Around November 2015 I think.. patient with her latest pictures from my IPhone. Finally had the time to upload this. A happy patient is what drives me everyday in fine tuning and perfecting the cure for acne. It isn't perfect and acne is a journey of ups and downs with set backs. What works for one may not necessarily work for another, but I can safely say that with patience and trust, we will get there one way or another.
"Dr. Stafford R. Broumand, a plastic surgeon whose Manhattan practice includes spa services, said that facials including dermaplaning, which cost $185, increased threefold in 2014 over the previous year. He said that the procedure is advocated for its efficacy in exfoliation (scraping away dead skin cells, pollution and small imperfections) rather than for hair removal."
So what exactly is Dermaplaning?
Dermaplaning is a skin procedure that involves using a sharp tool to exfoliate the surface of your skin, while also removing small, fine hairs. Basically, an esthetician or dermatologist will take a small scalpel and very gently scrape the surface of your skin using light, feathering strokes
So what exactly does lightly scraping your skin with a scalpel accomplish?
A lot, apparently. Dermaplaning’s purpose is to give your skin an immediate exfoliation for a luminous glow, allowing the skin to look more radiant. The benefits are dewy skin, faster cell turnover, and a smoother texture. Doctors in the US usually recommend dermaplaning to anyone who is about to undergo a Q-switch laser treatment or chemical peel. This allows the products or laser energy to penetrate more deeply into the skin. Plus, the light “shaving” motion gets rid of light facial hairs while it exfoliates.
Who is suitable for this treatment?Anyone who has unwanted facial hair and anyone who wants exfoliation can benefit. This procedure is especially good for anyone who has sensitive skin or is unable to use certain products or exfoliation treatments such as those who are pregnant. It’s an alternative way to lightly resurface the skin.
Is it painful?Dermaplaning is absolutely painless.
So there you have it, treatments from Hollywood. Try it to believe it.
More updates with regards to how Adult Acne is treated. Pictures on 10th September 2015. Acne is more stable. Reduction in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or acne marks.
PIH is primarily causaed by 2 main causes. The first is caused after the basal cell layer in the inflamed skin is destroyed leading to the accumulation of melanopahges containing a large amount of melanin in the upper dermins. The second is caused by an epidermal inflammatory response, leading to an accumulation of chemical mediators that stimulate the syntheses of melanin in the melanocytes that then transfer this pigment to the surrounding cells.
Q-switch laser is used in the treatment of her PIH. We have devised a fixed protocol using this laser to remove PIH without causing any complications. There was no rebound hyperpigmentation and no areas of hypopigmentation.
The next series of update will be the last set of pictures to conclude this series of adult acne treatment using AGNES and Q-switch laser.
Just want to say it's been such an awesome year that has just gone by and many thanks to my patients from The Clifford Clinic. It has been great seeing the improvements in many of the different concerns many different patients have came with and are happy with.
I'm glad I was there to help you prepare your skin for your weddings and for many of my patients who then return and I showed me your lovely wedding photos. Or do the many who were changing jobs and needed good skin while preparing for job interviews.
I'm glad I could be there for others whom I incidentally managed to detect some early skin cancers and I was also there for the many others as we together go through life's incredible journey.
To everyone else, hope you have a great 2016. Stay healthy and stay beautiful as we all aim to age gracefully!
For those who have seen SL's blog, I guess she gives an update of her acne progress much quicker than me, as I do not often have the time to log on to document her progress. Nevertherless, these are some of her old photos taken from my IPhone. Though it has been a few months since these photos are taken, but they still provide a good update on her progress through the treatments.
These were taken in 25th June 2015. Slow progress, but I can see the improvement she is getting. It would need time for the pigmentation to improve but we are getting there.
It has been only a week since the previous photos were taken. These were taken on the 11th of June 2015. Currently a single session of AGNES has been completed and I have began her Q-switch treatment.
She has reported less commedones, although clearly there is still a lot of hyperpigmentation
The recovery post AGNES is actually quite fast. Initially you may notice a few rather raised spots, but that is expected even after a facial.
These spots usually calm down within about 2-3 days. After that the Q-switch laser would then be required to remove the pink / brown pigmentation.
Sometimes there is evidence of some pustules post agnes, but these do subside pretty quickly as well, which is also the reason why you would be required to return on the second day to extract these pustules.
A lot of the pustular nodular acne have calmed down, leaving behind post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which are essentially acne scars or acne marks.
