Tag: picosecond laser

How To Revitalize Skin Using Supercharged Lasers

Long before the birth of skin renewal lasers, Cleopatra already had science on her side, taking milk baths which contained lactic acid to exfoliate and rejuvenate skin, dead sea salts for its mineral healing properties, honey for its hydrating properties and many more. Today we have medical technology on our side, using supercharged lasers to resurface the skin, effectively plumping up skin and erasing away spots, fine lines and wrinkles. But if you thought only those with problem skin needed lasers, that’s where you are wrong. Lasers now come in wavelengths which also target dyschromia or uneven skin tone and also brightens skin, resulting in the coveted dewy photoshop effect. We speak to Dr Kenneth Lee, who founded The Sloane Clinic 15 years ago and now, helms the 8000 sqft large SW1 Clinic.   Q : Which lasers are best for smoothening wrinkles and scars? Dr Kenneth: Traditionally, the CO2 lasers such as the SmartX laser are best for these. New versions of CO2 lasers are now fractionated and delivered Continue Reading

Permanent Paint – What You Need to Know About Tattoos

Tattoos are getting increasingly popular in the past decade. While a tattoo brings to mind secret societies, bikers or branded outcasts previously, it’s a common sighting on the young and trendy now. A survey estimated that about 36% of Americans aged between 18 to 30 years have at least one tattoo. Up to 65% of ink bearers are women.   So what exactly is the allure of the tattoo? Perhaps, it is the promise that an ordinary unadorned stretch of skin will be transformed into a canvas for a permanent, powerful and unique statement – either artistic or counter-cultural – of cool for some. For other ladies, they may have tattoos masked as “permanent makeup” such as eyebrow hair imitation, or permanent lip liner and eye liner. Whatever the motivation for getting inked permanently, here’s what you need to know about tattoos, safety tips, the possible health risks involved, and your removal options if you change your mind. What It Involves A tattoo is a permanent mark or design made Continue Reading

The Latest Laser Treatment For Virtually All Skin Troubles

People with pigmentation woes understand that pigments are skin troubles that persist, no matter how thorough one’s skincare regime, and how expensive our skincare products are. Pigments are almost like unfortunate scars, parts on our skin that we wish we could make disappear immediately and forever. Yet pigmentation treatments often give modest results at best, and under the wrong hands, they can even worsen. So for the pigment-burdened or those with tattoo regret, should you resign to your fate and learn to live with it? Probably not! Skin lasers are one of the most researched treatments for pigmentation woes such as melasma and tattoo removal. We speak to Dr Chua Han Boon, a Senior Consultant at the SW1 Clinic about the latest pigment and tattoo removal laser in town, and why this laser is now the best pigment and tattoo removal in town.   The Misconception About Lasers There is a common misconception that lasers thin the skin, damaging the skin’s melanocytes and leaving patches of skin white. Dr Chua Continue Reading

Pico Smooth – Ironing Things Out with Acne Scars

Acne scars are irksome and troublesome. They can give a person low self-esteem, especially in this day and age where razor sharp features and baby smooth skin actually have a certain influence over matters such as success at job interviews. There is little wonder, photography apps that can perform facial slimming and airbrush dull or blemished skin to that coveted superstar glow is all the rage right now. THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK For those who suffer from acne scars, there is a new acne scars resurfacing treatment (not an app, but in real life!) which SKINMAG has discovered. Picosecond lasers stimulate collagen production, like how other fractional resurfacing lasers also do, such as the CO2 laser, but that’s really where all the similarity ends. CO2 lasers work by heating water in skin cells, and fractionated CO2 lasers basically vaporize tiny columns of skin, leaving skin surrounding each column intact. The heat causes the skin to regenerate and repair by stimulating collagen, and skin resurfacing occurs over the following Continue Reading

Think Before You Ink: Tattoo Regret In The Eyes Of A Doctor

Tattoos may seem like a good idea in the moment, but sometimes, tattoos are inked on impulse. We spoke to Dr Kenneth Lee, founder of the SW1 Clinic (who also co- founded The Sloane Clinic in 2003) about tattoo regret.   SKINMAG: Do you often see patients who have tattoo regret? Dr Kenneth Lee: Yes, I have seen quite a few over the last decade. They range from pretty young to working professionals who regretted the tattoos they got in their younger years, because the tattoos didn’t fit their lifestyle anymore. The tattoos range from professional, self-inked, very new, old, black tattoos and multi-coloured ones.   SKINMAG: What kind of tattoos do people normally regret? Dr Kenneth Lee: Usually people regret tattoos that label them, such as gang tattoos. I have had to help a young man remove massive yakuza style tattoos on his chest, back and both legs because he wanted to become a policeman. Sometimes people remove easily visible tattoos such as those on the fingers and wrists Continue Reading