Plastic Surgery Revision of Tracheostomy Scars

Tracheostomies frequently result in unsightly neck scars. Their prominent neck location and the temporary indwelling breathing tube commonly leaves a depressed neck scar after its removal. It often looks like a belly button with the skin turned inward. This is known as a tracheal tug although it is the lack of underlying soft tissue that makes it look this way.

An undesired looking scar from a tracheostomy can undergo correction within months after a breathing tube has been removed if so desired. Historically, tracheostomy revisions have been done when the scar is more mature. (greater than six months after tube removal) It is not necessary to wait this long however. The plastic surgery techniques used are not really affected by how mature the tracheostomy scar is. And, for many patients, they would like to eliminate as soon as possible the physical and psychological marks of the experience of why the tracheostomy was there in the first place.

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To get a good outcome from a tracheostomy scar revision, there are three basic concepts that must be achieved surgically. First, the turned in skin edges must be released from the deeper tissues and be completely freed up. Secondly, this release creates a real tissue volume defect between the skin and the trachea which must be filled in. Lastly, closing the skin must create a fine line scar that lies in a horizontal direction along a natural neck skin fold. By far, filling in the lost tissue is the hardest one to achieve but it absolutely necessary if one does not want the final result to have any indentation. Filling in the missing tissue can be done in a variety of ways. If the tracheostomy scar is not that deep and fairly shallow, the surrounding skin edges can be used through a technique known as edge de-epithelization. The thinned skin edges are then turned down for a little tissue fill and the full-thickness skin edges closed over it. For tracheostomy scars that are significantly indented, however, more volume is required. I prefer using dermal-fat grafts which can be quite thick if desired, up to 1 cm. A donor site is needed to harvest it and this will leave a scar elsewhere on the body. However, if one has a scar from a previous surgery elsewhere that is from a favorable area that has some fat thickness, then this should strongly considered. Otherwise, allogeneic dermal grafts (from cadaver skin) can be used which is an off-the-shelf product.

Tracheostomy scar revision is a fairly simple outpatient procedure. All sutures are placed under the skin so there is none to remove. A fine line red scar will exist for awhile afterwards (months) but this will eventually fade into a near imperceptible pencil line thin scar. Again the key to a successful tracheostomy scar revision is to completely resolve the skin tethering to the trachea and replace any missing tissue.

Plastic Surgery Revision of Tracheostomy Scars

Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified premiere plastic surgeon in Indianapolis, Indiana where he practices at his Ology Spa locations at Clarian North Medical Center in Carmel Indiana and at Clarian West Medical Center in Avon Indiana.(http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com. Dr. Eppley can be heard weekly on his radio show, Doc Chat, on WXNT 1430 AM every Saturday afternoon.

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Can Art Classes For Kids Really Help Your Child?

How is the Process of Creating Art or Poetry Really Benefiting Your Child?

Can Art Classes for Kids Help?

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The research has been in for some time. It has been determined that the kind of art education that can occur during art classes can lay the groundwork for future career or academic success. Creative children have a more well-rounded view of the world, they are not afraid to be expressive, and their self-esteem is strengthened through their artistic endeavours.

Valuable learning does not solely happen with the left brain - the side of the brain that steers us towards accuracy, and rational thinking. Additionally, artistic learning or right-brained learning should not be pigeon-holed into being seen as largely unnecessary or optional in that it does not provide real benefit for us from childhood into adulthood.

Learning or developing skills in art or poetry is not simply beneficial because your child will learn a novel skill. Art classes for kids balance your child's learning and helps to build their thinking skills.

People are often captured by art or poetry on an aesthetic level. They comment that art or poetry captures or exudes beauty. They remark on how enriched that they feel as a result of these artistic creations.

But what about the creators of such beauty?

During art classes for kids, the creators of this beauty are not just enriching others but they are enriching themselves through the very process of creating. These young creators are creating pathways for how they will experience and understand the world. The unseen benefits lie in the process of creating during art classes for kids.

Instructors who teach art classes for kids use the lessons as a way to expand a child's cognitive skills and give children a way to stretch their thinking in order to solve problems. The creation of both art and poetry can push children to solve old problems in new ways - an extremely valuable skill to master.

