Dr Vanessa Phua’s Aesthetic and Beauty

Ulthera™ - THE NON-SURGICAL LUNCHTIME FACE-LIFT
REAL TIME IMAGING WITH VISIBLE RESULTS THAT LAST AND LAST!!!!

1) What is Ultherapy ?

Ultherapy is the world’s first non-invasive Focused Ultrasound Face &/Neck Lift.

Ultherapy combines real time imaging of  deep underlying tissues with treatment. This translates to a more efficient treatment as our doctors are able to see skin tissue to a depth of 8mm and treat it to a desired depth below the surface while not affecting intervening tissue.

Ultherapy works deep below the surface – without harming the outer layer of the skin – for firming, tightening and lifting.

a) Improvements around the eyes include lifting of the brow line for less hooding on the eyelids, smoothing of crow’s feet, and a more open, refreshed look to the eyes in general.

b) Sagging skin on the cheeks can be tightened and lifted, which in turn can improve folds from the nose to mouth, folds from the mouth to jaw, and drooping corners of the mouth.

c) A more defined jaw line and overall improvements in skin texture and evenness of color can be additional benefits.

2) How does Ultherapy work? 

The smooth Ulthera ultrasound applicator is placed on your face. This allows our doctor to actually see into your skin and the tissue beneath. This same handpiece is then used to deliver low levels of heat energy at just the right depth below the skin to achieve a positive effect, leaving the surface of your skin unharmed.

Your skin’s response to the energy is to contract slightly right away, and then to stimulate the growth of new collagen over time. A gradual tightening occurs, ultimately resulting in a natural, beneficial lift of facial skin tissue.

3) How different is this treatment from other non-invasive treatments? 

Ultherapy is the only skin rejuvenation procedure that uses ultrasound to image and treat the skin.

The ability to leverage focused ultrasound energy for lifting and tightening lax skin,  by seeing below the skin and its underlying supportive connective tissue, and then treat it with great precision, helps ensure both safety and satisfying results.

4) How is it done and how long will the results last?

Numbing cream will be applied 15min prior to procedure & you will be administered oral painkillers.
Procedure takes about 45min to complete.
Results last up to 1.5 years.

Your skin’s response to the energy is to contract slightly right away, and then to stimulate the growth of new collagen over time, optimizing 6mths following a single treatment session.

A second treatment is usually not necessary, however our doctor needs to access each individual’s skin laxity prior to determining if one needs a second treatment.

5) Any downtime? 

There is absolutely no downtime.

6) When can I return to work?

You are able to return to your normal activities right way, and there are no special measures you need to take. Your skin may appear a bit flushed or puffy immediately after the treatment, but any redness should disappear in a matter of hours. Your face/neck will feel tight and firm as soon as the treatment is over, and the changes will begin to evolve from that moment.

7) Is it painful?

Comfort levels vary, however most patients describe the sensation as momentary prickling or heat beneath the skin. This is the ultrasound energy being delivered into the tissue, which is how Ultherapy lifts and tightens the skin.

Who is a good candidate?

A good candidate for Ultherapy is someone with skin that has “relaxed” to the point of looking, and often feeling, less firm.  A lowered brow line or sagging skin on the eyelids, for instance, is often the first sign of “maturing skin”.

Q. What causes skin pigmentation?
A. Hormonal changes such as pregnancy, menopause or taking the oral contraceptive pill can cause pigmentation (melasma). Long standing burns or scars can also cause this, together with UV exposure and genetics, all of which increase the formation of melanin (skin pigment).

Q. What is Cosmelan?
A. This is a patented physician based depigmentation (Whitening) treatment based on the inhibition of an enzyme that causes the formation of melanin (tyrosine). It consists of a mixture of skin-friendly acids and antioxidants that aid to gently exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin, reducing the pigment blemishes. It acts rapidly, and does not give rise to the down time and severe flaking and redness that some harsh deep acid peels can cause.

Q. What does it involve?
A. I (the doctor) will apply a physician grade exfoliating mask (Cosmelan 1) in the clinic, which you will rinse off at home after 6-8 hours. This is followed by using homecare creams, such as Cosmelan 2 and Hydra Vital Factor K, to further potentiate and enhance the whitening process at home.
 On days 1-3, you will notice some mild redness of the skin, during which you are advised to use topical and oral sunblock to protect your skin against further pigmentation. This is mild and does not restrict you from resuming your normal daily activities. From days 4-5 onwards, you will notice a lightening effect of your skin, and that should continue to improve with time. You are required to apply sunblock during the daytime on top of the treatment creams, and I may prescribe you another night cream as a final layer above the homecare creams for the evening. I will advise you on how to apply the creams, and adjust the treatment according to your skin type. 

Q. Who is suitable for Cosmelan?
A.  If you have melasma (hormonal related pigmentation), or pigmentation from old scars, or even acne. There is no age or gender restriction, and can be used all year round. This can be used for the face, décolletage and hands. I will review your skin monthly for the first 3 months, followed by once every 2 months for another 6 months.

