Press & Latest News

Pelleve-Peel Review on dailyupdate.ie.

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River Medical TV 3 Spot.

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Caroline Madden discusses government regulation of the cosmetic surgery industry.

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The Irish Daily Mail talks about the five most requested new treatments.

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The Irish Daily Mail talks about the Ultimate Pelleve Peel.

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Easy steps to creating the fabulous Kate Middleton wedding look by Gill McCann.

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Glenda speaks to River Medical about treatments for men.

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Podcast of River Medical’s Commercial Director Aileen Gillic talking on Newstalk ‘Down to Business show’.

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Pelleve Treatment by River Medical

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A new White Paper presented to Government insists that Ireland's cosmetic surgery industry needs immediate regulation, writes Mary Anne Kenny.

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View a clip of River Medical performing IPL Treatment on TV3's Expose.

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River Medical has opened in Waterford and intends to provider cosmetic surgery options to the South East.

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Have you always wanted to try a cellulite- removing or an acne scarring treatment but just never had the time and were worried about going under the knife? Well now it’s as simple as booking yourself in on your lunch break.

Have you always wanted to try a cellulite- removing or an acne scarring treatment but just never had the time and were worried about going under the knife? Well now it’s as simple as booking yourself in on your lunch break and relaxing and unwinding in the treatment centre. Recovering afterwards will not be an issue either as each of the treatments we have selflessly (ahem!) tried out for you are non-invasive and they won’t knock a feather out of you. Why not try one today ladies, after all we deserve it in these credit crunch times (at least that's what we hear in WW tell ourselves!)

LIPOMASSAGE

WHAT IS IT?

Lipomassage is a procedure that reduces the appearance of cellulite, slims down stubborn areas of fat, and tones and tightens the skin using a machine called an LPG machine.

WHY HAVE IT?

If, like me, you have stubborn cellulite or stretchmarks on either the backs of your legs, bum or stomach, then this is a great treatment to have.The treatment breaks down blood vessels that are blocked with fatty deposits and leaves your circulation a lot better.

WHERE DID YOU GO?

River Medical Group, 114 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

WHAT HAPPENS?

When you arrive you will have to fill out a number of medical forms and then you are given a body stocking to change into for when you're having the treatment. Once you have it on, the therapist will then evaluate the problem areas you have while you're lying down.The therapist will then massage your problem areas with the LPG machine which literally rolls and vacuums away your skin concerns. When the hour-long procedure is over you get dressed again and can examine yourself in the mirror to see how the massage has helped your skin.

DID YOU ENYOY IT?

I have to say I did. I was a bit apprehensive going in because I wasn't sure how sore it was going to be. It was mildly uncomfortable at times but if at any point it felt too sore the therapist can turn the level of intensity down. By the end of the hour I was chatting away to my therapist and I didn't even feel the machine moving around my bum and legs. Afterwards my bum and legs (as mad as it sounds!) did feel lighter and there was a noticeable difference in the appearance of my skin. You do need between 6-12 treatments to see a marked difference but after only one treatment I could see an improvement already. I'd definitely recommend it.

IS IT SUITABLE FOR EVERYONE?

Lipomassage is suitable for everyone unless you're pregnant or have recently fractured or sprained a bone in your body.

I'M INTERESTED, FILL ME IN..

There's a current special offer for Lipomassage treatments where you can get six treatments for €450 (as the usual price is €90 per treatment, it means you're getting one treatment free).Contact River Medical Group on 1850 88 5050 or log onto www.rivermedical.ie

Bootylious Bodies

Give your body a boost without going under the knife or wasting weeks in recovery. U- samples some of the best non-invasive treatments out there – and we look all the better for it!

This reduces the appearance of cellulite and can also help you to lose inches from your thighs, buttocks and waist. It targets stubborn pockets of fat that are hard to shift with diet and exercise. It also tightens up and tones the skin, so it's perfect for anyone who's recently lost weight.

What Happens?

You will be asked to wear a specialised white body suit so you don't have to worry about your modesty. Using Independent Motorised Rollers, the practitioner will roll the machine over the skin for deep and intense manipulation of the skin tissue. You can choose to concentrate on slimming, sculpting or firming as different techniques are used. This activates fat cell breakdown and release. It's not painful, rather like getting a very deep massage. Each session lasts about 35 minutes and you may need up to six sessions to see significant results.

The Results:

You'll notice instantly that the appearance of cellulite is greatly improved and the whole area will look a lot firmer. It's the perfect pre-holiday body treatment if you are a bit conscious of bearing all in a bikini. However you will need a full set of sessions to see permanent results. With just one your body will pretty much return to normal but with a slight improvement.

Cost:

€90 per session. €500 for five.

Call River Medical Group, Dublin 2 on

1850 885 050.

For many, dieting, exercise and a new image will do the trick. But for others, it's not as simple as that. If you have already lost a lot of weight in recent months, you might have excess skin hanging in front of your abdomen or no matter how many sit-ups you do, you just cannot achieve a flat stomach. While dieting and exercise can tone the abdominal muscles, they won't do much tor that loose sagging skin. Sound familiar? If so, a tummy tuck might be an option for you.

