The Simply Aesthetic Sandbox

Urticaria!

2009-10-29T13:32:00.002+08:00

Urticaria is a skin condition that can afflict people for many months (to years) at a time. Itchy lumps appear out of nowhere & move from one area to another, causing havoc with work, sleep and social activities. It's not a condition aesthetic doctors deal with, but a topic dear to my heart as I have suffered on & off with this for decades! So when the opportunity arose this week for me to attend a lecture by a world expert from Germany, I jumped at the chance!

Turns out, there can be many causes of chronic urticaria, from infections (teeth, tonsils, gut), to environmental factors (hot, cold, exercise, etc), food intolerances and an inherent tendency towards the condition. And to complicate matters, an affected individual may have 2 causes, or require 2 sets of conditions to co-exist before developing urticaria!

I know I had food intolerance issues: the ALCAT test proved my excessive ingestion of tomatoes caused my incessant itching two years ago. The latest bout seems to have settled down, and I have yet to find a trigger other than "stress".

Which really brings me to treatment. Stopping the cause is ideal, but locating the cause may not be easy. The aim ultimately is for cure and/or stopping all symptoms. Without the cause, we are left with a series of pharmacological interventions. Starting with a non-sedating antihistamine at standard dose, then quadrupling it to maximum dose for another month. If this is insufficient, then other fancy drugs get added.

Anyway, the anti-histamines have been ordered. I'm desperately awaiting their arrival. Not so much for the skin now as for my allergic rhinitis. The joys of being atopic (tendency to allergic rhinitis, urticaria, eczema & asthma)...

How this is related to standard aesthetic practice? By controlling urticaria, we stop skin trauma from excessive scratching. And scratches can cause severe post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH is relatively easy to treat on the face (eg after acne), but seems much more stubborn on the body, particularly legs.

Updates on Ultrasonic Cavitation

2009-10-17T15:45:00.004+08:00

Some months back, we took delivery of the Lipomax Cavitator, and have been waiting very impatiently for the protocol to arrive from the manufacturers in Italy. Finally, recently, the information we were looking for has come through. Along with these, some photographs of results obtained with this device. The pictures above show the improvement after just one session, 4 days apart.

In summary, each area is treated for 15-20 minutes per session, 2-3 sessions a week, preferably just 1-2 days between each session initially. A loss of 2 cm is common initially. More than one area can be treated at one time. All areas can be treated except face and chest, to avoid damage to the organs within. The treatment is very comfortable, often nothing is felt, at most a gentle warmth. We couple it with lymphatic drainage to remove the fat released from the destroyed fat cells.

So finally, we are ready to begin this service! I anticipate it'll be most useful for small to moderate volumes of fat and areas which are difficult to treat with liposuction.

Melasma Treatment Options

2009-09-22T08:33:00.004+08:00

I've been told that Melasma is very common amongst the Asian population. But in my 3 years of Aesthetic practice, I've hardly seen a single case! So although I was always intrigued by how to treat this very common condition, I've never had much opportunity to try it out.

Melasma, also known as Chloasma and "mask of pregnancy" is a hereditary condition that causes the deposition of pigmentation in the face. The brown discolouration has indistinct edges and predominantly affects both cheeks, athough the forehead ad chin can be affected too. It is predominantly seen in women, worsened by hormonal stimulation (pregnancy, oral contraceptive pill) and sun exposure. The pigmentation can be at various leves, from superficial to relatively deep.

The treatment options have been relatively limited, with creams containing Hydroquinone (such as Triluma) being first line. Although it is known that lasers do not improve the condition, it seems people continue to persist trying!

When we obtained the Nano Perfector last year, the treatment of Measma was one of the draws. Apparently, relatively recent onset Melasma could be reversed quite quickly with this device. We have yet to try this. Upon discussion with Dr Xanya Weiss recently, she now says that it can cause a lightening, but it didn't sound hugely dramatic. Perhaps it's as well we've not had any patients to treat in this way?

I'd also been hearing about the success our Thai friends have been havng with soft plasma peeling for Melasma. So when the opportunity came about for me to tag along with our local distributor for training, I jumped on it!

The treatment protocol for plasma peeling Melasma came about because the doctors were treating Melasma with lasers. What started off as superficial Melasma was recurring as deep Melasma. So from a light brown, it was turning very dark. Naturally patients and doctors were distressed, so they started to look for alternative options.

