Self-Esteem Jumps After Chest-Abnormality Surgery
Children with a congenital chest deformity called pectus excavatum, or funnel chest, are routinely self-conscious and ill at ease in the extreme. But after they undergo surgery to correct the defect, their self-concept and social lives improve dramatically.
"These results should prompt physicians to consider the physiologic and psychological implications of pectus excavatum just as they would any other physical deformity known to have such consequences," said Robert E. Kelly, of Eastern Virginia Medical School, in Norfolk, Va., and his colleagues in the journal Pediatrics.
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Body Contouring a Good Follow-up to Liposuction
Obese patients who undergo the weight-reduction procedure known as liposuction are left with unsightly sags of skin that are uncomfortable and embarrassing. The excess tissue may even lead to irritation and infection as it rubs against the body.
Enter body contouring. This technique gets rid of the unattractive folds, making the patient sleek and "normal"-looking. But it's a complex, highly invasive procedure that involves considerable discomfort during recuperation.
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Understanding Changes in Overeating As We Age
Key appetite control cells in the human brain degenerate over time, causing increased hunger and potentially weight-gain as we grow older, according to a Monash University scientist. Dr. Zane Andrews has found that appetite-suppressing cells are damaged by free radicals after eating and said the degeneration is more significant following meals rich in carbohydrates and sugars. Dr. Andrews claims, "The more carbs and sugars you eat, the more your appetite-control cells are damaged, and potentially you consume more."
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Plastic Surgery, the Who and What of It
Ever wonder who's getting plastic surgery? For the most part, it's women. Statistics compiled by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery show that of the 11.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures done in 2005, over 90% were preformed on women. In fact, surgical procedures for women showed a modest annual increase of 2%, while they were down 8% for men.
People ages 35-50 years are the most likely to have a cosmetic procedure done, accounting for nearly half of procedures, compared with just 4% of people 65 and older.
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