Life Is What You Make It

The Benefits of Breast Reduction

From chronic back pain to poor self-esteem, large breasts can present a
host of health problems. Find out whether surgery could ease your
discomfort.

Contrary to popular belief, large breasts aren't always what they're
cracked up to be. For many women, overly large, pendulous breasts can
result in chronic neck and back pain, poor posture, breathing problems,
rashes, and deep skin grooves resulting from bra strap pressure. What's
more, excessive breast tissue can prevent some women from participating
in physical activities and even lead to self-consciousness, poor
self-esteem, and other psychological problems.

To ease their discomfort, more and more women are turning to
breast-reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty. As the
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports, more than 104,000
breast reductions were performed in the United States in 2006, compared
with 84,000 in 2000an increase of 23 percent. In addition,
breast-reduction surgery may make it easier to perform mammograms and,
according to a report published in a 2004 issue of the journal Plastic
and Reconstructive Surgery, may even lower a woman's risk of developing
breast cancer.

Although patient-satisfaction rates are generally high, experts are
quick to point out that reduction mammaplasty is serious surgery. As
such, prospective patients should do their research, find an
experienced surgeon, and ask lots of questions so they can make
informed decisions. Here, the basics on breast reduction.

Is breast Reduction Right For You?

Whether you're seeking surgery to ease pain, to boost your confidence,
or for cosmetic reasons, it's important to understand how the procedure
is performed. In general, reduction mammaplasty is an outpatient
procedure that reduces the size of the breasts by removing excess
tissue, fat, and skin. In some cases, it may be combined with a
breast-lift procedure, also known as mastopexy.

In most cases, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and
there are several techniques a surgeon may use, depending on the
patient's symptoms and/or aesthetic desires:

Inferior pedicle approach: Also known as the
keyhole technique, this approach removes excess tissue, fat, and skin
via an anchor-shaped incision that circles the areola and extends
downward. The nipple and areola are placed into a higher position, in
proportion with the patient's new breast size and shape. This approach
can be especially effective for women with very large and droopy
breasts.

Vertical scar approach: With the vertical scar
approach, also known as short scar breast reduction, the surgeon uses a
lollipop-shaped incision without horizontal incisions. According to
some experts, this technique results in less noticeable scarring, a
more natural shape, and better results over time than the inferior
pedicle approach.

Liposuction-only approach: For women who require a
minor size reduction or simply want to correct an asymmetry, the
liposuction-only technique may be suitable. With this approach, fat is
removed through a hollow tube and suction device. Compared with other
forms of reduction mammaplasty, this technique offers minimal scarring,
less trauma to the breasts, and quicker recovery.

15 Questions to Ask Your Cosmetic Surgeon

As with any
cosmetic surgery, a breast reduction generally begins with a
consultation. At that time, you should discuss your symptoms and ask
for a detailed summary of the procedure, the results you can expect,
and the amount of scarring that will likely result. Remember to be as
specific as possible about the size and shape you'd like to achieve.
All too often, a patient says that she wants to be a certain cup size,
but her understanding of that size and the surgeon's may be quite
different.

In addition, be sure to ask the following questions:

1. How many of breast reductions do you perform each year?

2. How many years have you spent performing breast reductions?

3. Are you board certified, and if so, with which board(s)?

4. In which states are you licensed to practice surgery?

5. What are the risks and complications associated with this procedure?

6. How many additional operations can I expect as a result of this procedure over my lifetime?

7. What are my options if I'm dissatisfied with the outcome of my breast reduction?

8. If I'm unhappy with the results, is it possible to reverse the procedure? If so, what results can I expect?

9. Will this surgery have any functional repercussions?

10. How can I expect my results to look over time?

11. What alternate procedures or products are available if I choose not to have this surgery?

12. Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at, and which of those results are reasonable for me to expect?

