Medium Face Peels - TCA Peel

In my previous entry I talked about how chemical peeling has been one of the oldest but most effective (and economical) ways to keep skin looking healthy and tackle some of the superficial signs of ageing. Being in Malaysia, where there is 12 hours of sunlight daily, and constant heat of 27-35 degrees year round, a lot of the deeper peels like Phenol peels and Obagi Blue Peels are banned from being used here. The weather and skin type of most asians do not allow the usage of these medium to deep peels. But they really do wonders.

So we are stuck with the light peels and some light to medium peels that doesn't really give much difference, especially if you are a hard core peeler like me. Ironically, the medium depth peels get banned, but the rampant use of Lasers do not. But then again, my country is pretty funny when it comes to policies. And then there are TCA peels. TCA peels in Malaysia are strictly in clinic procedures and must only be done by the doctor and not a nurse. 

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So what are TCA peels?

TCA stands for trichloroacetic acid. When we talk about TCA peeling, it is meant for superficial-medium peeling of the skin. Unlike the AHA peels, it goes beyond the epidermis,and thus encroaching the upper dermis which allows a much more skin peeling to occur. Because of this, it has a downtime of between 5-14 days depending on the strength of the TCA used and the method and duration applied on to your skin. Usually it is more painful than your standard glycolic peel, and water is enough to neutralise the peel.

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What are the benefits?

It peels deeper than the conventional superficial peels. So it does help to reduce fine lines, pigmentation and other epidermal issues. It lightens up melasma and previous hyperpigmentation due to various reasons and may remove some of your age spots.

What's the catch?

The main catch is the down time. It will be pretty obvious if you peel, and usually would last a couple of days. The dead skin will appear darker and thus it is difficult to hide. In my case, I did the peel on Monday and although it has been a week, I still see some peeling areas especially laterally. I suffered during the second to the fifth day, as it was obvious I was peeling, but I had to go out and see patients and attend social events. I did try covering it with make up, but it became more obvious, so lastly yesterday, I did not wear any foundation, but rather enhanced the eye make up around my eyes instead. What would you feel? The first day, the skin would feel super tight. By day 2 and 3, the peeling would start and it usually starts from the midline. The skin that is going to peel would be scaly and turn darker and sometimes it looks like you have more pigments on your face. However, once it falls off by itself, you get pink fresh skin from below with less pigmentation seen. 

It doesn't look too bad on the photographs especially with all these new phone apps that make you look flawless, but it took a lot of confidence to just act normally although I know my face was peeling away.Plus, I had a tendency for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so I had to be very careful not to accidentally peel off any of my skin by force that would cause PIH instead. 

TCA-LP

TCA-LP is a product from enerpeel, that is used in the clinic for TCA peeling. I've tried a few TCA peels in the market from Skintech, Obagi and others and I find that TCA-LP has some good points.

For starters, true to its name, it is less painful than your usual TCA (LP means Less painful). During this experiment stage, I was applying the TCA to my own face since my nurse and supplier was too afraid to do it. It came in single vials with a brush tip, and was for single use. I applied few layers on until frosting, and was left for 2 minutes before neutralizing.

The only thing I was a bit sad was that the suppliers cannot bring the 40% TCA-LP in as that would do wonders for more aged skin. Another thing is, you will need around 3-4 sessions to be done monthly to achieve the best results that can last for a year depending on your expectations. The good thing is, you can use superficial peels to maintain the results, although it may be every 2-3 months.

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Suitable candidates

Since it is a medium peel, only for skin types I-IV . On a general rule, I try not to do medium peels on anyone darker than me, and for those with PIH tendencies like me unless they are a seasoned face peeler who really understands the complications and limitations. SO in English, it means caucasian skin, fair chinese and some other fair races. If you are chocolate milk come in for a consult. If you are darker than that, stick to superficial peels only and preferably by an experienced dermatologist or aesthetic doctor. Also if you are the type of person who cannot afford any social downtime, better stick to the superficial peels. 