The protocol now involves rather aggressive plasma peeling with iontophoresis and the occasional glycolic peel. The skincare regime has also been documented, including exact quantities for best results. Downtime is minimal.

I met one lady who has been treated for the past year. She started off wth significant melasma over both cheeks. Now it is barely visible and her skin glows. There is still a light hit of the underlying condition, but she is happily continuing treatments in hope that it will one day be gone.

We are also bringing in Estelan, a program that is modified from Cosmelan. This starts off wth the application of a cream in clinic. This is left on for 4 hours, so washed off at home. Then twice daily application of Estelan 2 continues the treatment for the next few months. There is some peeing and redness after the initial peel, but by all accounts the results are pretty decent and provides rejuvenation & lifting as well as de-pigmentation. This is perfect for the person who is able to tolerate a few days of downtime and doesn't want the inconvenience of regular trips to the clinic for pasma peeling.

With the introduction of these two services, it's interesting that I am starting to see some patients with Melasma now. So I'm really looking forward to assessing for mysef which of these is more superior in the long term.

Inaugural Wine & Beauty Extravaganza

2009-09-04T21:19:00.006+08:00

It has always been my intention to have informal gatherings with friends, clients and guests on a regular basis. This dream came to fruition last month, with our inaugural Wine & Beauty Extravaganza. It was a partnership between Simply Aesthetic, Divine MedSpa and Rubicon Reserve Wines.

The aim was to showcase some of our signature treatments and wines, get to know the guests, and generally have fun. The $30 cost of entry covered a free flow of 5 premium wines, and the opportunity to try a Hot Stones Massage, non-surgical face lifting with the Nano Perfector our new Cavitator. This was waived with purchase of either spa services or wines.

Our guests included photographer Paul Cypert, who runs the beautiful Accidental Epicurean website. It is with thanks to him that we have the beautiful photos below.

The lucky draw winner walked off with a Mesoceutical Facial valued at $188 from Divine MedSpa.

August Beauty & Wine Extravaganza

2009-08-06T19:33:00.002+08:00

Simply Aesthetic, in conjunction with Divine MedSpa and Rubicon Reserve Wines, will be bringing you a series of informal wine and beauty evenings scheduled for the last Wednesday of every month.

Starting August 26th 2009, we plan to bring together a group of 20 people for an evening of fun, aesthetic trials and great wine. This opportunity is not limited to existing clients. All who are keen on finding out about our services and try the featured service without obligation are welcome. The nominal cost of $30 per head is fully refundable upon purchase of either spa services or wines above $100.

For the month of August, Rubicon will be showcasing:

(1) Singapore's best Proseco
(2) A fabulous little Marlborough Sav Blanc at an everyday price
(3) A great Kiwi white for spicy Thai food.
(4) A classic Pinot Noir

On our side, we will be showing off our new ultrasonic cavitation machine. Great for blasting away unwanted fat, this device literally causes the implosion and death of unwanted fat cells! It's a liposuction alternative that we've been looking into for quite a long time now! The plus: no discomfort, no downtime.

Plus, of course, you will get to mingle with the staff from both Simply Aesthetic & Divine MedSpa. Find out what else is in the pipeline or what is best for you! Who knows, we may even bring other machines out for you to play with!

We're still working out the logistics of it all, and aim to bring together a memorable evening for all. Please book early by calling 67325527. We anticipate the places will fill up very quickly indeed! The event will start at 6.30pm and will last for approximately 2 hours.

Surprisingly Effective Puffy Eyes Treatment

2009-08-02T20:56:00.005+08:00

I saw my friend Ivan for the first time in ages yesterday. I was horrified to find huge eyebags under his eyes! I don't remember him ever having any problems in that area before. The skin also looked a little dark and water-logged. I was just about to convince him into a little bit of Botox when I remembered that I had a new eyebag treatment.

The new eye mask, in conjunction with Aesthetic Dermal's Meso-K Arnica Solution is primarily used for reducing dark eye circles. The Vitamin K helps to strengthen the blood vessels in the eye area. Leakage in weak blood vessels causes the deposition of pigmentation in the delicate under-eye area, hence dark eye circles.

The treatment is pretty straightforward: 3 drops of Meso-K Arnica solution is massaged under each eye. The mask is applied and moistened with toner. It is left on for 15 minutes before the mask is massaged into the under-eye area.