13. What's the most common complication you encounter with this procedure?

14. What's your reoperation rate, and what's the most common type of reoperation you perform?

15. Do you believe I'm an informed patient with realistic expectations who would be a good candidate for this procedure?

Breast Reduction Financing Options

The costs of reduction mammaplasty vary depending on location, surgeon,
and technique, but according to the ASPS, the national average surgeon
fee is $5,550. Keep in mind that this amount does not include costs
associated with the surgical facility, anesthesia, medical tests,
prescriptions, or surgical garments.

Although some insurance companies cover breast reduction surgery, it
must be viewed as a medical necessity, as opposed to cosmetic, and the
criteria for this may vary depending on the company. So be sure to
check your policy first. If your policy doesn't cover the procedure, or
if you don't have health insurance, there may be other options
available. Financial institutions, such as Capital One, offer
health-care loans specifically designed for cosmetic surgery patients.

Hysterectomy 101

It's the second most common surgery for American women. But how much do you really know about the procedure?

Each year, more than 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the United States, making it one of the most common women's surgeries--second only ceasarean section. The procedure is so common that one in every three American women has had a hysterectomy by age 60.

Despite its prevalence, however, little is known about hysterectomy beyond the fact that the procedure makes it impossible for a woman to become pregnant. The reason for this is that a hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, the pear-shaped reproductive organ responsible for holding a fetus during pregnancy.

In some hysterectomies, other organs may be removed as well, especially if the patient has certain medical conditions, such as endometriosis or cancer, in which a hysterectomy may offer treatment. Other organs that may be removed include the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina), the ovaries (glands on both sides of the uterus that release eggs for pregnancy), and the fallopian tubes (the passageways between the uterus and the ovaries).

Why Is a Hysterectomy Performed?
A hysterectomy may be indicated to relieve symptoms caused by several conditions, including:

    * Fibroids.
      Uterine fibroids, benign tumors that develop in or attach themselves to the uterine wall, may grow as single tumors or in clusters. For many women with fibroids, symptoms are minimal and require no treatment. But for others, they can cause excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and frequent urination. More hysterectomies are performed because of fibroids than any other problem of the uterus, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    * Uterine prolapse.
      This condition happens when the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments stretch and weaken, providing inadequate support for the uterus. The uterus then descends into the vaginal canal.
    * Endometriosis.
      This is a condition in which endometrial tissue, the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, grows outside the uterus and attaches to other organs in the abdominal cavity such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Symptoms can include painful menstrual periods, abnormal menstrual bleeding, and pain during or after sexual intercourse. When medication and surgery do not cure endometriosis, a hysterectomy is often performed.
    * Cancer.
      If a patient has cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries, a hysterectomy may be recommended as a possible treatment.
    * Chronic pelvic pain.
      Surgery is sometimes an option for women who have chronic pelvic pain, which may be caused by several conditions. Often, other treatments for chronic pelvic pain are recommended first, leaving surgery as a last resort.

How Is a Hysterectomy Performed?

The type of hysterectomy surgery you have depends on four main factors: the reason for the surgery, the size of the uterus, its position in the stomach, and your overall health. The five most common types are:

    * Abdominal hysterectomy.
      The doctor makes an incision in the stomach, and the uterus and cervix are removed. This type of surgery is common when cancer may be present, the uterus is extremely large, or the patient has endometriosis, in which the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus.
    * Vaginal hysterectomy.
      The doctor removes the uterus through the vagina by making a small incision. This method is only used if there is no chance that cancer may be present in the uterus, cervix, or ovaries-or if the uterus is small enough to be removed vaginally.
    * Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).
      To perform this surgery, the doctor inserts a lighted tube called a laparoscope through small cuts in the stomach. This allows the doctor to have a clear view of the organs while inserting surgical tools to cut the tissue that holds the uterus in place. The uterus is then removed through the vagina.
    * Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH).
      With LSH, the doctor inserts a scope and tools through small incisions in the stomach. The uterus is removed in small pieces, while the cervix is left in place. This surgery is only performed if the patient doesn't have cervical cancer.
    * Total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH).
      For this type of surgery, the doctor inserts a scope and tools through several small incisions in the stomach. The uterus and cervix are then removed in small pieces through one of the incisions.