Abdominoplasty, more commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, is a serious medical procedure where a general anaesthetic is necessary. It is not a weight reducing procedure as the surgeon only removes the excess skin, the overhang or "apron". If the surgeon examines you and finds that you are large all over, but have a tight tummy area, they will send you home and tell you to loose weight. If you have a lot of loose skin and not much fat however, you are a good candidate for the procedure.

Once you have made the serious decision to go ahead with a turnmv tuck procedure, the next step is to ensure that you choose the right plastic surgeon.other training in cosmetic surgery other than formal training in plastic surgery. Anyone describing themselves as a "cosmetic surgeon", a "cosmetic doctor" or a "specialist with interest in cosmetic surgery" is not qualified to carry-out the operation.

You also need to ensure that your procedure will be carried out in a hospital not in an unregulated premises, such as an office building or basement Currently, there is a severe lack of regulation in Ireland in relation to the cosmetic surgery industry and this needs to be urgently addressed. In fact, cafes and corner shops that handle food are more regulated than the Irish cosmetic surgery sector.

Remember that all reputable surgeons will only operate in hospitals.

At River Medical Group, all our procedures are carried out in major private general hospitals including Clane General Hospital in Kildare and we only employ consultant plastic surgeons who are resident in Ireland.

The combination of all of the above does not eliminate the risks of surgery. but it will help to minimise them.

During an abdominoplasty procedure, all loose excess skin and fatty tissue are removed through an incision, which extends across the abdomen, usually from hip to hip (across the bikini area). The procedure takes three-to-four hours and usually requires one to two overnight stays in hospital. No one can guarantee the quality of the scar. It could be a fine line or a red raised thick scar and will very much depend on the type of skin you have. Put simply, some people heal better than others but, in general, scars will improve overtime.

It is important to remember, however, that there are always risks associated with surgery and some of the risks associated with a tummy tuck procedure include:

When choosing a cosmetic surgery clinic for your tummy tuck procedure, do not go for the cheapest option in the market. Always remember that you are investing in your health. There are very few consultant plastic surgeons operating in Ireland and they are expensive because they are qualified and good at what they do. Having the procedure done in a general hospital is also expensive- The cost of a surgeon and hospital should be around 70 to 80 percent of the overall price you pay.

Some clinics will often use a surgeon with questionable credentials to keep costs down. This so-called surgeon is paid a lot less; often tax-free, and then boards a plane out of the country after he has conducted your procedure. But remember, that if you develop a post-operative problem. they are not on hand to help you.If you cannot afford to have the procedure done by a proper consultant plastic surgeon in a proper hospital environment wait until you can afford to do so. Do not play with your health.

For many, the New Year is time of reflection and an ideal opportunity to take charge of your life and make improvements to how you look and feel. You look in the mirror and think: "I want to change how I look, how I feel, I want to look at myself and not hate what I see." One to One Care

Do your research and make sure that your surgeon is a "consultant plastic surgeon". This means that they have been through the recognised programme of formal training in plastic surgery. There is no  

All consultant plastic surgeons are listed on the specialist registers of the Irish Medical Council (IMC) under the heading "plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery". If an individual has not trained as a plastic surgeon, they will not be on the specialist register and are therefore not qualified to carry-out cosmetic surgery. To ensure that your surgeon is a fully-qualified, specialist registered plastic surgeon in Ireland, check out the following weblink and use the search directory:

Medicalcouncil.ie

The next step is to make sure that your surgeon is a permanent resident in Ireland and doesn't just fly into the country once a week to conduct operations. Your surgeon needs to be living here so that they can attend to you if there is any medical emergency.

Haematoma:

This is a collection of blood caused by bleeding occurring beneath the abdominal flap after the operation. It is a rare complication that may appear in the first 24-to-48 hours and this is why you need to stay one to two nights in hospital. If this complication occurs, it can very easily be addressed in a hospital.

Seroma:

This condition is quite common. It is a collection of fluid between the muscles and the skin. It can happen in the first few days or weeks because the body cannot absorb quickly enough the fluid it generates. This can be drained with a syringe in the surgeon's rooms. It can be repeated until your body builds a new mechanism of absorbing it.

Infection:

This can happen but is easily treated with antibiotics and Dressings.

Skin necrosis:

This occurs when there is an area of dead skin that slowly gives away to new healthy tissue. It might take a long time to heal and needs high-tech dressings from specially trained nurses. This is very rare. Tel: 1850 88 50 50

Cosmetic surgery is big business in Ireland and many clinics are driven by sales targets instead of their patients health. Don't fall for the sales patter and make sure you do your research before you sign on the dotted line.

Labros Chatzis MD, PhD. Bplas

Consultant Plastic Surgeon
River Medical Group
Rivermedical

River Medical Group, provider of cosmetic surgery, has taken a 20-year lease on a Georgian office building at 114 Lwr Baggot St, D2, at a rent of €127,000. Knight Frank, which handled the letting, said "attractive concessions" were granted as part of the lease of the four-storey over basement building with 290sq m (3,121sq ft). There is one rear car-parking space. River Medical Group is spending over €2m setting up the Baggot Street clinic which will have treatment rooms (each with a changing room), consultation rooms and a reception area.

