Lilac City Momma

Mommy Blog

Brighten Up A Big Garden The Easy Way

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As you all know, gardening is a skill I have slowly acquired, actually, very slowly, but, I am now there, and the garden is really starting to take shape. However, I doubt most people would call me a keen gardener. In fact, I know I am not. The other day I was browsing through a real estate site and realized that there are some properties around here with quite large gardens. When I came across one with a garden that was nearly four times as big as ours I swear a shiver actually ran down my spine.

That garden is certainly going to take some looking after. However, while looking at Shrubs & Hedges from The Tree Center I realized that the way to handle a big garden is to fill it with big plants. In a garden like that, you have the space to plant a couple of huge trees and reduce its width by planting a wide hedge. Something that looks so much nicer than a fence does.

Plus, there is plenty of choice, making it really easy to buy plants that add a big splash of color and create shady spots. An important consideration if you do not want a huge lawn and big flower beds to take care of. A large shade tree can really eat into the space you need to look after because very little will grow under them. This means you can easily gravel or mulch around the base and locate a table and chairs under it, so you have somewhere cool to sit on a blisteringly hot day. If you choose the right variety, you can build a tree house in the branches for the kids. Or, better still a retreat room for the adults to enjoy.

For hedging, Laurel is a great option in a large garden. There are a lot of varieties available including some that tolerate really low temperatures. Hybrid Skip Laurel shrubs can cope with -10. Plus it grows at about two feet per year. This makes it a fast way to create a hedge. However, once it is at height it will need a lot of cutting. But, provided you buy an electric hedge clipper and have a way to dispose of the clippings it should still be manageable.

In a very large garden, planting an orchard could be an option. They look lovely and the blossom smells fantastic. Even one with just 8 or 12 trees in it could keep you in fruit for most of the summer. In fact, if you buy late varieties you can stretch that into the autumn, plus, provide you store them properly; fruits like apples can keep for months. With proper care you can enjoy fruits and vegetables in your garden and use them to cook in the kitchen, thus, saving you money!

If you have the climate, citrus trees are an especially good idea. They are evergreen and produce lovely scented blossom in the spring. Lemons do not have to be picked all in one go, so you can enjoy a year round supply of those. If you would like to learn more about planting and taking care of fruit trees, you can do so here.

How Do I Prepare for a CoolSculpting Session?

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CoolSculpting is a process that involves freezing fat, and there is no surgery required at all. The FDA has cleared this interesting process, which reduces the amount fat that consumers have in stubborn areas, despite numerous efforts to exercise and diet the weight away. There are many customers that have reviewed this process on the official website, along with over message boards throughout the internet.

This type of fat reduction process helps to target several areas of the body, including the:

• Abdomen

• Flanks/sides

• Chin

• Inner thighs

• Outer thighs

• Upper arms

It’s important that you consider the difference between losing weight in a treatment and losing fat cells. The procedure specifically targets the existence of fat cells in certain areas, so it’s important to know what to expect in a session before they start.

What to Expect Before the Session

Before anything happens with your CoolSculpting session, you will meet with the medical professional that is skilled in this process. You need to meet with a doctor or clinician for the procedure. They will explain the advantages of having a holistic approach for fat loss. This reshaping method will be customized to your body, which means that you can change the way that your body handles its fatty areas. Every person is different, so the amount of sessions you need will depend on the area you want to treat.

This treatment is meant for you, if you don’t have loose skin or skin tone. Your doctor will be able to tell you if there are any concerns about the procedure, but these sessions are performed in a way that almost everyone can use it.

What Happens to the Fat?

The reason that this process is so effective comes from a discovery by Harvard scientists, who developed a process called Cryolipolysis®. Cryolipolysis brings the temperature of fat cells down, between +5 to −5 °C, concentrating fat loss to a specific area. The process kills the cells, and then eliminates them from the body to contour it. Many people use it as an alternative to liposuction, though the most effective method will need to be discussed with your doctor.

Even though the treatment happens with topical application, your skin and hairs will not be injured or even impacted at all. The remedy penetrates the skin’s layers with the coldness, but no other cells are damaged.

The process has had the approval of the FDA since 2010. Since the remedy was first created, over 450,000 sessions around the world have been performed.

