10 Customer Service Tips To Build Loyal Customers

It costs about 3 times more to find a new customer than it does to retain an existing customer. But what does that mean? For most businesses, your best investment can and should be in keeping your existing customers happy, rather than always chasing new customers.

Many businesses I work with have functioning client acquisition strategies, but have nothing put in place to keep their existing customers satisfied. Here are 10 tips to build loyal customers (and most cost nothing to put in place).

1. Say thank you. Customers have chosen to invest time and money with you. Being grateful for their investment and saying thank you is one of the simplest and easiest ways to build customer relations. This can range from a simple verbal thank you, to a handwritten note on an invoice or a postcard, through to a bunch of flowers or corporate gift. Whatever you choose to do to say thank you - do it from the heart and think about what you are doing.

2. Learn names. The most magical word a person can hear is their own name. Learn the names of your clients and use them in conversation.

3. Under promise and over deliver. Many businesses get caught in the bind of promising too much to try and attract a customer and then not being able to deliver on their promises. This leaves the customer feeling less than happy with your service. Life gets in the middle of things at times, so it is better to factor this into your business up front. If a job is scheduled to take 3 days, allow for 4 just in case. Give that little bit of extra service.

4. Little things mean a lot. With your customers, little gestures and touches make a difference. If you are delivering a piece of furniture - wipe it over for the customer when you deliver it into their home. When visiting a client and the garbage bin people have just been, wheel the bin in for them. Always leave a property/vehicle cleaner than you found it. If your business has kids as clients, put stickers or colourful stamps on your mail. It is the little touches that make the difference.

5. Keep in touch. If you only contact your customers once a year (and that contact is an invoice), expect little customer loyalty in return. Find ways to keep in touch with your customers. Your "A" clients - the ones you love to work with, pay on time and generate the most income, should hear from you at a minimum every 1-2 months.

Again it doesn't have to be big - an email hoping things are going well for them, a quick phone call, a bag of biscuits dropped in while you were passing or a copy of a newspaper clipping they may be interested in all do the job. All customers should hear from you regularly. Find a way to automate things as much as possible for you - a newsletter or an autoresponder email can make your life easier, while still reminding people that you are thinking of them.

6. Remember significant events. If your client is getting married, having a birthday or other special event, or are celebrating a holiday such as Christmas - all of these are opportunities to drop a line to say "thinking of you".

Some businesses I know have a concertina file for each month of the year. At the start of the year they buy a stack of birthday cards and fill them in, wishing their client a happy birthday. Where the stamp goes they pencil in the date of the birthday. They fill in the name of client, but leave the address blank to check just before it is mailed. At the start of each month they simply pull out all the cards for the month, check the addresses and then post out the cards.

7. Solve problems first time. Complaints are an opportunity to show how can you respond and fix problems. In my experience complaints only ever go bad if the person is ignored, not listened to, not treated with respect or palmed off.

With any complaints, listen carefully without interruptions. Work out whether or not losing a customer is worth you being right if you feel the customer is in the wrong. Solve the problem or review your procedures so the problem does not recur. Tell the customer what you will do/have done and most importantly - apologise (and mean it).

8. Communicate. Lots of problems come from businesses that don't communicate with their customers. If your delivery is delayed - contact your client and tell them. If you are going to be early - contact the client and tell them. Keep your customers informed of progress and any problems that may be occurring.

9. Respond to emails, faxes and calls. If a customer contacts you, aim to respond within 24 hours. Even just a quick email to acknowledge their contact is better than deathly silence.

10. Smile and be friendly. Genuinely caring about your customers and their well being shines through. You can teach skills - you can't teach attitude as easily. Always look for the happy employee who genuinely cares about your customers and their needs. They will become your greatest asset your company has.

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1 Surefire Way To Fail In The LED Screens Industry

Yesterday I had an aperitive with one of our Customers and of course we were talking about LED screens. He is a talented entrepreneur who worked several years for big multinationals such as Coca-Cola and Nestle' and then started to distribute our LED products worldwide.

While talking, he told me the story of one of his Clients. This gentleman contacted him because he wanted to install a LED screen to sell advertising spaces. He had a place where to install the LED display and wanted to invest some money to start the business. He saw the LED wall, liked it, bought it and installed it. Everything went smoothly and the day the screen was installed, he was satisfied and couldn't wait to start making money.

After a couple of months, our distributor got a call from this gentleman, complaining because the business was not taking off and he wasn't getting the return on investment he was expecting. Of course our distributor was surprised to hear that and he started to wonder whether the location was bad or something like that, but it turned out the location was good.

A bit worried, he made a few questions to understand why this gentleman was not making money, so he asked "How do you promote your screen to your Customers?" and the gentleman answered "I run an ad on the LED screen that says: Free Advertising Space. Call 011-954-1015." He replied with a smile on his face: "Well, I think you should do a little bit more than that!"

What's the morale of this story? LED screens are a great media tool and a business with great returns. But as any business, you must work hard to make it successful, you can't just sit down and wait for your telephone to ring!

Some people think that by installing the LED screen, the money will start flowing in their pockets just by doing nothing. Well, this is a big mistake because running a LED screen advertising company is a very profitable business, BUT you still need to work hard to succeed and continue prosper overtime. As in any other business.

Over the years I realized that installing the LED screen is just the first step of a business journey that can be very rewarding and profitable if you run it consciously, but could also be very challenging if you don't know exactly what to do and how to do it.

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1-2-3 Office Furniture Tips and Advice

If you have decided to open up a new office then you may want to think about purchasing the best office furniture to suit yours and your companies needs. Purchasing office furniture is quite a hard task, as you will have to consider the people you are buying it for. Sometimes you may get into hard times just thinking about what to buy yourself, let alone that of your colleagues. I believe that if you know what you are looking for, then the task becomes much a simpler process. You should get to know the people that you are working with and carefully pick up there likes and dislike, this way you cannot go wrong.

A few simple facts to keep into mind when purchasing office furniture is comfort levels, as you and your staff will be using these for most of the day, infact for most of the week you will want to obtain furniture that can give you and your employees that little bit of extra comfort. Basically you will have to shop around and find furniture that is not too comfortable, but that is also not too uncomfortable, because both have there downsides. If you get furniture that is too comfortable it may put the employees off of working as they will be too relaxed, and if you get it not so comfortable they will probably start complaining.

A new range that has hit the market at a tremendous rate are the ergonomic furniture parts, these are not only comfortable but will also help in reducing injuries and strains among yourself and your staff. You can get a wide variety of different ergonomic equipment which include but are not limited to keyboards, a mouse and all other parts of computer accessories, as-well as chairs and desks.

All of this being said it may sound quite costly but you should always remember that the price can be quite deceiving on some items, as you may find it elsewhere if you shop around at a much lower reduced rate. So to sum up you should get the most suitable furniture for the environment you are in, not too comfortable and not too uncomfortable but always remember to take style and vision into account. Especially if you have an open plan office because you will need to look like a professional company if you are getting clients visiting on a regular basis.

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1 2 3 Easy Steps to Creating Your Own Internet Business For Free

Internet is the largest source of money and employment today. You too can make money on the internet, and getting set up only takes a few minutes. Being around the internet for many years it has always puzzled me why others aren't turning to the internet for an easy way to make money from home. At very little cost if any, you can start your own internet money making machine that'll generate a lifetime of income. And if you read on I'll show you how to do just that in 3 Easy Steps

Can you imagine yourself making money on the internet? I can, and I'll teach you a few basic things that will have you up and running in no time! There are thousands if not millions around the world who are already doing just that. It's really no big secret to making money on the internet, but many would have you think differently because they want to sell you the information for a price. But if you spent some time on the internet you'll discover that "BIG SECRET" doesn't have to cost you a dime. As a matter of fact that information is spread out all over the internet and it's FREE!

Now for those of you who have heard this before but never could find the information for free, well then you have just now found the right article that will show you a few of those so called secrets. And it won't cost you a dime, a quarter, or even a buck to have your own money making machine. No more worries about it costing you a fortune to get started. Just follow the few simple steps below and in no time you'll be an internet Business owner who'll soon be on your way to making money!

Step One: Go to 22gee.com to set up your free hosting account. Or type in Free Hosting into your favorite search engine and search for a free hosting provider.

Step Two: Go to 101dollarearningtips and choose your favorite affiliate program. Find and sign up to quality affiliate programs.

Step Three: Launch your free site or buy space form webdomainspace.com Create a website using FrontPage website building tools. Web site can be about anything

That about wraps that up. And it really only takes a minutes to get this set up and to start making some serious money! Give it a try, but do keep in mind that you reap only what you sow In other words you will have to make an effort at in order to make money. You just can't build it and expect visitors to show up.

By spending just an hour a day leaving short messages and comments in forums and on blogs will drive traffic back to your web site in no time. If visitors don't like what your site is about, or they are just ready to leave your site, then nine out of ten times they'll leave by way of one of your affiliate links. You can make fast money on the internet with affiliate links!

Take it just one step further by writing short articles and posting them on article sites. This will drive even more traffic your way! Search engines love Article Sites!

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Without A Home Business Plan You Are Setting Yourself Up For Failure

There are hundreds of thousands of people that get on the internet and have hopes of becoming the next internet marketing millionaire. Unfortunately, many people suffer a rude awakening when they are unprepared and not willing to put forth the necessary work. The internet is constantly evolving and changing by the day, but it is still absolutely vital that you have a home business plan to help you get your business going.

