We all know an important component to a healthy mind and body is our daily fruits and veggies, but can they also improve your skin? A recent study aimed to find out. Research published on the online journal PloS ONE found that eating just one extra portion of fruits of vegetables lead to healthier and rosier skin. The study questioned and examined 35 University of St. Andrews students. They measured the correlation between the amount of increase fruit and vegetable consumption and skin tone over a 3 to 6 week period. At the end of the study, those who had eaten more vegetables had a noticeable increase in healthier appearing skin, including redness and yellowness. Researchers are not sure what causes this change, but suspect carotenoids. The study was only conducted on Caucasian students, leading researchers to wonder if they effects would be the same on other skin tones. But an improved skin tone and healthy glow is another reason to pick up some fresh fruits and veggies!

Many patients, after plastic surgery, will say that they were surprised their friends or family members did not notice that they had a procedure. They say these individuals had a hard time pinpointing what was 'different.' Often heard are questions such as "Did you lose weight? Did you get a haircut? or Did you change your makeup?".  Your friends know you look better but don't know exactly what.

There are several reasons why your friends, hopefully, cannot pinpoint the exact change.  First of all, there is actually a psychologic name for this phenomenon, called 'change blindness.' Change blindness is based on the idea that the brain does not have a precise memory, but a temporary one that cannot detect change, when the overall information remains the same. For example, studies have found that participants did not notice a test subject's change of clothing when they left and then reentered a room. This phenomenon can often be comforting to those undergoing rhinoplasty, or other procedures. Many patients do not want their friends of family to immediately identify them as "post plastic surgery".  When a patient is seen after plastic surgery, there before is just a memory, making change blindness more effective.  

It is not uncommon for many of Dr. Shah's patients to ask "to look the same but different".  A natural, harmonious result coupled with the phenomenon of change blindness can lead to lots of compliments without the conspicuousness of having had plastic surgery.

Most people think that a septoplasty does not affect the shape of the nose. However, a recent study published by Dr. Shah and his colleagues found that a septoplasty can affect the projection of the nose (the measure of which the nose sticks out from the face). If this is affected, then the shape and appearance of the nose can look different, which can be an unintended change for the patient.  This study was the first of its kind to see how routine submucous septoplasty can affect projection.  This study suggests that surgeons who perform septoplasty be aware of the nasal appearance both before and after the procedure.