A mild facelift effect is now possible without having to go under the knife, thanks to the invention of dermal fillers. Usually made up of hyaluronic acid, a natural compound found in our own body, fillers have become quick fixes for restoring volume due to fat or bony loss, and erasing fine lines and wrinkles due to aging. Younger people who are not satisfied with the way they look are also turning to fillers first rather than surgery to improve certain less-than-perfect features, such as adding height to a flat nose bridge, augmenting a weak chin, filling up sunken undereye hollows or thin lips. Some dermal fillers can even be injected superficially into skin, to improve hydration for the smooth, dewy look. But things can go wrong when correction becomes overzealous, or if the wrong filler was used in the wrong area. In this article, we speak to Dr Michelle Lim from The SW1 Clinic, and give you the inside scoop on major filler no-go’s to help you navigate through Continue Reading
Why Cheaper Is Not Always Better When It Comes To Beauty
You Really Get What You Pay For We have all heard of the saying “you get what you pay for”. When you purchase something based on price alone, you should be prepared that a cheaper item will likely be of lower quality compared to a higher priced item. Beauty treatments are no different, in fact, the probability of this being true is almost 100% when you compare FDA-approved treatments versus cheaper knockoffs in the market. Aesthetic treatments often start from several hundred for zero downtime lasers to several thousand for premium skin tightening or body shaping treatments. Laser toning, for example, a quick, low fluence (energy) skin toning laser treatment to brighten skin and refine pores, can range between under $50 per session to well above $500 per session. It is not difficult to find a $50 laser toning treatment, but there are caveats. For example, these treatments are often sold in large packages so the eventual financial outlay is definitely substantial even though per session-wise it sounds like an Continue Reading
5 Sneaky Treatments For The New V-Shaped Face You Always Wanted
Getting older can be depressing, especially if we like to reminisce how youthful we looked then versus now. If you thought the boob sag was the most concerning past childbirth or past our 30s, well guess what, gravity works against our faces before it even begins to draw your nipples to your waistline. “Our skin starts the aging process as early as our early 20s. First it loses water and becomes thinner, and then you start losing volume in terms of fat, bone and even muscle, making your skin sag around your jawline as if it is a piece of thin chiffon blouse drapped over a hanger”, says Dr Michelle Lim, Medical Aesthetics Consultant at the SW1 Clinic. Until recently, the surgical facelift was the only way to go if you wanted to do anything to lift it. Today, give Dr Michelle any of the following and she can help you restore your jawline to its youthful tightness, without anyone knowing. 1. Dissolve The Fluff According to Continue Reading
5 Things About Ultherapy You Didn’t Know About
HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. Using ultrasound energy which can safely and accurately penetrate deeper depths of the skin, this remarkable skin lifting technology heats skin to approximately 65 degrees Celsius, without damaging the skin’s surface, causing unraveling of collagen strands and promoting a wound-healing response which results in long lasting skin lifting and tightening effects. 1. It Is Not The Same As Other HIFU machines Ultherapy or Ulthera is the only FDA-approved HIFU machine for skin lifting in parts of the face as well as the décolletage. It has 3 working depths (1.5mm but more commonly the 3mm and 4.5mm are used) and is the only non-invasive method of reaching depths of the skin previously only achievable via the open facelift surgery. In recent years, new HIFU machines have appeared. Mostly Korean or China made, these treatments are being offered in beauty salons and performed by beauty technicians, rather than by a doctor. Apart from Ulthera, which has been rigorously studied for safety and efficacy, Continue Reading
3 Reasons To Start Lasers In Your 30s
In your teens and 20s, good skin health is usually a given. A decade ago, I could afford being lazy at times and jump into bed without really cleaning off my makeup, my skin seemed to forgive me quite easily the next day. Fast forward to 33, my skin has turned into the pettiest thing I know. A blemish takes a little longer to heal, and a little too much alcohol makes me regret the puffiness the next morning. The truth is, in our 30s, collagen production slows down and this is the age when neglect in the past starts to creep up on us. Needless to say, any further lack of love and nurture for it and you will see how it will wage war on you in later life. If you have not had the opportunity to start on simple lasers earlier, it is definitely not too late to start it in your 30s. Here are the top 3 reasons why you should get started. Keep It Continue Reading