Their aesthetics procedures have become a big export. Some are innovative, some are questionable. CHARMAINE LEE and local doctors discuss their merits, and the alternatives here.
Their aesthetics procedures have become a big export. Some are innovative, some are questionable. CHARMAINE LEE and local doctors discuss their merits, and the alternatives here.
A SHARPER IMAGE
Considering Botox or filler injections? Dr Anita Soosay of The Aesthetics Centre Laser and Medical Aesthetics Clinic shares some important facts you should know. ®
Botulinum toxin type A (commonly known as botox) and fillers are injectable substances that can only be administered by a doctor. They are commonly used to tackle wrinkles, but there are also other applications. Dr Anita Soosay, medical director at The Aesthetics Centre Laser and Medical Aesthetics Clinic, tells us some, and explains the difference between the two.
Q: WHAT CAN BOTOX AND FILLERS DO, APART FROM TACKLING WRINKLES?
A: Both can be used to sharpen the features. If you have a round or square face, botox can be injected into your jawline to contour it, resulting in an oval-shaped face. Fillers can be injected into the nose bridge to make your nose appear higher, narrower or longer, or into the chin to sharpen it.
Q: IS USING BOTOX FOR FACE SHAPING SAFE? ARE THE INJECTIONS PAINFUL?
A: Yes, botox is a safe and quick method of face shaping when administered by an experienced doctor. You will look slimmer, yet still look like yourself! The injections feel like bee stings. However, the procedure is over very quickly and the pain is usually gone in a few minutes.
Q: I HAVE AN IMPORTANT EVENT COMING UP AND WOULD LIKE TO LOOK MY BEST. I’M CONSIDERING BOTOX AND FILLERS. HOW DO I DECIDE WHICH IS MORE SUITABLE FOR ME?
A: It is best to discuss this with your doctor, who will analyse your face and recommend the option more suited for you. Botox and fillers do different things: the former relaxes muscles, while the latter lifts. Sometimes, you get the best results when you go for both.
Q: WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE TREATMENTS BEFOREHAND?
A: You can expect visible results 48 hours after botox, but for optimum effects, you’ll usually need to wait three weeks. Fillers, on the other hand, give immediate results, but there is typically some inflammation and mild swelling after the treatment. It is best to do both treatments at least four to six weeks before an important event. This gives enough time for the botox to take full effect and the swelling from the fillers to subside.
DR ANITA SOOSAY, medical director at The Aesthetics Centre Laser and Medical Aesthetics Clinic.
The Aesthetics Centre Laser and Medical Aesthetics Clinic is at #01-33 Great World City (Office Tower). For more information or to make an appointment, call 6820-3308 or 6820-3309, SMS 8139-6112 or visit www.theaestheticscentre.com.
STEM-CELL THERAPY
PLATELET-RICH PLASMA (PRP) THERAPY
FAT, BEGONE!
Non-invasive aesthetic treatments can help you get a sleeker, more sculpted body. Dr Soh Lea Sar of Healthsprings Laser and Aesthetic Clinic explains how.
Q: I’VE TRIED DIETING AND EXERCISING, BUT STILL CAN’T GET RID OF THE FAT ON MY ARMS AND MY DOUBLE CHIN. WHAT CAN I DO?
A: Try Exilis Elite, which utilises radio-frequency energy to heat and destroy fat cells. These are then removed naturally from the body. It also stimulates collagen production to tighten skin. During the 30- to 45-minute treatment, a gel will be applied, after which a handheld device will be glided over the skin; you may feel some warmth during this process. Four sessions every seven to 14 days are recommended. Expect some redness post-treatment. Results are usually visible after one session.
Q: IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE TO LIPOSUCTION FOR MY TUMMY AND THIGHS?
A: Our clinic offers two options: Vanquish Me, which is good for large areas such as the tummy, and Vanquish Flex, which is suitable for the inner and outer thighs as it involves the use of smaller panels. Both utilise radio-frequency energy to heat and destroy fat cells, and tighten skin. But unlike Exilis Elite, both are contactless, and each treatment targets different parts of the body to achieve results. You will experience a warm sensation during treatment, which lasts 45 to 60 minutes. The treatment area may feel sore after, as if you have exercised. Four to six weekly sessions are recommended and improvements are generally visible after four to six weeks.
Q: IS IT POSSIBLE TO TREAT CELLULITE?
A: Yes. I recommend BTL X-wave, which utilises acoustic radial soft waves – sound pulses that induce vibration – to prevent cellulite from returning or worsening. The feedback from those who’ve tried it is that it feels like a massage! It leaves no redness or marks, and can be done weekly. Improvements are usually seen after at least four sessions done one week apart.