One hiccup: when the 15 minutes was up, I was the only one free! And I can't massage to save my life, let alone do any fancy lymphatic drainage movements. So poor old Ivan had me rubbing this stuff into his face, until Cha took over. Now Cha's a nurse by training, so although more gentle with facial massage, equally clueless about lymphatic drainage.

After about 10 minutes, the sheet mask turned sticky goop was pretty much all absorbed. We had to wipe off some of the residue so Ivan could open his eyes and see, but otherwise it went pretty smoothly for our little play.

Ivan's eyes looked brighter straightaway. Less puffy. This was even more obvious half an hour later. I have no idea how long the results will last. He didn't get a bottle of Meso-K Arnica to continue the treatment at home. So his results won't be maximised by any means. I guess if he likes it, he could purchase a full kit for home use. These are available by pre-order only as we don't hold any stock at the moment.

I'd say that this was a successful trial of a new product. The dark circles were certainly less apparent, and the puffiness totally gone. Bye bye eyebags! This service will be available at both Simply Aesthetic & Divine MedSpa once we finalise the price.

Last Few Weeks of Nano Perfector

2009-07-28T19:15:00.003+08:00

The Nano Perfector has been a fantastic addition to my huge family of machines. It has been my favourite for face lifting and general rejuvenation. The response has mostly been positive. Instant results, painless, relatively long lasting... What's not to love?

But sadly, we'll be giving up this machine in just over a month's time. It'll be an upgrade to an even more powerful machine, that is currently still in the production phase. We've been waiting for this machine for the last 6 months. But they have delayed the production till they were absolutely 100% satisfied with the new machine.

And new machine it is! It started off as a new card within the Perfector casing. Now the engine is housed within a transparent casing, with snazzy LED display. There are 300 programs to choose from, and by all accounts the results are reven more remarkable than the Perfector. How could I refuse???

If everything goes to plan, the new machine will be delivered in early September. The price will increase, to cover the cost of the upgrade. However existing clients will continue to enjoy the current price as long as their packages have not lapsed. The increase will be at least 20% above current prices. We have a number of patients who have pre-purchased their treatments at the current super-low Perfector prices and are waiting (very impatiently) for the new model to come in. Us too!

We've got Ultrasonic Cavitation!

2009-07-28T18:58:00.007+08:00

Ultrasound has been used for some years for fat melting. The technology has evolved significantly in the last year or so, with the development of cavitation.

When ultrasound is applied to liquids, compression and decompression waves are created. In the decompression phase, the negative pressure generated produces bubbles within the liquid. These expand and enlarge until the compression phase begins. This compresses the bubbles until they implode. Heat is generated in the implosion process and the fat cell membranes rupture. The fat gets released and is taken into the lymphatic system for metabolism.

This amounts to the targeted destruction of fat cells (ie body contouring) without the need for surgery. This is ideal for small pockets of fat, where long-lasting results are desired without undergoing liposuction. The trade-off is a few treatments, but the lack of downtime makes this feasible.

I was just talking about this to one of the reps last week. When I got back from SNEC this afternoon, I found a box in our pantry... It's arrived!!! Talk about fast! Hopefully the training will be as swift. I believe I have the first unit of this device in Singapore. There's plenty of excess fat amongst us to test this out. It's pretty exciting stuff!

Simply Aesthetic has moved to Robertson Walk

2009-07-14T10:28:00.003+08:00

After many months of planning, renovation, inspections and running back and forth, we have finally settled into our new home at Robertson Walk. We moved all our things over last Thursday, then abandoned the girls for a short holiday, so they could tidy up/organise stocks in peace without any interference from me!

I have to say that I am very relieved to have moved in at last. The last month of running back & forth was getting quite frustrating, especially since the new clinic was in a much nicer space than the old one! But the wait is finally over, the licence is ready and we can unveil the beautiful new facilities.

We now have 3 good sized treatment rooms, two with natural sunlight (frosted glass, of course!). The restrooms are still outside, but just next to the clinic (so no more dashing through the shopping mall to get to the ladies!). Parking is even more convenient. The car park entrance is in the lane between Park Hotel Clarke Quay and Robertson Walk. There's ample parking and is very straightforward compared to UE Square, where people often got lost! And getting lost generally should not be an issue anymore: no more confusion between UE Square and United Square!

For those who are not familiar with Robertson Walk, it is a beautiful development at the junction of Mohamed Sultan Road (section opposite Kim Yam Rd) and Unity Street. It is largely F&B and the restaurants are distributed around a courtyard which is pretty happening at night, especially at weekends. There are some services on the second floor, including the DBS Arts Theatre! Our frontage is just off the corner facing the bridge, next to Divine MedSpa.

