CLEFT SURGERY – A LIFE FREE FROM BULLYING

CLEFT SURGERY – A LIFE FREE FROM BULLYING

Growing up with a cleft condition in her rural village in Malawi was extremely challenging for Tereza. She was constantly teased and bullied and was often called ‘an animal’ or ‘half a person’. Tereza was completely ostracized from village life. The harassment eventually got so bad that she abandoned her schooling and isolated herself from her neighbors and other members of her community

 “I remember one day a boy just called me every name possible about my nose and my lip and I ended up losing control and shouted so many things back then sat in my room all night and cried, but it didn’t make me feel better. In fact it taught me that retaliating wasn’t going to change the way I looked and it certainly wasn’t going to change that boy’s opinion of me, it was only going to show him that he had won by getting a reaction out of me.” – Jacqueline, adult with a cleft

“Bullying is probably the hardest thing to deal with besides the surgeries about having a Cleft lip and palate. And that is a debatable statement. It’s very tough to try to explain such a complex condition to a friend in most likely such a short period of time (At lunch, between classes etc.) as well as needing to making sure they fully understand what you’re saying. Plus, usually, whether they mean to or not, people tend to ask about it in fairly rude ways: “What happened?” or “What’s wrong with you?” are the two main ways I am asked. When you know that you couldn’t have done anything to prevent it and there isn’t much you can do about it now, these questions feel offensive. But honestly, after years and years of it, all of the asking, the making fun, the bullying, I don’t blame them. They are seeing something different about someone and are just plain curious.” Andrew, adult with a cleft.

It has occurred to all of us at some time, at a park, at the shopping center, when walking down the street, etc.  We see a disabled, maimed, contorted, crippled, individual and we look away.  Why do we do this?  Most of us don’t do it to be mean, but we do it because we are hurt about the unfairness of life and it pains us to see a fellow human in such distress.  Many do the same thing when stopping at an intersection and see a homeless person begging for money.  We look away because the sight disturbs us.  Some look away because they don’t want to contribute as well.

https://www.parents.com/health/parents-news-now/parents-say-disney-character-with-cleft-lip-could-lead-to-bullying/

We attempt to “sterilize” our vision to eliminate unpleasant imagery. We do not want to see things that disturb us.  This may be a natural protection mechanism, but it does not make it right.  We need to condition ourselves to do the opposite.

As Albert Einstein once said, “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-south-yorkshire-44244746

Apart from aesthetic surgery, I maintain a commitment to children (and adults) born with facial deformities with cleft lip, cleft palate and major craniofacial deformities. Operating on complex cleft deformities allows me to sharpen and apply my aesthetic surgical skills in creative ways. Paying homage to all my Plastic Surgery and Cleft Surgery mentors, I carry on the legacy to provide high level care in cleft surgery incorporating fat grafting, stem cell/Platelet Rich Plasma treatments, advanced rhinoplasty techniques, scar camouflage with laser resurfacing and moustache hair transplants.

I am a member of Mission Smile, an international Cleft Charity and today nothing gives me greater joy than giving back to the underprivileged and those less fortunate.

As we look back at all the giants in the field of plastic surgery of the 20th Century, virtually ALL continued to challenge themselves with reconstructive surgery. Whether it be the great Harold Gillies, Fernando Ortiz-Monasterio, Paul Tessier, Ralph Millard and Ivo Pitanguy— all these plastic surgeons never forgotten their roots and continue to see and treat patients for reconstructive problems.

A properly operated cleft lip and palate repair can make a world of difference for the child! Now, we extend our services via a cooperation between Skin Check Malaysia & Gem Clinic to serve the less fortunate.

“A deformity should not just be judged by its appearance. The psychological impact also matters.” Ivo Pitanguy.

 

 

Working with Dr Histeswar Sarma, an excellent cleft surgeon, mentor and friend in India on charity cleft cases.

#operationsmile #missionsmile #cleftlip #cleftpalate #cleftrepair #orthognathicsurgery #craniofacialsurgery #skincheckmalaysia88 #drleesengkhoo #gemclinic

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ARM LIFT / REDUCTION (BRACHIOPLASTY) IN MALAYSIA: SAY BYE-BYE BAT WINGS

ARM LIFT / REDUCTION: SAY BYE-BYE BAT WINGS

If the underside of your upper arms is sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin and fat, an arm lift may be right for you.

