Category: MUST READ

How To Choose Between Liposuction And Cryolipolysis

There are diets that are impossible. I mean really impossible because the effort is impossible, it simply doesn’t work, or at the very least, it stops working beyond a certain point. To those of you who are starting to despair, there are some really cool medically proven tricks to help you get rid of that muffin top or slim down those thunder thighs. Cryolipolysis and liposuction are medical fat reduction procedures. The main difference is cryolipolysis is a non-invasive procedure that gets rid of fat cells in the area treated without surgery, whereas liposuction is an invasive surgical procedure. We speak to Consultant Plastic Surgeon Dr Chia Hui Ling about the differences between these treatments.   WHAT IS LIPOSUCTION? Dr Chia: Liposuction involves surgically removing fat from the body and therefore frequently involves general anaesthesia. Small incisions are made in the skin to gain access to a fatty bulge. After some prep work on the area, a cannula is inserted into one of the small incisions made and suction is Continue Reading

Peel Prep: 5 Things You Should Know About Chemical Peels, According To Doctors

Chemical peels were first used in 1834, starting when carbolic acid was discovered by German chemist Friedlieb Runge. In the early 1900s, deep chemical peels (phenol peeling) were used to treat acne scars in New York by dermatologists and in 1960s, chemical peeling received its formal recognition in America after discussion in national meetings and following impressive results. But prior to this, chemical peeling has already been used hundreds of years ago. Cleopatra used lactic and tartaric acid (in milk and red wine) to give herself mild chemical peels. We now know that sour milk and wine contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) which are found in a range of over-the-counter skincare products and in professional treatments in clinics. Chemical peels are extremely efficient treatments – they treat a variety of problems such as uneven skin tone, smoothens the skin by encouraging cellular renewal, removes fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots and even acne. But chemical peels intimidate people, because peels are fundamentally acids and if applied incorrectly, can cause side Continue Reading

Why You Should Be Treating Acne Scars Early

Between treating your acne scars early and late, some people choose to have theirs treated late, thinking their acne scars will improve without treatment over time. Skin doctors do not agree. “Acne scars look deeper as people get older, particularly as they approach their 40s, because natural aging results in collagen loss and general loss in facial volume or fat” says Dr Michelle Lim, Medical Aesthetic Consultant at the SW1 Clinic. “Younger skin also regenerates better so theoretically, acne scars treatments started in your 20s or 30s are also more effective.” For these reasons, she chooses more aggressive treatments for her patients in this younger age bracket. Another obvious motivation for treating acne scars early? “There is a definite advantage to having a crystal clear complexion socially and even for work. It’s like going to the mall with and without makeup on and feeling like I get different treatments from people depending on how I look” says Amelia, IT Consultant. Is it difficult to have acne scars erased? Dr Michelle Continue Reading

5 Skincare Habits You Can Learn From Girls Who Never Break Out

To girls with perfect skin, we admire, love and loathe you at the same time. The truth is, perfectly clear skin is a dream for most people. In reality, achieving it isn’t as simple was washing your face two or three times a day, exfoliating regularly, eating healthy. So we talked to girls who know how to maintain a blemish-free complexion for some good advice.   1. They never go to bed with makeup on. This is when we should really listen to our mothers when they told us to wash our faces, no matter what. Sleeping with makeup on clogs up the skin – your face collects oil, oil, dirt and grime and this congests the pores, enlarging them over time and also irritates the skin. Makeup also rubs off on your pillows and we all know what dirty pillows breed and do to our skin. More importantly, during our sleeping hours, our skin goes into repair mode – makeup hinders this reparative process. Ensure makeup is thoroughly removed Continue Reading

Eyes For Beauty – Tips For Revitalizing Tired Eyes

Some people focus on smoothening their facial scars and others seek treatments to tighten their saggy jawlines, but people with dark eye circles or droopy skin around the eyes will tell you treatment for the eyes do a little more than beauty for them. Nothing bothers one more than being perceived as being tired or unrested, when they actually feel quite well! For the ladies, years of applying eye makeup and mascara age the delicate skin around the eyes a little faster.   WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING FOR EYE BEAUTY Diligently applying eye creams to delay the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles may help, but there are other rejuvenative (and pre-juvenative) treatments you can also do.   1. “Smart” Eye Treatments Aesthetic technology advancements today mean that you can look forward to effective “eye-cials” or facials for the eyes. Those with droopy eyelid issues can try Golden Eye, which uses fractionated high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or Genius Eye Firmx which uses radiofrequency energy to firm up skin periorbitally Continue Reading