Fraxel or Microneedling? Which is the best option?

Your face is your most noticeable feature. You can think of it as your calling card. It's the part of you that people will remember. It's also what makes you so unique. When something affects the appearance of your face, it can be really upsetting. You may have issues with the texture of your skin or scarring. Pigmentation issues could really bother you. 

Wrinkles are another problem that come with getting older. Many of the issues with your skin can stem from a lack of proper skin care when you were younger. Exposure to the sun, acne, and aging are other factors. Regardless of why you have a problem with your skin, you want to find answers. You can try skin creams and cosmetics, but they can only do so much. When you want more pronounced results, consider cosmetic procedures that can produce changes in your skin. Two popular options are Fraxel and microneedling. 

Understanding Fraxel 

A Fraxel treatment for enhancing your skin involves the use of a laser. The laser light targets areas of concern on your face, penetrating the deep layers with carefully controlled amounts of energy. This energy produces heat. It will damage the old skin in order to allow healthy, new skin to be created. Your collagen production will be stimulated as well. In the end, your skin will have a revitalized appearance. 

Understanding Microneedling Microneedling involves the use of a handheld device. This device has numerous, tiny needles that are applied to your skin in the area where you need treatment. The needles penetrate the skin, damaging the skin in such a way that it will trigger the body's natural processes to begin repairing itself. Improved circulation and an increase in the production of collagen can improve the surface of your skin. 

Which Treatment is Right for You? 

Both types of treatments are used to target a variety of problems that affect your skin. Age spots, blemishes from the sun, scarring from acne or other injuries, and effects of aging can respond in a positive way after microneedling or Fraxel laser treatments. Cost may be a consideration. Laser treatments involve more expensive equipment and those costs will be passed on to the patient. When it comes to your personal comfort, a laser treatment penetrates your skin at a deeper level. You may end up with more pronounced side effects and discomfort. Microneedling does not affect your skin on such a deep level. Your recovery time will be shorter. If you have a milder concern with your skin, consider microneedling. If your issues are more extreme, the Fraxel laser will be more effective when you want to see a dramatic change in the appearance of your skin. 

What to Expect from Your Treatments? 

 Both types of treatments are performed in your doctor's office. If you have the herpes virus and get cold sores around your nose and mouth, be sure to tell your plastic surgeon. You can be given a prescription that will keep you from having a flare-up of this virus that remains dormant until something triggers it. Before a Fraxel treatment, your skin will be numbed using a topical anesthetic. Cool air will be used to keep you comfortable throughout your treatment. Each treatment lasts about a half hour. When it is over, you are likely to feel like you have a sunburn, but your discomfort won't last long. You can expect at least three treatments to have the best results. You may need as many as five. Your treatments will be spaced out at least a month apart to allow your skin to rejuvenate itself. When you have a microneedling treatment, you can expect to come in for a session that will last between a half hour and an hour. Your face will be coated with a numbing cream before your treatment begins. During treatment, you will feel the vibration of the handheld device at work. When your treatment is done, a soothing gel will be applied to your skin. Your skin will be red following your treatment for a short time and you will feel some discomfort that is similar to a sunburn. Your amount of sessions and wait time in between is similar to Fraxel laser treatments. 

What Can You Do to Make Your Results Last After Treatments? 

Once you have completed your treatment sessions, you are going to want to do anything you can to make your results last. Make sun protection a priority. You can find daily moisturizers that include sunscreen. You can also perform a regular cleansing routine that nourishes your skin. Stay hydrated. This is beneficial for your skin, as well as your entire body. You can also invest in skin care products that target areas of your skin that need it most. Iridesse products, such as Day Brilliance, Night Care, and Eye Love It, can help you to nourish your skin. You'll give it the attention it deserves. After healthy skin has resulted from your treatments, the right products can give your skin exactly what it needs. 

Iridesse has been created by Dr. Hillelson, a plastic surgeon who understands exactly what works to promote healthy skin. Her experience and expertise have played a role in developing products that stimulate optimal collagen production. They also trigger elastin production. It means firmer, more youthful skin for you when you use these products as instructed. If you have taken the time to have Fraxel or microneedling treatments, making wise choices in skin care products can help you to get the most out of your investment. 

Talk to Dr. Hillelson About Fraxel, Microneedling, and More Today If you are serious about treating issues with the skin on your face in order to improve its texture or appearance, set up a consultation with Ruth L. Hillelson, MD. She has made cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery her field of expertise.

