THE FABULOUS FIVE
For a head-to-toe transformation, Lionnel Lim recommends these five gold-standard treatments delivered with utmost care at Dr Kevin Chua Medical & Aesthetics
FRESH-FACED BEAUTY: Hydrafacial
WHAT: Hydrafacial uses a patented, high-tech system to cleanse skin, extract impurities and impart hydration. Super serums for various purposes are infused into the skin in three key steps: cleanse and peel, extract and hydrate, and fuse and protect. Suitable for both the face and body. FDA and HSA approved.
THE SCIENCE: The Hydrafacial Elite machine features the unique Vortex-fusion technology that administers all three steps via a handpiece applied over the skin. The spiral design of the Hydropeel tips, used together with the brand’s proprietary vacuum technology and serums, also ensures painless extractions.
THE PROCESS: The first step gently exfoliates and resurfaces; the second removes debris via suction while quenching skin with moisturisers, and the last saturates the skin with antioxidants and peptides for an instantly gratifying glow. LED light treatment is then used to boost rejuvenation and wound healing (if any). Each treatment lasts about 30 minutes and is completely pain-free.
EFFICACY: Results are immediate, with no downtime.
LEANER & MEANER: Coolsculpting
WHAT: A non-surgical fat-freezing procedure, it is safe and highly effective with long-lasting results. It is able to target trouble spots, achieving up to 20 to 25 percent reduction in fat in the treated area. Not recommended for those under 18. FDA and HSA approved.
THE SCIENCE: Two Coolsculpting machines are used simultaneously to address different body parts. It triggers fat reduction through cryolipolysis, which is the breakdown of fat cells from the use of freezing temperatures. There is, however, no damage to the skin or other kinds of cells.
THE PROCESS: Markings on the skin are made, followed by a thorough cleansing and the placement of applicators on the target spots. The patient rests on the treatment bed comfortably throughout. Each machine’s treatment cycle takes 35 minutes, so using two machines at the same time halves the treatment duration. Expect only a mild level of discomfort, which lasts all of three minutes at the end of each cycle. Otherwise, the procedure is painless.
EFFICACY: Results typically start to reveal themselves from the third week with maximum results in three months. A review is advised at this time. Recovery takes about 10 to 14 days on average.
AWAY WITH THE OLD: Picoway
WHAT: It removes a wide range of tattoos, even difficult-to-treat blue and green ones, and significantly improves acne scars and wrinkles. It also addresses a range of benign pigmented lesions with flexibility in depth and spot size. Safe for all ages and requires minimal to no downtime. FDA and HSA approved.
THE SCIENCE: Utilising laser pulses that are delivered in picoseconds (one trillionth of a second), Picoway delivers small bursts of laser energy that penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate skin healing and collagen production. Two different laser attachments are used – Resolve and Titanium-sapphire. The former tightens pores, reduces scars and accelerates overall rejuvenation – especially good when combined with the Rejuran treatment. The latter is suitable for green and blue ink tattoos, which traditionally are very difficult to treat with other lasers.
THE PROCESS: After a thorough examination, the skin is cleansed and prepped. No numbing cream is required for pigmentation and rejuvenation treatment, but it is recommended for tattoo removal. Each treatment lasts 15 to 20 minutes. Pain level is tolerable, and the sensation is that of a rubber band snapping on the skin. For post-care, a supplement called Pynocare White is recommended to further lighten pigmentation. It features pine bark extract, Vitamins C and E, along with the MSCC Complex Actisome technology for a strong antioxidant and moisturising effect, as well as anti-inflammatory protection.
EFFICACY: Two to four treatments should suffice for pigmentation removal. Both scar revision and pore tightening require around three to four sessions. Tattoos take about three to nine sessions for good clearance. Recovery is usually complete in three to four weeks.
TURN BACK THE YEARS: Ultherapy
WHAT: It is a non-invasive skin tightening treatment recommended for deep lifting of the skin and a marked improvement in skin laxity. It builds up your collagen bank so as to maintain skin youth. Recent trials have also shown an improvement in pigmentation disorders, such as melasma. Most patients start this treatment in their early- to midthirties. FDA and HSA approved.
THE SCIENCE: The DEEPSEE imaging technology is used to visualise the treatment area, so that High-intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) energy can accurately target the deep structural layers of the skin without disrupting the surface. This will stimulate the body’s tissue repair process to accelerate the production of new collagen, creating a natural lifting effect.
THE PROCESS: The face is first cleansed, followed by the application of numbing cream, which is encouraged. With the aid of a water-based gel, the depth of the skin is imaged before energy is precisely delivered. A full face treatment usually takes one hour. Treatment of the neck or décolletage takes approximately 45 minutes. The pain is very tolerable with numbing cream, which would need an hour to take effect.
EFFICACY: Results will start to show from as early as three weeks, while skin laxity continues to improve over the next three months, sometimes even longer. While recovery typically takes around seven to 10 days, there will be no overt, visible changes to your skin’s appearance. Any welts usually resolve after 30 minutes.
REFRESH & REBOOT: Rejuran
WHAT: A new and minimally invasive form of skin biorevitalisation, this injection-based treatment promotes favourable regeneration of cells from deep within the skin. FDA and HSA approved.
THE SCIENCE: It features Polynucleotides (PN) that are DNA fragments of a specific size derived from wild salmon. In addition to rejuvenation, it also helps revise raised and pitted scars like keloids and acne scars, reduce the size of pores, and lighten dark eye circles.
THE PROCESS: For rejuvenation or pore tightening, injections are made at the most superficial layers of the skin. For scars, the PN are placed both inside and under the scar. For the eyes, the treatment is administered directly under the eye using only a single entry point at the side of the face. Approximately 20 to 30 minutes are needed to deliver a full face treatment. Three to six sessions spaced three to four weeks apart are recommended for good results. Pain is minimal with numbing cream.
EFFICACY: Recovery takes one to three days. Results are noticeable in as early as one to two weeks, with a recommended assessment one month later.