Friday 31 July 2009

3 Ways to stop excessive sweating

Excessive sweating is not a sign of bad hygiene or poor personal grooming it is caused by a health condition called hyperhidrosis. This condition affects 3% of the population, who experience excessive sweating, whether the temperature is hot or cold.

It affects both sexes equally, although it mainly occurs in people between 20-60 years of age. People that suffer from hyperhidrosis are often very embarrassed by the rapid, drenching state that it produces without any warning. Despite washing regularly, using anti-perspirant and changing their clothes as often as possible, they are still wet with sweat without cause.

But thankfully for those people, there exists some ways to stop the embarrassing condition of hyperhidrosis.

Laser/Vaser treatment
Relatively new techniques such as Smartlipo or Vaser can be used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis (Excessive sweating of the armpits). They are a minor surgical procedure carried out under local anaesthetic where 1 small incision is made. The laser/vaser heats the tissue and so destroys the sweat glands. The results are semi-permanent and there have not been any reported complications to date, although there is no long term data yet.

Sympathomimectomy Surgery
The advances in modern medical technology mean that these days, hyperhidrosis surgery uses only three incisions and a small camera during the procedure. The operation itself is done under general anaesthesia. Two or three cuts are made under the armpit. A tiny camera is passed through the incisions. This allows the surgeon to see well enough to cut the nerves that send the signals to the overactive sweat glands.

During this operation, the lung is collapsed and later re-inflated to provide room for the surgeon to work. When one side is completed, the procedure is carried out on the other side of the patient. The patient will be in hospital for about 24 hours and recovery time is up to 10 days.

The results are often very good, but it is not unusual to develop the sweating elsewhere on the body following surgery.

Botox – The Best Overall Treatment
The most successful way to reduce excessive sweating is the use of Botox. It is much safer than major surgery and can be carried out with no downtime. The greatest advantage of using Botox is that a series of injections can leave the patient free from the embarrassing condition of hyperhidrosis for up ten months, a great relief for many sufferers.

The treatment works by injecting the Botox into the skin areas that are most affected by excessive sweating. This prevents the release of a chemical called acetylcholine, which carries messages from the nervous system to the sweat glands across the body.

With this approach, the patient does not need to stay overnight. Any pain will be limited to a slight discomfort during the injections only and you won’t need to take time off work.

If you want to stop excessive sweating in its tracks, contact Riverbank Clinic, we can treat your hyperhidrosis, no sweat!

Thursday 30 July 2009

Olympia Beauty Show - come see Dr Ravi Jain speak!

Positioned in London’s West End, Olympia Beauty is the most prestigious show in the beauty calendar for professionals.

Olympia Beauty will deliver an exquisite array of brands such as Dermalogica, CACI International and OPI, to name but a few.

This essential beauty event will play host to:

  • Two live educational stages FREE for all visitors
  • Over 250 major brands from all corners of the beauty industry
  • Superb catering facilities for all tastes
  • Massive savings and hundreds of exclusive show deals
  • The latest launches, styles and collections available for autumn 2009
And Riverbanks Clinic's Dr Ravi Jain will be speaking on Sunday 20th September between 15:30 and 16:00.

In the current climate, salons need to find ways of maximising income from existing customers as well as draw in new clientele. Dr Ravi Jain, medical director at multi-award winning Riverbanks Clinic provides a run down of the best non-surgical treatments on the market and how these can form part of the salon’s offering.


You can download the seminar program here.

Wednesday 29 July 2009

10 Reasons to Avoid the Sun


It’s true that sunshine is good for us.

But we are frighteningly unaware of the potential damage that the sun does to our bodies.



Here are just 10 reasons to avoid the sun:

1.
Most of the signs of aging that show themselves in later life such as fine lines and pigmentation problems are actually caused by the sun before we are even 18 years old.

