Treating Gynecomastia Improves Quality of Life, Study Finds
December 12, 2011 - Rhys Branman, MD
Men with excess breast tissue, a condition called gynecomastia, may be embarrassed about their chest. Male breast reduction surgery is a way to correct the problem. A new study shows that treating gynecomastia improves patients' quality of life. Researchers also found that patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with the procedure. What is Gynecomastia? Doctors believe the excess breast tissue is caused by hormonal problems. Men with gynecomastia can get a more masculine chest by having male breast reduction surgery. During surgery, excess glandular tissue or fat is removed, either through liposuction or surgical tissue removal. Results of Treating... 
The Baltimore Sun recently reported on a disturbing trend: women receiving illegal silicone buttockinjections. A dancer in Baltimore was admitted to the hospital in March with silicone in her lungs after the procedure, and the FDA is investigating this and other instances across the U.S. The woman who injected the dancer, who is not a doctor or nurse, was arrested in October. Court records also showed the silicone may have come from a home improvement store. The medical-grade liquid version of silicone is only approved for the treatment of detached retinas, according to the FDA. But in the past, doctors... 
Putting on a smile may help just as much as applying makeup in the morning. A new study found it is effective as a way to look younger. Our facial expressions have an impact on how old we look, according to the study. Pictures of people who were smiling were estimated to appear on average two years younger than they actually were. The study had 154 adults guess the ages of men and women with various expressions in more than 2,000 photographs. The face in each photo had one of the following expressions: angry, fearful, disgusted, happy, sad and neutral.... 
Women who have undergone breast augmentation can find emotional support through Internet forums, according to a new study. The study found that overall breast augmentation forums are a positive experience for women. “Through electronic postings, they cared for and nursed each others' anxiety and feelings throughout the whole process,” wrote the researchers at Oslo University Hospital. Online forums have made it easier for patients to connect and communicate with others interested in breast augmentation. The researchers suggested that for women who are looking for information on the procedure, the Internet “is one of the most important or perhaps the most... 
A non-surgical option for double chin reduction shows encouraging results in clinical trials, according to an investigator for the study. ATX-101, an injectable drug, reduces the amount of fat that develops under the chin (also called submental fat). KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, maker of ATX-101, reported that 80% of participants in the study saw a significant reduction of fat under their chins after the first two years of the five-year trial. "Treatment results with ATX-101 appear to be sustained and well-tolerated, which illustrates its potential as a novel, non-surgical approach to reducing submental fat," said Kevin C. Smith, a dermatologist in Canada... 
The back of the hand can reveal a person's age as easily as the face or neck, but what cosmetic procedures can combat signs of aging there? Cosmetic surgeons are now using many facial rejuvenation techniques as anti-aging hand treatments. The techniques are approved by the FDA to treat the face, but can be used as off-label treatments for other areas of the body, including the hands. “As we age, our hands tend to lose their firmness and volume and the veins and tendons become more pronounced,” said Dr. Dee Anna Glaser, a dermatologist and fellow in the American Academy... 
A test by Express.co.uk found that skin care products can improve your appearance, but not to the extent that cosmetic surgery can. The website had a tester try several cosmetic surgery skin care products for reducing lines and wrinkles, firming skin and plumping lips. The results were not as good or as long-lasting as cosmetic surgery procedures. For example, a cream that contained peptides to plump lips did instantly add volume. Dr. Michael Prager, a cosmetic surgeon in London, said that while the cream works as a quick fix and hydrates lips, is unlikely to be a long-term solution. A... 
If you suffer from varicose veins, treatment options include removing the vein with surgery or a non-surgical laser vein treatment. A new study found that the two options are equally effective at treating the unsightly leg veins that can affect blood flow. As many as 35 percent of adults have complications from varicose veins, and researchers said both treatments equally improved the severity of the disease and the patient's quality of life. In addition, patients were satisfied with both treatments. "Our opinion is that both procedures can be equally offered to the patients with great saphenous vein insufficiency," said lead... 