Changes in weight, growing older and genetics can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. Exercise can strengthen and improve the underlying muscle tone of the upper arm, but it cannot address excess skin that has lost elasticity or underlying weakened tissues and localized fat deposits. Liposuction alone is not adequate in some scenarios as fat removal alone will result in more loose hanging extra skin.

If the underside of your upper arms is saggy or appear loose due to extra skin and fat, an arm lift may be right procedure for you.

What is an arm lift?

The arm-lift or medical term brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to tighten tissue above the elbow to restore structure to the upper arm and remove fat deposits. The procedure can be completely tailored based on individual needs—some individuals have a full brachioplasty, while others have a smaller mini-arm lift. The goal is to place the incision in the least visible location possible.

Is it the correct operation for me?

Anyone who is unhappy with the appearance of loose, sagging skin along their upper arms is a potential candidate for an arm lift. It is very common for those who have lost a significant amount of weight to turn to an arm lift procedure to remove excess skin and improve the appearance of their arms. Overall, a good candidate is someone at their ideal weight and in good health with a clear understanding of the procedure, recovery process, and end result to expect.

What is the recovery process like?

An arm lift is an outpatient procedure, so patients are able to return home on the same day. Bruising and swelling in the area is common after an arm lift and typically peaks at around three days following the procedure. 

Overall, the recovery process lasts about a week, with most patients returning to work in less than seven days. Heavy lifting and exercise should be avoided for six weeks. Recovery will include several follow-up appointments so your doctor can monitor healing. After surgery, patients are placed in a special compression garment that should be worn for approximately six weeks, after which full activity can be resumed.

Arm lift procedures can truly be life-changing for those who struggle with the appearance of unsightly, sagging skin around the upper arms as they age. With the right surgeon and the right plan, you can say goodbye to loose skin around your upper arms and begin looking and feeling your best. 

How much will arm lift surgery cost?

Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. The cost for an arm lift may vary based on the type of procedure used, as well as the hospital used. When choosing a plastic surgeon for an arm lift, remember that the surgeon’s experience & pedigree and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final cost of the surgery.

Interested to say Goodbye to unsightly Bat Wings?

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Man Has Blue Skin - The Tragic Tale of Real Life Human Papa Smurf

 

If you were born in the late 70s or the early 80s, you would definitely recognize the figure above as Papa Smurf from the cartoon series The Smurfs!

The Smurfs were little blue creatures that live in mushroom houses in a forest inhabited mainly by their own kind. The smurfs average daily routine were attempting to avoid Gargomel, an evil man who wanted to harm our little blue friends.

Well enough on childhood nostalgia!

What if I told you there was a real-life Papa Smurf, a man whose entire body is blue in color.

This is the real-life story of Paul Karason, who is also known as the human "Papa Smurf".

Paul Kerason was an ordinary 45-year old American man afflicted with longstanding chronic dermatitis (eczema). Desperate to find a cure, he read in a health magazine that drinking silver with water (colloidal silver) could treat his flakey skin.

What In the World is Colloidal Silver?

During the Middle Ages, monks popularized the use of silver nitrate, a salt formed by reacting silver with nitric acid, to treat ulcers and burns. Compared to other premodern health tips, these were actually pretty good ideas, because—as scientists discovered once they finally figured out germ theory—silver does have germ-fighting abilities

Silver is most toxic to microbes in its ionized form—AG+, same as in those silver nitrate salts—which seems to deactivate important microbial enzymes and prevent bacterial replication.

Beginning in the early 20th century, scientists started suspending silver in water. Protein molecules in the solution surrounded the silver ions, so that only some—but not all—of the ions were released. The idea was to make a formula that was much less irritating than silver nitrate but equally effective at killing bugs.

It was however very difficult to control or analyze how much of the silver is ionized, so a patient has no way of knowing how much active silver they’re ingesting or applying—rendering it either useless or, on the other extreme, so potent it results in argyria. So colloidal silver was mostly abandoned by the medical establishment, which moved on to safer and more effective applications of silver, such as in wound dressings or as an infection-fighting additive to joint replacements.

