The mention of a hair transplant evokes images of balding men and Elton John, but this outdated stereotype of hair replacement patients is about to be quashed for good. The advances in surgical procedures and the increase in the rate of success have led to an interest from the women too. Although it is predominantly men that suffer from hair loss, women can be affected too, but the treatments available now form part of a complete body enhancement package by offering eyebrow and eyelash hair transplants.
Just as plastic surgery started out as a medical treatment for reconstructive purposes, hair transplant surgery has been for people that have suffered hair loss from illnesses such as cancer or those that have suffered psychologically from extreme hair loss. But just as reconstructive surgery became cosmetic surgery, hair transplants are becoming the choice du jour for those wanting to make themselves more attractive.
The irony of women having eyebrow transplants because of over-plucking is amusing in itself, but eyelash transplants seem a little spooky. The trouble with some cosmetic procedures is that often the cosmetic element follows a fashion trend, and fashion is always changing. It reminds me of the trend just a few years back for tattooing eyebrows to save time applying make-up to fill in over-plucked eyebrows. It was also possible to do the same around the eyes, effectively tattooing eyeliner on. All well and good until heavy liner is no longer in vogue.
I remember my mother once telling me about seamed stockings during the war. They were incredibly expensive, but highly fashionable, and for those that could not afford to buy them, there was the option of getting the lines tattooed on instead. Nice idea while you're all dressed up and ready to go out. Not such a hot look in a swim suit on the beach I should imagine! But it is not just women that are taken in by cosmetic enhancement, and hair transplants for vanity are no exception.
In an era where it seems that most men endure the notorious waxing procedure inventively called the 'sack, back and crack', it is surprising to find out that some men are planting hairs on their chest and face to achieve a more masculine look. Designer stubble has never been so interesting. It is possible to transplant a goatee, chinstrap or a full beard with success time after time. Understandably, it is important for a man to feel manly, and as eating your crusts doesn't really put hairs on your chest, I suppose another solution had to be found.
The advancement in the procedures is thanks to a new surgical method. Previously, hair was taken from a donor area in strips and transplanted accordingly, unfortunately with a high rate of rejection and the infamous dolls head look. Today transplants are conducted with donor samples that contain between 1 and 4 follicles, reducing rejection and achieving a more natural and precise result. Admittedly the results are stunning, but caution still needs to be exercised when opting for treatment that is not for reconstructive purposes. The difference between reconstructive and cosmetic procedure lies in the patient. Reconstructive surgeries give a natural result, because these patients want to look normal again. For those that are already normal, cosmetic surgery is about achieving an unnatural result, to create an enhancement that stands out.
It is known to everyone that cigarette smoking is harmful and addictive. But very few know the risks of cigarette addiction. Smoking inflicts body with many irreversible damages and reduces the human life span by 25 years.
Effects of Smoking on Body:
Heart : Smoking is the biggest risk factor for all heart diseases. It accelerates the process of fat deposition in the inner walls of arteries (atherosclerosis). It increases blood pressure and heart rate. Not only these, smoking increases tendency for the blood to clot. It reduces the capacity of a person to exercise. (Exercises always keep heart healthy).
Lungs : Smoking destroys small hairs present in upper parts of airways. In normal persons these hairs protect lungs from germs, dust and other harmful particles. When this natural cleaning system is damaged germs, dust, smoke and other harmful chemicals enter lungs causing infection, cough and lung cancer. The air sacs of lungs (alveoli) get permanently damaged causing difficulty in breathing.
Digestive system: Smoking causes heart burn ,delays healing of peptic ulcers, increases risk of crohn's disease and formation of gall stones. It affects liver and increases chances of stomach cancer.
Legs: Smoking affects blood vessels of legs causing chronic pain in legs. This may further progress to cause gangrene of toes or feet.
Eyes: The sensitive blood vessels of eye are easily damaged by smoking. This causes blood shot appearance of eyes and itching. In heavy smokers it may lead to degeneration and loss of eyesight. Smokers are at an increased risk of cataracts.
Skin : Due to smoking the skin is deprived of oxygen and it loses its texture. An average smoker looks 5 years older than his healthy non smoking counterparts. The skin loses its healthy glow and takes on a yellowish-gray cast. The more cigarettes smoked, the worse skin will look. Wrinkles start appearing very quickly as smoking affects elastic tissues of skin.
Bones: It accelerates the process of osteoporosis
Cancer: Smoking causes cancer of lungs, larynx, oral cavity, pharynx, oesophagus and bladder. Tobacco smoke contains more than 60 substances which cause cancer. 87% lung cancer death occurs due to smoking.
