Modern successors of some well recognized treatments

No aspect of human life has benefited more from the advent of technology than medical science! Diseases like cholera and pox which were considered incurable and caused wide spread pandemic and loss of life have been rendered obsolete.  With passing time medical science and treatments it offers have become more refined, sophisticated and better tailored to cater to the need of masses. The objective of this article is elucidate modern successors of some well recognized treatments and to explain just what makes these successors better than their predecessors.

Liposuction

Getting rid of body fat without the benefit of a surgical procedure is entirely possible but it’s time consuming and requires utmost dedication in terms of observing a strict diet and undertaking a vigorous workout regime. For people who want a quick fix to their obesity liposuction was the de facto procedure for many years. Liposuction entails removal of fats from parts of body using a cannula which is inserted in the body through a small incision and a suction device called aspirator attached to it. The surgeon pushes and pulls the cannula penetrating the fat layer and breaking up fat cells which are drawn out by the suction device.

Drawbacks of traditional liposuction

Pertinent to mention here is that results achieved through liposuction are although beneficial in the short term but patients tend to gain the lost weight back and then some more with passage of time. Hence the permanency of results leave a lot to be desired. Then there’s the question of side effects such as bruising, scarring, pain and numbness that are a part and parcel of the procedure. Significant downtime or rest and recuperation is also required which may not be feasible for a person with busy schedule.

Modern successor of Liposuction - Laser Lipolysis or smart lipo

Laser Lipolysis or SmartLipo as it is commonly known is a very fitting successor to Liposuction.  SmartLipo is an improvement over its predecessor in quite a few departments. Firstly it least invasive and requires making miniature incision of 1-2 mm which makes the recovery period extremely short. The blood vessels that may be severed are coagulated which reduces bruising and swelling. But the primal advantage of SmartLipo is that it promotes skin tightening in the treated areas. The treated areas look taut, smoother and more streamlined. Another advantage is the cost incurred for SmatLipo which is significantly less than traditional liposuction.

SmartLipo is designed to remove pockets of fat from the below mentioned areas:

• Waist
• Chin (double or hanging chin)
• Inner and outer thighs
• Hips / Love Handles
• Buttocks
• Upper arms
• Face (not around eyes)
• Male with breasts
• Back of neck

Jaw reduction surgery

A square lower jaw is considered a masculine trait and makes the ladies swoon but it distorts the natural harmony of the face causing facial asymmetry, the situation has to be remedied. A few years ago the treatment option for alleviating a square jaw was undergoing jaw reduction surgery. This surgery dealt with enlargement of the mandible or masseter muscle which may be caused by bruxism or congenital reasons. Jaw reduction surgery was invasive and entailed making incisions to the inside of the mouth. A contraption named burr was used to dissect and remove the outer layer of the enlarged mandible which in turn narrowed the jaw.

Drawbacks of jaw reduction surgery

Jaw reduction surgery is invasive, required anesthetics and ran the risk of damaging nerve called inferior alveolar. This nerve is responsible for providing sensation to lower lips and teeth. Other complications include running the risk of infection, use of anesthetics and pain the patient has to endure.

Modern successor of jaw reduction surgery – Botox injections

Although Botox injections are a noninvasive and very safe alternative to jaw reduction surgery, they are limited to cases in which the masseter muscle is enlarged. Botox injections for jaw reduction entail injecting Botox directly into the masseter muscle which gradually weakens it and reducing it in size through atrophy. This is a slow procedure and might take up to several months. The plus side is that this procedure is totally noninvasive, doesn’t pose the risk of nerve damage, no downtime is required and the results are subtle instead of flamboyant telltale indicators which make it evident that person has gone under a cosmetic procedure.