Complications

Still think that this is a home based procedure? The complications of a TCA peel may not be as bad as the deep peels but can cause a lot of distress to the patient. 

1. Even though it removes hyperpigmentation, there are chances it can cause hyperpigmentation. Especially if the dead skin is forcibly removed and you have a PIH tendency. 

2. Hypopigmentation - sometimes it can cause hypopigmentation especially if the TCA concentration is too deep and it was not neutralized properly or the person has skin types IV-VI. This is why we err on side of caution in darker skins. HYpopigmentation is harder to treat than hyperpigmentation.

3. Infection - sometimes you may get infection of the skin as it peels off but this is rare. Maybe in some cases of severe acne where the source of infection is already there or in immunocompromised people.

4. Scarring - scarring is always a risk especially if the procedure was not done properly or neutralisation part was not complete. 

Doing this procedure in a proper medical doctors office can help reduce chances of complications. If your doctor does not know how to handle the complications, better find a more experienced one.

So in summary, the TCA peel is a very good skin rejuvenation method that is fast but requires downtime. The cost for a session of TCA-LP is RM 350 and you will need 3-4 sessions every 3-4 weeks for the best results.

For more information or appointments do contact us at drmmclinic@gmail.com or text us at +60129660852. Or you can send us a message through our FB page under DR MM Clinic.

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Chemical Peeling - Old technique, new advances, economical and still good results.

Recently, I have been asked what would be my favourite method of maintaining skin health and youth. To their surprise, laser was perhaps last on my list. Living in a super hot tropical country with high humidity, perhaps doing laser on your face is maybe a bad idea. Especially if you are not particular enough to consistently wear sunblock (even in the house) and keep yourself protected from direct rays. Unfortunately, so many clinics, medispas and beauty salons are promoting laser as if its just a simple facial, that they forget the complications that entails when not advised properly.

Perhaps, this is why I decided to come back to work and start reeducating the public about medical aesthetic treatments and procedures. The science of beauty is real, not just some money making scheme.

Well, anyway, enough rambling. Back to the facts. Let's talk about chemical peels. This is perhaps the oldest method of beautification brining us back to the Egyptian reign where Queen Cleopatra was well known for her milk yogurt baths to exfoliate her skin and leave it smooth and flawless. Nowadays, we have more specified chemicals to give us the controlled exfoliation that we need to achieve the result we want.

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So why all this exfoliation business? Our skin consists of multiple layers of epidermis with the outer most layer being the one most exposed to the environment called the keratin layer or the stratum corneum which is mainly made out of keratocytes which are completely devoid of nucleus. This is also referred to as the outer skin or the dead skin layer. Most of the superficial peels and microdermabrasion take off this layer of the skin, thus revealing a much more fresher newer skin. However, some medium strength peels tend to peel deeper into the stratum lucidum and some into the stratum spinasum. No matter the strength of the peel, the doctor doing the procedure must be aware of the level of peel he or she is doing for the patient and how to monitor for side effects. Many times over the years, my suppliers come to me with a picture of a patient burned from chemical peels done by other doctors and asking how to resolve the problem.

So why do burns occur? The most common reason is bad technique during the procedure where either the application was too thick, the time was too long or neutralization was not done when it was warranted. The problem with chemical peel burns, sometimes it takes up to 2 weeks to heal and you may leave the patient with an unsightly scar. Whatever it is, if you have trained yourself well, you will be able to handle peelings easy since it is perhaps the simplest thing, that a lot of people take for granted.

