Advanced Fluorescence Technology is said to remove more hair, more quickly and with less pain – it’s a step up from IPL.
Women are a hairobsessed bunch. If we’re not trying to grow more of it (on the head), we’re trying to get rid of it (from the rest of the body, including the pubic area).
What’s been available for many years is intense pulse light technology or IPL, which uses broad-spectrum pulses of light to get rid of unwanted hair.
Now meet AFT – Advanced Fluorescence Technology, IPL’s sophisticated cousin and the next gen of hair removal. It uses a narrower wavelength of light to increase penetration into the target area – and more evenly too – to destroy the follicles so no more hair can grow.
Hair removal salon Strip says it’s the first here to offer the hair removal technology (since mid 2019), and US dermatologists have used this FDA-approved treatment since 2010 to treat skin issues like redness and pigmentation.
The salon says AFT can be used on almost any area, such as legs, upper lips and pubic area. It can cover a larger area because of the applicator size, and is more precise, especially at tricky places like inner thighs and underarms.
“In one AFT session, a maximum of 20 per cent of hair is removed versus a maximum of 15 per cent for IPL,” says Samantha Ong, marketing director of Spa Esprit Group, which owns Strip.
That means fewer followup sessions to go completely hair-free – every 10 to 12 weeks, compared to six to eight weeks for IPL, over at least six sessions. An AFT session lasts 20 minutes; IPL takes 30 to 40 minutes.
The built-in cooling system lowers the risk of burns and makes AFT less painful. It doesn’t feel hot, unlike IPL. You get a more comfortable experience, especially at the sensitive bikini line. – SL
We Tried It:
I’m a regular IPL user, and I’ve also done waxing and sugaring before. At my AFT session, the technician applies an ice-cold gel on the pubic area. The applicator is then placed over the mons pubis and moved in quick circles. At the labia, she switches to an up-down movement.
I barely felt any heat, although the heat sensation was stronger at the labia, but still bearable. At the end, the gel is wiped off and a moisturiser applied to calm and soothe skin. There was no redness or soreness.
After six weeks, I noticed less hair regrowth as compared to IPL, especially around the labia. My next session is 10-12 weeks after the first – this longer interval between sessions is what I appreciate most about AFT.
SW1 CLINIC SPECIAL
ANTI-AGEING “TWEAKMENTS” NO ONE WILL EVER GUESS YOU DID
These very small adjustments to your face can’t be pinpointed, but can vastly improve your looks.
No one wants to look like they’ve had “work done”. They want to look fresher, as if they’ve just come back from a holiday or had a great facial. Here’s what these aesthetics treatments from SW1 Clinic can do for your looks. They come with little downtime and are non-invasive.
A lifted, less crepey neck
Did you know that your neck and jaw muscles are connected? When gravity takes hold, both get pulled down.
The Nefertiti Lift, inspired by the namesake Egyptian queen, gives you a lower facelift and a younger-looking neck. Both will help you look slimmer, younger and more elegant.
The treatment involves micro injections of botulinum toxin into the neck and jawline to relax those muscles and reduce the effects of the downward pull. The injections also stimulate collagen production for a lifting effect.
Eyes that look like you get good sleep
Maybe the Zzzs just come easily to you. Or maybe you struggle to get a good night in. But the scourge of dark circles plagues everyone.
It’s because of ageing. The skin around the eye area gets thinner and less elastic, and the blood vessels and blue-black tints under the eyes become more visible.
The Revitalift Undereye treatment replenishes hyaluronic acid, a natural moisture magnet, and accelerates collagen production to strengthen and hydrate the delicate eye area. The result: luminous eyes that look well-rested.
Making a U-shaped face gorgeously V-shaped
Beat the sag with a combination of two US FDA-approved anti-ageing powerhouses for upper and lower face sculpting.
An ultrasound-based skin tightening treatment, Ulthera delivers low levels of focused heat deep into skin to stimulate the body’s own healing response and increase collagen production. Sagging cheeks and jaws, and the drooping corners of the mouth are softly lifted.
Thermage, on the other hand, uses radiofrequency and heat energy to rev up the skin. It stimulates collagen production by delivering gentle heat to the deep layers of skin. Wrinkly eyelids are smoothed out, brows are lifted, and the “hooding” of the eyelid is reduced for an eye-opening effect. You’ll look as if you’ve just returned from a luxurious wellness retreat in Bali, utterly revitalised.
Putting moisture back into skin
Replenish skin’s reservoir of moisture with Youth Preserve. Profhilo, one of the purest forms of stabilised hyaluronic acid, is injected at five key points: next to the ears, at the nasolabial fold, at the chin, under the eyes, and on the tops of cheeks.
Over time, the super moisturiser that is hyaluronic acid is released into skin. The cool thing is that instead of working like dermal filler, it prompts skin to produce its own youth-enhancing ingredients (such as collagen) over a sustained period. This lifts sagging skin gradually, and infuses skin with a soft radiance. Think of this as an ultra-natural way to support your skin’s own renewal process.
SW1 CLINIC HAS TWO OUTLETS:
#13-03 Paragon, tel: 6817-8888, and #02-19/20 OUE Downtown Gallery Tower 2, tel: 6817-8882. Visit www.sw1clinic.com for more information.
