From telltale ageing signs to busting medical myths, here's the low-down on treatments - from cosmetic surgery to their less invasive alternatives- that'll have you putting your best face forward.
The mirror never lies. If your BFF (best facial feature) is now your worst, it might be time to give the good doctor a call.
Breast Arrest
Problem: Your boobs, once perky, now rest on your stomach like beanbags on a basketball
Doctor’s Orders: Don’t let your enthusiasm get in the way. What you want is a natural lift to restore and subtly correct your original shapes, not balloons on a slender frame. Having said that, there are other options if a push-up bra doesn’t do the trick anymore. Fat grafting is emerging as a new breast reconstruction technique as it doesn’t involve major surgery and it uses your own tissues. Breast lifting “removes excess skin and tightens the surrounding tissue to reshape and support the new breast contour”, says Dr Karen Soh of Privé Clinic.
Puff Daddy
Problem: No matter how much sleep you’re getting, your eye bags have others asking if you’re tired or sick
Doctor’s Orders: Dark circles around the eyes and discoloured veins are no match for a concealer. Eye bags are a different story. “If your condition is very mild or caused by loose skin under the eyes, stimulating the under eye area with new-generation collagen stimulators other than normal fillers can produce visible results without going under the knife. Radio frequency technique such as micro-needling and Eye-Revo can also help tighten the skin in the under eye area,” says Dr Lee Mun Heng, founder and medical director of Cambridge Medical Group.
The Wrong Lip Lines
Problem: A red lipstick is your worst nightmare. The colour seeps into your lip lines and bleeds beyond the borders
Doctor’s Orders: Founder and medical director of TLC Lifestyle clinic Dr Georgia Lee attributes “ageing, smoking, lack of sun protection and naturally thin lips” as the causes of vertical lines and creases around lip edges. Dr Lee Mun Heng sees an emergence of a new South Korean technology that may help eradicate them: “We now use the Kobayashi Micro RF technique for fine lines. It tightens the skin while producing lasting effects and stimulates new collagen formation at the same time.”
The Sunken Ship
Problem: Your cheeks are starting to resemble those of Keith Richards, not Kate Moss
Doctor’s Orders: When most of us think about sunken cheeks, we imagine sculpted, supermodelesque cheekbones. Unfortunately, the hollowness that comes with age is not the same as slim cheeks, as the loss of facial volume and lack of tautness emphasise vertical lines. IPL treatments are popular non-invasive treatments to smooth uneven textures and reduce wrinkles by stimulating collagen production. However, “the smoothening and firming effects are minimal”, says senior consultant and plastic surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital Dr Leslie Kuek. “For treatments that work at a deeper level, patients can consider fillers and hyaluronic acid for a better rejuvenation result.”
All about the Bass
Problem: Write it off as a bad day when you can hold a pencil between your lower butt cheek and thigh
Doctor’s Orders: From Jennifer Lopez’s latest hit, Booty to the over-inflated popularity of Kim Kardashian’s, it appears that a full, perky behind is, well, growing in popularity. Dr Soh shares some good news: there is no age limit to a butt lift. However, the skin needs to be firm enough to hold the implants in place. Dr Georgia Lee warns, “More radical resection surgery to remove excess tissues can be made to tighten the area. The incision needs to be well planned as scarring is an issue.”
Yellow Fangs
Problem: That lifelong caffeine addiction has led to tarnished teeth
Doctor’s Orders: Just like any part of the body, our teeth are subjected to wear and tear. The most common is the discolouration of teeth due to long-term smoking and consumption of staining liquids such as coffee and red wine, says Dr Ernest Rex Tan, co-founder and director of Smile Inc. Dental Surgeons. “Laser teeth whitening is the gold standard for teeth whitening,” he advises.
Head Space
Problem: Your skin doesn’t spring back into place when you pinch your forehead
Doctor’s Orders: There comes a time when your fringe can no longer hide your “railroad” lines. Consider fractional laser, thermage or ulthera. “They have good safety track records and produce visible results which are natural looking. These suit patients who prefer a less drastic foray into aesthetics,” says Dr Winston Lee, medical director of South Bridge Aesthetics. If a patient’s concerns are lax skin and jowls, doctors may recommend a thread lift, where barbed sutures are inserted into the skin via fine needles to lift facial tissues without incisions or cuts.
Where’s the Gap?
Problem: Your bulging upper thighs get friction burns when you walk
Doctor’s Orders: Dr Winston Lee explains why the “thigh gap” is ever so illusive. “It's tough to get rid of stubborn thigh fats with exercise alone, as it does not permit spot reduction of fat tissues." He recommends Liposonix, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved procedure for localised fat removal. Patients may opt for Vaser liposuction to emulsify fat cells prior to a suction process that removes the fat from your body, says Dr Shenthilkumar Naidu of Cambridge Medical Group. Patients must remember that these are not permanent solutions. If no proper lifestyle changes are made, the girths can re-expand although there are fewer fat cells in the area.