Tried And Tested....... Part 4 ........

Its been a quiet Ramadhan month. Personally, I have found the idea iftar at home is more inviting. Probably all the caloric restriction diets I've been on throughout the pass year has reduced my crave for food as much as I did before. The only thing driving me nuts now is the lack of caffeine.

Recently, I was visited by a new patient who turned out to be a follower of my blog. I felt really honoured that she enjoyed the contents and was really looking forward to my posts. So Killah, this one is for you.

I was quiet for a bit due to a very hectic schedule. However, in the huff buzz, I managed to try out a few products for this review.

1. Neostrata Skin Active Line Lift

     This is the newest product from Neostrata Skin Active range. As the name suggests, it helps to reduce appearance of deep lines and wrinkles. After 5 years of research, Neostrata labs discovered a technology they patented as Aminophil that acts by stimulating the skin's own hyaluronic acid and collagen creating volume to replace the loss areas. It is a regarded as a topical filler and results can be seen after a few minutes of application. However, you need to be religious in applying the product, since it relies on your own cells for the lasting effect. There are 2 products in this range - Step 1 Aminophil Activator is applied first. This compound has the ability to pump up skin 4 times more than inactive substance. It penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production thus improving the appearance of deep lines instantly. It is also a potent antioxidant that helps to reduce free radicals responsible for premature aging skin. The Step 1 is applied with a roller ball to allow light massage and precision thus making it convenient for areas like under the eyes. Step 2 is the Finishing Complex that complements the action of Step 1. It contains NeoCitritate and NeoGlucosamine ingredients which enhances the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid. It also contains optic blurring agents that improves the appearance of deep lines. I find this product a tad too oily for me but Step 1 was nice.

         I tried out this product via the samples they gave me and managed to apply religiously for a week (and then I got busy so sort of gave up). There is an instant line reduction of at least 30% after 5 minutes of application. After a week, I notice that there was up to 75% improvement after application. However, later during the day, I did notice a return of the lines, and when compared to baseline, It looked almost similar. According to the research papers and recommendations, they ask you to use for at least 4-6 weeks for lasting effect. I guess this is a good solution for people scared of needles or not keen for filler injections. However, you need to apply constantly twice a day in order to keep the desired effect. Practically, for busy people like me, I think fillers would be a better solution so that I do not have to worry about it if I forget to apply. It would also be cool to use prior to functions, for that pumped up look since it does last for a couple of hours in a day. You will need to have both Step 1 and Step 2 in order to have the desired results. Each tube is sold at RM 135/= retail.

2. Strath tablets - Herbal Yeast Food Supplements

During the haze period, I developed very bad sinusitis until I lost my voice for 3 days and had sinus headaches up to 2 weeks with altered voice for a month. It was during this time, my medical colleagues suggested that I try out this particular supplement. He mailed it to me and insisted that I try it out to help reduce my sinus symptoms. 

     So what is Strath? This is a natural herbal and yeast preparation that is available in both liquid and tablet form. The one I was given was tablet form - 100 tablets per box. It naturally contains 11 vitamins, 19 minerals, 20 amino acids, 2 nucleic acids and other stuff such as s lecithin, choline, L-carnitine

and co-enzyme Q10, as well as glucan and mannan. There were not much research papers on this product and I have yet to find any literature that explains scientifically how it works. How they actually prepared this supplement is by introducing herbs and supplements to the yeast over a 2 month period and subsequently plasmolyising (getting rid of the yeast membrane) the yeast and the solution inside is used as the supplement. In a way, the nutrients are incubated inside the yeast and perhaps with some component of the yeast helps with the body's immune system and metabolism thus gives the beneficial outcome. There was a paper on mice that showed a significant increase in lifespan of mice that took the plasmolyzed yeast supplement after injected with Staph. Aureus bacteria in comparison to the placebo group.