2. Exposure to the sun has been established as the primary trigger for the skin disease called Rosacea. This is characterised by permanent redness in areas of the face. While Rosacea isn’t dangerous to your health, it does give you a blotchy red appearance.

3. Protect your eyes! Did you know that one of the major causes of age-related cataracts is exposure to the sun? It’s not just your skin that could be suffering!

4. Cumulative sun exposure massively increases the risk of skin cancer. Whilst most skin cancers can be removed easily, some require invasive and potentially disfiguring surgery.

5. Another effect of cumulative exposure to the sun is precancerous lesions. These are ugly reddish or brown spots that appear on the skin and indicate the risk of future skin cancer.

6. Although remarkably easy to avoid by wearing sunscreen, solar lentigines are disfiguring brown-pigmented areas that can be found on skin areas that are exposed to the sun. They are usually the result of sunburn, but they also appear in elderly people who had years of exposure to the sun.

7. It’s true that facial acne is temporarily put on hold because exposure to the sun affects the outer layers of the skin. However, being in the sun greatly stimulates oil production in the skin, which makes skin bacteria multiply aggressively. Once away from the sun, there is a major eruption as all of the built up oil, bacteria and dead skin cells are forced to the surface of the softening skin.

8. If you’ve experience the unsightly pigmentation changes caused by acne, you’ll want to stay out of the sun. Sun bathing will make these changes darker and much more difficult to treat.

9. Exposure to the sun causes your hair follicles to become damaged, leaving your hair looking dull and making it brittle. The sun also strips hair of its natural colour, and prematurely ages it.

10. The fake sunlight emitted from tanning beds radiates UV rays that deeply penetrate your skin and is worse for your skin than the real sun!

Treatments such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and SmartXide Laser Skin Resurfacing are currently available to help reduce the appearance of sun-damaged skin.

With IPL, the dark sun damaged areas absorb the intense light and after just a few days they darken and crust over and fall off. SmartXide Laser Skin Resurfacing offers the best results. It uses an advanced laser that leaves the skin looking younger, tighter and smoother.

For treatment solutions for sun-damaged skin, contact Riverbanks Clinic for a consultation.

Monday 20 July 2009

Wide Awake Liposuction at Riverbanks Clinic

People are always amazed when I tell them that they can have liposuction and still be wide awake - but with Vaser Lipo they really can!

Unlike 'traditional' liposuction, it's a non-surgical alternative, and as the video below shows, the patient stays wide awake throughout the Vaser liposuction procedure.



To find out more about Wide Awake Liposuction, why not contact Riverbanks Clinic with any questions, and book a consultation now?

Tuesday 14 July 2009

Restalyne Sub Q UK Summer Special Offer!

If you've ever wanted fuller cheek bones which look natural, just like when you were younger, consider Restylane Sub Q.

I am delighted to offer you the chance to receive a treatment of Restylane Sub Q at half price in July.
  • Normal Price for 2mls = £400
  • Offer price for 2 mls = £200 (save £200)
  • Normal Price for 4mls = £800
  • Offer price for 4 mls = £400 (save £400)
Most people will require 2mls for a very subtle cheek enhancement or 4mls for a longer lasting one.
Restylane Sub Q can also be used for:

1. Cheek volume enhancement
2. Jawline smoothening
3. Deeper Nasolabial folds
4. Chin enhancements.

This is an extremely limited offer and is available on a first come first served basis only. Treatments must be performed in July 2009.

Call 01582 762 877 to arrange your appointment with me!

Warmest regards
Dr Ravi Jain

5 Steps to Sensational Summer Skin

No doubt you know the mantra 'cleanse, tone, moisturise', but really looking after your skin can take a little extra care.

If you still have a youthful skin it doesn't mean this is not for you - if you look after your skin now, you'll keep that sensational smooth look for much longer and take years off your chronological age as the years go by.

Summer is when the sunshine makes you feel good, but the damage it can do is generally invisible in the short term - it's only when nasty brown marks appear later that you wish you'd been a little less carefree about how you treated your skin!