A new Irish cosmetic surgery company, River Medical Group, plans to open a chain of surgical clinics to take advantage of increasing demand for cosmetic procedures.

The company has launched a €2 million clinic in Dublin, and is now examining a number of further locations around Ireland, according to Mike Ormonde, a director and shareholder of the group. Ormonde, a radio and publishing entrepreneur. said that the firm intended to open outlets in all the major cities and in certain large towns.

"We think there is a big market out there and we want to exploit it. We are examining a number of suitable locations as we speak," he said. According to Ormonde, the firm's new Dublin clinic has business in place, both for surgical and non-surgical procedures. The company expects to generate revenues of €1.5 million in its first year of trading.

All surgical procedures will be carried out at private hospitals, while the non-surgical elements will be conducted at the company's Baggot Street clinic.

"We will never operate in unregulated private premises," Ormonde said. "The cosmetic surgery market is completely unregulated. You could set up an operating table in your office and carry out a procedure.There is something wrong with that system and we will be lobbying for proper regulation."

Labros Chatzis, a consultant plastic surgeon who has worked for more than 20 years in Ireland, Greece and Britain, has been appointed as medical director of River Medical. The company employs ten people but, according to Ormonde, this will rise steadily. "Cosmetic surgery is no longer the preserve of the rich and famous." he said. "It is becoming far more acceptable to have botox or any cosmetic procedure."

Ormonde is backing the company with his business partner, Kevin Branigan. The pair are also investors in 4FM, the new radio station which goes on air in January, and Radio Nova 100, which is due to launch next year. They also have interests in property, publishing and education.

In a society where we increasingly feel we are only as good as we look it is no wonder that one million euro is spent on cosmetic surgery every week in Ireland. Words: Claire Doyle.

 As the beauty industry continues to change in Ireland and around the world, it is no surprise that more of us are opting for that perfect something, be it a dazzling smile, clearer vision or more youthful looks. Lucky for us, times have changed; cosmetic procedures do not necessarily mean a hospital bed, a scalpel and weeks of recovery; now you can enjoy a pain free procedure on your lunch break!

 These procedures aptly named "Lunchtime Surgery" range from Dermal Fillers to Microdermabrasion. There has been a huge increase in teeth whitening and laser eye surgery as well as laser hair removal and dermal fillers.

 What was once an industry that we viewed longingly from across the pond has now very much settled on our shores and even better it is very accessible now with most beauty salons in our local areas, offering some form of laser hair removal, thread vein removal and skin rejuvenation there is no reason why the one body we get shouldn't be fabulous.

New-Life B.E.A.M
The Retreat, a beauty Salon in the David Llyod Gym in Riverview, Clonskeagh are offering a very unique treatment to the public in the form of New-Life which is a dynamic and cost-effective new system from Israel employing B.E.A.M. (Bio Electrical Acceleration Management). and offering a wide range of applications including Circumferential Reduction. Skin Tightening, Breast and Buttock Tones, Body Slimming & Contouring, Acupuncture and Acne Clearance.

 This system is easy to use, compact and lightweight and treatment is fast and effective. The experience offered is as close to natural bio electrical process that we do in the gym. One happy customer admitted "After three sessions with new life I cancelled my gym membership. I can't believe how tight my muscles feel. I have never felt more fit in my life" Call 01-2189621.  

JetPeel Mesotherapy Treatment
River Medical Group, which is located at 114 Lr Baggot Street, has just introduced JetPeel Mesotherapy Treatment to Ireland.This is a natural but revolutionary treatment that improves the condition and texture of the skin, unclogs pores and results in fresher and younger looking skin There are no needles involved and the treatment is virtually painless.

JetPeel Mesotherapy Treatment is exclusive to River Medical Group. Over €2 million has been invested in the clinic, which offers the most comprehensive mix of surgical and non-surgical procedures available in Ireland.

 JetPeel uses nature's simplest elements – air, oxygen, saline solution - and other optional vitamins delivered to the skin at high pressure to imbue it with a radiant glow. The treatment unclogs pores and removes any debris by exfoliating, hydrating. oxygenating, deep cleansing and improving the micro-circulation with solution enriching ingredients such as nutrients, vitamins and minerals.The exfoliation and nourishment of the skin is further enhanced with Vitamins or Glycolic acid. The absorption of these substances through the skin is called Mesotherapy.

The pressure of the high speed jet facilitates hydration, cleansing and purifying of the treated area and opens up access to the skin's inner layers, allowing for deeper penetration and the introduction of vitamin, anti-aging and other solutions.

The treatment at River Medical Group takes just 40 minutes and offers a remarkably effective non-surgical, facial rejuvenation treatment with fast, satisfying results. JetPeel is used to treat a variety of skin conditions including anti-aging, acne, dull skin. psoriasis, rosacea. stretch marks and scars. www.rivermedical.ie.

