The seduction of the female breast

It is a demonstrated fact that a woman’s breasts are one of her most important weapons of seduction. They are undoubtedly one of the most basic elements of femininity.

An attractive bustline does not remain perfect indefinitely, only for around ten years in most cases, then after the first pregnancy it usually gives the impression of being empty and drooping. In cases where the breasts are small and underdeveloped, the need to feel completely feminine, confident and seductive begins to arise towards the end of the teens. The pressure created by advertising that bombards young girls daily with images of supermodels only goes to strengthen the belief that there is a real need to resort to surgery to correct the physical injustice of Mother Nature. With maturity the body goes through the unpleasant changes brought about by the passing of time, a woman’s breasts become her greatest concern when trying to delay the effects of ageing.

DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR HAVING AN ATTRACTIVE BUSTLINE Breast augmentation is a surgical operation that increases volume by inserting breast implants, thus obtaining beautiful and natural-looking breasts in accordance with the characteristics and the expectations of each patient.

As in any kind of aesthetic operation involving surgery, the first consultation with the plastic surgeon is an essential stage, as at this point a relationship of mutual confidence is formed, in which the patient is provided with complete information and all the details and steps of the operation are explained, along with those for the choice of prosthesis. It is also a stage in which we check that the implants will be tolerated and whether the patient’s health and medical history are suitable for this type of operation.

Once these points have been checked then the choice can be made as to which kind of implant is to be used as there are several types, for example, liquid silicone with a smooth or textured surface, of hydrogel, or anatomical implants of cohesive or semicohesive gel. For inserting these implants, there are several techniques by which to gain access: from the armpit, from under the areola, under the breast and the umbilicus, amongst others, which leaves scars that are practically invisible.

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The kind of implant chosen will determine the final result. Anatomical implants are less likely to lose their shape, although they leave a larger scar. It is possible to make use of the edges of the areolas if they are large enough to insert small anatomical implants, and also the fold under the breast to insert larger anatomical implants.

Nowadays the most reliable prostheses are made of silicone soft cohesive gel with a textured surface because they offer the greatest consistency and give a more natural result as regards shape and feel. Within this category there are several different types, which in specific circumstances “reconstruct” the breast, giving it the desired shape. I do not recommend those made of saline solution as they can deflate and do not provide natural shape for the breast. Investigations have proved that women with breast implants do not suffer from cancer or immunological diseases any more than women who do not have them, they can get pregnant and breastfeed their baby in the natural way. It has not been proved that silicone passes to the milk. One problem that can arise is the so-called “capsular contracture”; although fortunately, during the course of my experience, I can say that this only occurs on very rare occasions. Some factors that give rise to a tendency for this hard scarring around the prosthesis: bruising, bacterial contamination, etc, that are treated with oral antibiotic prophylaxis.

At present there are many high-precision techniques to determine the shape and the dimensions of the anatomical implants. In our Clinic our preference is to use local anaesthetic with sedation, although it is possible to use other methods. The operating time varies between one and half and two hours. The operation can take place as outpatient surgery meaning that the patient can leave the clinic on the same day, with a compression bandage, which will be removed the next day. The post-operative followup is carefully monitored in our Clinic.

The results are immediate, during the first 3 or 4 days it is advised to rest; after this period the patient can usually drive a car and return to work. But she must avoid excessive force or lifting heavy weight for the next 15 days. It is evident that this is one of the operations that most contributes to restoring a woman’s self-esteem, helping her to feel more feminine and confident in herself.

In the majority of cases, surgery and breast implants provide a new commodity for women, increasing their confidence in themselves and in their power of seduction.

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

Beauty and Perfection, two different things.

Beauty and perfection should go together? This is the most mistaken idea that we come across in our speciality of Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Treatment.

For that reason there is a risk of people ending up looking like each other. It is sad to see faces with forced curves, noses that are straight but rigid, big lips that look swollen, exaggerated cheekbones, etc. The idea of perfection comes from the fact that many people imagine themselves like a car, with parts that are interchangeable with those from other types of car.

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The case frequently arises when someone comes with one or more magazines and tells the doctor “I want this mouth, doctor, I’d like to have this nose, these breasts,” etc. And in the end what do we have? An image that is fabricated out of identical parts that are used by many others, an image that looks unnatural, in which the human being who is hidden behind it has been lost.

What is left of Michael Jackson on the outside? and what is left of Michael Jackson on the inside?