Are There Alternatives to a Hysterectomy?

It's important to remember that a hysterectomy ends your ability to become pregnant. If you think you might want to become pregnant, be sure ask your doctor about alternatives to this surgery.

In the case of cancer, hysterectomy might be the only option. But there may be alternative treatments for conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, and uterine prolapse. These options may include medications, endometrial ablation (the use of electricity, heat, or cold to destroy the lining of the uterus), or uterine artery embolization (a procedure that involves blocking the blood supply to fibroids, which can reduce pain and heavy bleeding).

No More Bad Hair Days

It's one of the few drawbacks of summer: Hair sometimes gets annoyingly out of control. The season's major threats — sun, heat, and humidity, not to mention chlorine and salt water — challenge all hair types, from curly to wavy to straight. The hair pros' secret to lowering the hassle quotient? Make the most of what you've got. That means not forcing tight ringlets to relax, or trying to coax waves out of stick-straight strands. Here's your personalized plan for a summer of carefree hair days.If your hair is ... curly
It's keeping curls under control — even when humidity swells the cuticle, causing curls to look frizzy and frazzled. Curls are also more prone to dryness, since they're exposed to the elements from all angles. That's why you'll need heavier conditioning to stay soft and fuzz-free.

In the shower: Space out shampooing or use conditioner alone, since even the gentlest suds can be drying. "Your hair will look healthier and less frizzy the less you agitate it," says Los Angeles hairstylist Stephanie Pohl. When you lather up, use a shampoo with a smoothing ingredient like silicone (or any ending in "-icone"). Try Kérastase Bain Oléo-Relax ($32, kerastase.com). Follow up with a curl conditioner like Pantene Pro-V Hydrating Curls Conditioner ($4, drugstores), and don't rinse it out fully to give hair a mini leave-in treatment.

Styling secrets: Gently towel-squeeze hair to remove water, then mix up this "stylists' special": three parts anti-frizz cream and one part serum. Use your fingers to twirl it down the hair shaft to the ends, working in one-inch sections. Dab a little at the hairline and roots, then air-dry. Try Dove Frizz Control Therapy Taming Cream ($3.78, drugstores) mixed with Göt2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Satin Drops ($8, drugstores). For frizzier spirals or on supersteamy days, use an anti-humidity cocktail of equal parts leave-in conditioner, medium-hold gel, and serum instead, suggests Los Angeles hairstylist Jonathan Hanousek.

In the salon: Be sure your stylist is a curly-hair specialist — most salons have one or more. And keep hair at least shoulder-length, with long layers: "You need length and weight to prevent hair from looking too puffy or mushroomlike," explains New York City salon owner Lisa Chiccine. Short layers, or none at all, add to the puffiness problem. It's also a good idea to have your hair snipped when it's dry, so your stylist can see exactly how your curls lie and what happens to them after each pass of the scissors. (Curly hair shrinks dramatically as it dries, so wet cutting ups the chance of too-short surprises.)

Emergency fix-it: "There's no better way to combat out-of-control curls when you're on the go than hand cream," says Hanousek. Simply rub a dollop between your hands and run them lightly over your 'do to moisturize hair and smooth fly aways.

What a Gas

Do you find yourself driving across state lines to cut the cost at the
pump? Do you fill up on certain days of the week because you know it
typically costs less? There are easier, more efficient ways to beat the
rise in gas prices. For example, did you know that Americans waste 147
million gallons a year due to missing gas caps alone? That's not all.
Check out these ten easy tips to help gain a few extra gallon.(not mention save some much needed cash).

You may not be able to control the price of gas, but check out these three ways to become fuel thrifty.

