Blood red and looking like a badly shaped tennis ball with a tail, beets are not high on the favorite foods list.  This often unloved veggie contains fiber and potassium and is an excellent source of folate, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium, as well as fiber, vitamins A and C, niacin, and biotin and has no fats or cholesterol.  The red pigment (betacyanin) in beets seems to protect against development of certain cancer especially colon cancer and high level antioxidants in them may even reduce heart disease. The cellulose content in beats helps to ease bowel movements. Drinking beets juice regularly will help relieve chronic constipation.

With all these health benefits the individuals with a history of oxalate-containing kidney stones should limit their consumption of beets.

So go ahead and enjoy these gorgeous red vegetables that are packed full of health benefits.

Whether intentional or not we are all getting exposed to sun and its harmful ultraviolet (UV) light on a daily bases.  Accumulative exposure of our skin to the UV light will result in skin cancer.  If caught early these pre-cancerous lesion or moles could easily removed.  There are certain things that one needs to look for in every mole or skin lesion to recognize the malignant changes.  ABCDE criteria was put together to assist in recognizing skin cancers.

A:  Asymmetry – Cancerous cells grow unevenly.  So if a line is drawn through the middle of the mole the two sides will line up and look symmetrical in a benign mole.

B:  Border – Benign moles have well defined borders whereas melanoma lesions feather out into the surrounding skin.

C:  Color – Melanoma and malignant lesions are often multicolored with the exception of all black moles.

D:  Diameter – Majority of benign lesions are smaller than 6 mm.  If it is larger than a pencil eraser (about 1/4 inch or 6mm), it needs to be examined by a doctor.

E:  Evolving –  Watch for the moles that change color, raise up, get itchy or get larger.

At least 2-3 times a year check all your moles, measure or even take pictures of them to document changes.  If any question, doubt or concerns contact your doctor and have the moles evaluated.

Pears are native to coastal and mildly temperate regions of the World, from Western Europe and North Africa east right across Asia. The pear is very similar to the apple in cultivation.  There are about 30 primary species, major subspecies, and naturally occurring interspecific hybrids of pears.  Summer and autumn pears are gathered before they are fully ripe, while they are still green, but snap off when lifted. If left to ripen and turn yellow on the tree, the sugars will turn to starch crystals and the pear will have a gritty texture inside.

Pears are consumed fresh, canned, as juice, and dried. Pears are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, Vitamin E1, copper, fiber and potassium.  Pears are less allergenic than many other fruits, and pear juice is therefore sometimes used as the first juice introduced to infants^. The anti-oxidant nutrients in pears are critical to maintain youthful and healthy looking skin by destroying free radicals that can damage cells.  Pears are also help in building up your immune system.  Other health benefits of pears include: anti-inflammatory, help in lowering cholesterol level, reducing risks of stroke and heart attack, decreasing risk of colon cancer, slowing down osteoporosis and relief of constipation.

So grab that pear

Finally a report that might appeal to chocolate and sun lovers both.  According to British researchers, regular consumption of chocolate rich in flavanol may provide significant protection against ultraviolet light (UV).  In a study performed at School of Management and Science, London University of the Arts, 30 test subjects were randomly assigned to consume either chocolate specially made with high flavanol (HF) or chocolate with low flavanol (LF) content.  During a 12 week period the subjects consumed 20 gr of the assigned chocolate every day.  After this period the results revealed that subjects that consumed HF chocolate required almost twice as much energy to develop skin erythema (redness or skin burn) compared to the baseline dose determined prior to the chocolate consumption.  The minimal erythema dose for the HF chocolate group was increased from 0.109  J/Cm2 at the baseline to 0.223 J/Cm2, whereas there was minimal change in the LF chocolate group (0.124 J/Cm2 baseline to 0.32 J/Cm2).

The cocoa beans fresh from the tree appear to contain exceptional amount of antioxidant, flavanoids which is greatly reduced during the processing of the beans and manufacturing of the conventional chocolate.

The researchers concluded that HF chocolate may potentially offer protection against harmful UV effects.  Increasing minimal erythema dose not only reduces sunburn risk but it may more importantly decrease other risks associated with UV exposure such as skin cancer and UV related skin aging.