I always feel that the victims of this kind of image have lost their common sense. Don’t they realize that it is obvious to everyone? Even their best friends laugh when they are with other people, otherwise ask their hairdressers, who are experts in camouflaging so many scars produced by the face-lifts of which there are more and more every day.

We have come to the point of thinking that a pretty face can be the sum of a number of pretty features : lips, nose, eyes, chin, cheekbones… But this is not necessarily so. Nowadays I often hear in my surgery that people prefer perfection rather than beauty, in the same way as people prefer respect rather than love. Perfection can be worked on, in the same way as respect, it can be developed starting with standardized and normal things until it responds to defined scientific rules. I think we could even say that perfection is something that is measured by the immobility of statues. Perfection is rigid and boring, it is not in favour of contrasts.

Beauty, like love, is something that cannot be easily controlled, it is something mysterious that is perceived and is related to the world of art, a world whose rules are unknown to us and that has to be understood with the intellect of the heart rather than with the intellect of the brain. It is also related to intuition. It is possible to be handsome with a long or short nose, with large or small eyes, with irregularly shaped lips. Latin beauty is not the same as Scandinavian beauty, for example. Beauty and perfection should go together. This is the most mistaken idea that we come across in our speciality of Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Treatment.

Beauty, like love, is something that cannot be easily controlled, it is something mysterious that is perceived and is related to the world of art, a world whose rules are unknown to us and that has to be understood with the intellect of the heart rather than with the intellect of the brain. It is also related to intuition. It is possible to be handsome with a long or short nose, with large or small eyes, with irregularly shaped lips. Latin beauty is not the same as Scandinavian beauty, for example. Beauty is something that is measured by the movement of real life. An expression, a smile, even certain movements that are almost imperceptible in the muscles of the face and body, can give an impression of beauty and seduction…..or the complete opposite. Yes, natural beauty is movement and life, it does not allow room for boredom because it changes with the circumstances.

Not long ago I saw a photo of a wellknown English singer from the 80’s on the cover of a magazine. She must have been around 50. I could see she had undergone a deep phenol skin peel. The truth is that her face had no wrinkles, nor marks nor flabby skin, but I could see that this woman must have been over 45 by looking at her eyes. The upper part of her eyes, just below the eyebrows, was very hollow, you could see perfectly what we call the skeletonization of a face…this is when the bones start to protrude…a sign of aging. Her face looked as if it were made of porcelain. It certainly did not look very inviting to kiss it. This is a typical example of a face that is perfect, but not beautiful, nor young.

In natural beauty a face can be slightly assymetrical, with imperceptible movements of the curves that are a result of human nature. Many people have an idea of ideal beauty as in a sculpture. But a live human face has greater value than a sculpted face.

Beauty, youth and maturity In this aspect there is a difference between men and women. As in the animal kingdom, men want their women to be beautiful because in this way, through a strong sexual attraction, they can reproduce and improve the species. And in most cases, a woman’s beauty in linked to her youth, which is the ideal moment for reproduction. Age, with its wrinkles and flabby skin, relates women to the ravages of time and tiredness, and men do not want the object of their desire to be ravaged and tired.

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The woman turns into a mother, and men are not keen to make love to a mother. These statements are generalities, obviously, but it becomes a global tendency, a more animal and instinctive way of seeing others. The problem is that today’s society is more in favour of this more superficial and physical way of seeing other people than through deeper and more sentimental values. This situation has always existed, but nowadays even more so.

With men it’s a different matter. Women find men to be more attractive when they are older, with wrinkles, showing signs of experience, strength and maturity. This is because women are subconsciously searching for the best father for their children and the maximum security. As in the animal kingdom, men with more experience, wisdom and strength are considered to be the most appropriate. So whilst men consider age to be detrimental with regard to women, women take it as a sign of improvement in the case of men.

In conclusion, for women we associate beauty with youth, while for men, beauty is associated with maturity.

Dr. P. Albrecht M.D. Ph. D. – 952 816 981

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

Aesthetic surgery – Legal requisite

Aesthetic surgery legal requisites h a n d s o m e When you decide to have any treatment carried out on the face or body, you must make sure that you are dealing with an adequately qualified professional. The ONLY legal requisite for being a doctor of aesthetic medicine – surgery was to be a general practitioner (from 6 to 8 years of study in Europe) with a non-official training imparted by colleagues or through conventions or workshops. Things are changing.