Reproductive system: Smoking reduces fertility in both men and women.
In women: Smoking imbalances estrogen hormone in women. It causes dryness of vagina and reduces blood flow to genital organs. Women who smoke can get diseases of fallopian tubes and their egg production is affected. Smoking can cause abortion. It accelerates aging process and can cause early menopause.
The growth of baby retards when mother smokes in pregnancy. It affects the brain development of baby and reduces IQ. This happens even when mother is a passive smoker. The chances of miscarriage, premature birth and fetal death increase.
In men: Smoking impairs erections and can become a reason for erectile dysfunction. It also reduces sperm count and impairs sperm motility. But these are reversed after stopping smoking.
Hence quit smoking. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits for you and your loved ones
A hair loss website can help those who are in need of good solid information regarding hairloss treatments and procedures. The loss of hair affects a large amount of individuals, both men and women. Thankfully, there are many different methods today that can help stop hair loss, and at times can even reverse it.
While the internet is a great place to research for information, it should be noted that not every hair restoration procedure or treatment will work the same for everyone. However, careful research can help those who need treatment to find something that will work for them.
Hair loss websites can list all of the things that cause hair loss. While you may think that you know the reason why you are having the issue, there may be underlying factors that have not been thought of. The problem may be hormonal; as people age the hormones can cause many different bodily issues, including negative effects on the hair.
Another reason is heredity. This doesn't mean that just because your father or mother had issues with the loss of hair, that you will too. But it can mean that it is more likely to happen. Discussing the situation with a physician is always the best way to help determine hair loss causes, and what can be done about it.
Just as there are many reasons why a man may start to experience male pattern baldness, or a woman may start to experience female pattern baldness, there are as many ways to treat it. If you conduct some online research for hair loss information, then you will find out about creams, gels and medications that can be taken orally, including herbal treatments.
Topical ointments can work well for many individuals, while other people may need an oral medication that will require a period of time to work. There are also other types of remedies that can be used to cover a bald head, such as hair transplants or toupees.
If you are looking for information on baldness, hairloss products or remedies, then you need look no farther than the internet. Everything from herbal remedies to topical ointments, to transplants can be found online.
While the information may give you some great ideas, it is always best to talk to your doctor who can help you to decide what is best for you and let you know if the remedies are legitimate and really work. With this in mind, do not discount hair loss websites for good information.
So you've reached the point in the new year that you're thinking about your wellbeing, physical, mental and spiritual. The new year is a time when lots of people look forward and true to put right the things that they didn't the previous year. It's a time when a lot of people are thinking about taking up new challenges, and making changes. One of the many vows that people make in the new year is to engage in more physical activity and to 'get fit'. If you are one such person, then you might want to take a look at Yoga as a way of achieving this.
The term Yoga comes from the Sanskrit that means 'union' or 'merger'. The essential purpose of the practice of Yoga is to achieve a good and stable balance between the body and mind. When applied or practised, Yoga will help you to achieve self-enlightenment through a combination of breathing, pose, meditation and relief. By using the techniques that you will learn from a Yoga instructor you will achieve the means to maintain a healthy and balanced approached to life.
Yoga is not a religion, although it does have it's roots in the Hindu religion. There are no codes of belief in Yoga, one is merely given the tools and techniques you need to gain a better understanding of your bodies potential. When mind and body work in tandem, you will feel better, you will look better and you will have a very different perspective on life.
You do Yoga to because it is more than just one workout. If you're a runner or you do weights, you know that each form of exercise helps to develop your cardiovascular or muscle strength. Yoga however is one form of exercise that does both strength, and cardio and much more. It's more than stretching and relaxing. When you complete a Yoga session, you will feel totally relaxed and at the same time full of energy. You get to work on your physical shape, as well as learning how to breathe deeply, therefore providing more oxygen for your heart, brain and lungs. Awareness of your body makes it easier to experience total relaxation and as such, each Yoga session will help you to alleviate stress.
If you are wanting to learn more about how Yoga can help you change your life in this new year, you can search for Yoga instructors in your local area, or you can buy a yoga instruction book and learn it at home, whichever suits you. Whatever method you choose, you will enjoy this form of exercise and once learned, the techniques and skills will benefit you for the rest of your life.
