The do’s and don’ts of gastric band weight loss surgery

November 11th, 2011 Author:

The goal of gastric band surgery, gastric bypass surgery and weight loss surgery is to reduce the size of your stomach, so you feel full quickly, making you less likely to engage in excessive eating. However, the surgery alone is not enough and lifestyle and diet changes are also needed. Your medical practitioner will advise you upon the correct changes to your diet and lifestyle, which will be discussed before and after your surgery. Selecting the right foods to eat will be a key aspect of your weight loss and recovery program. To achieve optimal results from gastric band surgery an initial liquid diet followed by a soft food diet is recommended, before resuming to a combination diet of both soft and hard foods.

Liquid diet: dos and don’ts

A liquid only diet is prescribed for an approximate two week period after weight loss surgery and your doctor will advise you on the fluid intake relevant to your body mass. Fluids that are suitable for your new diet include semi-skimmed milk, low-calorie milkshakes and fruit juice, liquid-only soups, herbal tea and water. Feeling hungry during this time is normal, but always avoid the temptation to eat any solids. www.gastricbands.co.uk provides more details on tips and advice.

Here are some dos and don’ts about the liquid diet:

  • Supplement your liquid intake with multivitamins and calcium in liquid form.
  • Drink about 2.5 to 3.5 litres per day with 200 ml per portion.
  • Monitor the colour of your urine for hydration.
  • Avoid carbonated or fizzy drinks that increase gas and cause bloating that may result in the gastric band shifting out of place.
  • Avoid chewing gum that stimulates the digestion process.

Soft food diet dos and don’ts

After the two-week liquid diet period, a soft food diet is usually advised for a fortnight, before introducing a combination diet.

Dos and don’ts for the soft food diet include:

  • Eat foods with soft texture like cooked cauliflower, scrambled egg and cottage or fisherman’s pie.
  • Select mashed food, like potato, parsnips and butternut squash.
  • Choose soft fruits like bananas, mangoes, pears, and avocados.
  • Blend soft foods into smoothies or soups.
  • Reduce portions as recommended by your Dietician.
  • Avoid crunchy steamed vegetables and salads.
  • Drink fluids about an hour before meals and not with meals.

It is vital to record your progress and consult with your dietician about meal-planning. Do not eat hard foods like meats and bread until your practitioner agrees it is safe to do so.

NHS VS Private Dentistry

June 18th, 2010 Author:

The benefits of going private for your dental treatment is that you will often be seen more quickly privately than if you were undergoing treatment by the NHS which often have long waiting lists. Many private dentists in Nottingham can be found online via the internet or by searching in your local directories such as the Yellow pages. You may have seen dental guide to practice sales when it comes to NHS dental practices but this is because of changes in dentistry in the past few years.

There are many dentistry treatments such as cosmeticdentistryguide.co.uk/articles/root-canal.html treatment which often have long waiting lists if you want the treatment via the NHS therefore some people prefer to have dental treatments privately.  Often private dental treatments cost considerably more than NHS as the NHS often give treatments for free which is one advantage if you do not have the means to pay for private dental treatments. However the personal, individual care and attention given may be a disadvantage if you are going to the NHS as you will not get that individual attention that a private dentist can give you.

Having access to the most advanced technology for your teeth is something that private dental practices use on their patients and this would be extremely beneficial if you are undergoing a more complicated treatment.  With private treatments you can choose from a specialised dentist who specialises in the field of dentistry treatments which you are after.

Many dentists under the NHS often take the decision to leave the NHS and go privately in which case there are many dental practices for sale which can be searched online.

Risk Factors in Laser Treatments

June 2nd, 2010 Author:

Laser treatments for cosmetic purposes are becoming more and more popular as the technology becomes more advanced and well known. However, many people still worry about the risks and possible side effects involved with laser based treatments such as tattoo removal and laser hair removal. Here is a brief summary of some of the possible side effects.

Normal Side Effects

There are some side effects of laser treatment which are perfectly normal and which are fairly likely. These include redness, swelling, pain, tingling and numbness, all of which should last no longer than about three days. During the treatment itself, it is normal to feel some discomfort. With laser hair removal this should be less than with tattoo removal. Tattoo removal is a similar sensation and level of pain as having a tattoo in the first place, whereas during laser hair removal you may feel itching and pain no worse than waxing.

Rare Side Effects

Rare side effects can be more serious, and some of them permanent. In some cases you may get scabbing, bruising or blistering. These are all temporary. However, it is also possible to get burns, scars and infections from cosmetic laser treatments. Changes in pigmentation also occur in rare cases. This can either be hypo-pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation. Both involve darkening of the skin and are more common to people with dark or tanned skin. Hypo-pigmentation is temporary but hyper-pigmentation is permanent. However, with advances in technology and in safety features, these side effects are fairly uncommon.