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Spanish legislation has recently introduced changes to the effect that a Doctor who practices aesthetic medicine or “Cosmetic” surgery, may only handle skin and fat down to the level of the muscles. This means he can carry out all kind of injections, exfoliation treatments, laser treatments, diets, anti-aging programmes and limited liposuctions.

The surgical training of these doctors is probably incomplete, to ensure safer conditions for anything that goes beyond those treatments. Generally speaking, “cosmetic” basically means superficial. For this reason we gradually come to an international standardization of vocabulary, using the term Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, instead of Cosmetic Surgery, only for real specialists. A surgeon is entitled to the qualification of Specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery if he has received training for techniques in plastic surgery for a minimum of three years, or more, and with an average of between five and seven years of hospital practice (if he has studied the reconstruction of the face or hands after burning), and he must also have received training in plastic surgery, carried out in a hospital.

The fact of a surgeon belonging, or not, to a Scientific Association, is not a legal requisite. He MUST be registered in a Professional Doctors’ Association (for Malaga, El Ilustre Colegio de Medicos de Malaga).

The security provided by this aspect means that patients are guaranteed that the treatment is going to be carried out by a real specialist in a clinic that is registered. The European Community has set out a series of safety regulations and requisites that must be complied with for clinics to be able to obtain the licence required for aesthetic surgery to be performed within their facilities.

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in this new millenium is undoubtedly based on technological progress. Photos are taken with a digital camera of full face, profile, etc, then these photos are stored on a computer using ultrapotent software that will evaluate the best strategic options for rejuvenation or the changes necessary for obtaining the face or body that is closest to the established standards of beauty.

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Then orders pass from the computer to mechanical “arms” to perform the operation under the supervision of the surgeon, but in a way that is more mechanized. This is not a dream, it is reality. It already exists in some fields of surgery, where operations are performed long-distance. Nevertheless, nowadays, surgery is still carried out for the most part completely manually (with two hands and ten fingers). The surgeon is the key element of the operation. He measures, draws, cuts and stitches. In short, he decides which is the most appropriate option and technique for his patient, according to his training, his experience and his own technical and artistic preferences.

Dr. P. Albrecht M.D. Ph. D. – 952 816 981

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

Dr. Pierre jean ALBRECHT

Dr. Pierre Jean Albrecht, is a Consultant Surgeon, specialising in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, registered at the General Medical Council of Malaga (Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Medicos de Malaga) under number 29/07945. He was trained in France in the Medical Schools of the Louis Pasteur University in Strasbourg, Montpellier I, Paris V, and in Spain in the Department of Surgery of the Medical School of Salamanca University .

He dedicated a special attention to Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) in Guadalajara-Mexico with reknowned Professor Armando Gonzalez .

After he has been awarded a specialized studies title in “Advanced Surgery” by the “Department of Surgery” of the University of Salamanca, he published his research Tesis : “Lasers in Cutaneous Therapy and Plastic Aesthetic Surgery”.

Dr. Pierre jean Albrecht has been awarded the Ph.D. title “Doctor in Medicine and Surgery” – Cum Laude – by the same University, which allowes him to teach and to carry out research programs.

Dr. Pierre Albrecht was awarded the Postgraduate university title  “Lasers and Plastic Surgery” from the Specialties Department of the  Medical School of the RENE DESCARTES Paris V University   .

Dr. Pierre jean Albrecht has published numerous articles about Plastic Surgery and about the relationship between anti-aging, antioxidants and the immune system, in French and international scientific journals.

Some Scientific Publications :

  • Trans-Inferior Orbital Rim Anchorage and Fascia Roll Multi-

Loop Temporal Anchorage in Midface Rejuvenation Aesthetic Surgery Journal  2006.  http://aes.sagepub.com/content/26/4/404.abstract

  • Alloplastic Malar Implants for Aesthtetic Purposes in zone 1. The transconjunctival route.Carnet de resumé. SOFCPRE 2002.

http://bigsight.org/document/426

  • “Closed Blepharoplasty, the U suture before incision” Carnet de resumé. Congress of the SOFCPRE , the French Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery: . 2002.

http://bigsight.org/document/426

  • Comparative use of Lasers in Cutaneous Therapy and Plastic-Aesthetic Surgery, These. Doc. Univ., Salamanca. 2001.

http://www.cibernetia.com/tesis_es/CIENCIAS_MEDICAS/CIRUGIA/CIRUGIA_

PLASTICA/1

  • Gliadin Films. I : Preparation in vitro evaluation as a carrier for controlled drug release.Internationnal Journal of Pharmaceutics. 117 – 121 .1995. Elsevier.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T7W-3XY2PPK-2V&_user=10&_coverDate=07%2F06%2F1995&_alid=855255891&_rdoc=2&_fmt=

high&_orig=search&_cdi=5069&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=2&_acct=

