An introduction to blood cancer - Indian Medical Tourism - Inidatreats - cancer - blood cancer

Cancer can be considered as a group of diseases caused by the abnormal growth of cells which eventually spreads to other parts of the body. All tumors are not caused as a result of cancerous cells. There are benign tumors also. Abnormal lumps in body, prolonged cough, unexplained weight loss, abnormal bleeding, and variations in bowel movements etc can be considered as symptoms of cancer. It is believed that  there are about 100 types of cancers  that affects different organs and systems of human body.

Irregular growth of blood cells is the cause of blood cancer. There are red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells. These three types of blood cells are formed by maturing the bone marrow where blood is produced from the stem cells. Abnormal cell growth which results in cancerous cells, prevent the blood in performing its functions like preventing bleeding and fighting infections. Blood cancer can be grouped into three major categories. They are leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Leukemia: Abnormal production of while cells is the cause for leukemia. This abnormal white blood cells impair human body’s ability to fight infection. They also impair the ability of bone marrow to produce red blood cells as well as platelets.

Lymphoma:  Lymphoma is the cancer that affects the lymphatic system of the human body resulting in the removal of excess fluids and the production of immune cells. The unusual lymphocytes changes to lymphoma cells multiplying themselves at faster rates and accumulating in the lymph nodes and nearby tissues.  As time passes these cancerous cells destroy the human immune system.

Myeloma: Plasma cells in the blood are responsible for the production of white blood cells that produce  immunoglobulin.  In myeloma plasma cells are transformed to harmful myeloma cells and it interferes in the production of blood cells. It is believed that the functional immunoglobulin produced by healthy plasma degenerates quickly in multiple myeloma patients.

Panchakaram - Indian Medical Tourism -Ayurvedic treatments - Indiatreats-

It is the most effective healing experience of mind and body practiced by Ayurvedic doctors in India. This process detoxifies the body, strengthens its immune system and restores well being and balance. It allows rejuvenation and detoxification. This treatment is prescribed to patients who feel illness both physically and mentally. It can be carried out periodically for detoxifying the entire body and rejuvenating and refreshing it once again.

Panchakarma is a Sanskrit word which means ‘five actions’. It also has the meaning ‘five treatments’. By this process the human body is cleansed from the toxins left in it by diseases as well as poor nutrition. Human body has the natural capacity to process and remove the waste materials inside it. However poor exercise patterns, repeated dietary indiscretions, genetic factors, metabolic reasons, hormone secretions etc can cause imbalance resulting in disorganized internal homeostasis.  This will result in accumulation of toxins and its spread throughout the physiology. The waste material is called ama in Ayurveda. Ama is sticky, foul-smelling and harmful substance which has to be completely expelled from the body.

In addition to removing the  excess doshas and correcting their imbalances, Panchakarma also eliminates the harmful ama and throws it out of your body through elimination channels like, sweat glands, colon, bladder, lungs, urinary  tract, bladder, intestines, stomach etc. It purifies the tissues at a deeper level. It always included daily massages, herbal enemas, oil baths, nasal administrations etc and is a wholesome pleasurable experience. This treatment is recommended in Ayurveda as a seasonal treatment aimed at maintaining physical and mental hygiene and balance.

As the word implies Panchakarma is a fivefold Ayurvedic therapy tailor made suiting to the individual needs of each patient.  It is based on individual peculiarities which include Ayurvedic constitutional type, age of the patient, doshic imbalances, immune status of the patient his digestive strength and similar other factors. Depending on individual needs at times only one or two therapies are prescribed and when necessary all the five therapies in Panchakarma are applied altogether.  These therapies are administered by trained therapist in a pre determined sequence for a pre fixed time period. Though Panchakarma is considered as a delightful and comfortable procedure at times there can be some discomfort where profound release of toxins is anticipated. There for it is essential that  a well experienced persons supervision is necessary to recognize the signs of properly administered and improperly administered Panchakarma. These signs have been meticulously explained by ancient vaidyas.

