If you’re like many women concerned about ageing, you probably have a medicine cabinet full of expensive creams and various potions that claim to add collagen to the skin and fill in wrinkles, giving you back your youth. These products are not only expensive, but generally do not work, or at the very least, do not work to the degree promised.

There is no over the counter cure for wrinkles and fine lines. Cosmetics and creams simply cover the surface of the skin and even then not very adequately. In order to truly erase wrinkles cosmetic surgery will be necessary.

Botox and other dermal fillers deliver what cosmetics and superficial creams cannot-results. These products can diminish or even completely smooth out unwanted facial lines and wrinkles from four to six months. Longer lasting results are possible with continued treatments over a period of time and most have few side effects and potential risks.

Botox is the only injectable product available that doesn’t “fill” in wrinkles, but rather it temporarily paralyzes the muscle that creates the line. After injection into the target area, the lines relax and smooth out, leaving a more youthful appearance.

It is most often used for forehead furrows, smile lines, and the pinched area that can develop between the eyes. Risks are rare but include allergic reaction, prolonged swelling and bruising, or over-injection which can cause temporary muscle drooping.

There are a variety of different dermal fillers available, each with pros and cons, but they all have the same basic function, which is plumping up fine lines and hollow areas of the face. Unlike Botox, dermal fillers can be used on very fine lines such as smoker’s wrinkles around the lips and crow’s feet.

They can also be used to add fullness to hollows below the eyes and near the cheeks. They carry similar risks to that of Botox including allergic reaction, swelling, and bruising.

One reason why many women may balk at the idea of undergoing Botox or dermal filler injections is the dreaded trip to the plastic surgeon’s office. However, these procedures are not as intense as more invasive surgeries like rhinoplasty or breast augmentation. In fact, a new trend for women is visiting a medical spa rather than a surgeon’s office to have these procedures performed.

A medical spa is overseen by a qualified medical doctor or board certified plastic surgeon that employs a staff of trained and skilled technicians. Although in most cases the surgeon will not perform the procedure, he will be available in case of emergency or complications, as well as to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Medical spas offer a calmer and more accessible environment than available at a traditional plastic surgeon’s office. There are also a wide variety of additional procedures that can be performed in conjunction with Botox or dermal fillers for optimal results, allowing you to customize an individual treatment plan suited for your personal aesthetic goals.

Common medical spa menus include such procedures as laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, chemical peels, deep facials, microdermabrasion, and even aromatherapy and massages. Aestheticians can also recommend useful products and plan a skin treatment regime for you.

Otoplasty has become more popular throughout the years. If you are interested in getting ear surgery and improving the shape of your ears, make sure you choose a good surgeon who has years of experience.

Many people decide to get ear surgery to help reshape the ear. Many times an individual may have ears far from their head and they want to get the surgery to move them closer. Others choose to get the surgery to reduce the size of the ears. Others want to fix an ear where the tip folds down and forward.

Others want to change the shape of very small ears or fill in one where certain folds do not exist. Surgery can also help with earlobes which are stretched or wrinkled. Finally many surgeons will even build new ones for those who were born without them or if they were damaged because of an injury.

Most of the time, the surgery is performed on children who are at least four years old because most ears are full grown by that age. Many parents choose to get the surgery for their children because they do not want them to be teased throughout life. You can also get the surgery if you are an adult and are uncomfortable with your ears.

Parents should have reasonable goals and expectations. The goal in the surgery should be to improve the overall look, not to gain perfect ears. Even a good plastic surgeon cannot ensure that they match perfectly. Before starting any procedure, make sure you have a conversation with the plastic surgeon so that he or she understands your goals and expectations.

During the consultation period, make sure the plastic surgeon has had many years experience performing the procedure. If you have any trouble finding a doctor, then you should ask friends or relatives if they have had good experiences with plastic surgeons. You and your child should also look through magazines to see if you can see pictures that you can give the plastic surgeon.

During the procedure, the doctor will examine the child and explain to you how the procedure will work. Remember that they will be performing on your child so you want to make sure they are fully qualified. Also, after the consultation, make sure you talk to your child about the procedure candidly. Explain to he or she what will occur during the procedure and what will be the desired outcome.

Ultimately this should be your child’s decision and you should only get the surgery if they want it also. During the procedure the child, will be given anesthesia for the pain. The doctor will then perform the desired procedure and will properly close all the wounds.