C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=592ec02102f9708

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  • Mise en évidence des propriétés antioxydantes d’un L. M.F. dans des dermocosmétiques . Journal.de Pharm.Clinique. 1995.

http://www.bigsight.org/document/194

Dr. Pierre Jean Albrecht participated in more than 200 workshops, conferences and congresses about Plastic-Aesthetic Surgery, health, anti-aging, Lasers,  in Europe, Canada and the Middle East:

Comunications in Congresses, in the faculty:

  • “Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery of the eyes and of the look” Plastic Surgery Symposium. Birkenwerder- Berlin. 2004. http://bigsight.org/document/363
  • Anti-ageing World Conference. Paris. 2003
  • “Closed Blepharoplasty, the U suture before incision” Congress of the SOFCPRE , the French Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery: . 2002. http://bigsight.org/document/426
  • “Alloplastic Malar Implants for Aesthtetic purposes in zone 1. The transconjunctival route”. Congress of the SOFCPRE , the French Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery: 2002. http://bigsight.org/document/426
  • Alloplastic Malar Implants for Aesthtetic purposes in zone 1. The transconjunctival route. IMCAS. Paris 2002
  • Facial Plastic Aesthetic Surgery and with Lasers.  Guadalajara Medicla School. Mexico. 2001
  • Utilisation des immuncomplexes dans le vieillissement de la peau. Congrès de la Société de Medecine Estétique e de Rio De Janeiro, Brésil 1994
  • Intérêt du L.M.F en clinique. Salon de Dermatologie Pratique.Paris 1995

Teaching:

-Dr. Pierre Albrecht was appointed an Invited. Profesor for ” Facial Plastic Surgery and with Laser” in the E.N.T. Specialists Academic Program in the Civil Hospital of Guadalajara in Mexico.

-Dr. Pierre Jean Albrecht was an Adviser for The Laser Clinic , Harley Street – London.

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

Essential Marbella Award 2008 Marbella Clinic business of Excellence in Beauty/Aesthetic category

Once more Marbella Clinic has been granted the “Essential Marbella Awards”. Marbella Clinic was chosen among 4 other clinics specialized in beauty and aesthetics by thousands of votes as the centre of excellence. This award confirms us 12 years of hard work and satisfied patients, offering the best techniques and treatments, with the famous artistic touch combined with passion for Plastic-Aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Pier Albrecht and his world-class staff will welcome you to the Marbella Clinic and make your time here educational and comfortable. Whatever your interest is, we will thoroughly detail the procedure, recovery time, risks and options to be sure that your expectations are realistic and desired results can be achieved. Thank you for all the votes

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

Antiaging: Exomask

By Dr. Pier Albrecht

The art of skin rejuvenation

Our facial skin is a magnificent organ being thick enough to protect our face from a lifetime of sun, wind and rain while in the meanwhile being flexible and delicate enough to express emotions and mimics in the unique way only a human being is able to do. After having undergone the changes of many seasons and the sum of emotions of a full life our skin starts to show the inevitable signs of ageing: Wrinkles, age spots, a thinning of the skin and an overall loss of elasticity.

Not long ago, any correction of these ageing effects was only accessible by more or less invasive plastic surgery procedures. But since a couple of years new treatments called Peelings are available which consist of a chemical or mechanical removal of the upper layers of the skin (Epidermis) followed by an assisted healing phase which allows for a regeneration of a new, immaculate skin.

It is very important to know that the exfoliative effect of a chemical peeling only is responsible for a part of its results, while the other part is the effects in the deeper layer of the skin (Dermis), where a deep chemical peel induces a hypertrophy and a retraction of the elastic fibres which results in the remarkable lifting effect of such a deep chemical peeling. Furthermore this lifting effect can be as well achieved in zones which are difficult to treat with classical surgical face lifting procedures (e.g. the area around the mouth and the lower eye lid area).

There are other peelings available which are targeted only on the exfoliative effect, that means they provide only the removal of old skin cells to enhance the appearance of the skin but have no lifting effect which can remove deeper creases and wrinkles. These superficial or medial depth peelings are for example the Fruit Acids peelings or the glycolic acid peelings which can not be considered as an alternative for surgical lifting procedures.