I have to admit, I was pretty skeptic when I received the supplements but I decided to give it a go. I initially took 2 tablets 3 times a day as recommended by my friend. After a few days, I noticed an improvement in my sinus flu-like symptoms. However, I felt pretty lethargic the first week with some giddiness. I didn't think much of it as I was also on antibiotics short course, but looking in retrospec, I recovered much faster that I normally did. I continued taking the tablets twice daily due to hectic schedule, occasionally only once daily. After finishing the whole box in a month (Supposedly 17 days) - I did noticed relief of my allergy symptoms. I usually have a stuffed nose in the morning but for the past 2 months, my nose hasn't dripped as much. Despite my office manager having a really bad flu, I stayed fine although we were always in close contact. Generally, I felt healthier and less lethargic. The beauty of this product is that it is not that expensive to try. The retail price is RM 162 for 100 tablets or the liquid form. There is also a preparation with alcohol that costs RM 180. Another cool thing is that there is an animal preparation for your pets called Animastrath that helps improve your pets well-being and possibly help reduce harm from animal flu.

Bio-Strath is 100% natural and free from preservatives, colourings and any artificially produced substances.

• For fatigue (school fatigue, spring fatigue).
• For nervous tension, stress.
• To strengthen immune defence.
• To increase physical and mental efficiency.
• To promote vitality.
• To help during convalescence (recovery phase after illness).
• During pregnancy and lactation period.
• To help concentration, development and calmness in children
• To help recovery in sports

This is a pre-order item, so it is not readily available in the clinic.

3. Lash Booster - Eye Lash Conditioner

This is a cool product that I love especially since there are times I need to wear mascara and excessive eye make-up and sometimes I notice I am losing some of my lashes (especially after wearing fake ones). It is not really a new item in the market, however, due to certain FDA regulations, the formulation has been changed a couple of time. The latest formulation has FDA approval and works just as good as the previous one or perhaps a little better? I tried this product continuously for a week and the significant change was the volume of my lashes and brows (yes, I even applied on my brows) appeared more and even friends noticed that my brows and lashes look thicker. In terms of length, I didn't see much difference but perhaps, it would take 3 weeks to actually see length difference. It comes in a small mascara like tube, and you apply the solution at the roots of your lashes and your brows. This product comes from USA, and is a sister product of Revitalash. Perhaps the only downside is that you need to consistently apply the product in order to achieve the desired results although its once daily application at night. Another problem that may arise is sensitivity to the chemicals used in this formulation that may cause some eye irritation or redness despite the company claiming that it is even suitable for the most sensitive eyes. The key is to avoid as much as applying the solution into the eyes. Regardless, it is still a cool product for lash growth and conditioning. This is not really the first time I am trying out this product - I started prior when it first launched and I feel that the formulation has definitely improved. Time to start applying daily for beautiful lashes for Hari Raya. If you are concern about irritation, you can come over to the clinic and try out our sample. This Product is sold at RM 280 per tube and it can last approximately 1 1/2 - 2 months if applied daily. For a limited time only, we are selling this product at an intro price of RM 250 (Save RM 30 till 15th August). Get yours today.

For more information concerning the products kindly call us at 03-21440080 / 0142233268 or email to faceworksclinic@gmail.com .

PRP Updates - The Vampire Facial?

Recently, there is a lot of hype about Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) facial since our beloved Kim Kardashian decided to get hers done and post the video on Youtube. There were multitude of responses from complete horror to complete awe. And whilst the whole population was amazed to see the procedure, it is not really a new thing.

(Sourced from www.tagroom.com)

However, the in the medical world - more and more doctors are realising the potential benefits of PRP to treat their patients. As for myself,  PRP is like a lifeline to medical aesthetics alternatives of treatment to patients. We have multiple studies conducted on rejuvenation of the skin and most seem promising. My own patients have also shown great improvements in terms of texture, hydration, pigmentation and scars. The most rewarding was one patient with recalcitrant melasma who improved so much after a few treatments - despite previously tried with IPL, peels and Fraxel. We also had patients doing breast rejuvenation where most are satisfied with the tightening effect and skin rejuvenation effect of using PRP. In terms of volume, only time could tell, since the cases are pretty new. Most PRP facial patients are satisfied with the results and are looking forward for the next one.

So what is new to our Vampire Facial regime?

(sourced from ieeet.com)

After attending so many lectures, hands-on, friendly exchange of ideas with colleagues and literature study, nowadays I do my PRP facials differently than before. Prior to this, I only take 10cc of blood per session, but now I prefer to take between 60-120 mls of blood depending on area needed and indication. For face, usually 60cc of blood is suffice. The centrifuge process is also different where I start with a soft spin, extraction then a second faster spin. From the 6 bottles, I would usually obtain 12 cc of concentrated PRP - and roughly 12 cc of PPP. So what's the difference again?