Another part of the process that is beneficial during art classes for kids is the reflection process. After a child has been enriched through the creation process they can begin to open up their minds to self discovery as they reflect on their artistic or poetic creations. It is during this process that a child will learn a lot about themselves and discover new ways of seeing the world and experience life-affirming behaviours.

We teach our children from a very early age to value learning. Of course the information that one learns is valuable but the process for learning is also extremely relevant for a child's mental and emotional growth. Art classes for kids focus on both. These classes focus on developing creativity works of art and poetry that a child can be proud of while reaffirming their ability to create beauty with their own hands and imaginations.

Quality education is not simply found in the subjects that focus on logical reasoning but it also comes to life by finding ways to encourage creative and alternative thinking.

Can Art Classes For Kids Really Help Your Child?

Roxane Tracey is a professional visual artist and owner of Poetic Art Studio in Toronto.

Find out more about poetry and art workshops as well as information about art classes for kids

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Knock Out Your Tension - Try Boxing Classes!

In the 1990s, martial arts champion Billy Blanks released a series of videotapes that combined martial arts (Tae-Kwon-Do) with boxing for a unique activity that promised to deliver exceptional health and fitness benefits. Calling his method Tae Bo (pronounced 'tie-bo'), Blanks punched, kicked, and sparred his way into the living rooms-and the fitness routines-of millions of Americans. Suddenly, boxing was not just a bloody contact sport, it was a fitness activity that brought massive health benefits to its participants.

Although boxing for fitness was hardly a new concept, Tae Bo glamorized it and made it more accessible to the everyday exerciser seeking to introduce a fun and entertaining aspect into their exercise routines. Consequently, many fitness centers today offer boxing classes to their members who seek to achieve peak physical conditioning in a short amount of time. But fitness-boxing routines do more than simply firm the body. Boxing has proven to be an effective way to relieve the tension that results from the stresses of modern society.

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Exercise and Stress-Relief

Many studies have shown that physical exercise is an effective stress-reliever. One such study was conducted at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1999. This 4-part study was designed with the goal of, according to Assistant Professor Monika Fleshner, understanding "how regular, moderate, physical activity alters the stress response by examining the entire system, from the brain to the individual cells."

To that end, the researchers conducted four separate but related experiments on mice. Each of these experiments yielded convincing proof of the stress-reducing effects of exercise and, by extension, of boxing classes.

For this study, a group of physically active rats (those who maintained a regular routine of wheel-running for 4 weeks) were compared to a group of sedentary rats after being exposed to 90-minutes of stress. In three of these experiments (the fourth one did not concern stress reactions), the physically active rats showed a marked difference in their reactions to stress as compared with the sedentary rats.

- Experiment 1. The physically active rats produced a lower amount of a stress-induced protein.

- Experiment 2. The physically active rats released less norepinephrine (a hormone that is similar to adrenaline).

- Experiment 3. The physically active rats were less likely to suffer the known negative physiological results of stress that include an increase of stress proteins, a suppression of cell division, and a decrease in cytokines (which causes a lowered immune response.)

The results of this and many other studies show that exercise is an effective stress-reliever that causes many physiological changes. Indeed, all it may take to knock out your tension, say experts, is to participate in boxing classes.

The Ideal Exercise
The ideal exercise routine combines aerobic and anaerobic activities, can be performed without undue risk of injury, increases calorie burn, and provides enough variety to avoid boredom. By this standard, boxing classes provide an excellent total workout for the body-and for the mind (via reduced tension and stress).

Boxing has been shown to increase the efficiency of the cardio respiratory and vascular systems, hone the performance of the central nervous system, and strengthen the musculoskeletal system.

Boxing Classes
Most boxing classes last for 60 minutes and, although the mix of exercises differs for each program (and for each fitness facility), one can expect the class to contain the following components:

Warm Up. This segment at the beginning of the class lasts for 5-10 minutes and is designed to warm the muscles and tendons, preparing them for the more strenuous portion.

Conditioning. The warm up typically transitions into several boxing moves that are designed to condition the body. These exercises provide anaerobic (strength) conditioning together with an aerobic component to increase the heartbeat. The conditioning segment of boxing classes typically lasts for 10 minutes.

Technique. A few new boxing techniques are introduced at each session. In the beginning, these techniques will be simple movements such as punches and jabs. After these are mastered, more complicated (and challenging) combinations of boxing movements will be added to the program. The training in each specific boxing technique lasts for approximately 5 minutes.

