Lipo-V - New Mesotherapy on the block.

Mesotherapy is back on the block as a way to remove stubborn localized fats. Yes peeps, localized not generalized. During the last IMCAS in France in January, there was much hype about the reemergence of mesotherapy as a modality for treatment.

Fat areas and weight loss has always been an area of interest for me since I was previous really overweight and I have bulge issues. So when a friend of mine introduced this new mesotherapy line from Korea, I was skeptic but curious.

The older generation mesotherapy usually requires multiple treatments done at weekly intervals to get a good result and sustain the effect. Usually you require between 2-10 vials per area (depending on area size) and the treatments are done weekly 5-10x. The usual problems with the previous mesotherapy is bruising that can be unsightly and for double chins, it can be very tricky.

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Skeptic but curious, I was fortunate that they were having a mini launch and workshop to introduce this mesotherapy. The training was done in KO skin center in Klang and as many as 50 doctors attended the talk and training conducted by Dr Seo from Korea together with his colleague Mr Joseph (Korean too). 

This mesotherapy line is called Lipo-V and it comes in 2 sets. One is Lipo-V for face specially designed for double chin and to remove face fatty areas (yes, you can also sculpt those chubby cheeks). The second line is Lipo-V body which comes with an additional drainage  vial and is used for body parts.

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Attendees during the workshop 

The brochures and before after testimonials were pretty impressive. Dr Seo showed some of his Korean patients pictures and how he has used Lipo-V to create a more 3D less chubby look. It is not ethical to snap photos of other doctor's patients and post it on online, hence why I don't, but even for an experienced aesthetic practitioner like me, I was pretty impressed. I was also thinking of how many Malaysians can actually benefit from such treatment. What impressed me the most was the immediate effect which gets better over 3 days and the lack of bruising. Bruising is always a challenge when it comes to doing mesotherapy around the face, since patients will feel uncomfortable if they get bruises and need to hide them.

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With Dr Ko and the Korean team, Dr Seo, Mr Joseph and sorry but I really didn't get his name lol. 

There was a live demo session which was impressive because of the skill and speed of Dr Seo in doing the patients. There was also a demonstration of using PLLA threads in contrast to PDOs but I'll talk about them in much detail in another entry.

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 Of course, we definitely need to take a wefie.....

So, being the curious cat I am, I volunteered myself as a demo subject. The area of my concern is of course, the tummy. After 2 natural childbirths and gaining like 30 kilos per pregnancy, it is a big issue to tackle. The method of administration was via cannula technique, hence reduces injection points and pain. This also contributes to less bruising. They used a total of 8 vials on my whole tummy with 2 vials on the top, 2 vials on the sides and the 4 for my lower tummy area. 

Did it hurt? Well, I did feel a sharp sensation, and a little bit of acidic feel which was not entirely painful but not so comfortable either. However, since Dr Seo was very fast, it was acceptable. The problem afterwards was more related to the lidocaine content in the syringes because they actually pumped me up with 2mls X 8 syringes of 2% lidocaine which gave a total of 16 mls of 2% in one shot. I had tongue numbness and lightheadness which also made me feel a bit giddy and unsteady on my stilettoes. I drank 3 bottles of mineral to wash out the effects, and after 4 hours only my tastebuds were better. It was pretty funny because I had spicy banana leaf in Nirwana Bangsar, and I felt that it was not spicy and lacked sweetness when my kids where complaining that it was a tad too spicy. 

So I guess, my advice to the doctors is to be a bit careful with the lidocaine content. I guess anything more than 5 vials, we should cut back on the lidocaine to 1 ml instead of 2. Result wise, I think it is pretty impressive. They advised me to do RF or any high frequency device on the same area after 2-3 days. I took the liberty of taking daily photos to observe the changes. The quality is not super super excellent but you can make out the difference. The lower abdomen improved so much after 1 session, but the best would be after 3 sessions.

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My tummy from day 0 to day 3

I asked Mr Joseph about the longevity of the results. The results are good even up to a couple of months pertaining that you do not over eat and do regular exercise. Personally, I was happy with the results because from experience, usually I would require 2-3 sessions of mesotherapy to achieve what I achieved in 1 treatment. The combination with RF makes the results even better and I think it should be done together. The best part is the lack of bruising and soreness that you usually feel after a conventional mesotherapy treatment.