Tel: 1850 88 50 50

Liftmassage
Liftmassage is a 100% natural collagen activator of the face, neck and decollete which restores skin resilience and elasticity. The treatment is specifically designed to prevent and decelerate the aging process, without injections or surgery.

Liftmassage by Endermologie is exclusive to River Medical Group. Liftmassage increases the production of elastin and collagen to ease away lines and wrinkles, treat baggy and puffy eyes, restore skin firmness, erase a double chin and produce a long-lasting glowing complexion.

There are three different progammes designed to address different skin conditions: A Slow Lift helps drain the 'watery' tissues while eliminating baggy eyes and reducing dark circles. A Speed Lift restores loose, wrinkled skin and revives a dull, tired complexion while a High Speed Lift helps treat anti-aging and produces an intensive stimulation of the fibroblasts rebooting elastin fibres and collagen production. www.rivermedical.ie.   Tel: 1850 885 050

Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is a rapid, yet gentle way of removing unwanted hair, and is medically proven to give you permanent hair reduction. The visible light source used in this treatment procedure is attracted to melanin, which is the pigment found in hair. Because the light is attracted to dark colours, the darker the hair the more effective the treatment.The melanin absorbs the light causing a heat reaction in the hair follicle destroying the hair and rendering it unable to produce new hair. So ladies, click on www.rathgarlaserandbeauty.ie for an end to a wax on a Saturday morning!

Thread Vein Removal
Thread veins are extremely common and sometimes embarrassing. mostly affecting the face, body and legs. The causes of thread veins are unknown although they may be caused by changes in temperature. smoking, hormonal changes, alcohol and prolonged standing as well as being a possible inherited condition. A laser light is absorbed by the blood inside the vein.This heats up the wall of the vein which collapses, and the vein then dissolves. Check out www.dundrumclinic.com

Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a skin-freshening technique that helps repair facial skin that takes a beating from the sun and the effects of ageing. Medical microdermabrasion offers a modern, virtually painless alternative to chemical and laser peels.The operator uses a device like a fine sandblaster to spray tiny crystals across the face, mixing gentle abrasion with suction to remove the dead, outer layer of skin. As with other skin rejuvenation techniques, more than one treatment may be needed to reduce or remove fine wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation. Users of this treatment include Madonna. Gwyneth Paltrow and even Jude Law.

For more information check out In Vogue Beauty Salon in Blackrock on 01-2888880 or Rathgar Beauty and User Clinic on 01 497 6434 who are offering a special deal on Microdermabrasion this month. 

Click here to read the whole article

The ‘Pelleve-Peel’ treatment combines two of this year’s most popular treatments in one affordable package that will leave your skin fresh, firm and fabulous ahead of the party season.

This combined treatment was a brain child of one of our Nurses who got a last minute invite to a ball.  Wanting to look her very best, she asked one of the other nurses to firstly clear and freshen up her skin with a Jet Peel and then ease her tired looking eyes with a Pelleve. The results she got blow everyone here away and  ‘Nurse-ella’, went to the ball looking amazing and the ‘Pelleve-Peel’, treatment was born.

The ‘Pelleve-Peel’ is the ideal combination of two treatments that complement each other perfectly so your skin will look fabulous before, during and after the Christmas party season.

In a one-hour treatment your skin will benefit from:

• Jet Peel – a natural, non-invasive treatment that unblocks, cleans and revitalises the skin.  It is a painless treatment that dramatically improves the condition, tone and texture of your skin leaving it looking and feeling refreshed and glowing.

AND this year’s biggest skin firming launch

• Pelleve:  a new innovation for smoother tighter skin.  It is FDA approved to treat facial wrinkles with NO surgery, NO injections and NO downtime.  Pelleve firms, tightens and lifts the skin easing any tired eyes, lines and wrinkles.

Both of these non-invasive treatments require no downtime, meaning you can go straight from River Medical to your Christmas festivities, with firmer, revitalised skin that has a healthy refreshed glow.

All non-surgical treatments at River Medical are performed by a Registered General Nurse and every patient receives a free consultation and skin assessment before any treatment.

This very special Christmas offer is available at River Medical from 1st November  – 31st January 2012.   Try it yourself and we predict you will love it so much you will either recommend it to somebody else or purchase a ‘Pelleve-Peel’ as a Christmas present for someone special.

To find out more about the Pelleve-Peel click here or call 1850 88 50 50.

The management and team at River Medical are delighted to announce the amalgamation of two successful businesses:  The Cosmetic Surgery unit at Clane hospital and River Medical, now called Clane Cosmetic Surgery by River Medical.

River Medical is now the only hospital based private cosmetic clinic in Ireland. River Medical’s surgical patients now have the option of being seen in Clane or in Dublin’s Baggot Street along with the benefit of the River Medical support system, nursing staff and after care high standards.

We at River Meical are excited to have partnered with an institution that shares our goal of providing the highest medical standards for our patients.