Since 1990, interest has resurged in promoting Colloidal Silver products as "essential" mineral supplements with multiple health claims. For example, advertising materials in health food stores promote Colloidal Silver use in more than 650 different diseases. Colloidal silver proteins are being touted as powerful antimicrobials against viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes, Candida, and tuberculosis.

Celebrities ranging from Gwyneth Paltrow to Infowar's Alex Jones swear by colloidal silver as a germ-fighting miracle cure.

However, no sound scientific studies evaluating these health claims have been published in reputable medical journals. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission have taken action against several companies for making unproven health claims.

Back to Papa Smurf, Paul Karason

Paul Karason wanted to try this new medicine, and nothing could stop him. He was his own doctor. Not only did he drink colloidal silver (silver in a liquid suspension), he also applied it directly on his skin.

Karason even bought a device to make his own colloidal silver at home—a colloid is one substance dispersed through a second—and soon he was drinking a 10-ounce tumbler of the stuff daily, hoping to improve his general health, and dabbing it on his face for his dermatitis.

After a few years of this regimen, he had developed a case of what doctors call argyria, a blue-gray discoloration of the skin and mucus membranes. Some doctors speculated that even his organs were blue. Mind-blowing! He is not wearing a costume or makeup that he can take off when he gets home. None of that is an option, because well, we have to say that one more time; he is legitimately blue. Permanently! That’s how Paul Karason became a worldwide sensation.

Karason wasn’t planning to stop his treatment, because he was convinced that the silver was helping him a lot. Maybe he didn’t know that in 1999 the FDA banned the use of colloidal silver because it was proved that it could cause severe damage. But, even today it is sold as a supplement, and of course, the Internet and many alternative medicine practitioners promotes its alleged health benefits.

In an interview, Paul said that this magical drink solved the health issues that he was having for years. According to him, problems went away completely. He said that he had arthritis issues in his shoulder and that he could barely take his t-shirt off. But when he started taking his own medicine, the problem was gone. Then, more than ever, he was sure that he had found a magical formula that would treat all of his ailments.

So much razzmatazz and sensation were created when Oprah and Dr Oz revealed Paul Karason as “Papa Smurf” on The Oprah Winfrey Show. (Link below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T58YRgdrljM

Caveat

Before any of us start self-medicating or take any supplement to sure a long-standing skin disease or aliment, please consult your doctor!

Many alternative therapies may cause permanent harmful effects that are irreversible especially for skin disorders and problems.

So, if you have read about certain meds and supplements on the internet or Facebook that can help, don’t use it jump in, purchase and use it! Sometimes it can do more harm than good, and you don’t want anything like that to happen to you. So, don’t play Russian Roulette with your health and make an appointment to see your doctor. Remember if it's too good to be true, it most likely is!

Footnote

Paul Karason passed away on September 23, 2013. His death certificate stated he died due to a heart attack and stroke whilst being treated for pneumonia. The colloidal silver could not protect him against the lung infection. Nonetheless, it was postulated that the colloidal silver although staining his entire body (including eyes and fingernails) blue had not been implicated in his cause of death.

Interested in improving your skin health and getting a flawless complexion? Or perhaps you are plagued by an unsightly skin bump, mole or rash?

#acnescars #acne #moleremoval #dermoscopy #skinhealth #cosmeticsurgery #lasersurgery #chemicalpeels #dermaceuticals #botox #dermatology #dermatologicsurgery #skincheckmalaysia88 #drleesengkhoo 

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Sincerely Yours,

 

Dr Lee Seng Khoo

When Balding (Hair Loss) Can Kill?!

When Hair Loss is No Laughing Matter? It Could Kill, Literally!

By Dr Khoo Lee Seng

Many people view hair loss as innocuous part and parcel of aging. Some men who undergo hair transplant surgery or with Minoxidil & Finasteride medication are seen as vain pots. Men such as Donald Trump and Bobby Charlton attempt the comb over to hide their balding to become embarrassing internet me-mes.

But what if I tell you hair loss can be deadly is the cause isn't picked up by your doctor?

The following case is no fiction and where hair loss can kill, literally.

