Nov Feature: Get the Festive Glow!
The festive season is upon us! The Christmas and New Year parties may be smaller and more intimate this year, but that also means that there’s a lot more up-close gazing, where every flaw and pore on your face would be open to scrutiny. In anticipation of the intimate gatherings you will be attending, Dr Karen Soh, medical director of Privé Clinic tells us more about the top three aesthetics treatments that deliver natural, instantaneous results, and what to look out for when doing the treatments.
General –
Q: Everyone wants to look good for the year-end festivities, and treatments are a great way to freshen your look. But home-care and maintenance are important too. What are some skincare/wellness tips you can do at home to ensure that the treatment results can be prolonged?
A: To prolong the lifespan of your aesthetic treatments, the best tip is to hydrate well and always apply a sunscreen with UV and blue light protection diligently (even if you’re stay home). This is because the harmful rays causes free radicals that make you age faster, and causes injectables like fillers to break down faster. Consuming a good collagen supplement with antioxidants regularly could also help fight these free radicals for more youthful looking skin.
Q: If you want to do a variety of different aesthetic treatments, how long should you wait in-between? Is there a specific program (ie. which treatment should be done first) to follow?
A: Some treatments are great partners and can be done together to boost results, while others require some waiting time in between. The reasons for that would vary depending on the specific combination, which is why at Privé we customize and tailor the combination according to each patient’s unique concerns, needs and lifestyle.
Energy-based treatments like Ultherapy, Thermage and Lasers can usually be combined in the same session without any complications or side effects. These treatments all work on different skin layers, and can work together to boost result. Botox can also be done in the same session either before or after any of these energy treatments as it works in the muscle layer and hence does not interfere or disrupt results. In general, treatments that work on different layers tissues can be done together.
Depending on the area, fillers are sometimes placed in the same skin layers treated with energy treatments. While it can still be done in the same session, we recommend doing the energy treatment first to avoid causing the fillers to metabolise faster (does not last as long).
In some cases, we may recommend a longer waiting time in between treatments so that we can see how the patient reacts to a certain treatment first, and then only add on more if necessary. New patients may also feel more comfortable going slow and allowing for more recovery time in between. Although it is more conservative, this wait-and-see approach helps us achieve more natural looking results.
On Fillers & Botox –
Q: How close to the festive season/important event can you push it to?
A: When is the best time to get fillers & botox done, and why? For botox, it would generally take approximately 1 week to take the full effects. Botox freezes your muscles by stopping the release of acetylcholine. It may take some time for your body to “use up” the acetylcholine that’s already circulating. For fillers, results are instantaneous. However, we recommend doing it 1 week before an important event as there may be bruising at the injection point/ site.
Q: When it comes to fillers & botox, what are some areas that it’s ideal to be used on when it comes to correcting volume loss, lifting and tightening the skin?
A: At Privé, some popular areas include: Forehead, temple, nose, jawline, undereye, cheeks, brows, hairline and even hands.
Q: Everyone wants to look better, but in a natural way. With fillers & botox, what should you look out for when opting for this treatment, and what can you do or say to ensure that the result isn’t too much?
A: Word of mouth is one of the most reliable and credible source as the referrer has spent time interacting with the doctor. Also, ensure that the clinic has a wide range of different types and brands of injectables, as well as a variety of alternative treatments catering to your needs. This helps prevent any biasness when discussing treatment options with your doctor. Most importantly, go to a well-established clinic with good track record. Check how experienced the doctor is with the treatment (fillers/ botox) before proceeding.
Q: What’s the after-care for fillers & botox treatment like?
A: The general rule is to avoid strenuous exercise/ workouts, drinking alcohol, hot weather, sun beds, sauna, steam room and other heat-related activities. As an increase in blood circulation to the face from these activities can intensify itching and redness, skip such activities to reduce any discomfort. Avoid touching or applying pressure to the injection areas to prevent unnecessary movement of the injectable as well as avoid the risk of infection.
On Pico Sure –
Q: With Pico Sure, when is the best time to get the treatment done (how close to the important event/festive season), and why this time frame?
A: For skin rejuvenation, there is no downtime, hence it is recommended to do it anytime from 1 – 3 days before for a healthy glow. To treat pigmentation or acne scars, it is recommended to do it at least 3-6 months prior to the event to allow the skin to regenerate and produce new collagen and elastic fibers depending on the individual’s skin condition. It’s best to schedule a consultation with your doctor to have a skin analysis so that he/she can tailor an optimal treatment plan for you.
Q: What are some after-care must-dos after a Pico Sure treatment?
A: As laser treatments may dry out the skin for the first few days, it is advisable to incorporate a hydrating serum or mask into your skincare post laser treatment. An ideal way is to also combine it with Profhilo, an injectable skincare with one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA). It not only boosts and hydrates the skin, but also remodels ageing and sagging tissues. It is also critical to always apply sunscreen, and avoid the sun if possible.
Q: Is one Pico Sure treatment enough to see good results?
A: As every individual’s skin is different, it would depend on their skin condition and type of pigmentation. In some cases, results have been apparent after one session. For patients with Pigmentation, it would require more than one session to lighten and reduce the pigmentation. Generally, for most patients at Privé, they require about 4-6 sessions. For overall skin rejuvenation, results are often experienced after one session and will continue to improve with consistent monthly maintenance.
On Ultimate Glow (Discovery Pico + Vitamin C Facial) –
Q: The Ultimate Glow treatment uses Discovery Pico laser and a vitamin C facial. Is there a reason why they should be done together?
A: The concept is to incorporate a facial which targets the surface layers of the skin, to remove dead skin cells, hydrate and brighten the skin. While the laser targets the dermis layer of the skin to stimulate collagen production. This treatment works well for an overall skin rejuvenation to keep your skin clear, healthy and glowing.
Q: How close to the important event/festive season can you do the Ultimate Glow treatment?
A: There is no downtime, it is recommended to do it anytime from 1 – 3 days before for a healthy, dewy glow.
Q: Since the Ultimate Glow treatment is also ideal for those with clogged pores and together with the use of the Pico laser, will it trigger underlying issues, like acne that hasn’t surfaced on the skin yet? And if so, how should you handle this?
A: The Ultimate Glow Treatment would not trigger underlying issues like acne as this type of acne develops from a combination of sebum (oil), bacteria, and dirt that becomes trapped in your pore. Hence, if such a situation arises, we would require another round of consultation to find out the root cause of the problem. Some easy fix would be to prescribe some medication, retinol or treat the acne with another type of laser. If it gets complicated (i.e. acne scarring), there may be a need to introduce subcision and/or other injectables.
Q: How often can you do this treatment? Is one session enough for good and visible results?
A: You may do this treatment every month. Yes, you may experience full face rejuvenation, refining of pores, more radiance and brightening of dull skin after a session. You may also observe pigmentation, sun spots and freckles lightening, and an overall more evens skin tone. With consistent monthly sessions, you may also experience a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, and lightened pigmentation and post-acne marks/ scars.