Healthsprings Laser and Aesthetic Clinic is at #11-01 Liat Towers, 541 Orchard Road, Singapore 238881. For more information, visit www.healthsprings.com.sg/aesthetics, call 6836-8386 or e-mail enquiry@ healthsprings.com.sg.
DR SOH LEA SAR, founder of Healthsprings Laser and Aesthetic Clinic.
INTRACEL (FRACTIONAL RADIOFREQUENCY MICRONEEDLING)
PLEXR PLASMA EYE LIFT
SCARED OF SPIDERS?
Spider veins, that is. Dr John Tan of The Vein Clinic & Surgery explains the causes of those red or purple clusters of thread-like veins and what can be done.
Love wearing short skirts, but not the unsightly spider veins (proper name: telangiectasia) on your legs? Or maybe you have them around your nose and are tired of covering them with makeup. Dr John Tan, founder of and consultant vascular surgeon at The Vein Clinic & Surgery, gives the low-down on these red or purple clusters of dilated blood vessels that can be seen through the skin.
Q: WHAT CAUSES THEM?
A: Spider veins – so called because of their fine, weblike appearance – can be hereditary. They can also be caused by increased blood pressure in the veins, which can result from prolonged standing or sitting, and hormonal changes such as pregnancy. Those on the face are often the result of sun exposure. Mostly, spider veins don’t hurt, although occasionally, they can cause aching, numbness and tingling.
Q: HOW CAN THEY BE TREATED?
A: Spider veins are not harmful to health and do not need to be treated. That said, if their appearance is troubling you or if they’re causing you pain, there are different approaches to tackling them. Many clinics offer laser and light therapies, but spider veins don’t always respond well to them. My preferred approach is to start with an ultrasound to exclude problems in the deeper veins, then treat the spider veins with sclerotherapy, a 30-minute procedure that involves the injection of a chemical directly into the affected veins, causing them to shrink, close and eventually disappear. Most people find it feels like a series of ant bites. I may combine this procedure with the use of a special laser for better results. Note, though, that spider veins may reappear, particularly if you become pregnant.
Q: BUT DON’T WE NEED VEINS FOR BLOOD CIRCULATION?
A: There’s no need to worry about that as the body has many other veins through which blood flows. The spider veins are already damaged, so eliminating them actually improves your circulation.
The Vein Clinic & Surgery is at #11-08 Paragon. To make an appointment, e-mail enquiry@theveinclinic.com.sg or call 6245-6666. For more information, visit www.theveinclinic.com.sg.
DR JOHN TAN, founder of and consultant vascular surgeon at The Vein Clinic & Surgery.
GOLKI THERAPY (BONE MASSAGE)
INSTANT RADIANCE
Every woman wants a naturally glowing and smooth, even-toned complexion sans makeup. Mirage Aesthetic’s Perfect Touch Solution – BB Covered Foundation Treatment promises to deliver just that.
If you want radiant skin (who doesn’t?), you usually need to put in time and effort. That means investing in skincare that works for you, sticking to a good skincare routine, religiously applying sunscreen every day and going for facials regularly.
And if you have to turn your complexion around fast, or are plagued by issues such as mild acne scarring, slight pigmentation, dark eye circles, uneven skin tone, open pores and inflammation, you turn to non-invasive aesthetic treatments for help.
One that promises to tackle all those problems: Mirage Aesthetic’s Perfect Touch Solution – BB Covered Foundation Treatment ($480). This 60-minute microneedling treatment is said to improve the look of your skin in just one session, delivering a semi- permanent makeup-like effect. While it can be done on any part of the face, even the delicate under-eye area, it is not suitable for those with severe acne.
How it works
After cleansing and exfoliation, a BB cream is applied. Then, a microneedling device with 0.25mm to 1mm needles – the length is dependent on the sensitivity of your skin and the target area – is rolled all over the face; this process will be repeated once.
Following the microneedling, which is said to feel like tiny ant bites, the therapist will spread the product over the face using her fingers and gently tap it into skin. A skin booster mask is then applied, after which the face is cleansed and moisturised, revealing glowing skin. The application of sunscreen wraps up the treatment.
Post-treatment, expect some mild redness that typically lasts for a day or so. Some peeling around the nose and mouth, particularly for those with dehydrated skin, may also occur.
The results
According to Mika Hayashi, owner of Mirage Aesthetic, Perfect Touch Solution – BB Covered Foundation Treatment doesn’t just reduce and improve the look of scars. Skin is also often one tone lighter, smoother – so makeup adheres better – plumper and suppler. Results are said to last for up to four months.
Mirage Aesthetic is at #04-08 Orchard Parade Hotel (tel: 6262-3358/3378).