A 25 year old man was referred over to the skin specialist with sudden diffuse hair loss. His hair loss was so severe that gentle tug over remaining hair resulted in painless extraction of over tufts of 50 hair follicles.

This gentleman had no previous known medical illness or allergies. However, for the past 2 months he had been in and out of the Emergency Room presenting with episodes of headaches ,blurred vision and occasional pins and needles in his fingers and toes.

On examination, he had a rapid pulse (Heart Rate 125 beats/minute). He had high blood pressure (180/110 mm Hg). He had a normal brain MRI and spinal tap.

On further questioning, this gentleman reveals that he is a teacher, married, no children and he says his marriage is pretty rocky. They are arguing all the time.

However, he was actually concerned more about his sudden hair loss which he attributes to life stressor. On closer microscopic examination , his hair shafts were in a state of anagen effluvium which is hair shedding during anagen (normal growing hairs not resting hairs). Normally this only happens when patients are placed on chemotherapy or are exposed to heavy metals (lead, arsenic etc).

He is losing growing hair and this was an extreme example.

When you hear hoofbeats, do you think Horses or Zebras?

The emergency room (ER) doctors and neurologists were clueless as to what was his diagnosis. 

What's happening to him? What is suggested by this symptom set?

So, he has a rocky marriage and he has these other signs and symptoms. Remember that heavy metal poisoning is associated with neuropathy and eye abnormalities. When you throw is the tachycardia (rapid pulse) and hypertension (high blood pressure), you have a constellation of symptoms associated with heavy metal thalium poisoning which a seasoned doctor can detect.

It was kind of hard to say, "Is your spouse trying to kill you?".

You would have to have some sort of basis to start that. And of course she is at the bedside and being solicitous asking "Oh, what's wrong with my husband and why he has lost all his hair etc"

So, a urine sample for Thallium was sent and there behold, this gentleman was being poisoned with Thallium. As events later unfold , it is revealed that the wife got the radionuclide Thallium online from India and she was trying to kill him.

Thallium sulfate is colorless, odorless and can be easily dissolved in water and comes close to a perfect poison! In the past, Thallium was popular as a rat poison.

The murder mystery writer Agatha Christie has been implicated in bringing Thallium to the attention to many would be poisoners in her 1961 novel, The Pale Horse of which she wrote about attributing the poisonous effect of Thallium to black magic.

Unbelievable!

The wife was found guilty of attempted murder, and this case was tried in Texas where the District Attorney pressed the charge of "attempted murder with a deadly weapon" as she wanted the jury to take into account the very deadly weapon which was of course the heavy metal Thallium. She was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

As for the husband? He made an uneventful full recovery after treatment with Prussian blue and now has a full head of hair again (and is married again). Who says there are no happy endings?

The above case was recounted by Theodore Rosen MD , a dermatologist from the Baylor College of Medicine where he was also called to testify in this attempted homicide case.

REFERENCES

(1) Yumoto, T. (2017). A Successfully Treated Case of Criminal Thallium Poisoning. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH.

(2) Senthilkumaran, S., Balamurugan, N., Jena, N.N., Menezes, R.G. and Thirumalaikolundusubramanian, P. (2017). Acute Alopecia: Evidence to Thallium Poisoning. International Journal of Trichology, 9(1), pp.30–32.

(3) Yang, G., Li, C., Long, Y. and Sheng, L. (2018). Hair Loss: Evidence to Thallium Poisoning. [online] Case Reports in Emergency Medicine

(4) Campbell, C., Bahrami, S. and Owen, C. (2016). Anagen Effluvium Caused by Thallium Poisoning. JAMA Dermatology, [online] 152(6), pp.724–726.

Sincerely Yours,

Dr Khoo Lee Seng 

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FENG SHUI OF THE FACE AND IMPROVING LUCK WITH PLASTIC SURGERY (PART 1- THE FOREHEAD)

 

FENG SHUI OF THE FACE AND IMPROVING LUCK WITH PLASTIC SURGERY (PART 1- THE FOREHEAD)

(INTRODUCTION TO MING XIAN- CHINESE FACE READING)

French fashion designer Coco Chanel (1883–1971) remarked, “Nature gives you the face you have at 20. Life shapes the face you have at 30. But at 50 you get the face you deserve.”