The youthful face is characterised by full cheeks, soft skin, a countoured jawline and symmetrical features. In youth, the young face represents that of an inverted triangle with the widest part of the triangle at the centre of the forehead and its apex tapering downwards to its chin. With age, this triangle inverts, as the face sags with gravity and loses its youthful volume and elasticity. Eye bags, hollowing of the cheeks and a loose jawline appear.

Using biodegradable, safe and FDA Hyaluronic acid based filler injection, the face instantly plumps up the volume and the skin is lifted instantly. This is performed under local and topical anaesthetic, and has minimal recovery time of about 1-2 days.

The cheeks are filled, the jawline is lifted and the hollows disappear. New collagen forms over time and skin is smoother with more glow and lustre. This takes away about 2-3 years off your face. Other areas that are amenable for this treatment include the chin, nose bridge, neck, hands and décolletage.

The effects last up to about a year; this is popular amongst a lot of well-heeled people who want an instant, non surgical lunch time facelift.

Aged face                            Youthful face

Before and after Hyaluronic acid gel filler facelift

Ever noticed the unsightly bony knuckles and veins on your hands? Your hands are the tell-tale sign of your age. The skin starts to then around your hands in your 30’s with increasing prominence of the underlying tendons and veins.

RADIESSE is a biocompatible dermal (middle layer of the skin) filler made of calcium based microspheres that is ideal for rejuvenating hands, restoring the youthful plumpness and volume that you lost over the years. This filler is FDA approved, safe and produces instant results. With time, the underlying skin also produces more collagen, giving a prolonged and continuous renewal of the hands over a period of about 18 to 24 months.

This procedure is performed in the clinic after applying an anaesthetic cream, and is virtually painless. The beauty of this is that it is a non surgical procedure, just a few injections per hand. There is minimal downtime and you can return to your activities immediately. The hand may occasionally feel a little bruised for a day, but this settles rapidly.

The end result is a pair of youthful hands, with increased radiance and improved texture, perfect for showing off your latest Bling!

With RevitaLash you can! This is a patented lash enhancing formula that comes in a mascara bottle that you apply every night along the lashline. Formulated with potent pharmaceutical ingredients and ophthalmologically tested, eyelashes grow to its full glory in 5 weeks! Only available in clinics, get your bottle of Revitalash now and flash those peepers!

With non surgical interventions gaining popularity, there is now less need and demand for surgical enhancement of the breasts in women who desire a fuller, firmer bosom.  Breast Fillers enhance the breasts without surgery.

FAQ:

1. What are breast fillers?
   Body fillers, in particular, breast fillers, are made of a biological gel which is safe and biocompatible with the body. This is injected under the breast tissue to enhance the appearance of the breast without the need for surgery and a general anesthetic.
2. Who is suitable for this procedure?
   Those who have lost volume in the breasts with breast feeding or age related sagging.  Also for those who desire to attain fuller breasts but do not want implants.
3. How is this performed?
   This is performed under local anesthetic, and takes about an hour. The filler is then injected under the breast tissue with a needle.  Some bruising and swelling may be noticed for a day or two, but this all subsides gradually.
4. Is this filler safe?
   Yes, this filler is made of a biologically safe cohesive gel which stays under the breast tissue and absorbs water, and exists in harmony with the surrounding tissues, simulating the natural feel of breast tissue over time. It is NOT INJECTABLE SILICONE, which is unsafe and forms hard lumps over time. This filler is CE marked (European Safety Approval trademark) and approved as an injectable for breast enhancement. The end results last from 3-5 years. Before the procedure, the patient is counseled to go for a breast ultrasound scan or mammogram to exclude any suspicious breast lumps.
5. What aftercare is required?
   The patient must wear a support bra for 4 weeks, without an underwired support. Exercise and massage should be avoided for 2 weeks following breast fillers. One can return to work the next day, as there is minimal discomfort.

This can also be used to enhance the buttocks to increase volume to further enhance one’s feminine curves!

For more information, call Dr. Vanessa Phua at  (65) 6235-8411 or visit http://www.drvanessaphua.com/aesthetic-services.html

Hair loss affects a significant majority of the population. The most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic hair loss, or male pattern baldness, with an equivalent in women. This is genetic and is not due to clogged, oily hair follicles, wearing helmets or mites contrary to old wives’ tales.

There has been a mushrooming of non-medical hair salons and trichologists who promise hair growth with little scientific evidence, and unsatisfactory results who subscribe to the above theories of hair loss.

In androgenetic hair loss, the male hormone, testosterone, is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which attacks the hair follicles. This causes shrinkage of these cells, leading to death and loss of hair. This first starts as a receding hair line, then progresses to move backwards, followed by a bald patch at the crown, which eventually gets bigger, with further loss of hair as described by Norwood (see Norwood grading scale).