If you try to get a business going without a home business plan, you will be giving the advantage to those competitors of yours that do have plans. Your internet business will be missing out on organization and direction. Without a plan, you will be lost and winging it as the many obstacles occur.

Within your home business plan there are a number of things you want to include. The plan can and should consist of goals you want to achieve, when you want to achieve them by, where you want your business to go and how you intend on taking it there. There are thousands of other websites and businesses on the internet that have the same intentions as you. So how are you going to separate your business from theirs?

Besides the fact that having an internet business plan will give you direction, it can also assist you in facing unexpected obstacles. The internet is constantly throwing unexpected and unexplainable things at entrepreneurs, and having a plan can help you deal with them best. While things will not go your way every time, you can always rely on your plan and look back on it.

Because you know that things will not go exactly as you intended them to, you can expect your home business plan to change over time. As the internet continuously modernizes and changes according to its searchers, you have to adjust with it. Therefore, you will have to change your plan in time. However, the gist of your plan and the goals you originally set can remain the same.

Despite knowing that your plan will change over time, it is still vital that you have a plan of some sort. It is dangerous territory starting an internet business without knowing how you will market it, who your target audience is and how you intend on reaching them. The biggest advantage to having a plan is plotting out who our target audience is. Once you find them you can change your plan accordingly to the needs of your target audience.

Just in case I haven't hammered it into your heads enough throughout the article, I'll say it one more time; it is absolutely vital that you have a home business plan. Plan everything from your goals to how you will market your business to what your target audience is. In the end, having an internet business plan will better prepare you for any type of adversity you may face.

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The Choice between Yes and Yes: A Psychological Revelation

Three year old Kara was throwing a tantrum. She didn't want to go to bed, of that she was certain.

"Do you want to brush with the red or blue toothpaste?" her dad asked gently.

"Blue," she says, glad to be given the opportunity to make a decision.

Ten minutes later, Kara was well tucked up, wondering when she'd agreed to go to bed in the first place.

You laugh at the story, don't you?

The method used to get Kara into bed seems a bit like trickery. And who am I to say that it's not? Yet I want you to pay
attention to one thing. Kara was glad to be given a choice between yes and yes.


Your clients are not much different

Clients come to you every single day asking you to give them a choice. A choice between yes and yes. Instead all you're giving them is a choice between yes and no.

Mah friend, your bank account will see far better days if only you'd step back, and use the immense power of the choice between yes and yes.

Of course, you don't have to believe that this choice factor works. You don't have to believe your sales will go up. All you have to see is proof. So in the article below I'll demonstrate the psychological factor of choice.How it can work for you and how it can turn against you and bite you in the you-know-where.



It all started on one stupid loss-making November's day...

We were doing fine with the sales on our website when we made one change. I'm going to demonstrate the change in the article below so it would help for you to have the page opena
so you can see what I'm talking about.

If you look at this page at
http://www.psychotactics.com/hiddenlink.php
you'll find that you get the choice to buy two packages. One is the copy of the Brain Audit and the other choice is a copy of the
Brain Audit + the Brain Audit Rip.

Till the middle of November, we had both the offers up. Then one ego-driven morning we decided to pull the plug on one choice.


We gave customers the choice between a yes and um..NO!

Almost within 24 hours, our sales started going south for no reason at all. We ignored this sickening slack for about a week. Then we looked back at what was working. And we put back the choice between yes and yes.

The customer was back in choice-ville and the sales soared.


But here's the curious part

Among the two packages, one has a much higher price. Yet over 97.5% of customers, when given the choice between the two packages, chose the higher priced package.


The customer is no dumbo

No siree. The customer knows exactly what she wants. And when given the choice between yes and yes, she takes a decision to buy that which creates most value for her. Of course, if there's an enticement to buy, as was in this case, then
there's a far greater likelihood of her buying the more expensive product.


The customer is no dumbo...but I sure am

Think about it. If your revenue shot up. If customers were buying higher-priced products what would you logically do? Wouldn't you take the same concept and use it everywhere you could?

You'd think a smart person would do that, wouldn't you? (Which is why I qualified myself at the start of this paragraph). But no! As we speak, the only product that has a choice of YES and YES is the page I've already mentioned above.


Don't stop at one point. Take the concept through it's paces

If you're in consulting, look at the choice between yes and yes. Are you giving the customer a choice between package A and package B. Or do you offer just one package? If you're selling products, the concept of yes and yes choice stays put.

And once you've found that the concept works, puh-lease don't
do the dumbo bit. Audit every possible thing you sell. And put in a yes and yes factor. Not only will this bring you higher quantity of sales, but also an a much better price on every product/consulting assignment you do.


I said yes and yes...NOT yes and yes and yes and yes

You, me, we all crave for choice. But give us too much and we go a little waka-waka in our brains. Because choice is based on rejection. To choose the strawberry flavour ice-cream, you must mentally refuse all the other flavours.

(Read article on: The Curse of Choice)
http://www.psychotactics.com/artchoice.htm

If you give a client too much to choose from, they will end up rolling their eyes, doing a RAM check and shut down their brains before you have time to do anything at all.

Keep your options simple. Keep the choice between yes and yes.

So that even a three-year old has no trouble choosing!

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6 Tips To Having Success With Affiliate Marketing..

Affiliate marketing is a difficult area of business on the internet because not everyone knows how to approach it correctly. Many people think that putting a link to the other business's website on their home business website is enough. In reality, you have to treat every program you are promoting as your own if you truly want to have success at affiliate marketing. Here are 6 tips to help you find success with affiliate marketing.

1. Pre-requisites
Without telling you, many affiliate marketing programs have pre-requisites that you must meet prior to earning any money. It is vital that you take the time to find out if the company you want to promote requires you do something prior to earning commission. If they do, is it worth the wait or can you find a better company to promote?

2. Interest
If you're working for yourself and have a home business website, find an affiliate program that you have interest in. The main reason so many people quit their 9 to 5 job to work on the internet is so they can work for themselves and do what they want to do. You will be much more inclined to work harder and promote the program better if you have an interest in it.

3. Relation to your website
There are literally thousands of affiliate marketing programs that you can sign up under and promote on your website. Because of this, take the time to find the best programs that are related to the topic of your website. There is no sense in putting an affiliate link to a gardening product if you have an electronics website. The best way to have success with affiliate marketing is by offering your visitors what they are looking for.

4. 40% residual income
As mentioned, there is a plethora of affiliate programs to choose for your home business. Because of this, find a program that is related to your website and offers a residual income of 40%. If you're going to be promoting other people's businesses on your website, you might as well earn quality money for doing it.

5. Statistics
Every affiliate marketing program should have a place for you to view your statistics and see how you are doing. Not only should it be accessible, but you need to be able to find current statistics 24 hours a day. The internet never sleeps, so why should your affiliate program statistics be any different?

6. Complaints
The best way to see how each company truly works and how much success other people have had with it is to find out about complaints. You can find this information out by posting in forums and asking for advice and any useful background information that people may be willing to share.

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A Footwear History Estimated

Footwear is estimated to have started its long history of human use during the Ice Age some 5 million years ago. Unkind weather conditions are said to have created the necessity for footwear.

Other evidences show that footwear came to use at the end of the Paleolithic Period, at about the same time the early humans learned the art of leather tanning.

Early pieces of footwear were made of wrappings, usually made of leather or dried grasses. Later on pieces were developed from an oval piece of leather which is bound by a piece of strong leather thongs. Sandals, which are the first crafted footwear, are the successors to these wrappings.

In Egyptian funeral chambers, paintings show the different stages in the preparation of leather and footwear. The images also show that in Egypt, footwear depicted power and class.

The Pharaohs' sandals were distinguished by the turned up toes, a characteristic which is missing in the commoners' footwear. Egyptian sandals were crafted using straw, papyrus, or palm fiber.Later on, Egyptian women adorned their footwear with precious stones and jewels.

Material evidences showed that the Greeks loved and took good care of their feet by using different footwear for different activities. Greek women began wearing sandals to signify their social class. Their footwear signified beauty, elegance, refinement, and extravagance.

It has been said that Greek women of bad reputation attracted men by wearing elevated sandals. These sandals create a "clacking" sound when the wearer moves, and this sound was considered as a symbolic flaunting of sexual charms.

In Mesopotamia, leather wrappings are tied to the feet by a strip of the same material.

Romans, on the other hand, created durable leather thongs so their legions can travel to places on foot. It is also believed that foot fetishes began with the Romans when Senator Lucius Vitellus frequently kissed the shoe of his mistress which was hidden in his tunic.

In Rome, footwear also exhibited social class. The consuls wore white shoes, the senators wore brown shoes, and the uniform footwear for the rest of the region was a short pair of boots that uncovered the toes.

But in all of these early civilizations, footwear indicated social status. Footwear consists of garments that are worn over the feet. They are worn mainly for protection and hygiene, but also for fashion and adornment.

Footwear items come from a wide range of materials including leather, rubber, canvass, wood, and plastic. But early pieces were made from available materials like straw, leather, cowhide, and grasses.

When footwear is assembled, the main components are adhesives, cushion, counterfort, heel, hook, insole, laces, sole, steel shank, tack, toe puff, tread, and welt. Generally, footwear is classified into: boots, industrial footwear, shoes, and sandals.