An alternative to deep chemical peeling is the EXOmask which is only available at a few selected centres in Europe. Based on a special chemical formula which has been developed over 30 years through extensive testing on human tissue samples in the laboratory, EXOmask provides a deep lifting effect on the dermis without any destruction of the underlying pigment cells (Melanocytes), which are responsible for the skin colour and the natural sun protection through the tanning effect. Most of the other deep peelings currently available have an immanent risk of permanent depigmentation of the treated area, which results in an unsatisfying skin colour and the mandatory use of permanent sun protection.

The EXOmask treatment is carried out in only one session, mostly as an out-patient procedure, under local anaesthesia and in some case including a light sedation. After the peeling lotion has been applied, an elastic silicone mask seals the face for 24 hours allowing the solution to penetrate into the deeper part of the skin. This process is painless, the patient can in most cases go home with the mask and sleep normally. After 24 h the mask is removed and a special powder is applied on the skin. This powder enhances the regeneration process and serves as a dressing for 7 days until the new skin has grown completely.

After 7 days the results are instantaneous, the patient has a smooth and spotless skin and the lifting effect through the skin retraction is completed. Due to the ongoing regeneration process of the deep elastic fibres the new skin is widely vascularized and therefore shows a redness which will slowly fade during the next 8-10 weeks but can be covered up completely with make up.

In conclusion the EXOmask peeling is an attractive alternative for patients who have an overall ageing of the facial skin and want effective facial rejuvenation without undergoing classical surgery procedures.

The EXOmask treatment is carried out in only one session, mostly as an out-patient procedure, under local anaesthesia and in some case including a light sedation.

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

The Quest for Happiness – 07

 

By Dr. Pier Albrecht

After a couple has lived together for some time (from 18 to 36 months), the passion starts wearing off gradually. Shortly afterwards, they become comfortably accustomed to one another or the relationship becomes a heavy burden to both and, then, one of them drifts apart and opens up their heart and mind to a new adventure, trying to feel free and independent again. Although the other person may not be satisfied, he or she will often try to continue the relationship because he or she thinks that it will be impossible to find someone better or for fear of being alone. This is what happened in most of the cases I have come across. One gave up on the relationship before the other. However, after some time, both of them felt happier and more liberated. They acknowledge that the relationship was like being in jail -a sometimes nice prison, but a prison after all.

Therefore, some couples stay married almost all their lives, but they have to overcome crises to that effect. This is not the general case and there may be a secret to their success. Sometimes it is a moral or religious point of view, according to which one has to devote oneself to a single person in order to be happy or to give happiness. This sounds nice, ideal, something out of a fairy tale, and with some advantages to it. You are sharing your whole life with someone who will always be at your side, to support you and give you tenderness. In my opinion, this is not better or worse than the other solution. But only a few individuals can make it.

I have a different point of view in this regard. For me, human life is a developmental experience, an opportunity to learn from each other. When I was a kid, I always wanted my friends and I to share our experiences in order for us to gain a better understanding of life and to live a happier life. The same holds true for a couple. In my opinion, it is all about sharing experiences and helping each other. The personality and wisdom of our loved one should help us improve our awareness of life. Loving your partner is nothing but wishing that they find the greatest peace and happiness possible.

But in order to carry this relationship in happiness, both individuals need to clearly know that there is no use in making it last longer than necessary. I don’t see the point in going beyond all means to try to extend the good times. When you have given all you can give and taken all you can take, sometimes you have to be strong enough to acknowledge that it is time to move on to the next phase in your life. Both need to adopt a positive attitude about it, knowing for sure that it is not only the happy experiences but also the painful ones that teach us lessons in life. Your life is not over when a relationship comes to an end. Sometimes you may think: “I will never find someone like him or her, I will never fall in love again, and so on…” You need to ask yourself how many times you have said one of these phrases, how many boyfriends or girlfriends you have had after a painful break up. We should always remember the saying: “that which does not kill you makes you stronger.”

But I also believe that there is a certain person with whom we will share the last years of our lives. This may be the “love of our lives”, since it is the most mature and tolerant one.

Broken Heart

There’s a saying that goes: “You can’t really love unless you’ve been brokenhearted.” This is a profound truth, since our heart is like a nut, it is full of love and generally protected by a shell. The only way of letting it out is by breaking the shell. Unfortunately, most of the times, it is through suffering that the shell breaks open. It is hard to admit it but I know it’s true. We would all love to live our lives with no suffering, just full of pleasure and beautiful moments. We all try to avoid bad experiences and suffering. We hide, we ran away from any potentially painful obstacle we may find in our way.