Just like other medical procedures, Panchakarma therapy also begins with initial consultation with an Ayurvedic physician. He examines the patient in details and ascertains the patients constitutional type and the health problem experienced by him. He prescribes the extent of Panchakarma to be performed and the medicinal herbs to be used in the procedure.

Panchakarma treatments have produced considerable brain wave coherence and have been able to lower metabolic activity. They help the body and mind to reach  a peaceful state. In this state of peacefulness all the toxins in the body are cleansed and deeply help emotional tensions are released.f

Marma chikitsa- Indian Medical Tourism - Ayurvedic treatment -indiatreats

Marma chikitsa is an ayurvedic method of treatment similar to acupuncture. Marma chikitsa is older than acupuncture   and was practiced by the rishis of the ancient India. It differs from other hands on therapies because of its spiritual content.

As per Ayurveda there are 107 major special spots in our body ranging in size from 1 inch to 6 inches in diameter which are considered as the doorways to our mind and body.  Mind is considered as the 108^th marma. There are minor marmas which are spread along the torso and the limps. These  marma points were clearly mapped centuries ago in the ayurvedic text named, ‘Sushruthi Samhitha’. As per Ayurveda there are seven chakras in our body which are considered as the vibration energy centers along the subtle body and not the physical body. They are considered to be lying along the spine in human beings. The 107 marmas are located in our body parts as detailed below.

·         37 on head and neck

·         22 on arms

·         22 or extremities

·         12 on stomach and chest

·         14 on back

How is Marma chikitsa performed?

During Murma chikitsa the points on body coming under the Marma are stimulated. This stimulation clears the blockage giving physical relaxation as well as psychological relief.  By this therapy the sensitive and the subtle energy points in the body known as srothas are opened and the strength and energy are radiated into the body. Gently pressing the Marma points have been found to stimulate a sequence of positive events.

Benefits of Marma chikitsa

Experience has shown that Marma chikitsa  is profound and has far reaching effects in  the life of candidates who undergo this treatment. Dramatic shifts have been experienced by many patients in their mental, emotional and spiritual outlook. Some of the benefits of Marma chikitsa are explained below.

1.       Relief from chronic pain

2.       Detoxification of body at all levels

3.       Skin becomes fresher and radiant in its appearance.

4.       Body temperature and doshas are balanced.

5.       Neuro chemicals like serotonin, melatonin etc are released giving deeper sleep and better cognitive function.

In short, Marma chikitsa modifies your consciousness and changes your awareness.  By massaging Marma points controlling of prana (energy levels), motor and sensory organs  becomes easier. One feels younger and life becomes awesome.

Chemotherapy - Cancer treatments - Indian Medical Tourism - Indiateats

Cancer cells grow fast and get multiples quickly than normal cells in human body. These fast growing cells are killed using drugs and this treatment is known as chemotherapy. Different type of drugs is available for chemo and they are used either separately or in combination with others according to the need of the individual patients. Chemotherapy has been found to be very efficient in treating the different types of cancer, but it has got some side effects and risk factors which have to be faced by the patients.

What is done?

Chemotherapy can be used in different settings depending upon the individual needs. Some of them are explained below.

1.       To cure cancer: In some cases only chemotherapy can be used for curing cancer completely.

2.       Chemotherapy after surgery: Chemotherapy can be used after surgical removal of cancerous cells to remove the hidden cells of cancer still present in the body.

3.       As a preparatory step: In some cases chemotherapy is done to shrink the cancerous cells  so that radiation therapy and surgery can be carried out easily. Doctors refer such treatment as neoadjuvent therapy.

4.       To relieve symptoms: Sometimes chemotherapy is used to relieve the patient from cancer symptoms. Such treatment is known as palliative chemotherapy.

5.       Chemotherapy for other conditions: Some chemotherapy drugs have been found to be useful for other conditions like bone marrow diseases and immune system disorders. So chemotherapy is done in such cases also.