Have you ever met someone for the first time and thought “Well, this person is good natured and trustworthy” Or maybe, “Wow, this chap is definitely a conman!” Sometimes we may meet somebody for the first time and feel instant repulsion or attraction to their facial features. We do judge books from its cover, however rightly or wrongly.

Based on the Chinese art of face reading, known as Mian Xian, the Chinese believe your face is a map of your past, present and future. Over time, the changes in your face reveal all about your physical health, intellectual and emotional characteristics.

Face reading known as physiognomy in Western culture is still prominent in the field of criminology. During the mid‐19th century, Lombroso claimed that criminals could be identified by physical defects, for example, murderers had “big hawk‐like noses,” and rapists had “jug ears,” and that criminality was an inherited trait.

            

JUG EARS

       

HAWK  NOSE

Lombroso C. Criminal Man. Duke University Press Books; 2006.

Born GM. Born to crime: Cesare Lombroso and the origins of biological criminology: JSTOR. 2002.

Prominent writers use character design, facial appearance, and characteristics in order to communicate various aspects of a character’s personality. For example, Disney villains and villainesses have certain facial characteristics that make them look “evil.” Traditionally and unfairly, dermatologic disease on the face and scalp have been used in media to indicate immoral character.

Hooded Cobra Eyes – A convicted serial killer. “Coldness” can be seen in his eyes. The Japanese styled moustache denotes vanity and a certain element of cruelty.

Face reading practitioners however believe that it is possible to change your fate by altering facial features of the face. Although a person’s fate is already decided at the time of a person’s birth, there is an opportunity to transcend our fate or destiny by our own efforts (and maybe some plastic surgery). These can often influence and alter the course of your life.

There is a strong connection between our emotions and the lines on our face for example.

    

    Emotions & Development of Wrinkles & Lines on The Face

 

The 12 Palaces (Houses) of the Face

 

Facial Features & Ways of Improving Feng Shui (Luck)

 

Clear & Radiant Forehead

An ideal forehead should be round, bright and smooth with no prominent marks or scars.

A round, smooth forehead indicates power, wealth and great authority.

It is important that your forehead remains clear of blemishes, spots and unsightly pimples. Moles right in the centre of the forehead should be removed as they are deemed inauspicious. Some lines on the forehead depict character and thinking depth. However, having too much wrinkles on the forehead and brow could mean worrying incessantly and a personality quick to anger.

Jean Claude Van Damme with a prominent lipoma on the forehead indicating financial and marital problems in life.

 

Treatments for a radiant and clear forehead

(1) Mole and skin lesion removal 

In Chinese Face Reading, this mole is on Position 19 on the Career Palace which indicates poor career progression and an unhappy marriage. Best removed.

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(2) Botulinum Toxin treatment for frown and forehead lines

In Chinese Face Reading, this vertical wrinkle line is called “Needle Piercing Through the Heavenly Heart” and it is treated successfully with Botox.

Caveats

The total absence of forehead creases is not considered good Face Feng Shui as there is nothing to give mental strength to a person. The doctor should not paralyze all the muscles of the forehead to give a frozen look but tailor the dose to allow animation of the face to give and allow “character”.

Try relaxing your face by conjuring up in your mind’s eye a pleasant scene whenever you feel your brows bunching up. This will enhance your Face Feng Shui tremendously.

(3) Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Qi (chi) or simply termed prajnic energy lacking on the face means the person will have less auspicious luck in life. PRP can restore “chi” and “luck” to the owner.

 

(4) Fat grafting to improve sunken temples and forehead contour

Sunken temples indicate unfulfilling sex and marital life with current partner/spouse.

(5) Forehead/Brow Lift with hidden scars

Patient with “Lines Locking the Life Palace” successfully treated with a brow lift and myotomy (weakening) of wrinkle muscles.

 

Take a look at this picture, watch the video below and see the difference in the face structure and skull of the warrior and the wimp. The personality and character is seen on the face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb1MXQ5TqtM

 

This ends PART 1 of FENG SHUI OF THE FACE AND IMPROVING LUCK WITH PLASTIC SURGERY.

Stay tuned and please subscribe for PART 2 & more.

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Sincerely yours,

 

Dr Lee Seng Khoo