It is a pity, because pain makes us better and stronger. I’m not saying that we should pursue a life of hardship and pain, but rather that we should not try to avoid it, since we would be missing the opportunity to break open the outer shell of our hearts that keeps our love locked in it.

There are different degrees of suffering, some more tolerable than others. A broken heart can sometimes kill you. The loss of loved ones, such as children, is a type of pain that is nearly impossible to overcome, and which will stay in our hearts forever. Studies were made not only of the loss of a relative, but also of emotional stress in general, with very interesting results.

Dr. Llan Wittstein, a cardiologist of the John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, United States, directed a research team who studied 19 patients admitted to hospital with a left ventricular dysfunction after sudden emotional stress. All patients had a coronarography and repeat ECGs performed. Five of them underwent endomyocardial biopsy. Plasma catecholamine levels of 13 patients with myocardial dysfunction were compared with those in seven patients with Killip class III myocardial infarction. All the patients studied were women except for one, with a median age of 63, that is to say, postmenopausal women. According to Wittstein, the symptoms included chest pain, pulmonary edema, and cardiogenic shock, and had they not been treated, some of the patients would have died. In many cases, the patients had just been informed of the death of a relative.

A woman had been held at gunpoint during a bank robbery. Another one had experienced a great fright when 70 people shouted “surprise” at her during a party held in her honor. Unlike the other patients who suffered from real heart diseases, these patients were discharged after 2 or 3 days with their hearts in perfect condition.

Wittstein and Coll believes that stress following a great emotional shock may, depending on the family history, cause an exaggerated increase of some neurochemical components produced by the body, such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, which will reach the heart and sometimes kill you.

With the exception of these extreme cases, most of us survive emotional shocks. But they do affect us deeply and transform us every time they take place. In my opinion, every heart ache allows us to love better and become more compassionate.

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

The Quest for Happiness – 06

By Dr. Pier Albrecht

I will not try to rewrite a thesis about happiness; I will just share my experience and thoughts about some topics that are sometimes addressed at my practice.

The hope of finding true love, getting married and having a family is universal. Almost every culture and civilization has considered marriage to be one of the pillars of social stability, individual and community happiness.

Individually speaking, there are two individuals that love each other, long to share the same life and start a family. They want to share every aspect of their lives with their soul mate, have tenderness, support and guaranteed sex. Generation after generation, people fail to realize that their parents went through difficult times, sometimes unbearable, and want to reproduce the image of ideal family they have. In the best case scenario, those parents who have suffered throughout their marriage for ages hope that life will be better for their children. Otherwise, parents just want their children to move out so that they will not have to feed them any more.

Socially speaking, it is in the community interest that individuals live together to have a peaceful life and achieve development. Firstly, this may be due to economic reasons: Family favors wealth creation. Second, there may be reasons of civil peace and balance: If relationships are developed within a legal framework, men and women cannot exchange each other (theoretically speaking) at will, preventing conflict with high economic impact: When we are fighting, we do not work. Thirdly, there may be public health reasons: With steady relationships, sexually transmitted diseases are less likely to spread like a plague. Finally, there may be religious reasons: To prevent people from living in sin.

These schemes were discontinued at the end of the twentieth century. These days, couples start dating and split up so easily that marriage is not even justified. In other words, people keep on liking the idea of getting married; however, they are often conscious that it may not be for good.

Living together can be considered the paradox in a relationship, for it may lead to divorce or separation. I repeat that I am considering general ideas in this book, for I know perfectly well that there are exceptions. However, the evolution of the past few decades has provided us with extraordinary material to analyze many aspects of our lives.

When a couple lives apart and only shares some moments, it is like living for hours or days in a loving and happy bubble. Their working lives are left aside; they only share the best of themselves. They feel a burning desire. They have missed each other for a while. Each individual wants to project the best image. Every time they meet is like a having party.

HAPPINESS, LOVE & COUPLES

When they begin to learn more about each other, the desire to live together gradually appears. If they decide to take the step to live together, they discover new things about each other, things not related to desire or love but to the most practical aspects of their daily lives. One is too fast and the other too slow. One loves watching the news at the same time everyday, the other thinks it is a silly thing to do. One takes a one-hour-shower, the other only takes a five-minute-shower. One is stingy, the other throws the money away. One does the washing-up perfectly, the other leaves froth and soap. These details start to gradually affect the couple’s life until they both begin to think: “How can he live that way? I believe it is impossible, foolish or ridiculous”.