Ingredient-wise, this product is plant base thus adheres to certain sensitivities related to animal products. The best results is after 3 treatments, which is good since most mesotherapy courses take up to 10 sessions. The safety of the product? Well, because it is plant base and hypoallergenic, there is no restriction to the use of vials per session. The only thing doctors need to watch is the amount of lidocaine mixed into the solution.

Perhaps, the only setback is the cost of the treatment. 1 vial is charged at roughly RM 600 and you may need between 2-10 vials per sitting. However, you only require 3 sessions as compared to 5-10 of the normal mesotherapy. When you add it up, it is just about the same but with the results you want, and almost no downtime. Plus the mesotherapy is so safe, you can use it almost anywhere you want. As for face, you need perhaps 2-4 vials just for double chin, and to reduce cheek volume perhaps another 2-4 vials per session (because you have left and right obviously). Another interesting usage is to reduce gland swelling which is common in Asians due to high consumption of spicy foods. Depending on the doctor and technique for the face a vial will cost between RM 600-RM1000 because of the technical difficulty and clinical experience. Yes people, different doctors have different skill levels. The more experienced and well trained a doctor, the fee is usually slightly higher. (Actually we have a standard range for our professional service).

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I am pretty much excited about this new product especially after testing the product on myself. So, how much is it? For an introductory offer prices are as follows:

      

            Face : 6 vials at RM 3000 ( 5+1 offer)

                       12 vials at RM 5500 

                       20 vials at RM 8500

            Body : 1 set consists of 2 vials i.e. fat lipolysis and drainage which will be injected

                        together

                        10 sets at RM 5000 (NP RM 6000)

                        20 sets at RM 8000 (NP RM 12000)

                        30 sets at RM 9000 (1 box at 50% discount, NP RM 18000)

Hurry quick.... Offer ends soon. For more information or to book treatments contact us at drmmclinic@gmail.com or send a whatsapp or text to +60129660852 and we will respond soon. Not to be missed.

The Sagging Face .......... Part 2 (Treatment Options)

Well, that was a long hiccup from my last entry. My apologies to my fellow readers. Sometimes it is hard to find that quiet time to let the words flow and produce good quality writing. Well, anyway, as I promised before. Let's continue our discussions on the sagging face.

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So now we know that there are many factors causing the face to appear to sag, from anatomical differences i.e. weight loss or gain or alternating of the two, skin texture loss or just the very process of ageing which leads to bone resorption especially around the orbits and the maxilla. Let's discuss the options of treatment. Bear in mind, the options are not sequenced according to the most effective method. Based on the patient, sometimes 1 or more modalities are required or multiple sessions.

1. Botulinum Toxin A facelift injections.

I remembered when I first started to  join the Medical Aesthetics field, my seniors were in the hype of the 'Botox-lift' which uses diluted BTA intradermal meso-injection techniques at certain areas of the face and neck to produce a slimmer tighter look and feel. The jawline tightening was dubbed the Nefertiti lift and was published in one of the medical journals. It was a quick and simple way of getting a tighter look by only spending 15 minutes in the office. Although the results were quite good, unfortunately, it only lasts between 1-3 months post injection and it does not tackle volume loss issues. Complications may include asymmetry of the face especially if there is a marked power difference from one side of the face to the other, or if the injections were too deep and inoculated into the underlying muscle. Per procedure will cost around RM 1000 - 2500, depending on the units used and the patient would have to come back to the clinic every 2-3 months to sustain the results. Some doctors are still doing this technique. Personally, I only do this upon patient's request.