Physician prescribed medical (topical and oral) medications help by preventing hair loss and also slows down the formation of the culprit hormone.

Surgical hair restoration is still the most effective way of restoring hair loss. A strip of scalp from the back or the side of one’s head is identified as the donor site for hair transplant. This strip is excised and the donor area is sutured, with an invisible scar that can be hidden by the surrounding hair.

Healthy hair follicles is harvested from this area as follicular unit grafts and transplanted to the areas of hair loss (recipient area). The direction and number of hair follicles are determined prior to the procedure, which is performed under local anaesthetic. Duration of this procedure takes between 3-5 hours. Areas amenable to treatment include the scalp, face (designer stubble/beard/sideburns) and eyebrows.

You can return to work in 2-3 days, and there is minimal discomfort even immediately after the surgery. The success rate of this procedure is unsurpassable at around 90%, and results are very satisfactory with proper care afterwards.

This procedure is suitable for both men and women and is performed by trained physicians only.

Contact Dr. Vanessa Phua for a consultation on your hair  restoration.

What is Spectra Laser Photorejuvenation?

The state of the art Dual Pulsed Nd:Yag Spectra laser is designed for non-ablative skin rejuvenation. This treatment results in youthful, smoother skin from the photothermal and photochemical actions with the aid of a micro particulate carbon mask.

What is it used for?
The 2 modes act differently on the skin for different clinical conditions. The Spectra peel mode acts to close open pores, resurface scars and improve acne by shrinking the size of the sebaceous (oil) glands. This effectively reduces the formation of comedones, (whiteheads and blackheads), which reduce acne outbreaks and flare-ups.

The laser toning Q-switched mode targets uneven pigmentation from hormonal imbalance and other pigmented lesions like tattoos. The laser targets the pigmentation abnormalities in both the epidermis and dermis, resulting in a lightening of pigmentation after several treatments. Both procedures are virtually painless and have minimal downtime.

How is it performed?

A local anaesthetic cream is applied onto the face 20 minutes before the procedure to minimize any discomfort during the procedure. A carbon mask is applied as part of the spectra peel treatment which elicits a heat and photochemical reaction during the laser treatment.

Then the laser is applied, it feels like a tingling warm sensation to the face which lasts for about 5 minutes or so. The beauty of this treatment is that the absence of skin rawness or downtime with this laser. It is a non-ablative treatment and hence is commonly performed as a lunch time procedure.

Collagen remodeling of the skin occurs, leaving your skin feeling and looking more rejuvenated and even-toned after every session.

This popular laser peel is also known as “the weekend peel”. It utilizes long wavelength laser (Erbium Yag laser) to safely remove the top layer of the skin with the aid of a precise scanning system. This ensures that every flaw is corrected to yield a youthful, smoother and clearer complexion.

This laser treatment is customized to the individual skin condition at hand. This is ideal for:
1. fine wrinkles
2. sun-damaged skin on face, neck and shoulders
3. age spots on the face
4. Reduce blotchy uneven skin tone
5. Improve acne and superficial scars
6. Improve fine to moderate lines around eyes, forehead, and lips

The patient uses a skin protective balm about 5 days before the procedure that will prep the skin in advance. On arrival at the clinic, the patient will have a local anesthetic cream applied onto the face for half an hour before the procedure.

The procedure takes anything between 10-20 minutes to perform, during which the patient may report a tingling sensation. Afterwards, the patient will need to apply a sunblock for the next few weeks rigorously and keep the face moisturized as aftercare advice.

One treatment alone yields substantive results.

See before and after pics

   (BEFORE)

 (AFTER Micro Laser Treatment)

If you’re interested in our Aesthetic Surgery Services, contact us now!

We offer Laser Photo Rejuvenation, Non-Surgical Thread Lifts, Anti Ageing, Botox & Filler Enhancement and all beauty enhancement surgery in a very safe and reliable way.

With hundreds of satisfied patients, Dr. Vanessa Phua’s practice has been very popular among the health & image conscious. You too can enhance your image, beauty & looks.

View Before / After Photos of Thread Lifts & Photo Rejuvenation.

Cheers,
Dr. Vanessa Phua
Aesthetic Physician, Asia Health Partners, Singapore

Anti-wrinkle creams have inundated the aesthetic cosmeceutical industry forever. Do they really work? What ingredients should one look out for when purchasing a jar of miracle line erasers?

The main ingredients that have wrinkle combating properties are Argireline, (plant derived protein or hexapeptide), hyaluronic acid (a viscous, hydrating gel found naturally in our skin and joints), vitamins A (retinal), B, C and E, antioxidants like green tea and soy.

Argireline is an ingredient of interest as it works like Botox, but minus the injections. It reduces the signals of nerves that stimulates muscles and relaxes the muscles that cause the lines when they contract (dynamic wrinkles).

With prolonged use, you can be on your way to smoother skin with time, and also delay your next visit to your physician for Botox!