The most effective treatment for acne may be taken away from teenagers and young adults suffering from severe acne.  In June Roche Holding pharmaceutical based in Switzerland pulled its blockbuster acne medication Accutane off the market due to its link to inflammatory bowel disease.  The newly released studies show that using Accutane can nearly double the risk of developing serious bowel disorder compared to non-Accutane users.  For the past 27 years on the market Accutane and its generic version Isotretinoin have been linked to serious birth defects when taken during pregnancy, severe depression, suicidal behavior, joint and muscle pain, hair thinning, increased sensitivity to sun, elevated cholesterol and liver toxicity.

In a study released by Dr S. Crockett, 21832 healthy individuals were compared to 8189 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and found that Isotretinoin users had 1.68 times higher risk of developing the bowel disorder.  This risk was increased to 2.67 times if four or more prescriptions of Isotretinoin were taken.  The odds of developing Ulcerative Colitis were 4.36 times higher in Isotretinoin users.  However there was no increased risk of developing Crohn’s disease among the medication users.  The intestinal signs of inflammatory bowel disease include abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, weight loss and bleeding.

For now Isotretinoin is still available but the latest reports and the possible pending lawsuits could lead to withdrawal of the controversial medication from the market.

Retinoids are medications that are Vitamin A derived such as Retin-A, Renova, Tazorac and others.  The Retinoids have been assumed to be the best anti-aging product.  The benefits are increased cell turnover to soften and smoothen wrinkles, stimulate collagen production and fade sunspots.  However now there are reports that Retinoids can cause thinning of the skin as well as chronic irritation and inflammation which can result in premature aging. Repeated and excessive inflammation of the skin will increase collagen breakdown which in turn increases appearance of lines, wrinkles and sagging.

According to some dermatologists applying more than recommended pea-sized amount of the product can result in excessive flaking of the skin and possibly skin irritation.   Applying too much or using them too often should be avoided to prevent or decrease chance of irritation and inflammation.

The latest study originally begun 1991 and the findings come from Women’s Health Initiative.  It was once believed that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) could reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke and relieve problematic symptoms of menopause.  More than 16,000 women were involved in the study which was halted after the results indicated the risks far outweighed any benefits.  The reports revealed that not only there was no reduction in the risk of heart attacks and strokes it actually had an increase in the rate of heart disease, stroke as well as 15 % increase in the rate of breast cancer.  After 2002 there was a dramatic decrease in the breast cancer rate due to abandoning the HRT.

The interaction between the hormone and the estrogen receptors present on the breast tumor cells results in deleterious stimulation and acceleration of the growth rate.  Unfortunately the latest laboratory studies have show that the cells present in the lung tissue also contain estrogen receptors.  This study also indicates that the accelerated growth is potentially higher in the lung tumors.  This increase in the growth rate  is partially due to stimulation of the lung tissue to grow more blood vessels which in turn provides more nutrition to the tumor cells, according to Dr. Richard Pietras from UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

These findings are significantly important for women who are  heavy smokers now or have a long history of heavy smoking in the past.  These findings do not suggest that hormone replacement therapy causes long cancer, however they indicate that the therapy enhances the growth of the existing lung tumor, potentially accelerates tumor metastasis and promotes more aggressive behavior of cancer cells.

More than 45 million Americans belong to a health club compare to 23 million in 1993 at a cost of close to $19 billion a year in membership fees.  Even though according to most surveys number of people who admit to exercising has increased from 47%     in 1980 to 57% in 2000 the number of obesity has risen dramatically in the same period.  One third of Americans are overweight with another one third are considered to be obese.

Although regular exercising has been shown beneficial to prevent heart disease, certain cancer, diabetes and other illnesses; however in the past couple of years research results indicate that the role of exercise in weight loss has been wildly overstated.  Eric Ravussin from Louisiana State University states “in general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless”.  It is absolutely true that exercising burns calorie but unfortunately it also stimulates hunger as well.  This  stimulation causes us to eat more, which in turn cancels the weight loss benefit from exercising.

It is what you eat, not how hard you try to work it off that effects the amount of weight you loose.  Just beware that bouts of vigorous exercise could lead to weight gain by an increase in appetite.  So skip that blueberry muffin or that “sugar free” lemon muffin after your workout.