During the Treatment

The biggest appeal of this treatment, as said above, is that it’s noninvasive, meaning there’s no surgery needed to eliminate the cells. At the beginning of the session, a gel pad and an applicator will be placed on the area you discussed beforehand with your doctor. Then, the professional will manage the controlled cooling that is directed into that area. The whole procedure takes an hour for each of the areas that you chose to contour. You will be awake and alert, and no anesthesia is administered. However, some people find the session so relaxing that they take the time to sleep.

While the CoolSculpting session takes place, it’s common to experience a little coldness. The fat is literally being frozen, after all. The area should numb within about 5 to 10 minutes, so you won’t feel anything coldness after that. Additionally, since the applicator often includes a vacuum you might feel a sensation similar to pulling or even a mild pinch. These experiences are normal.

After the procedure is over, the medical professional will massage the area for about 2 to 3 minutes, which should end any remaining tingling.

The Results and Healing Process

The effects of losing fat cells may appear as soon as three weeks after the treatment, since your body has to adjust to its new composition. The most prominent results are seen about 8 to 9 weeks after the procedure, which is much different than the way that liposuction and other invasive remedies work. These changes will continue for the next 6 months following the original session.

The healing process is basically nonexistent. You won’t need to take time off from work, and there’s no incision to heal. In fact, a lot of people go right back to their regular routine in the same day, which is part of the immense appeal of CoolSculpting. Even though you may feel motivated to get healthier and change your habits, these changes aren’t required for upkeep. Instead, there’s no diet and exercise needed, and you won’t even need to take a supplement.

Dr. Ruth L. Hillelson, MD is one of the most experienced plastic surgeons in the Eastern U.S. As a former research chemist associate at Harvard, she has spent five years researching, developing, and testing breakthrough technology for real skin rejuvenation. The result is Iridesse, a skin care line that will make skin healthier instead of just giving the appearance of health.

What is the Youngest Age That Ear Pinning Can Be Performed?

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Your child is your most precious gift and beautiful on the inside as well as the inside. You only want the best for your little one. You want your kids to be active, healthy, successful and doors of opportunities to open. You want your child to have confidence and excellent self-esteem. There is one concern that you are afraid will have an impact on your child’s self-image. It’s your little one’s ears. They stick out at the side of your child’s head in a way that is quite pronounced. You have waited since infancy to see if this condition would change in any way. Unfortunately, it is an issue that won’t go away and you can’t make any changes on your own.

Even though your child’s hair has grown, it is still not enough to hide protruding ears. You want to do something to help your child. You are considering ear pinning, a form of otoplasty, that is performed by a plastic surgeon. You know this is a serious step, but you feel that it will have a positive impact on your child’s life. You don’t want your little one to go through life feeling self-conscious about large ears that are poking out in such a way that everyone will notice them. You know what peer pressure is like and how much children want to fit in with peers, especially when they get older. You want to find a solution now, but you don’t know the appropriate age for this common procedure.

What is the Youngest Age that Ear Pinning Can be Performed?

You’ve decided that the sooner otoplasty, or ear surgery that is cosmetic is performed, the better. Ear pinning can be performed as early as the age of four, although some surgeons recommend waiting until the age of six to ensure that the ears have fully developed. In most cases, doctors will advise to have the procedure performed before children are of school age. However, it can be performed at any time after the age of four if your child has already passed that milestone. Ear pinning is a simple procedure that will make your child’s ears press flat against his or her head in the way that is expected. Once it is over, you will not have to worry anymore about your little one’s ears sticking out too far.

What Happens During an Ear Pinning Procedure?

You can expect that this procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis for your child. For young children, general anesthesia is recommended. Older patients may be able to use local anesthesia and sedation. Typically, an incision will be made in your child’s ears in such a way that scarring will not be noticeable. Behind the ear is one of the most common sites for an incision. If there is too much cartilage or an excess amount of tissue that is making your child’s ears protrude from the side of his or her head, your child’s plastic surgeon can trim away any excess and reshape the cartilage. Once the cartilage has been molded into the desired shape and the ears lay flat against your child’s head, the incisions will be closed with stitches.