Why do I love chemical peels? Because it is one of the simplest things you can do for the patient to remove all excess dead skin and make the patient's skin look brighter and cleaner. The procedure usually takes anywhere between 1 to 30 minutes depending on the type of peel and how it is applied and how many layers. A study published in medscape in the year 2006, caught my attention on regular chemical peelings and how it affects the skin. They wanted to see whether regular skin peeling would cause patient's skin to be thinner but on contrary, there is a few millimeters improved thickness instead. This was due to the increase skin turnover due to the feedback that the stratum corneum is thinner, thus increases cells production. However, bear in mind, the procedure has to be done correctly at the right intervals in order to have this effect. Over peeling, or complications due to peels can also cause worsening of skin texture which is what we see with certain local cosmetic products which are too aggressive and uncontrolled. 

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So recently, my clinic has been trying out new types of peels since our older ones are being phased out and I am forever in the quest of looking for super no-downtime treatments for my patients. Among all, we found some that we like. One of the newer chemical peeling treatment that we would be bringing in is called the Elsa Peel. It consists of 3 layers of peelings followed by a clay mask. The good thing about this peel is that there is no downtime after the procedure, and yet it gives you a good clean peel and helps lighten up pigmentation. So far I did once on my face and the results was satisfying. I have been peeling my face for years, and even with 1 treatment I noticed at least 2 tones lighter skin compared to before. During the peel I had an acne pop and even afterwards, the post-inflammatory pigmentation was much lighter compared to the rest. 

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The Elsa peel is suitable for most skin types. The recommended is to do a peel once every 7-14 days up to 4 times to achieve a much better skin tone with reduced pigmentation. Subsequently, you can maintain by doing it once every 1-2 months. Coupled with serum vitamin C or any other dermal replenishment creams, it would be superb for people with skin that is prone to pigmentation or for those who want a more even and brighter skin tone.

The usual price for this treatment is RM 450 / session and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Since we are launching this new product, we are giving a special introductory offer of RM 350 / session. Take up a package and get more discounts but this you have to ask my nurse.

For more info, or to book appointments, please email us at drmmclinic@gmail.com or drop us a message at 0129660852. Or you can like us on FB and pm us from there. 

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 .

Swisscelin - Revolutionary Swiss Cell Therapy to Halt Ageing.

I am back to my usual try and tested mode where I try out new products in the market and review them. Today, let's talk about Swisscelin. The first time I came across this product was when I was invited to a Hi-Tea event in Carcosa Sri Negara. It was a lovely event with beautiful setting. The principal from Hong Kong had come down for a soft launch of the product and a beautiful explanation was given by the guest Dr. speaker. Unfortunately, I was running late from my clinic appointment thus I missed out the whole talk. Such a pity.

Luckily, the marketing principle was there and she ran through with me regarding the product and the scientific evidence behind it. I'm not usually the type of person who listen much to marketing sales talks but what caught my interest was that this is perhaps the first supplement that I came across which includes the TAE or telomerase activating enzyme which was discovered in 2008 and the study published in the Journal of Lancet Oncology naming the enzyme TA-65. They won a nobel prize in 2009 and since then more and more studies have been conducted on supplementing this enzymes and its benefits and possible disbenefits. It brings a whole new ball game to the placenta cum stem cell supplementation as this enzyme has been proven to keep the DNA telomere elongated. One of the most accepted cause of ageing is when the cells fail to divide again and this has been seen related to the telomere shortening.

So of course, I was super excited when I read the ingredients. I just had to try the product for myself and see how it fairs. I stopped all supplements and medications during this experiment. There were 30 capsules per box and I religiously took a capsule a day first thing in the morning when I wake up. The capsule is quite big compared to other supplements, but because of the shape and softness, it was easy to swallow. There was a bit of a fishy smell but it was okay. I did not get any indigestion or acid reflux consuming on an empty stomach, but this is entirely on the individual. You can also take the supplement after your breakfast, although for the best absorption I would prefer eating it on an empty stomach.

