Prime Minister Gordon Brown has proposed a new insurance-based system to solve the problem of social care for the elderly, which is expected to soar in cost to a massive £24 billion in the next 20 years.

The soaring costs have been estimated using a report by the Department of Health, which estimates that a quarter of the adult population will be aged of 65 by 2028, while the number of people over 85 will have doubled and the number of those over 100 will have quadrupled.

In a speech that marks the beginning of a six-month public consultation into care, Mr Brown said that he wanted to free people from the fear of selling their homes to pay for care, which is what happens under the current system. The Prime Minister criticised the current system and said that it is unfair for those who had worked hard and saved throughout their lives.

The current system doesn%26rsquo;t allow anybody with a home or savings worth over £22,250 to receive help with care home fees, which are an average of £450 per week. However, because of rising property prices, few homeowners actually qualify for help and charities estimate that as many as 70,000 people a year are now forced to sell their homes to pay for residential care.

In his speech, Mr Brown said that many families were currently forced to care for elderly relatives and there was a lot of anxiety associated with the provision of care, he said: “Of course, helping relatives is a challenge that most families rise to - however difficult it becomes. But that doesn%26rsquo;t make it any easier.” He then added: “Nor does it remove family worries about providing physical care that is needed, or take away people%26rsquo;s concerns that at some point in the future they may have to sell a treasured home to pay for their own care. We can - and must - look to give people the opportunity and the support to save for their old age in a way which insures them and protects their houses and their inheritance.”

While Mr Brown revealed very few details on how the new system might work, it is thought that it will see everybody receive a basic contribution from the Government towards the cost of care. People will have the opportunity to boost this insurance by saving towards %26lsquo;top-up payments%26rsquo;, just like a real insurance scheme.

Stephen Burke, who is chief executive of the charity Counsel and Care, believes that a social insurance scheme like this is a good option. He said: “The growing care gap means we have to examine creatively new ways of paying for care, sharing the cost and risk. Social insurance schemes have worked in other countries and certainly should be examined during the care debate, along with other forms of private and public spending.”

It is hoped that the Prime Minister%26rsquo;s care initiative will revive the popularity of the Labour Party after its disastrous local election results.

To make the decision to change your breasts is something, but the way that you go about doing it can make it a little less scary. Many women have decided to use breast enlargement pills but trying to pick the best one on the market is hard enough all in itself. Many on the market claim to be the best of the best but we all know how that goes. How many times have you heard that a product was a premier product only to have it fall apart as soon as you get it? More times than I can count personally.

With breast enlargement pills there are many that will come up if you do an online search. Each of course says that they’re product is the best you can buy. Many of the breast enlargement pills claim instant results but that is virtually impossible. You see breast enlargement pills are made of herbs that cause your body to release the natural hormones that you had when you hit puberty. I’m sure that all women remember that time with a certain amount of blushing. Shirts finally didn’t fit right, even the boys in your class that never gave you the time of day finally noticed you and of course other things. But think about how it was when you noticed your breasts changing. You didn’t wake up one morning a cup size bigger, it was a gradual process that took a couple of months to complete. The same can be said about breast enlargement pills. For a company to say that they can promise instant results would be like saying you could have puberty over with in one day. Impossible.

As I looked through all of the breast enlargement pills that were available online there were several that caught my eye. I noticed names such as Evegen, Femax, Breast Success and Perfig. But one that really stood out from the rest of them is a pill by the name of Mammorex. Mammorex is a one hundred percent all natural breast enlargement pill that uses only the best ingredients they can find to help you in achieving the breasts you always wanted. For Mammorex to work you simply take one the Mammorex breast enlargement pills three times a day along with a glass of water. Water is necessary to help the Mammorex to work as it should. So don’t try to skimp by on just soda or coffee. If you do drink something other than water it won’t hurt you it’s just that you won’t get the same results you would if had drank water. And taking a larger dose of your breast enlargement pills won’t give you results any quicker it will just give you some unpleasant side effects like nausea. Not only will Mammorex give you the same results as plastic surgery would it will give them to you pain free.