The Q-switch laser ND YAG is a laser used for pigmentation. It is used to remove haemoglobin and melanin, which are deposited in the skin.
Studies performed using the Q-switch have showed significant reduction in inflamed, non-inflamed lesions as well as sebum levels.
Let me talk about the AGNES and go through a case study with a patient whom I have treated recently. She was kind enough to allow me to take pictures for posting on the internet to educate my readers including those suffering from adult acne.
Here is Patient S. A young adult female whom has been battling with acne since her teenage years. I first met her in June and this pictures were taken on 5th of June 2015
You can see evidence of multiple papules and comedones. These comedones are evidence of congestion of the oil glands. The redness is due to inflammation as bacteria invades into the oil glands causing infection and inflammation.
As I go through with all of my patients who require acne treatment, acne is a multi-factorial condition caused by a few factors, from genetics to hormones and also life-style factors. The conditions in the skin or pathogenesis that promote acne include hyperkeratinisation ( Or excess skin growth ) , obstruction of sebaceous follicles resulting from abnormal keratinization of the infundibular epithelium ( congestion of the oil glands ), stimulation of sebaceous gland secretion by androgens (excess oil gland secretion ), and microbial colonization of pilosebaceous units by Propionibacterium acnes ( bacetria ), which promotes perifollicular inflammation.
Of course acne comes in many various severity and different treatment protocols and treatment methods can be used to treat acne with varying degree of effectiveness.
Over the next few weeks, I shall be writing on her progress as we have actually started treatment a few months ago and we have now started to see progress of the treatments.
There was some recent hype over a product called Instantly Ageless that can remove wrinkles and eye bags in an instant. It sounded really too good to be true, and it made me wonder what is the hype all about and if this product is indeed genuine.
I performed searched for reviews on the product and found quite a number of very mixed reviews of the product. Amazon.com and realself.com both had quite a number of contrasting reviews.
So what is this product all about?
Well we all know as a result of ageing, our skin loses elasticity and collagen thus making the appearance of wrinkles more obvious. Moreover, because of the expressions on our faces, the constant folds over our skin eventually becomes more obvious. A good analogy would be to imagine our skin like a piece of cloth, that has been folded on itself, forming a crease.
These products that claim to get rid of wrinkles seem to act like a glue, stretching the skin temporarily. Some have claimed that it only works if you don't move your facial muscles at all, meaning the product no longer works the moment you smile or laugh. Which does make sense, if the product is like a glue, whose function is to stretch out the skin thus decreasing wrinkles. Others have feedback that they became allergic to the product or once they rubbed the skin, the effect was lost.
In my clinic, I have often advised patients to perform treatments that build elastin and collagen naturally. This is often achieved through lasers and products that give a more lasting and natural result. Often through a few sessions of lasers, you should be able to see a firmer, smoother more glowing looking skin, as certain lasers can stimulate collagen growth.
One thing I really do not like about this product, is the way this product is being sold. To purchase it, there seem to be some multi-level marketing involvement. Hence this makes a lot of the reviews highly biased as people may have a secondary agenda when giving the product a good review instead of genuinely talking about a good product.
Unfortunately I will not be carrying this product in our clinic. But do keep me updated if you have tried it and I would be curious to find out your opinion.
I'm a little behind on this, so here's a throwback to the grand opening of an exciting collaboration I've been busy with-South East Asia's very first Skinceuticals Advanced Clinical Spa!
You probably already know that Skinceuticals is the world's leading premium professional clinical skincare brand and their products (especially their antioxidants) are recommended by dermatologists.With this collaboration, my patients to experience both proven antiaging and rejuvenating treatments
as well as Skinceutical’s professional facial treatments! I'm excited to be able to share this with you and I thank you all for patience and kind support!
Here are some snippets from our grand opening!
Sharing skincare tips during the lunch time beauty express
My good friend, Dr Chow getting his skin analysed with our new Skinceuticals skin scope.
We had a sharing session with the Skinceuticals team for my patients. Hope you found the session fruitful!
Thank you once again for your continued support and do come by to get a free skin analysis with our new Skinscope! If you're interested in knowing more about the Clifford Aesthetics and the treatments offered, do drop Clifford Aesthetics (at #01-03A Clifford Center, 24 Raffles Place) by or ring 65322048 for queries or an appointment. Have a good week everyone!
The wrinkles at the corner of eyes are actually called crow’s feet, as these wrinkles simply resemble crow’s feet. People with Crow’s Feet often looked older than they actually are especially when they smile.