So how did I fair? Day 1 to 3 was nothing much to shout about except that I had more energy in the morning compared to before. I was having fatigue issues waking up and I was blaming it on my late nights. I also realized that my sleep was deeper eventhough I slept around 5 hours a day. After the 1st week, I noticed my skin changing. It appeared softer and smoother. I also have more energy and was able to wake up fresh every morning. The pigmentation on my face improved, and I did not develop as much post inflammatory hyperpigmentation of my scars compared to previously. Sleep was great. I have enough sleep despite less hours. I even noticed an increase performance when I run every week. In terms of weight, there was no weight gain. Other things like heatiness, not as bad as taking sheep or deer placenta. I looked a lot healthier. In fact after 2 weeks, I did PRP for my face and the results was so much better than before. There was a marked reduction in pigmentation and skin glowed better. During this time, I stopped all other supplements or injections just to see how it goes. I also noticed that I do not have to take coffee first thing in the morning. I am able to delay my coffee till afternoon. I also noticed my mood swings to be less erratic and I was a lot calmer, although there was an increase of libido. But I didn't really go crazy about it. In terms of menses, I did have a early cycle that month, which lasted a little bit longer but otherwise I did not have the usual period cramps , or PMS symptoms I usually do. Even my migraine seem to have taken a holiday. After the 2nd strip I decided to try every other day. I took a capsule every other day to see if the results I obtained reversed since I've only been on it for 20 days. To my greatest pleasure, it didn't and I continued until I finished the last 10 capsules. After I finished the box, I decided to rest for awhile to see how long the effects would wear off. I only started to feel fatigued again after 10 days of completely stopping the supplement.

According to the Company's recommendation, they recommend 2 capsules daily for adults above the age of 40 for 2 months and then monthly until at least another 4 months and it will give the body enough supplement to repair itself. For younger people 1 capsule a day is sufficient unless you want to expedite the skin results. However, this supplement is not cheap and maybe realistically to maintain such expensive regime is not feasible.

Saying so, if cost was not the issue, personally I would be on this supplement for long term since I do beleive it does help to delay a bit of the ageing process the body undergoes. A friend of mine was on the supplement for 5 months and when I did her hair profiler epigenetics screening, she did not show any signs of amino acid depletion or severe aging. And she was 12 years older than me with 3 life births. She looked as fresh and beautiful as ever even without any make up on. Can't wait to start again.

For more information or product enquiry, please email us at drmmclinic@gmail.com or Whatsapp enquiries to +60123301585.

Natural Supplements for Vitality - Somaplus

Nowadays, there are many different food supplements promising everything from vitality, health beauty etc, etc. Some are mustered via MLM companies charging exorbitant fees for the membership or supplements, whilst others are over the counter so-called miracles (which ain't that cheap either). However, the mainstay of popularity for these supplements are the natural ingredients which is suppose to be better than your normal diet.

Although it may sound a bit like a commercial, I do agree to some certain extent we would require supplementation for our vitamins, trace minerals and other required nutrients for an optimal bodily function. Food nowadays are processed excessively with too many chemicals and other additives which have not been researched fully as to their long term side effects. Furthermore, with the emergence of news of fraud with the regulatory bodies where a lot of the companies pay off the people inside to get their products approved without proper clearance or studies conducted makes you a bit paranoid to take processed food items or drugs altogether. Certain chemicals and colourings in food items have proven to cause hyperactiveness in children, attention disorders, mood swings and increased risk for obesity leading to the whole myriad of diseases.

Hence why more and more health conscious people are going to a more natural diet which involves organic food substances and reduced intake of prepared preserved food items from the shelves. We have all sorts of diets that encourage natural foods and discourage any form of junkfood or fastfood or canned food thus eliminating chance of consuming these additives in food that make them last longer. It may appear querky to some most people but for the health conscious it is a necessity. Besides, the diet does influence the body in terms of its shape and performance.

I count myself as a naturalist to a certain extent. Living in Malaysia it is almost impossible to go all organic especially since most of the food cooked outside uses some form of unnatural seasoning. Hence my naturalist endeavours would be more on my own time, from my own kitchen or friends who share similar concepts. But as much as I could, I would avoid processed or overcooked food. Which was why recently I was given the opportunity to try out a very interesting product called Somaplus.

