Anti Aging Blog

“You’re never fully dressed without a smile,” says American writer, Martin Charnin.

It’s true. Your smile is the centerpiece of your facial expression and it conveys warmth, love and sincerity. No wonder 96% of people agree that having a great smile makes you more appealing to the opposite sex.

So what makes a good smile and what can we do to achieve that?

Hollywood Smile Makeover workshop at Orchard Scotts Dental

That’s the theme for the Hollywood Smile Makeover workshop I attended at Orchard Scotts Dental today. According to presenter, Dr Ronnie Yap, a perfect smile comprises of:

 - Straight, evenly spaced teeth

- Healthy white teeth

- Top teeth should show without too much gums

- Top teeth should meet lower teeth smoothly

Treatments available for the perfect smile include:

 - Teeth whitening where you can opt to have it done at the clinic (called the in-office whitening) or do it yourself with a take home whitening kit.

- Onlays where you replace your old mercury fillings with porcelain ones that are the same colour as your teeth. Mercury fillings may leak into your body and be toxic.

- Veneers which can whiten and lengthen damaged teeth.

Invisalign

- Invisalign, the new invisible braces that can straighten your teeth in nine to 15 months. The braces look like retainers, are very thin and you have to change them every two weeks till you achieve your desired result. Usually 18 to 30 sets are used and costs range from $6500 to $9000. Over one million cases have been done worldwide.

- Gum reshaping where lasers are used to even out gums.

Patient before and after smile rejuvenation

- Full mouth rejuvenation, also called life-changing dentistry, and from the before and after photos of patients. The results were indeed amazing – all of them looked younger, fresher and happier!

Dr Yap is a dentist who is extremely well-versed in teeth aesthetics as well as holistic dentistry. The latter is where he treats body ailments like headaches, ear problems and neckaches by working on your teeth. According to Dr Yap, the way you bite or clench your teeth can result in these problems. Several treatments are available depending on your condition and what you prefer.

Today’s workshop started off with two participants selected to do a temporary smile makeover. First, molds of their teeth were taken, then these molds were used to create the temporary teeth veneers that were like dentures, placed over the real teeth. The result was astounding as you can see.

Jenny before and after her temporary smile makeover

Jenny, the selected candidate looked immediately more radiant with her new smile and even her eyes were bigger as she did not have to strain so much to show her top teeth now!

The friendly team at Orchard Scotts Dental with their model today

There is so much more to teeth than just tools for mastication and Orchard Scotts Dental, with its team of friendly and highly knowledgeable doctors and staff, is the perfect place to go to get your perfect smile!

Most of us don’t realize is that age affects more than just our skin. To look young, it is not only important to have a great complexion, it is also as important to understand the other aspects can easily give away the fact that you are turning old. One such aspect is your teeth.

Now you may ask how can teeth possibly reflect your age, or make you look older. It has been proved that as one turns older, teeth tends to turn yellow and look damaged. These factors depend a lot on how we maintain our teeth. Though, one thing is for sure, the more you ignore your teeth, the worse they will look, especially during your old age.

To look younger, teeth aesthetics (eg, teeth whitening, Invisialign) is a treatment everybody should opt for. Remember, it is always better to start with subtle yet noticeable aspects on your face before attempting any major anti aging treatments. A person with a dazzling smile displaying straight, white teeth looks fresh and smart. He or she looks more confident and full of vigor than someone with yellow, damaged teeth which can make them look dull and unkempt. Bright and shiny teeth brighten up your entire face each time you smile.

It is important for one to understand that looks is not just about the most prominent features looking good, looks is about the combined impact of all features on one’s face, whether it is sharply noticeable or not. One faulty feature can ruin the entire beauty of the face and can make one look much older.

Keen to find out how you can have a beautiful smile like Angelina Jolie? Look out for my review of Hollywood Smile Makeover workshop organized by Orchard Scotts Dental next week!

Read my teeth whitening review here: http://www.reviewantiaging.com/britesmile-teeth-whitening.html

CEO Franklin Heng who died from liposuction recently

The recent case of Franklin Heng, CEO of YTL Plastic Star could be the first case of someone in Singapore dying from Liposuction.

So is liposuction safe?

This depends upon many factors. I mean, yes – it is safe if the below factors are in your favor and the guidelines followed.

Success and safety depends largely on these factors:

- If you disclose your complete medical history, conditions, medications, and anything else which is pertinent to helping a surgeon assess if you are a good candidate

- The ability of a surgeon to determine if you are a true candidate for the procedure

- The surgical skill and training of the surgeon

- The skill and training of the anesthesiologist (if applicable) and surgical staff

- Your willingness to follow post-operative protocol obediently

Here are some key factors to increase your chances of a safe and satisfying surgery. You must realize things DO happen but you can do your best to prevent them.

