Anti Aging

Not Looking Your Age Is The Best Compliment You Could Get

The fountain of youth may not be an actual, physical fountain, but that won't stop us from giving what it takes to chase after it. It was one of those pit-of-the-stomach horror moments when you unwittingly caught sight of yourself in the rear view mirror and realized that the smile lines at the corner of your eyes and across your nose are beginning to look a lot more annoying, and a lot less cute. Well it probably didn’t happen overnight, and savvy women in the know are already taking notes if not already engaging in ways to fight the first signs of aging even before their sighting.

1. Erasing wrinkles

Traditional injectables and Dermal Fillers can be used to improve the appearance of undesirable facial wrinkles and lines albeit in different ways by targeting different kinds of skin wrinkling. The simple rule is that lines of expression need fillers, when lines at rest are dealt with filler microinjections.

Traditional injectables only work as anti-wrinkle micro-injections against dynamic wrinkles on “crease points” caused by muscular movements. These are otherwise commonly referred to as "expression lines." The most common dynamic wrinkles that respond well are lines on the upper face, such as the "11" frown lines between the brows, horizontal lines on the forehead, and crow's feet around the eyes.

Dermal Fillers made of naturally occurring hyaluronic acid are best for deep lines that are present even when the facial muscles are at rest and not contracting. These are known as static wrinkles and they do not respond favorably to other treatment. Caused by sagging and decreased plumpness of the face due to a loss of collagen and elasticity in the skin, static wrinkles commonly treated include those along the cheeks (deep laugh lines or nasolabial folds) and around the mouth (Marionette lines). In some cases when dynamic wrinkles become permanent lines etched into the skin and noticeable even at rest, a combination of traditional injectables and Dermal Fillers will be a better option for an optimal outcome.

Device based treatments like Sofwave, available since 2022 work as a non-invasive skin-tightening system that is commonly compared to High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) machines. Effects of wrinkle erasure work as quickly as 1 to 3 months.

2. Volume replacement

As sex symbol Mae West so succinctly put it way back in the 1930s, all women will "have to choose between their face and their butt" sooner or later. If you choose to diet and work out obsessively to defiantly maintain a super svelte, leading lady physique as you aged, chances are that your cheeks and temples will be sunken and your skin will look baggy and wrinkled.

Fortunately, things are certainly looking up with a dramatic change in game plan following the rising popularity of Dermal Fillers. Instead of waiting till the day you turn 50 for a full face-lift, the beauty fix du jour to stay looking young entails topping up your face with tiny amounts of injected volumizing agents, much like pumping sips of air to a deflating balloon. In the correct hands, facial Dermal Fillers are excellent skin rejuvenating tools that replenish volume deficit and correct other signs of aging such as droopy brows and downturned lips. It is not a “one size fits all” procedure and a wide variety of different types of fillers can be engaged to cater to different skin woes for the best looking outcome.

Dermal fillers can be loosely categorised into hyaluronic (HA)-based and non-HA fillers. Both are able to restore volume deficiency in the face. There are distinctions between these two categories, which are explained further in detail below.

- Liquid Facelift / True Lift technique

The understanding of our facial anatomy is dynamic and ever increasing, and new techniques of anti-aging facial sculpting should be, too. A Liquid Facelift is the lifting, plumping, filling, smoothening, and re- contouring of the face through the use of injectable Dermal Fillers. The Tru-Lift technique was developed and patented with support of publications on facial aging and anatomy. It is performed using a HA-based filler, Restylane LYFT. Via a series of precise microinjections, minimal amounts of Restylane LYFT are introduced to lift the face by supporting true retaining ligaments displaying increased laxity with age. The ligaments are tauter and the tension to the overlying facial tissue increases, lifting sagging facial skin for a more youthful appearance.

- ELLANSE

Ellanse is a dual-action filler that works to treat the underlying cause of aging - loss of our body’s natural collagen. Its unique composition enables it to volumize deficient areas almost immediately after injection, while its sustained effects come from its polycaprolactone (PCL) component which stimulates your body to produce its own new collagen to renew itself. This is a unique advantage of Ellanse, giving one the “best of both worlds”.

By stimulating collagen, Ellanse will steadily rebuild and reshape the facial contours to restore the youthful infrastructure of the skin over time. This is unlike traditional hyaluronic acid (HA) based fillers which simply degrade over time after injection. 

- Sculptra

Sculptra is a FDA-approved dermal filler that function-wise, is primarily a collagen stimulator. It is made of poly-L-lactic acid, commonly found in absorbable surgical sutures, and is a product of cane sugar. With time, Sculptra has found its way and established a strong footing in the world of anti-aging Aesthetics Medicine, with more than 3 million patients treated effectively since 1999. 