Popular Myths

Many people are afraid that laser treatments will cause worse side effects than they do. Particular fears include cancer and infertility, but there is no chance of these being linked to laser treatments. Side effects from laser treatments are usually mild and usually temporary, and are very rarely life changing.

The ins and outs of a Dental Hygienist

April 15th, 2010 Author:

Specialising in dental hygiene is one of a wide range of dental jobs available. Specialist dental hygienists are an integral part of a dental team. They help to prevent and treat the causes of tooth decay and gum disease, focussing especially on gum health. One of their main roles is to perform scale and polish treatments to remove tartar from the teeth. They also offer advice to patients on how to improve their oral health through changing their diet, not smoking and maintaining good oral hygiene. Many dental hygienists will devise a home care plan for each patient, which is individually tailored to meet the patient’s specific oral health needs. Their other tasks include:

  • Taking dental X rays and impressions
  • Applying fissure sealants
  • Monitoring gum disease and plaque levels
  • Replacing crowns with temporary dental cement in emergency cases.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Dental Hygienist?

You need to do a dental course that specialises in dental hygiene and is approved by the General Dental Council (GDC). To become a dental hygienist you need to complete either a Diploma in Dental Hygiene and Therapy or a Bsc in Oral Health Science. Dental Hygienists need to be registered with the GDC before being able to work with patients.

Jobs for Dental Hygienists

There are many jobs in dentistry available for a qualified dental hygienist. They may work in private or NHS practices, hospitals and community dental services. Dental hygienists with lots of industry experience may go on to become practice managers or go into teaching and research. Some dental hygienists also become orthodontic therapists.

Dental Hygienists

Not every practice has full time specialist dental hygienists, but there are many London dentists that do offer a comprehensive dental hygiene service and various others around the UK.

Breast Enhancing Pills Versus Breast Augmentation Surgery

April 12th, 2010 Author:

Breast enhancement is one of the most performed cosmetic procedures. There is a wide range of breast augmentation surgeries as well as different forms of implants available to augment breasts. Along with that, there is another alternative currently marketed known as the breast enhancement pills.

Using breast enhancement pills by some is better than undergoing breast augmentation surgery. These pills contain proteins that enhance the production of female hormones in the body. These then stimulate the formation of fat cells as well as connective tissue in the breasts. This ultimately results in the enhancement of the breast size.

Interestingly, the society of the plastic surgeons says that breast enhancing pill bears a lot of side effects.

They claim that the rate at which the results are achieved through these pills is very slow. The surgeons say that all such products are sold under the label of supplements and are not approved by the FDA as of yet. It is said that these drugs can also interfere with other prescription drugs. Hormonal imbalances can occur with the use of such drug, as well as other harmful effects on the body.

If you are looking for breast enhancement and do not want to go through breast augmentation surgery, breast augmentation pills can be an option. But before you do that, it would be wise to check with your family physician to know as to whether the claims by the society of plastic surgeons are correct or not.

There are a lot of complications associated with breast enlargement surgery and there might be complications associated with breast enhancing pills. It is advised that you do look into things in detail before opting for either one of them.

Breast Reduction Surgery can Help You Feel Better about You

April 5th, 2010 Author:

For many women, having large breasts is an emotional burden. Breast reduction surgery often eases that burden for women. It is an unfortunate fact of life that women with large breasts are ridiculed, stereotyped in a number of unflattering ways, victimized by sexual harassment and even face jealousy from other women who wish they were so well endowed. For them, it seems like their breasts are always the center of attention. Being subjected to this type of ignorance and abuse on a continual basis can affect a woman’s self confidence and self esteem. Many find themselves trying to conceal their body in an attempt to prevent the stares, comments and whispers. At the same time women can be conscious of the nipples as maybe they can have overly large nipples or may even need inverted nipple correction.

Having realistic expectations is always important when considering plastic surgery to reduce the size of the breasts. You may not go from having to wear custom made bras to wearing a B cup. But, the procedure can significantly reduce the size and weight of the breasts, making it possible to comfortably wear stylish clothing without drawing unwanted attention to the bosom. That alone can be a huge confidence booster for women who have been resigned to wearing loose fitting clothing because, well, because fitted clothes were never an option. The boost in self esteem can be life changing, particularly for younger women and adolescents who may have suffered a ‘reputation’ or have been ridiculed by their peers because of the size of their breasts.

Breast reduction surgery can help remedy these emotional and psychological issues, as well as bring physical relief from the discomfort associated with having large breasts. In fact, this plastic surgery has one of the highest rates of satisfaction among patients.

Choose a plastic surgeon who is board certified, understanding, and one whom you are comfortable with. It is perfectly acceptable, and often expected that patient’s consult with more than one plastic surgeon before making their decision.

Getting some dental work done? Go CEREC!