Since the beginning of time one aspect of human social experience has stood out as the ‘place to be’ for communication and family bonding: the meal. In contemporary human life the evening dinner is often the only place and time that a family all sits down together. In tribal times (of course there are still tribes today) the cooking of a slaughtered animal or cultivated vegetables brought the group together to share ideas and feelings. Think about it these days; when you want to take someone out for a meal, meet business colleagues, get together with old friends and acquaintances, we go out for a bite to eat. What is it about sharing some food that puts us in such a relaxed and communicable state? Could it simply be science, and the fact that if you are tense when you eat, the food doesn’t digest as well? Or, could it have some psychological basis having to do with the idea that you are sharing some life-giving sustenance with your fellow species instead of warring over it? Subconsciously do we recognize the facts that we will be able to live another day as well as sew healthy seeds for future generations?
It’s easy to eat right during the summer months with an abundance of fresh produce available from a wide variety of sources. But as winter rolls around, those juicy ears of corn is just a memory. That doesn’t mean, however, that you drop your healthy eating habits with the dropping temperatures.
You still need to get your five servings a day of fruits and vegetables. Make an effort to include fruits and vegetables at every meal. Since your options are more limited during the winter months, now’s the time to get creative by trying new recipes as well as sampling produce you haven’t eaten before.
Winter brings a bumper crop of root vegetables like turnips, rutabagas and parsnips; squash; Brussels sprouts; and more. Apples and pumpkins are the foundation of a variety of comforting, homey desserts. Here are some tips to help you chase away the winter chill by adding the flavors and healthy benefits of winter produce.
Here are two delicious recipes sure to warm you up this winter:
Pesto Minestrone
This full-flavored soup is also full of healthy vegetables.
2 cups cauliflower (2 small heads), coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups zucchini (1-2 medium), chopped
3 cans (14.5 ounces) chicken broth, reduced sodium
1 16-ounce can tomatoes, diced, drained
1 cup elbow macaroni or small pasta shells
3 cups kidney beans or black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed (1 cup dry makes 3 cups cooked) or 2 cans (15 ounces each)
1 cup carrot (1 medium), sliced
2 tablespoons olive oil (for pesto)
2 garlic cloves (for pesto)
1 cup basil leaves, fresh, loosely packed OR (for pesto)
1 cup Italian parsley plus 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves (for pesto)
1 tablespoon water
Directions
In a 5 to 6 quart saucepan bring to boil 1/2 cup water, tomatoes, cauliflower, onion and carrots; reduce heat and simmer covered 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add zucchini, beans, broth and pasta. Return to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Meanwhile put all pesto ingredients in food processor or blender and process until very finely chopped. Just before serving, remove soup from heat and stir in pesto. Makes 8 servings.
Golden Apple Oatmeal
Start your day off right with a steaming bowl of this hearty (and heart healthy) oatmeal.
1/2 cup Golden Delicious apples, diced
1/3 cup apple juice
1/3 cup water
1/8 teaspoon salt
Dash of cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
1/3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats, uncooked
Directions
Combine apples, apple juice, water and seasoning; bring to a boil. Stir in rolled oats; cook 1 minute. Cover and let stand several minutes before serving. Makes a 1- cup serving.
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A novice guide to developing a good size chest.
Your pectoral muscle group is rather large and can become very powerful if your train it correctly. It has been designed mainly as a pushing mechanism. The chest muscles respond well to heavy compound movements such as the bench press. The large white, slow twitch fibres can grow to a considerable healthy size. A man who achieves a good size chest looks powerful.
Bellow is a training programme that will give you an idea on how to develop a strong and desirable chest.
The press up.
This form of exercise is great for total failure. It will force plenty of blood deep inside your muscle fibres. Your set and rep range depends on your personal fitness levels but a good way to push yourself forward is just to add one rep every day to your routine.
Example: if you can do 10 press-ups. Try and get to 11 the next day.
The positioning of your hands while in press mode will determine which part of the chest you are training.
Close position. Medium position. Wide position.
The close hand position will develop your inner chest region. This also benefits the development of your triceps and inner shoulders muscles.
The medium hand position will centre your body position and hit the majority of the pectoral muscle group. A great all round position for complete development.
The wide position will develop the outer chest, close to the shoulders. This position will also catch the outer shoulders and back area.
The press up is a great starter exercise and will help you with balance, control, and strength for weight lifting.
The bench-press.
If you get started in the gym and decide that you would like to add as much muscle to the chest as possible. Then the Bench Press will become one of the main exercises you will use to develop the chest area on your body. The positioning of your hands as above will also have the same effect. However, you can also position the bar at different intervals on the chest.
Example:
Upper chest. Middle chest. Lower chest.
The positioning will work out the desired area of chest. Training using this method will pre- exhaust your chest for the next movement. With this, what you're doing is tiring the muscle by lifting heavy weights for your desired rep and set range. This is also known as a compound movement because it will add size to your chest.