With this new venture we hope to build on the excellent foundations that have been laid and all at River Medical are looking forward to a bright and successful future.

The TV3 Midday Ladies, Elaine Crowley, Jules Fallon and Mary McEvoy are well into their New Year Beauty Boot-Camp and they are looking fantastic!

The girls embarked on a sort of ‘new year new you resolution” except this programs is on steroid, they are being put through their paces by personal trainers and are all on low carb diets, River Medical were delighted to be asked to take part in their 6 week boot-camp as the ‘Skin & Anti Aging Experts’, providing the ladies with a host of non-invasive treatments to simply enhance their natural beauty and make them ‘glow’.

Their ‘Beauty Programs’ are in full swing and the girls have had an array of treatments such as Thermage, Fraxel, IPL and Jet Peels. They are not even half way through the boot camp and the girls are all looking amazing. We can’t wait to see how they look after another 3 weeks of diet, exercise and skin care treatments at River Medical.

Keep up the good work ladies,

http://www.tv3.ie/shows.php?request=nopainnogain&tv3_preview=1

TV3’s Midday host Elaine Crowley and regulars Jules Fallon and Mary MacEvoy have offered themselves up for a 6 week Fitness, Nutrition and Beauty campaign. As part of ‘NO Pain, NO Gain with Elaine’, the ladies will be taking part in a array of  non-invasive skin procedures at River Medical.

We meet all the ladies today for the first time when they had their first consultations this morning with our wonderful nurse Aisling. They were extremely nice and we are looking forward to working with them over the coming weeks.

We will keep you posted on how they are getting on.

‘My breast caused me awful back problems, by Julie Keely:

ttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2011/0111/1224287228123.html

I STARTED to look into having a breast reduction first about eight years ago. When I was about 23 or 24 they suddenly started to grow – before that, they had been B or C cups, but when I hit 23 or 24 they just started growing and growing . . . no matter how much weight I lost.

They made my life really uncomfortable – for one, I was having awful back problems. My neck and shoulders were constantly sore, and my GP had me on regular pain meds, but I noticed I was developing a hump between my shoulder blades – a small fat deposit, which, it turned out, was because of how I was carrying myself.

And I couldn’t exercise because my boobs just got in the way. I couldn’t even jog because of the weight. I’d wear two ultra-strong sports bras at a time, and it still felt like there was a huge weight hanging off me. I was being dragged down every time I took a step.

I’m really tall, and I was so conscious of the fact that, when I stood up straight with my shoulders back, it felt like I was pushing my boobs out. But when I first started looking into it, it would have cost about €10,000 and I was buying a house and . . . I just couldn’t have afforded it.

I went back to my doctor a while later to talk about it, and he said they were very pendulous – that was his word – for a woman of my age, one who hadn’t had children.

So he asked if I would be interested in being put on a public waiting list, to have a plastic surgeon look at them. Of course, I said yes.

After that, it took about three years – and I had my first appointment in St James’s Hospital in March this year. The surgeon was very matter of fact, which is fine because I don’t really do touchy-feely, but she basically told me that I’d have to lose weight before I could be considered. She said I was a candidate for it, and that the surgery would definitely improve my life but . . . that was really it. I was weighed, measured and photographed, then told to wait for six months, and “see what happens”.

At the same time, I was asked if I wanted to go on the National Treatment Purchase Fund list. If I did, I could get a quicker appointment, but it wouldn’t necessarily be with the surgeon I had seen. I said yes, absolutely, because I just wanted to have it done as soon as possible. That was on March 10th, and by June or July, I was told I had been accepted.

I had my first appointment with the surgeon in the Blackrock Clinic on September 6th. He was just amazing. He just made it really easy – he explained everything, and went through a list of questions I had prepared. He told me, after I’d been measured and examined, that I was a perfect candidate. He recommended having the surgery immediately, and I was back four weeks later.

At that stage, I wasn’t nervous or scared – I knew I was really lucky to go through the public service. If you don’t, it can cost up to €15,000, but I didn’t pay a penny.

When I went in for the procedure, I was fully prepared. I might have scared myself slightly by Googling and YouTubing procedures, and before I went in I started blogging about it (at juleser.wordpress.com) because I realised there wasn’t that much information out there. I was looking for honest stories about what it was like, and in a way I wanted people to understand that it wasn’t a boob job; it’s not this tiny incision under your breast. During the operation, I was open from armpit to armpit, right around the front of my cleavage and up to my nipples, like an anchor shape. Afterwards, I had 60 internal stitches and 100 external – it’s not a little thing.

My surgery was at 1pm, and I think I woke up at about 5.30pm, totally woozy from the anaesthetic and completely out of it. Everything was bandaged and I was in this surgical support bra, with Velcro straps and a zip, and I just remember looking down and going, “Look at my new boobs!”

I was in and out in 24 hours, which was kind of strange because it’s such a huge procedure, but staying in means there’s a risk of MRSA and so on – and you’re more comfortable at home anyway.

But the recovery period was much more extensive than I thought it would be. I needed round-the-clock care for the first 10 days – I’m lucky that my parents, sisters and my boyfriend went above and beyond the call of duty to look after me.