Risks 

Chemotherapy drugs has different side effects. Some of the common side effects are furnished below. For detailed understanding of side effect of  a particular drug contact your doctor.

·         Vomiting

·         Nosea

·         Hair loss

·         Diarrhea

·         Fatigue

·         Loss of appetite

·         Fever

·         Pain

·         Mouth sours

·         Bruising

·         Constipation

Almost all of these side effects are treatable and preventable. These side effects subside as the therapy ends.

Side effects that comes later and last longer

Some chemotherapy side effects appear very late and last for more than six months after the treatment is over. They are

Hear problems

Damage to lungs

Infertility

Nerve damage

Kidney problems

Risk of second cancer

More details about these side effects can be collected from your doctor.

Symptoms and diagnosis of breast cancer - Cancer treatment - Indian Medical Tourism - indiatreats

                            

Cancer developing in the tissues of breast is known as breast cancer. Lump in the breast, change in the shape of the breast, fluid coming from nipple and dimpling of the skin is signs of breast cancer. Pain in the breast, itchy breasts, pain in upper back shoulder and or neck, changes in shape size or appearance of breast, changes in the appearance and sensitivity of the nipple etc are considered as early signs of breast cancer.

Medical experts are not sure about what causes the formation of breast cancer. It is not possible to say why one person develops the disease and why the other one remains safe. We can only say factors which can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer. They are discussed below.

Causes of breast cancer

1.               Increase in age: it has been found that older women are at a higher risk of breast cancer. More than 80 % of female breast cancer occurs among women who are more than 50 years of age or who are in the post menopause period.

2.               Genetics:  Women with relatives who have breast cancer are more likely to develop this disease. But the fact remains that the majority of the breast cancers are not formed as a result of genetic factors. Genes BRCA1, BRCA2, and TP53 carry more risk of genetic cancer formation.

3.               Previous history of breast cancer:  A women who already had breast cancer is more prone to the re occurrence of breast cancer.

4.               Women with breast lumps:  Women who already have some breast lumps which are benign are more likely to develop breast cancer.

5.               Denser breast tissue: Women who have denser breast tissues are more likely to develop breast cancer.

6.               Estrogen Exposure: Women who started to have periods at a younger age or whose menopause was delayed are also at greater risk of breast cancer. This is because of the strong estrogen exposure that happens at the starting and closing of menstrual periods.

7.               Obesity:  Women who have  increased their body weight as a result of post menopause experience are more likely to develop breast cancer

8.               Height: Women who are taller than average women have a greater risk of breast cancer.

9.               Alcohol addiction: Women who regularly consume alcohol are at higher risks of breast cancer. Such women should not exceed one drink per day.

10.   Exposure to radiation: CT scans and x-rays have the potential to increase the risk of breast cancer on patients who undergo such tests.

11.   Hormone replacement therapy:  HRT therapies of both types i.e. combined or estrogen-only may increase the risk of breast cancer.

12.   Certain type of jobs: Researchers have found that women working under certain conditions are more likely to develop breast cancer.  Women working in night ship prior to first conception and women who bring human body in contact with carcinogens and endocrine disruptors are also more prone to breast cancer.

Diagnosing breast cancer

The following tests are usually conducted to diagnose breast cancer

1.               Breast exam:  Doctor will examine both your breasts and lymph nodes found in the armpit and try to feel any lumps or abnormalities.

2.               Mammogram: X-ray of breast  is known as mammogram. By studying the mammograms your doctor will be able to detect abnormalities, if any and further investigation may be suggested by your doctor.

3.               Ultrasound: Ultra sound Scan  will be able to confirm whether the new found lump is only a fluid   

              filled cyst or a solid mass.

4.       Biopsy: By biopsy we mean taking a sample of the lump and sending it for medical examination. The experts in the biopsy lab will be able to determine whether a lump is actually cancerous or not. Biopsy results also reveal  the grade of the cancer, the existence of hormone receptors or other receptors in the sample etc which can influence the course of treatments suggested  by  the doctors.