Making decisions such as the best type of breast enlargement pills to take can be hard to make. So when you start searching around for the one that you want to take keep Mammorex in mind. It is one that won’t leave you with the same breasts that you started with when you decided that a change was for you.

Many women who are taking birth control pills are very happy to avoid unintended pregnancy but are blaming oral contraceptives for weight gain and fluid retention at the same time. Well, it is the undeniable fact that pills do cause weight gain in some women but not necessarily be the prime cause for all women. It is very important to know if we can associate weight gain problem with birth control pills or if they cause fluid retention or if they cause increased appetite.

The recent studies taken on low-dose (low estrogen) pills have indicated the nominal change in the weight. Weight gain while taking pills could be possible in few but not necessarily be at alarming situation. If the weight gain is due to pills then it could be a temporary phenomena and certainly not permanent. Analysts have pointed out that 5-10% women adding few pounds while they are taking birth control pills but there is similar number of women who are gaining weight but not on pills at all. Weight gain could be due to fluid retention in the body (occurs other than the pills) and fat deposition. Some women may be sensitive to either of these and experience weight gain regardless of birth control pills.

How much weight gain could be possible on birth control pills?

It is usually argued that birth control pills, specially higher dose of estrogen pills (more than 30 mcgm), cause more weight than birth control injection like Depo Provera. Studies have revealed that women using high dose pills tend to gain 5.3 lb in a year compared to women who are taking Depo Provera as contraception and gaining 6.6 lb (2.2 kg) in a year’s time. However, analysts have further found that only 7% women who were taking pills got more than 10% of they body weight. But women who were taking shots for Depo Provera, 25% of them gained more than 10% of their body weight. If you compare 5.3 lb weight due to pills with 6.6 lb weight gained due to birth control injection, you will notice that not only women who are on birth control pills get lesser weight in a year than birth control injection method but also at lesser risk of weight gain.

Moreover, most of the recent studies on lower estrogen hormone based pills (30 mcgm or less) have shown weight loss or no change, if continued to take for a year.

But birth control pills may cause fluid retention, isn’t it true?

It can not denied that pills containing high doses of estrogen may cause fluid retention in the body, specially if the pill has 50 mcgm estrogen or more. How it happens? Well, high doses of estrogen stimulate kidney-substances like renin-angiotensin, which is responsible for water retention that again causes sodium (salt) retention that ultimately causes the weight gain. Studies on different levels of estrogen based birth control pills revealed that pills having less than 20 mcgm estrogen reduce weight, 30 mcgm pills make no difference in the weight or nominal loss of weight whereas 50 mcgm pills cause fluid retention and weight gain.

If you are on birth control pill and experiencing more than 5% of your body weight gain in a year, it may be due to your body’s reaction to insulin resistance or abnormal glucose metabolism. You need to consult your healthcare professional to adopt low carbohydrate diet because high amount of sugar in any meal will offset your weight control efforts.

Besides, low estrogen, what other types of birth control pills can affect on weight?

The combined pills containing desogestrel type of progestin and low dose of estrogen would cause very little weight gain compared to the pills containing norethindrone (like Ortho Novum 7/7/7®). This is possibly due to specific progestin causing weight gain mainly due to lesser insulin resistance. Low estrogen can be found in the birth control pills like Alesse, Loestrin Fe, Mircette etc. If you are experiencing weight gain or fluid retention symptoms from your present birth control pills, you can consult your healthcare professional or doctor to know which birth control pills are suitable for you.

You may also visit at http://www.mybirthcontrolstore.com/birth-control-pills.html to look at the comparative study of the different level of hormones used in various birth control pills. The above article is for general information on weight gain and fluid retention problems associated with birth control pills and should not be taken as medical advice. If it is so, please consult your doctor or physician for treatment purpose.

