgery, difficulties in eating and consumption of food will be reduced or completely eliminated as many patients have reported difficulties in this area.
2. Speech problems - By far the most number of complaints with cleft lip deformities have been with speech problems, which the surgery along with speech therapy, can definitely help to correct.
3. Reducing the chance of ear nose and throat infections - Children who have a cleft lip and palate are at an increased risk of ENT infections and thus, a cleft lip correction surgery can help reduce the chances for that.
4. Dental problems - Another area where surgery may help is with dental problems as a cleft lip and palate is known to cause deformities in teeth as well.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!