5.       Breast magnetic resonance: This is an MRI test used for taking clear picture of the breast’s interior. Before the photograph is taken a dye injected to increase the visibility of the internal parts of the breast.

Staging of breast cancer

 After diagnosing the existence of breast cancer, the next step of your doctor will be to find out the present stage of the cancer. Understanding the stage helps him in determining the mode of treatment to be carried out. Tests  conducted to understand the present stage of your cancer may include the following tests.

·         Complete blood count tests

·         Mammogram of both the breasts

·         Breast MRI

·         CT scan

·         Born scan

·         Positron emission tomography

Not all women will need all of these tests and procedures. Your doctor selects the appropriate tests based on your specific circumstances and taking into account the symptoms you may be experiencing.

Like other cancers, breast cancer also has four stages. The stages of the breast cancer are indicative of how far they have spread into nearby tissues and lymph nodes. Stage 1V breast cancer is known as metastatic breast cancer and it indicates that the cancer has spread to other organs as well as other lymph nodes.

Different stages of cancer - cancer treatment - Indian Medical Tourism - indiatreats

By stages of cancer we mean the extent up to which it has grown and what is its current condition. As soon as a doctor diagnoses cancer he conducts different tests to understand how big the cancer has grown to and how far they have spread to the surrounding tissues. He also checks to see whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Importance of cancer staging

Knowing the present stage of a cancer is very essential as it help the doctor to decide the course of action to be taken. If cancer has not spread to other organs of the body then a local surgery or treatment such as a surgery or radio therapy will be enough. In a local treatment, only one area in the body is treated. For cancer which has spread to many organs, a local treatment will not be sufficient.  A treatment that circulates medicine through the blood stream like hormone therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy etc is the suitable modes of treatment for such a cancer.

Sometimes doctors are not sure about whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.  On such occasions they search the nearby lymph nodes to see whether they are cancerous. Presence of cancerous cells in lymph node is a sign of the beginning of the spreading of cancer. If cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes doctors go for adjuvant treatment. This is treating the primary tumor as well as treating for the cancer spread to the nearby organs. Chemotherapy after surgery is an example of adjuvant therapy.

Staging systems

In general there are two main staging systems in practice. They are the TNM system and the number system. In TNM system T stands for denotes the size of the tumor and how far it has spread to the nearby tissues. It is represented by digits 1 to 4, digit 1 representing the smallest size and digit 4 representing the largest size. N stands for the information regarding whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or not. This also is represented using digits 1- 3, 1 representing zero nodes and 3 representing lots of lymph nodes. M stands for metastasize which represents how far it has spread  to other parts of the body, 0 representing cancer not spread to any other body parts and 1 representing the spreading of cancer to other parts of the body.

A cancer that has spread only to lymph nodes and not to any part of the body can be represented by T2N1M0. Similarly a more advanced cancer that has spread to other organs may be represented by  T4M3N1

Numbering system

Most types of cancer can be classified into 4 stages of cancer. Doctors usually use Roman letters  to represent cancer stages.

Stage 1: In this stage the tumor is relatively small and is not spread to any organs or lymph nodes other than the organ in which cancer is found.

Stage  2. In this stage a cancer cells have reached the nearby lymph nodes, but has not spread to any distant lymph nodes or organs.

Stage 3: In this stage the cancer has spread completely in the organ where it was formed and to nearby lymph nodes. The size of the tumor has also increased considerably.

Stage 4: Stage 4 refers to the stage where the cancer has spread to other organs also. This stage of cancer is known as metastatic cancer. Sometimes doctors add letters also to indicate the the cancer of the organ where it was developed originally.

Signs and symptoms of caner - Cancer treatments- Indian medical tourism, indiatreats

Cancer is not a single disease, but is a group of diseases caused by the abnormal growth of human cells which has the potential to spread to different parts of the body.  There are about more than 100 verities of cancer that occur in human beings. There cannot be a single symptom or sign which can foretell the formation of cancerous cells. Depending upon the part of the body where cancer affects, its symptoms may be different. But the common symptoms which can be caused by other diseases as well as cancer are detailed below.

