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Plastic Surgeon Finds Solution to Allergies and Sinusitis

May 18, 2012 By

Having allergies are common to most people. What sets them apart from each other are the triggers in the environment that actually cause the allergic reaction. These reactions are physiologically determined by varying stimuli, such as dust or airborne pollutants, which cause the release of the biogenic amine called histamine. The histamine circulating the blood binds to the mast cells of different tissues and causes the symptoms we know call “allergic responses.” Some allergic responses include red eyes, flushing of the cheeks, sneezing, and inflammation of the sinuses known as sinusitis. Although different environmental stimuli could cause allergic reactions, it should be noted that when left untreated, all of these stimuli could cause harmful infections that would possibly require surgical treatment.

Healthcare Professionals Plastic Surgeon Finds Solution to Allergies and Sinusitis

Plastic Surgeon Helps Find Solutions for Chronic Sinus Issues

A different kind of approach is now recently being undergone by Dr. Bradley Chastant, a surgeon in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he has developed the use of a new kind of medicated stent that promises to treat patients with chronic allergic attacks. He has been developing this new technique for over a decade now, and he has already become the first to perform this procedure at Lafayette General Surgical Hospital. An implantation device called Propel is now being used to treat long-term sinusitis of patients who are about to go under the knife. The implant is readily dissolved after the surgery is completed, which means that the drug release is time-controlled and that the area of effect is localized to efficiently maximize the drug’s capabilities. This timed-release, according to clinical trials, ensures the unblocking of the ethmoid and frontal sinuses post-operation, thereby eliminating the chances of subsequent surgeries.

Dr. Chastant explains that immediately after the surgery, the use of the medicated stents greatly reduces the chance of restenosis occurring, thereby increasing the comfort of the patient suffering from chronic ethmoid sinus inflammation. In addition, the stenting of the frontal sinus also reduces the chance of the sinusitis from ever coming back, which takes away the need to use antibiotics to reduce the swelling of the sinuses.

Dr. Jeffrey Joseph and Dr. Jennifer Hanby are working with Dr. Chastant in producing researches related to allergic responses, along with their early diagnosis and possible cures. The fruits of their research have currently produced this new medical stent that is of a corticosteroid-base and has an anti-swelling effect on the targeted sinus with the inflammation. This gives patients with chronic problems a sigh of long-term relief from all the sneezing and watery eyes.

Dr. Chastant and his colleagues believe that the development of this new technique has the capacity to affect many lives. One such patient who has had the privilege of undergoing the procedure for 11 years already said that the disparity between his disease prior the use of the stent and after implantation is stark. He said that he used to have a lot of surgeries before the treat for his allergies and asthma—all of which only provided relief for a short period of time. Now, thanks to the new stent technique, he was relieved of his sinusitis and asthma for a long-term basis.

Constantly monitoring the degree of improvement of their patients is what drives Dr. Chastant to research more on the possible treatment of allergies. He said that he enjoys the fact that patients are having a whole new outlook in life thanks to the procedures done by him and his peers. Dr. Chastant’s end objective is to develop a procedure that reduces the risks of sinus closure post-operation and returning of the allergy, while at the same time restoring the comfort which the patient has had prior the development of the allergy. So far though, he is on the right track in achieving this goal.

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BRAVA and Fat Grafting as Way to Enhance Breasts

May 17, 2012 By

Psychologically speaking, a lot of men find two particular physical characteristics about women very attractive, and those two are ample-sized breasts and nicely-shaped hips. These two go hand-in-hand due to the fact that most men take these, at least from nature’s point of view, as signs of fertility and the capacity to bear children. That is why more and more women in the US are turning to cosmetic and plastic surgery in the process of enhancing these two characteristics. This is backed up by data presented by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, stating that two of the most popular aesthetic techniques in the past years are liposuction and breast augmentation surgery.

nonsurgicalbreastaugmentation5 BRAVA and Fat Grafting as Way to Enhance Breasts

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation: Enhance Breasts, Naturally