How to Prepare Your Child for Ear Pinning

Your child should wear something that is comfortable on the day of surgery. Pajamas are appropriate if that is what your little one would like to wear. No food should be eaten before the procedure. Talk with your child’s plastic surgeon about scheduling early in the morning to make it easier on your child. Small sips of water are the most that your child may have before undergoing general anesthesia. Your child will be closely monitored by a surgical team while your plastic surgeon is performing the ear pinning surgery. It is a relatively minor procedure and will take a short amount of time. Once the procedure is over, your child will be sent to recovery where you will be able to wait with your child until release is possible.

Recovery for Otoplasty at Home

Once your child has been given clearance from their Otoplasty by the plastic surgeon to be released, you can take your little one home. Now the healing time begins. Your child will have bandages to protect his or her ears. Your plastic surgeon will give you instructions about how often to change the bandages. You can expect to apply an antibiotic ointment to protect the incisions from infection. You will also be given instructions for cleaning the incisions. Your child will need to sleep in a slightly elevated position. You can prop up pillows to make your little one comfortable. It is important to rest in the week that follows surgery. Your child will not be able to do anything that is extremely active at this time.

Expect to go back to the plastic surgeon for a follow-up appointment one week after the procedure. At this point, your child’s ears will be checked for any signs of infection or any other concerns. Stitches can be removed if this is necessary. As long as there are no complications, your child should be able to return to normal activities. The final results will be noticeable for everyone. Any swelling will have gone down, allowing your child to enjoy ears that are flat against his or her head. Your child will have a boost of confidence every time he or she looks at the results of ear pinning surgery.

If you are serious about ear pinning for your child, you need to seek advice from an expert in cosmetic procedures involving the ears. Call Dr. Anurag Agarwal, MD to find out if your child is a good candidate for this procedure. Dr. Agarwal of the Aesthetic Surgery Center is a board certified plastic surgeon with years of experience in performing otoplasty, surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments in Naples, FL.

Things To do Post-Surgery To Achieve the Best Facelift Result

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A facelift is a great way to brighten your face, smooth out your skin, and reduce the effects of aging. Your doctor will put great care and effort into ensuring that you achieve the results you hope for, but your choices after the procedure will also have an effect on your results. Here are eight steps you can take to achieve the best possible results from your facelift:

1. Follow your doctor’s post-op instructions.

It takes a full year for your face to fully heal after the surgery, but the way you take care of your face in the first couple weeks of recovery can have a huge impact on your results. Your doctor will give you thorough instructions for how to care for the incisions and scars to make sure that they heal quickly. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call your doctor and ask. If your doctor doesn’t give you written instructions for caring for your face during recovery, make sure you write everything down yourself.

2. Have a healthy skincare routine.

A regular skincare routine is essential for maintaining your results and keeping your skin bright and healthy. You should wash your face twice per day with a cleanser that works well for your skin type. If you’re not sure what cleanser to use, you can consult a skincare specialist or just try a few options until you find the best one. You should also use a moisturizer with SPF every day. Even when it’s cloudy or cold outside, the sun can damage the skin on your face.

3. Avoid sun exposure.

The sun’s UV rays can damage the collagen and elastin in your skin, which will cause wrinkles. Excessive sun exposure can also cause age spots or liver spots. Sun damage is irreversible, so it’s important to prevent it by wearing sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF every single day. If your skin is very sensitive to the sun, you should get a clinical grade sunscreen from a skincare specialist or from your doctor.

You should also limit your exposure to harsh or direct sunlight with hats or umbrellas. When possible, stand in the shade or plan outdoor activities for the morning or late afternoon, so the sun won’t shine directly on you. Even if you don’t get sunburns easily, you should be careful about your sun exposure. Damage can happen even when you don’t burn.

4. Eat a healthy diet.

The food you eat has a big impact on your skin and face. Your diet should be full of greens, fruits and veggies, complex carbohydrates, and protein. All of these foods will keep your skin nourished and maintain its elasticity, which will prevent wrinkles. Eat plenty of citrus fruits to get vitamin C, which promotes collagen production and strengthens your skin. Eat nuts and spinach for vitamin E, which smooths out scars and rough skin. Eat sweet potatoes, fish, and fruit for vitamin A, which helps your skin stay moisturized and heal without scarring.