Boots are available as cowboy boots, galoshes, ski boots, thigh length boots, and so on. Industrial footwear includes plastic boots and rubber loafers which are used in laboratories, construction sites, and production lines.

Shoes include athletic shoes (or running shoes), climbing shoes, clogs, high heels, mary janes, moccasins, mules, loafers, tap shoes, and cross-training shoes. Sandals, on the other hand, include espadrilles, flip-flops or thongs, slide-ons, and slippers.

Footwear is considered an extension of one's personality. Well-maintained footwear says things about the owner, with cleanliness as the most important concern. Although the intricacy of this craft may have been lost to modernization, their influences are still present in shoes today.

The moccasins worn in early times by people in cold countries are still being worn there, while the sandal patterned after the Egyptians' creation is still frequently used in hotter countries.

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A Few Facts About Perfume

From the beginning of time some type of perfume whether natural or man-made has been used to try and attract the opposite sex. King George III forbade the practice of wearing perfume due to prostitutes wearing it to attract clients. These days perfume is created by scientists specifically to attract the opposite sex.

The actual effect that results when someone smells a certain perfume is rooted in science. When you inhale an aroma of any kind a myriad of messages is sent through the olfactory nerve endings to the limbic system of the brain. This system oversees instinctive responses like emotional, sexual and aggressive behaviors. Some scents such as vanilla and jasmine can stimulate neurochemicals in the brain being released to create a sexual response. Aromatherapy can be used for this and other purposes. The reason that we may be more attracted by one scent over another is caused primarily by pheromones which are significantly different in each of us.

Pheromones are most different between males and females and for obvious reasons. Male pheromones tend to be muskier than females which is why musk and sandalwood is so effective in attracting women to a man. The makers of perfumes search for the rarest animal sources they can find that are similar to the more erotic human pheromones. Essential oils such as sandalwood, jasmine, and patchouli are sometimes included in the perfume blends. The ancients used scents and perfumes for a variety of reasons from seduction and celebrating holidays to getting warriors psyched up for battle. Perfumes these days are primarily used for attraction purposes but aromatherapy goes a good bit deeper and influences a great number of emotions.

If you want to try to blend you own perfumes you should begin with mixing the essential oils and absolutes then add them to neutral vegetable based oil. If you are creating a fragrance for your hair or clothing replace the vegetable oil with vodka or grain alcohol and place it in an atomizer for easy misting. Alcohol based scents will become better as they age so it is best to make them up and store them for a few weeks before use.

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A Fashion Career Fashion Mysteries Explained

Those with a career in fashion are certainly content to ride along with the whims of their contemporaries. But, perhaps in the odd moment in the stock room or pausing over your designing template, you paused to wonder, "Why do we do this this way anyway?" So here we'll have a round-up of all those fashion quirks that you always wondered about in the course of your fashion career, but never dug deep enough to explain:

Where does the stitching on the back pockets of Levi's jeans come from?
The stitching originally because Levis featured cotton-lined back pockets, and the stitches were intended to keep the lining from buckling. The color of the thread was also orange, to match the distinctive rivets. The rivets themselves were another innovation - riveted seams were a dramatic advance in work clothes technology that doubled the durability of the product. The lining was dropped soon afterward, but the stitches lived on; they had become such a distinctive part of the Levis look that the company was able to register them as a trademark in 1942.

What is the original purpose of men's neckties?
The wearing of neck cloths dates back at least to the time of the Roman Empire, when soldiers wore a neck band to catch the sweat or block the cold, depending on the weather of the season. In the seventeenth century, the Croatian regiment of Louis XIV also wore neck cloths, from which we derive our word "cravat". Cravats, which were cloths wound around the neck and often tied at the ends, gradually evolved into the bow tie, and by the nineteenth century into the modern long tie. As with many fashion accessories, this one lost it's function in pursuit of style.

Why do we say a "pair of pants" when there's only one unit?
That's actually more of a vagary of the English language than any important clothing history. It is true that originally separate articles of clothing for each leg, such as stockings, evolved to mean a pair of any leg-covering item, as in "a pair of hose". But years later, when the two pieces of hose was joined at the top to make pants, the plural identity stuck. English has a lot of these nouns which were once dual but now singular: eyeglasses, scissors, tweezers, shears, and pliers.

Who invented Velcro?
Most fashion mavens probably wish the answer were "nobody" and then they wouldn't have to nag people not to wear it. But velcro was invented by one George de Mestral. He got the idea while hunting game birds in the ancient Jura mountains of Switzerland. Doing so, he had to pull sticky cockleburrs clinging to the dog's coat and his own trousers. He examined the cockleburrs and decided that they'd make good clothing fasteners. The fashion police never forgave him.

Why is a man's billfold pocket on the left side?
It seems odd given the right-handed dominance that most men's clothing are designed with. However, the wallet on the left makes perfect sense when you consider that it takes less dexterity to retrieve a wallet than it does to open it and take out bills in the right amount. Try having a right-hander take out their wallet with the right hand, then have them take money out - they'll shift the wallet to the left hand and open it and take the bills out with their right.

Where did the extra-long pinkie nail com from?
Originally it was an organic means of scooping snuff, cocaine, and other inhalant drugs up to be sniffed. Later it became a symbol of belonging to a counter-culture, currently amongst Goths. Some Goths claim that they use it to hold the sugar when they pour their Absinthe. OK, whatever. Independent of this development is the custom in various parts of the word for keeping one long and sharpened nail to open envelopes.

Where did cotton T-shirts come from?
Originally these started out as underwear carried home from France by World War one "doughboys", becoming a statement of youthful rebellion after James Dean wore one in "Rebel Without a Cause". Next T-shirts were then adopted as outerwear that doubled as personal billboards in the 1960s. Today T-shirts as outerwear all by themselves are a sign that the wearer has absolutely no interest in talking to anybody in the fashion industry. And it works like a charm.

Where does "throwing your hat in the ring" come from?
Once upon a time in eighteenth century England, men's hats were each uniquely made by hatters, who took great care to customize each piece to it's owner. Thus a hat was as good as your calling card. Next in early nineteenth century America, when public boxing contests were a popular participatory sport (as opposed to the spectator sport of today), you signified that you were joining the contest by throwing your hat into the boxing ring. You'd then have to fight the champ to get it back or presumably go home bare-headed.

Where did the trenchcoat come from?
The trenches of World War one! The trenchcoat was originally combat wear, meant to be a water-proof and warm covering for a shivering night in the trenches. Later use brought it alongside the raincoat in utility. Raincoats are not a fashion item; trenchcoats are. And these days a trenchcoat isn't even always water-proof.

Where does the concept of having a "bad hair day" come from?
We're all familiar with the experience of waking up with hair that just doesn't behave right for no fathomable reason. Actually, it is caused by tossing and turning in your sleep the night before, twisting and flattening the hair into shapes so that it's still kinked in the morning. Thus a "bad hair day" became synonymous with being in a bad mood, since the afflicted obviously hadn't slept well the night before and was grumpy. The exact phrase "bad hair day" can be traced the phrase to the "Gary Shandling Show" of 1991, when the comedian would ask his audience "Is my hair alright? How's my hair?". This became one of his taglines, and later the response "bad hair day!" entered the culture.

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A Facelift Without the Facelift

The world of cosmetic medicine has grown in leaps and bounds during the last decade. This growth has been seen both in the demand for aesthetic products and services and in the technologies and techniques that are now commonly available.

The increasing popularity of the medical spa concept is due in large part to the fact that they offer primarily non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures that allow for benefits that could have previously only been provided by surgery.

For many years one of the more popular procedures performed by a plastic or cosmetic surgeon has been the facelift. The facelift is the solution to the problems that arise as the result of the passage of time. Gravity and diminished cellular functions take their toll, which becomes evident in the form of wrinkles and thinned or lax skin.

While the facelift has become more common place than ever before, it certainly has its down side. Afterall, a facelift is still surgery, and surgery means anesthesia, cutting, risk of infection, discomfort, and a recovery period. That is the price of beauty though, right? If you ask your local medical spa they will tell you that may no longer be true.

In fact, there are a variety of new tools that have been made available to medical spa professionals that can offer their clients similar benefits without the risks. We can now tighten loose skin, eliminate wrinkles, and fight the effects of gravity by using technologies that produce varying forms of energy that create extremely precise changes in human tissue.

For example, micro current energy devices can emit small amounts of energy that stimulate muscle contractions. This energy is often targeted at facial muscle tissue in order to strengthen and tighten the appearance on the face. Society has placed an incredible emphasis on exercise and fitness, so why not do the same for you face?

Facial muscle tightening through micro-current energy is incredibly effective and provides for an immediate result. As with all forms of exercise, however, facial muscle toning requires upkeep and a regular schedule of visits to your local medical spa to maintain a favorable result.

Another form of energy produced by a medical grade laser technology has shown to be an immensely effective means of stimulating the bodys natural ability to produce a greater density of collagen fibers. Collagen and elastin are responsible for the supple appearance and elasticity of the skin. Soft supple skin is devoid of wrinkles and fine lines.

As we age our collagen fibers stretch or become damaged as the result of a variety of causes, which can include sun exposure or simply gravity. By stimulating and restoring the natural process of creating collagen we can reset the physiological clock without ever cutting the skin or causing discomfort.

Technology has also provided a means of tightening lax skin. With the use of both monopolar and bipolar radio frequency energy, collagen can become constricted in order to produce a tightening effect. This procedure likewise does not require anesthesia or surgery related after effects.