2. Dermal Fillers - Hyaluronic Acids (HA)

Besides volume filling, dermal fillers can also be used for tightening. Nowadays with the newer HA fillers that gives better volume than the previous ones, we can do point injections to lift up the overlying tissues (muscle,skin, etc) to give a more tighter look. The injection sites usually involves the temples and the cheeks, with additional fillers used to fill up volume deficiency. However, you will need at least 2 syringes of a good volume filler (3-4 of the less dense fillers) to get the best effect. The good news is that it will last at least 12 months, and some of these HA fillers last up to 24 months or more. For non-HA fillers, Radiesse also has a tightening protocol using similar point techniques with an additional vector technique aimed to sharpen the jawline and bring up jowls. It requires at least 2 syringes on the first sitting, with possibly a follow-up syringe after 3 months for it to last 6-15 months. However, for both these types of fillers would require a fairly good texture of the skin in order to get the result. Other things consider is how good is your doctor at doing the procedure and the risks of bruising and lumpiness is always there. Cost wise, you will be spending around RM 5,000 (since its definitely going to be more than 1 filler) but if done well, you an have a good satisfactory result lasting 9-18 months on average.

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3. Poly-L-Lactic Acid Fillers

These are a different type of filler that stimulates your own collagen formation by means of injecting PLLA into the face. There are 2 common ones in Malaysia which is Sculptura and Aesthefill. The procedure requires 3 sittings, once every 1-2 months. Per sitting 1-2 vials of the product is injected into the face. The effects of the procedure can be seen as early as 2 weeks but usually 4 weeks you can start appreciating difference. The only problem is the downtime. It requires multiple injections to the skin which may lead to bruising. Usually the bruising subsides in a few days to a week, but some patients can bruise up to 2 weeks. Another problem is that it may cause some fibrosis under the skin thus making future filler injections pretty difficult especially if the injector is less experienced. Despite the downtime and the bruising, I must say, I am pretty impressed with the results. I had a good friend who decided to go on an extreme diet and exercise regime which caused him to have very severe sagging and a turkey neck. However, after 2 months of the first session, he improved so much that he looked younger than when I first met him a couple years back. Its been almost 2 years, and he still looked great. He just redid his face recently.  For this procedure, patients are required to take a whole course since you need to come back at least 2-3 times. The solution requires preparation, so you will really need to schedule the appointment beforehand. The price of 1 vial is RM 2500. Usually 3 sessions (4-5vials) would be charged at RM 10,000 for the package.

3. Radiofrequency Devices. (RF Devices)

This is perhaps one of the oldest techniques used for skin tightening but is still considered the best solution for skin tightening. However, bear in mid that there are different spectrums of machines used. The ones used in beauty salons are beautician grade, thus the power and intensity of the machine is much less. Some doctors buy these machines because they are cheaper (perhaps 10x cheaper) than the medical grade ones. Medical grade machines have to undergo series of clinical testing and approvals before sold to the market. It also requires proper training to avoid complications and deliver the best results. The medical grade machines in the market are like Thermage, Accent and Pelleve. Actually, there are so many RF devices in the market. Depending on which machine you are using treatment can be as low as RM 300 per session on the lower end of the spectrum to a whooping RM 12K per treatment with Thermage. Most RF machines except Thermage require repetitive treatments. The medical grade devices uses recommend 4x minimum. The beautician grade ones, usually 8-10x. The difference between medical grade and beautician grade device is that the medical grade devices are guaranteed to deliver the 40mJ of energy required to heat up the dermal tissue between 42-60 degrees. Thus, the results can be reproducible and repeat with more accuracy. However, the other factor in the delivery of treatment is the skill of the person handling the machine. A well trained user will deliver a better result, despite the machine being the same. 

4. Intense Pulse Light (IPL)

IPL is one of the oldest light based devices used in aesthetics. Using filters to control wavelengths of light enables the user to target specific needs to the patients face. Similar to the RF devices, there are medial grade and beautician grade IPLs, which differs in terms of intensity and function. The usual wavelength filter used for skin tightening is between 500-1200nm and has shown great results in reducing skin laxity, wrinkles and also telangiectasia. Treatment price ranges from RM 800  - RM 1500 , depending on the type of IPL and area used. However, being a much older technology requires more skill on the doctors side to handle the device and the treatment. Complications are more common in darker skin types and are not limited to blistering, burns and peeling. Usually skin tightening procedures are not very painful compared to hair removal and is tolerable without anaesthesia. This treatment requires repetition to reach the best results, usually 4-10x depending on the type of IPL used. 