Yes, we can almost achieve miracles at Riverbanks, but our advice is to take action NOW so you don't need those more extreme treatments later on.

Here's our step-by-step guide to sensational skin:

  1. CLEANSE - we recommend Priori Idebenone Cleanser and this is ideal in the summer as it helps correct sun damage.

  2. CORRECT: Iron out existing imperfections with Even Tones or Smooth Lines. They even out your skin tone and smoothe away lines

  3. Give your skin a boost to enhance hydration and brighten your skin - Vitage Vitamin C Serum does this perfectly.

  4. HYDRATE - to combat the drying effects of the sun and give you that smooth, plump, youthful glow. Priori Barrier Repair Complex and Priori Idebenone Moisturisers are the best on the market, as they hydrate the skin cells from inside the cells rather than simply leaving a sheen on the surface, as most over the counter products do.

  5. PROTECT - We can't recommend this strongly enough. Anyone who knows us will be familiar with our insistence that an SPF of at least 30 is essential. SPF; SPF; SPF!!! Use the Daily Defense SPF 30, Radical Defense or Vitage SPF 30.

If you don't think you need to do all this ask us to scan your skin with the VISIA Complexion Analysis Camera before you go on holiday and you'll see what damage sun can do to your skin!

Sunday 5 July 2009

Gordon Ramsay admits Botox on chin - was it worth it?

The Daily Mail asked a few weeks ago whether Gordon Ramsay had resorted to Botox on that famous craggy, lined face of his, using the following pictures as 'proof' that he had a less lined forehead:


He joked about it then, but reports over the weekend state that he has indeed undertaken Botox - on his chin!

You would imagine that Gordon more than most would realise that his famously lined face is part of his appeal (or so my female friends tell me!), but the famously Botoxed Simon Cowell is alleged to have talked him into it.

Gordon is quoted as saying "“Anyway, I was getting a complex for the first time in my life, so I did it. Botox. A jab here and one here. And no one has f****** noticed."

What do you think? Tell us in the comments below whether you think he looks better, worse, or no different.

Of course, this 'story' proves that it's not only women who decide that Botox will make them look and feel better - at Riverbanks we regularly treat men as well as women. So, if you're a man, looking in the mirror and not liking the wrinkles you see, why not contact us and see what we can do?

Friday 3 July 2009

Vaser Lipo Frequently asked questions - vaser liposelection

Here at Riverbanks, prospective patients ask many questions about Vaser Liposuction, so we've put together this FAQ to answer the ones asked most.

What is VASER Liposuction?

VASER Liposuction is a highly sophisticated alternative to traditional liposuction. It uses ultrasound technology to emulsify the fat in your body. By turning the fat into a liquid, the fat can be easily removed from the body using a suction cannula.

The technique selectively removes fat without damaging blood vessels, nerves and tissue. As a result of this, it creates far less trauma to the body and reduces the recovery times.

VASER Liposuction can be used in many areas of the body, including the back, the abdomen, breasts and other areas that were previously difficult to sculpt with traditional methods.

Is VASER Lipo better than Smart Lipo?

It’s not a matter of ‘better’ per se; they are very different methods of removing fat from the body. Smart Lipo has some advantages over traditional liposuction, but VASER works differently in the way that it removes the fat and has more advantages than convention lipo and Smart laser solutions.

Simply put, Smart Lipo uses a laser to break up the fat, whereas VASER Lipo uses ultrasound technology. VASER Lipo has demonstrated excellent recovery times, because it does not damage blood vessels, nerves or connective tissues when it is melting the fat.

VASER Lipo is performed under local anaesthesia and greatly reduce risk and recovery times, compared with traditional liposuction.

What can I expect during VASER LipoSelection recovery?

In our experience, patients recover much faster when they have VASER LipoSelection, compared with patients that have experienced traditional liposuction. Unlike conventional liposuction, VASER patients are able to get light exercise within a few days and are fully back to normal within two weeks. Of course, they should keep their dressings on for the full six weeks.