Hitting Drills. The prime focus of most boxing classes are the "hitting drills" which revolve around a timed series of punching and kickboxing of stationary objects such as heavy bags. The objects to be hit will be positioned as part of a circuit that the "boxer" will hit or kick (employing proper boxing technique) for approximately two to three minutes. Between each station, the boxer will rest for 1 minute before going to the next station for a continued two to three minutes of punching and kicking. (There may also be standard exercise machines within the circuit to provide a more complete workout.) This routine continues until the boxer has worked all stations in the circuit. This part of the boxing class, which lasts for approximately 35 minutes generally leaves the participants feeling energized and refreshed.

Cool Down. This last part of the class focuses upon gradually slowing the heart rate while practicing gentle stretching exercises that will help to prevent or reduce later onset of muscle soreness and joint stiffness.

Boxing for Everyone
Although boxing can be a very intense form of exercise, it can also be modified to fit anyone's fitness level. To prevent injury, Felix Pagan, the manager of the LA Boxing Gym in Rockville, Maryland advises the individual to work on perfecting proper boxing form as well as building muscle and increasing cardiovascular strength. "When your form is the way it should be," Pagan says, "it helps you execute [your moves] and your exercises are more effective." This minimizes the risk of injury and allows one to truly benefit from-and enjoy-the boxing classes.

An activity that tones the body, refreshes the spirit and de-stresses the mind in 60 minutes...with minimal risk of injury to the body? Sign me up!

Knock Out Your Tension - Try Boxing Classes!

For more information about boxing classes visit http://www.ultrafitnessdynamics.com

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Top 5 Acting Classes in NYC

Finding an acting class in New York City can be difficult. Though the city as a whole offers literally hundreds of classes each day, it can often be surprisingly difficult to first find a class that teaches the specific curriculum you wish to learn, and then to find one that meets your schedule and price range. Most aspiring actors are willing to travel a bit to take their ideal class, but wouldn't it be even more convenient if the class you were taking was near you?

Actors Connection: With over 150 acting classes, workshops and events each month, Actors Connection is definitely a top source of acting classes in NYC. The sister location to the original organization established in Los Angeles, the Actors Connection not only seeks to educate and train actors, but also to help socialize them with big names within the industry that can help get them auditions. Actors Connection realizes that though an actor's skill is critical to his or her success, it's often the connections they make that give them the opportunities they can take advantage of.

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Ted Bardy Studio: One of the few truly independent acting studios in New York City, the Ted Bardy studio is able to offer actors a much more individualized experience, help actors to first identify and then develop the skills that they need most work in. Acting classes range from on-camera audition technique to film and play development, and even include movement and relaxation techniques. The studio employs a 3 phase Meisner based approach to turn beginners into professional actors.

Acting School for Film and Television: This acting studio places a clear emphasis within its acting classes on those skills required by film and television actors (as opposed to on stage performers). With a set series of classes designed to train you in all essential skills required by the medium of focus, the Acting School for Film and Television simplifies the learning process for focused actors.

Weist-Barron Acting: For over 50 years, this New York acting school has provided outstanding on-camera training to aspiring actors. With a focus on driving actors to become professionals, rather than just encouraging them to continually take classes, Weist-Barron prides itself on its personal acting classes that range from voice over techniques to acting for film and television. Also worth checking out are their business and marketing workshops for actors, which can be invaluable to career building.

New York Film Academy: A New York acting establishment, this school operates in Union Square, and in addition to a host of recreational acting classes and workshops offers full-time acting students the ability to join the ranks of incredible actors that have graduated from its program. Classes range from the essentials of acting to broader film and cinematography classes, including courses on production and documentaries.

Top 5 Acting Classes in NYC

Hope this help you in your search, and remember - try checking out CourseHorse for some of the best acting classes in NYC.

Bill Burton at CourseHorse: Find classes in New York City! http://coursehorse.com

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Rhinoplasty (Nosejob) In the Older Patient

The shape of the nose changes as one ages. This is most commonly seen in the bridge and tip of the nose over one's life. In children and teenagers, the bridge of the nose is usually smooth or has a mild dip with the tip of the nose slightly upturned. In adults, the bridge of the nose smooths out and the tip of the nose is no longer upturned and points more forward. As one ages, however, the tip of the nose starts to turn downward which makes the bridge of the nose looks like it has a small hump. Overall, the aging process affects the tip of the nose more than any other area with its drooping tendency which also creates a longer looking nose.