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5. Ultrasound Devices

The latest hype on skin tightening devices would be the ultrasound devices or also known as HIFU devices (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound). The most famous perhaps is the Ultherapy device that has been competing with Thermage since it first came into the market in 2009. Nowadays, other companies have also started to produce their own HIFU devices for skin tightening. My experience on Ultherapy was during the initial phase of its launch. The treatments were painful, but according to the latest protocols, the intensities have been reduced and still produced similar results. Tightening results were good, but may need annual repetition to maintain. What I love is that they have new FDA clearance for other things like neck tightening etc. What I don't love is the cost per treatment ranges between RM 12-18K  and that the device costs a bomb. 

6. LED Devices.

Some believe that LED devices give tightening effects to the skin. Although it is more for skin rejuvenation as a whole, it does to a certain extent help to tighten the skin. The wavelength used is the 633nm red light that helps with rejuvenation. The only problem is that the tightening effect is overall and not targeted, so although it may work, it will take a longer time. Treatment prices range between RM 300 - RM 800 per session depending on the type of LED device.

7. LASER Devices

Most LASER devices are designed for rejuvenation or ablation and as a side result, some skin tightening are observed. However, there are LASERs that can use for skin tightening. ND YAG long pulse LASERs have been seen to give a good lift for sagging skin. It can be pretty uncomfortable and repetitive treatments are required. Treatment costs between RM 800 - RM 1800 depending on area and machine used.

8. Platelet Rich Plasma Procedures (PRP)

PRP treatments made a huge hype when Kim Kardashian posted on her social media about getting it done. Obviously she had more than PRP done on herself, but her stunt put PRP as one of the medical aesthetic treatments available in the market. Although PRP does help with rejuvenation, it only gives minimal tightening effect immediately. In the long run, maybe with volume increase and skin thickness increase, it will appear tighter but it would not be working specifically for the jowls. Treatment costs anywhere between RM 1600 - RM 5000 depending on which system they use and which method they inject it with. If its too cheap, be wary, it could be under treatment or done by an unexperienced doctor and you may not get the results you want. 

9. Threads

Threads use to be only the plastic surgeons territory for lifts, but now less invasive threads are available giving you an in-office procedure. There are 2 types of threads used in clinics which are the suspension threads and the PDO threads. Suspension threads like Silhoutte Soft suspends in the fat layer of the face giving a temporary lift immediately lasting anywhere from 6 months to up to 2 years. The main determinant will be the amount of threads used and the technique. Plus whether any anchoring to the SMAS was done. It works on lax skin making it tighter. However, usually 20% of the tightening effect will reduce after 2 months when the swelling from the initial procedure completely subsides hence why sometimes, the doctor tends to pull a lot tighter in the beginning. It would be a good solution to jowls except the cost of the treatment is around RM 4000 - RM 8000 per sitting depending on number of threads used. Some threads requiring anchoring can cost up to RM 20,000 per sitting, which makes you want to consider visiting the plastic surgeon instead. The other threads available are the PDO threads. Now the Koreans have modified them to allow longer lasting effects compared to the first generation of PDOs. Although we can use PDOs for tightening via collagen stimulation, it takes a few sessions (3-5 sessions) over a period of a couple months to get a really good result. The cost is cheaper than suspension threads, roughly around RM 2500- RM 5000 per sitting depending of amount and types of PDO used. Sometimes, doctors would used a combination of both suspension and PDO threads for a better result and this can cost a whopping RM 7000 - RM 12000 per sitting. The only problem with threads is the downtime. If you are lucky you may not bruise, but most of the time it takes between 5-14 days for the bruising and swelling to subside.

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10. Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is the practice of giving micro injections to the face. For face tightening, certain mesotherapy cocktails can be used to improve skin tightening. However, it may be temporary lasting only 2-4 weeks and they maybe risk of pain and bruising. You also require to do multiple sessions (5-10 sessions on average) to get a good result. Some clinic use mesorollers, mesostamps or mesoguns to aid the process.  The cost can vary between RM 250-RM 1200 per session depending on the cocktail and the method used. 