The Platelet Rich Plasma is the layer between the red blood cells and the upper clearer serum part. The serum part is also called PPP (Platelet Poor Plasma). The platelet rich plasma is where all the growth factors and cytokines are available. The upper portion although has some platelets have minimal benefits, thus sometimes we just give it to the patient as a home mask. Some studies say the white cell are detrimental to healing but others say they have no role or helps with healing. The red cells play no significant role nor does it causes any reduction in effect. And thus, we have an autologous (coming from oneself) cells stimulator.

Luckily with Dermaqueen technique, PRP can be delivered evenly throughout the face without much downtime. Last weekend, I asked my nurse to help inject using the Dermaqueen vacuum assisted needle device onto my face with minimal anaesthesia. (I am still a baby when it comes to pain). There were only minimal needle marks at the thinner skin areas but there was still a remarkable difference. My face was brighter, and some of the pigmentation disappeared. Its been 2 days only and my skin still glows. The tear trough injected manually appear to still keep the volume injected which is good, thus making me look less tired. For a PRP facial, the best results would only be seen after 3-4 weeks although immediately after you would have a refreshed look and brightening of the skin. The best part is that we do observe continuous healing even up to 3 months after the initial procedure. Average results lasting period for a single treatment is between 6-9 months. However, most literature suggest a minimum of 3 sessions per year.

From my observation of doing my patients, I do have a few recommendations for patients planning to try this out. As PRP is from the patient, the patient him/herself has to be optimum to achieve the best results. You should keep yourself well-hydrated and well-nourished before going for a procedure. Smoking and drinking alcohol excessively seems to reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. You should be fit with no underlying infection going on as it will affect the outcome too. Patients with underlying blood or metabolic disease should consult the doctor thoroughly as some conditions are contraindicated for PRP. Use of health supplements that promote healing and cell growth may have some beneficial effects, although a proper study to compare the results is warranted to conclude. Vitamin C and other antioxidant supplementation may also benefit but is still subjected to further proper research.

Personally, I love this treatment as it offers a less aggressive treatment modality for skin rejuvenation as compared to energy devices. At the moment, we are studying the effects of PRP on stretch marks. Can't wait to report the finding.

For more information or to book an appointment with us contact the clinic at 03-21440080 / 014-2233268 or email to faceworksclinic@gmail.com

Ramadhan Mubarak

Its Fasting month again, and Muslims from all around the world are fasting during the day to fulfil their religion obligations and more prayers are done, more reciting of the Holy Book. We are quite fortunate this year because the weather has been merciful with occasional rain to counter the previous heatstroke and haze episodes we had previously.

I have been quiet from the blogging scene settling things in real life with new great things coming soon for my beloved patients and friends. I am also testing out a few new products which I will feature in the upcoming entry. Yes, I have been busy with my experiments and evidence collecting as usual, as well as with keeping up with my crazy hectic lifestyle. Well you only live once, don't you? I believe in living to the fullest.

Fasting month is a month of peace for a lot of Muslims as they restrain from food and drink during the day, as well as a lot of negative emotions such as anger, gluttony, etc etc. It is a month where they are encourage to pray more, and give more to the poor. There are a few restrictions to what they can and cannot do. 

Scientifically, fasting has shown to have benefits to the body and no major side effects that even some non-Muslims join the bandwagon of fasting. The abstaining of food for 10-12 hours rests the gut well and although initially give a slight stress response but after awhile reduces cortisol levels. Studies done on mice fasted 10-12 hours a day showed a longer lifespan to those that were not fasted. A collective data study shows that people who fast for the month of Ramadhan shows reduced overall weight by 1-2 lbs a year. Some may argue lack of nutrition but since fasting is voluntary, there is no significant nutrient loss that interferes with pituitary functions reported in all studies. It has also shown to help people achieve inner peace as they are to abstain from negative feelings and behaviour. Despite the benefits, caution and care should be exercised to those with underlying medical conditions related to metabolism such as diabetes and others as there is a change in the body's glycemic levels and bilirubin production.