My choice of Korean special care travel essential!

I have been traveling quite intensely for the past few months since August from Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh, Mui Ne, Nha Trang and Dalat (and I got a trip in coming 2 week time!) and to keep my skin healthy is not easy. Constant exposure to dirt & sun make my skin are more prone to breakout. If I could bring my Panasonic Nanocare Facial Steamer would be great but I think to pack a few tubes of skincare seems more convenient. I truly felt that besides our usual skincare routine here like cleanser, toner, serum and moisturiser, we need some special care to help to boost & pamper our skin health!

 As you might know Korean skincare is known to use a lot natural ingredients passed down from generation to generation. This tradition continues today with formulations that tend to shun harsh chemicals and draw from the Earth plus they are pretty affordable in general. So while I was googling to look for solution from Korean skincare brand I stumbled on a few articles on ProductNation Malaysia talking about this and they have the latest product reviews, products on-trend, consumer favourite and best of all an indication of price (btw the prices could change based on the e-commerce promotions that are going on)

Below are some of special care products from Korean brands I have researched and read their skin care review in Malaysia before trying out myself and I think these are great to maintain our kin during travel.

Innisfree Super Volcanic Clay Mask 

A mask with Micro Clay Mask containing Super Volcanic Clusters that is effective at absorbing excessive sebum and fine dust stuck between small pores and wrinkles. Formulated with 84.7% naturally derived ingredients, including 6,020 mg Jeju Volcanic Cluster and 5 proven exfoliants (volcanic clusters, walnut shells, cellulose, AHAs, BHAs). This 6-in-1 pore solution mask in a light, airy mousse helps: 

1. minimize the look of pores 
2. absorb sebum 
3. gently exfoliate 
4. deeply cleanse 
5. even skin tone
6. keep skin feeling cool 

I prefer the mousse over the jar version one as the pump allows for easy and mess-free application. I like how my skin feel very clean after using this however I can only use 1 to 2 times a week as it is pretty drying and I need to put on a hydrating mask right after.

Sulwhasoo Clarifying Mask EX

A peel-off mask that removes dead skin cells and impurities for smoother skin. This mask includes finely ground Solomon’s Seal, fine honey, and Japanese Honeysuckle to leave skin look clear and translucent. This mask also contains natural ingredients including pine, licorice, Cnidium Officinale, and Angelica Acutiloba. I always love peel off mask but most of them are drying but this one is not. 

I love the ginseng scent super soothing and relaxing. I love how the skin was much noticeably cleaner and smoother after each use.

 Skin Food Rice Mask Wash Off 

An exfoliating and moisturizing scrub mask with grains which is based on rice and rice extract. With its texture of ground rice, it leaves skin bright, soft and lustrous. I have been using this product for at least like 10 years and yet this is one of the best classic scrub mask around that is so affordable to own.

Skin Food Black Sugar Mask Wash Off 

Another mask from SkinFood. This sweet mask wash-off features organic black sugar granules that exfoliate and nourishes skin, leaving you feeling smooth and clean. 

Among the 2,091 reviews in ProductNation for this 4-star rated product, people are saying how much cleaner, refreshed and softer their skin feels after using it.It’s not hard to tell why because this mask is really affordable yet the result is immediate! Skin feel super smooth, moist and soft after using it with a sweet scent left behind.

Nature Republic Aloe Vera 92% Soothing Gel 

Soak in the goodness of Californian aloe vera with this soothing gel. This is super mild on skin, it can be used to moisturise face, arms, legs, and hair. The vitamins from aloe vera also protect your skin from harmful UV rays and best use to soothe burn skin. I swear by this and always bring this along when I travel and I have a few jars of these product places around on my working table, vanity table and beside my table so it’s easy to reach.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask 

Besides their best seller sleeping mask, I think a lot of us often forget that the most important part of our smile is our beautiful lips.This sleep-in mask for the lips will gently melts away dead skin cell leaving lips moist and supple the next morning. A must have for me while I travel so that I can have beautiful looking lips for my travel pictures! 

These are some of the best Korean skincare product recommendation I researched via online and have tried personally and I hope you find it useful. I think there are too many products I bought in the past which are impulse purchase. Hence now I have become a smarter consumer (cos wan save money for traveling!) where I will actually Google for reviews, before trying out the sample or feel it at store before buying an actual size.

Discover your foot health on Sunfeet Open Day!

Do you know 4 out of 5 Malaysian has foot problems?