11. Tightening Creams 

I included this in as now a lot of clinics sell products that promises instant tightening of the skin. There are a few scientifically proven substances that can help with skin tightening. One of the most mentioned are the DMAEs (di-methyl-amino-ethanol) which has clinically proven to tighten up the skin. Another common component would be the non-cross link hyaluronic acids which claim to help with hydration and skin tightening too. Personally, i think the molecules maybe too big to be absorbed well. Plus it is aquaphilic, and our skin is water proof. Another amino compound that has made highlights is the 8-hexapeptide complex that helps to reduce wrinkles for 8-12 hours dubbed as the alternative to botulinum toxin. (Honestly, BTA works faster and better). Other active ingredients include retinoids (Vitamin A derivatives), salycilic acid, ATP, Coenzyme Q-10, and other peptides and cytokines. Epidermal Growth Factors (EGF) also plays a role although it is more of rejuvenation of the skin compared to just tightening.

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Regardless of whatever treatment modality that appeals to you, a good consultation with your aesthetic doctor is always important to get a better idea of which treatment or treatment combinations suit you best. It is always good to preplan the procedure so that you can afford the social downtime if required.

For more question or to book an appointment, do contact us at drmmclinic@gmail.com or call / text /whatsapp to 0129660852 .

Dermclar Liposomes - Virtual Mesotherapy

Its been awhile since I have time to actually sit and write my blog. Motherhood definitely takes the toll onto most of my time with both my girls in school, hence more attention need to be given to the sprouting young ones. Its the Chinese New Year holidays, and finally I have some time on my own.

Last January I launched a new product in my clinic called Dermclar Liposomes. This is a very unique product from Spain which requires no needle injections. Sounds interesting? Well the results are more interesting. Before I go on about this new product, let me explain a bit about mesotherapy. Mesotherapy is the practice of injecting products into the dermal or subdermal layer and involves multiple injections per site for better distribution. The common uses are for skin hydration, PRP implantation, adipocyte destruction (but injecting into the subcutaneous layer directly to the fat), tightening or even nutrient injection to correct things like pigmentation and texture. 

According to Wikipedia :

Mesotherapy (from Greek mesos, "middle", and therapy from Greek therapeia, "to treat medically") is a non-surgical cosmetic medicine treatment. Mesotherapy employs multiple injections of pharmaceutical and homeopathic medications, plant extracts, vitamins, and other ingredients into subcutaneous fat. Mesotherapy injections allegedly target adipose fat cells, apparently by inducing lipolysis, rupture and cell death among adipocytes.^[1]

Coming back to Dermclar Liposomes - It is a new technology whereas the creators have discovered a new transport system called liposomes that allows products to enter the skin deeper than just standard application and reach the dermal and subdermal layers. The results are similar to treatment with mesotherapy minus the downtime, risk of bruising or pain. And with the no needle technology, treatment around the eye areas and other sensitive areas become a lot easier.

How does this thing work again? Well, with the latest technology of liposomes, it enables the product to be carried through the skin to the subcutaneous or subdermal where it takes effect. The liposomes technically replaces injections into the skin (mesotherapy) but delivers the products to the same level hence why it is called virtual mesotherapy. A single application without using any machines shows instant results in 6 minutes. Phoebe, my friend who introduced me to this product actually did a a mock demo on my arm one day when I was sitting in the clinic - she applied the Face-Neck-Low Neck onto my left arm and there was instant tightening after 6 minutes. No machines used. So we left it at that and its been almost 4 months and people can still see a significant difference between the tightness of my left arm compared to my right arm. Gees.

But in order to get a more stable and balanced result, we recommend that the treatment be combined with their Anti-Age Radiofrequency and transdermal delivery device. We usually recommend weekly with an ampule for 5 times and this will give a stable result between 3-6 months. Using the ampules as homecare will also help prolong and maintain the results. For those who are familiar with mesotherapy, you will notice that this is same with the injections where we usually recommend weekly injections 4-8x then maintenance monthly. 

So what other ampules do they have:

Oh yeah, they thought of everything. My personal favourite would still be the face-neck-low neck for tightening since its one of my main concerns (especially arms). Now its even cooler, since they have also brought in their hand held homecare delivery device to give you an easier and more even distribution of the products.

For more information call us at 03-21440080 / 014-2233268 or email to info@faceworks-clinic.com

Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year Peeps... it's 2013 already. And this year my life has turned a serious 180 degrees from a super party queen to more of a soccer mum. Oh well, hence the late entry for the year. Yes, handling 2 school going children is a pretty major task and takes up a lot of my play time.