Acting as a collagen stimulator rather than a pure volumizing agent, Sculptra exerts a positive collagenesis effect to boost the natural supply of collagen, restoring the inner structure and increasing facial volume that has been lost to aging or severe weight loss. By helping to revitalize the production of your innate collagen stores without the placement of foreign substances, Sculptra gives aging skins improved elasticity, texture, tone and contour in an exceedingly natural looking manner. The results of Sculptra are gradual, natural and long-lasting, hence perfect for rejuvenation while maintaining your natural features. 

FAQs:

Are dermal fillers painful?
Our protocol ensure that your procedure is pleasant and as comfortable as possible. This is greatly aided by the choice of high quality dermal products that are pre-blended with the anaesthetic lidocaine. The chances of bruising and unwanted swelling are also greatly minimized so that our patients can confidently return to their work or social activities without anyone noticing.

Will I need to take time off work or social activities?
In most cases, our patients can return to their work or social activities immediately without anyone noticing. Some patients may experience mild swelling and occasional spot bruising.

What activities should I avoid and for how long?
After your procedure, it is advisable to avoid strenuous activity for 3 days. This includes heavy lifting of more than 10kgs and bending forwards. Do not go to a sauna or steam room for about 7 days. Facial treatments should also be avoided for a week. You can wear make-up as usual. If in doubt, please check with our staff.

Can I undergo laser, radiofrequency, Ulthera treatments after filler injections?
Yes, but be sure to discuss all aesthetic treatment plans with us for the best possible results.

Any particular instructions for after care?
It is good to avoid strenuous activity one or two days post procedure, to allow any minimal swelling to settle quickly. Some patients like to put a cold pack to the treated area. In general, you don’t have to do very much.

How is Sculptra different from other HA dermal fillers?
Sculptra provides more subtle and long-lasting results than many other fillers. It works on the deeper layers of your skin, in contrast to other fillers that simply fill in wrinkles without addressing the underlying cause. Because Sculptra replaces lost collagen, the results can last up to two years, which is   longer than other dermal fillers. Unlike Hyaluronic acid or HA fillers which give immediate results, the similar filling effect seen after Sculptra will disappear after two days, only to have gradual improvement seen in 8 to 12 weeks’ time and is best done with 3 consecutive sessions at intervals as recommended by your physician according to the specific requirements to fulfil your skin needs.

What is the difference between Ellanse and Sculptra? 
Ellanse is  dual-action filler that works to treat the underlying cause of aging - loss of our body’s natural collagen. Its unique composition enables it to volumize deficient areas almost immediately after injection, while its sustained effects come from its polycaprolactone (PCL) component which stimulates your body to produce its own new collagen to renew itself.

Sculptra is a brand of an injectable collagen biostimulator. Its active component is poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). Biostimulators are a great way to combat aging in a minimally-invasive, natural way. While some immediate improvement is observed immediately after biostimulator injections, most of their benefit is reaped after a period of wait - when the body produced its own new collagen to improve and renew itself. A good advantage of Sculptra is that a single vial of Sculptra provides sufficient product to rejuvenate the whole face. 

Both Ellanse and Sculptra are recognised brands of injectable collagen stimulators with a good safety record. This means that someone looking to improve and “anti-age” by improving your body’s own collagen stores can usually benefit from either product. If you prefer to have the advantages of a “filler” result while awaiting new collagen production, Ellanse might be a good choice. In general, a sound conclusion of which product to choose can be made after a consultation with your doctor.

Am I a good candidate for Sculptra?
This is the perfect option for those who are not keen to go under the knife. Sculptra provides gradual, natural looking results with significantly less downtime compared to surgical facelift. The procedure takes as little as 30 minutes and is perfect for those who aren’t keen for nary a telltale sign of having “works done”. When considering Sculptra, there are a few things to take into consideration. If you’re specifically hoping for a natural look, Sculptra’s gradual approach will do the trick of keeping everyone guessing about your “secret” to looking so radiant and beautiful especially when the aim is to treat several areas for total rejuvenation.

However, if instant results are important to you, such as the need for a quick fix in time for an upcoming school reunion or wedding anniversary, Sculptra may not fit the bill.  Finally, it’s important to remember that Sculptra works best in combination with a consistent after-care regimen, so if you want to get the most out of each treatment, you’ll need to remain committed to your aesthetics physician’s instructions and suggested treatment plan to address your beauty woes.

I am an international patient considering filler procedure. How long should I plan my stay?
Our regional and international clients typically spend a minimum of 1 day in Singapore: Arrive in Singapore, head to our clinic, have the filler procedure done, and fly off or stay on in Singapore for a holiday, business meeting, etc. Our staff are fluent in English, Mandarin, Malay, Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin and Burmese. You can have a webcam Skype consultation with our doctor(s) prior to your arrival, to have all your concerns and questions answered.