One out of eight people suffer from migraine headaches.  Three out of four of those people are women between the ages of 20 and 45.  The severe and gripping pain of migraine headaches and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, numbness, paralysis and visual disturbance can often take a day or more to subside. A migraine headache is usually an intense, throbbing pain on one, or sometimes, both sides of the head.

Headaches more commonly start in the temples or behind one eye or ear, although any part of the head can be involved. Migraines can occur any time of the day, though it often starts in the morning. The frequency of pain can vary from once or twice a week to only once or twice a year.

The exact cause of a migraine is not fully understood. Migraines have been related to genetics, lack of sleep, dehydration, starvation, bright lights, loud sounds, strong odors, menstruation, stress/anxiety, red wine, caffeine, nitrate and tyramine containing foods, MSG (monosodium glutamate) in foods and aspartame (NutraSweet^® and Equal^®).

There is no cure for migraine headache but they can be managed with certain medications such as sumatriptan (Imitrex^®), rizatriptan (Maxalt^®), zolmitriptan (Zomig^®), propranolol (Inderal^®), amitriptyline (Elavil^®) or venlafaxine (Effexor^®), aspirin, acetaminophen, or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).  In order to achieve best results the medication must be taken right away, when symptoms first begin.

Scientists have recently discovered that Clostridium botulinum toxin also known as Botox can safely be used to prevent or dramatically reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. BOTOX® (Botulinum Toxin Type A) (Allergan, Irvine, CA) is Purified Neurotoxin Complex produced from a strain of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Botox is already used to treat disorders caused by overactive striated or smooth muscles. It is also helpful in the treatment of chronic low back pain, cervical dystonia, achalasia, and rectal fissures, facial wrinkles associated with over active muscles or muscle spasms.

Studies have shown that using Botox to treat migraines resulted in significantly fewer attacks per month, reduced pain severity, fewer days using abortive/rescue medications, and fewer episodes of nausea/vomiting.  Obviously, no therapy will work for all migraineurs, but studies definitely give hope that Botox injections are helpful for a significant percentage of migraine sufferers. It can induce immediate relief and provide pain relief benefit of up to six months.

For more information please contact us at 310.360.0504.

The saline and silicone breast implants available in the US are supplied by two companies at this time, Mentor and Allergan.  Both companies recommend their customers to have the breast implants replaced in 10 years.  However this doesn’t mean you have to change them at that time.

If the breast implants are not deflated, not changed in shape or the way they feel and not causing any problems, it is not necessary to risk anesthesia, surgery, post operative pain and the extra cost to have the implants removed and replaced. 

One of the main reasons to change the implants is deflation in case of saline and rupture for silicone implants.  With saline implants, if it deflates, you will see the breast get smaller and smaller over 48 hours.  In case of silicone gel implants, the FDA recommends an MRI every 3 years to check the integrity of the implants.

So the answer is no, you don’t have to change implants every 10 years as long as there are no complications noted.

For more information please contact our office at 310.360.0504.

Labioplasty

 

Labioplasty is one of the fastest growing procedures requested by women of all ages in the past two to three years due to frequent articles in the women’s magazines. This procedure is a vaginal rejuvenation surgery and is also referred to as labia minora reduction, inner lip reduction or labia reduction. This procedure allows the surgeon to reshape the labia minora.  As the result of increased in awareness about the procedure more women are interested and not ashamed of asking for this procedure.

There are two main reasons why women are requesting this procedure some for functional reasons or cosmetic reasons or a combination of the both. Functional problems, such as irritation when riding a bicycle, horseback riding, pain during intercourse or to relieve discomfort caused by excess and/or thick labia which often interfere with their everyday life.

Some patients report an improvement in self-esteem and self-confidence can result in an improvement in their sex life as a result of aesthetic improvement in the appearance of their labia. Cosmetic Labioplasty involves surgically reducing and/or reshaping the female external genital structures. Many women want to enhance or improve the appearance of uneven or asymmetrical labia.

A large number of our patients are young females who have never been intimate or participate in certain sport activities because of the appearance of their labia and external genitalia.  They were embarrassed and self conscious enough due to presence of the excess and redundant tissue.  After the correction procedure, they had gained their self-confidence to do things they were not able to do before, such as wearing tight clothes and swimming suites and even being intimate with their partners. After the procedure majority were amazed how simple and pain free the procedure was.   A Labioplasty procedure is not worth being embarrassed about. The corrective procedure can be performed is performed as an outpatient procedure with no need for overnight hospital stay and recovery time usually takes about two to three weeks.

