Cosmetic Surgery Really CAN Be Affordable!

Many people like to calculate how much something will cost over time before making a final decision whether to make the purchase or not.

We do that with our homes, cars, large applicances, entertainment systems, and many other things in our lives.

What about cosmetic surgery? Have you ever thought about it like that before?

You really should ... check out the figures below, and you will see that cosmetic surgery really can be affordable! You just might be surprised by what you see!

By the way, Christmas'08 is coming up. Isn't it time to give your spouse somebody new — for Christmas?! Or maybe, just maybe, it's time to give yourself somebody or some 'thing' new — just because!!

Cosmetic Procedure	Average Cost	Cost per Week (over 12mos)	Cost per Week (over 24mos)
Breast Augmentation w/saline implants (anesthesia required)	$7,300.00	$140.38	$70.19
Breast Augmentation w/silicone implants (anesthesia required)	$7,700.00	$148.08	$74.04
Breast Implant removal (anesthesia required)	$3,000.00	$57.69	$28.85
Liposuction (first area) with light sedation	$2,350.00	$45.19	$22.60
Liposuction (additional area) with light sedation	$975.00	$18.75	$9.38
Liposuction – Neck - with light sedation	$1,650.00	$31.73	$15.87
Earlobe Repair	$400.00	$7.69	$3.85
Eyelid Surgery – Upper Blepharoplasty - with light sedation	$2,150.00	$41.35	$20.67
Eyelid Surgery – Lower Belpharoplasty - with light sedation	$2,150.00	$41.35	$20.67
Botox – first area	$355.00	$6.83	$3.41
Botox – Each additional area	$305.00	$5.87	$2.93
Mini face lift (anesthesia required)	$7,800.00	$150.00	$75.00
Neck Lift – submentoplasty (anesthesia required)	$4,700.00	$90.38	$45.19
Facial Fat transfer – Harvest with injection - with light sedation	$2,350.00	$45.19	$22.60
Fat transfer – hands - with light sedation	$800.00	$15.38	$7.69
Filler - Juvederm - with regional block	$650.00	$12.50	$6.25
Filler - Radiesse - with regional block	$850.00	$16.35	$8.17
Tummy Tuck (anesthesia required)	$7,000.00	$134.62	$67.31
Vein Sclerotherapy - per syringe	$175.00	$3.37	$1.68
Face Peel - Apothepeel	$350.00	$6.73	$3.37
Face Peel - Jessners Peel - with light sedation	$2,100.00	$40.38	$20.19

NOTE: The prices listed for each procedure above are average costs. Every person is unique. Your actual cost may be higher or lower, depending on your unique body, situation, needs and wants.

Visit our website or click the links above for more information, and then contact us online or call our Patient Care Coordinator at 972.239.6317 x134 for a FREE phone consultation and to setup an appointment.

Getting Rid of Those Moles

Mole removal is a cosmetic surgery procedure that provides a solution to people wanting to improve their appearance and reduce associated health risks.

Moles most frequently develop in young adults near the age of 40. Depending on their location, moles may go unnoticed — or they may become a nuisance by rubbing against clothing and getting in the way of shaving.

Moles can also lead to dangerous health problems. Many skin cancers, including melanoma, begin in the shape of a mole.

Not all atypical moles turn out to be cancerous, but they are more likely than typical moles to develop into cancer.

If you have a mole that seems atypical in any way -- one that changes in size and appearance, bleeds, is asymmetrical, is not uniform in color, has ragged edges, or in any other way seems unusual -- it is very important to have it examined. If a cancerous mole is diagnosed early, it can often be completely removed.

You may also want to have normal moles removed, especially those that rub against clothing or get in the way of shaving. Prominent moles may also be removed to improve appearance.

Visit our website for more information about mole removal, and then contact us online or call our Patient Care Coordinator at 972.239.6317 x134 for a FREE phone consultation and to setup an appointment.

Andropause — Menopause for Men

Wives, how do you know when your hubby (or significant other) is entering andropause, or have you even ever heard of such a thing as andropause?

A lot of women like to call it the real "MEN-O-PAUSE". Women go through menopause at a certain time in their life. Men go through something similar, but it is called andropause.

• Is he looking at that dream red sports car more often these days?
• Is he looking at those cute 20 yr olds too long for your liking?
• Is he losing his hair, or losing or gaining more weight recently?
  

