Women seeking lip augmentation need to be aware of the risks and dangers of the various injectable lip fillers. Some can leave visible lumps that last for months.

Full, sexy, pouty lips are the goal of many women but Miles Graivier MD, an American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ Member says “The average lip augmentation patient is aged 35-64 and has the procedure to restore, not to over fill”.

As women age their lips lose fullness. Also laugh lines and lines around the border of the lips begin to appear. Dr. Gravier advises that women address all these areas in addition to plumping lips.

At a presentation at the ASPS 2006 conference in San Francisco, Dr. Graivier warned that not all lip fillers are created equal and some can cause long-lasting complications.

“Numerous injectable fillers have entered the market over the last five years giving patients a number of options for fuller, younger lips,” said Miles Graivier, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and course presenter. “But patients need to be aware of the risks and benefits of these products. Some fillers carry a higher risk of complication depending upon where they are injected, which can lead to unsatisfactory results.”

See the full article here.

Italian researchers at the University of Bologna - don’t let the name influence you - report that women in a study who received soy supplements had 45% fewer hot flashes.

Apparently it’s the phytoestrogens in soy that cool the hot flashes. Italian researchers say soy supplements could be used in place of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Read the article at Third Age

Advances in health care (and preventitive care especially) have served women well, helping to detect potentially serious conditions in their early stages. Still, many women don’t get the routine tests and check-ups that doctors recommend for women as they enter midlife.

Here are some of the important screening tests for women:

* Mammograms: Have a mammogram every 1 to 2 years starting at age 40.
* Pap Smears: Have a Pap smear every 1 to 3 years if you have been sexually active or are older than 21.
* Cholesterol Checks: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45. If you smoke, have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family, start having your cholesterol checked at age 20.
* Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years.
* Colorectal Cancer Tests: Have a test for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you.
* Diabetes Tests: Have a test to screen for diabetes if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
* Depression: If you’ve felt “down,” sad, or hopeless, and have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things for 2 weeks straight, talk to your doctor about whether he or she can screen you for depression.
* Osteoporosis Tests: Have a bone density test at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis (thinning of the bones). If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 and weigh 154 lbs. or less, talk to your doctor about whether you should be tested.
* Tests for Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Talk to your doctor to see whether you should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

For more information on making the most of your health and healtchare, get the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s guide Staying Health at 50+

“Like anyone else, there are days I feel beautiful and days I don’t, and when I don’t, I do something about it”. Cheryl Tiegs (1947 - )

There are always going to be days where we shlump around, feeling like the ugly duckling, examining our faces, bodies, and hair with a critical eye. Every now and again we deserve a day where we don’t worry about image but if you’re feeling down, there are things you can do to pick up your mood and learn to really appreciate YOU.

I found this list of Ten Steps To Positive Body Image at Loyola University. The list includes some simple wisdom and active ways you can learn to “think about new ways of looking more healthfully and happily at yourself and your body”.