Now though, according to a study published in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, it is possible to implant one’s own fat into the underlying breast tissue in order to achieve a bigger cup size. Traditionally, saline and silicone implants are used in order to augment breast size. But the usual result of these implants looks dull, stiff, and overall synthetic. Fat grafting was then probed as an alternative to these implants, hoping to give breasts a more natural look and feel. Dr. Roger Khouri, a plastic surgeon at the Miami Breast Center, was the lead author of the study that involved the participation of around 80 women who agreed to have fat injections or grafts injected into their breasts.

Theoretically speaking, fat grafts were found to be safe and more natural-looking, owing to the fact that breasts are already largely made up of stored adipose tissue with a few surrounding mammary ducts and glands that secrete and produce milk. There was a time however, approximately two decades ago, that fat grafting for breast augmentation was restricted due to claims that the grafts hinder breast cancer detection. This restriction has already been lifted, since it has already been proven that fat grafts do not hinder in any way breast cancer detection methods. The only drawback to this technique is that only about half of the transported fat actually remains significant once it is injected into the breast tissue. This is because there is simply not enough room for most of the transferred fat in the breast for it to reside in the tissue on a long-term basis.

This is where the invention of BRAVA comes in. BRAVA is a suction-action device, similar to a bra, which gently creates space in the breast tissue within a relatively long period of time. These created spaces are where the newly grafted fat is injected, and these spaces are ideal environments for the transferred fat to reside in. The BRAVA device is worn a month before the operation to give the breasts enough time to expand, and then re-worn for another week just to give ample time for the fat to adapt to the new tissue surrounding it. The invention of the BRAVA results in an increase of 30% fat survival, as well as an increase of over 100cc in breast volume as compared to fat grafting without the usage of BRAVA.

Dr. Khouri said that there are no critical health concerns related to the usage of BRAVA and/or fat grafting for breast augmentation surgery. He also adds that the surgery does not require the patient to go under the knife, and that the expected recovery time after the operation is just within a couple of days. Dr. Khouri believes that this procedure will open up new doors to women who want bigger breasts while at the same time are afraid to endure major scarring or surgical side-effects. He says that this procedure is efficient, less likely to fail, plus the fact that patients get the added bonus of removing fat from unwanted areas. It seems like a win-win situation for everyone.

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Surgical Instruments Company Increase Revenue For 2012

May 16, 2012 By

The world is currently undergoing what is known to be an economic turmoil. So many companies are now declaring bankruptcy or removing so many employees from their pay-rolls, causing so much anxiety and fear among workers who are in danger of losing their jobs. Amidst all these financial crises and job disputes, it is comforting to know that some companies are still keeping their heads above water in the economic fall-out, thereby making their employees a bit more secure about their own jobs.

Misonix, Inc. is a company that falls under this category. Misonix is one of the companies in the cosmetic surgery scene that have pioneered the latest surgical and instrumental innovations in the field of medicine. The company is known to produce instrumentation related to cranio-facial surgery, therapeutic-ultrasonic devices, spinal surgery, neurosurgery, and more popularly, aesthetic surgery. The sudden rise in revenue may not come as a surprise, given that the frequency by which Americans are availing of plastic surgery procedures has dramatically increased since a decade ago. Most recently, according to data acquisitions done by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or ASPS, 2011 alone has shown a marked increase in the number of Americans getting cosmetic enhancements. This number has been estimated to around 14 million people, which was already 5% more than the number of patients from 2010. This steady increase in patients that plastic surgeons are seeing is carrying over to 2012, which is why Misonix has cashed in the industry quite overwhelmingly.