Someone would stay over; there was someone there for me 24 hours a day. You can’t do anything physical – I couldn’t lift anything heavier than a cup and even getting up and out of a chair was difficult.

After the first week, I developed an infection around my right nipple – necrosis, where the flesh dies. I was back with the surgeon the next week, but we were lucky we caught it early, and I was with him every week after that for about five weeks. Since then, it’s pretty much cleared up – if it hadn’t, the next option would have been skin grafts.

It’s been nine weeks since the operation. I feel hugely different – last week I bought my first underwired bra, for example. I’ve gone from a 36-38H to a 38B – they removed three and a half pounds of flesh from my breasts, so there’s a big difference.

It takes six to eight months to heal completely, inside and out. They look great, although it’s uncomfortable at times, and I won’t be able to exercise for another four to six weeks, but I’m rearing to go. I don’t have any neck or back pain at all any more – nor do I have huge grooves on my shoulders, from where my bra straps used to be.

What’s most different is that now, I stand up straight. Friends of mine have said: “God, I never realised how tall you were!” I didn’t even know how much of a stoop I was standing at, all to cover up the fact that my breasts were so enormous.

I really love when people ask about it, especially if they’re considering it themselves. I’ll always be more than happy to talk about it to anyone who’s interested.’

Below is an interesting Article that appeared in The Irish Times regarding safety in Cosmetic Surgery. Again River Medical cannot stress enough the importance of asking the following questions when considering Cosmetic Surgery these questions will ensure that you are safe and well cared for:

1.      Who is your Surgeon?

2.      Is he on the Specialist Register?

3.      Does he live in Ireland?

4.      Will my procedure be preformed in a Private General Hospital with full medical back up?

5.      Will I receive unlimited aftercare from fully trained medical staff?

The Irish Times 29th November 2010

THE STATE’S chief medical officer has urged members of the public considering undergoing cosmetic surgery at home or abroad to not opt for procedures on the basis of price alone.

Dr Tony Holohan issued his patient safety advice yesterday following a number of reports of adverse events among patients who travelled overseas for cosmetic surgery, as well as among patients who had cosmetic procedures at clinics in the Republic.

In 2005, a 42-year-old Co Limerick woman, Kay Cregan, of Skagh, Croom, died three days after she had minor facial surgery at a New York clinic. Since then there have been reports of no follow-up being provided for Irish patients who suffered complications following gastric band surgery in Hungary, as well as poor follow-up for those suffering complications following surgery at the now liquidated Advanced Cosmetic Surgery (ACS) clinic in Dublin. Earlier this year Dr Marco Loiacono, an Italian plastic surgeon, was found guilty of professional misconduct in relation to his treatment of a 33-year-old Dublin woman who attended him for a breast augmentation operation at ACS in 2006.

The operation was provided at a discounted price.

Members of the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons also said recently they were seeing a few post-operative complications a month in their hospitals following treatments at private cosmetic surgery clinics in the State.

Dr Holohan said anyone planning to undergo cosmetic surgery should bear in mind some important guidelines before they undergo any procedure.

He said patients should ensure the procedure they are planning is carried out by an appropriately registered medical practitioner either in Ireland or the country to which they are travelling. This can be checked through the Medical Council here or through similar regulatory bodies in other countries.

“Prior to any procedure, you should identify what follow-up care and medical support you will need,” he added.

EITHNE DONNELLAN (The Irish Times)

Twenty years ago, cosmetic surgery was largely the preserve of the rich and famous, says Aileen O’Donnell, of River Medical , a Dublin-based Plastic Surgery clinic.

“Nowadays we treat people of all ages and all walks of life, from young professional women seeking a breast augmentation to more mature women hoping to improve their body shape and look,” explains Aileen.

But aging skin and bodies are common reasons why many clients seek help says Aileen, and they are seeing record numbers of women looking for both breast uplifts and breast augmentation.

“As women get older, breasts can sag or lose their former volume. Very often, women who’ve had children will come to us because they’re eager to get their old body shape back.  They may want to return to work or just feel good about themselves.”

Breast augmentation can often be a life changing procedure instilling new confidence and energy into their lives.  

A Breast Lift, or Mastopexy, removes loose, excess skin and the remaining skin is tightened, without removing any breast tissue.  As a result, the overall shape of the breasts is improved and are more upright.

Clients undergo a full consultation and assessment with the plastic surgeon before any treatment is recommended, and all procedures are carried out in one of Ireland’s well-known  private general hospitals.

“There have been huge advances in technology and cosmetic surgery in recent years, and all of these procedures have a proven track record because they’ve been around for so many years, and are constantly improving,” adds Aileen.

River Medical provide a wide range of both surgical and non-surgical anti-aging and other procedures.

But one that is a huge success for them is ThermaFrax, a state-of-the-art non-surgical treatment which is being hailed ‘the facelift without surgery’ by the professionals.