Simply stop in on your lunch hour, and get ready to become the new you, which is really of course the old you. The old you was younger with tighter, more supple skin. With the benefit of these revolutionary energy based technologies, you truly can reset the hands on time more safely and predictably than ever.

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A Face Lift Will Not Stop The Aging Process

A face lift, which is also known as rhytidectomy, can't stop the aging process. What it can do is improve the most visible signs of aging by removing excess fat, tightening underlying muscles, and re draping the skin of your face and neck.

The skin begins to wrinkle and sag as a result of age, sun exposure and genetics. Children and young adults have smooth, round faces due to evenly distributed fatty tissues in facial contours. Over time, the skin sags and folds around the chin, jawline and neck become prominent. Not only does a face lift improve facial appearance but also has a dramatic effect on the neck, enhancing its contour and profile.

During normal aging or even with weight loss, the face will change resulting in excess skin laxity, "jowling", wrinkling and even elongation of the facial skeleton itself compelling patients to seek correction. A face lift can help to restore youthfulness to your face and neck - smoothing the contours and wrinkles that aging will cause. A face lift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping. A face lift usually takes several hours-or somewhat longer if you're having more than one procedure done. Incisions usually begin above the hairline at the temples, extend in a natural line in front of the ear (or just inside the cartilage at the front of the ear), and continue behind the earlobe to the lower scalp. In general, the surgeon separates the skin from the fat and muscle below. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. The surgeon then tightens the underlying muscle and membrane, pulls the skin back, and removes the excess. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions.

A face lift will last about 10 years, however, this depends upon various factors such as technique, facial type, quality of skin, sun exposure and, yes, smoking. Despite the fact that the process of aging cannot be stopped, one can expect that they will tend to always look better after a face lift - at any age - than if they never had the procedure at all.

For an endoscopic mid face lift, appropriate for patients in their mid-30's to 40's with mid face aging but without much "jowling" (sagging over jawline), the surgeon in most cases, makes hidden incisions in the temporal hair and inside the mouth.

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A Detroit Dentist Explains In-Office Teeth Whitening

Your teeth are likely to make a lasting impression on the people you meet. While a gorgeous smile that showcases dazzling white teeth is attractive, discolored teeth can be off-putting. In the past, your options for whitening your teeth were limited. Today, a myriad of products and services are available to help you regain a beautiful smile. In this article, I'll describe how teeth become discolored and how teeth whitening works. Once you've made the decision to enjoy a great smile, you can approach a Detroit dentist with confidence, knowing the procedure will remove any discoloration.

Causes Of Discolored Teeth

There are several ways your teeth can become discolored. Most people realize that habitual smoking and drinking coffee can gradually cause your teeth to lose their whiteness. However, there are lesser-known causes. For example, soy sauce and berries can also stain your teeth. As we age, our teeth begin to have an absorbent quality that can exacerbate the problem. Often, certain medications can cause discoloration from the inside of your teeth. When this is the case, brushing to whiten your teeth is largely ineffective.

How Tooth Whitening Works

Procedures for whitening your teeth at the dentist's office will vary slightly depending upon the professional who is performing the job. For example, a Detroit dentist may prefer using a hydrogen peroxide solution with a higher concentration than another dentist. That being said, most dentists follow a similar process when whitening their patients' teeth.

Usually, a device is often inserted into the patients' mouth to help isolate the gums and teeth. Sometimes, a shield is placed upon the gums to prevent the hydrogen peroxide gel from irritating them. Next, the gel is placed on the teeth for up to 30 minutes. Then, the dentist will check your teeth to note the progress of the whitening. It's common among Detroit tooth whitening professionals to apply the gel multiple times.

Benefits Of In-Office Tooth Whitening

Though you can purchase whitening toothpastes and at-home bleaching solutions, they're often less-effective and more harmful than having a professional perform the bleaching. For example, a Detroit dentist will have access to materials that are more potent, safer and longer-lasting than the solutions you'll see on most store shelves. Not only will they take precautions to ensure that your gums aren't irritated, their bleaching agents won't wear down the enamel on your teeth like many at-home solutions.

Potential Drawbacks of In-Office Tooth Whitening

There are a few disadvantages to having your teeth whitened at your dentist's office. First, the cost may be prohibitive for many patients. Because high-quality gels and equipment are used for the procedure, it's usually more expensive than performing the procedure at home. A Detroit dentist may charge $700 to whiten your teeth while whitening strips purchased at the grocery store may cost less than $100.

Also, the level of whitening that your teeth experience will depend upon your age, the types of stains and even your heredity. That being said, you'll likely experience the same varying levels of success at home. That is, if a Detroit tooth whitening procedure is only mildly successful, using an in-home solution will result in mild success, too.

Enjoying A Beautiful Smile

There are several options for whitening your teeth. You can purchase special toothpastes or whitening strips that promise to eliminate some of the discoloration. Alternatively, you can ask your dentist about buying whitening trays and gels that you can use at home. Many people prefer to have their teeth whitened at their local dentist's office. The method you choose will depend upon your budget, the quality of gels and materials you want to use on your teeth and the availability of teeth whitening services near you. If you're looking for a Detroit dentist, you'll find that many can perform teeth whitening services in less than an hour.

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A Day in the Life of a LASIK Procedure

It is 9:00am, I must get up, I have been waiting for this day my entire life. As far as I can remember I have needed glasses, not the kind that would flatter a person, the kind that would bring pity to the faces of strangers who looked at me. I mean, my glasses where thick! . This is the day I am going to have LASIK. LASIK is an acronym for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, which refers to creating a flap in the cornea with a microkeratome and using a laser to reshape the underlying cornea. I have done the research, I have met with the surgeon, there is no turning back, its almost show time.

On my way to the doctor's office, my mind is racing, am I making the right decision? Will I experience the debilitating side effects that others have warned me about? My journey originally began at my eye doctor's office, who does not perform LASIK. I asked him for a referral, and he suggested a local Ophthalmologist. An Ophthalmologist is a Medical Doctor who is licensed to perform LASIK procedures, after additional LASIK-specific training. After an extensive checking of his credentials, and experience, this was going to be my LASIK doctor.

I finally arrive, and a very friendly, and helpful staff greets me, and assures me that this procedure will be painless, and quick. Easy for them to say, they all probably have perfect vision. My name is called; I proceed to a cold, large room, which looks like a scene from the movie Independence Day. My hour of reckoning is here, I think about going blind, what I would miss most. I have to start thinking positive thoughts. I briefly meet with the Surgical Counselor who explains to me the different steps I am about to go through. He asks me if I require a sedative, I tell him a Bombay Sapphire Martini would do just fine. He reminds me it is 10:00 am in the morning. I opt out of taking any sedative; I want to be awake for the entire procedure. With this, in walks his royal highness, THE LASIK SURGEON.

I lay down on what is referred to as the treatment bed, a bit hard, but totally acceptable. The surgeon places drops in both of my eyes, within seconds my eyes feel very heavy, and numb. He assures me this is normal, and will not affect my brain. He starts on the right eye first, he places clamps under my eyelids to keep them wide open. My heart is racing; I want to cry out for my mommy. Next he places a contraption on my eye, that he calls a keratome, the instrument that will be used to create the cornea "flap". At this point, I only feel some pressure on my eye, absolutely no pain. His assistant is constantly pouring artificial tears in my eyes to keep them wet since I cannot blink. I am now directed to focus on a red fixation light, which I do obediently. The surgeon activates the keratome, I hear a noise my cornea is being sliced like a bologna, and I still feel no pain. Next the laser is activated, I smell something like burning hair, again no pain, just pressure. Within minutes the surgeon is finished with the right eye, on to the left. The entire procedure lasted about 20 minutes. That is it!

My procedure is over, and I am in recovery. I am almost in tears, I open my eyes, and for the first time in my life I have VISION, a bit cloudy, but vision nonetheless. I am overwhelmed at this point. The LASIK surgeon walks in, checks me briefly, and informs me everything went well. I wanted to hug and kiss him, however there is a time and place for everything. I am given some drops, and instructions, and within 24 hours of surgery I am back at work. Absolutely amazing, how quick the recovery period was. My vision at this point is cloudy, and I am told this is normal, since the cornea is still swollen.

Six weeks have passed, and I am doing great. The vision in my right eye is 20/20, my left is 20/25 all with no glasses, or correction. The cloudiness is completely eliminated, I still have a noticeable glare at night, but far from debilitating. There is no dryness in my eyes at all, and I rarely use lubricating drops. I am completely satisfied with my entire experience, and highly recommend it to any potential candidate.

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A Complete Guide To Laser Hair Removal. Will It Work For You?

Laser Hair removal techniques and gadgets are increasingly becoming popular these days. Though the various treatment options are not fully verified to be safe by the FDA, the health department list a variety of health standards to ensure the safety of clients who are undergoing such kind of treatment regimen to remove unwanted hair in any part of their skin.

Labeling of laser devise is very important when undergoing laser treatment. Your physician, or laser treatment operatoris your number one guide for information regarding the safety and risk factor information on any laser treatment devices and technique being used by laser clinics nationwide.

The Federal Drug Administration maintains a database and is the FDA approved legal site which houses roster for manufacturers which were given FDA clearances for laser hair removal treatment devices and techniques.