So for the information of my Muslim friends and patients, here is a list of medical related procedures that does not interfere with fasting:

Excerpt from Circular given out from 1 of the major hospital in town.

Translation:

Things that do not cause fasting to be broken:

1. Eye drops and ear drops usage.

2. GTN placed sublingual as long as not swallowed.

3. Insertion of vaginal pessary, ovulus, vaginal douching or insertion of speculum / digital examination 

    by physician.

4. Urethescope insertion into ureter or urinary bladder irigation.

5. Dental works such as drilling, extraction, polishing, washing, scaling of teeth as ong as nothing is 

    swallowed.

6. Intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous and intra-articular injections unless its 

    nutritional.

7. Donating or receiving blood.

8. Receiving oxygen or general anaesthesia.

9. Usage of drugs / products through skin such as creams, ointments, gels, etc.

10. Withdrawing of blood for investigation.

11. Insertion of tubes / catheter for investigation.

12. Washing the mouth, gargling as long as it is not swallowed.

13. Hysteroscopy or intrauterine device insertion.

14. Oral or rectal endoscopy for investigation or treatment (ERCP/Colonoscopy etc)

15. Biopsy from organs such as liver, skin etc.

16. Usage of nose drops, sprays and inhalers (asthma)

17. Rectal injection, digital examination or colonoscopy.

18. Surgery requiring full general anaesthesia, if the patient wishes to fast.

19. Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

(Reference from IOMS(Islamic Organization of Medical Sciences), The Academy of Fiqh in Jeddah and WHO, Fiqh As-sunnah (Sayyid as-Sabiq) and fatwa from Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi together with European Fatwa Committee).

Happy fasting Peeps..... :)

Tried & Tested for this season..... Lalala......

It has been a very dramatic weekend in Malaysia as the 13th General elections took place and for the first time in history the turn up of voters were estimated around 10 million people which is the most so far. And most people were parading for change. So with the announcement of BN still remaining as the federal government, there were a lot of grouses and dissatisfaction from the voters. Especially since they are calling foul play as to be the reason for the current party to retain its victory. Despite the results are out, there is possibility of a rematch, or change in power in view the opposition leaders are determined to get justice. Many Malaysians wore black as a sign of protest as to how the election results were finalized, with many who were on duty confused as to how the amount written on the Form 14 and mutually agreed upon suddenly became a different number when announced by the election committee. Some were even more confused with the sudden black outs during the finalizing of vote counts, and TNB (the national electric company) claims they have nothing to do with it which made more people suspect foul play. Not to mention the appearances of ballot boxes that may have possibly fallen from the sky to side more on the ruling government. 

Since the election fever has not really subsided, I finally have some time to review some products that I have been trying out.

1. Rejuve TruWhite & Black Magic Whitening Soaps.

These are 2 whitening soaps from the same company. Black Magic has glutathione with papaya extract to help reduce inflammation. It is mainly for acne prone skin. Personally I haven't tried this one since I do not really have acne much except for the occasional hormonal spike break outs but based on what I gather from those who have tried, it does help to a certain extent especially for acne on the back and very oily skin on the face. I have been using TruWhite for the past month since I came back from Penang. It is a 100gm bar soap. Normally I am not a fan of bar soaps as the usual commercial ones give me break outs. Out of curiosity, I decided to give this a try. The soap has a very nice fragrance and on application makes the skin feel very clean. Its active ingredients are glutathione and sheep placenta extracts. It is slightly drying for those with dryer skin. After a week of using this soap, my skin does feel a little bit softer. In terms of whitening, I did notice an improvement of tan (I was really tan from Langkawi, Penang and Singapore). Fairer than I usually am? Perhaps not, but what could you expect from just a soap. Still, it does give me a softer feel, a more evener skin tone and it is very safe, even for children. Aina loves it. The retail price for this soap is roughly RM 35 +/- only, and is worth trying out. 

2. Age Defy Crystal Tomato

This is a new product in town which I found during my conference in Singapore. Crystal Tomato is a 100% vegetal extract from a special type of tomato grown in a controlled environment. The colourless caratenoid has been found to be a very potent skin whitening agent and through research and technology, they have managed to extract it into an oral form taken once daily. To make these tablets more effective, they have also included L-Cysteine which is a precursor for glutathione production in the liver to give you a more anti-oxidant effect.