It is lovely to see sunlight all the time. UE Square was so depressingly grey, both inside & out! The Singapore River is also a stone's throw away. I'm looking forward to my strolls there when things are quiet in the clinic. So appointments by booking only please! It won't be a pretty sight if I have to run back to the clinic to see you!

Judging the Harper's Bazaar Beauty Awards 2009

2009-07-09T08:14:00.008+08:00

I received an exciting e-mail from Alli Sim, Harper's Beauty Editor a couple of weeks ago. She wanted to know if I woud be keen on being on the judging panel of Harper's Bazaar's Beauty Awards 2009! She warned me that it would be an intensive month of trying out a variety of the newest products for 90 categories! It was naturally an offer that I could not refuse! Which female would?!!! My brief was to give the medical take on which products were best in each category.

The products arrived yesterday. I had a phone call from my very excited 13 year old daughter (and self-elected co-judge), exclaiming that she was "traumatised" at the number of products to try! Fortunately she changed the term to "overwhelmed". Hmmmmmm................

I didn't get home till after 10pm, and all hopes of a decent "early night" were dashed immediately. Six of the largest plastic containers from IKEA were waiting for me. In them was a myriad of products, spanning cosmetics, skincare, hair products, nail care, scrubs, body washes, perfumes, even 2 eyelash curlers! My jaw dropped as it looked like over 1000 items to try in just one month! No wonder Alli said her hair almost dropped out with trying out the hair products last year!

My daughter was bouncing off the wall with glee, proclaiming she now officially has more makeup than any of her friends. The dogs were going crazy trying to get into the boxes. All I could think of was "Oh My God!" and "Thank God I have help!". My daughter is definitely better with makeup than I am. Her beady eyes were already on the eyelash curlers and she'd tried on one of the nail polishes already. One of my friends has extremely dry skin and is desperate for a tan, so anything vaguely oily and in the self tan range will be palmed off to her. The scrubs and hand/foot spa things will be brought into Divine MedSpa for the girls to try on me. Nothing like an expert opinion!

I managed to try a shampoo and conditoner last night. A common high street brand that my daughter has purchased before. Cannot make it. Neither could the face wash I tried. I was intrigued by another sample which had a strange plastic tool and capsule of cream. I have to say that it was the tool that really grabbed my attention! After fiddling about, pulling & twisting it, it broke! Then I realised that the fancy "tool" was nothing but a spatula to scrape out the cream. What a joke!

At this point, I have to say that I gave up on trialling the products & decided to try something "simple": choose the lipstick with the most compelling design. The age gap then surfaced with the little princess going for something hip and the old mother insisting on something classy. The real judge won that battle and we decided on a lipstick with a beautiful shape and unique matt black finish. Settled one item out of 90.

Tonight's task will be an attempt at sorting out the products into the correct categories, choosing some to bring on holiday with me this weekend, and packing the ones for the spa. Then slowly trying out the makeup one by one. If I can find eye makeup that is resistant to my compulsive rubbing, that'll be a miracle!

New Clinic Opening Hours

2009-06-29T16:30:00.003+08:00

With immediate effect, we will be changing our opening hours to the following:

Weekdays: 11.00 to 20.00
Saturdays: 10.00 to 15.00
Sundays: 14.00 to 17.00

We'll be Closed on Tuesdays and Public Holidays.

As before, consultations are by appointment only, although we will try to see walk-ins.

We should be moving to Robertson Walk by the end of next week. Please check this blog for the exact date and closures for move. We'll also be revamping our website, so keep an eye out for this!

See you at our new clinic soon!

Simply Aesthetic at Robertson Walk

2009-04-17T23:09:00.002+08:00

This project has kept me well occupied for the last few months. We have been searching for a suitable new home since November last year. We're happy to finally show the photos of the new location of Simply Aesthetic... Robertson Walk.

This first photo is a pre-renovation view of the clinic side of the unit. The French doors gives it a bright, airy feel. The glass will be frosted, so no privacy issues here! We will have one consultation room and 3 treatment rooms in this section of the unit. Plus a washroom for the desperate!

Robertson Walk has a very laid back atmosphere during the day time. Incredibly private, very European. From the balcony outside our main door, we can catch a glimpse of the Singapore River in the distance. It's just a short stroll away, so fantastic for a mid-day de-stress stroll. Wonder if I'll be motivated enough to go jogging?!!!

