The Edinburgh Evening News reports that reconstructive surgery, including permanent make up, has given a victim of the Iraq war a new life. When Hannan Shihab, now 21, was just 15, an American bomb landed near her Baghdad home, knocking an oil lamp onto her bed and leaving her with third-degree burns over 20% of her body. In the years that followed the 2003 incident, Shihab has undergone six rounds of major reconstructive surgery to rebuild her ears, nose, and lips, as well as skin graft operations. 

In the future, Shihab plans to pursue other operations to reconstruct her lips and have permanent eyebrow makeup applied. Despite the intensity of the procedures that she has already undergone, Shihab has managed to remain positive and pursue normal activities. She has a 19-month-old daughter and hopes to pass her driving test and begin classes at Stevenson College soon.

Individuals who are elderly or who have recently undergone a surgical procedure or illness may not need around-the-clock care but require access to immediate assistance in case they need it. An alert system can be an ideal solution for these individuals and their loved ones. A medical alert system typically has three components—an emergency button, base, and outside call center.

The emergency button is the essential part of the device an individual can press when he or she needs help. Often referred to as a “panic button,” this part is worn on the body in the form of a medical alert bracelet or necklace. This aspect of the device sets it apart from cell phones or telephones—which may or may not be accessible if a loved one is not mobile following an accident.

The base of the system is similar to a telephone base. It plugs into a power source, as well as a telephone jack. Should power be lost, the base unit must have a back-up battery to ensure uninterrupted service. Back-up batteries for emergency systems typically last 8 to 12 hours. However, Rescue Alert, a forerunner in the field of emergency response systems, uses medical bracelets that contain a rechargeable battery that works up to 90 hours in the event of a power failure.

Finally, a call center with live attendants is notified when a subscriber to the system presses the panic button. At this point, the call center staff member speaks to the subscriber, and then places a call to a family member or neighbor on the subscriber’s responder list, or to emergency services. The ability to reach live help at a moment’s notice gives individuals and their loved ones protection and peace of mind.

There are a lot of people out there who think a person would have to be crazy to live in Los Angeles. Between the crowded urban sprawl and the madness of the entertainment industry, this is a city that can seem flat-out terrifying to some outsiders. However, the residents of the city are people who have the same types of problems that people anywhere else can have. Finding a psychotherapist in LA to talk to when dealing with these issues is a difficult step for some people — there are few things that are as difficult to do as admitting that you have a problem. However, it’s a necessary step to take for anyone who wants to turn things around and make a real effort to improve their mental health.

If you’ve never seen a Los Angeles psychotherapist before, the prospect of actually finding one might seem intimidating. Locating the right medical professional in any area of practice is difficult enough — knowing that this is a person that you will be discussing your mental state with can add a whole new layer of stress. Luckily, there are steps you can take to make sure you locate the right professional for you, whether you’re looking for a marriage counselor in LA or you need to talk to someone about the anxiety issues that are disrupting your life.

Perhaps the easiest way to find a mental health professional is to get a referral from someone that you trust. Do you have a friend, a family member, or a coworker who you know is currently seeing a psychotherapist? Talk to them and see if they would recommend the person they’ve been speaking with. While your needs and theirs might not mesh, it is at least a good start for finding possible avenues for psychotherapy in LA. Other places to check would be to talk to your general practitioner to see if they can give you a referral, seeing what mental health professionals are a part of your medical insurance network if you have one, or if there are any therapists associated with your school or place of employment. If you have special needs such as a busy schedule that limits you to telephone counseling in Los Angeles, this can help you narrow down your list of possibilities. It is recommended that you have both a preliminary phone conversation and a face-to-face meeting with a therapist before you make a decision — this helps ensure you choose a professional with whom you have a real connection.

In the past, having a beautiful smile required luck! Now, almost anyone can have a gorgeous smile if they have a skilled cosmetic dentist. With the rapid growth of cosmetic dentistry over the past decade, consumers everywhere have discovered the benefits of enhancing the appearance of their teeth. Available treatments range from minor to major, sometimes transforming a person’s entire appearance!

What procedures do cosmetic dentists perform most commonly? There are several. One process that has seen a boom in popularity over the past five years is teeth whitening, which removes stains that accumulate over the years by using chemicals like peroxide. In addition to whitening, many patients request porcelain veneers. Veneers are extremely thin shells of porcelain that are bonded on the front side of a tooth to change the appearance of worn, chipped, misaligned, or discolored teeth. Sometimes veneers are less costly than alternatives—particularly in the case of one or two misaligned teeth that would otherwise require braces or retainers to fix.

It seems that no matter what the minor or major imperfection, there is a dentist or procedure that can remedy it. In today’s world of advanced technology and painless procedures, there is no reason to try to make peace with a smile that you’d rather hide. If you think you might benefit from cosmetic dentistry, inquire with local cosmetic dentists—you might find that the smile you always wanted requires a simple visit to the dentist office!