Seeking and requesting this information from your domestic aesthetic clinic will help you tailor your decisions to continue treatment and opt and request for another clinic or manufacturer for another laser devices that are approved to be equally safe and effective in the conduct of these services.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Permission to Market

Although the provision of laser treatment permission to manufacturers and clinic alike are given the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this branch of US Department of Health and Human Services does not condone clinics which advertises laser treatment and other techniques and devices to the public.

Under the law, permission to offer is warranted but should not be advertised to the public as this science is not yet scientifically verified and should not be given full consent to endorse it to the general market.

Hidden Risk Involved in Laser Hair Removal

Somehow, the government is warning the public of the hidden risk that is not yet manifesting to the general public who are frequenting the use of this novel technique in active hair removal option.

The federal government is still conducting studies about the health risk involved in the administration such technique which will mark, determine and shape the future of this cosmetic business.

Some clinics and cosmetic labs may internally advertise about permanent reduction which confuses the public over permanent hair removal phrase. This is the same reason why the FDA does not officially endorses any laser system and techniques over any other due to these discrepancies and unestablished facts.

Moreover, in several statistical reviews, one laser treatment may favor and benefit one user over another and another laser treatment option and technique uniquely benefiting another user.

These figures leads to current conclusions about the effectiveness of one laser treatment over another and how these cosmetic laboratory techniques should be recommended to different type of patients which differs on their existing hair conditions.

Body Laser Hair Removal and Facial Hair Removal

Cosmetic Labotories are now enjoying the benefit of getting approval from the FDA about using the same laser gadgets to remove bodily hairs for use in facial hair treatment.

Just recently, many clinics are getting clear results on the effectiveness of body laser hair removal therapy for the removal of facial hairs and wrinkles as well.

Safety and Risk Factors on Skin Radiation Therapy

Laser Hair Removal Treatment is a kind of low level laser therapy (LLLT) which poses less-than-the-usual hair removal laser gadgets. FDA cleared the manufacture of these gadgets on 1997 as an effective treatment for wrinkle and unwanted facial and body hairs.

These laser treatments, along with so-called Biostimulation lasers, were approved for compliance with the current FDA health standard together with the Laser Product Report to the appropriate health and or US radiation department for approval.

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A Closer Look at Natural Mineral Makeup...

The cosmetic industry is looking at the big market potential of natural mineral makeup. The composition of these make-ups is the best alternative to people who are concerned about their skin. These make-ups don't contain harmful ingredients that can potentially damage your skin. Some have even exhibited a promise of making your skin more beautiful and radiant after continued use.

Natural mineral makeup contains very unique qualities that make them very simple to wear. They are created to be very gentle and delicate, making you feel that you don't wear any make-up at all - even though you really have full coverage. The ingredients of these cosmetics won't clog or block the pores of your skin. And because they provide for good air circulation, rashes and other allergies won't develop - even if you have the most sensitive skin. More so, they contain ingredients that successfully keep the sun's harmful rays away.

The lightness of natural mineral make-up cosmetics on the skin is one of its best points. It mixes evenly on your skin, provided that you choose the right shade for you. Your natural beauty would come out, as the make-up you're wearing is barely noticeable. Being light and cool, this cosmetic can be left on your face even while you sleep. But of course, that isn't the greatest idea at all. While it leaves your skin pores open, it is still best that you wash it off completely so that skin complications won't arise. Another good advantage is their ability to reflect light. As such, it would help conceal tiny blemishes and creases on your face.

Teens and adults who are prone to acne now have a promising solution to their problem. If they can't use ordinary make-up primarily because it irritates their skin, then natural makeup is a good alternative for them. Mineral cosmetics don't contain active ingredients that interact with water that can trigger bacterial formations. This makes the product suitable for everybody, regardless of their skin type. They are safe and effective to use. They are also available in all hues and can be mixed and matched together to get the perfect tone for your skin.

You can buy natural mineral makeup very easily these days. There are many online sites and retailers carrying these items right now. Try it and you won't be disappointed. These make-ups have all the necessary qualities you want in cosmetics.

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A Closer Look At Facial Masks

Facial masks are more than just silly tricks that women try to get their "beauty rest." They are an important part of skin care. It is recommended that you use a facial mask at least once a week. While it is not necessary to go overboard and wear one every night, a weekly facial mask session cannot only help your skin receive moisture, but it can also ease skin disorders. Facial masks can be soothing or energizing, and the actions and rituals often involved with applying a facial mask can be an effective stress reliever.

A facial mask is generally defined as a substance that is applied to the face, much like smearing on cream. It is thick, and often resembles clay. Many masks make use of clay or gel as a base, as these will stay in place when applied, and they are generally harmless to most skin types (although gel is used most for sensitive skin, as heavy clay irritate it). Masks are meant to cover the entire face and then remain in place for a few minutes before washing off. The materials in most masks are safe to be washed down the sink.

Most facial masks include both deep cleaning and moisturizing agents in the mask. This allows the cores in the face to be cleansed deeply, getting rid of oily build up and trapped dirt. This can help reduce or even prevent acne. Additionally, many masks help slough off dead skin. The dead top skin is dull and lusterless. When it is gently removed, the mask brings the top layer of dead skin cells off with it. This leaves younger, healthier cells exposed as the face's surface. This means tighter skin and a more brilliant complexion. It can also reduce the look of fine lines and small wrinkles to carry out a regular facial mask.

Another reason that facial masks are so popular involves the soothing and relaxing motions associated with applying a facial mask. If you decide to have one applied in for relaxation as well as the benefits it has for the skin on the face, then you can have a very enjoyable experience. In spas, these masks are applied with special techniques and often include a massage. You can give your own face a gentle massage just prior to applying the mask, and if you are systematic about it, you can apply the mask in a way that is singularly soothing. All masks should be applied to a freshly cleaned face, rinsed with warm water. This opens the pores and allows the mask to do its thing. Warm water is very calming and soothing, and many people find this part of the application to be one of the more enjoyable stages.

Apply the mask in a circular motion until it covers the face. This is calming and stimulating at the same time. Let the mask sit on your face for 15 to 20 minutes (although some are meant to be worn all night). Many women like to lie down and relax. The effect can be enhanced by the addition of candles or incense and some soothing music. Finally, when it is time to rinse the mask, do so in cold water. This will help close the pores, protecting them against dirt and oil, and also energize your face.

Many people enjoy making their own facial masks from common household products like bananas (for wrinkles), avocados, and honey (antibacterial). Butter can also be used as a remedy for dry skin. Other masks can be created using different types of clays, and different essential oils can be used for different skin types. Fruit purees also have different effects and yogurt and milk can soften the skin. Oatmeal is extremely soothing, and most sensitive skin types can use masks of this sort. Adding rose petal powder can enhance your fragrance without the need for perfume, while citrus fruit peel powder acts as an astringent.

When you decide to make use of facial masks, you are certain to feel the good effects of it later down the road. And if you apply them once a week, you can help keep your face healthy-looking and your complexion brilliant with a healthy glow.

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A Cheap Engagement Ring Doesn't Have To Look That Way...

Let's face it. Not everyone can afford to pay out three entire months worth of paychecks for the purchase of an engagement ring. But, just because you need a cheap engagement ring to proclaim your commitment to your special someone, doesn't mean you or the ring are "cheap." You can find lots of high quality, beautiful rings that still fall in the inexpensive engagement ring.

While it's true social matrons might expect that 3-month rule to apply, if your loved one respects you and understands your situation, it's not likely she's expecting a 5-carat diamond on a half-carat salary. With this in mind, it's also very likely true that you don't want a cheap engagement ring to look that way. If you want something spectacular but don't want to pay full price, you're in luck. There are things you can do to get an inexpensive engagement ring that's worth a whole lot more.

Here are some ideas on where to look for an engagement ring that isn't really "cheap" and certainly doesn't look that way:

* Classified ads. The local newspaper and even online classified ads can net some great buys on rings that happen to be worth more than a person is willing to part with the ring for. Divorce sales, estate sales and so on can provide really good buys on cheap engagement rings. If shopping this way, however, do insist on appraisals to make sure the engagement ring you buy isn't a fake. Many people do sell very good diamonds for less than they're worth, but sometimes scams can happen. Be aware and you should be able to ensure your purchase is actually a good buy.

* Auctions. Online and face-to-face auctions can also offer up great buys on cheap engagement rings. The appraisal rule applies here, too, however. It can't hurt to ask for an appraisal, and if the seller isn't willing to submit paperwork, perhaps you might want to look in the next location.

* Jewelry stores. Many times the very best jewelers in town will discount their rings so that a cheap ring can be had while still offering a great size, stone and overall look. This is done oftentimes to make way for new merchandise and even to pull new customers into the stores. Whatever the case, don't overlook professional jewelers.

* Your own family. Sometimes family members will have heirloom rings they'd like you to use for your married. In this case, the cheap ring will likely be anything but. The ring will carry with it not only a free price tag, but also a history that's special.

Searching for cheap engagement rings doesn't make you cheap. Few people can afford to follow the three-month rule, but that doesn't mean they need to give their loved one a ring that's less than appealing. Shop around, use common sense and don't be willing to settle for less than what you really want her to have - within reason.

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A Cellulite Walktrough, Get Rid Of It

There are many things that women spend a great deal of time and money fighting. Cellulite is another of these evils that plagues the daily plight of millions of women around the world.