In addition to the change in the appearance of the nose with age, breathing through the nose can also become more difficult. As the tip of the nose drops downward, the nostrils become more blocked and the important internal nasal valves inside the nose close down. This may make for a nasal breathing problem that one didn't used to have.

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Why would an older patient want a rhinoplasty? Isn't rhinoplasty a young person's operation? While rhinoplasty is by far more commonly performed under the age of 40, these are older people who want to change their nose. In the older patient, the most common reasons are to shorten a long nose (so as to not look older) and to improve their breathing. While some have concerns about the motivations and desires of the older rhinoplasty patient, I have found them to be easier to please than some younger patients.

The most common objective in the older rhinoplasty is to lift up the drooping tip. In lifting up and refining the tip of the nose, the overall nose become shorter. It is usually not needed to break the bones of the nose in the older rhinoplasty as the bridge does not usually need to be lowered to any significant degree. Standard rhinoplasty techniques are used, including the benefits of the open approach by lifting up the skin of the nose so one can see and shape the tip of the nose more accurately.

Rhinoplasty (Nosejob) In the Older Patient

Dr Barry Eppley is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in Indianapolis, Indiana at Clarian Health Systems. (http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com) He writes a daily blog on plastic surgery, spa therapies, and medical skin care at http://www.exploreplasticsurgery.com

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Should My Son Go to Gymnastics Classes?

Your son seems to have the right abilities for gymnastics or has expressed a desire to go to gymnastics classes. Is gymnastics right for boys or is it purely a girls' sport? This article explores the pros and cons of taking up gymnastics as a boy. Firstly, we will consider the pros.
Gymnastics creates incredible core body strength. You only have to look at the physique of the men competing in the rings at any major gymnastics competition to see that male gymnasts have muscles that other men can only dream of!
Doing gymnastics can enhance coordination and bodily control. This is useful for all sports, such that gymnastics can be a springboard for performing other sports to a high level.
Urban street dance is one of the latest youth crazes and is seen regularly on our TV sets. Street dance groups are now becoming famous and street dance is performed around all the 'in' pop acts. It is therefore natural that boys should aspire to become street dancers. Gymnastics is an essential part of street dance with many moves requiring gymnastic abilities such as the planche which is a semi-horizontal handstand.
With the boys-girls ratio likely to be far in the boys favour, gymnastics classes can be a great way of finding girlfriends with similar interests.
Gymnastics is imperative for anyone thinking of becoming a stunt man. Doing stunts can be an exciting career, with involvement in TV and films in different locations across the world.
Gymnastics is extremely important for anyone thinking of a career on the stage or in performing arts. Cirque de Soleil is filled with talented gymnasts who stretch the boundaries of gymnastics with their death-defying feats and artistic performances. The fame and success of the Cirque de Soleil shows just how popular gymnastics is, even outside of traditional competition-based training.
The popularity of gymnastics acts in talent shows such as 'America's Got Talent' and 'Britain's Got Talent' shows how useful it is to practise the sport. Indeed, a gymnastics tumbling act called 'Spellbound' won the 2010 series of Britain's Got Talent. Interestingly, the troupe has more boys than girls in it.
In the US, some colleges offer gymnastics scholarships which could help immensely with the high costs of putting yourself through a college degree course. With less men doing gymnastics, men would have an advantage over women in securing one of these scholarships.

