Inland Cosmetic Surgery

According to a complaint filed in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, Obagi Medical Products is being sued by its founder and former owner Dr. Zein Obagi, alleging that Obagi Medical interfered with the distribution of a new line of anti-aging products developed by Dr. Obagi for his current company, ZO Skin Health.

Apparently, the lawsuit at least in part stems from an alleged non-compete agreement between the parties.

Competition is definitely increasing between makers of high quality skincare products, perhaps because the demand for anti-aging skin care products has increased among baby boomers over the last decade.  Between 2006 and 2008, U.S. sales alone rose 13% to 1.6 billion dollars, and the trend shows no sign of weakening.

Skin health is affected by a number of variables, including the environment (sun, wind, pollution), lifestyle (diet and exercise) and genetics. As a person ages, the process of skin-cell-rejuvenation is also slowed. Topical aesthetic and therapeutic skin health products on the market today are specifically designed to address these effects.

The tummy tuck is one of the top requested 5 cosmetic surgery procedures in the U.S.  It’s chosen by women and men alike to resculpt and tighten the abdominal muscles and to eliminate loose, wrinkled skin, excess fat tissue and even stretch marks.

Today, I want to talk about the mini abdominoplasty (often referred to as the “scarless tummy tuck” or the mini tummy tuck).

Mini abdominoplasty

The mini abdominoplasty is a variation on the traditional abdominoplasty, suitable for those who have excess fat and/or loose skin only below the navel. Mini abdominoplasty calls for a smaller horizontal incision than the traditional full abdominoplasty, and it’s made near the top of the pubic hair line, enabling you to wear two piece bathing suits and other types of clothing that reveal the mid-body. Excess skin and fat are removed and slightly loosened muscles tightened. Then the skin is pulled downward and sculpted into place. Sometimes the procedure is combined with liposuction to remove excess fatty tissue.

7 possible indicators for a mini-tummy tuck

1. You are within 10% of the ideal weight for your age and height and have good skin elasticity and tone.

2. You have only a small amount of excess fat and loose skin and it’s localized below the navel line (lower abdomen).

3. You are not planning to get pregnant again.

4. You don’t have significant stretch marks that extend over your entire belly & abdomen. Stretch marks are not addressed by a mini-abdominoplasty. However, a full tummy tuck may be able to hide stretch marks.

5. You have a firm upper abdomen with no separation of the muscles, but have some weakness or protrusion between your navel and the top of the pubic mound.

6. Subcutaneous fat (fat that is situated just under the skin) is limited above and below the belly.

7. You have a disciplined diet and exercise regimen. You’ll want to avoid future weight gain to maintain your new shape.

• Read more about the mini-tummy tuck at Inland Cosmetic Surgery

A magazine called New You is scheduled to debut this month, brought to you by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

Visually stunning images and cutting-edge information will populate the pages of New You, to keep consumers informed about proven cosmetic procedures and new trends in medicine.

Each issue of New You will offer tips and features like these:

• Patient stories and photos – from consultation through recovery
• How a cosmetic surgeon can enhance your appearance with the latest medical techniques.
• How you can avoid negative results and stay safe
• How to choose a trustworthy cosmetic surgeon

The primary distribution of New You will be in the waiting rooms of 2500 practicing cosmetic surgeons. An additional 50,000 copies will be distributed to newsstands and other medical professionals.

For more information, visit newyoumag.com

Most of us in Southern California like to start the New Year on a positive note, taking stock of our accomplishments and focusing on things we could improve. If time has etched lines, wrinkles and grooves into your face, finding a solution may be near the top of your resolutions.

Have you thought about Botox?

Botox Cosmetic may be the single most popular non-surgical procedure to reduce or eliminate fine lines.

Wrinkles form gradually

Crow’s feet, lines and even deep grooves appear on our faces over the years, the result of our natural expressiveness, lifestyle habits, and the tendency to move our facial muscles in habitual ways. For instance, you may squint a lot (when you’re concentrating, when you’re worried, when the sun is bright, or when you are trying to focus your vision.) As the years go by, this repetitive motion begins to carve lines in your face and can eventually result in a permanent expression of worry or intense concentration.

We frequently notice these facial lines and wrinkles on friends and strangers alike. At times, we also find ourselves looking at someone and wondering, “Why is she so angry?” or “Why is he so uptight and stressed?” We’re talking about that vertical line that runs down the center of the forehead: one of the most obvious facial flaws, in otherwise attractive men and women.

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