Sometimes the best medicine doesn’t come in the form of a pill. Sometimes the best medicine comes in the form of a friend.

Many people who suffer from such health conditions as muscular dystrophy or congenital myopathy feel alone. Often, family and friends simply can’t relate to the person’s symptoms, concerns, fears, etc., no matter how hard they try. This is where support groups can lend a much-needed helping hand.

If you are suffering from myopathy, look for a support group in your area. If you can’t find a local support group, you might want to join one online.

Stop suffering alone: Connect with a support group today!

[youtube zAv4N6SkCIE]

If you’ve ever seen baby pictures of yourself, you know firsthand that your body changes as you age. When you’re a baby, you have soft structural systems so that your bones can grow big and strong into adulthood. By the time you reach the age of 20, you’re pretty much done expanding your skeletal system–you’ve got the frame that you’re going to have for the rest of your life, unless you start trying to juggle chainsaws or something.

Undeniably, though, your body continues to change shape. Your spine curves, your skin sags, your hips gain a little padding here and there. Some also say that certain body parts actually grow–such as the ears and the nose. But is it true?

Robert Kotler, MD, FACS, explained that the nose doesn’t actually grow, but it does change shape, which isn’t usually desirable, either. The two primary causes for this change: gravity and happiness? Let me explain. Gravity is an obvious culprit for your nose’s changing shape, because it pulls the skin on your nose downward so that it eventually begins to droop. The rest of your body starts to succumb to this effect, too–but that’s another blog post.

The other, more surprising influence–happiness–plays a part in making your nose appear to grow because of the way that the muscles on your face work together. When you smile, the skin above your mouth yanks the tip of your nose downward. Too much happiness may lead to a curly-tipped schnoz in your later years. So, as people age and their noses begin to slowly roll downward, it’s obvious that they may want to get a nose job to help bring that part of their appearance back to its original state.

Interestingly enough, people who had nose jobs at an earlier age actually have also taken a step toward preventing this drooping process. A nose job creates a little strip of scar tissue under the tip of the nose that helps to keep it strong and stable, like a mini-foundation. So, by getting a nose job at a young age, you’re not only investing in your present appearance, but also in its preservation, to a certain extent. One more thing to smile about, right?

Angela Bull

(photo credit: jack.ed)

I am a secretary and play both tennis and golf pretty often. I developed tennis elbow and decided to seek alternative treatments for my condition. A friend recommended that I try deep tissue and structural massage therapy as an option.

I was skeptical at first but after asking around, I found a therapist who specializes in RSI treatment. I signed up for a 6-week treatment program visiting her 3 times a week. In the beginning it felt a bit painful but she was very mindful of the level of pressure she could use. I began to notice a dramatic reduction in flare ups after 3 weeks of treatment. By the 5th week I was no longer experiencing any pain. I highly recommend this treatment for people who are experiencing RSI. It may seem like a lot of money and is slightly uncomfortable at first, but it is well worth it and I haven’t experienced any pain in 6 months!

(photo credit: lintmachine)

In a study released by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), it was noted that rhinoplasty (nose jobs) were the highest-ranking facial surgeries in 2007, particularly for those of African American and Hispanic ethnicities. Over the years, many have criticized these types of ethnic nose jobs as a sort of “whitification” of a person’s looks. Such people may have been accused of being ashamed of their culture or their heritage, despite whatever they could have said or done to the contrary.What, then, do these same critics say to the AAFPRS that 66 percent of men and 65 percent of women requested cosmetic surgery to remain more competitive in the workplace? Are these individuals suddenly “professionalizing” their look? Or, are they just taking advantage of cultural tendencies in order to get another step ahead by essentially putting forth no extra work?

Humans as babies are more drawn to beautiful things, and humans as adults are told to respect and love more beautiful people (at least this is the case in Western cultures). Rather than criticize people for taking advantage of this subtle evolutionary loophole, perhaps there is some respect to be given to people that are willing to go under the knife and change the appearance they are used to in order to give themselves a sharper edge against the competition.