Still, this year Faceworks Clinic has a new direction and there are a lot of new things in stored for all our lovely patients and fans. It is also entering the 5th year of me holding the helm of this clinic, so we will definitely be having a big anniversary event at year end to celebrate this wonderful achievement. 

For the time being, let me give you a brief of all the new products we have decided to bring into the clinic.

This is just a brief review of what we will be carrying this year, the full review will be written up later:

1. Neostrata Skin Active Range

This range came out early last year and I have to say, it is one of my favourite. (Especially the cleanser). Its designed for more mature skin, to help exfoliate dead skin as well as rehydrate the epidermis. The eye cream helps reduces fine wrinkles around the eyes. However, for best results, you will need to continously use this product diligently and studies shown 87% improvement after 3 months. The price for a whole set is : RM 840/= which is affordable if you are comparing with high end cosmetic brands like Lancome, Shisheido and SKII.

2. Neostrata Enlighten Range

This is a new range just launched end of last year. I've been trying this out and I find that it helps to lighten out my PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation) post acne in a span of 2 weeks. I was a bit sensitive to the pigment controller since it has retinol in it but otherwise, it is a good set for peiople who wants a brighter face and have pigmentation scar issues like me. The whole set costs only RM 475 and can last you up to a month and a half. 

3. Dermaceutic Home Care Range

Dermaceutic is a new range from UK which came about during early last year. The trend of physicians in Europe going away from lasers and concentrating more on peels have led to this. It has a variety range of peels but unfortunately in Malaysia, we are only allowed until the Spot Peel. Neverless, it does have a very good home care range which is more versatile to be used together or combined with other things. Each product is pretty affordable with prices starting from RM 150 onwards for a bottle that can last approximately 1-2 months. My personal favourite in this range is the turnover cream which I use at night before my serums if I feel my skin is not up to par. Love the silky feeling and evening out of skin tone in the morning.A must have for busy people like me.

4. Heliocare Sunblock Oral and Compact Powder

I admit. I am crazy about sunblock. The SPF 50 gel is my all time favourite but now I am also bringing in the compact and the oral sunblock (although actually it has been around for years). The compact is a cool kit for ladies since it has 2 tones, a fair and skin tone. So instead of carrying your compact powder around you can use this oil-free compact to touch up as well as get the sun protection you need. The oral sunblock is also a cool thing to have especially if you are planning on outdoor training or beach holidays. I was consuming this when I went to Legoland recently. It helps to reduce risk for sunburn and redness although it does not replace topical sunblock. The compact is selling at RM 120/= each and the oral sunblock is RM 180 per bottle of 60 tablets.

5. Instant Demake - Make-Up remover & Instant Calm Spray.

These are two new products that can come in handy. I love this make up remover because its really clean despite no water. I use it before doing fillers on patients hence reduces washing face time by half. Also if I partied hard the night before and have some left over mascara, it helps take them off. It comes in a big bottle of 250mls which is more than enough to last months. The instant calm spray is another cool item that helps to reduce redness almost instantly. I use this after extractions or procedures which causes redness. I've even used this to soothe skin irritation. It is made of natural products that you can actually drink it. The make up remover is going for RM 108/= 1 bottle and the instant calm is priced at RM 99/= each.

6. Phiderma Cerum, Retinol and Linurase

This is another range of products that I love. Cerum is vitamin C serum in small ampules. Each tub has 50 ampules which is for 50 applications. This eliminates spills, hassle of having to keep in the fridge, oxidation issues and it is very hygiene and easy to bring on travels. The revitalizing retinol complex is an alternative to people using retin-A creams. It is a lot softer but penetrates deep and helps control acne and other skin problems. Linurase contains alpha hexapeptide-8 that acts on the same area as botulinum toxin A to help reduce wrinkles. Single application lasts between 6-8 hours but daily usage continuously for 2 weeks or more shows significant reduction in line appearance. It is a good adjuct to people who have had botox/BonTA done to make the effects last longer or for those not keen for injecting the toxin into the body. The prices are RM300 for Cerum, RM 320 for Linurase, and RM 350 for Revitalizing Retinol Complex.