Don’t divorce him! Bring him to TIFM!!

He just might be going thru andropause (menopause for men). It is very complex and happens to all men at different times of life. It has different symptoms but common causes. The average human male begins to feel some symptoms of andropause around the age of 40 to 45; which is followed by rapid deterioration after the age of 50.

Symptoms of andropause may include:

• Bone loss, thinning or weakening
• Brain fog or confusion
• Changes in hair growth patterns (more some places, less in others)
• Decreased libido or lack of interest in sex
• Erectile dysfunction, loss of erections or infertility
• General achy feeling
• Hot flashes or night sweats
• Inability to sleep
• Lethargy, decreased energy or fatigue
• Mood changes or depression
• Muscle loss or weakness

Androgens are the class of steroid hormones that are responsible for making human males into "men". Testosterone and its metabolites, called androgens, can start failing as early as age 35!

It's like going thru puberty — only in reverse!

What causes this is an area of much research and includes hypothalamus dysfunction in sending signals to the testicles (which makes more hormones), lessening response of the leydig cells (which makes testosterone) to the stimulatory effects of LH and FSH (yes wives, you have these hormones too), and an increase of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG); simply meaning there may be enough testosterone molecules on the bus, but the bus doesn't let the passengers off to go to work!!

What can be done?

Since there is great variability in andropause (just as there is in menopause), certain lab testing must be performed to determine what and where to start. Obviously, checking testosterone levels is one thing, but also its awful metabolite, called DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), is another. It usually goes up; which causes prostate problems and hair loss.

All hormones need to be tested (not just testosterone) as they are all inter-connected. Many physicians only test one or two (which is an invitation to failure or bad side effects). We can test ALL of them!

• Obviously we do a male hormone panel to measure many substances; includiung free-testosterone, dihydrotesterone (the bad stuff), etc.
• Thyroid function almost always decreases with age, and leads to lethargy, lack of drive and mood changes. We can fix this.
• Adrenal function suffers greatly during andropause. This is something that should always be checked. We can fix this also.
• Growth hormone is always the first thing we hear requested, and is seldom the underlying need in andropause, but we test for it to be sure. We can fix it if it is broken.
• Blood flow needs to be addressed because, at the age of andropause, inflammation from many different sources can cause plaque to develop in the blood vessels, and that is the leading cause of Erectile Dysfunction (ED)! We can fix these too as we are experts in chelation; a form of treatment for both ED and CAD (Coronary Artery Disease).
• Heavy metals also peak at the age of andropause, and can cause massive changes in the internal functions of your body. This is our area of expertise as well!

So, wives and spouses, as you can see, andropause can be a complex issue in your guy BUT it is very treatable at TIFM.

Call us or drag him in by his ... earlobe ... yeah ... that's it ... drag him in by his earlobes. We can help him to be the same old sexy guy you once knew!!!

And if he is a bit worn around the edges (sagging jowls, droopy eyelids, fat belly, thinning hair, etc.), we can fix those things too!!

Call us now before he starts looking to buy that sexy cherry red Porsche or other things that he thinks will help him regain his youth. Get him there »f»a»s»t»e»r» at TIFM!

Visit our website for more information about men's health, and then contact us online or call our Patient Care Coordinator at 972.239.6317 x134 for a FREE phone consultation and to setup an appointment.

The "Fountain of Youth" in a Glass

TIFM offers a unique anti-aging drink mix that creates beauty from the inside-out. This revolutionary formula is naturally flavored with lemon and sweetened with Xylitol - a safe sweetener. The main ingredients are Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid with Vitamin C, Glucosamine Sulfate and Calcium Hydroxyapatite added to increase the overall effectiveness.

All of these ingredients combined have been shown to dramatically improve the effects of aging; from your skin to your joints and more. There has also been anecdotal evidence stating that it can rid the body of cellulite, eliminate hemorrhoids and even strengthen the vaginal wall.

Aging skin appears as finely lined, thin, wrinkled, dry or rough, discolored and patchy. The loss in the skin’s elasticity is one of the major contributors of this. On the surface, the problem appears to be the outer layer, but aging skin actually occurs in the dermis, or second layer of skin, where collagen, elastin and moisture reside. When certain components, such as collagen
and Hyaluronic acids, are diminished and compromised, skin becomes dehydrated and the ability of your bones and joints to function properly is lost.