Before embarking on liposuction:

- Research, research, research! This means finding out about the procedure, the risks, the recovery and what to expect, most importantly, YOUR SURGEON

- Search for a properly trained and extremely experienced surgeon to perform your liposuction. Make sure they are certified to give you the results you desire – safely

- Go on consistent results and word of mouth. But it is YOUR decision, don’t let your friends sway your decision

- Inquire regarding the skill and training of the surgical and recovery staff

- Be sure to convey your exact expectations, and make sure they are realistic. You can’t turn into Megan Fox overnight with a little liposuction

- Prepare your mind before your procedure and don’t have overly high expectations – this is important to avoid disappointment

- Follow post-operative protocol as instructed

- Attend your post-operative appointments

Fat loss with LipoSelection

Women in Singapore are obsessed about losing weight.  Case in point: all the ads in the papers are from slimming centres (or bust enhancement places!). A recent survey with my readers of ReviewAntiAging.com also reveal that weight loss is a popular topic. That is why my editorial in January for ReviewAntiAging.com will be about body sculpting and fat loss. A very apt topic for now, me thinks, what with the end of the festive season and before Chinese New Year.

Here are some interesting facts about fats:

We are born with 10 billion fat cells. According to researchers from the University of California who studied about 180 infants for 15 years, this number of fat cells then grows through late childhood and early puberty after which it is pretty much set. A person at a healthy weight may have 30 to 40 billion fat cells, while an obese person can have up to 100 billion fat cells! Women generally inherit more fat cells at 35 billion compared to 26 billion in men. Fat cells increase in size, but not in number when we gain weight as adults.

It was found that the number of fat cells you have stays constant in adulthood and this number is largely determined during the teenage years. So if life seems unfair, perhaps it was something you ate in your teens!

My Body Sculpting special will feature a fat loss expert who will answer questions from readers. Questions like:

1. What exercises are best for weight loss?
2. I would like to lose 5 kilos by next month for my wedding, what are the best options?
3. What is the difference between liposuction and LipoSelection?
4. How much fat can be removed and what happens to my excess skin?
5. And more…

The Body Sculpting special will also feature a Vaser LipoSelection treatment review and I will need a candidate for this. If you are keen, join my Facebook Fan Page on the upper-right hand column and post “I want to try out LipoSelection” on the wall.

For more information about LipoSelection, go here:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/liposelection-liposuction-alternative.html

I am fortunate to be able to review all sorts of anti aging treatments for my work – from the bizarre (labia rejuvenation anyone?) to the luxurious (Ulthera at $7500 a pop), I’ve tried them all and here’s the round-up of my favourites:

Ulthera

1. Ulthera – this latest breakthrough in anti aging uses ultrasound to precisely target the fibro-muscular layers of the skin while leaving the top layers including the epidermis unaffected. My skin felt really taut after the treatment and the loose skin under my chin disappeared!

Read more: http://www.reviewantiaging.com/ulthera.html

Erbium laser treatment

2. Erbium laser treatment – This laser treatment worked the best for me. It effectively unclogged my pores, made my oily skin matte and gave me a glow that lasted for days.

Read more: http://www.reviewantiaging.com/laser-treatment-erbium.html

FIL Stem Celluar Homecare Range

3. Fil Stem Celluar Treatment – One of the best facials I’ve had, this one uses rare apples from the Swiss Alps and in just under two hours, repaired my sunburnt skin and made me look like I’ve just returned from a holiday.

 Read more: http://www.reviewantiaging.com/fil-stem-celluar-treatment.html

Britesmile teeth whitening home kit

4. Britesmile Teeth Whitening – Do not underestimate the youthful appeal of clean, white teeth. Having my sensitive teeth whitened painlessly was an additional bonus.

Read more: http://www.reviewantiaging.com/britesmile-teeth-whitening.html

Ferulic acid chemical peel products

5. Ferulic acid peel – Say goodbye to painful chemical peels! This gentle peel had no downtime and gave me a healthy glow.

Read more: http://www.reviewantiaging.com/ferulic-acid-chemical-peel.html

Stay tuned for more anti aging treatments in 2010!

Facial Remodelling - Get a sharper face in minutes!

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas! Hope everyone is looking radiant and having a bubbly celebration

I’ve actually been feeling like an anti aging Santarina for the last 6 months- bestowing anti aging and laser treatments on friends and readers of my website, ReviewAntiAging.com. I love to see how happy they are after their treatments and it makes my job very fulfilling.

Here are some of their reviews:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/aqua-peel-and-ipl-for-acne-and-acne-scars.html

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/illumira-peel-treatment-for-skin-rejuvenation.html

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/grandilite-firming-and-skin-rejuvenation-treatment.html

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/pixel-skin-resurfacing-laser-treatment.html

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/spectrapeel-skin-rejuvenation-laser-treatment.html

If you’d like to join them, sign up here:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/win-a-laser-treatment.html

Alternatively, join my Facebook Fan Page for free reviews and promotions:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Singapore/Review-Anti-Aging-Laser-Treatment-Anti-Aging-Reviews/219574969167?v=app_2392950137#/pages/Singapore/Review-Anti-Aging-Laser-Treatment-Anti-Aging-Reviews/219574969167

Glowing skin after laser treatments!