The key to dealing with and preventing cellulite begins with understanding the facets of it. It can be incredibly difficult trying to eliminate that which you don't understand.

Nobody should ever be forced to give up their favourite skirt or hide during bikini season just because of the harsh effects of cellulite. Deal with it now before it gets out of control.

Cellulite is obviously a form of fat. However, it's often misunderstood or labelled as something that it is not.

It is actually fat cells that have become trapped beneath the surface of the skin. This happens most in areas that are higher in fat content such as the thighs and buttocks.

Unfortunately, women tend to experience high volumes of cellulite much more often than men. A number of things can contribute to the accumulation of cellulite including pregnancy and other forms of weight gain.

Though exercise and nutrition will not help combat the ill effects of cellulite, it can go a long way in aiding and preventing further issues.

Several different factors cause and contribute to cellulite. It can seem rather overwhelming and impossible to deal with them all.

Becoming overweight will significantly increase the amount of cellulite you have. Keeping a moderate and healthy weight will assist in management of fat cells. Hormones can also play a role and unfortunately, that is just not within our control.

Hormones can greatly alter things like proper fat distribution among the cells. This is why pregnancy and puberty tend to lead to the greatest amount of cellulite caused by hormones.

Some have cited aging as a cause of cellulite. This is somewhat misleading. It isn't that aging itself leads to added fat cells; it simply makes them easier to notice.

After the ages of thirty and forty the skin tends to thin out over the years. This makes trapped fat cells more pronounced and visible.

A regular exercise routine isn't going to be a miracle cure for cellulite though it will aid in proper blood flow which can be beneficial in reducing the amount of trapped fat deposits. Not only that, a proper exercise routine is vital to your overall health and well being. Of course there are many other contributors to cellulite.

Everything from genetics to cigarettes and alcohol play a role in how much cellulite you have. Cutting out bad habits is beneficial on all levels.

A wide variety of creams and lotions exist on the cosmetic market today, all touting claims of cellulite reduction and improvement.

Though no product can guarantee complete removal, there are many that may help. These are great solutions for temporary results or minimal amounts of cellulite. Advanced solutions are much more in depth and include things like liposuction and laser treatment.

Liposuction is an expensive and very invasive procedure that should never be entered into lightly. Surgical options require plenty of ample time for consideration as well as a consultation with a professional in that field of medicine.

It's very similar with laser cellulite removal except that the procedure is not invasive in any way. Treating and preventing cellulite starts with your personal health maintenance. Start now to avoid the more drastic options later.

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A Buyers Guide For Uniforms

Your team designs a professional uniform that will reflect upon them and you as well. Start with a simple design and have a memorable color scheme, and work up from there. A good uniform doesn't have to be a full uniform, it can just be a polo or apron combined with a dress code. Finding the right uniform isn't hard you just need to keep these helpful tips in mind.

1. Functional Aspects of Uniforms

If you want to add function to form, there are many things that you can do. Sports uniforms have room for last names and numbers on them to help keep track of who scored what goals during the game. By adding a pocket to your uniform you can greatly enhance its functionality.

2. Color Scheme

A choice of color is very important for your uniform. Children especially enjoy the bright colors in nurse uniforms. You can even get your employees to wear promotional items like pins. Color is by far the most important aspect of a good uniform. However, if you are looking for a more sophisticated, elegant and fancy uniform, you really can't go wrong with black. The best part is, black looks good on everyone, it just looks sharp.

3. Plan for Breathable Uniforms

Sports uniforms typically have holes in them to allow air to cool the player. Depending on the weather conditions, you will want a uniform that can be tough. If you're looking for uniforms for employees, it's important to get something that is flexible, breathable and comfortable. If your employees are uncomfortable all day and night, they won't be as productive. Maybe see if you can try on the uniform, and ask yourself, would I wear this? If the answer is a definite no, then try choosing a different uniform.

It's also a good idea to have different uniforms for summer and winter. That way, your employees will always have something to wear that's appropriate for the weather. There's no use in having an employee wear a uniformed t-shirt in the winter and have them cover it up with a sweater.

4. Business Uniforms

Don't think of uniforms merely as a way to have customers recognize your workers - it is an extension of your branding and should work to enhance peoples opinions of your professionalism as well. A common policy of most businesses is to provide brand new uniforms to employees every annual or bi- annual anniversary of their employment.

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A Brief History of Sunless Tanning Lotion

How long do you think that sunless tanning lotion has been on the market? Come on, take a guess. Many people think that sunless tanning lotion first hit the market in the late 1980's. But this is only because a new version of the product came out at this time, drawing attention with an extensive marketing campaign. Sunless lotions were actually first developed twenty years before that. And although they weren't always used as prevalently as they are today, they have been a part of the tanning industry since that time.

The first sunless tanning lotion to be sold to consumers was released in the 1960's. It was a simple product which was intended to be applied, left on overnight and then washed away. The result was, of course, supposed to be a naturally beautiful and even tan. Unfortunately, as with many new products that are just being tested out, this product didn't quite do what it was supposed to do. Remember the old fears that sunless tanning lotion would turn your skin an orange color? Those fears date back to the fact that this was reality back in these days. You can see why it didn't get a good enough name back then to spread through the consumer industry.

If you guessed that these products were first created in the 1980's, you weren't entirely wrong. That's because the new version of these products, a version using better ingredients and achieving better results, was finally developed and brought to consumers at this time. Something else also happened at this time which you might be well aware of as someone who enjoys indoor tanning. That was the first budding fears that indoor tanning (and also natural outdoor tanning) could have harmful effects on the health. Since no one knew quite what the deal was with these rumors at the time, consumers began actively looking for alternatives to indoor tanning. Sunless tanning lotion became one of those options.

Supply & Demand go hand-in-hand so it was at this time that a number of the major manufacturers of sunless tanning lotion began to crop up. Their products hit the shelves of local beauty shops and cosmetics stores. The competition in the industry helped to drive the price of the lotion down, making it more affordable to the average person. This allowed even more consumers to explore use of the product. Many of the products that are on the market today are similar to those being released back in the 1980's.

Of course, there have been some developments in sunless lotion since that time. Tricks have been learned to make sunless tanning lotion work better for all people, including using it in conjunction with other tanning lotions and with exfoliation and moisturizing techniques. Furthermore, developments have been made to allow sunless tanning lotion to work for a broader range of different skin tones. But the basics of the product remain the same. You put it on, wait for it to develop and come out with that even tan that you were looking for.

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A Brief History Of 20th Century Perfume

The Armani fashion house was founded in 1975 by Giorgio Armani. Born in Piacenza, 40 miles south of Milan, in 1934, Giorgio entered the fashion industry as a window dresser but soon established himself as a fashion designer. Over the years, Armani has grown to become a global brand synonymous with elegant simplicity and sophistication.

Although Giorgio's first foray into perfumes was in 1981 with the release of Giorgio by Giorgio Beverly Hills, the first Armani branded perfume was released in 1982. Simply called Armani, this chypre perfume for women (now discontinued) was to be the first of many successful perfumes to be released under the signature Giorgio Armani label. This was followed in 1984 by the release of the first Armani fragrance for men called Armani Eau Pour Homme.

The industry was changing with controversially erotic marketting techniques lead by a campaign for Obsession by Calvin Klein in 1985 which commanded tremendous media attention, propelling Obsession into the limelight. This opened the door for the image leading the perfume, as Jean Paul Gaultier released his torso shaped bottle presented in a tin can. The scents themselves were power perfumes for power dresses and Armani was no exception.

Following from Yves St Laurents legendary rose with violets in Paris, the 1990's saw the release of the first Armani floral fragrances in the form of Gio and Acqua Di Gio, both of which shared the same soft-edged square bottle designed to emulate the unstructured look of Giorgio's jackets. He then followed this up with Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme, a marine fragrance that was supposedly inspired by the isle of Pantelleria where Giorgio spent many of his vacations.

In 1998 the first duo fragrance was launched in the form of She and He. These were the first Armani perfumes to be released under the more youthfully inspired Emporio Armani label and was the beginning of a new duo fragrance trend for Armani. In 1999, the original Armani Mania for women was released. Although popular, this woody oriental fragrance was short lived and with its black packaging and black lid, it was often confused for a men's fragrance and later discontinued.

The nineties saw a shift from the power scents of the 1980s to the crisper more generic scents of the 1990s. Armani was no exception and many believe the softer approach came from Estee Lauder's White Linen produced in the 80s. Other renowned products were Safari by Ralph Lauren which has a particularly decadent bottle and Sun Moon Stars by Lagerfeld which boasted a unique oriental quality. These softer scents lead the way into the new millennium.

These more neutral scent were extended to unisex fragrances by the release of CK One which Armani followed with Emporio duo, White She and White He in 2001. White was originally intended to be a limited edition Summer fragrance but is still available today. Following on from Armani White's success, several duo Giorgio Armani perfumes were released between 2003 and 2006 including Night for Him and Her (now discontinued), City Glam and Remix.

2004 saw Armani branching out with his first Armani Prive fragrance, Ambre Soie. This unisex fragrance was not designed to have mass appeal and like the rest of the Prive range had limited distribution and was very expensive. The range includes Prive Bois d'Encens, Prive Eau de Jade, Prive Pierre de Lune, Prive Cuir Amethyste, Prive eclat de Jasmine, Prive Rose Alexandrie and Prive Vetiver Babylone.