Our feet are often over looked as a vital part of the body and most tend to ignore issues that are affecting their feet. Most often than not, we only take concern when our feet health has worsen. 

Both of our feet  make up for 25% of the body’s bones, 18% of joints and 6% of the muscles. Any damage to any of these parts can cause serious harm to our bodies and will affect our mobility. And in actual fact our feet are the ones that get the most wear and tear like our car tires. All this pressure and movement will not only leave your feet sore but can also affect your knees, hips and entire spine. Hence making sure we have good foot health is important. 

One of the easiest and most accurate way to find our if our foot health is good is through a proper foot examination with qualified orthotist.

Plus having a flat foot, cerebral palsy, knee pain, scoliosis and even a diabetic foot, these will need some special medical attention by a fully trained professional team.

I was invited to SunFeet event to find out my foot health. 

The founder of Sunfeet is Dato' Dr. Edmund Lee, a British-qualified orthotist and prosthetist. He is the third generation in the family business; his late grandfather and father were in the prosthetics and orthotics line.

Sunfeet International Rehab Centre is a one stop centre to offer holistic care by its specialist and professional team on board including in the area of occupational therapy, sports rehabilitation, prosthetics, podiatry, orthotics, pedorthics and physiotherapy for children and adult. 

At the event I found out that Sunfeet offers comprehensive foot examination to determine your foot health. This is 3D scanning which can provides 90% accuracy.

I found out that I suffered from over pronated foot (a worse scenario from flat feet) where there is an inward rolling of my foot especially on my left side. And over pronation can cause injuries in the foot, ankle, knee and can further affect the pelvis and spine, as well as shoulder balance. And now I finally understand why I always have foot pain and recently I have constant pain in my left knee. Also I can't really do proper balancing in yoga class too.

In fact Dato' Dr Edmund said that conditions has worsen because my knee is feeling the impact hence I suffered from knee pain. And I'm now thinking to discuss further with him to see what are the possible solutions.

The most effective ways to improve my foot health would be wearing the correct customised insoles to support and correct back our arch and posture. And the above picture was him taking measurement of one of his patient's insoles before making them into a insoles mold.

Besides the customised insoles, they also sell ready made insoles and shoes which are imported from overseas. 

According to Dato' Dr Edmund Lee, 6 out of 10 Malaysian has flat feet problem. And one of the main reasons we suffer my flat foot are :

1) Genetics, we cannot change this but we can reduce/prevent it from getting worse 

2) Wearing wrong footwear 

3) Asian behavior of not wearing shoes at home.

And flat feet is a condition which is curable and not a deadly disease. Proper footwear, lifestyle behaviour and standing posture is important to maintain our healthy foot health.

This is how a finished product of a customised insoles will looks like. According to Dato' Dr Edmund, the patients recommend that we should be wearing this customised insoles for at least 6 hours. He also said that this customised insoles is very easy to maintain and we should also wear it at home to correct posture. With CNY just around the corner, he reminded that one should be wearing proper footwear at home especially when we will standing on long hours cooking our CNY reunion meals.

And guess what, next weekend 27 and 28 January 2018 (between 10am to 7pm) Sunfeet will organising their Sunfeet Open Day where there are a lot of fun filled activitires such as public talk by Dato Dr Edmund Lee, the residence orthotic specialist, children’s colouring contest and special promotion of 15% discount on selected products. The first 50 customers will also receive RM500 worth of vouchers from Sunfeet International. Hurry and register here. Hope to see you all there! 

In conjunction with Chinese New Year celebration, Sunfeet International is also offering exclusive promotion with the Happy and Healthy Feet for Your Loved Ones promotion valid until 28 February. This promotion is in a gift box set and ideal as a giveaway for loved ones. Dato' Dr Edmund Lee believes that as many of our loved ones especially our parents often suffer in silence from foot pain and he hopes we can "bring back" foot health to their with their CNY new packaging. Every customer will receive their customised insoles in special CNY packaging with nice CNY greeting. Totally a perfect gift for our loved during this festive seasons!

For more info, visit https://www.facebook.com/sunfeetinternational/ 

Sunfeet International Rehab Centre Address

BlkC, 18 Jalan 19/1, 

Seksyen 19 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia 

For enquiry, please call +6-013-528 3939

(located in Big Pharmacy)

Business Hour: 10am to 7pm daily

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Speaking of CNY, Valentine's Day is also around the corner and usually this are the time where your loved ones (be it your husband, boyfriend or even best friend) would want to make you smile with flowers deliver to your doorstep.