Somaplus

This product is supplied by a medical supplier thus can only be found in clinics or medical centers. It has a very interesting history surrounding its creation. The product concept originates from an island in Japan called Okinawa. The product is made in USA. Well, back to my story, the island of Okinawa is also known as the "Village of Long Life" and is situated between Kyusu and Taiwan. There are 34 centenarians (a person who lives past 100 years old) per 100,000 people, which is 3X more than the rate in Japan. They believe that this longevity is due to the lifestyle and unique diet which involves fermented soy products, fermented rice, seaweed, sweet potato and potato roots. Hence the basis of this supplement drink.

Somaplus comes in sachets which you need to dilute in water. The drink is somewhat sweet and the taste is palatable. However, don't sniff the powder directly because it is pretty sharp in powder form (yes, I sniffed it that's why I know). You can feel the powder straight to the throat if you do. I started taking the product since 2 weeks ago when I got my first box. There are 22 sachets per box meant for 11 days i.e. morning and before dinner with 2 rest days a week (altogether 15 days). The recommended is 1 hour before meal and they recommend a high protein low carb meal. So how did I fair?

I run a very busy schedule, so I was pretty discipline with the early morning dose of the drink. Initially there was nothing much to tell about it but after a week I felt less sleepy in the morning and I had an improved energy level. I forgot to rest initially, so I only rested after the 10th day, but the 2 day rest was okay, I did not feel a withdrawal of energy. I sometimes took the afternoon sachet if I happen to remember. Perhaps being pretty young, the 1 a day sachet was enough to boost my energy level. However, I did notice a few other things besides the energy. My staff noticed my skin complexion improved despite no treatment being done on my face - I attributed it to the new products that I was testing on my face, but even my body skin seem to glow a bit more. I was more alert and I felt happier and motivated for exercise. Despite being of my calcium pills, I did not experience much cramps as I normally would, and the more astonishing part - I was able to go on without coffee for more than a day. Even if I drank coffee, it would not be the number 1 thing in the morning as it use to be and I cut back drastically from 8 shots to a mere 2-3 shots a day. I also notice that I sleep better and I tend to wake up at the same time every morning even without alarm clock. I wake up feeling fresher and less lethargic compared to before. Seems to be doing a lot for me, but bear in mind, I am quite a health freak and consumed supplements would have similar effects but not exactly the same for everyone.

So what is it actually? Soamplus is made out of natural ingredients which help boost the production of hormones in the body mainly Growth Hormones, DHEA and Melatonin. It is also a potent antioxidant which helps with the elimination of free radicals in the body. The main ingrediets are NAtto (Japanese fermented soy), Miso (Japanese fermented soy paste), Satsumaimo (Japanese sweet potato) and Mochi (Sweet sticky rice). So don't think this sachet has no sugar, it has natural sugars and each sachet has approximately 0.62gms of Sugar. Besides the powder getting to my throat, I think my appetite increased a bit on this supplement. It could be also due to my more relaxed mood.

A few comparative studies have been on the Okinawa diet comparing the benefits between the diet and other countries without the diet and it has shown positive response towards cancer, dementia and improvement of sex hormones. However, I have yet to come across a controlled RCT study between this product and a placebo. Still, it does seem to be giving some benefits and the price for this product is not exorbitant. 1 month supply is approximately RM 500 +/- and has 2 boxes taken 5 days a week and rested 2 days. Since it is a supplement, you may only see the results after long term consumption after the initial boost. They recommend at least 6 months of consumption for the most optimal effect.

I would recommend taking this supplement prior to starting out any bio-identical hormones to see whether there is symptoms improvement. For me, it seems to work to a certain extent. It is not a one all cure for everything, so don't think you can just skip your medications etc, by taking this product.

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