April 4th, 2010 Author:

I recently needed a number of dental crowns and inlays, but I didn’t have the time or patience to wait around for the dentist to build them, or to go to a handful of appointments. I talked to my Reading dentist and he told me about CEREC dentistry, and it sounded perfect. CEREC is a system that creates your replacement teeth or whatever you need within minutes. Because the system works so efficiently, you can literally walk in and out of your dentists and that’ll be the end of it. CEREC technology took a scan of my teeth, and then a different machine set about making them, using a tooth-coloured porcelain mix.

The only downside of CEREC that I found was the price. It cost me almost a thousand pounds per tooth. Despite that, I am completely happy with what I had done, and the quality of the teeth is amazing. I researched CEREC teeth, and apparently they’re much stronger than ordinary replacement teeth, so I suppose you get what you pay for. The biggest advantage CEREC can offer is probably chopping down the time you spend at the dentist and the time you have to wait for the replacement teeth. Time is precious, and the last place you want to spend it is in a dentist’s chair.

Dental implants; a non-removable false tooth and an alternative to dentures

April 1st, 2010 Author:

An implant is a titanium plate that forms the basis of a permanent means of giving us false teeth that need no special maintenance or removal. They came about because of research into a natural process called Osseointergration; this science was discovered in the 1960s during research in the U.K. and Sweden. That research also led to the science being used on knitting multiple bone fractures of the leg. The most used type is the Endosteal Implant which is made out of titanium, a metal that is iron free and so hard wearing it is used in bearings for helicopters. In order to qualify for an implant you will need to have a strong, wide and healthy jaw bone, which thankfully most of us do have. Digital x-rays and photos are taken to both determine this and design the new ceramic tooth that will replace the rogue one. The treatment starts off with a local anaesthetic to the gum, then a small incision is made in the gum line and the plate (implant) is slid under the gum, using self tapping screws the dentist will fix it to the jaw bone. Sometimes they will drill into the bone, and using a plate with studs on, they will glue the plate in. the incision is stitched up and left for nature to take its course. This next stage is where the Osseointergration, the fusion of the plate to the bone, comes in. It can take a little time which is usually between three and six months. Then the final stages take place, first another incision is made in the gum line and an abutment is inserted into the fused plate, where necessary the plate can take several abutments. These are basically a stud that will act as a pole for the false tooth to sit on. Once in place the tooth will be made using the photos taken of either the original tooth or teeth, or the gap. They are made from a hard wearing ceramic material and will almost certainly out live the natural teeth. They will simply be placed on the abutment and slid down to fix in place with special glue, the patient will need to get used to them by practicing a new way of chewing food. They need no special looking after and just a normal brush and flossing will keep them clean and white.

Veneer Replacement

March 28th, 2010 Author:

Veneers are protective coverings applied on the teeth for cosmetic purposes. These are used to cover teeth that are discoloured, chipped, etc. Before opting for veneers, you must know that this procedure is irreversible. In order to apply the veneer, dentist has to scrape down the teeth a bit, which makes an individual to require veneers for life.

Veneers are not permanent and are required to be changed from time to time. The most common types are resin and lumineers, which are applied on the teeth with the help of a lighter cement. On the other hand, the porcelain veneers are applied with a stronger cement and require a great deal of preparation before its application.

Single veneer replacement will most likely require only one visit with your Reading dentist. The common causes for replacement are cracks, chipped or broken areas that cannot be fixed. On the other hand, if you want to get the entire set of veneers replaced, then it will take you about a period of several weeks.

When your dentist in reading recommends that it is time to get your veneers replaced, the next plan of action that he will share with you is gum re-contouring. This is a surgical procedure that requires gum tissue removal. This will allow proper fitting of veneers.

This will be the first visit in which you will have gum tissue removal.

The second visit would entail removal of the bonding as well as the cement material. In this procedure, there would also be scaling, cleaning and polishing of the teeth. These things most likely are required based on the material used.

The next step would now be to get teeth impression to make sure that your new veneer set fits properly. At the next visit, your new veneers will be bonded to your teeth. The veneers now are permanently bonded to your teeth.

Is it Safe to Drink Fizzy Drinks After Installing Cheap Dental Implants?

March 24th, 2010 Author:

Many patients who’ve had dental implants installed wonder if it’s a good idea to drink fizzy drinks after their surgery. It turns out that it’s okay to drink occasionally a fizzy drink or two. However, it would be a wise idea to avoid drinking fizzy drink excessively after installing cheap dental implants.

This is true because cheap dental implants are often combined with a porcelain crown that is vulnerable to acid wear (just like natural teeth). As a result, patients should try to avoid drinking excessive amounts of fizzy drinks to keep their cheap dental implants looking their best.

In addition, it’s also a good idea to wait on indulging on fizzy drinks until the entire process of installing cheap dental implants has been completed. This will allow your mouth to fully recover from the procedure without having to worry about interference from outside sources. As a result, ask your orthodontist to recommend a time to start drinking fizzy drinks again. He can tell you more about the pros and cons of drinking fizzy drinks after installing cheap dental implant. He can also tell you when it’s a good time to start drinking your favourite soft drink again. It’s sooner than you think!