   Avoid aggressive driving: Speeding, rapid acceleration, and perpetual braking waste gas. Driving at a constant speed can lower your gas mileage by up to 33 percent on the highway. Defensive drivers can save up to $1.35 per gallon compared to their speedy counterparts.
   Clear the air: Your car's air filter prevents airborne impurities from wreaking havoc on your engine. Not only can replacing a clogged air filter save you up to $0.41 on the gallon, but it can also safeguard your engine.
   Inflate your tires, not your MPGs: By properly inflating your tires, you can save up to 3.3 percent on your miles per gallon (MPG), which equals about $0.12 per gallon. Check your owner's manual for the correct pressure per square inch (psi) for your car's tire size. Appropriately inflated tires results in better gas mileage, improved safety, and longer lasting tires.

Building Friendships from Casual Friends

Self-Disclosure builds friendships.

Self-disclosure is usually the first step in establishing a confidant. And it is scary because of the potential rejection factor. Do it anyway!

Start by sharing a few private thoughts and/or feelings with one person you might want for a close friend. If the person is responsive, he/she will usually share a personal thought or two with you.

If he/she is not responsive to your overtures, don't think of this as a rejection.People may be non-responsive for reasons of their own or merely as a perception of yours. Nevertheless, they can't be rejecting you because they don't even know you yet.

Listening and acknowledging builds friendships.

Often when your child, lover/partner, or friend tells you a story or voices a complaint, he/she is just asking for acknowledgment.

This does not mean that he/she wants agreement or compliance; it merely indicates a desire to be heard and understood.

Try these four steps to acknowledgment:

1. Repeat back.

2. Don't invalidate.

3. Don't try to change.

4. Don't problem solve.

Many conflicts in your personal relationships can be avoided if you will take the time to acknowledge other's feelings and points of view. For more information about acknowledgement, click here.

Listening and attending builds friendships.

Paying attention to someone is called "attending." It means that your ears, your eyes, your body and your feelings are all focused on that person at one time. Attending is a very important part of any relationship. It includes:

1. Being there physically

2. Focusing

3. Eye contact

Looking at and focusing on another person shows that you are "there for him/her." For more information on attending, click here.

Talking Is a Primary Building Block of Friendships.

Talking is an integral component of friendship.

When a friend talks and reveals ideas or feelings, he/she is expecting shared information in return. When the talk is not equal, the person talking feels as if the listener is uninterested.

In fact, the person who is always the listener is really playing the role of a counselor, not a friend. Anytime you have been talking for more than a minute or two without participation from the person you are talking to, you are lecturing, bossing, or putting that person in the role of a counselor.

Loyalty, Equality, and Respect build friendship.

Friends are equal. Without equality, you can't have a close friendship.

Friends are loyal and trustworthy. No one can confide in someone they can not trust to be loyal and to keep his/her secrets.

Friends have similar values. Our value system is so important to us that our friends' values must be close to our own or we will not have respect for this friend.

Friends and Friendship

It is an in-depth relationship combining trust, support, communication, loyalty, understanding, empathy, and intimacy.

These are certainly aspects of life that all of us crave.

Being able to trust and relax with your friend is a big part of friendship.

Remember when you were young and went with a friend to her grandma's for the week-end. It was fun but when you got home, home was wonderful. Your feeling was "I'm home. I can relax now."

That's what a friendship should be.

You go out into the world and do your best. You have your ups and downs, your problems and triumphs, your fun and tribulations. You charm and you perform.

Then you come "home" to a friend.

You can relax, put up your feet; you are relieved. If you still have to be charming and/or performing, it's not a relief.

Friendship is a comfy situation like home. You get home, kick off your shoes, relax and sigh, "Ahh, home."

But no one can form a friendship until he/she realizes that the basis of being friends is meeting the needs of the other person. One must be a friend to have one.

Never forget that friends relate. Relating is the basis of friendship.

Most Polluted Beaches in America

Summer beach vacations may be an American tradition, but take heed--some of the country’s most popular destinations may be hazardous to your health.