Exclusive to River Medical in Ireland, ThermaFrax combines two innovative new treatments, Thermage and Fraxel, which when used together, offer the same results as a face-lift and skin-peel, but without the recovery time needed for surgery. Several treatments are administered at four to six-week intervals, says Aileen, explaining how it works.

“ThermaFrax targets deeper layers of the skin, causing your body’s own collagen to repair itself, creating an amazing facial rejuvenation.”

“Slack skin is tightened, wrinkles are smoothed out, fine lines are erased, and skin discoloration disappears. There are no incisions or sutures, and no scabbing that is sometimes associated with traditional skin peels.”

Even better, you can return to your normal active lifestyle immediately afterwards. ThermaFrax is also suitable for the neck, body, hands and eye-lids, all areas which  show the telltale signs of aging skin!

Further information on www.rivermedical.ie or 1850 88 5050

Acne is a common condition that affects most people at some point in their lives and often sufferers can be left with ugly scaring as a result.  Such scaring is permanent but the good news is that it can be treated…

So you don’t have to live with Acne Scars anymore!

There are many safe and effective treatment options available right here at River Medical www.rivermedical.ie.  Treatment depends on how severe the scars are but our trained staff will be there to help decide what treatment would be the best for you!

For example, Fraxel laser treatment is one of the latest breakthroughs in Acne Scar treatments and has dramatic results for all skin types.  This non-surgical procedure significantly reduces the appearance of Acne Scars and leaves skin feeling softer, smoother and tighter with minimal down time or pain.

Fraxel laser treatment is one of the most effective procedures for the treatment of Acne Scars and offers patients significant results and accelerated healing time.

Faxel works by purposefully stimulating the bodies own restorative processes by controlled damage to the skin surface.  Fraxel helps to stimulate the body’s restorative abilities and thus new collagen and skin is formed.

Fraxel is a great way to achieve clearer and even more radiant looking skin!

You can return to your regular activities after the treatment, even apply make up and it is suitable for all skin types and colours.  To find out more call one of our helpful team today on 1850 88 50 50 and arrange a free consultation to find out more information from a trained member of staff.

Be gone with Acne Scars with Dermal Fillers!!

Dermal Fillers are one of the most popular non surgical treatments for Acne Scaring because results can be seen immediately.

Acne Scars can make the skin uneven and rough and this can ruin a person’s complexion and self confidence.

Dermal Fillers are injected within the scar area of the skin and make the skin instantly smoother by promoting collagen production.

The best thing about Dermal Fillers is that the results can be seen instantly and give you natural looking results and no downtime is required.

You can return to your normal activities afterwards.

Sculptra is another non surgical treatment available here at River Medical to treat Acne Scars.  Sculptra treatment can help to ease the appearance of these scars significantly.  Sculptra is used to restore volume and smooth contour defects like Acne Scars.

Scultra is an effective and safe treatment and is very popular in the treatment of Acne Scars which have dampened people’s lives and caused them embarrassment for years.

The best thing about Sculptra is that the treatment can guarantee prolonged results giving you confidence for longer and excellent improvements in skin appearance can be achieved.

To find out more about any of the above treatments simply call one of our helpful team on 1850 88 50 50 or log on to http://www.rivermedical.ie/activescarring.html.

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The use of wrinkle relaxant treatments is the most common aesthetic procedure undertaken in the world today.

A huge body of climical experience confirms its safety and efficacy

The areas of the face that can be treated with such treatments include:

1.         Glabella (central frowning) lines – usually vertical or oblique.

2.         Forehead lines (horizontal lines of forehead)

3.         Crow’s feet (3-4 deep lines radiating from the outer corner of the eye)

4.         Bunny lines (downward radiating lines from the side of the nose)

5.         Platysuna bounds (vertical lines on the neck)

History

The use of such injectibles for aesthetic reasons was pioneered approximately 30 years ago by a couple of Canadian dermatologists, Jean and Aliastrair Carruthers.

They realized that most wrinkles on the upper half of the face are due not to the laxity of ageing but because of  the continuous usage of the facial muscles over time.  When one expresses him or herself by either smiling, frowning, in laughter, or when angry or surprised, certain groups of facial muscles contract.

It is these muscles that tether the skin and produce those wrinkles.

Injectible anti-relaxants have been used for almost 50 years now to paralyze muscles that cause problems with eye coordination (strabisuies) and other neurological disorders resulting in muscle spasms of the neck, shoulders, wrists and hands of patients who have suffered stroke or in the legs of children who have cerebral palsy.

The Carruthers thought that they could use very small amounts of an injectible toxin to paralise the muscles that cause the dynamic wrinkles described above.

The result is a transient or temporary paralysis of the muscle and smoothening of the skin.  These results last for about 4-6 months and then the functionality of the muscle returns to normal and the wrinkles re-appear.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO BE AWARE OF WHEN CHOOSING A PRACTITIONER:

1.         Make sure the treatment is performed by a qualified Doctor – not a Nurse.   Ideally either a Dermatologist or a Plastic Surgeon, although certain GP’s and Dentists have been trained to perform it as well.  Never let a Beautician perform this procedure on you.