THE MIRAGE TOUCH
Mirage Aesthetic specialises in high-tech beauty treatments, and instead of the typical sterile white look, it has a spa-like environment with a relaxing ambience, thanks to the abundant greenery surrounding it. All guests are offered a hot towel and their choice of beverage on arrival.
JUST FOR YOU!
In February 2017, new customers can enjoy a Perfect Touch Solution – BB Covered Foundation Treatment for just $280 (UP: $480). To redeem this offer, call 6262-3358 or 6262-3378, SMS 9655-2542, e-mail my@mirageaesthetic. com or visit www.mirageaesthetic.com. Terms and conditions apply.
A laser to remove pigmented tattoos... Peels for specific skin problems... Here, the latest doctors’ recommendations.
CUTERA ENLIGHTEN PICOSECOND TO REMOVE PIGMENTED TATTOOS
According to Dr Ram Nath, medical director at The Wellness Clinic, there are two pitfalls with traditional lasers. They can’t penetrate deep enough to remove coloured tattoos – pigments are deep set (compared to black tattoos), and green and blue are notoriously considered the hardest tones to erase.
They are also, um, not dark skinfriendly. “They can’t differentiate between the darkness of a strand of hair and the darkness of the skin,” says Dr Nath. Which means, dark skins end up being burnt and scarred more than fairer skins.
Enter Cutera Enlighten Picosecond, which is apparently the only laser that 1) penetrates deep enough to tackle pigmented tattoos, 2) differentiates between different pigments in a tattoo, and 3) is dark skin-friendly (it makes a distinction between the melanin in dark skin and the dark pigments in a tattoo).
“It delivers ultra-short pulses of energy in a trillionth of a second to disperse tattoo pigments into fragmented, minute particles, making them easier to eliminate from the body,” says Dr Nath.
The speed of the brief, ultra-short pulses is so fast that Dr Nath doesn’t even use numbing cream for the procedure. “The brain barely registers the pain or heat,” he says.
This cuts treatment time in half. Only two to three treatments are required to significantly reduce the visibility of a tattoo the size of a credit card.
Dr Nath adds: “Any redness or inflammatory responses are transient and will subside in an hour.” – CK
The Wellness Clinic is at #04-09 Camden Medical Centre (tel: 6887-3073).
Xeomin, the new botulinum toxin
Launched recently in Singapore, Xeomin is supposedly one up on “botoxes”. It claims to be free of the binding proteins that are a natural part of botulinum toxins, but is one of the key causes of allergies. This means the body is less likely to develop antibodies in the long run and render the treatment less effective. – CK
MULTI-PURPOSE PEELS THAT SERVE SPECIFIC PURPOSES
Skin solutions shouldn’t come in a one-size-fits-all configuration. That’s why Cutis Medical Laser Clinics offers “new peels that have improved formulas, with a blend of ingredients in safe combinations, to address a wider range of skin concerns better,” says Dr Sylvia Ramirez, the clinic’s medical director.
● To curb acne and lighten scars
The Anti Acne Peel has salicylic acid to fight acne-causing bacteria, and the gentler kojic acid and liquorice extract to lighten residual scars.
● To reduce the look of deep wrinkles and severe acne scars
The Vitality Peel has retinoic acid to reduce the look of wrinkles and remove dead skin cells. It’s combined with ingredients such as hydroquinone, known as one of the most effective skin brighteners. The percentage of hydroquinone here is reportedly a safe amount and the peel is used under a doctor’s supervision.
● To brighten and smooth
The Crystal Peel brightens your complexion with hydroquinone, kojic acid and glycolic acid (an alphahydroxy acid frequently used in peels for newer, younger-looking and unblemished skin). – CK
Cutis Medical Laser Clinics is at #08-07 Scotts Medical Center (tel: 6801-4000).
Ultraformer Hifu III
Hifu (High-intensity Focused Ultrasound) is known as the only non-invasive medical technology that delivers precise, highly targeted ultrasound waves to heat collagen fibres to approximately 65 to 75 deg C to “wound” them, which triggers healing and collagen production for tightened and lifted skin. The downside: it has a reputation for being extremely painful, with patients sometimes even requesting sedation. Ultraformer Hifu III is a third-generation machine that reportedly addresses this problem: The claim is that instead of searing pain from the pulses, all you’ll feel is a mild ache around bony areas such as the jawline. Bonus: the machine comes with a larger handpiece for use on the body, which was previously unavailable. According to Dr Yingzhou Tan, medical director at Simplistiq Aesthetic Clinic, who offers the device, “its ultrasound waves can penetrate to deeper depths of up to 16mm to tighten skin and reduce fats.” From $1,400 per session. – CK
PHOTO 123RF.