1.       Fatigue

2.       Lump felt under the skin

3.       Change in the color of the skin like yellowing, redness, darkening etc.

4.       Change in bladder or bowel habits

5.       Trouble in breathing accompanied by persistent cough

6.       Difficulty in swallowing

7.       Hoarseness in sound

8.       Difficulty after eating followed by indigestion

9.       Muscle and join pains which cannot be explained

10.   Night sweats and persistent fever

11.   Bleeding or bruising without any reason

These symptoms can appear due to various reasons. But if you are worried about risks of cancer, it is better you meet your physician and act according to his opinion. If he suggests to undergo the appropriate screening tests for diagnosing cancer, do it without hesitation.

These symptoms can appear due to various reasons. But if you are worried about risks of cancer, it is better you meet your physician and act according to his opinion. If he suggests to undergo the appropriate screening tests for diagnosing cancer, do it without hesitation.

Causes for cancer

Changes or mutations taking place within the cells to the DNA are the causes for the formation of cancer. DNA of every human being consists of a large number of genes which contains instructions to tell the cell how to grow and divide and what are the functions it has to perform. When errors in these instructions occur, they can cause the cell to become cancerous and the stop it to function normally.

What are duties of gene mutations?

Allow rapid growth of cells: Gene mutations instructs a cell when to grow and how to grow. It can also ask a cell to grow more rapidly. This can lead to the formation of more cells with the same mutation.

Sometimes they are unable to prevent uncontrolled growth: As normal cells know when to stop growing, they are always available in the right quantity. But cancerous cells do not have this controlling mechanism and hence they do not stop growing when sufficient numbers are reached. This rapid growth of cancerous cells results in the formation of tumor.

Make mistakes in repairing DNA errors: The DNA repair genes always search for errors in cell’s DNA.  Whenever some error is found, they are corrected immediately. When mutation occurs in DNA repair genes, it implies that repair in DNA errors are not possible leading to the formation of cancerous cells.

How gene mutations are caused?

Genetic causes: Some people have inherited gene mutations form their parents genetically. Only a small percentage of cancer patients belong to this category.

Gene mutations that occur after you are born: A number of causes like smoking, viruses, radiation, cancer causing chemicals, hormones, obesity lack of exercise etc are  capable of producing gene mutations.

During a normal growth process gene mutations may occur naturally. But the cells has some inherent mechanism to find out such mutations and repair the mistake immediately. Occasionally  a miss occurs resulting in the formation of cancerous cells.

Interaction between gene mutations:  If you are a person born with inherited gene mutations, that will not make you a cancer patient from the date of birth onwards. You will become cancer patient only when some other acquired gene mutations combine with your genetic gene mutation. Inherited genetic mutation only makes one person  more susceptible to cancer than a normal person.

  The number of gene mutation required for the formation of cancer is not known till date. It depends upon the type of the cancer and the body organ subjected to cancer.

Risk factors:

Though doctors have sufficient knowledge about the risk factors, in experience it is seen that cancer generally  affects people who are free from risk factors. However, let us examine the common risk factors.

1 Age: Cancer takes decades to develop to its fullest extent. For this reason cancer is usually found among people who are  above 65 years of age. Cancer is not an adult disease or not a male disease.

2. Life style and habits:  Like style factors like smoking drinking, over exposure to sun, obesity, unsafe sex etc are considered to be major causes of cancer.

3. Family history: In fact, only a small percentage of cancer patients are found to have inherited genetic mutations as the cause of cancer in them.

4. Health condition: Chronic and sever health conditions like ulcerative clitoris etc have found to increase the risk of cancer in patients.

5. Your environment:  Environment  in which you live may be containing harmful elements and this can be a cause for the formation of cancer in you. Secondary smoke inhaled by the relatives of a regular smoker  can lead to the formation of cancer in a secondary smoker.  Chemicals like asbestos and benzene are also capable of producing cancer in its users.

