Health & Beauty

[patrick]

UPDATE FROM OUR DOCTOR

I've often been asked what I do for my face to keep it in the good condition that I usually exhibit. Well, apart from the self-administered Botox injections for my frown lines, most people don't believe that my skincare regime is very simple given the number of high tech gadgets I have at my disposal. But if you think about it, it really isn't possible to shoot myself with a laser without risking damage to my eyes. So, what can & do I treat myself with?



1. Good set of creams for a start

i) A good sunblock - I use the ones that I have - the Cetephil UVA/UVB defence or Heliocare SPF 50 compact (good coverage for zits & pigmentation) or Sunshield SPF 50 (nice oil-free texture & sheer foundation tint). Cost range RM95-128.


ii) Reactiver night refining serum - multiple functions - good for treating acne, fine lines, big pores & peels gently to aid removal of pigments & acne marks. Cost RM250


iii) A day serum - I usually use a simple face hydrator or a vitamin/botox-like serum. Cost range RM90-338.


2. Light therapy - whenever I can get a 20 minute break, i just go to sleep under my Radiantmax low level laser machine - no pain, no redness, no downtime. When I want collagen stimulation or anti-inflammatory effect, I use red light. When I have a pimple coming, I use blue light to kill off the bacteria. Of course, to get good effect from this gadget, you need at least 2x/week sessions. You can now DIY this treatment yourself at home with the home-use version of my Radiantmax called "Vielight Flex". It's half the size of my clinical unit but a fraction of the cost. Considering I paid RM40K for the doctor's unit, the Vielight Flex at less than RM3000 is a steal. You can get more information about this product at this link: http://www.radiant2life.com/flex

It can not only do acne treatment but skin & hair rejuvenation as well. All family members can use it. IF you have a bunch of acne sufferers and/or hair loss sufferers at home, then this is definitely a great value buy. As it's now available for home use, consistent daily or alternate day usage is now possible to make it a really effective therapy.

Those interested in this Vielight Flex can contact me for more details. As of now, there are 8 units left.


3. Fat freezing & Aslene

A lot of you noticed that I've shed a significant amount of weight this past year. I should be preaching a healthy diet & regular exercise but yes, I did cheat a little with the toys at my disposal. I do regularly take an Aslene (RM70/box) pill with any meal that contains fat (that's pretty much every meal except breakfast). I've also been treating myself with the fat freezing machine to target specific blubbery areas such as my tummy, my fat thighs & wobbly upper arms. I still, of course, try to watch what I eat but whet's the point of living if you don't allow the occasional nasi lemak & chocolate cake? BTW, there is medical evidence to show that people who consume chocolate regularly are slimmer!! Those who want the proof can email me directly.

As for exercise, do some cardiovascular workout at least 3x/week. It isn't the exercise as much as what what you put in your mouth that determines how much and how fast you lose fat weight - watch those "Biggest Loser" shows & you'll see what I mean. How many of us can afford to take 3-6 months off work to exercise in the gym 3x/day full time in a secluded environment?


I first talked about Zeltiq fat freezing treatment 1 year ago. Zeltiq treatment costs RM2-3.5K per freeze & you'll need at least 3 treatment areas to cover your tummy area so it costs around RM6000 for a tummy session.
I now have a cryolipolysis machine that can do treatment at a much cheaper price. e.g. tummy area - however, big the area. You'll need between 1-3 sessions (spaced 2 months apart) maximum to achieve your desired shape.

As treatments are very time-consuming - be prepared to spend 1-3 hours at the clinic. (Sorry, no DIY home-use fat freezing gadget available yet). Please book ahead for appointments.


Best regards,

[patrick]

Latest Update from our Doctor......

ELURE Advanced Skin Lightening Lotion 30 ml - latest product for
reducing all types of pigmentation including melasma.

This is a natural enzyme that dissolves pigment in the skin.

How well does it work?
Syneron (the manufacturer) claims that you can see results in as
little as 7 days. If you read general reviews (product has been
selling in the USA market for about 1.5 years), about 67% of users
will see lightening in 1 month, 80% of users will see lightening
within 2 months.

How does it compare to other lightening creams & peels & lasers?
Advantage of ELURE is the lack of side-effects. Hydroquinone skin
lightening creams (the gold standard) & skin peeling agents can cause
redness, irritation & peeling in sensitive skins whereas ELURE doesn't
irritate the skin. But overall consensus is that the gold standard -
hydroquinone & peeling still works better. Lasers are just expensive &
liable to cause rebound pigmentation which can be worse than your
original pigmentation.

Would I recommend this product to my patients?

It's obviously very expensive but some women don't balk at paying
upwards of RM3000 for some branded (Chanel, etc, etc) skincare
product. 1 bottle would last about 1 month as it is to be used twice
daily.

Price aside, I think it would be very useful for:

1) pigmentation sufferers with sensitive skin who cannot tolerate
peeling & hydroquinone-containing creams.
2) those who can tolerate existing treatment but want a faster onset
of results. As ELURE dissolves existing pigment, it tends to have a
faster onset of effect compared to hydroquinone which PREVENTS
formation of new pigment.

How much is it?

New technology doesn't come cheap. It is retailing in M'sia for RM925
- only available in selected skin clinics. I know some of you will
google & find that it retails for USD150 (=RM480) at some online
sites...well, that's for the USA market. If your couriered product
gets seized at Customs, it will definitely be confiscated because
you're not the registered importer.

If you are interested, please call me for more details before July 14th 2012.

Please note the following dates this year when my clinic will be
closed (attending conferences):

July 14th (Sat)
July 28th (Sat) - 30th (Mon)
August 6th (Mon) - 7th (Tue)
Nov 17th (Sat) - 27th (Tue)

As for the other public hols, I may be open on selected days depending
on demand (e.g. Hari Raya). Please check back closer to the public
holiday dates in due course.

...Doc