Two Types Of Crow's Feet
Dynamic Crow's Feet
Do you notice wrinkles on your smiling photos and no lines in photos that you aren't smiling? When you stop smiling, the muscles relax and the lines disappear. This is what we call a dynamic wrinkle.
Static Crow's Feet
Do you notice wrinkles on your smiling and non smiling photos? If the lines still appear there even though you had relaxed and aren’t smiling, the dynamic wrinkle has become a static wrinkle. Static wrinkle means the existence of the wrinkle even at relaxed state. A static wrinkle occurs when the skin is constantly folded in the same direction and over time, when skin quality and tightness is lost through aging and the skin experiences laxity, the static wrinkle becomes a permanent wrinkle and thus a permanent and unwanted facial feature on yours.
The Merz scale is actually a scale doctors use to grade the severity of your crows feet
Solutions for Crow's Feet
1. BOTOX
last up to 4 months and the effects are almost immediate: you will notice improvement within 24 to 48 hours after your Botox treatment and you will see significant improvement at 7 days, continuing up to a month. Not everyone requires the same amount of Botox treatment for Crow’s Feet wrinkles as this truly depends on the how large and strong your orbicularis oculis are. There is also zero downtime for BOTOX treatment.
2. Fillers
Fillers, like its name, fills up the "cracks" and uneven portion of our skin, giving us the plump and full look and also smoothens out the lines.
3. CO2 Laser Resurfacing
CO2 Laser Resurfacing Laser penetrates through the top skin layers, stimulating collagen and resurface the top skin layer. Your skin’s natural rejuvenation process will help to improve the appearance of the crow's feet.
4. Thermage Skin Tightening Treatment
Thermage is a new type of non-surgical, non-invasive procedure for the face, neck and chest that uses radiofrequency and the body’s own natural healing process to lift, tone, and tighten loose skin.
The FDA-cleared device used in the procedure uses radiofrequency to stimulate the deep structural support layers of the skin without disturbing the surface of the skin.
Results will unfold over the course of 2-3 months and some patients have reported continued improvement for up to 6 months. While Thermage does not duplicate the results of surgery, Thermage has proven to be an inviting alternative for those who are not yet ready for surgery.
Ready to get rid of your crow's feet?
CALL US at 6532 2400 to make an appointment. I will love to have a personalised consultation with you and get rid of your facial troubles. See you.
We had our grand opening yesterday! We're so excited to collaborate with Skinceuticals and of course, we welcome everyone to SEA's very first Advanced Clinical Spa!
In case you're wondering, Clifford Aesthetics is located at Clifford Centre, which is a mere ONE minute walk away from Raffles Place MRT. With fuss free treatments and low down-time, anyone can drop by during lunch-time for a small touch-up.
Many thanks patient N for the gifts from Japan! I'm glad you had an awesome wedding and you were happy with the results we achieved over the months. All the best for the future! =)
Having poor skin can really get you down. Who doesn't wish to have skin without freckles, pigmentation, sun spots or even acne scars?
A solution is at hand!
At The Clifford Clinic, we have the Q-Switch Laser - a technologically advanced lasers. It is FDA approved and clinically proven for the removal of both superficial and deep hyperpigmented lesions.
The laser works by delivering clinical light quickly with intense energy. The pulses are absorbed by the treated area, breaking down the pigments into smaller pigments, which are then eliminated by the body's natural lymphatic system.
Minimal Down Time, Maximum Results
One of the advantages of Q-Switch Laser is that the down time is very, very low, yet patients get to enjoy the good results in just one session.
Jacqualine who is a personal friend wrote about her experiences at a website called hellomrstan. She was suffering from hereditary freckles and with just one session, most of her pigmentation was resolved within a month.
You can find out more from her own blog on her experience with the laser. You may notice that most of the bigger spots have been resolved!
Suitable for other pigmentations
Apart from freckles and sun spots, this revolutionary Q-Switch Laser is also very effective in removing birth marks, tattoos and even stretch marks.
Contact Us
If you have always been toying with the idea of getting rid of your pigmentations once and for all, give us a call at The Clifford Clinic: +65 6532 2400 and talk to me. I will be happy to talk to you and advise you further.
Liposonix is a new, non-invasive FDA-approved treatment that uses advanced high-intensity focused ultrasound technology to permanently destroy targeted unwanted fat.