The main square at Robertson Walk comes to life at night. Lots of excellent restaurants surround the area. The DBS Repatory Theatre faces us from across the square.

The clock tower is directly above our unit. The open French door that is just visible will be our main doorway. The clinic will be on the left side and the spa on the right.

Renovations begin on 11th May. We are expecting to open the spa by mid-June, but MOH licensing will delay the clinic move till late June. Fortunately, Robertson Walk is just next to UE Square, so disruption will be minimal. The couple of months will be busy but exciting. Our private label line (organic, no less!) is coming together.

Trying out Velashape

2009-04-17T15:37:00.002+08:00

I had the opportunity to try out Velashape this morning. It's the first FDA-approved device for cellulite and circumferential reduction.

It combines four different modalities:

Infra-red
Radiofrequency
Mechanised massage
Vaccuum suction

Being a chicken about any kind of pain, I was a little apprehensive initially. Fortunately, the treatment was pretty comfortable. Some areas felt a little too hot, some areas were a little sore. I treated my arms, calves, thighs & buttocks. I wasn't looking at the clock, but it didn't seem to take too long... about an hour I think to do all those areas. My arms certainly feel more toned immediately after. The full results from this one session will not be seen for a few more weeks.

The trainer came from Lebanon, where she says the procedure is massively popular. They have been selling the machine for over a year, and there have been no complaints, and most importantly, no problems. The satisfaction rate is extremely high. All good news.

We will be looking into adding this to our repertoire. It certainly does help to fill the small gaps in our services, particularly fat reduction in smaller areas that are not great candidates for liposuction, such as chin and calves. It also has the added benefits of targeted fat reduction, skin firming and stretch mark reduction. Most importantly, it is pretty comfortable!

Waterjet Liposuction on "The Doctors"

2009-04-02T23:33:00.003+08:00

I have had quite a few e-mails from Americans recently, asking about the feasibility of coming to Singapore for liposuction. They all said they'd seen the procedure on "The Doctors" and were convinced that this is the procedure for them.

Having a few minutes free this evening, I decided to try to find this video clip. I did the usual youtube search and just found some clinic adverts, one short clip in Spanish, but not the show that had intrigued them enough to find me.

Eventually, I found the program's website, and happily they had the entire video clip online!

http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/procedure_list/162

They used the standard treatment philosophy for thigh reduction. The results are pretty significant straight after the operation. I think I still prefer the waterjet-plus technique for "skinny jeans" results. But then, I am biased! ;o)

Body-Jet(R), State of the Art Water-Jet Assisted Liposuction Technology To Be Featured on National Television Show, The Doctors This Week

2009-03-19T08:36:00.001+08:00

Body-Jet(R), State of the Art Water-Jet Assisted Liposuction Technology To Be Featured on National Television Show, The Doctors This Week

Finally, Waterjet Liposuction reaches the USA! Looks like they've got FDA approval at last! I'm so pleased. It's a fantastic technique, but many people are only looking for the FDA label. This of course takes years for a device from outside the USA. I've had my fair share of skeptics grilling me on this exact point.

Congratulations Humanmed! Well done on clearing FDA & getting Body-Jet into the USA!

Moving Forwards Into New Horizons

2009-03-18T16:23:00.002+08:00

I am very excited to finally be able to announce officially that we are on the move again! Our clients who have been visiting the clinic over the past few months may have heard some snippets of our exciting new venture, but nothing could be confirmed until we found the right location!

I have just had confirmation this morning that we will be moving to Robertson Walk. The location is perfect as we will be in a much larger space, just across the road from our current UE Square locale. We'll be on the second floor, above Queen's Tandoor, so privacy & convenience will still be integral. Parking is downstairs in the basement, also free on Sundays, with the big bonus of no one getting lost in the massive multi-sectioned UE car park.

The big move will happen around 1st June. The clinic will be larger, with three full sized treatment rooms. The spa will be massive, with aesthetic, spa and holistic services. We will also have a yoga/meditation studio and mani/pedi services. I'm exploring incorporating foot jacuzzi services into the mani/pedi area after an inspirational trip to Bangkok! We are developing a private label line which is organic and incorporates aromatherapy principles.