7. SRS Home care range

SRS is known for its mesotherapy range. However, it also has a cool home care range of serums for a lot of needs. I will be launching this range this coming weekend, so will write more on this later.

8. Dermclar Biological Homecare Range & Dermclar Liposome Range.

This is the latest product in the clinic which comes from Spain. Dermclar specializes in transdermal delivery of products which has enabled them to come up with this special range called virtual mesotherapy. Imagine having mesotherapy like results using products without having to endure the pain of multiple needle injections to the skin. At first I thought that they were kidding me, but after trying it myself, I am a believer. It tackles things like eye bags, skin tightness, double chin, cellulite, lifting and also wrinkles. I will be launching this product this weekend, so if you are interested to know more, just drop by the clinic between 2-5pm this Saturday where we will be having a talk and live demo on this product. Lucky draws and more goodies to be won during this event. We are also having a spring sale of product items up to 50% off.

For more info please contact us at faceworksclinic@gmail.com or call 03-21440080 / 014-2233268.

Medical Aesthetics for age groups......

I went to Penang two weeks ago and enjoyed beautiful sun rises and sunsets on the beach, despite some haze but the ambiance was wonderful. The only thing was the lack of internet access in my room which made it less convenient to update my blog. Still, I did get nice writing ideas which I would like to share.

Today's entry is about medical aesthetic procedures for age based groups. It is just a simple suggestion of things you can get done based on your age to improve how you look. As I always tell my patients, it is always better to do something than nothing because by doing something, there will be some change in your end result. I would also include a rough budget of how much the procedures will pinch you just as a guide.

Early 20s (18-25)

Usually at this age group, you will not have much aging issues. However, acne control and skin tone problems are very common because in this age group, you will still have some hormonal imbalance and is more active outside. Acne treatments would include chemical peeling, extractions, hormone pills or even retinoid A to clean up the skin and control sebum production. The usual skincare would range from acidic wash to exfoliators and gel based products to cope with the active sebum productions. You need to treat acne, because if you don't, you may end up with scars. Medically, we do have oral medications to help control sebum and a change of habits is usually advised. Smoking, late nights, low personal hygiene, stress and food selection does influence worsening of acne. Treatment for acne will depend on severity. Usually doctors would charge between RM 200-RM 1000 per treatment depending on what is involved in the treatment. Skin care can range between RM 300-RM 1000 for a full range depending on brand. Some doctors will use IPL or long pulse lasers to reduce sebum production and reduce P. agnes bacteria that is abundant in acne prone skin. To even out skin tone, I normally would recommend regular skin peeling and religious use of sunblock. Laser peels are also an option but if you have acne issues, there is a high chance of acne breakouts post procedure due to heat stress.

Besides acne and skin tone, this would be a good age to fix asymmetry of the face or to augment. The skin is young, hence fillers will sit in better. But because of the young age, I normally would only recommend doing hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvederm, Teosyal, Restylane) which are non permanent because it is easier to change the look when you've decided and because as you age, a lot of your face fat pads disappear so putting a permanent structure there may look awkward after a couple of years. For face shaping, you can slim down your face with a simple injection of botulinum toxin A (Botox/Dysport). You can read more about this in my previous entry on face shaping. (http://faceworksclinic.blogspot.com/2012/03/face-shaping-it-only-takes-5-minutes.html) Filler prices would range between RM 1400 - RM 2000 per syringe depending on type and how long the filler lasts. 

Late 20s- 30s (26-35)

This is usually when a person is most prime in their life. Biologically for most people, the hormones have settled and you start losing the baby face and your face becomes more defined. The early signs of aging start appearing such as wrinkles on your forehead, frown lines, crows feet and some loss of volume especially at the malar area. (cheeks) Pigmentation problems start occurring and the skin texture becomes drier. Botulinum toxin A can help with dynamic wrinkles. Fillers can help with the slight loss of volume and also to define the face to make it more attractive. Regular peeling can help with the skin texture but a definite skin care range change need to be considered. For pigmentation, using hydroquinone will help to reduce the pigmentation substantially but requires constant use. Lasers can help to reduce pigmentation and improve the skin texture but if proper sunblock used religiously is not applied, there is a high recurrence rate and may even worsen the pigmentation. This is also the point where I would normally suggest to add serum vitamin C into the skin regime as a maintenance and preventive program to help with texture and pigments. Supplements and vitamins are also important at this point to keep the skin glowing healthy. 