How is the procedure performed?

Labioplasty is performed as an outpatient surgery, usually under sedation or local anesthesia. The procedure takes 40-60 minutes. Incisions are made to remove any excess and redundant tissue to even the edges of the labia minora. Once the surgery is completed, you will be recovery until you are ready to go home.

How long does recovery take?

Recovery is a gradual process and varies for each individual but usually it takes about a week before returning to work. Heavy exercising, aggressive sports and sexual activity should be deferred for about four to six weeks. There is going to be prescriptions given for narcotics tablets for pain and discomfort control as well as antibiotics.

What are the risks?

After surgery, sensation in the labia minora and surrounding tissue can be altered. Labioplasty is a safe procedure similar to the surgical procedures has some risks. Bruising and swelling can persist for about one to three weeks.  Other minor and less common risks include pigmentation changes, asymmetry, infection and mild scarring.

For more information please contact our office at 310.360.0504 or visit http://perfectself.com/Labioplasty.html

The wrinkles and the lines on the face are formed as a result of underlying muscle movements and the aging process. These muscle contractions cause the skin to pleat resulting in lines and wrinkles in the skin.  The popularity of the wrinkle removing injections come from the fact that the process is simple, virtually pain free with minimal to no down time.  With a few injections and within days the lines are gone.  Botox Cosmetics has been used for a number of years to erase lines and wrinkles, stop excessive sweating of the armpits and axilla and to relieve migraine headaches.

Now there are other products similar to Botox that are awaiting FDA approval.  Products such as Purtox (Mentor Corp., Santa Barbara, Ca), Myobloc (Neuroscienes Inc., San Francisco, Ca), Xeomin (Merz Pharma, Germany) and Reloxin also known as Dysport (in the rest of the world) by Medicis, Scottsdale, Az.

Effects of Botox are seen within 5-7 days after the injection and it usually lasts up to 4 months.  The new products promise to take effect faster than Botox and the results last for 5-6 months in the case of Reloxin (Dysport).  Only time will tell if there is a great difference between these products or not.  However if proven true, these new products not only provide longer lasting effects in less time they also create competition for Botox which may force Allergan the maker of Botox to possibly reduce their prices.  This could mean lower cost for the consumers in the future and that’s a plus in this economy.

 For more information please visit:  http://perfectself.com/botox-restylan-artefill-radissee.html or contact our office at 310.360.0504

If you are tired of wasting money and applying fake eyelashes, now we offer Latisse (Allergan, Irvine, CA).  The first and only FDA approved topical solution to promote thicker, darker and longer eyelashes in as little as 6-8 weeks.  Latisse is available by prescription only and is applied once a day to the skin just above the eyelash line.

For more information please visit: http://perfectself.com/latisse.html or contact our office number 310.360.0504.

Dark circles around the eyes can be caused by the thinning and translucent lower eyelid skin overlying the Orbicularis Occuli muscle (muscle of the eyelids).  In a small pilot study conducted by the researchers at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, fat cells were removed from the lower abdomen and the buttocks and injected under both eyes.  The treatments were spaced about three months apart and resulted in up to 90 percent improvement in some patients.  Given these findings, injections of fat appear to be a medically sound alternative to injection of other filler materials to provide thickening of the tissue space to reduce the dark circles.  

For more information please visit: http://perfectself.com/botox-restylan-artefill-radissee.html or contact our office number 310.360.0504

There are new fascinating facts about obesity and weight gain.

 Fact #1 Scientists have discovered possibly up to 100 fat genes thought to promote obesity.  It appears that about 16 percent of population possess two copies of the fat genes which puts people at an increased risk of obesity.  This means that one gene was transferred from each parent whom was the carrier for the gene without showing any signs of obesity.  Fortunately exercising regularly can offset the risk.

Fact#2 stressful circumstances can spark cravings for carbohydrate-rich snack foods, which in turn calms stress hormones.  Unfortunately, these “quick fixes” have long-lasting effects.  Stress hormones ramp up fat storage which cause weight gain.  During the stressful time exercising and consuming high protein snacks or vegetable could prevent weight gain.