Enhance Me Surgical Instruments Company Increase Revenue For 2012

Surgical Instrument Company Shows Positive Growth

The third quarter of the fiscal year 2012 saw Misonix increase its sales by a total of 14.5% or $3.6 million income. The nine-month period saw revenues increase by as much as 20.6% as compared to the same period during the year 2011. The two most lucrative subsidiaries of Misonix – BoneScalpel and SonaStar – both saw good years as they both saw increases in the third quarter by 124% and 30.8%, respectively, as well as their nine-month period revenues by 96.8% and 55.7%, respectively.

President and CEO of Misonix, Michael A. McManus Jr., said that he is happy that even though most of the population is experiencing financial crises, people working in the company have good job security thanks to the fiscal turnout of 2012. He also adds that it is through the increasing trust formed by consumers in the surgical operating room that BoneScalpel and SonaStar products are selling so well. He believes that this trust and confidence in his products were formed simply because Misonix instruments are reliable, robust, accurate, and most importantly for him, efficient.

Even though the entire world is going through a lot of financial problems right now, it is nice to know that even a few companies still exist to give consumers quality products that they can put 100% of their trust into. Confidence and self-esteem of employees, especially the ones who got removed from their current jobs, may be at an all-time low; it is good that quality cosmetic surgery instruments are still on the market that can ensure them that their confidence in themselves, at least physically, can be fully restored. The mere fact that Misonix, and probably other surgical devices companies, is enjoying a year of bounty proves that aesthetic surgery is being turned to by more and more people to at least relieve themselves of the stresses that come with job pressure or job hunting. It is not a myth that employers tend to hire applicants who look decent, at the very least physically, and more people nowadays are catching on to this trend rely on plastic surgery even more to help catalyze their charge onto a more prosperous life.

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Combined hysterectomy and tummy tuck – is it safe?

May 15, 2012 By

Combining two different surgeries – hysterectomy and abdominoplasty – is relatively safe, says a new study, with a minor complication rate of 32 percent.

The researchers say that combined hysterectomy and tummy tuck is an effective and safe way to help women achieve both medically and cosmetically important results in the same procedure.

Women Fun 300x300 Combined hysterectomy and tummy tuck – is it safe?

Combined Surgeries and Women's Health

However, one expert disagrees, saying all procedures with 32 percent rate of complication should be re-assessed.

In the new study, researchers from the Florida International University studied the results for 65 patients who went through both surgeries at the same time. The procedures were performed from 1995 to 2011. The women had an average age of 46 and an average weight of 184 pounds. The average body-mass index was 31.9 (regarded as obese) and the average length of stay in the hospital was 3.8 days.

Overall, the rate of complication among the procedures stood at 32 percent. Fever was seen in 10 percent of patients; wound complications in 8 percent; and urinary tract infection in 2 percent of women. Nine percent of the patients had totally or partially collapsed lung known as atelectasis, and 3 percent needed to have a blood transfusion.

According to Dr. Sherrell Aston, chairman and surgeon director of the plastic surgery department at New York’s Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, transfusion is considered a major complication, occurring in 3 percent of surgeries. Thus, he says he would not recommend combining the procedures.

Hysterectomy, or the surgical removal of the uterus, is the second most common procedure performed in women in the US, based on data from the US Office on Women’s Health. Women might undergo this procedure due to various reasons like cancer, abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, endometriosis (a condition wherein uterine cells appear in other body areas) and uterine fibroids.

Meanwhile, abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery procedure that involves the removal of fat or excess skin from the lower and middle abdomen. This procedure makes the abdomen firmer, and is not an alternative for weight loss, says the American Association of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Angela Kerr, head of the gynecology program at New York City’s Brooklyn Hospital Center, says the surgery could be safe for some women but it depends on patient selection. Surgeons should consider if patients have other medical conditions like hypertension or diabetes, which may be a factor in the risk of complications, says Kerr, emphasising that a lot depends upon the surgeons’ expertise.

Combining the two procedures has potential benefits, say the researchers. These include a reduction in overall healing time, in the risks associated with anesthesia and in the time spent in hospital. Combining the surgeries will also save patients money. As plastic surgery is generally not covered by insurance, patients might be able to save on the tummy tuck’s total cost when they combine the two surgeries.