I've been itching to blog about the building of the spa for months. We've not had anything exciting for the clinic side, but boy have we had a blast choosing services for the spa! The new spa blog has just been started: www.divinemedspa.blogspot.com. I'll be updating that site regularly to document the progress. Enjoy!

Manual Lymphatic Drainage after Liposuction

2009-03-14T17:31:00.002+08:00

I operated on a friend a week ago. It was a straightforward abdominal liposuction (waterjet-plus of course!), removing over 3L of fat. She seemed to trap water quite significantly, so I was concerned that she would be swollen for quite a long time.

There was a small reduction in girth when I saw her 2 days after surgery, and the oozing had stopped. I was pretty happy about that. I was able to keep an eye on her as I was attending a course with her mid week.

The interesting thing about her recovery was her use of her therapist background to speed up the healing process. In particular, reducing the swelling and bruising. Her trick was to do post-natal wraps, use dead sea mud and do manual lymphatic drainage. And it worked! One week post surgery, her reduction is significant! I have to admit that I'm very impressed. I don't think any old lymphatic massage will make such a significant difference. This girl is truly the best Therapist I have had the pleasure of being massaged by. She has magic hands combined with a deep thirst for knowledge, deep passion for spa therapy.

I'm really looking forward to the day when I can combine medical with effective spa treatments such as these to really deliver the best results. In other words, watch this space!

Finally! SMC Approval!

2009-02-02T18:57:00.002+08:00

I finally received confirmation from SMC today that our protocols for List B procedures have been approved. So finally we can continue treating our patients with acne scars and cellulite. It's been a long hiatus, since November last year, but I'm glad we've finally received the green light to proceed LEGALLY.

There has been some changes with how we are allowed to practice, so we'll adhere to those. Lots of forms of course, but that's no issue. Also the no advertising clause, hence my not mentioning which treatments we have had approval for! But it's no secret which treatments have been classified as List B, so it won't take a genius to figure out how we treat acne scars and cellulite!

Comparing Smart Lipo with Waterjet Liposuction

2009-01-08T14:29:00.002+08:00

One of the questions that I'm commonly asked is the difference between waterjet liposuction (WAL) and the other forms of liposuction, smart (laser) lipo and VASER in particular. Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to treat patients who have had both forms of liposuction prior to seeing me. For VASER, it is normally for other areas (they found VASER too painful to recover from). For smart lipo, revisions were the more common procedure.

Usually, the patients who have undergone smart lipo had small areas treated previously, and either had inadequate results or irregularities that needed smoothening out. It is uncommon to find smart lipo being used for large area liposuction, hence I have not had a good basis for comparing waterjet-plus with it.

I recently treated a gentleman who had smart lipo of his entire abdomen a few years ago. He went to one of the most famous Plastic Surgeons in London's Harley Street. He reports that the procedure was done under local anaesthesia only. The entire abdomen (including flanks was treated). Pain was minimal after the surgery. The fat felt jelly-like subsequently for a period of time. Then nothing... He saw no difference whatsoever. This is a gentleman who should have reasonable results and realistic expectations.

He came to me about a month ago after his wife found me online. We corresponded for a number of weeks before he flew into Singapore. He was the perfect patient intra-operatively. We removed a significant volume of fat from the areas treated with smart lipo previously. He saw the difference immediately and was discharged from follow-up earlier this week, delighted with the results.

The point of greatest interest to me was the recovery process between the 2 procedures. Both are touted as having the least downtime, least pain. Previously, I was comparing apples with pears because of volume differences. Finally, this was an almost fair comparison. Certainly I still have the greater disadvantage as revisions do tend to be technically more difficult and recovery is often more uncomfortable too.

Anyway, this gentleman bounced in the next day, none the worse for wear. He said it was pretty painful after the operation (later the same day), but by the next morning, the pain was very mild. Compared to smart lipo, it was more painful immediately after WAL, but both were equivalent by the next day. He was not too bothered at all by the discomfort, far happier to see the fat gone (this was obvious even with the post-op swelling).

I discharged him some 3 weeks after the procedure. The swelling was virtually gone. No bruising remained. The skin felt a little numb and strange (normal after lipo), but had retracted very nicely. Best of all, the new shape was pretty obvious. Further reductions are likely to occur over the next month, but he's already very happy with what he sees.

Neera Detox

2009-01-07T15:50:00.002+08:00

Many of my Expatriate friends living in Singapore talk about their detox experiences. The one that I'm closest to went on her first week-long juice fast about 3 years ago (before I met her) and this cured her obesity & cellulite issues. Having only known her slim, I have only seen a few tent dresses and old photos as evidence of this dramatic feat! She continues to juice once a week, and goes on a week-long detox once every few months.