Complications

Cancer and its treatment has often  been found to be followed by certain complications. Some of them are explained below.

Pain:  Pain is a natural accompaniment of cancer and its treatment, though all cancers are not painful. There are medications and other approaches which can reduce the pain caused by cancer and its treatment.

Fatigue: People affected by cancer are often subjected to fatigue especially those who are undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Breathing difficulty:  Cancer patients who undergo cancer treatment often find being short of breath. Proper treatments can bring relief to this condition.

Nausea: Occurrence of nausea is commonly experience by cancer patients. Your doctor will be able to predict the occurrence and give medications to reduce its severity.

Diarrhea/constipation: Your bowels are often affected by cancer as well as cancer treatment resulting in constipation or diarrhea.

Weight loss: Cancer takes away food form normal cells and this makes the patient lose weight considerably  resulting in severe weight loss. This is a very serious condition and even artificial nutrition through tubes have been found to be ineffective.

Chemical changes in the body: Cancer upsets the normal chemical balance of human  body and chemical imbalance so produced can lead to frequent urination, excessive thirst, confusion, constipation etc.

Paralyses the brain and nervous system: Cancer has often found to affect the brains and nervous systems of its patients resulting in headaches and stroke like situations.

Paraneoplastic syndrome: This is a special condition formed as a result of cancer which affects the human immune system and healthy cells are being attacked .Symptoms like difficulty in walking seizures etc are caused as a result of this phenomenon.

Metastasize of cancer: Spreading of cancer to other parts of the body is known as metastasize of cancer.  The area where the cancer spreads is determined by the type of the cancer.

Return of cancer: Cancer survivors who have escaped from the clutches of cancer are liable to the return of cancer. Ask your doctor and devise a course of action for non recurrence of cancer if you are a cancer cured person.

(NB: More articles about cancer will be published shortly)

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Crooked nose correction - Cosmetic surgery - Indian Medical Tourism - indiatreats.blogspot.in

Nose plays a very important role in a person’s appearance as it occupies the central position in human face. The beauty and symmetry of a face will be destroyed if it has a nose which is abnormally placed. Poor alignment of nasal bridge results in crooked nose. Crooked noses are congenital and some are caused as a result of an accident or trauma. If you are unsatisfied about the shape and position of your nose, discuss the matter with a cosmetic surgeon. He will be able to explain what are the possible solutions available now.

The surgical procedure followed for correcting or reshaping the nose is considered to be more difficult than all other cosmetic surgeries connected with nose. The end results of a crooked nose correction surgery have always been very dramatic. The nose alignment will be completely changed and the patient will be able to feel the change immediately after the bandage is removed. The nose functioning will also be improved after the surgery.

For this surgery no incisions are made externally. The repairing of the bridge will be attempted through the nostrils only. In the first step the height of the bridge will be reduced resulting in easy movement of nasal bones.  This procedure is called osteotomy. Other procedures for making the nose’s shape balanced with other features of the face will also be carried out.

Neck lift - Cosmetic surgery - Indian medical tourism - indiatreats

                  

Neck lift is a surgical procedure followed to improve the appearance of the neck of a person. If people around you consider you as old and if you feel that this opinion was caused as resulted of the neckbands formed in your neck, and then it is time for doing neck lift surgery and rejuvenate your physical appearance.  As you age, you start losing excess skin, muscle mass etc and it starts affecting your overall appearance. This is the time for consultation with a cosmetic surgeon and ascertain whether he can help in you any manner. If he says okay and if you have enough money, there is nothing to think again. Go for it, get the surgery done and let you look younger.

Nick lift are usually carried out in there different manners depending upon the individual needs and merits of each case. They are botox injection, fat removal by liposuction, and platysmaplasty which is a surgical procedure in which platysma muscles are involved.

Botox injection : By injecting botox into the neck muscles, the appearance of neck bands under the chin can temporarily be controlled. Advantages of botox are that it does not require any anaesthesia and no recovery time is needed. You will be able to resume routine activities soon after the injection is taken. It will take only  one hour. After completing the procedure, the incision is closed with sutures and proper bandaging is provided. This procedure is usually done under local anaesthesia.

