The Cosmetic Surgery of the Twenty-First Century
If we reflect on what it means to enter a new Century, we will definitively associate it to technological and scientific advances, to the development of science, as well as to advances in the Medical Science for the benefit of our patients. Medical doctors are witnesses of this fact and have created new tendencies, techniques in different specialties.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or Cosmetic Surgery: Surgery for Embellishment.
Until recently, Cosmetic Surgery was viewed as frivolous. The wish of patients to improve their appearance or embellish their faces and bodies was not considered important. For years, teachings on Aesthetic Surgery were left behind in specialized study programs. Graduate medical doctors from Plastic Surgery courses knew a lot about restorative techniques but little about aesthetic techniques.
Today this tendency has changed. Attention to health and beauty is part of daily life. People are more aware of the importance of a healthy life, of working out, dieting, as well as of correcting aesthetic imperfections, if they affect the image and self-esteem of the person.
There are several events that have been turning points in the history of Cosmetic Surgery and Medicine, all of which happened during the Twentieth Century and will become more important at the beginning of the Twenty-First.
The present and the future of Beauty Surgery or Cosmetic Surgery are oriented towards simplifying surgical techniques and making the postoperative period less traumatic and lengthy.
Dr. Eduardo Krulig has called this modality Light Surgery and presented it at several world congresses. The procedures are fully developed, yet light and simple and results are no less effective.
Thus is presented the new Cosmetic Surgery of the Third Millennium in which bandages, girdles and casts are things of the past.
Laser beams, in their different types, have actually allowed this progress. To compare the old, well-known scalpel with the modern Laser, is like comparing present-day era of computer science with previous eras. In all specialties of Medicine and Surgery, the Laser beam is at the top of all technological advances. For instance: the Exicimer Laser in Ophthalmology. A few years ago, myopia was treated with proscribed and obsolete mechanical incisions in the cornea (radial keratotomy). Today, keratoplasty with the use of the Excimer Laser has substituted this technique, and in only 4 minutes for each eye, the patient gains a near-to-perfect vision and can do without his/her uncomfortable prescription glasses.
Likewise, the advent of the Laser beam in Aesthetic Surgery has allowed patients to get rid of uncomfortable bandages, girdles, casts, long repose and movement restrictions.
Let's examine the techniques in Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine developed by the author, published and made available to all Aesthetic Surgeons.
CO2 Laser –possibly the most frequently used—is indicated for non-bleeding surgical procedures, thus facilitating the work of the surgeon, as well as the patient's postoperative condition.
Likewise, Laser beams used for skin repair, skin resurfacing (C02 and Erbium YAG), blemish and tattoo removal, (YAG Neodinium, Q-Switch, Ruby and Alexandrite) intense pulsed lighting and devices for permanent epilation -- comprise an important assortment of tools for today's Cosmetic Surgeon and Aesthetic Doctor.
The evermore-frequent use and effective results of Laser beams for both surgeon and patients offers a promising future.
Lipo-Light
Lipo-Light is a liposculpture technique that employs 2, 3 and 4-mm Krulig Cannulas and half-pressure, in a combination of superficial, medium and deep layers. The use of girdles is unnecessary, since no skin is lifted or detatched during this procedure.
To employ medium pressure with fine cannulas in superficial planes is important, so as to achieve total control when sculpting the body, without producing undulations or dents, due to excess re-suctioning of adipose tissue (Krulig Cannulas).
With Lipo-Light technique there is no limit to the amount of fat to be suctioned. In 1983, Dr. Eduardo Krulig described the Macro-liposuction technique (large volumes of fat suctioned). Nine years later (1992), Dr. Pierre Fournier described the same as Mega-liposculpture. Today, the novel Lipo-Light technique is useful for obese patients (Mega-liposculpture), as well for those patients who have localized fat excesses; in both without the use of girdles or bandages.
Facial Embellishment
Krulig Technique
Facial embellishment is the combination of Aesthetic Surgical and Medical procedures created to achieve rejuvenation and enhancing facial beauty.