Crystal Tomato™ has been scientifically proven to offer the following benefits:

1. Serves as a natural sunscreen against UVA and UVB rays to protect against UV damage, photo-oxidation and sunburn.
2. Acts as anti-oxidants to protect against free radical damage caused by environmental aggressors.
3. Contains anti-inflammatory properties against wounds and UV damage.
4. Inhibits melanin synthesis to prevent pigmentation spots from forming.
5. Reduces the melanin present in the cells including dark acne scars, freckles, dark underarms and age spots for an anti-ageing and anti-photo ageing effect.
6. Prevents DNA damage.
7. Promotes even skin tone and radiant complexion.
8. Protects and enhances the efficacy of other active ingredients and their activity.

Personally, I have been consuming this product religiously every morning and now entering my second week. The most striking difference I can see is the radiance that emits from my skin even without having to wear make-up. My skin tone seems to even out more, but pigmentations still remain. According to the literature study, it is suppose to help with pigmentation as well as it also affects the eumelanin pathway. I also notice that I do not tan as much as compared to before even without applying sunblock and this could be the sun protective effect that they mentioned about. But its only 2 weeks, I'll have to finish the box and write another review later with more explanation about the science. This product's retail price should be around RM 450 a box of 30 capsules, single tablet a day. The tablet is pretty big, but you can chew on it, it has a tomato taste actually. The product is still undergoing registration process in Malaysia. It is already registered in Singapore since last year. 

3. SRS e-Co2 Gel Mask

This is not a new product in the market. I have been using this mask on my patients for the past 4 years. as a rescue mask after doing procedures. One of the most significant case was a patient who was allergic to arbutin and developed redness and swelling over the face. She was allergic to a lot of other stuffs as well and her birthday was in 2 days. We tried the mask on her, and it help reduce the redness by 50% on the 1st application. I gave her another one to use at home and by the second day, only a slight redness that is concealable by make-up. Not only the redness disappeared, but her skin became softer and more radiant afterwards. So why does it work so well? Carbon dioxide has been known to cause blood vessels to dilate if present in a concentrated amount. When applied into the mask, the CO2 granules create a relative gradient of higher concentration of Co2, hence increases blood circulation to the area of application (usually face). It also increases local tissue metabolism and enhances the separation of oxygen from haemoglobin thus increasing tissue oxygenation. This in turn improves tissue healing and thus, the almost instant result. 

I tried out this mask last night after having a chemical peel and arbutin iontophoresis done to the face. It had a warm prickly sensation which was not uncomfortable. After the 30 minutes, we took it off and I can feel that my face felt tighter and my pores appeared smaller. Even pimples seem to have shrunk. Immediately, my skin felt very soft and smooth. Today when I woke up, my face still felt smooth and soft. The whitening effect of arbutin kicked in, hence my face did appear brighter so I can't really say it was an attribute of the mask. However, for the past couple of days, I noticed my face to be very oily when I wake up in the morning that I require Turnover to reduce the oil. This morning, my face was not  oily and I only washed it with water before sending my kids to school and chilling out in KLCC for breakfast. Even without any make up or sunblock my skin looked healthy. This mask is sold at RM 250 a piece if you would like to bring it home. If you like to try the effects yourself, you can opt for one of our rescue facials - I have taken the liberty to include this mask into some of our treatments since it has shown to be very effective.

Interested in any of the above products, feel free to contact us at  Faceworks Clinic : 03-21440080 / 014-2233236 or email your enquiries to faceworksclinic@gmail.com. For facials, please book prior appointment. Thanks.

OMNILUX - LED therapy at its best.

It has been a very eventful week for me with so many things taking place at the same time and in the midst of excitement of the Malaysian 13th General Elections less than 2 weeks away. Everywhere you go, you can see flags from different parties being put up and billboards related to the coming election. Which is why perhaps, this new device that I have in my clinic would appeal to most people in this busy time.

Say Hello to the Omnilux. What is Omnilux?