The process of becoming pregnant varies greatly from couple to couple. While some couples try for years to conceive, others become pregnant without even trying. A woman may become familiar with her body’s fertility cycle in effort to prevent pregnancy or to determine the most fertile time if she is trying to conceive.

Every month, a woman’s ovaries release an egg into the fallopian tube during a process called ovulation. If the egg remains unfertilized, the uterine lining is shed and normal menstruation occurs. If the egg is fertilized by sperm in the fallopian tube within an approximate 24 hour time period, conception occurs. Within a few days, a fertilized egg will move into the uterus, attach to the uterine wall and begin developing into a fetus.

Though many fertility experts recommend having intercourse throughout your cycle if you are trying to get pregnant, recognizing when you are most fertile can also be helpful in increasing your chances of conception. The time period when a woman is most fertile is during ovulation as well as the five or so days leading up to it. Women who are trying to conceive should have sex every day if possible during this time period, while women who are trying to avoid pregnancy should abstain from sex or use backup methods of birth control prior to and during ovulation.

For some women, ovulation is accompanied by a pain or ache near the ovaries, a recognizable sign that ovulation is taking place. Other women may not experience any pain at all. Breast tenderness is another sign of ovulation some women experience. By being aware of some of the changes that take place around the time of ovulation, many women can predict the signs of ovulation in their own bodies.

Generally speaking, ovulation occurs between the 11th and 21st day following the first day of the menstrual period. Women with very regular cycles may chart their cycles using a calendar to predict ovulation fairly accurately, though the timing of ovulation can be affected by many factors and it is best to monitor a number of signs in attempting to predict ovulation.

One common method of detecting ovulation is tracking basal body temperature. Basal body temperature is simply the body’s temperature when at rest, which is slightly higher right after ovulation. A woman can track her basal body temperature by checking her temperature with a thermometer daily before getting out of bed. Body temperature increases are usually very slight, though they follow a pattern that can help predict ovulation. A common pattern is a slight drop in temperature just prior to ovulation, and an increase just after. Predicting ovulation by tracking basal body temperature is most effective when temperature data can be collected over multiple months.

Another way a woman can detect ovulation is by noticing changes in cervical mucus. Cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle in color and consistency. During ovulation, mucus is abundant and particularly clear, slippery and stretchy. This clear mucus plays an important role in conception by helping sperm survive. After ovulation, the quantity of mucus is reduced and it becomes stickier and less clear. Monitoring changes in cervical mucus is another way to help predict the time of ovulation naturally.

Over the counter ovulation kits are also readily available that can help predict ovulation. Be aware that all such kits are not created equal. The more expensive ones are in fact more sensitive and better able to detect when a woman ovulates.

As each woman’s cycle is unique, the most effective methods of determining when ovulation occurs vary from woman to woman. Usually a combination of methods helps predict ovulation with the most accuracy. Prior to attempting to conceive, it is advised to consult with a physician for an assessment of your health.

Most women are aware that a missed period can be a telltale sign of pregnancy. However, many changes take place in a woman’s body during pregnancy, some of which can help identify a pregnancy even before a missed period. Recognizing other signs of pregnancy can be particularly important for women whose periods are irregular and difficult to predict. Bear in mind that every woman’s body is unique, and signs of pregnancy vary from woman to woman and among pregnancies for the same woman. Here we examine some common signs of pregnancy that may be evident in the early stages:

-Implantation Bleeding: Some women experience implantation bleeding, which is bleeding that occurs after fertilization when the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus. Implantation bleeding is usually lighter in color and flow than a regular period and shorter in duration.

-Fatigue: Pregnancy places a lot of new demands on a woman’s body, and a feeling of tiredness or fatigue is common. Fatigue is often most noticeable during the first trimester.