Those details mark the beginning of the deterioration of the relationship, but the end comes quickly when lovers begin to say: «You shouldn’t do this that way; I don’t like it that you are always following me, and so on.” Daily life commingles with feelings and the result is usually negative. Love dies little by little.

I always advise my friends not to forget the reasons why they have loved their partners. I further suggest them to try to imagine what would happen if they were to meet their couples again today: wouldn’t they love them again? Focus on the essential. You cannot expect your loved one to have all the qualities that made you fall in love with him/her and yet try to gradually change him/her to become more like yourself.

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

The Quest for happiness – 04

>>> Over my long years of professional experience I have come to see that my patients, by improving their appearance, hope to find happiness. Because of this, I have decided to write about this subject and present it, in chapters, to the readers of Transform Magazine.>>> Today we will analyze how to differentiate happiness from pleasure. I hope these lines will help you in your quest for happiness.

Happiness & satisfaction

From childhood we are aware of the tyranny of our desires. From the moment when we cry, asking for mother’s milk, and we are soothed when we are given it, we are aware of that feeling of satisfaction that causes us to confuse it with happiness.

To be able to achieve what we desire seems to alleviate our suffering and the tension that this produces. If we spend our life placating our desires, we will never achieve happiness. Quite simply because as soon as we satisfy the first desire, another one will appear in one form or another. It is a mistake to think that we will feel happy after obtaining something. We will only be temporarily comforted.

Happiness & pleasure

The very essence of pleasure is that it does not last. Pleasure is related to a beginning and an end. The strongest physical pleasure, an orgasm, is very short. It is the peak of tension, followed by deep relaxation. Any kind of pleasure can be defined as an outof- the-ordinary condition, with an increase of endorphins in the brain and sometimes more adrenalin in the body. Man tries to achieve the maximum moments of pleasure during the course of his, or her, life and often believes that the happiness level of his life is related to the number of moments of pleasure: how many orgasms, how many delicious meals, how many concerts, how many dances, how much travelling, etc…

We live in a time that is so centred on multiplying those moments that young people spend most of their time with earphones, listening to their favourite music. Many enter an unreal, digital world in front of a Playstation that permits them to live a virtual life that is not theirs. They spend the rest of the time sending text messages (SMS) on their mobile phone.

When they eat or drink, they prefer sweet, fizzy drinks like Coca Cola rather than water and soft food, like pasta, chips, hamburger buns, etc. It is obvious that the new generation is no happier than the previous one, quite the contrary.

The absence of motivation and ideals condemns the new generation to pay attention only to their pleasures and the way in which to achieve them, which usually means through money.

This is really the modern ideal. The modern western democracies have already attained all the freedom possible. They know that people can now think as they wish, speak, write, sing, film, criticize, dress and move as they wish. There is nothing more to fight for. The only thing remaining is what’s left once you have achieved all of the above : pleasure. The problem is that an excess of pleasure kills off the pleasure itself, and then more and more stimulation is needed in order to feel good.

Modern life consists of obtaining the maximum pleasure possible, whether physical, intellectual, emotional, in primitive or in higher forms. The fact is that daily life might seem to us to be easier, but the effort is not so much physical, but mental. People suffer from a mental overload that prevents them from being happy. Pleasure can be the enemy of happiness.

On the other hand, happiness is not the enemy of pleasure. Once we achieve a stable condition of happiness – based essentially on a feeling of internal peace and joy, and after several years of conscious efforts to attain this – we develop a capacity to be able to feel pleasure with a minimum of stimulation. Nature, the birds singing, contemplating the sky, the clouds, the sea, the children, these are situations that will bring us moments of intense pleasure and happiness. A dense, fluid pleasure that lives in the heart and in the flow of energy and emotion through our body.

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic

The Quest for happiness – 03

By Dr. Pier Albrecht

In our last issue we talked about the concept s of happiness, joy and inner welfare. We started to raise the issue of how the quest for happiness evolved along man´s history. In this chapter we deal with the vision of some philosopher s and how different civilizations give happiness a different meaning.

The Asian Era .

As the modern man does, ancient civilizations almost certainly attempted to find happiness. In India, China and Japan, the ancient world of the Orient defined a series of principles related to spirituality – not to find happiness – but rather to evolve, improve and attain a state of serenity. The basis for this search was not materialist. It was centred on strict rules and techniques, the purpose of which was to maintain the body healthy and the mind concentrated on spiritual matters.