The Omnilux is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) machine with a narrow band technology and has been patented since 1998 for dermatological conditions. It uses light modulation technology that promotes tissue and cell healing as opposed to Lasers which are mostly thermoablative. What it means is that the machine uses low energy light (LED) at certain wavelengths, help to stimulate and modulate tissue and cell healing as opposed to controlled tissue destruction as we see in Laser usage.

It came about by accident in 1996, when a British cancer researcher Dr Colin Whitehurst used a photodynamic lamp to activate photosensitive drugs on skin cancer patients, he also noticed that the surrounding skin around the skin cancer lesion was rejuvenated. Later from here, they started to experiment on different wavelengths and discovered different uses for it. As of today, the Omnilux has 7 FDA clearances and is used by over 3000 physicians worldwide. 

The current Omnilux has 3 different lamps which are labeled Omnilux Blue, Omnilux Revive and Omnilux Plus. Omnilux Blue is more for acne prone skin. It acts by killing P. acnes bacteria which is responsible for acne. The wavelength is 415 nm (+/- 5nm). The Omnilux Revive is aimed more for skin rejuvenation and has been found to boost collagen and elastin production. The wavelength is 633 nm (+/- 6nm) and it comes out bright red. The Omnilux Plus is an infra red beam targeted for deeper tissue hence promotes tissue rebuilding and healing. The wavelength is 830 nm (+/- 5 nm). Sometimes when you google, you will find another lamp called Omnilux PDT. Actually, that is the first lamp created for aesthetic use and non-melanoma skin cancers. Now they've replaced it with Revive. Newer products from Omnilux would be the hand held Omnilux Clear-U and New-U, which is not available in Malaysia yet.

The chart is a summary of the things the Omnilux can do. However, you have to be pretty realistic. A patient would require more than 1 treatment to achieve noticeable results. And the results do not come instantly but rather 3-6 weeks after treatment done. After scanning through the clinical papers, I would say 6-8 treatments would be recommended within a short interval of 3-5 days. Technically you can do this treatment daily due to non-invasive nature of treatment although whether any additional benefits seen is yet to be concluded. 

So far I've done 3 treatments on my face since the machine arrived. 2 times with the Revive, and once with Plus. The first treatment was done with just a Milk peel. We used Revive and the red light was blinding despite the goggles given. My skin felt warm as the red light hit the surface. It was not painful. The LED light placed so near to my face was actually cool. 20 minutes went by pretty fast despite the blinding red light. Post treatment, there was residue of warmth on my face and it looked more radiant probably from the heating of the tissue. 

The second treatment was initially for my back. I hosted a birthday party on Friday night and was dancing on killer heels for a good 3 hours. Of course my back hurts. There was mainly trapezius muscle strain. So we put on Plus and shined it 20 minutes on my back. Since I was bored in my clinic that day, after we finished I asked for iontophoresis vitamin C and shined Plus another 20 mins on my face. Plus is infra red light so we would not be able to see any of the LED beams. Instead they placed yellow diodes just to show that the machine is being turned on. Infrared beams are relatively harmless however poses a threat to the eye if concentrated and beamed on the same spot for 10 seconds or more. Hence why all the precautions that we take to cover the eyes. The Plus beam is less bright and produces less heat than Revive. It did however improve my back and the muscle appear less tender. I was even told that they use this lamp for race horses in Hong Kong to aid healing after race. As for face, I did not see much difference with my face except for the vitamin C application that made it glow in comparison to the Revive lamp which gave instant radiance probably due to more heating effect.

For the third session we used the Revive lamp again. Before putting on the lamp, I asked the girl to apply Intense White C serum via iontophoresis. No peeling was done since my face was just peeled recently. After this session I noticed a lot of difference. Pores appeared smaller, and my tone improved quite a bit. The next day, my skin was still good, pores were small plus it felt tighter. Can't wait for another 'tanning' session (it doesn't tan you at all actually). 

Omnilux is used for:

•          Minor Muscle and joint pain management e.g. Treatment of Sports Injuries

•          Non Melanoma Skin Cancer. Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) – Most common form of cancer in the United States (75% of all skin cancers). Basal cell carcinoma is normally a slow-growing form of skin cancer. In some rare cases, BCCs can multiply more rapidly and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

•          Bowen’s disease is a very early form of skin cancer. In Bowen’s disease, the skin cancer is located only in the epidermis.