Fact#3 Researchers at university of Wisconsin have found that Adenoviruses are not only responsible for upper respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses but can also transform stem cells to become fat cells by changing the genetics of the cells, causing an increase in the number of fat cells in the body.  Human studies comparing twins, results suggest that obese people seem to harbor more antibodies for Adenovirus-36. 

Fact #4 Studies at university of Australia have found that free radicals can now be blamed for both aging and weight gain. These radicals emerge when we eat, but are more prevalent when we gorge on junk food like candy bars, chips and other carbohydrates.

From their dresses down to their skincare, today’s bride wants her closest relatives and friends to look and feel beautiful.   According to the latest reports, bridal Botox parties have increased by as much as 25 percent in last year.  Dr. Forouzanpour is taking the bridal Botox party craze a step further by offering Botox, along with an array of other beauty “menu options” as part of the newest trend, the Bridal Beauty Buffet.  “A woman’s wedding day is the biggest day of her life. Every woman is unique and has different skincare issues.  One type of beauty treatment may not be enough.  By offering my Beauty Buffet Menu I not only help the bride achieve that picture perfect look, but also the entire wedding party.”

The “Bridal Beauty Buffet” can be indulged in at home or in-office and includes: Botox, Fillers (Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane, Elevesse), teeth whitening, lip augmentation, oxygen skin therapy, Sclerotherapy (spider vein correction) and one-on-one consultations.

Giving expensive jewelry to the bridal party is a thing of the past.  Brides are now bonding with their closest friends while giving them makeovers, once only reserved for the elite.

So say goodbye to the traditional boring bridal gifts and hello to collective makeovers.  With Dr. Forouzanpour’s Bridal Beauty Buffet, brides and bridesmaids alike are sure to look their best on the big day.

Dr. Fardad Forouzanpour, is pleased to introduce the country’s first oxygen-based multi-wavelength light therapy system, OxyGlow.

 

This revolutionary skincare process is the newest way to achieve younger looking skin without the use of invasive and painful lasers.  OxyGlow’s three-step system combines microdermabrasion, anti-oxidant infused oxygen therapy, and multi-wavelength LED lighting treatment together with a smoothing B Complex and wine extract revitalizing gel. 

 

OxyGlow utilizes LED lights specifically designed to heal and restore damaged skin cells and increase collagen production.  Considered the most versatile facial therapy now available on the market, the multiple wavelength settings have the ability to treat a variety of skin imperfections including uneven skin tones, skin discoloration, sunburns, sunspots, acne, cellulite and can even stimulate hair growth!  

 

Beautiful revitalized skin is now only a lunch-break away.  Each OxyGlow treatment takes just under thirty minutes, with no downtime or discomfort.   

For more info please contact our office at 310.360.0504

 

A woman’s vagina is the most sacred place on the female body. It is the essence of what makes her a woman.  And yet, statistics show that many women are turning to surgery to correct self-perceived vaginal imperfections.

Commonly known as labia reduction surgery, labioplasty has become the “it” surgery women across the country are quietly getting.  Everyone wants to be aesthetically pleasing, but when a woman feels insecure about the way she looks “down there,” she will take whatever steps are necessary to correct the “problem” even if it means spending money on elective surgery.  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 1,030 vaginal rejuvenation procedures were performed in 2006.  A year later, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery estimated that the number rose to as much as 4,500 surgeries.

As the subject of sex becomes less taboo and erotic images become more prevalent, women are becoming increasingly self-conscious that their private parts do not match up to the ideal.  “We are seeing patients, some as young as 19 years old, who tell me that they feel something is physically wrong with them because their vaginas don’t fit with their notion of what’s anatomically correct.  I’ve even had a number of women tell me that they are remaining abstinent until after surgery because of embarrassment over their appearance.”

 

 

 

 

 

for more information please visit:     www.perfectself.com/labioplasty.html

 

 

 

In an interesting article published in November 2008 issue of Plastic

In an interesting article published in the November 2008 issue of Plastic Surgery Practice magazine and which ran on CNN, plastic surgeons in Japan and Europe report that they are using stem cells to augment breasts.   The fat cells that are transferred to the breast contain a moderate amount of stem cells which help in increasing the breast size without using synthetic implants.

Transferring fat to the breast is a controversial treatment. It is not FDA approved or been accepted by the American surgical community.  This is due to changes that are seen in the breast after fat is injected which is thought to interfere with cancer detection.