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CoolSculpting – Freeze Away Fat

May 14, 2012 By

Those who wish to remove stubborn fat in certain parts of their body without going through surgery can do so thanks to a non-invasive fat removal treatment called CoolSculpting, By Zelig.

It was in September 2010 when CoolSculpting obtained clearance from the FDA for non-surgical reduction of fat for love handles. Just recently, it got further clearance from the FDA for treatment of fat in the abdomen, giving patients greater treatment possibilities.

Lately, they have been getting a lot of attention, due to their new “Get Naked” commercial campaign.

CoolSculpting is proven clinically to effectively remove fat on love handles and abdomen. Those who are relatively fit and have modest fat bulges are best candidates for this procedure.
CoolSculpting uses a body sculpting technique known as cryolipolysis to freeze the fat cells and eliminate stubborn fat. The device is placed on the desired body area that will be treated. It then draws fat bulges up between the cooling panels.

What’s great with CoolSculpting is that it does not burn, extract or shatter any cells, as it makes use of apoptosis – a programmed series of events leading to the natural removal of cells without harmful substances being released into nearby areas. The technology utilizes a targeted controlled cooling procedure that destroys fat cells under the skin. The cells are then removed through the natural process of the body.

With CoolSculpting, majority of patients observe an evident reduction in fat after just a single treatment. However, it takes two to four months to see the final results, since it takes time for the body to totally get rid of the fat cells that were frozen during the CoolSculpting treatment.

Every CoolSculpting treatment takes about an hour to complete, and there is no downtime with this procedure. Patients can go back to their normal daily activities after the treatment.
CoolSculpting provides long-term results as long as patients maintain a good diet and a healthy lifestyle. But it is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle or diet, and it is not a weight loss treatment. It cannot also be used for the treatment of cellulite, visceral fat areas or sagging skin.

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Cosmetic Surgery Makeover for Men: “Daddy Do-Over”

May 11, 2012 By

Do you ever wonder what happens to most male supermodels that just happen to start off a family? Have you ever wondered what happens to hot gym instructors when they get married, quit their jobs, and have kids? Well, to put it gently, some of them gain weight. Parenthood requires a lot of time and effort—time and effort that used to be spent on shaping and toning one’s body to a healthy form. Instead, most daddies become larger as the number of their kids increase, as they spend more time taking care of their children and less time spent taking care of themselves.

Tipping the Scales 300x300 Cosmetic Surgery Makeover for Men: “Daddy Do Over”

Daddy Do Over: A Makeover for Men

Moms, on the other hand, get a “mommy makeover” as early as a few months after childbirth. This is a process of combining three plastic surgery procedures, namely, tummy tuck, breast lift and breast augmentation. All of these synergistically help return a woman’s old form prior the pregnancy. These three components of a mommy makeover are among the most popular procedures performed in the US in 2011, according to the American Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Now though, daddies could look as “hot” as their wives through a new process called a “daddy do-over”.

Daddy do-over processes involve two steps: a tummy tuck and breast reduction. A lot of people might say that they understand why men should have tummy tucks—since this is a quick step to achieving 6-pack abs in the shortest amount of time and effort. But why breast reduction surgery? Well, this is to reduce or eliminate the effects of a condition called gynecomastia. This happens when fat, mostly coming from the diet, cannot be properly broken down anymore by the liver because of the vast intake of it. Gynecomastia also happens when men develop liver malfunctions such as liver cirrhosis or hepatomegaly, which outright impairs the liver’s ability to break down and store adipose tissue properly. These conditions occur in men who drink alcohol too much and/or too often. Gynecomastia, in laymen’s terms, is fat accumulating in men’s breasts, making them resemble women’s breasts. Studies have shown that approximately 60% of men all over the world suffer from at least a minor degree of gynecomastia. In the United States alone, there were 18,000 procedures performed on male patients to eliminate gynecomastia, making it one of the five most common plastic surgical procedures preferred by men.