Ever the greedy pig, I have always wondered what madness possessed her to torture herself so regularly. I can't even manage to go without food for half a day without feeling faint. However, the gluttony & inactivity since opening the clinic has caught up with me, and my allergies have been pretty bad recently. So I've been forced to re-think the need for detoxification.

I accidentally happened upon the website for a product called NeeraDetox. Made in Switzerland, this product is recommended by doctors across Europe to promote health and longevity. Over 1.5 million litres of this stuff is sold worldwide every year.

The key ingredient is their Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup which is a union of maple and palm syrups carefully formulated to provide the essential nutrients needed by the body during the fast. This is mixed with freshly squeezed lemon juice (supplies Vitamin C and potassium, dissloves mucus build-up and waste... yuck!) and a dash of cayenne pepper to stimulate the circulation and break down toxic buildup.

The drink replaces all meals for 3-5 days (even one day is okay for the feeble and up to 10 days for the desperate!) It tastes pleasant (yes, I have tried a glass) and extra glasses can be consumed when hungry, to quench the hunger pangs.

When I first heard about the maple syrup-lemon detox many years ago, I was skeptical (like most doctors) and very concerned about loss of muscle mass. So what's changed? Firstly, a short-term fast is unlikely to destroy much muscle, and this can easily be built up again with exercise (or Ion Magnum). Plus the latest medical evidence is for calorie restriction and longevity. It also reduces age-related disease such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Anyway, game for anything as usual, I called up the local representative. She shared that her brother lost 5kg after just 3 days on this detox! Impressive! Plus the product flies off the shelves in the other clinics that stock this. The results are so dramatic that each patient's friends all flock in to purchase the drink.

We have received stock yesterday. I have purchased my lemons. So it's just getting mentally ready to fast & detox. This Saturday may be D-day!

Desperately Seeking Female Plastic Surgeon in Singapore!

2008-12-06T20:43:00.002+08:00

I stayed back late last night for a young lady who could not make it for her liposuction consultation till after 8 pm. She came to know of me after I booked her sister in for waterjet liposuction.

It seemed that the pair of them had been desperately looking for a female doctor to help them get rid of their unwanted fat for years! They had both searched online over many months, but only found male Plastic Surgeons in Singapore. They even contemplated going to Indonesia to have the surgery as they found a clinic with female doctors there!

Somehow, her sister located me about a month ago, has booked for surgery, and she was not far behind.

I had been told many times that female aesthetic doctors were more sought after in Singapore. Interesting to see that this is true for a segment of the population. Especially since the general consensus is that the ladies here usually prefer male gynaecologist!

Dangers of Internal Fat

2008-10-12T20:00:00.002+08:00

I attended a lecture last week entitled "Drugs To Treat Hungry Genes". What an eye-catching title! The lecturer was from Brisbane & an expert in Obesity & Metabolic Disease. I was fascinated to ear what he had to say, whether there were any revolutionary new medicines out in the pipeline.

Naturally, he started with an introduction of the risks of obesity. How the waist circumference was a predictor of chronic disease. How liposuction did not alter that risk whatsoever, so it was really up to lifestyle habits (diet & exercise) to make the difference. He felt that the addition of Duramine to the treatment regime was beneficial, as the majority of weight loss occurred during the first 6 months. Surgically, only omentectomy could remove internal fat. The omentum is the fatty apron that lies inside the abdomen. Certainly a drastic step to take, and I have only seen this done for cancer operations, not weight reduction.

I was really disappointed that he didn't have anything new to add to our treatment regimes. He used meal replacements as part of his treatment protocol, and I am really not in favour of such a calorie restrictive diet plan. Surely he should take the loss of muscle mass into consideration? Seems like he has forgotten that the body is built for survival, and accumulation of fat at the expense of muscle is the body's main defence against starvation.

But then I guess we are one of the lucky few clinics who own machines that can reduce internal fat and build muscle. So I can afford to be critical of doctors who are in a less fortunate position equipment-wise. The combination of Thermojet with Ion Magnum is pretty potent. Both speed up the metabolism and burn fat for fuel. Ion Magnum in addition builds muscle and has major anti-aging benefits. Plus has clinical studies to show its efficacy in slowly burning off the dangerous internal fat. No operation or major lifestyle changes needed.