I only started looking after my skin in my late 20s. Before that, I used to abuse it by applying dark tanning oil and baking in the sun for hours every weekend. Fortunately, I was able to reverse the damage and I’m happy to say that I still get mistaken for a 20-something (even though I’m in my 30s) and people often compliment me on my skin.

Here’s some of my tried-and-tested methods:

1. Drink a glass of warm water with a slice of lemon first thing in the morning. This detoxifies your system and apparently helps with weight loss too!

2. Quitting smoking and starting on an exercise programme! Exercising encourages blood circulation. Poor circulation restricts the blood and oxygen flow and reduces the nutrients your skin is getting. I strive to run, do Pilates and swim every week.

3. Scrub daily with a gentle exfoliater to encourage renewal of skin cells. I used to do dry body brushing once a week to improve circulation but became lazy…

 4. Use a sunblock of at least SPF 30 – I like La Roche Posay which is available at Guardian. Just bought Shiseido’s Anessa range to try.

5. Eat more vegetables and fruits, and less meat. I try to eat organic food to reduce chemicals and also not consume processed food like snacks, etc. Too much processed food clogs up your system, resulting in dull skin.

6. Taking flaxseed which contains Vit B and Omega 3 for glossy hair, strong nails and younger looking skin. I sprinkle it into my cereal or onto my peanut butter toast. It is crunchy and has a nutty flavout.

7. I’ve also been doing laser treatments for the last few months and I have to say that its given my skin a youthful pinkish glow and my complexion is more even!

Like they say, there are no ugly women, just LAZY ones! What is your anti aging routine?

Non-invasive aesthetic treatments are becoming more popular and Sculptra is the latest anti aging treatment generating lots of buzz in the market.  Made up of poly-L-lactic acid and delivered underneath the skin via injections, Sculptra is a collagen stimulator that will encourage your own collagen to grow.

It is especially good for hollowed out areas of the face due to aging like sunken temples, tear troughs (area under the eyes), droopy cheeks and deep nasolabial folds around the mouth. Patients will gradually look more rejuvenated with plumped up firmness one month after treatment and results will peak at around three months. Unlike fillers which is immediate, Sculptra works gradually to restore what has been lost and once your treatment plan is complete, results can last for up to 2 years.

Here are some pictures of a Sculptra workshop I attended this afternoon organised by the Anti Aging & Aesthetics Medicine Society Of Singapore:

Sculptra

Sculptra-filled needles lined up & ready to go!

Patient getting Sculptra injected into his sunken tear trough by Dr Jonathan Lee

The most important part - massaging Sculptra to distribute it all over the face

Dr Roy Chio using Sculptra for his patient

Anti Aging & Aesthetics Medicine Society Of Singapore and their patients for Sculptra

For more information about this anti aging treatment, visit my website ReviewAntiAging.com here:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/anti-aging-special.html

Last evening, I attended a Facial Remodelling workshop organised by facial remodelling expert, Dr Z. Facial remodelling is a procedure whereby you use Botox ® and a filler like Juvederm ® to enhance facial features. For example, Botox ® is used to contour the jaw line and slim down the face and Juvederm ® is used to create a nose bridge, cheekbones and even a sharper chin!

This is the latest facial enhancement procedure that is gaining popularity as it is non-invasive and has no downtime. In fact, Dr Z says that it has been referred to as the “Friday Party Nose” as you can literally get a sharper nose in minutes and then head out to a party!

The only downside is that is it not permanent. Botox ® can last for about 4 months (the more often you do it, the longer its effects apparently) while fillers can last from 4 to 18 months (shorter for smokers, great reason to quit!). It costs from $200 for jawline up to $3,000 for a full face procedure.

Well, I kinda like that it is not permanent as I would like to be able to modify my features to suit my face as I age (argh! hate that word). I also like the fact that I don’t have to go under the knife and that it is quite painless. Fillers are also made from hylauronic acid, which is a substance that is already found in our body, so it is natural. Enough talking, I’ll let the pictures do the talking below:

The charming Dr Z explaining his facial remodelling treatment

Attendees taking notes

Volunteer A gets a higher nose bridge

Voila!

A before

A after - Botox for jawline which takes about 2 weeks to show, fillers for nosebridge and chin

Volunteer C also getting a nosebridge

Volunteer C after - nosebridge filler and Botox for jawline

Dr Z is at Z Medical Aesthetics:

Orchard Paragon
290 Orchard Road, #11-04/05
Paragon Medical Suites, Singapore 238859

Tel: 6235 2343

Website: http://www.z-aesthetics.com

Facial Remodelling expert, Dr Z

I’m looking forward to attending a Facial Remodelling Workshop conducted by facial remodelling expert, Dr Z, next Friday. At the workshop, he will educate us on Botox and fillers as well as do live demonstrations on 2 lucky attendees!

I’ve seen Dr Z in action before, in fact, I was a patient of his – he helped smoothen out the bump on my nose with two quick and painless injections of fillers. Facial remodelling is the latest non-invasive, non-surgical facial enhancement treatment with no down-time.

For more information on Facial Remodelling. go here:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/facial-remodeling.html

Look out for my coverage of his workshop next week