Abdominoplasty, or more commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a procedure that helps tighten and tone the abdominal muscles. It removes the underlying adipose tissue and the excess flaps of skin that comes as a result of the removal of fat. This automatically gives people a more refined look, making them more confident in front of their peers. In the US, 95% of all tummy tucks are being performed on women, but the remaining 5% performed on men might soon increase, since more and more men are recognizing abdominoplasty as a suitable alternative to working out the fat from all their binge drinking and eating sprees.

Tummy tucks combined with breast reduction techniques are now becoming popular as “daddy do-overs.” Weight and aesthetic looks aren’t any more reserved for women alone—men nowadays are becoming a lot more concerned at how their body looks, primarily because it greatly influences how men get treated at work, at job interviews, and at gatherings with their peers. Confidence and ego is something that is really important for men, and respect earned from peers is more easily obtainable when men have bodies that they can be proud of, along with a loving and tight-knit family they helped build up from all their hard work. An amazing body is the least of the rewards they could ever claim.

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Cosmetic Procedures Help After Weight Loss

May 9, 2012 By

Were you always the fat kid that was being picked-on at school? Were you always made fun off because most of the buttons on your shirt kept popping out because of your belly? Were you the one who was always the last person who got to play at the playground because you were the largest kid there? Well, there are tons of people who fit this description, that’s why gyms and fitness centers are so popular. Because of increasing awareness for self-fitness, even the largest and most obese people are suddenly becoming thinner and gradually or drastically shedding pounds every week. As well as it may sound, not every person who loses weight so quickly is happy with the results.

Work Out 300x300 Cosmetic Procedures Help After Weight Loss

Best Results After Weight Loss May Involve Cosmetic Surgery

Dr. Raghu Elluru and Dr. Scott Holley are two plastic surgeons who believe that not all people who have achieved their goal of weight loss are necessarily pleased with the results they obtained, at least physically speaking. Indeed, even though these patients have already become less hindered in their movements and have regained a substantial improvement in their health status, Dr. Holley believes that these people may have self-image issues regarding their post-weight loss look. He says that though the excess adipose tissue present under the subcutaneous tissue may already be gone, the formation and stretching of the skin that had once occurred to accommodate the said excess adipose tissue would still be present even after the weight reduction. This may lead to rashes, skin chafing, and sagging in the once-fatty areas.

With regards to women, most of their concerns lie with the new shape their breasts take after the weight reduction process. Most of the breasts are made up of the lactation ducts and fat, therefore removing this fat when losing weight results in sagging and a smaller cup size. Research found on the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery showed that 86% of women who resorted to breast reconstruction surgery say that they are unhappy with how their breasts looked after weight loss. Dr. Holley says that the quick fix to this problem is a breast lift, where excess sagging of the breasts is relieved by removing the skin left behind during the weight loss process. This means that the old form and volume of the patient’s breast can be restored, or better yet, improved.

On the other hand, patients who have encountered discontent from their weight loss programs come to Dr. Elluru for tummy tuck procedures, or medically-known as abdominoplasty. He says that a tummy tuck is a very convenient and efficient for patients looking for a more slender figure after weight loss. This is because tummy tucks have two benefits all in one procedure: it corrects the shape of the abdominal area by means of stretching the rectus abdominis muscle, which helps to show off a slimmer stomach, and removes excess skin resulting from the reduction of weight, which prevents the formation of rashes and other unwanted skin disorders.

Dr. Holley and Dr. Elluru are very proud of what they have already done. They say that it is through specialized and individualized medical techniques that they achieve the results that have so far showed up only as smiles on a lot of their patient’s faces. Weight loss alone is already a very big step forward in the goal of achieving a healthier lifestyle. They both believe that patients should be happy after losing weight, and not suffering from “side-effects” caused by weight reduction. They are all but happy to have served people who themselves chose to walk a very hard, yet fulfilling path to having a healthy lifestyle.