New Promotions

2008-10-12T19:49:00.003+08:00

Please check out our Promotions page for our new prices.

Many of our most popular treatments have had their prices reduced! These include the Easy TCA peel package for $800 and IPL rejuvenation at just $1500 for 6 sessions! IPL armpit hair reduction stays at $100 per session.

We have altered the way we charge for liposuctions too. Instead of a package covering all costs except for compression garments, we will be splitting off hospital charges from Mount Alvernia. So those with smaller amounts of fat will benefit more from the reduced theatre & pharmacy charges.

All not the revised prices have been listed on the Promotions page. We aim to keep our treatments affordable during these distressing recession times.

Back to Manila to Lecture

2008-10-01T08:41:00.002+08:00

I was in Manila this time 2 years ago, running around the conference circuit, lecturing about Mesotherapy. That was when I fell in love with that city, and have always looked for opportunities to return.

Last week, I was invited to lecture again. Same group of doctors as 2 years ago. Hundreds of them! This time, I only had a week to prepare. In fact, less than a week... The trip was confirmed last Thursday afternoon & here I am at the airport on a Wednesday morning. I didn't even know the lecture title till the weekend!

Thankfully, the lecture commitments aren't as heavy this time. Just a single half hour talk on a new needle-free mesotherapy device. Yeah. Ironic, isn't it? Speaking as an expert on a subject I'm no longer supposed to practice except as a trial?

We borrowed that machine & tried it out over the weekend. Dyna's mother got volunteered. It was a seriously tedious process, but painless (except on my pocket as the solutions were oh so expensive). She saw her pores close up very quickly. And by the next day, her nasolabial folds had completely disappeared.

She was impressed! She wanted more! Thankfully the machine went back yesterday afternoon. ;o)

The rest of my time in Manila will be spent doing demonstrations at the booth. Mixture of demos including the Botox Dermalift which I learnt from Dr Lam in Hong Kong 2.5 years ago and love. I guess there'll be demos on the new Aesthetic Dermal products too, including Meso-K/Arnica for dark eye circles, Reparastim for rejuvenation & BONTA Botox replacement.

And shopping at Greenhills of course, before I get back on the plane on Friday night. Perfect timing for Christmas shopping!

Preparing for F1 Parties

2008-09-26T12:02:00.003+08:00

I have the great privilege to have been invited to 2 premiere events this weekend. Tonight's party is at the Mercedes centre and is my first red carpet party. The second is on Sunday night. A major hush hush top-secret party at an even more secret waterfront location, hosting VVIPs including some of the F1 drivers.

So how does one prepare for such spectacular events with celebrities and media (local & foreign)?

I only received the invitations a week ago, so crash slimming is out of the question. Especially when I had to dash around Orchard Road to search for appropriate dresses that fit! Can't risk doing anything that could jeopardise my new clothes!

So intensive face work was called for. I've been quite lazy about doing treatments generally. Something about being surrounded by all these machines... Mery last did a facial for me in mid 2007, when we were still at Faber House! I don't think we'd even decided to move to UE Square at that stage! Since then, I've had one round of Easy TCA peeling (end 2007), 2 lots of Actistem (January & June this year) and the odd Perfector session. Fortunately, having just had to prepare for a photo shoot last week, I had done a little bit of lifting with the Perfector recently.

On examining my face earlier this week, I decided I had a few clogged pores I wanted cleared out. I still needed just a little more lifting for ideal jawline definition, and my complexion looked a tad dull.

With these in mind, I decided some treatment with the RF in rejuvenation mode was the first step. RF rejuvenation acts as an electric peel, so skims off some of the dead skin cells and ejects blackheads and comedones. Half an hour later, the skin looked more radiant, most of the pores were cleaner, but there were a few deep comedones that still refused to come out. So the face steamer came out and Joey extracted the stubborn comedones.

Since I was in the self indulgent mood, I decided I should have a mask treatment to follow. We decided on the Caviar mask with Caviar ampoule for hydration. I had always used the Whitening mask before, so this was a nice first for me. Half an hour later, I emerged radiant and most surprisingly, the lift I wanted was there! The collagen from the mask had impregnated through and hydrated my skin, providing the lift I so desperately wanted! Since closing our Spa, we had pretty much neglected these Biomatrix masks and I had forgotten how amazing they were.

The rest of today will be spent getting my nails, hair and makeup done. Then F1 party, here I come!