The child will normally stay out of school for a few days because of the healing process and the pain felt. If performed correctly, the procedure should have desired results with lasting effects. You and your child will love the look of their ears forever.

Restless Leg Syndrome medications (prescription of course) can be a tricky subject. We have tried all the self-help, lifestyle changes, and underlying cause remedies that we can. The symptoms still exist, sometimes continually throughout the day and night. Your condition has been evaluated as severe or very severe because there is much pain associated with the other bothersome symptoms of RLS. Now is the time to allow your physician to prescribe a medication for you.

There is a wide variety of medications for RLS which is why the world famous ‘trial and error’ process will need to take place. Your own individual type of RLS may not respond or you may have side effects from some medications. In condensed form, here is a list of prescription drugs used to treat RLS:

Dopaminergic Agents

Considered first-line therapies since they typically alleviate all major features associated with RLS. Dopaminergic agents have an inhibitory effect on abnormal movements by enhancing levels of the neurotransmitterdopamine, a naturally produced chemical that regulates the delivery of messages between nerve cells (neurons) in the central nervous system. Such medications include bromocriptine mesylate (Parlodel )and pramipexole dihydrochloride (Mirapex ) and ropinirole hydrochloride (Requip ).

Dopamine Precursors

Known as Carbidopa/levodopa is used to control movement in Parkinson’s patients. This combination is available as Sinemet .

Nonergotoline Dopamine Agonists and Other Medications

Best known by advertisements are ropinirole (Requip ) and pramipexole (Mirapex ).

Benzodiazepines

Interferes with chemical activity in the nervous system and brain, reduces communication between nerve cells. The benzodiazepine clonazepam (Klonopin ) is often prescribed for the treatment of RLS. Other benzodiazepines that may be recommended as appropriate, suitable alternatives include temazepam (Restoril ), diazepam (Valium ), and triazolam (Halcion ).

Opioids

Are natural or artificially produced (synthetic) chemicals that produce opium-like (opiate-like) effects. Opioid agents vary greatly in potency, ranging from mild to strong. Low-potency opioid agents may have beneficial results without risk of addiction, physicians may consider prescribing opioid agents such as propoxyphene hydrochloride (Darvon ) or codeine in patients with mild, periodic symptoms. The use of higher potency opioid agents such as oxycodone hydrochloride (Percocet or Roxicodone ) or methadone hydrochloride should be reserved for those patients with severe RLS who have not responded to other appropriate medications.

Anticonvulsants

Is used to help manage or prevent episodes of abnormally increased electrical activity in the brain (seizures). Anticonvulsants may help relieve some symptoms associated with restless legs syndrome.carbamazepine (Tegretol ), a medication that reduces synaptic transmission, has been shown to decrease restlessness, sensory abnormalities, and sleep disturbances. However, it is thought that the medication may be less effective in reducing associated involuntary movements.

Gabapentin (Neurontin ) has shown promise as a potential treatment for individuals with RLS. Gabapentin seems to be most effective in those with mild or moderate RLS who experience actual leg pain. Alternatives including valproate (Depakene ), a medication derived from carboxylic acid, or lamotrigine (Lamictal ).

Other Medications

Clonidine hydrochloride (Catapres ) may alleviate leg discomfort and sleep difficulties in some people with RLS; but the medication may not be effective in reducing associated involuntary movements.

Additional Drug Treatments

Medications thought to relieve RLS symptoms, such as baclofen (Lioresal ), a muscle relaxant that is thought to block nerve activity in the spinal cord has been reported to control symptoms. No controlled studies have been evaluated on these medications as of yet. Large-scale clinical trials would be helpful in evaluating the use of such medications and assessing their long-term safety and effectiveness in the treatment of patients with restless legs syndrome.

Be aware that all of these Restless Leg Syndrome medications do come with side effects. The extent and duration of the side effects totally depends on which drug, which combination, and what dosage is given. Is it worth the agony to be on the medication That will depend on how you react and how severe the impact of these medications and your Restless Leg Syndrome.

Chances are that you will need to try different medications and cross off your list the ones that don’t seem to work. Maybe even combinations of these medications. The best advice to handle this situation is to keep a journal documenting the prescriptions along with how you respond to these drugs. This is something that your physician will appreciate in adjusting or changing your medication.