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HydraSolve: A New Device for Liposuction by Andrew Technologies

May 8, 2012 By

Those who want to go through liposuction can take advantage of a newly launched device called the HydraSolve Lipoplasty System.

Launched by Andrew Technologies, this FDA-cleared device blends natural solution of saline and low temperature and pressure levels to liquefy only the targeted fat, eliminating the need to cut fat by strongly thrusting the cannula. The specially designed HydraSolve cannula features aperture edges with rounded radius of curvature that don’t cut tissue. The targeted fat tissue is liquefied by the energized saline solution in the cannula, which also does not damage or cut blood vessels, connective tissues or nerves. HydraSolve liquefies fat tissue through the disaggregation of the cell, not be lysing the membranes of the cell.

HydraSolve By Andrew Technologies 300x223 HydraSolve: A New Device for Liposuction by Andrew Technologies

New Lipolysis Device: HydraSolve

HydraSolve obtained clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) two years ago. Since then, the California-based company has been actively engaged in the device’s clinical development with top plastic surgeons in order to show its full potential in more than 50 cases.

Dr. Richard D’Amico, from Englewood, New Jersey, said HydraSolve is more effective and less traumatic, resulting in a less loss of blood for a certain lipoaspirate amount. It also provides smoother and faster fat extraction and quicker recovery, said NJ Society of Plastic Surgery President Dr. Christopher Godek.

According to Dr. Mark S. Andrew, who has direct involvement with the device’s research and development, HydraSolve is better for plastic surgeons as it provides excellent precision and control in eliminating fat tissue and lessens physical exertion. It is also better for patients as it is tissue-friendly and gentle.

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L.A. Plastic Surgeons Gear up for Mother’s Day Makeovers

May 7, 2012 By

According to Dr. Marc Lussier of Town Center Surgery in Los Angeles, it is very common to have high increase in the demand for mommy makeover procedures just before Mother’s Day. In demand procedures include a combination of breast lift and augmentation, or body contouring treatments. This mommy makeover hype has become a growing trend in various plastic surgery centers all over the country. Dr. Lussier believes that there will be a similar increase in the number of patients subscribing to mommy makeover procedures as these patients prepare for the upcoming holiday celebrating all the sacrifices and wonders of motherhood.

Based on statistics in 2010, about 320,000 mommy makeover procedures have been performed on women that are of child-bearing age; which are of the age of 20-39. A similar study conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) showed that in 2011, breast augmentation procedures has increased by 4% to more than 307,000 procedures performed; liposuction, on the other hand, increased  by 1% to over 205,000; and tummy tucks has ranked 6th on the top surgical procedures with over 115,000 operations performed. According to Dr. Lussier, the increasing demand for breast and body contouring procedures can be greatly related to the effects of childbirth on a woman’s body, and the need of many mothers to revert those changes. As a matter of fact, according to a survey conducted by Babycenter.com, about 64% of mothers say that their physical body appearance has gotten worse after giving birth.

Breast surgery procedure L.A. Plastic Surgeons Gear up for Mother’s Day Makeovers

Mother's Day Gift Idea: Mommy Makeover

Being a plastic surgeon in Los Angeles, Dr. Lussier is able to see a significant number of patients who want to return to their previous figures before their pregnancy and to fully enjoy the wonders of motherhood without having to deal with low self-esteem induced by post pregnancy weight gain. Dr. Lussier said, “The enormous popularity of the mommy makeover is due to its success at correcting post-pregnancy physical changes in a single operation. The primary benefit and desired result for patients is to be happy with what they see in the mirror, and be confident in a bikini on the beach.”

Despite the fact that cosmetic augmentations have previously been associated with prominent physical profile changes and the “bigger and better” mentality, Dr. Lussier said that majority of patients nowadays prefer to have more subtle changes in order to reveal their natural figure and to restore their confidence. He said that he looks forward to Mother’s Day and the opportunity to help acknowledge all the hard work and commitment of the mother patients going to his office by providing them with a chance to feel better about their bodies.