Do you remember looking forward to trips to the beach as a child: the anticipation of splashing in the salty water, building sand castles, and running up and down the shoreline?Unfortunately, the sandy shores that you remember from your childhood may now be a contaminated hot spot.beach pollution is more widespread than it has been in nearly 20 years, with up to 7 million Americans annually getting sick from drinking or swimming in contaminated water.

The most common illness associated with exposure is gastroenteritis (nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, and fever), but ear, nose, and throat infections can also occur. In rare cases, swimmers can even be exposed to more dangerous diseases such as hepatitis, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever.

Each year, the NRDC compiles a list of the cleanest and most contaminated beaches, largely based on the percentage of monitoring samples that violated public health standards during the previous year's beach season. So before you dive into the ocean, make sure that your favorite sandy spot isn't one of these beach bummers.

Hacks Point: Cecil County, Maryland
This beach, located on the Chesapeake Bay, had bacterial contamination levels that exceeded public health standards 60 percent of the time. (By comparison, the beaches that scored well on the NRDC list, had as little as 3 percent of their samples exceed national standards. One beach didn't have any samples go above the standard level.) A rural area, Cecil County receives pollution mainly through the four major rivers that drain into the upper Chesapeake Bay and from storm water runoff. According to the NRDC, Cecil County is unsure of the exact source of contamination at its beaches and is not actively taking steps to prevent the problem.

Beachwood Beach West: Ocean County, New Jersey
Located in the town of Beachwood, this local beach ties with Hacks Point for the number one spot, with 60 percent of samples taken exceeding public health standards. The storm water discharge it receives from an aging storm drain and a major state roadway contributes to pollution levels. Unfortunately, local efforts to protect the beach-including police-enforced 'poop-scoop' ordinances, vacuuming storm drains to decrease overflows, and scaring off waterfowl during the feeding and nesting periods-haven't been enough to move this beach off the list.

Venice State Beach: San Mateo County, California
Despite making this list and holding the title of most polluted beach in California, Venice Beach remains a popular destination for both tourists and locals. It attracts visitors who engage in a range of activities, including surfing, fishing, swimming, and even weight lifting. However, a whopping 57 percent of water samples exceeded bacteria standards. Perhaps Venice Beach can take a few pointers from officials at North Beach in Racine, Wisconsin. North Beach was successful in naturally cleaning up pollution by building wetlands and installing dunes. It also added more trash cans on the beach.

Bay Country

Campground and Beach: Kent County, Maryland
Another Chesapeake Bay hotspot, this private beach, located on the Eastern Shore, is just one of the Bay Country Campground attractions. But the campers that flock to enjoy fishing, hiking, swimming, and whitewater rafting should proceed with caution, as water samples from this beach exceeded bacterial standards 56 percent of the time.

Jackson Park Beach: Cook County, Illinois
Home to the 63rd Street Bathing Pavilion, a Chicago landmark, the building in Jackson Park reflects the beach's popularity for swimming and sunbathing. The first World's Fair was held here and it remains a top spot for beach-goers, despite ongoing contamination problems. And although the Chicago Park District attempts to combat the pollution by cleaning the beaches daily during the beach season, 54 percent of water samples taken still exceed national standards.

Avalon Beach: Los Angeles County, California
Located on Catalina Island, this popular LA beach isn't exactly helping California's reputation for less than cleanly beaches. Despite Avalon City's efforts (including diversion devices to prevent storm water from entering the bay in the summer and bird exclusion wires to keep birds form perching) to reduce pollution in this popular tourist area, 53 percent of samples taken at Avalon Beach exceeded standards for bacterial contamination, the exact sources of which are unknown.

Life Is What You Make It

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The Benefits of Breast Reduction

15 Questions to Ask Your Cosmetic Surgeon

Hysterectomy 101

No More Bad Hair Days

What a Gas

Building Friendships from Casual Friends

Friends and Friendship

Friends and Friendship

Most Polluted Beaches in America

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