How does Liposonix work? Here are 5 things you should know about Liposonix, and why it is taking the world by storm:
1. What is Liposonix?
Liposonix uses focused ultrasound waves to permanently get rid of fat cells selectively in your problem areas. For many, many years, people have been trying to selectively remove fat from problem areas, using all sorts of methods, such as injections, exercise and many other cosmetic surgery techniques. Until now, the only way to really remove fat from a selective area was liposuction. But now, there is Liposonix.
2. How does Liposonix work?
Click on the above video to watch how does Liposonix work. Basically, Liposonix makes use of ultrasound energy to destroy fat cells. It is extremely safe as it is non-invasive, and it only concentrates on the subcutaneous fat tissue layer.
3. What happens to the destroyed fat cells then?
Once the fat cells are destroyed, it activates the body's natural immune system to 'eat up' the fats debris. This results in an overall reduction in local fat cells volume and typically, users can experience a reduction of 4 to 5cm on their abdomen and waist!
4. How long does it take for me to see the results?
It takes the body system about 8 to 12 weeks to completely remove the fat cells debris, so start early, if you have an important event coming up, like wedding, graduation, photo shoot etc.
5. Is this treatment suitable for anybody?
Most people are suitable for Liposonix. Currently, Liposonix is recommended for people with tummy and love handle problems. If you have other areas of concern, you can also schedule an appointment with me at +65 6532 2400 at The Clifford Clinic. I would be able to advise you further.
6. Are there any side effects?
Liposonix side effects are generally very minimal, such as slight redness, which usually resolves after a while. Other patients may experience bruising, which takes up to 2 weeks to subside.
7. Where can I get my Liposonix treatment from?
You can get your Liposonix treatment from The Clifford Clinic, just give us a call at +65 6532 2400 to arrange for a session. Usually, 1 session is sufficient for each treatment area. 1 session, 1 hour, 1 size smaller. What are you waiting for?
Sounds too good to be true? Based on the latest technique from Korea, the cure for acne has been found. Without the need for creams. Without the need for oral medication. I've tried it on a few patients and I was surprised on the results as well.
Based on the theory of selective follicular destruction, the chance to be able to eliminate an acne prone follicle is the key in preventing inflammation and break outs.
Introducing the permanent solution for adult acne.
AGNES is the latest treatment protocol from Korea.
Before we can talk about how does AGNES work in preventing acne from arising permanently, we need to understand that acne is caused by acne prone follicle that arises from a sebaceous gland. As long as the acne prone follicle remains, many patients will experience recurring acne.
Using the concept of the selective destruction of sebaceous gland, we will selectively destroy the sebaceous gland under a microscope. Without the sebaceous glands, acne prone follicle cannot proliferate.
Finally, a PERMANENT cure for pimples!
As our skin has thousands of sebaceous glands, AGNES will selectively destroy individual 'problematic' glands, leaving other healthy glands untouched.
As such, AGNES is often raved to have extremely minimal down time and is a permanent cure with no recurrence. Can you imagine not having to deal with another 'volcano' again? :)
Apart from that, there is no need for oral medications, creams (that often results in drying of the skin or peeling skin), no multiple side effects and it is safe for pregnancy and breast feeding mothers.
From my experience, most patients do not require more than 3 treatments, and 1 session is enough for you to see results.
A big thank you to the teams from Clarisonic, Tangs and StyleXstyle for inviting the Clifford Clinic to the Clarisonic: New Year, New Skin workshop on 22nd January 2015. it was a very fruitful experience as I got to share my tips on looking younger and more radiant for the new year! (credits to Stylexstyle for the photos)
Hosted by
the very lovely Sharon Au, participants had the opportunity to try out the
Clarisonic Mia2 on themselves to experience for themselves its revolutionary
cleansing prowess.
I
also shared with the audience the latest developments in anti-aging and skin
rejuvenation treatments as well as skin care advice to look good naturally. It
was a fruitful experience for the Clifford Clinic team I hope you found the workshop useful! It was nice meeting all
of you and thank you once again Clarisonic, Tangs and StyleXstyle for inviting The Clifford Aesthetics and
me. We look forward to seeing all of you again!
Everyone's favourite food! So are these Mcdonalds Chicken McNuggets really that unhealthy? Well from a doctor's point of view, at least it is real chicken in these nuggets. But too much deep friend food is nevertherless unhealthy. I wonder the staff at Tyson's food who taste nuggets as a job, if she gets any health benefits/insurance from eating that much fried food on a daily basis. One still wonders about the type of oil used in the frying of these nuggets and the amount of Saturated fat present in oil. Because that lies the true association between high cholesterol and heart diseases.