Liposuction: In liposuction procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions below the patient’s chin. Extra fat is removed through this incision with the help of fine cannula. This procedure is often done as part of a neck lift procedure or it can be done independently also. Five to ten days time will be required for complete recovery. Your surgeon will guide you during the recovery period.

Neck lift surgery: This cosmetic surgery is known as cervicoplasty.When platysma muscles are operated it is known as platysmaplasty. The time taken for completing the surgery may vary according to the procedure selected and other relevant aspects of individual cases. For undergoing a neck lift procedure the patient should be mentally and physically healthy. Surgeon makes incision in the creases of the neck and the face and the excess fat is removed carefully. After removing the required amount of fat the surgeon will close the incision with the help of sutures. Proper bandage will be provided over the area and follow up steps needed will be informed by the surgeon. Normal inconveniences of a surgical procedure will be there in this case also which include swelling, infection, bruising, discomfort etc. Complete recovery will take 10-14 days. During the recovery period the candidate should strictly adhere to the instructions provided by the surgeon.

   

Double chin correction - cosmetic surgery - Indian medical tourism - Indiatreats

Double chin usually formed as a result of formation of excess skin or fat under the chin. When such a person flexes or bends down his neck this becomes more visible. In young people double chin is usually seen as a result of fat gain due to increase in body weight. Some people have smaller chin and this contributes to the appearance of double chin.

As a person ages his skin on the neck and the underlying tissues begins to sag progressively.  The jowls and neck bands are formed as a result. In some people neck band appear prominently at a younger age as a result of variation in the anatomy of the platysma muscle. As age increases the volume of tissues in face and neck reduces contributing to skin laxity and diminishing jaw.

A well defined jaw line is   desirable feature that adds to the beauty of the individual concerned.

There can be some situations like excess fate deposit under the chin,  small chin, sagging tissues of the jaw as a result of aging etc which blunts the cervico-mental angle.  Some common medical procedures used to overcome this situation are discussed below.

1.       Facial liposuction: In young people facial liposuction has been found to be extremely useful for correcting the double chin. The small marks of using a very fine canula are hidden behind the neck-chin crease. In most cases excess fat is found on the lower parts of the patients face producing a ‘chubby face’ look. Facial liposuction is used to remove this fat. In some cases removal of the cheek fat pad becomes unavoidable to produce a chiseled look for the face.

2.       Chin augmentation: Small chin creates a facial imbalance. This may make the double chin more prominent. Inserting a pre fabricated implant made of silicon without creating any external marks is the solution for this problem. Chin implant surgery can be performed along with facial liposuction.

3.       Neck life/ chin lift: Rejuvenation surgery can lead to correction of sagging of facial skin.  The procedure helps to re position the tissues and helps in tightening the face and neck skin and create a tout jaw line. The incisions for this procedure are made in the skin creases and therefore they remain invisible. Plastymoplasty technique  is adopted by some surgeons  to make neck lift long lasting.

4.       Botox:  In some patients prominent neck bands are seen in  younger age of4 0s and 50s. This happens due to the prominence of platysma muscles margin lines. Botox or Neuronox injection can correct these defects. Botox affect has been found to last for 4-6 months.  Forehead lines, frown lines, etc can also be removed by taking Botox injections.

Important features

 Lipo sculpting or facial liposuction are usually carried out as an outpatient service. The patient will have to wear a chin strap for two weeks after the procedure. Swelling and bruising will vanish within two weeks. Well chiseled jaw line and youthful face are obtained. Neck lift is desirable for people who are in the age of 45-80. It can be performed separately or as part of other related surgeries.

As cosmetic surgeries are related to face, careful planning and implementation are very important.

Haematoma which is temporary nerve damage can happen in some cases. Smokers, diabetic patients, people with high blood pressure etc are prone to more complications.