Such procedures can be performed at once for the benefit of the patient, or surgical time can be applied separately for supplementary procedures. Facial embellishment combines the following treatments::
Facial embellishment consists in perfecting each of the above-mentioned aspects during a single session, when possible, combining surgeries, and It also entails a treatment-program of Aesthetic Medicine in order to correct non-surgically some aesthetic imperfections.
III Millennium Lifting:
For younger patients having slack cheeks or a drooping gaze (external angles of the eyes), Lifting III Millennium allows the uplifting of cheeks and gaze with a 1cm incision in the temporal area, therefore avoiding scars. Lifting III Millennium can be combined with eyelid correction (Blepharoplasty)
Rhinoplasty by Krulig’s Technique
The surgical procedure called Rhinoplasty by the Krulig’s technique (under CO2 Laser technology) is aimed at correcting aesthetic imperfections of the nasal pyramid. It consists basically in perfectioning the excess of dorsum, tip, base, fronto-nasal and naso-labial angles, without casts nor packing, thus achieving a natural result, visible immediately after the operation and allowing the patient to return to her/his regular activities the following day.
Krulig Peel and Amelan by Krulig.
Skin renovation is nowadays one of the most important subjects in Aesthetic Medicine and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Krulig Peeling is a medium Peel, is the simplest and most efective one, that utilizes a cream with anti-sebaceous, abrasive and dehydrating properties. This produces desiccation of the skin with the following scalling of superficial layers in just 4 days. This peeling is indicated for:
Amelan by Krulig. Depigmentation Treatment.
Skin spots have always been a problem to which there is no easy solution, chiefly in tropical countries. The excessive production of melanin is related to hormonal (estrogens and progesterone), as well as environmental factors, such as sun exposure and local irritations caused by cosmetic products containing alcohols. This tendency to produce excessive pigment does not disappear by itself and becomes worse with sun exposure.
The Amelan Treatment blocks in such an immediate and effective manner the formation of melanin, that it is capable of vanishing the melasma spot in only 8 days, despite its level of intensity and evolution.
The treatment consists in the simple daily application of a cream –even after the blemish disappears. This allows the patient to continue his/her normal life, practicing outdoor sports, going to the beach and sunbathing without restrictions. The observed results are unrivaled; there is no other treatment that offers such results, visible in only 8 days. Since this treatment does not produce skin detatchment, IT IS NOT A PEELING.
Laser Depilation:
Unwanted hair is an important aesthetic problem in women and also in men. Depilation using different types of Laser beams is the most modern and effective treatment today. Laser beams acts on the follicle that produces hair reducing its activity.
Several sessions are required: 1 every 4 weeks.
Botuline Toxin
The treatment of hyperactive muscles in the forehead, between eyebrows and around the eyes areas can be successfully performed injecting Botuline toxine, which is a procedure that blocks the neuromuscular transmission, therefore deactivating the injected muscle for an estimated period of 4 to 6 months. This treatment inhibits the active production of wrinkles.
Combined Aesthetic Surgery
Most of the patients requiring Aesthetic Surgery wish to correct, if possible, more than one imperfection at once. Thus, a combination of different surgical procedures is performed to comply with this demand. Since 1975, Dr. Eduardo Krulig has been performing a combination of different surgical procedures. He has described this significant modality in Plastic Surgery, which today is internationally acknowledged, in his book of Aesthetic Surgery, papers presented in Congresses and scientific meetings on this topic.
Combined Aesthetic Surgery is performed with C02 Laser beam technology. With this modern technique, the use of bandages, girdles, casts or repose is therefore not required.
To perform this combined surgical procedure, Clinica Krulig has all the needed resources, as well as medical and paramedical services, in order to achieve the best results and safety for its patients.
We have presented a brief description of the latest tendencies in Cosmetic Surgery. The association between Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine, concerning the treatment of non-surgical conditions, is very close. We thus have reached the conclusion that on the subject of beauty, the Cosmetic Surgeon should be trained to employ all surgical and medical resources that medical science currently offers him/her. Cosmetic Surgeons must envisage a way of becoming all-around specialists in Beauty Medicine and Surgery.
Cybernetic, computer science, robotics, Laser, all technological advances of the Third Millennium, are required for our on-going growth and change. Nonetheless, one thing remains clear, nothing can substitute:
| Human Intelligence |
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| Dr. Eduardo
Krulig |