5. Drink plenty of water.

Drinking lots of water is one of the most important things you can do to keep your skin healthy. It will keep your skin strong, elastic, and smooth. You should drink at least eight cups of water per day to achieve the best facelift results. If you’re not in the habit of drinking a lot of water, write reminders to yourself in your kitchen, your bedroom, your car, or on your phone. Whenever you see the reminder, drink a cup of water.

6. Quit smoking.

There are lots of negative effects of smoking, including skin damage. Nicotine dries out your skin and causes premature aging. It also affects your skin’s ability to heal, so smoking shortly after your surgery could make your scar more noticeable and long-lasting. Your doctor will probably require that you stop smoking while you recover. However, you should consider quitting permanently to maintain good results.

7. Reduce stress.

Stress can take a serious toll on your physical health, and it can prevent you from achieving optimal results. Over time, chronic stress can cause wrinkles and premature aging. If you tend to get worried or stressed out easily, try to incorporate relaxation techniques into your everyday life. Practice breathing exercises or mindfulness meditation, and find a hobby that relaxes you. Many people find that exercise is a great stress reliever, and it has plenty of other health benefits. Reducing stress in your life will bring about countless physical and mental health benefits, and it will keep your face looking young and fresh.

8. Have maintenance procedures.

You can get regular, noninvasive procedures that will help you achieve the best results. For example, you could get laser treatments or microneedling, which both boost collagen production and prevent wrinkles. You could also get Botox injections to minimize lines and wrinkles. Another option is chemical peels, which reduce the appearance of age spots and fine lines.

You could also get additional surgical procedures to boost the results of your facelift. One popular procedure is a facial fat transfer, which smooths out areas of your face by transferring fat from another part of your body. Eye lifts and brow lifts can also help your face look younger and brighter.

Dr. Stephen Weber, MD and his colleagues at Weber Facial Plastic Surgery in Denver have years of experience with a variety of cosmetic procedures, including facelifts. Dr. Weber is a board certified facial plastic surgeon who completed a prestigious fellowship at the University of Michigan.

5 Bad Habits That May Be Damaging Your Skin

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Your skin is important. It’s one of the first details someone notices when seeing you and can influence the way people perceive how you take care of yourself and how much you value your appearance. Having bright, clear and healthy skin makes a great first impression. This is why it’s important to take care of it and avoid bad habits.

The reality is that your skin is extremely fragile. The smallest cut, rub, or bump can leave long-lasting effects that are sometimes irreparable. If you take care of your skin now, you’ll avoid having to go through laser therapy for scars, botox for wrinkles, and expensive creams for breakouts in the future.

There are numerous bad habits on top of being stressed that you can pick up over time, which can have serious negative effects on your skin, so avoiding them is essential to your skin’s health.

Popping Pimples

After you’ve popped one and have felt how disgustingly satisfying it is, you often feel compelled to carry on – and this isn’t good at all. Every time you pop a zit, regardless of how you do it, you’re leaving a permanent mark on your skin in the form of a scar, which can be extremely difficult to get rid of. Doing it with your finger also pushes more bacteria and dirt into your pores, so avoid it at all costs.

Not Washing Your Face After Swimming

Contrary to what most people think, chlorine is not good for your skin. The chemicals found in swimming pools can bleach your skin and dry it out, subsequently damaging the melanin. You don’t have to stop swimming to avoid this though. Simply wash your face thoroughly with soap after each swim.

Hot Showers

As relaxing and enjoyable as it may be on a cold winter’s day, hot showers, especially long ones, are awful for your skin’s health. Redness and itchiness are increased as the outer layer of your skin is stripped away by the hot water, exposing a dry and scaly layer beneath.

Not Changing Your Pillowcases and Towels Often Enough

If you put your face on it, wash it often. In the case of pillowcases and towels, the general recommendation is once every two or three days. When you do wash them, be sure to do so at a high temperature to kill the bacteria. It would also help to use a separate towel for drying your body and face. If you don’t have laundry to wash, simply flip your current pillowcase inside-out to make it last longer.

Not Doing Your Research

This is one of the most important aspects of skincare. Knowing all the do’s and don’ts when it comes to taking care of your skin is essential. Simply head to a reputable website such as Healthy Skin Solutions whenever you have a chance and learn something useful.

Conclusion

Avoid the above habits and your skin will thank you for it. What habits have you kicked recently? Let us know in the comments down below.