So what are the cons of signing your son up for gymnastics classes?
Your son could be the only boy in the gym class. Do not assume that this is automatically going to be the case. You will only find this out by going along to one of the classes yourself to view it or contacting the gym coach by phone or email. You can request that your son does a free taster session to see how it likes it and whether he is comfortable if there are not many other boys. If your son is reticent about going along by himself, a gymnastics-related gift could encourage him, such as as hand guards, a keyring or some gymnastics jewellery. Gymnastics jewelry comes in different types of metals such as silver and gold. Be careful of gymnastics jewelry produced in base metals as it can cause skin allergies. Alternatively, your son could take a friend along with him, if he has someone suitable. Talk to the parents of your son's friends to see if any of his friends might be interested in going along with him.
Your son could be teased at school. However, once he demonstrates how he can do back flips and handsprings, his classmates will be filled with admiration instead! Alternatively, your son could take up street dance classes at the same time and argue that he does the gymnastics to improve his street dancing. Everyone knows that street dancers are cool and get respect!
Your son may not have time for more traditional boys sports such as football and rugby. It is true that noone can do everything, so a choice always has to be made as regards to what pastimes to pursue. However, your son may well get to play the tradtional sports at school and so can use his free time for more specialised sports such as gymnastics.
Some parents may worry that doing gymnastics could make their son too feminine. However, Mens gymnastics has different disciplines to womens gymnastics. The apparatus of mens gymnastics is Floor, Vault, Parallel Bars, Highbar, Rings and Pommel Horse. Women have 4 apparatus: Floor, Vault, Beam and Bars. However, even where the women and men cross over i.e in Floor and Vault, the disciplines are different. The womens floor routine is done to music and is usually performed in a balletic style. The mens floor routine is not performed to music and is done is a masculine style. The vault is also different in that the horse is placed horizontally for women and length-ways for men.

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To conclude, the pros of boys doing gymnastics significantly outweigh any cons. Parents should not be put off from placing their sons in gymnastics classes, but instead should embrace their talents. Gymnastics is useful in a variety of different arenas and can actually make a boy stand out as 'cool'.

Should My Son Go to Gymnastics Classes?

For beautiful gymnastics jewelry including gymnastics-related charms, pendants and necklaces go to Gymnastics Jewellery or Gymnastics Jewelry.

David Valle is the jewellery designer of Valle Designs & Co which produces sports jewelry in gold and silver including gymnastics jewellery. Aside from gymnastics, other sports covered include ballet, cricket, horse riding, motor racing, scuba diving, skiing, swimming, tennis and windsurfing.

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Domestic Violence Classes

Domestic violence is one of the silent and hidden epidemics affecting millions of families in this country. Generally regarded as the physical, emotional or verbal abuse of a spouse or partner, domestic violence usually occurs through manipulation, intimidation and coercion. While in most cases the victim of domestic abuse is the woman in the relationship, this is not always the case. Women often batter and abuse their partners as well. As the courts have seen more and more cases of domestic violence, attending domestic violence classes has often become a stipulation or condition ordered by the courts. It is very likely that the majority of those attending these classes have been ordered to do so by the court, but there are some who attend of their own free will after coming to the realization that help is needed.

The purpose of domestic violence classes is to educate the perpetrator, either male or female, of the effects and consequences of domestic violence on his or her family. Not only is the abusers spouse or partner harmed by domestic violence, but the children living in the home may be extremely negatively impacted by the violence they witness or experience. These classes attempt to teach the batterer the importance of taking responsibility for their actions. Another objective is to help the abuser differentiate between anger that is appropriate and those behaviors that are considered violent and inappropriate. The classes also attempt to confront the abusers beliefs and attitudes that may be some of the underlying, contributing factors of the violence.

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Court-ordered domestic violence classes must meet both state and county standards and are approved by the court. In general, if classes are court-ordered the classes cannot be taken online. However, in some cases this may be allowed, but the decision is up to the jurisdiction in which the offender resides. For classes held in a classroom setting, men and women are separated and do not attend classes together. The issues of power, control, manipulation, coercion and oppression are explored. In most cases, those attending the classes are required to pay a fee, which is usually based on a sliding scale.

Domestic violence classes are also available for the victims of domestic violence. These classes support and encourage the victim, and they attempt to help the victim understand that they are not at fault for the violence they suffer. Since domestic violence is cyclical in nature, these classes are designed to help victim's better see and identify their spouse or partners behavior patterns. It is often difficult, if not impossible, for the victim to escape the violent relationship based on a myriad of factors including fear, lack of resources, and children. Many domestic violence victims have been isolated from family and friends, and a support network is highly important to the victims healing process.

Whether court-ordered or self-referred, classes that address the causes and consequences of domestic violence can be beneficial for both the perpetrator and his or her victims.

Domestic Violence Classes

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about Domestic Violence Classes [http://stoppingspouseabusesite.info/domestic-violence-classes], please visit Stopping Spouse Abuse Site [http://stoppingspouseabusesite.info] for current articles and discussions.

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