2.         Make sure a new vial is used every time.  Injectibles sometimes comes in powder form and must be diluted with normal Saline.  Once it is diluted or activated it can only last a few hours.

Some clinics working “production line” arrangements will argue that the “left-over” is only a few minutes old.  Do not accept this, insist that a new vial be opened.

3.         Expect to be told the possible complications or side effects which are not serious and definitely not permanent.  Acknowledgement of possible side-effects confirms that the person performing the treatment is serious and professional.    Complications can include:

(a) Very slight bruising on the injection site for up to 1-2 hours;

(b)  Headache for 1-3 hours;

(c)  Allergic type reactions (rash) for a few hours;

(d)  More importantly but usually a very rare complication can be a slight droopiness of the upper eyelid that lasts about a month.   If this happens the doctor can prescribe eye-drops to reduce the effect of this droopiness.

4.         Expect to be asked if;

- you MIGHT be or ARE pregnant – in this case you should not have the treatment;

- your age – this should never be carried out on people younger than 18 years old;

- you are on any medication – specifically anti-coagulant therapy;

- you have any allergies;

- you are on any other medication.

5.         The treatment can last 4-6 months but in fact anything longer than four months is a bonus.   If you are told that it can last any longer than this then you should be wary of the practitioner!

6.         Sign a consent form and check that the person countersigning it does so under the “Doctor” line.   Do not accept pre-signed consent forms – the person doing it might be a nurse, a Beautician etc.

7.         Inquire if the Doctor is a local and resident, there have been many incidents of “travelling salesman” type approaches to this practice i.e. a practitioner who is here today…. in Cape Town tomorrow! If anything goes wrong who is going to help you?

Finally;

Do not expect miracles!

Do not expect to look significantly younger.

You will look less tired and when you frown, smile or shout your face should still move and produce some wrinkles.

You do not want the frozen, expressionless face of a doll, we are all human after all!

Do not expect to have it on the 23rd of December for the Christmas party.

Most injectibles have a short lead time and need 7-10 days to start working.

Labros Chatzis MD PhD B Plast

Mr Labros Chatzis is the Medical Director of River Medical in Dublin.

Mr Labros Chatzis is fully certified and is one of only a handful on the Specialist Register in Ireland and the UK. Furthermore, he is the only surgeon to hold a PhD in Plastic Surgery in Ireland.  To contact him call 1850 88 50 50.

Announcing the Arrival of the ground-breaking Thermage skin tightening System at River Medical.

Many people dream of taking years off their faces…

To smooth fine lines and wrinkles or even get rid of the sagging skin that causes us to appear tired or aged before our time.

In the past there were only two options, surgical intervention or non surgical treatments that were very ineffective.  Now though, thanks to technological advancements, genuinely excellent results can be obtained without surgery.

What if now there was a way that you could rid yourself of those ugly wrinkles and unsightly sagging skin without the inconvenience and discomfort of a surgical procedure?

Well now there is and it’s called Thermage.  And up until now people had to fly to New York or other parts of the US to benefit from this ground breaking technology but now it’s available here in Ireland at River Medical.

A wonder treatment for ordinary people with ordinary skin.  Just check out the photos, these aren’t actors and they aren’t models, they are just normal people.

Most people who have experienced the fantastic results of Thermage have said that they feel; younger, sexier, proud, confident and full of energy.

“I was thrilled, my skin was smoother.  My laugh lines were less visible and my jaw line had better definition.  I couldn’t put the mirror down.”

Jane aged 42

Thermage is the only non-invasive procedure that helps tighten and contour your skin in a single treatment — with no surgery, no injections, and little or no downtime.  Imagine, recapturing all the benefits of younger looking skin.

Thermage stimulates your body’s natural renewal of collagen, which creates subtle, natural looking results on and off the face,

Imagine, you too could get;

• Tighter, smoother skin;
• Softened wrinkles and lines and;
• An overall younger looking appearance.

And all of this is now available in one visit to River Medical.  People won’t think you’ve been away having surgery but you’ll see immediate results which will continue to improve for up to six months and which can last for years.

Clearly this is a treatment that everyone will want!

Other tightening systems require numerous treatments to see results and these results do not tend to last as long.

Thermage technology however safely delivers uniform heating to deep, collagen-rich layers of the skin. creating smoother, tighter skin; improved tone and texture; and an overall younger-looking appearance.

At River Medical, we believe that if you buy this treatment you will be 100% satisfied with the results so pick up the phone now and don’t miss your chance to benefit from this fantastic new technology.

Act now to book an appointment because when the word gets out that River Medical can offer these results, we believe the demand will be overwhelming.

Clearly, Thermage and Thermafrax are the most effective and convenient ways to recapture the look and feel of younger skin, so call our helpful team now on 1850 88 50 50 to book a free consultation and learn how Thermage can change your life too.

“The benefits of Thermage are truly astounding, the treatment took years off me.”

Karen aged 39

To get that rejuvenated look, call us now at 1850 88 50 50 and book a FREE consultation with one of our highly trained registered nurses.