Flys.
The movement of the Fly exercise is designed to stretch and squeeze your pectoral muscles. Always start with light dumbbells. This will help prevent injury and keep the movement strict for the heavier rep range to come. The key to this exercise is to control and stretch the muscles on the way down. Once you feel the full stretch, force the dumbbells back to the top of the movement. Now focus all your effort in squeezing the pectoral muscles together. This is a great all round movement for that massive look.
Cable cross overs.
Using cables help shape your chest while adding depth and character. Once again take your time with the movement. It's not a race to complete each rep and finish a set. The cable movement will also help with your shoulders and biceps. Bend you knees slightly and keep your feet, shoulder width apart. This helps you isolate the movement solely on the chest area.
Peck deck.
The peck deck machine is a great finishing exercise. It allows you to completely break down those last deep inner muscle fibres. This type of movement will help you complete each set until complete failure.
Tips:
* Try and vary your routine. You don't always need to start with the bench press. Try working backwards or starting with an exercise you don't particularly like.
* Change your set and rep range. Aim for 20 reps on every set. This will limit your weight range but will work the muscle in a different way.
* Don't train heavy every time you go into the gym. You don't need to be lifting as much weight as possible in a particular session. This will only play havoc with your joints later on in life. Try 8 weeks of heavy then 8 weeks of medium weight.
Then 8 weeks of light. Again this will change your rep and set range, depending on how you're pushing yourself.
* Train to failure. Keep lifting the weight beyond the desired rep range. Don't stop once you hit the number in your head. Keep going and feel the burning sensation within your muscle. Even when your mind shouts out to stop. Keep going. This hurts and you are going to feel it in the morning, but this type of training will make you grow.
* Keep a good eye on your diet.
* Change your gym. Different gyms have different machines and weights. This variation will train your muscles slightly different. This system allows the muscle memory to change and slow down the adaptability of your muscle density.
Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most common of all the cancers after lung cancer and it is the most common cancer in the UK. In the last ten years the breast cancer rates in the UK have increased by 13%. So what can you do? Just because the rates of breast cancer have been becoming larger of late this doesn't mean that you cannot do anything positive to reduce your chances of developing this cancer.
These 5 simple steps have been scientifically proved to reduce your chance of developing breast cancer and following them will improve your general health as well.
1. Drink less (alcohol)
The increase in drinking and binge drinking in the UK could be one of the main reasons that numbers of cases of breast cancer recorded are increasing. There is an increased rick of about 7% for every alcoholic drink consumed on a daily basis for women. Researchers estimate that around 2,000 of the 40,000+ yearly cases diagnosed is due to alcohol consumption. However, drinking moderatlely is probably the best idea for your all round health as some drinks (for example red wine) can be beneficial to other aspects of you health such as your heart.
2. Change your Diet
Researchers have estimated that 25% of diagnosed cases of cancer could be avoided by a change in diet. You have all heard the advice that we should get our "five a day" and where breast cancer is concerned, this could really pay off. Scientists suspect that consuming large amounts of animal fat could increase your risk of breast cancer. These factors are demonstrated in Japan. Japanese women have a diet very high in fruit and vegetables and very low in animal fats and the cases of cancer found in these women is very low.
3. Check yourself regularly
It is important to check your breasts regluarly, but few people know just how easy it is. The best way to check your breasts is to use your hand in a "paddle" shape and gently rub in a circular motion to check for hard lumps, often a way to tell if these lumps are anything out of the ordinary is if the lumps have a very defined edge. Breasts are naturally lumpy, especially when you're on your period, but once you begin to check yourself regularly you will be able to tell if there are any unusual lumps. Another thing to look out for is signs of an unusual dimpling of the skin. Stand infront of a mirror and raise your arms slightly, this should make it easier to spot any dimpling. If you spot any of these signs or your breast or nipple shape changes suddenly you should go to your GP and get yourself checked out.
4. Exercise
Obviously, exercising is a beneficial step to take for your all round health and fitness, including decreasing your risk of developing all kinds of cancer. A study carried out in the US found that women who exercise regularly before their menopause can decrease their risk of dveloping breast cancer by 23%. They also found that the exercise is most beneficial for girls and women aged 12 to 22.
5. Maintain a healthy weight
This step goes hand in hand with point 4. Obesity has been directly linked to diagnosed cases of breast cancer but only with women who have already gone through the menopause. It has been estimated that maintaining a healthy weight could mean that 12,000 people in the UK would avoid developing breast cancer. Obesity also increases the likelyhood of developing many other types of cancer.