•          Actinic keratosis is caused by sun exposure. About 5% develop into skin cancer.

•          Wound Healing. The Omnilux has shown to accelerate wound healing, proven treatment for post laser ablation-(removal of unwanted tissue from the body), reduces pain, swelling and erythema. Skin Area Treatment Pre and Post Laser Resurfacing Moderate, Severe, Cystic Acne Treatment. Skin Rejuvenation and Combined Chemical Peel Protocols.

•          Periorbital Wrinkles Combined Treatment of: Chemical Peels with Photorejuvenation.

•          Anti- Inflammation Skin Area Treatment.

LASER VS OMNILUX     

Omnilux also :

• Plumps fine lines and wrinkles

• Smoothens skin texture

• Stimulates collagen and elastin production and firms skin

• Help heal sun damage, psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema

• Improves pigmentation and evens skin tone

• Calms rosacea

• Relieves headaches and minor muscle and joint pain

• Accelerates wound healing

• Reduces scarring

At the moment we are giving the Omnilux treatments at a very special price. Interested to try out this cool device. Call us today for an appointment at 03-21440080 or text to 014-2233268. Limited time only. For more enquiries, do email to info@faceworks-clinic.com / faceworksclinic@gmail.com .

Know Your Injector........

Fillers and BTA (botox/dysport) are still perhaps the bread and butter of medical aesthetics despite the emergence of new technologies and machines. It is a simple technique requiring injection of products into the skin layers/muscle to create a more appealing youthful look almost instantly. It is a very lucrative business too. Because of this, a lot of people try to learn to inject. Even if they have no medical background. Hence you will see that in certain places, beauticians or aestheticians as they call themselves injecting fillers and products into customers and so-called 'cheaper' price than doctors. (Really?)

What most people do not realize is that hypodermic needles and syringes are only licensed to be used by doctors in this country (and also most other countries as well). Even nurses or MAs are not licensed to use needles unless under the supervision of a doctor or in Emergency cases. I remembered this so well because during my practice in the government sectors, the nurses at that particular hospital refused to do any blood taking and kept quoting this rule in the nurse/MA handbook. Funnily, when you move to the private sector the nurses are all so willing to do injections, especially fillers and BTA.

The thing a lot of people do not get about doing injections to your face, although you can get really good results with minimal downtime, you can also have very bad results that would last you quite a bit and for some cases of those using semi permanent or permanent fillers it can be life long and would require surgery. A lot of people know this, but why do they still risk going to beauticians or other unqualified injectors to do their face? The most common reason is peer pressure, second would be cost and third would be some bad experience with an untrained doctor somewhere that made them lose confidence with professionals. Between fillers and BTA, fillers are worst because usually the beauticians use illegal products that lasts too long and has no reversal.

So for those who wish to indulge in injection rejuvenation, I will give you a few tips:

1. Know your injector - Are they a qualified injector i.e. a real doctor? (A lot of fake ones parading in my country). Are they really trained to do the injections? Not all doctors are trained to do aesthetic injections so they maybe a licensed doctor but may not have the skill. Going for 1 workshop does not quite cut it as being trained. Are you comfortable with the doctor? Has he/she answered all your queries and doubts? Will he/she be following you up? Will he/she be responsible for the work done if any problem arises? 

2. Know your product. What is it that the person is injecting into your face. Is it hyaluronic acid filler? Is it Radiesse or Aquamid? Is it collagen - if it is collagen - purely collagen/bovine/marine or porcine? A lot of the collagen fillers from beauticians are mixed with liquid silicons hence why it just does not disappear. Is the product safe? Just because the person says so, doesn't mean its safe. Ask for safety profile. Are you sure its the product claimed by the injector or did they take out another product from a different box for the injection. Google information about the brand.

3. Are the products sterile? The last thing you want is getting an infection under the skin from using products already contaminated. In my clinic, I open a new syringe in front of the patient to show its sterile. Infections due to contaminated fillers are a nightmare and may take weeks to heal. It would require high end antibiotics, dilution of filler or even excision. In some cases, we would be giving steroids to stop inflammation from the infection. It can cause you to have a mark or a scar from a so-called suppose to be very safe procedure.