I came across one of the best florist in Singapore and was quite fascinated with their freestyle bouquet. Usually flower arrangement I see are quite boring and you can't really customised our own budget at really affordable price. This freestyle bouquet will be specially crafted by their florists according to the recipient/customer's needs, age, and occasion of event. 

What I like most is that every freestyle bouquet is different and unique to the customer for only $34.90

For Valentine's day they have we have special discounted prices for flowers delivery during the V-day period! 

OMG don't you think this looks like the Beauty & the Beast Enchanted Rose? This preserved red rose in a jar can last about 10 years! 

Review of Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity after 4 weeks!

Remember a month ago I was sharing that I started my anti-aging journey with the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity range. I’m happy to report back with my review and tell you how I feel about each of the products and whether they work for me. Basically this range promises to strengthen skin’s elasticity for firmer, fresher, and more radiant skin. Also did I mention that this range smells really good? I think it does!

The Serum in Oil is the hero product and my favourite product from the Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity range. This serum improves skin elasticity and smoothens the overall appearance of the facial skin with its nourishing formula, containing Lady’s Thistle, Vitamin E and Argan Oil.

One interesting feature of the Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Serum in Oil is that you can apply it either before or after your day or night care products. Or if you prefer, you can mix the oil into your facial cream in the palm of your hand and apply both together. 

Personally I like to apply a few drops of the oil before my moisturiser in the morning and in the evening I will apply it as the last step as I like to spend a bit more time to massage my face with the serum.

Although this is an oil, it absorbs nicely into my skin upon application. It’s important to rub & warm up the serum in the palm before application. I like how it left my skin feeling moisturised with a satin-like finish.

Meanwhile the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Eye Care cream helps to plump up wrinkles and protects the eye area from UV induced ageing with its SPF15 sunscreen formulation. I’m excited to come across eye care with SPF!

The product is pretty creamy hence a little goes a long way, yay! I only use a pea sized drop and put it on the tip of my ring finger to massage in the product. I am glad to report that this product does not cause any oil seeds.

As you can see there is a difference in texture between the day & night cream. The night cream is thicker and creamier compared to the day cream. Now the moment of truth, I’m going to share a close up picture of my face and then share my review after I have used the Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity range for more than 4 weeks.

Usually after holidays my skin will be dehydrated due to constant sun exposure, but this time around not only does my skin look healthy, it looks glowy and brighter too! Another thing I noticed is that my skin tone evened up. It looks absolutely healthy & glowing after a month usage. Pretty amazing considering I just took his picture few days ago after I came back from my year end holiday.

Before / After picture aftter 4 weeks of trying Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity 

Close up comparison! Moment of truth. As you can see I think my spot are reduced by a little bit! The pores are definitely smaller and my skin looks smoother! So amazing!!!

Overall I would say that Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity range has achieved what it promises. My skin really looks fresher, glowing and the fine lines seem to be fading out.

Even makeup also turns out to be flawless and long lasting. 

I highly recommend this Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity to to those who are aged 25 and above and are looking for an effective anti-aging range! The prices are pretty reasonable and products are easily available in all Guardians nationwide. Try it today to see the results!

By the way, I tried out this Eucerin Face-Age Test Mirror at the Eucerin display in KLCC Guardian outlet in Suria KLCC shopping mall, it can evaluate skin elasticity, firmness, and overall radiance of the face to determine the age of you facial skin. Don’t forget to visit and try out this magic mirror at either Guardian KLCC or Guardian Mid Valley. 

The Eucerin® Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity range is available exclusively at Guardian outlets nationwide with recommended retail prices as below:-

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Eye Care - RM 169 

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Facial Oil (Serum) - RM 269 

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Day Cream - RM 229 

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Elasticity Night Cream - RM 239 

For more information about Eucerin® and derma skincare, log on to www.eucerin.my or www.facebook.com/EucerinMY

Addressing the Myths About Revision Rhinoplasty

The Commonality of Revision Rhinoplasty Procedures 

People are used to hearing stories in the media about celebrities getting a series of rhinoplasty procedures. However, most patients will only need one rhinoplasty procedure. The reports in the media become famous for a reason. In many cases, it's because those situations are so rare. Patients should not immediately assume that they will need two or three rhinoplasty procedures. In all likelihood, they will not. 

