A shot of youthfulness

Fine lines, saggy skin, crow’s feet- sounds like an old person’s issue? Think again. More and more young people are facing (pun intended) such skin problems. This can be due to genetics, undesirable lifestyles, among other reasons. Many are looking for “quick-fix” solutions with little downtime. At Medical Aesthetics, we provide non-surgical treatment commonly known as “Botox” to reduce wrinkles and give your face an overall more youthful look.
 

It can also be used for facial contouring/slimming for those with a square jaw.
Botox can also be use to limit excessive sweating at the palms and underarms. Our certified doctors will tailor treatments according to your needs, explaining the procedure in detail.

What is botox therapy?
Botox is most often used on forehead lines, crow's feet and frown lines. It blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles, causing muscles to relax and hence reducing wrinkles formation.. Botox is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum; when used in small and diluted amounts, it generally poses little harm to the human body.

How is Botox performed?
Anesthesia is not required for Botox. The entire process takes only a few minutes, with minor discomfort at the injected site. The full smoothing effect will take 3-7 days. Our doctors will instruct you to stop taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications two weeks before treatment to reduce bruising. After the procedure, you will be instructed not to lie down for 3-4hours to prevent the toxin from moving to other areas. Also, do not rub vigorously or massage the treated area.



How long does Botox lasts?
Typically, the effects last between 4-6 months depending on the individual. As muscle action gradually returns, the wrinkles begin to re-appear but are often less prominent with time because the muscles are being “trained” to relax. Repeated treatments are needed to make the wrinkles disappear again.

Are there any side effects?
Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. In rare incidences, headaches can occur but usually resolve within 24-48 hours. Eyelid drooping may occur but only a small percentage of people have experienced it. The condition usually subsides in 3 weeks. This is caused by migration of the Botox and that is why you should not rub the treated area for 12 hours or lie down right after the procedure.

Is it safe for everyone?
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people who have neurological disease, should not use Botox. Consultations with our doctors would be recommended as Botox does not work on all skin issues.

Thinking about trying out this fuss free quick-fix? At Medical Aesthetics, we can help you restore a smoother and youthful appearance. Make an appointment today with our doctors to get a more customised consultation. To find out more on our treatments, you may wish to drop us an email at enquiries@medical-aesthetics.sg or contact us at 93387432 from 9am to 9pm.

The “face” factor

Aging. A natural process which we either embrace or find ways to delay it from taking our looks away. Some are lucky; they still look youthful despite their advanced age, whereas others are not as lucky. In today’s beauty market, there are a plethora of anti-aging formulas that promise to reverse the damaging effects of time, making this a very lucrative industry. On top of that, beauty treatments that use medical therapies have helped many to counter the aging process. At Medical Aesthetics, our certified doctors can help you combat skin aging. We offer services ranging from oral to topical treatments to medically proven treatments to suit your skin needs. Regain your confidence once more with our treatments. Let us find out more on why our skin ages. 

Let’s zoom in to the top reasons why our skin ages prematurely. Extrinsic or external factors, typically coupled with intrinsic (internal) factors which is the natural aging process, contribute to making you looking older than you really are. Poor health and unhealthy lifestyles merely speeds up the process. Here are some reasons that rob your skin of its radiance:

Sun exposure- Freckles, age spots, spider veins on the face, rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles, blotchy complexion, and skin cancer are all related to sun exposure. Photoaging occurs with repeated exposure to the sun, whereby the skin degenerates prematurely. Repeated UV exposure breaks down collagen and hinders the synthesis of new collagen. Skin thus becomes loose, wrinkled, and leathery faster with unprotected exposure to sunlight.

Smoking- By now, we already know most of the harmful effects of smoking and passive smoking. Exposure to cigarette smoke significantly increases skin wrinkles and dryness, since it depletes the body of vitamin C which keeps our skin moist and plump. Usually, heavy smokers develop deeply wrinkled, leathery skin than a nonsmoker.

Lack of exercise- A sedentary lifestyle gives way to crow’s feet, eye bags, wrinkles and lines. Moderate regular exercise helps keep the muscles toned, thereby preventing sagging and wrinkling.  Regular exercise increases energy and blood flow to the skin cells, therefore improving circulation and ensures that blood flow occurs at a good rate.

Alcohol abuse- Since alcohol dehydrates the body, it leaves the skin dry and that is how wrinkles form. Vitamin A, which is critical for cell renewal and turnover is depleted from the body. Alcohol increases blood flow and dilates the tiny blood vessels near the skin’s surface, causing unsightly broken capillaries on the face when it “bursts”.

Lack of sleep- The first signs that indicate insufficient rest are dark circles, eye bags and saggy skin. Growth hormone which is the youth hormone, is released during sleep that enable the body cells to undergo repair which leads to positive effects on the immune system and the skin.

Pro-inflammatory foods- Sugars and starches accelerate aging. There is loss of skin radiance and tone, formation of dark circles, increased fine lines and wrinkles and pore size. For acne-prone skins, it will also cause flare ups. 