Another issue would be the body contour change, where most people find that certain areas are not as attractive as before. For this, I would recommend body contouring programs using medical grade radiofrequency machines (http://faceworksclinic.blogspot.com/2012/02/radiofrequency-tightening-rf.html) , or other medical grade body contouring machines to help. For some people, they prefer mesotherapy injections to reduce fats n certain parts but this requires recurrent treatment of specific area and so may add up to be costly. Regular exercise helps, and target specific exercises are more warranted.

Late 30s to 40s (36- 45 years old)

Most people are more stable at this age but due to the aging process, coupled with stress of work and family and other responsibilities can cause you to look older than you really are. For the face, At this age, most people would start complaining of more pronounced wrinkles on the forehead, frown lines and crows feet. There would be a more marked loss of volume in the malar and lower face, especially around the mouth and the folds by the side of the nose looks more prominent. The skin texture is still good, but pigmentation is more seen if nothing has been done before. Sagging of the cheeks is felt, although not extremely obvious and causes a lot of concerns in some people. Fillers and botulinum toxin A are a good investment for non-invasive treatment to treat lines, wrinkles and volume loss. Some would consider lip fillers because the upper lip has started to thin out more and you lose that youthful look. (Check out http://faceworksclinic.blogspot.com/2012/05/sexy-lips-in-15-minutes.html) Regular chemical peeling and face tightening with radiofrequency devices or lasers would help improve overall skin texture and turgor. At this point, you should also consider having a retin-A or derivatives cream supplement to the face to help with fine wrinkles. 

For the body, you can still opt for body contouring and tightening programs but the expectations should be more realistic. There will be improvement although subtle, and you may need to consider options of skin lifts and fat grafts to get a more marked improvement. Weight control can be achieved by modifying the diet and exercise and I do suggest most everybody above 36 with BMI more than 25 to go on HCG diet (http://faceworksclinic.blogspot.com/2012/03/hcg-diet-my-experience.html) to not only lose the excess weight and reduce body fat percentage but also to retrain yourself to a much more healthy diet and lifestyle. If done properly, you will be able to maintain your weight and enjoy a better life. It also helps increase personal health consciousness as only organic and non-processed meats are allowed during the diet.

After 46 (46 to 65 or more)

At this age, the skin texture is more wrinkled and you will need more moisturizers to help maintain suppleness. Laser resurfacing treatments are a good investment as it helps to improve your skin texture and tightens it as well. Radiofrequency device tightening of the face is another method to help improve sagginess. At this point, fillers are used for volumnization, and a lot of fillers would be needed to have a good effect. (At least 3 syringes per sitting usually). Semi permanent fillers (Aquamid) can be considered for structures like lips and cheek. Mesotherapy treatment with PRPs (http://faceworksclinic.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html) or non-cross link hyaluronic acid fillers (Dermaqueen, Restylane Vital, Juverderm Hydrate, Teosyal Redensity) is also an option to increase hydration of the dermis layer. Skin peeling is still a good way to maintain the skin. Surgical options would be fat graft to the face and face lifts. Vitamin E  and hyaluronic acid topical creams can help maintain hydration as dryness is always a problem. 

After 46, a lot of our natural hormones start to decline. Because of this, we will have vague tired symptoms that we cannot explain. Another thing that you should consider is to undergo anti-aging consultation and the use of bioidentical hormones to help supplement the decline of hormones. The blood test are expensive (a complete test would cost around +/- RM 1000). The hormone supplements are in cream form. Please be sure to go to a proper anti-aging doctor (trained) because not all doctors are trained properly.

This is just a rough guide of procedures you can do at the certain age. However, the current environment pollution, poor diet and nutrition, work stress and health problems can always make you look aged more than you really are. A proper consultation can help give you a good idea of the possible intervention to help make you maintain a healthy and youthful you. But one thing for sure, you need to start taking care of yourself early, to stay younger longer.

Any enquiries please email to info@faceworksclinic.com or call 03-21440080 and book an appointment to see me.