It's also important to remember why some people will get revision rhinoplasty procedures in the first place. Patients do not always get a revision rhinoplasty procedure because the surgical team made an error. The patient might just be unhappy with the result. 

Aesthetics can be subjective. A rhinoplasty procedure that's completely medically successful could still fail to meet the patient's personal standards. People who look at the statistics concerning revision rhinoplasty procedures should keep that in mind. 

A revision rhinoplasty procedure might be necessary for medical reasons. However, these medical reasons might not be as dire as some people believe. Patients might have very slight breathing difficulties after the initial surgery. Some people might just not like the feel of breathing through their smaller nostrils. 

Getting used to a new nose can be tricky for some patients. They might like the appearance of their new features. However, being satisfied with a new nose can be more complicated than that. Patients might end up seeking a revision rhinoplasty procedure for very personal reasons. 

It is still important to note that a rhinoplasty procedure is ideally supposed to be done once. There are cosmetic procedures that involve several different appointments. For instance, people who use facial fillers to change the appearance of their noses will have to get their results updated again and again.

Some cosmetic procedures really are temporary. Rhinoplasty procedures are not. It really is possible to have a single rhinoplasty procedure with no additional revisions.

Having the right perspective on rhinoplasty procedures is essential. It's important for patients not to assume that they will automatically need a revision rhinoplasty procedure. It's also just as important for them to not be nervous if they do need one. 

People might be concerned when they hear that revision rhinoplasty procedures are not as routine as they might think. That doesn't mean that the situation is automatically much more serious than they might have thought initially. 

Many people never need a second rhinoplasty procedure. A second rhinoplasty procedure might be necessary in some cases for various reasons. People who are aware of both of these facts will find it easier to approach the rhinoplasty procedures that they need with a realistic attitude. 

Recovering From a Revision Rhinoplasty Procedure 

Many people are under the impression that a revision rhinoplasty procedure will always be worse than the first one. Some people might feel worse emotionally about the procedure. All patients react differently to procedures emotionally. However, there is no reason to believe that a revision rhinoplasty procedure will always be worse than the initial rhinoplasty procedure in any way. 

Some people go into a revision rhinoplasty procedure expecting that they will experience a lot of pain afterwards. There is no reason to believe that this will be the case. This second procedure may even be less painful than the first. There might be some minor aches. However, it's still unlikely that patients will have to cope with severe pain following a revision rhinoplasty procedure. 

People won't quite feel like themselves if it's only been one or two days after the procedure. A rhinoplasty procedure is still a significant surgery. However, it still usually takes two weeks at the most for the recovery period to end. Patients usually feel completely normal after a little over a week. Some people might find it easier to recover from a revision rhinoplasty procedure. They know what to expect this time. People also might be more satisfied with the results of this surgical procedure. The second procedure might be better than the first in more ways than one. 

Revision Rhinoplasty Procedures and Safety 

Some patients believe that a rhinoplasty procedure is only safe if it is performed once. However, a revision rhinoplasty procedure should not be any riskier than the patient's first surgery. 

 All surgeries will carry some inherent risks. A small minority of patients will develop infections as a result of any surgery. However, there is no reason to believe that a second rhinoplasty procedure will be more dangerous than the first. 

It is true that people who have had several revision rhinoplasty procedures might have a comparatively difficult recovery period. Getting a second rhinoplasty procedure is relatively common. However, many cosmetic surgeons do try to avoid giving the same patient more than two rhinoplasty procedures. 

Cosmetic surgeons do not usually worry about the underlying tissues of the nose after the first or second rhinoplasty procedure. These concerns can become more reasonable when patients consider the possibility of a third or fourth procedure. 

Patients might have heard of cases involving other patients who had several rhinoplasty procedures in a row. The risks associated with rhinoplasty procedures can get worse when people have the surgery over and over again. However, people do not have to worry about these issues when they're about to have their second rhinoplasty procedure. 

Choosing the Right Cosmetic Surgeon 

Patients who choose the right cosmetic surgeons will usually get the results that they want from their procedures. Dr. Schoenfeld is a cosmetic surgeon who can help a wide range of patients. Patients who are specifically interested in rhinoplasty procedures absolutely should look for a cosmetic surgeon who has performed them over and over again. Dr. Schoenfeld is a great example.

He has spent a great deal of time in this field. Dr. Schoenfeld also has received double board certification. Local individuals might be interested in his Renu practice in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Getting a consultation with Dr. Schoenfeld can be a new step forward for many patients.