The Collagen/Hyaluronic Drink Mix reintroduces a youthful look and feel to your skin with an extraordinary ingredient base that includes collagen and hyaluronic acids, along with a host of other supporting ingredients. Together, these ingredients replenish skin from within. The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are dramatically reduced and the skin’s texture becomes smoother, tighter and more refined.

Collagen is the primary support of skin, tendons, bones, cartilage and connective tissues. It is a protein chemical substance (the "glue" if you will) that holds tissues together. Here are some interesting facts about collagen:

• More than a third of the body’s protein is collagen.
• Collagen makes up 75 percent of our skin.
• Acts as scaffolding for our bodies.
• Controls cell shape and differentiation.
• Why broken bones regenerate and wounds heal.
• Why blood vessels grow to feed healing areas.

Hyaluronic acid is a component of connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. It occurs throughout the body in abundant amounts in many of the places people with hereditary connective tissue disorders have problems; such as joints, heart valves and eyes. Hyaluronic acid abnormalities are a common thread in connective tissue disorders. Interestingly, they are also common biochemical anomalies in most of the individual features of connective tissue disorders; such as mitral valve prolapse, TMJ, osteoarthritis, and keratoconus. Hyaluronic acid has been nicknamed by the press as the "key" to the "fountain of youth" because it has been noted that at least some people who ingest a lot of it in their diets tend to live to ripe old ages. ABC News aired a show about a village in Japan about hyaluronic acid entitled, "The Village of Long Life: Could Hyaluronic Acid Be an Anti-Aging Remedy?"

The question is: Does it really work? Our proof is that once a patient starts using this product, they continue using it over and over and over again - because they enjoy the results so much! It is so successful that we are selling it worldwide now!! Come get yours today and see for yourself!!!

Visit our website for more information, and then contact us online or call our Patient Care Coordinator at 972.239.6317 x134 for a FREE phone consultation and to setup an appointment.

Lip lines, Wrinkles and Scars

Lip lines, stretch marks, fine facial lines, hyperpigmentation and acne scarring have been frustrating physicians and patients in their inability to be effectively treated. Historically, several cosmetic treatments were used to address these problems. You could have a deep chemical peel (in which caustic solutions dissolve the outer layer of skin), undergo dermabrasion (in which the first layer of skin is ground off) or see a surgeon who uses a device such as a laser (in which the outer layer of skin is vaporized). These procedures have many, potentially significant, harmful side effects.

Now there is a new, non-ablative and efficacious treatment that is available. Medical Needling or, as it is officially called, Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT) is a simple procedure which requires little down time for patients (no more than four to seven days) and significant, measurable, and sustainable results. It is safe for skin of any type or color.

What is medical needling?

Medical needling is usually performed with the patient lightly sedated. The area to be treated is numbed with a local anesthetic. During medical needling, an FDA approved roller with a series of fine, sharp medical needles is used to create small punctures in the skin. These punctures extend into the dermis, or deep layers of the skin, to create micro-trauma and stimulate the production of new collagen. The tiny wounds created by medical needling also allow topical medications to reach into the deep layers of skin for about 5 days after treatment. The punctures do very little damage to the epidermis, or top layer of skin, allowing it to heal rapidly. The procedure takes about 20 minutes, depending on the area to be treated. After the procedure, an antibiotic ointment is applied to the skin and patients can go home immediately.

What will I look and feel like afterward?

Medical needling usually causes some short-term bleeding, redness of the skin and bruising for the first 2 days. However, the skin heals rapidly because minimal damage is done to the outer layer of skin. Most patients can return to normal activities, including their jobs, in 2 to 3 days. Patients should wash their skin three to four times a day in the first few days following the procedure and apply an antibiotic ointment for the first 2 days.

What about Results?

Results can take three to nine months to fully appear as the body takes time to generate new collagen. Results last as long as the body’s own collagen, 5-10 years or more. This procedure has been successfully used to treat peri-oral wrinkles, the appearance of stretch marks, abdominal laxity, facial and acne scarring, and rejuvenation of sun damaged skin on the chest as well as other areas. The potential complications of skin burns, hyperigmentation, uneven scarring and extensive downtime are avoided.

Visit our website for more information on Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT) , and then contact us online or call our Patient Care Coordinator at 972.239.6317 x134 for a FREE phone consultation and to setup an appointment.