-Heightened Sensitivity to Scent: Many pregnant women experience a heightened sensitivity to scents, even to the extent that certain odors can induce vomiting. Even scents that the woman would normally enjoy may become unpleasant or unbearable. A heightened sense of smell can occur very early in pregnancy.

-Nausea/Vomiting: Morning sickness occurs during pregnancy for many women, but is not limited to the wee hours. Some pregnant women experience nausea and possibly vomiting throughout pregnancy, while some have none at all.

-Food Cravings: Cravings for specific foods strike many women during pregnancy. Developing new aversions to certain foods is also common. While you may crave something other than the clichéd pickles and ice cream, craving unusual combinations of foods is not uncommon during pregnancy.

-Mood Swings: Hormones levels in the body change dramatically during pregnancy, which can result in mood swings. Mood swings are a normal part of pregnancy. Like many other signs addressed here, mood swings can be caused by a variety of factors and do not necessarily signify pregnancy.

-Intuition: Perhaps more powerful than a checklist of symptoms is good old fashioned women’s intuition. Some women report that they just “know” they are pregnant, even when other signs of pregnancy are not blatantly obvious. Perhaps they are experiencing pregnancy symptoms but have not consciously connected them with a possible pregnancy, or maybe nature has equipped women with such strong intuition that their bodies simply “tell” them they are pregnant. Either way, women with this instinct are often right, so do not hesitate to take a pregnancy test based on a strong hunch.

Remember, not all women experience all of these symptoms during pregnancy, and the presence of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. It is advised to visit a doctor specializing in obstetrical care as early as possible if you suspect you are pregnant.

DNA testing during pregnancy though is common, it is considered risky and harmful to the mother and baby. Hence, it is advisable to avoid any paternity testing for females who are expecting. Usually, the reasons for the prenatal testing are to confirm on several theories like confirming on the biological identity of the father, detect the sex of the baby and to confirm the pregnancy. Carrying out this test during pregnancy is 99.9% accurate in proving paternity.

There are two choices of the prenatal testing that is available. Amniocentesis is the test performed in the second trimester (14th to 24th week). In the procedure, the doctor uses ultrasound to guide a thin needle into the uterus section through the abdomen to extract a small amount of amniotic fluid for testing. However, the risks included small chance of hurting the baby and also miscarriage. Side effects like cramping, leakage of amniotic fluid and vaginal bleeding may occur.

CVS, or better known as Chrionic Villus Sampling include the insertion of a thin needle or tube from vagina through the cervix guided by ultrasound to obtain chrionic villi. The villi are little finger structure that attached to the uterus wall. The importance is that it and the fetus have the same genetic makeup as they came from the same fertilized egg. The test could be done earlier in pregnancy from the 10th till 13th weeks.

This testing on the unborn baby is costly, from $1000 to $2000. It is now compulsory to get doctors’ consent to have the testing done. As we know, testing conducted after a baby’s birth involves no known risks.

So this prenatal testing issues an important warning - prenatal DNA testing done in conjunction with other prenatal testing involves some risk associated with how the testing is conducted, whether amniocentesis or CVS. These tests are often discouraged for the sole reason of seeking paternity because of the increased miscarriage risk.

We always need to wear a perfume when we go out, so we thought it might be a good idea to give some perfume reviews. Find here a short review of some of the best selling and fashionable perfumes

The allure of Diesel Perfume cannot escape us. They have a full line of products for him %26 her. They are the fuel for life, that one appreciates having. Renzo Rosso founded the company in 1978 and has over 10,000 points of sale and over 50 company owned stores.

Juicy Couture Perfume was developed by Claude Dir. It is a very woody perfume that takes you back to how the continent smells. Juicy Couture Perfumes has a line of perfumes that are very attractive and is sold at stores like Nordstrom.

Marc Jacobs Perfumes is made in England and has a long line of products that bring out the senses in you. Marc Jacobs Perfumes are available online and at good stores everywhere.

