IPL Treatment in Clinical Practice

IPL is short for intense pulsed noncoherent light. This technique has been widely used in aesthetics and surgery departments. I’d like to offer a brief introduction on it.

IPL delivers good treatment result in the therapy of varicose veins in superficial skin. Also, it provides sound result in treatment of vascular malformation. However, treating hemangioma with this technique is not recommended because the deep damage of hemangioma. Treatment result with IPL is highly related to the doctor’s skill level. Only the doctors knowing this technology and skin well can achieve the best results. It is difficult to get a good result if you just follow the parameters suggested by the manufacture of the equipment. Treating the vascular disease of skin with IPL needs several treatments.

It is commonly believed that laser provides the gold stand for hair removal because it produces single color in good quality and delivers sound coherence. You should know that there is no real permanent hair removal with intense pulsed light or laser.

Photo rejuvenation is a method of treating photo aging with IPL technique. After the treatment, the appearance of the patient’s skin is improved significantly. The photo aged skin is always caused by the increase of pigmented spots, capillary dilatation and congestion and the change of skin texture. To treat this kind of skin, it is necessary to find the solution for these three skin problems so that the purpose of skin rejuvenation is achieved. Intense pulsed light is a kind of compound light which has long pulse width, so it delivers the solutions for these three problems. For any single problem of the three, such as capillary dilatation and congestion or spot removal, maybe the intense pulsed light cannot offer better treatment result than laser. However, as to the overall skin rejuvenation, the intense pulsed light provides better result than laser. Treated with this technology, all these three problems caused skin diseases (spot removal, capillary dilatation and congestionreduction, fine wrinkle removal) can be improved. As a result, its overall therapeutic effect on photo aging is obvious. But in order to achieve the ideal effect, a series of treatments are needed. As to this point, it is different from laser. Generally, three to five treatments (once a month) are needed to get ideal effect.

Although the results reported by different doctors are different, all the data shows it provides good effect on pigmented skin lesions especially. Meanwhile, the skin texture is improved significantly.

Invisalign Vs Braces – Why Invisalign Is The Perfect Choice For Adult Orthodontic Patients

Invisalign braces are perfect for adult wearers looking for a solution that integrates easily into their everyday lives. Whereas traditional metal braces are fine for teenagers or those for whom the aesthetic aspects of braces are not so important, for many adults metal braces are simply not practical.

Clear braces such as Invisalign, however, resolve many of the issues with metal braces. Firstly, as they are manufactured from a transparent medical plastic which is moulded perfectly to the shape of the wearer’s teeth they are virtually undetectable once they are in the patient’s mouth. This means that there is little to no social embarrassment with wearing them, a patient can continue with their everyday life, wearing them to work and for leisure without anybody being any the wiser.

The second great advantage that Invisalign have over other forms of orthodontics is that they are fully removable. This is something that many adults really appreciate. The patient removes the braces for eating, drinking anything other than water, and for any important social occasions. This means that social events such as weddings, a first date or an important work presentation can be done braces free.

One of the most appealing things about Invisalign is that unlike traditional metal braces Invisalign are pain free. Whilst the wearer may experience some minor pressure on their teeth as they are moved, there is no pain or rubbing as experienced with other forms of orthodontics. There are two primary reasons for this. Firstly, there are no sharp edges. Invisalign are formed by moulding the patients teeth and then creating an aligner from this mould. The plastic that is used is smooth, with no rough edges, which means that the tongue and cheeks have no sharp edges to rub against. Secondly, if the patients does experience roughness or chafing from any Invisalign surface it can be gently rubbed with a nail file until the surface becomes smooth.This lack of discomfort is exceptionally appealing to adult patients who are not prepared to put up with using waxes or other methods to prevent pain and discomfort.

When Invisalign were first released they were really only suitable for minor orthodontic issues. This has subsequently changed as the product and techniques have improved so that almost any orthodontic issue that doesn’t include surgery can now be resolved using Invisalign. This flexibility, and the other advantages outlined above, mean that Invisalign are perfectly suited for use by adult patients.

Rehabilitation After Mastectomy

Proper rehabilitation program is a key factor which influences life quality of women after mastectomy. The rehabilitation starts with psychological and physical preparation for surgery, which means, learning gymnastic exercises for upper limbs and help with accepting the ensuing situation. We begin rehabilitation on the second day after surgery in order to avoid adverse effects of surgery, such as:

1. reducing muscle strength of upper limb on the operated side.

2. limitation of shoulder joint motion on the operated side

3. lymph circulation disorder

Upper limb exercises

Upper limb exercises are essential to recover physical fitness through restoring full shoulder joint range, improving muscle strength and through antiedematous activity. In the first postoperative period it is very important to tone the scar (first 3 weeks after surgery). The lack of exercises can lead to “tightening” of a hand by the scar and limit hand motion considerably. We exercise twice a day, but we cannot allow over-exhaustion of a hand at the same time. Each day brings health improvement, motion range expands and pain symptoms disappear.

Analgesic effects

Physical exercises based on the dynamic work of the muscles are the basis for anti-edematous action. Measured muscle contractions create the most favorable conditions of effect on lymphatic system and blood vessel system.
Exercising twice a day causes the “motion” of lymph and it prevents its retention. A fight with already ensuing edema is difficult, long-standing and does not always end up successfully. For that reason, we should pay special attention to prevention of edema appearance.
Apart from exercises, it is important to lay one’s limb high so that edema can flow in accordance with the law of gravity. It is especially essential during sleep, when the muscles are relaxed and edema is not pushed by “muscular pump” produced during the work of the muscles. Such position can be achieved through putting hands on a special chock, a rolled blanket or hard pillows, so that a limb could rest above shoulder joint.
Excess limb strain through physical effort, especially in positions facilitating edema retention, should be avoided. After mastectomy it is allowed to do the work with a hand on the operated side if the strength does not exceed 2 kilograms. It is also important to execute a self-massage – when a patient gives a massage to herself – we teach self-massage during further rehabilitation at an outpatients’ clinic after healing injury.

Prosthesing

Wearing prosthesis is a very significant part of rehabilitation, which is connected not only with aesthetic qualities but also with healthful properties. After bigger breast muscle removal a body asymmetry occurs. It can lead to posture disorders such as:

1. lowering or raising of shoulder on the operated side

2. shoulder protruding

3. stoop

4. curvature of the spine

In order to keep good physical and mental state of a patient in the first postoperative period, the loss of breast is made up by a light and soft thing (i.e. cotton wool or sponge), which allows to heal injury. After injury is healed and sensitivity of the operated place to touch is lessened, a regular prosthesis should be worn. It is selected according to the shape, weight and size of a remaining breast. Each patient after mastectomy gets a prescription for breast prosthesis from her oncologist or surgeon. It can be dispensed in specialist shops or in supply points with orthopedic equipment.

Further recommendations

Limb protection against overexertion
Protection against cuts, injections, blood sample taking
Further rehabilitation at an outpatients’ clinic:

- increasing of muscle strength

- preventing lymphatic edema

- learning self-massage