This elitist approach to image was shared by many other fashion houses, propelling the perfume myth that scents are more desirable if they are exclusive, unobtainable and expensive. The ever saturated fragrance market sees increasing number of limited release fragrances in exclusively designed bottles, to maintain the image of exclusivity and mystique.

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A Brief History Behind The Sexy Evening Gown

The first evening gown was decidedly not very sexy, at least by modern standards. In the 19th Century, when going out to theatres and opera houses was very fashionable among people of a certain class, evening gowns were long and heavy, the skirts reaching the floor, and the necklines high and the sleeves long. Of course, decetolage played a part in some dress styles, but the hems of the evening gowns really remained long until about 1920, when they rose daringly above the knee, and necklines dipped down as far as possible.

This trend of decidedly sexy evening gown styles continued through WWII, when fabric became scarce, and dress hems were raised out of necessity. The 1950s saw the advent of that quintessential sexy evening gown, the cocktail dress. In the 1960s, hemlines for all types of dresses and skirts were raised to a new height with some only just long enough to sufficiently cover underwear. Slits on the sides of skirts and dresses were not uncommon, either. Hem and necklines continued to become more varied as the seventies saw the advent of the wrap dress, and other, and further variations on the sexy evening gown.

In the 21st Century, women are decidedly freer to express themselves through dress than at any other time in history. Gone are binding whale bone corsets and crinolines, voluminous petticoats, and bustles. Todays corsets are light and comfortable, and todays dresses can be as sheer, curve hugging, short, and as sexy as the wearer chooses. Evening gowns are not always the traditionally cut outfits meant to be worn at corporate functions and stuffy state dinners anymore either. Women can wear shockingly sexy evening gowns when they are out having fun, or even shockingly sexier evening gowns when they are at home having fun, and the sky is truly the limit.

When you are looking for the perfect sexy evening gown, whatever the occasion, why not order one online? It is fast, easy, and fun, and, if you take the time to record all of your measurements before you start shopping, much less time consuming than dragging armload after armload of possibilities with you into the dressing room. Just make sure, again, that you take your hip, chest, and other applicable measurements before you start, and keep in mind that size designations like Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, and Plus Size can vary, so do not assume that you are automatically a certain size, without first comparing it to the measurement designations on the manufacturers sizing chart.

Whichever sexy evening gown you choose, have fun shopping.

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Abdominoplasty for Stretchmarks

Abdominoplasty, better known as the tummy tuck is a procedure that many people turn to rid their body of those embarrassing stretch marks after giving birth.

Abdominoplasty is the procedure that is used to reshape your abdomen when there is a sign of major laxity of the abdominal muscular envelope, seen primarily in women who have had multiple pregnancies. It is also recommended in cases of individuals with excessive skin of the abdominal wall, which cannot be corrected with liposuction alone, and in some cases involving minor scarring of the skin in the lower abdomen.

When it comes to abdominoplasty for stretchmarks, you should understand that there are three different types of surgery, the standard procedure, the mini tummy tuck and the modified abdominoplasty.

The standard procedure is done when there is a large amount of fat and skin that needs to be removed. This procedure addresses the laxity of the abdominal wall along with the extra fat and skin that is in the upper and lower abdomen.

The mini tummy tuck is usually performed on patients that do not have all excessive fat and skin that needs to be removed. Normally, a mini tummy tuck will only leave a tiny scar usually under the bikini line. Liposuction may also be used to help rid the body of extra fat. However, the mini tummy tuck is only used for fat removal and abdominal laxity below the umbilicus. Skin tightening will also allow be performed below the umbilicus.

The modified abdominoplasty gives the patient a bit more say so in some of the procedure especially when it comes to where the scar will be. You can specify what clothing such as bikini should cover the scar. You can also choose whether you desire any muscular repair. Without muscular repair, you will have less pain after the surgery. This is the best surgery for stretch marks if you are in between the two above-mentioned categories.

Liposuction can be used along with abdominoplasty surgeries and even up to one year after the surgery to fine tune the appearance.

Remember, prior to any type of surgery you should talk with your physician and your dermatologist to ensure that this is the best method for you to get rid of the appearance of stretch marks. Surgery, no matter what kind, is expensive. There are other methods to help fade stretch marks without the pain and cost associated with abdominoplasty.

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Abdominoplasty Can Surgically Remove Excess Skin Cause By Mulitple Pregnancies

Abdominoplasty, known more commonly as a "tummy tuck surgery," is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall.

Abdominoplasty can dramatically reduce the appearance of a protruding abdomen. Often after pregnancy or weight loss, excess skin and stretch marks deform the once flat and tight abdomen. But, despite diet and exercise, loose skin will still remain. Abdominoplasty is particularly helpful to women who, through multiple pregnancies, have stretched their abdominal muscles and skin beyond the point where they can return to normal, original shape.

Loss of skin elasticity in older patients, which frequently occurs with slight obesity, can also be improved. The best candidates for a tummy tuck are men or women who are in relatively good shape, and are maintaining a proper diet, but are bothered by a large fat deposit or loose abdominal skin.

Abdominoplasty is the surgical excision of excess skin to the abdomen. An ellipse of skin is removed between the umbilicus (navel) and the hairline of the mons area. This also means that C-section scars are removed as well. This skin above the umbilicus is then lifted off the abdominal wall muscles up to the level of the rib cage and then pulled down to the level of the mons and closed. Before this is done, however, the loose abdominal wall muscles are tightened - which, also narrows the waistline. It does produce a permanent scar.

In some selected patients, a limited skin excision can be performed, which can then be combined with direct liposuction of the abdomen (this is usually not advised in a traditional abdominoplasty as it can significantly compromise the blood supply and increase risks of wound development). The umbilicus is not cut out but only relocated and the abdominal wall is tightened before completing the procedure. Although the scar length is shorter, the final result is usually not as tight and so most candidates for a tummy tuck elect to undergo the traditional abdominoplasty.

Patients often have multiple procedures at the same time. The most common include breast augmentation, breast lifts and/or liposuction. This saves both time and money since costs are often reduced when multiple procedures are combined. If you're looking to inform yourself about abdominoplasty, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure - when it can help, how it's performed, what to consider, and what results you can expect.

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Abdominoplasty Can Fix What Exercise Cannot

Loose abdominal wall skin which is often associated with excess fat is of concern to most women especially after pregnancies. With each pregnancy, the rectus abdomini muscles which are visible as "six packs" on the abdominal wall, stretch apart and loosen. With this loosening comes increased bulging of the abdominal contents leading to a "protruding abdomen." An abdominoplasty procedure, otherwise known as a "tummy-tuck", addresses the excess fat and skin, as well as the weakness and spreading apart of the rectus abdominis muscles.

In preparation for this procedure, you may be asked to clear your gastrointestinal tract with Fleet's. This medication will make it more comfortable to go to the bathroom, while minimizing surgical risks. The day prior to your surgery, that you should only consume a clear liquid diet to maintain your intestines clear of any residue.

You can otherwise perform your regular activities and work until the day of surgery. Be certain to drink plenty of fluids to remain well hydrated. On your last appointment prior to the day of surgery, it's suggested that you wear your favorite bikini bottom. This will be used to mark the surgical incisions to assure your final abdominal scar will be well hidden by the bikini.

Background
Most surgeons prefer light general anesthesia for his procedures. With this anesthetic technique, you will breathe on your own, completely unaware of the surgery. While you sleep, a local anesthetic is injected into the surgical site to minimize post-surgical pain.

Using markings made prior to procedure, incisions are made at the bikini line and around the umbilicus (belly button). The abdominal skin and underlying fat are then raised surgically. The loose abdominal muscles which have spread apart with time are sutured together in a special manner to bring them back to their anatomically correct position. This technique will also tighten the abdominal wall and give you an improved figure. Liposuction is performed to remove any excess fat which remains on the sides. The skin is then re-draped over your abdomen and the excess skin and fat are excised. Multiple layers are used to close the skin in order to minimize scarring, and to ensure that the final scar will remain within the "bikini region."

Before the completion of the surgery, a long-acting anesthetic is injected into the surgical sites to minimize pain post-operatively. Silastic drains are typically placed to collect any oozing that may occur during the few days after surgery. The drains are typically removed during the first week. An abdominal binder is applied at the completion of the procedure. You are asked to take the binder off every 4 hours until your first visit.

Post procedure (Abdominoplasty)
Following your procedure, you will be asked to walk with your back flexed forward at the hips in order to minimize tension on the abdominal. When getting into and out of bed, turn onto your side and get up sideways to minimize any straining of the wound. Do not attempt to sit-up in bed. Lie down in bed only with your back elevated with a few pillows. You should not lie flat for the first 2 weeks after surgery. It is also recommended to not sit perfectly upright for longer than one hour per day during the first week.

On the day of surgery you should drink fluids; but if you experience discomfort, please advance your diet slowly. Take your medications as prescribed including your antibiotics and pain medicine. You should sleep restfully on this evening.

On first day after surgery, get out of bed by first rolling onto your side. You will be encouraged to walk around as much as possible, and to not lie in bed for prolonged periods. When in bed, move your calves regularly to keep blood circulating in your legs. Take plenty of deep breaths to maintain your lungs well aerated and to avoid collapse of certain portions of your lungs. You may be aided with your deep breaths by holding a pillow against your abdomen to minimize abdominal motion with deep inspiration. Remember to remove your compression garment (girdle) every 4 hours while you are awake. Empty the drains and record the time and amount whenever the "bulb" appears to be about half full. The bulb must be fully collapsed in order to function properly.