J Lo Perfumes was developed for Jennifer Lopez, a film star in Hollywood. It is a fairly new but very successful company. J Lo Perfumes has a line of perfumes has captured life in a bottle.

Joy Perfumes by Jean Patou is a well liked brand. They have a Baccarat Crystal bottle on one of their products. Joy Perfumes makes a product that is superior to a lot and always keeps you ready.

Perfume Outlet is one of the best places to get perfumery. You can easily negotiate in outlets and the perfumes are ready to go for your shopping.

Mesotherapy, also called Lipodissolve is a highly advertised procedure that involves injecting microscopic quantities of natural extracts, homeopathic agents, pharmaceuticals and vitamins into the skin to dissolve fat. Proponents of Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve claim that these procedures can be used to eliminate cellulite, promote weight loss, treat aging skin and redundant (sagging) skin, and rejuvenate the hands and neck. Mesotherapy and lipodissolve are often promoted as an alternative to liposuction and laser liposuction for body contouring.

Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve injections are purported to target adipose fat cells, apparently by inducing rupture and cell death among adipocytes (fat cells). Patients are often led to believe that Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve is a fat melting procedure and can avoid the need for liposuction and body contouring surgery. Since many of our patients ask us about this technology and have many questions, we thought it was important to address the topic with some facts and research.

A recent study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, states that Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve, in fact, is not effective.

(See: Effectiveness of Mesotherapy on Body Contouring. Plastic %26amp; Reconstructive Surgery. 121(4):179e-185e, April 2008.Park, Seung Ha M.D., Ph.D.; Kim, Deok Woo M.D.; Lee, Min Ah M.D.; Yoo, Sang Chul M.D.; Rhee, Seung Chul M.D.; Koo, Sang Hwan M.D., Ph.D.; Seol, Geun Hye R.N.; Cho, Eun Young A.N)

Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve is traditionally performed in the US in Cosmetic spas and rarely by a physician despite the fact that fairly significant medications are injected into the skin during the procedure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have not approved the subcutaneous (below the skin) injection of medications commonly used in Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve.

There are multiple cocktails of medications used in Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve including: phosphatidylcholine, isopterenol, aminophylline, caffeine, L-carnitine, buflomedil, calcitonin, and others. The published scientific study was a randomized, prospective, clinical trial carried out on 20 women. A solution of aminophylline, lidocaine and buflomedil was used in the patient%26rsquo;s thigh area.

The results showed no statistical evidence of loss of fat or improved body contour in the thigh area of these women. In fact, some women had larger thighs after the study.

Despite the many stories of significant fat melting by some cosmetic practitioners and spas as a result of Mesotherapy or Lipodissolve, the plastic surgery community does not feel this is an effective means of body contouring and is certainly no substitute for liposuction.

As with any planned surgical or non-surgical procedure, we recommend you consult with a trained plastic surgeon for advice and answers. We would be happy to discuss Mesotherapy, Lipodissolve, liposuction, Laser Liposuction, Smartlipo, Cool Lipo and other body contouring options with you in our office at anytime. Please contact us with any questions or to set up a consultation.

For more information on plastic surgery and facial and skin rejuvenation visit drseckel.com or call us at 978-369-4499.

Be sure to sign up for our free email newsletter to stay current on new developments in medical aethetics, cosmetic medicine, and plastic surgery.

The most important thing you have to do to ensure a successful breast enlargement surgery is to select a plastic surgeon that is qualified, capable, and trustworthy, but that is an entirely different subject. If you are at this stage, there are many resources that can help you out. Once you’ve found a doctor, though, there are many things you must do as a patient before and after surgery to help your chosen doctor give you the best possible results. These are things that your doctor cannot do for you, that no one can do for you.

Pre-Surgery Consultation

Come to your pre-surgery consultation with a sense of what you want to look like after your surgery. You are getting breast augmentation surgery, so you want to have larger breasts, but that can mean many different things.