4. Is the premise you are receiving an injection a proper medical facility with license? Beauty salons are not licensed to do injections, nor are hotel rooms, cars nor boutiques nor spas. So if it is not a clinic, better think twice because likely the hygiene of the place is not up to par and you cannot sue the person if anything went wrong since it is not in the right premise. You'll just be bombarded by the defense lawyer, stating that you agreed to be injected in the premise when you know its illegal.

5. Check the current market price for services before deciding on having it done to give you a rough idea of what is the normal range. Usually for promotions, the price of the service would not be discounted more than 30% in view the cost to acquire original products is expensive. If the clinic or center is giving too cheap a promotion, you should bear in mind a few things. Its either the product is expiring (already expired) or they've reduced the amount of filler/bta given but charged at a cheaper price. The end result would be unsatisfactory results or treatment not lasting what it should. And this would not only cause disappointment but also reduce confidence towards the treatment altogether.

Courtesy of http://www.plasticcelebritysurgery.com/2011/09/worst-celebrity-plastic-surgery-before.html

For more info you can email us at info@faceworks-clinic.com / faceworksclinic@gmail.com. For appointments, please call us at 03-21440080 or text 014-2233268.

F1 Fever...... Sepang International Circuit 2013

Its F1 weekend following Spring Collection Fashion Week Launch. Usually I am not really a fan of F1 racing because I personally do not like crowded areas. But this year, I was given a seat at the Grand Stand, so hopefully it will not be as bad. Despite my lack of lustre, I do find myself pretty excited. I guess the F1 fever has started to infect my brain.

The Sepang International Circuit was designed by a German designer, Herman Tike and was officiated by our 4rth Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on 7 March 1999. It held its first Motor GP in April 1999, and the first Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix in October 1999. So far the best lap was done by Williams-BMW team, JuanPablo Montoya in 2004 with a lap time of 1:34.223. 

This year, the top drivers are Kimi Raikonnen, Fernando Alfonso, Sebastian Vettel, Fellipe Massa, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Weber and a few new names. During practice runs Vettel showed best time but Kimi is still int he lead with 25 points. 

It would be a really interesting race to see who finally grabs the title for F1 this year. My only concern now is how tanned I'll be sitting in the middle of Sepang Circuit (Despite the grandstand podium mall and such). Having a Fitzpatrick's type 4 skin makes it easier to tan even with protection. Personally I like being tan but not too tan. As it is now, my arms are 3 shades darker from my hidden areas because I have been out a lot. On top of gluthatione supplements and high doses of vitamin C, sun protective agents are my number one friends.

Oh yes, I have the full range Heliocare in my bag for this outing. Heliocare is so far to me the best sunblock for this weather. It is oil free gel based lotions with a slight tint give you ample protection, but does not appear white on the skin as some other sunblocks do. It is less greasy and it has a nice citrusy smell (although not everybody would like it).  The sunblock has both UVA and UVB protection, and comes in 3 strength - 30, 50 and 90. I prefer 50 SPF due to its consistency and non-stick properties. SPF 90 is thicker and has some antibacterial properties but it is a tad greasier and sometimes it does clog up my pores a bit more. There is also a Compact oil-free Heliocare foundation powder for those who prefer compact powder form. It does give a good coverage as a foundation, but after awhile, you may need to top up a bit. Indoors, the compact would stay for at least 4 hours. The new product launched last year was the oral capsules. The oral capsules are a very strong anti-oxidant that helps to reduce UVA / UVB absorption by the skin. It is purely from vegetal source, and has been shown to help reduce severity of burns from sun or other light sources. It does not cause lightening of the skin, but rather helps maintain your tone. However, if you will be out in the sun like me today, you will still require topical sunblock protection. It is recommended that if you are indoors to reapply sunblock on your skin every 4 hours and if outdoors, every 2 hours.

All these products can be found in my clinic. The price ranges from RM 120 - RM 190(oral sunblock 6 tablets) which I feel is pretty affordable for clinical grade sunblock. Okie peeps, its another 2 hours till the start of the first race, time to get ready. See you at the race track.... :)

For more information about the products, feel free to call/text Faceworks Clinic at 03-21440080/014-2233268 or email to info@faceworks-clinic.com / faceworksclinic@gmail.com.