During the following week, you are encouraged to walk as much as comfortably possible. The office staff should be contacting you regularly to ensure your comfort, and to answer any questions. In order for the swelling to resolve more rapidly and to improve your final results, it is suggested that you wear your compression garment (girdle) for 6-8 weeks.

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Abdominoplasty - Tummy Tuck Surgery

Abdominoplasty, also known as a Tummy Tuck, removes loose hanging abdominal skin and tightens weakened abdominal wall muscles. Because even diligent diet and exercise cannot fix these problems, each year more than 80,000 American women and men undergo tummy tuck surgery.

Women and men who have a protruding belly, loose hanging abdominal skin and weak abdominal muscles are candidates for a full tummy tuck.

Mini-Abdominoplasty, also known as a Mini-Tummy Tuck, is reserved for those who have only a limited amount of loose skin or stretch marks in the lower abdomen, or above the public bone. Also, Mini Tummy Tuck does not usually involve the tightening of abdominal muscles. Therefore, it is sometimes combined with Liposuction for patients with excessive fat, but limited looseness of the abdomen.

In most cases, women considering abdominoplasty should not be considering additional pregnancies, or they may have the need for a second procedure to re-tighten the belly. In many cases, a tummy tuck does help rid of stretch marks because it removes most of the "stretched out" skin below the navel.

During abdominoplasty, the plastic surgeon makes an incision that extends from hip to hip along the lower pubic area. A skilled plastic surgeon makes this incision so that the resulting scar is hidden under a bathing suit or by undergarments.

The plastic surgeon then lifts the loose skin off of the abdominal wall, and tightens and repairs the loosened "rectus" muscles the muscles that normally give the abdomen its strength achieving the effect that an old-fashioned girdle would.

The umbilicus or "belly button" is disconnected from the abdomen, and reattached after the loose skin is removed. A skilled plastic surgeon not only tightens the abdominal wall, but also pulls up and tightens the thighs and the buttocks. Drains will be inserted into each side of your abdomen to remove excess fluid as it accumulates following surgery.

During Mini-Abdominoplasty, the plastic surgeon makes an incision that generally spans only the width of the pubic area, and that is similar to a C-section incision. In both procedures, patients with excessive fat in the hips and flanks may have liposuction in these areas to contour them, but not in the areas of the abdomen that are being stretched because this could cause damage to the blood circulation in those areas, leading to scarring or even skin loss.

The result of a tummy tuck is an abdomen that is tight and flat, a waist that is narrow and curvy and thighs and buttocks that are firmer.

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A Word About Breast Reduction In Men

Gynecomastia is a medical term that comes from the Greek words for "women-like breasts." Though this oddly named condition is rarely talked about, it's actually quite common. Gynecomastia affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of men. It may affect only one breast or both. Though certain drugs and medical problems have been linked with male breast overdevelopment, there is no known cause in the vast majority of cases.

For men who feel self-conscious about their appearance, breast-reduction surgery can help. The procedure removes fat and or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a chest that is flatter, firmer, and better contoured.

If you're considering surgery to correct gynecomastia, this information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure--when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Please be sure to ask your doctor if there is anything about the procedure you don't understand.

The best candidates for gynecomastia correction
Surgery to correct gynecomastia can be performed on healthy, emotionally stable men of any age. The best candidates for surgery have firm, elastic skin that will reshape to the body's new contours.

Surgery may be discouraged for obese men, or for overweight men who have not first attempted to correct the problem with exercise or weight loss. Also, individuals who drink alcohol beverages in excess or smoke marijuana are usually not considered good candidates for surgery. These drugs, along with anabolic steroids, may cause gynecomastia. Therefore, patients are first directed to stop the use of these drugs to see if the breast fullness will diminish before surgery is considered an option.

All surgery carries some uncertainty and risk
When male breast-reduction surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, as with any surgery, there are risks. These include infection, skin injury, excessive bleeding, adverse reaction to anesthesia, and excessive fluid loss or accumulation. The procedure may also result in noticeable scars, permanent pigment changes in the breast area, or slightly mismatched breasts or nipples. If asymmetry is significant, a second procedure may be performed to remove additional tissue.

The temporary effects of breast reduction include loss of breast sensation or numbness, which may last up to a year.

The initial consultation with your surgeon is very important. Your surgeon will need a complete medical history, so check your own records ahead of time and be ready to provide this information. First, your surgeon will examine your breasts and check for causes of the gynecomastia, such as impaired liver function, use of estrogen-containing medications, or anabolic steroids. If a medical problem is the suspected cause, you'll be referred to an appropriate specialist.

Your plastic surgeon may, in extreme cases, also recommend a mammogram, or breast x-ray. This will not only rule out the very small possibility of breast cancer, but will reveal the breast's composition. Once your surgeon knows how much fat and glandular tissue is contained within the breasts, he or she can choose a surgical approach to best suit your needs.

Don't hesitate to ask your surgeon any questions you may have during the initial consultation- including your concerns about the recommended treatment or the costs involved. Treatment of gynecomastia may be covered by medical insurance--but policies vary greatly. Check your policy or call your carrier to be sure. If you are covered, make certain you get written pre-authorization for the treatment recommended by your surgeon.

Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating, drinking, and taking certain vitamins and medications.

Smokers should plan to stop smoking for a minimum of one or two weeks before surgery and during recovery. Smoking decreases circulation and interferes with proper healing. Therefore, it is essential to follow all your surgeon's instructions.

Surgery for gynecomastia is most often performed as an outpatient procedure, but in extreme cases, or those where other medical conditions present cause for concern, an overnight hospital stay may be recommended. The surgery itself usually takes about an hour and a half to complete. However, more extensive procedures may take longer.

Correction of enlarged male breasts may be performed under general, or in some cases, under local anesthesia plus sedation. You'll be awake, but very relaxed and insensitive to pain. More extensive correction may be performed under general anesthesia, which allows the patient to sleep through the entire operation. Your surgeon will discuss which option is recommended for you, and why this is the option of choice.

If excess glandular tissue is the primary cause of the breast enlargement, it will be excised, or cut out, with a scalpel. The excision may be performed alone or in conjunction with liposuction. In a typical procedure, an incision is made in an inconspicuous location--either on the edge of the areola or in the under arm area. Working through the incision, the surgeon cuts away the excess glandular tissue, fat and skin from around the areola and from the sides and bottom of the breast. Major reductions that involve the removal of a significant amount of tissue and skin may require larger incisions that result in more conspicuous scars. If liposuction is used to remove excess fat, the cannula is usually inserted through the existing incisions.

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A Womans Decision To Have A Breast Augmentation

Deciding to pursue breast augmentation surgery can be exciting. However, obtaining answers to all of your questions about the procedure, and the surgeon you are consulting with can be difficult and confusing. There are many techniques employed to place the implants, different types and shapes of implants and different types of anesthesia and facilities utilized. Safety must come first, and consequently, choosing a surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is very important.

All of those thus certified have completed an accredited plastic surgery residency. Unbelievably, many doctors performing this operation have not completed this training. Board certified anesthesiologists also insure your safety during your procedure. Choose a surgeon who has a great deal of experience with this procedure. Select a plastic surgeon that has vast experience with breast augmentation surgery.

Your consultation should be with your surgeon, not an employee of the surgeon's practice. You must feel comfortable with your surgeon, and it is impossible to know that if you do not have the opportunity to meet with her. Your surgeon should take the time to explain what implant type and size will suit your frame best, and help you select a size. While there are many different incision positions that can be used, each position has benefits and drawbacks that can and should be explained. Breast implants are not lifetime devices. Statistics about implant longevity should be discussed.

The vast majority of patients have some degree of breast asymmetry. The degree to which this can be improved is variable and can and should be assessed at the time of your consultation. Most importantly you should be allowed ample time to ask and have all of your questions answered to your satisfaction. Contact the plastic surgeon directly via e-mail if additional questions arise after the consultation.

Following breast augmentation surgery, patients are generally comfortable the night of their surgery. Pain tablets can generally be discontinued in three to four days. Patients should start massaging their breasts within forty-eight hours of surgery, which dramatically reduces soreness. The plastic surgeon will examine patients within seventy-two hours of surgery, at three weeks, three months, and one year post-operatively. Call the office and schedule an appointment at anytime questions or concerns arise.

Breast implants are placed under the muscle of the chest wall to improve breast shape, size, and position. What To Expect: Some plastic surgeons perform this procedure under general anesthesia. The procedure takes approximately one hour. A two inch incision is made in the crease underneath the breast and an implant is placed behind the chest wall muscle. The breast size is thus increased.

You will meet with the plastic surgeon in consultation to discuss your goals and desired size. The surgeon will examine you and possibly make suggestions about implant shape, size and type. All of your questions will be answered. Lab work will be ordered. You will be given a written fee quotation and allowed to select your surgery date if you desire.

Upon awakening in the recovery room, you will have an elastic bandage around your chest. You will be allowed to go home one to two hours following the procedure. The surgeon will see you in the office approximately two days following the procedure and you will be placed in a sports bra. The sports bra should be worn for three weeks post-operatively. Most patients return to work at one to two weeks post surgery. No heavy activities or lifting is allowed for three weeks. Soreness usually resolves within three to five days. Bruising and swelling should be minimal.

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