You will be looking for particular results that relate to your reasons for getting breast enlargement surgery. If you were happy with your breasts in the past, but have grown self-conscious of them as a result of pregnancy, age, or other factors, you can let your doctor know what you’re looking for by bringing in a picture that shows your breasts how you fondly remember them. This will give you a starting point for discussion. Sometimes, an item of clothing that used to fit you well is even better, since it serves almost as a three-dimensional model of your former body.

If you’ve never been happy with your breasts, you can do several things to launch your discussion. You might have a particular top that you feel has never fit you right because your breasts are small, or a bra that you think represents the ideal size for you, possibly one you can wear sometimes with padding, these can also serve as a starting place. Cosmetic surgeons also have sizers that can give an idea what your new breasts might look like. If you have one, you can also bring a picture of a woman whose breasts, represent the results you’d like to achieve, but you have to be careful in selecting one. Make sure you pick a woman with a similar body type and whose overall figure represents a reasonable goal for you as a result of your breast enlargement surgery, exercise, diet, and possibly body contouring procedures.

You should make sure you are as informed as possible about breast enlargement before your consultation. You should research your options in terms of incision sites, implant placement, and have considered the difference between silicone and saline implants. Read any FAQs on breast enlargement available. Your doctor will provide you with much more detailed information, but if a primer in the subject will keep you from getting lost. Make sure you know the risks of breast augmentation surgery and have decided you are willing to take them.

Be completely honest with your surgeon about what you hope to achieve and your medical history. Divulge any prior conditions, illnesses, or surgeries, and list all medications, herbs, and vitamins you take. These may not seem important, but many supplements have side effects relevant to your surgery and medications you might be prescribed afterwards.

Lead-up to the Surgery

Between your consultation and your breast enlargement surgery, you can take several steps to minimize scarring, reduce your recovery time, and decrease your likelihood of complications:

Stop taking medications that are blood thinners, like aspirin and ibuprofen, which could cause excessive bleeding during the procedure.

For at least two weeks before and one week after your surgery you should stop smoking. Nicotine impairs your circulation and your body’s ability to heal. Consider quitting altogether since smoking is one of the main factors leading to ptotic (sagging) breasts.

Avoid excessive alcohol consumption for at least two weeks before your breast enlargement surgery.

Make sure you’re well hydrated before surgery.

Although it’s impossible to eliminate risk during surgery, doing these things will minimize your chances of complications.

After-Surgery Preparations

Before surgery, make sure you set up everything you will need immediately following surgery, since you will want to rest and focus on healing after the procedure.

Arrange a ride home after the surgery.

If possible, get someone to take care of you for at least the first day after your breast enlargement surgery.

Ready your prescriptions and keep them near your bed.

Assemble as many pillows as you can on your bed. Consider purchasing a bed wedge, since you will need to keep your torso elevated for several days after the surgery.

Loose-fitting, button-down blouses that are appropriate to your new breast size make ideal attire for post-op wear.

Rearrange your kitchen so that commonly-used items are accessible without reaching up or bending down.

Wash your hair thoroughly before surgery. It may be a few days after before you are able to wash it again.

Getting Back in the Pink

After surgery, you may be nauseous from the anesthetic, and you will definitely be sleepy. You will not be able to drive yourself home.

You may feel very emotional. This is a big life change you’ve just accomplished. In an ideal world, you’d feel ecstatic about the results right away, but many people ride an emotional roller coaster for a few days. You may cry and think, “What have I done to my body?” Immediately after surgery, the appearance of your breasts will probably be very unnatural, giving new life to all your pre-surgical anxieties and doubts. You may also go through short manic episodes, although you should not give in to temptation to dress up and go out right away.