Whereas mommy makeover treatments can provide significant benefits to mothers by offering safe and effective treatment of common problem areas such as the breasts, abdomen, and thighs, Dr. Lussier said that every patient should make sure to consider the extent of their decision by evaluating all their options and by consulting an established and trustworthy plastic surgeon. According to Dr. Lussier, before undertaking any cosmetic procedure, whether it will be a full mommy makeover or a simple breast augmentation, he highly encourages patients to conduct an extensive research to ensure that all patients will receive the safest and highest quality procedures available. As Dr. Lussier said, “The mommy makeover can help patients address everything from sagging breasts to pooches, love handles, and fallen genitals in one operation. Additionally, if done well, it assists in significant weight loss and improved core strength and posture. The before and after pictures are impressive and the results continue to improve over a year.”

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May 6, 2012 By

It would be such an amazing dream—seeing people who had facial deformities that started from birth or due to disease to suddenly fix their faces on their own and without the need for constant surgery. It would be such a dream wherein babies with diagnosed birth defects could be treated even before they enter the outside world. Well, biologists over at Tufts University are walking, slowly but surely, towards the end goal of achieving this dream and making it reality for everyone to avail of.

Crying Teen

New Technologies and Treatments for Facial Deformities

A study published by Tufts University in the journal Developmental Dynamics describes the discovery of a mechanism found in the molecular-level for various organisms to auto-correct detected abnormalities in the developing embryo. Research has shown that groups of cells currently in the process of differentiation and development do not tend to be strictly programmed to form specific organs and organ systems. Instead, they are malleable yet sturdy—two characteristics that are essential if these groups of cells are to be manipulated and corrected, either locally or by an outside party.

Using mathematical modeling in order to quantitatively analyze collected data, a tadpole was tested during its developmental cycle to see if genetic malformations could be corrected even before metamorphosis has occurred. Molecular analysis during development showed that there exists a group of cells, specifically set to move in a particular direction or form in a particular way with respect to its surrounding organs to make sure that abnormalities present in the maturation of the cells are corrected.

The Director of the Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology and senior researcher in the study conducted, Michael Levin, Ph.D., said that the main methodology of the study focuses on how the organism’s genome organizes the cells in the embryo to form something as complex as the individuality of facial features, and how the genome would react when, at least experimentally, deformities were introduced into the equation. Dr. Levin said that they obtained results stating that the facial development adjusts itself in order to accommodate the said deformities in order to come up with finished features that come as close to being “corrected” as possible. His team’s goal, ultimately, is to use this research for further biotechnological engineering development until one day; this auto-correcting mechanism could be applied to human beings.

Lead researcher, Laura Vandenberg, Ph.D., said that the study focused more on the instantaneous changes the tadpole had undergone at a specific point in time to properly visualize, quantitatively, the correction that was occurring and how it was happening. It was done by inserting defect-inducing mRNA into a cell during the two-cell development stage. By morphologically analyzing the development of the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth of tadpole, and comparing it to the known defects induced by the inserted mRNA, researchers could tract, with absolute accuracy, the changes and adjustments being induced by the genome to the developing facial features.

Dr. Levin and Dr. Vandenberg said that using the insights obtained from this study, birth defects present in the lips, nose, cheeks, and eyes could easily be “auto-corrected” by tapping into the human genome at the molecular level. They also added that this knowledge would not only benefit the treatment of birth-related deformities, but would also branch out into other fields of biology, chemistry, and medicine. Regenerative Biology, where these two pioneers work in, is a field that dreams of having us humans being adaptive on a whole new level—where humans could easily “reconfigure” themselves in order to suit their bodily features with the environment that is present around them. This study, along with future studies in the field of biology and cosmetic surgery, could result in the realization of a dream that would lead us into a world without insecurities, without doubt, and without inhibition.

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