African, South American and Guinea tribesman would ritually change their appearance through scarring and tattoos to make themselves more experienced and tough-looking. This would help them to gain respect from their peers and incite fear in their enemies. In essence, they would do this to make themselves more able to stand up against their adversaries and stand over their fellow tribesman. If 66 percent of people who had plastic surgery did it to make themselves more competitive, then how is that any different than the practices of tribesman, or more deserving of criticism?

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there–in business as in the bush. Humans have always adapted to their environment in order to survive. Maybe nose jobs are just the first step in this new world?

Angela Bull

Photo Credit: Michael (mx5tx)

So you’ve decided to get a nose job. The next job is to find the surgeon that will meet your needs and your standards.

Once you’ve spoken with other nose job customers and have taken notes on some well-reviewed doctors, you’ll want to ask a few questions of the doctor before you make your final call on who’s going to handle your schnoz.

Some good questions to start with:

• What are your affiliations/accreditations? Obviously, your surgeon needs to have gone through the proper schooling and certifications as appropriate, but what are their other credits to their name? Doctors that are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons may have additional backing to their good name and good work. The same goes for the office that they are working from. It should be properly licensed, and additional accreditation is always a plus.
• How much experience do you have? Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor how many years he has been performing plastic surgery, specifically nose jobs, or how many years of training he has. You may even want to ask him how many they’ve performed successfully. Ask to see their catalog of before-and-after pictures.
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure? You may think that you’re ready to go, but perhaps there are things about your physical characteristics or health that make getting a nose job a sticky situation. If they are vague or you’re just unclear on their diagnosis, ask him to expand upon or clarify any answers he gives you.
• What will be expected of me? You should know what you’re going to be up against once the surgery is over, from aftercare procedures to signs of proper recovery. Asking this will also help you to inform anyone who may be helping to take care of you during this time.
• What can I expect of you? You may think you already know the answer to this, but it never hurts to ask the simple questions. Where will the procedure take place? What technique will you use on me? What will my nose look like in the end? How often will I see you afterward? It’s better to get all this information ahead of time, rather then during recovery.
• What if something goes wrong? You have to expect the unexpected, including dissatisfaction with the end result. Ask your doctor what your options are if you don’t like what you see, or if complications arise during or after the procedure.

While your nose may seem like a small part of your body, it’s often the first thing people see on your face. Make sure you do your homework so that you’ll be happy with what happens to it.

Angela Bull

Photo Credit: Brittany G

If you’re interested in changing the appearance of your nose through medicine but are not thrilled about the prospect of taking your nose under the knife, you may be interested in the non-surgical procedure that many are turning to as an alternative to classic nose jobs.

Rather than breaking, cutting or otherwise altering the nose itself, this procedure utilizes an injection of a semi-permanent material that is typically used as a filler for tooth enamel. The material is then sort of “molded” from the outside of the nose with the fingertips to produce the shape desired. The procedure takes about 15 minutes and lasts about two years.

The material used in the procedure is similar to that found in our bones and teeth, helping to minimize the frequency and severity of reactions to the substance. It is reported that the procedure has been performed over 300,000 with no serious reactions or side effects.

This alternative seems to work best for those who have bumps or similar features in their nose that just need to be smoothed out to create a straight-lined profile. Dr. Rivkin of Los Angeles created the procedure and says that it works because it keeps the eye from noticing irregularities, which gives a greater perception of uniformity in the nose.

Of course, this doesn’t seem to be a good option for those who seek more drastic transformations, such as a smaller or thinner nose. Alternately, this procedure seems to give some extra size to the nose overall, which may be exactly what some people want to avoid.

Due to the popularity of the procedure, practitioners have begun using this method to change the shape of other parts of the face, such as chins, cheeks and eyes. The material helps to smooth out the skin as well as reshape the face, essentially combining two feats in one short procedure.

The cost is much easier to manage as well — about $1,000 — whereas traditional rhinoplasty can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000. Of course, the procedure appears to be offered in a limited number of locations, which may add to your cost if you have to travel long distances.

Angela Bull

Photo Credit: Emdot