As you heal remember these things:

Follow all your doctor’s instructions precisely

Take your medication on time

Keep your incisions clean and dry

For 48 hours after surgery, keep your breasts iced. If you don’t have breast-shaped ice packs you can use frozen peas

Sleep upright for several days

Sleep as much as you can

Keep a watch out for signs of complications, including:

Excessive bleeding

Pus or cloudy discharge from incisions or nipples

Pain that cannot be controlled by your medication

High fever

A foul odor from your body

Difficulty passing waste

Blood in urine, feces, or throat

Numbness in your extremities

Blackening of the skin

Uncontrollable vomiting

Sudden loss of consciousness (that is not a side effect of medications)

The last four signs indicate a severe complication and should be treated in the emergency room, as should a fever over 104º F. In general, you should contact your doctor whenever a concern about your healing arises.

Complications are extremely rare, and your vigilance will make sure they are correctable without threat to your life or to your new breasts. Your breasts will look quite different at first. They will be not only bruised and swollen, but also very high up on your chest. They will feel unnaturally firm and may look unnatural, but both conditions will pass as you heal. After a week or so, you will find that the results are very close to what you were looking for. And these results can last for many years free from earlier self-consciousness.

To most people, a facelift is just a facelift. In its generic sense, it can be used to describe any cosmetic improvement given to anything from a public building to a person to a political platform. However, to cosmetic surgeons, a facelift can mean any of a number of things, all of which are constantly changing. If you are considering a facelift, it is important to understand the development of the facelift and its current state as a medical treatment to make sure you get the best possible results.

Early Facelifts

The facelift is a relatively recent innovation in surgery. Nose and ear reconstruction were performed in ancient India. Blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) was reported in the late sixteenth century. Cosmetic rhinoplasty and abdominoplasty (without navel repositioning) were invented in the late nineteenth century. Breast lifts and reductions were also pioneered about this time. However, facelifts have only been in use since the early 20th century. The earliest facelifts involved repositioning skin on the face and little else. The procedure (and many others) was described in the book La chirurgie esthétique; son role social, published by Dr. A Noel in 1926.

More than Skin Deep

The skin-only technique of the facelift continued until the mid-1970s, when doctors began lifting the underlying muscle tissue, known as the Superficial Muscloaponeurotic System (SMAS) as well to provide better results. The results doctors achieved by repositioning the SMAS were not only more pleasing, because they allowed doctors to recontour the face as well as tighten the skin, but were also longer lasting because the SMAS has more structural integrity than the skin.

Short Scar

Then, in the 1990s, doctors developed what is known as the short-scar facelift. Short-scar facelifts provided less cosmetic improvement with less invasive surgery. This option came to be known under a number of names–S-Lift, Quicklift, Lifestyle Lift, etc—as brand-conscious doctors sought to package and market their unique procedure. Although the results of the short-scar facelift are neither as dramatic nor as long-lasting as the full facelift, they have become reasonably popular among especially working men and women who cannot afford the downtime of the more dramatic surgery.

A Stitch in Time?

In the first part of the 21st century, one of the most popular innovations has been the introduction of the thread lift, in which the lifting of the skin and muscles is performed by a barbed thread. The advantages promised by this procedure are that it provides the same results as a short-scar or even full facelift without any significant downtime whatsoever. However, the reality seems to be that the thread lift is a historical anomaly as its results are uneven and sometimes quite bad as the thread can show through to the surface of the face. The thread can also often be felt by the patient, usually painfully. It seems unlikely that the thread lift will continue to be used in the future.

Further Developments

Today, doctors continue to work on the technique of the short-scar facelift to find a better compromise between results and surgery. The goal is to provide a facelift that has the same lifespan as the full facelift, but only requires the scars of the short-scar facelift and has little downtime. There is some progress in this area, leading to the creation of new variants of the short-scar facelift in areas where there is high demand for cosmetic surgery, such as San Diego. To make sure you receive the best procedure possible, be sure to inquire with your cosmetic surgeon about the technique he or she uses, what kind of results it achieves, and what level of tradeoffs you are making between surgical invasiveness and results.