In India

For many centuries, the greater part of India lived with the belief in reincarnation: the journey of the soul through time, bodies and lives, with the objective of becoming more perfect and evolving towards liberation from this cycle of earthly life, based on suffering. Due to this, they felt it was unnecessary to change the social organization of the castes as, according to them, the soul is born where it has to be born in order to be able to continue its journey. Throughout the course of a man’s life, he should not struggle to change his caste, but to live the best way possible, so that in the next life he may be born again, in a higher caste. For this reason, in India, as in other ancient societies, earthly life was not aimed at increasing material happiness, but towards a better spiritual life and future reincarnations.

The Era of the Egyptians

The Egyptians, like the majority of Asian civilizations, led a material life aimed at a spiritual life. Their life on earth was completely dedicated towards attaining eternal life. In this sense we could say they were not looking for earthly happiness in itself, as it was considered to be a phase that would lead us to eternal life, after death. Of course, as with all ancient societies, the problems of material or spiritual happiness were strictly for the elite, as the greater part of the population had to contend with problems of a more practical nature, like survival.

The Greek Era , after Socrates .

Socrates spoke of the philosophy of happiness and takes it to be a supreme asset. It is hardly surprising that this appears in Greece, in the 5th century before Christ. This philosophy tries to bring together the maximum happiness with the maximum virtue. In other words, a life full of pleasure, joy and satisfaction, together with a life that is just, wise and virtuous. Two visions of happiness are put into contrast : the mortal vision, through virtue (which is within reach of the common people) and the immortal vision, through meditation (within the reach of the scholars and the mystics).

The Happiness of Epicurus

Later on, Epicurus made the basic affirmation that man should “enjoy to the maximum and wish for the minimum”. His message has been altered since then and nowadays people make the mistake of using the word “Epicurian” to express the concept of having to enjoy everything to the maximum.

Quite the contrary, Epicurus teaches us that to be happy, we have to increase our pleasure and reduce the motives that are the source of that pleasure. That is to say, we should know how to distinguish between what will bring us happiness and what makes us search indefinitely for that happiness, which in the end becomes a source of dissatisfaction.

Epicurus continues by categorizing three types of desire : Desires that are natural, like eating, drinking, having clothes and roof over our head, friends and being able to philosophise, so that we can achieve a better understanding of ourselves, of other people and of life.

Desires that are natural but not necessary, such as sexual desire, desire for the aesthetic, good food, things that can be enjoyed, but taking care to not become dependent upon them. Desires that are unnatural and unnecessary, like the desire for glory, fame, riches and power. He considered these desires to be unlimitable, because we will never be able to achieve all of them and therefore, according to him, they will not be able to make us happy but, on the contrary, they only serve to complicate our lives.

Epicureanism is therefore the art of enjoying the simple things, like bread, water the beauty of nature, instead of indulging in excesses of food, alcohol or sex, which only creates a sensation of repugnanceand dissatisfaction. We could almost say it is a form of asceticism, but not as an end, only as a means.

After the birth of the religions known as “religions of the book”, such as Judaism, Christianity or Islam,the notion of religious happiness appeared, as could be enjoyed in the Garden of Eden after living a life ofvirtue, organized on a religious basis. In France especially, during the 18th century, the philosophers conceived a political organization of happiness, based on the art of life, of communicating, sharing, within the games of love and sex, food, etc. An ideal world where we would all be equal. But while the philosophers were launching their ideas, the aristocrats were enjoying themselves, taking advantage of the sweat and toil of the poor.

The revolution was the immediate consequence. This arose as an attempt to allow everyone a chance to enter this new world of happiness and equality. It has reached our times converted into sick democracies, due to the failure of the Communist and Socialist utopias. In effect, happiness has not always been an ideal in life for everyone. Sometimes Man has preferred to seek love or wisdom, as happens in India, Tibet, Japan or China. In the West we chase after success, money or beauty, whilst in the East they pursue serenity, peace or harmony. The paradox of our era is that we are aware of and promote inner happiness, but at the same time we develop more and more consumer products that are mere playthings and tools for pleasure.

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Editorial: Dr. Pier Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Albrecht,

Dr. Pier Jean Albrecht, Dr. Pierre F. Albrecht, Dr. Pierre Frank Albrecht,

Dr. P. Frank Albrecht, Dr. Pierjean Frank Albrecht, Marbella Clinic