Because VASER is only minimally invasive, and tackles only your body fat, it reduces the trauma to the body, so pain is reduced. This means you will not need to take strong painkillers or numbing medications.

What’s the difference between Liposuction, Liposculture and Liposelection?

These are all marketing terms used within the cosmetic treatment industry for similar products.

‘Liposuction’ is simply the term used for the frequently performed surgical procedure that removes unwanted fat from the body using a suction system.

‘LipoSelection’ is a trade term that is associated with VASER, the advanced ultrasound technology that emulsifies body fat. Unlike traditional liposuction methods, it can be used on densely fibrous areas such as the back.

‘Liposculpture’ is the term used for the technique of using superficial liposuction technology to define the patient’s muscles.

How does VASER Liposelection differ from normal liposuction?

Liposuction has been around for about the last 35 years. Originally plastic surgeons used small cuts in the patient’s skin to suck away large amounts of unwanted fat. Before this, the only way to remove fat was to cut it out, which left horrible, unsightly scarring.

More recently a system of liposuction that uses sophisticated ultrasound technology has been introduced. This is known as VASER Liposuction, or ‘Liposelection’ as it is sometimes known by its trade term.

VASER Lipo breaks down the fatty tissue in the body by using ultrasound. This turns it into a liquid and it is drained away using a cannula. Because VASER uses a non-invasive technology to liquefy the fat, it does not damage any other surrounding nerves or tissue. This means that there is far less bruising and swelling than conventional liposuction.

Will I have tighter skin after using VASER LipoSelection?

VASER is a medical device that uses ultrasound technology to liquefy the fat cells, with much less damage to surround tissues than traditional methods of liposuction. Those clinicians using VASER Lipo say that it does increase the tightening of the skin and reduces the amount of loose skin that follows conventional lipo. The results of VASER LipoSelection include a smoother skin and greater body contouring.

What are the possible risks or side effects of VASER?

It’s a reasonable question, should you be concerned about the risks or the potential side effects? VASER is now known as a safer, less invasive form of lipo and we’ve yet to find a patient that regretted undergoing this terrific new procedure.

The side effects can include swelling, bruising and some fat drainage during the recovery period. But because VASER uses ultrasound technology, it does not damage the surrounding tissues and therefore, patients do not have to put up with the same level of pain, swelling and bruising that normal liposuction causes.

Which areas of the body does VASER Liposelection work best on?

Cosmetic physicians have achieved great success using VASER ultrasound technology to remove emulsified fat from many different areas of the body. We have had excellent success removing unwanted fatty tissue from the following areas:

Abdomen, Thighs, Knees, Buttocks, Hips, Arms, Male Breast Area, Love Handles, Chin and Neck areas.

However, due to the safe, non-invasive method that VASER uses, we perceive that it can be used on practically any area of the body where unwanted fat is stored.

How long will it take to see the results of VASER Liposelection?

You will see immediate results, although there is a minor amount of swelling for about a week after the procedure. When the swelling reduces and any bruising clears up, the results will become clear. Within the six months after the VASER lipo treatment, the collagen in the skin will grow and the skin surrounding the area will tighten to fit your next sculpted shape.

Are the results of VASER lipo permanent?

Let’s be clear about the type of results that you are seeking. Liposuction or LipoSelection are not for weight loss. They reduce the amount of body fat by emulsifying the existing fat and draining it out of the body as a liquid.

Those patients that are significantly disappointed with any kind of lipo procedure are those that put on considerable weight after their treatment. Remember, when you lose fat through lipo treatments, you can still put the weight back on. You should combine any treatment with a healthy diet and exercise regime for the greatest future success.

For more information on Vaser Lipo, or to book a consultation, contact Dr Ravi Jain of Riverbanks Clinic on 01582 762 877 or visit our website at http://www.riverbanksclinic.co.uk