So now that you have read about the common mistakes that people do to their skin, how can you prevent signs of premature aging? Here are some skin-friendly tips:

·         Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 or higher. Apply 20 minutes prior to heading outdoors and reapply after perspiring or in water.

·         Stop smoking. Research has shown that those who have smoked for many years, or smoked heavily at a younger age, show less facial wrinkling and improved skin tone when they quit smoking.

·         Exercise regularly to improve circulation and give the skin a healthy and radiant glow.

·         Limit alcohol intake as it not only is bad for the skin, but to health as well. Opt for red wine instead as it offers more health benefits than alcoholic beverages.

·         Aim for 8-9 hours of sleep each night as it is essential to maintain radiant skin. Too little sleep makes you look and feel tired.

·         Avoid processed foods and include more low fat staples such as fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.

At Medical Aesthetics, we offer minimally invasive treatments such as Botox and injectable fillers for those looking for convenience without any downtime. We also provide laser resurfacing, chemical peeling, microdermabrasion, and topical treatments that will help restore a youthful and more radiant complexion.

Make an appointment today with our doctors to get a more customised consultation. To find out more on our treatments, you may wish to drop us an email at enquiries@medical-aesthetics.sg or contact us at 93387432 from 9am to 9pm.

Flare for pain

Ever wonder why you feel pain in your joints although you do not suffer from any joint disease?  Does it affect your quality of life since you are not able to carry out your duties without feeling discomfort? If you have been racking your brain for an answer, then most likely you could be suffering from a painful arthritic condition known as “gout”. At Central Clinic, we offer screening services to check if you are suffering from the disease. Our doctors will walk you through the procedure. Let us discuss more on this topic.

What is gout?

Gout is a painful and incapacitating disease characterized by abnormally high levels of uric acid (called hyperuricaemia) in the tissues and blood. Uric acid is broken down from substances called purine, which is found in certain foods and drinks. When these acids accumulate and are not excreted from the body, this will result in acute and chronic gouty arthritis and formation of kidney stones. Usually when the big toe becomes painful, swollen and red, it is a common indicator of a gout flare. Recurring flares can damage the joint and lead to chronic arthritis.

Am I at risk?

Typically, gout develops in both males and females over 65 years of age. You are more likely to develop gout if you have high levels of uric acid in your body. Factors that increase risk are:

• Obesity
• High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), narrowing of arteries (arteriosclerosis)
• Family history
• Excessive alcohol use
• Diets rich in red meats, internal organs, yeast, and oily fish
• Uric acid levels increase at puberty in men and at menopause in women, so men first develop gout after puberty, then do women after menopause.

Gouty flares can be precipitated when there is a sudden change in uric acid levels, which may be caused by:    

• Overindulgence

•  Injury or trauma

• Starvation or dehydration

• Medications that affect blood levels of uric acid

How do I know if I have gout?

The symptoms usually are acute and happen frequently at night, and typically affect a single joint although some people develop a few inflamed joints at the same time. The signs are:

• Intense joint pain. The large joint of your big toe is usually affected, but it can occur in your feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists. Pain is typically severe during the first 12-24 hours after onset.

• Lingering discomfort. Pain generally improves completely from several days to weeks. Subsequent attacks are likely to last longer and affect more joints.

• Inflammation and redness. The affected joint or joints become swollen, hot, red and tender.

Are there complications I should know of?

• Kidney stones. Individuals with gout are at increased risk of developing kidney stones. Urate crystals may collect in the urinary tract and form a stone. If the stone is large enough, it can block one of the ureters from excreting waste products from the body.

•   Advanced gout. Untreated and recurring gout can result in accumulation of large numbers of urate crystals called tophi that develop over time in joints, bursae, bones, and cartilage or under the skin. Tophi normally are painless, but may cause erosion of the bone and eventually joint damage and deformity.

How can I prevent myself from getting gout?

If you are at risk of developing gout or think you may already show signs of the disease, here are some steps to prevent or delay progression of gout:

• Limit foods rich in purine such as red meats, seafood, beans, oatmeal, spinach, asparagus, mushrooms, yeast, and alcohol. Animal sources of purines carry a significantly higher risk than plant sources of triggering a flare.
 

  
  
  

• Eat more low-fat dairy products as the protein may lower frequency of gout attack. Also, those with gout have a higher risk for heart disease so eating low fat, low cholesterol foods can help reduce such risks.

• Keep hydrated and avoid drinks containing fructose as it is associated with higher uric acid levels.

• Limit alcohol intake, particularly beer as it enhances uric acid production and reduces the clearance of uric acid. A moderate amount of wine, about 300mls per day, is not likely to increase risk of an attack.
  
  

•   Losing weight may decrease uric acid levels in your body. But avoid fasting or rapid weight loss, as this can occasionally precipitate gout attacks.

Diet modification is often recommended along with medications. Making changes in your diet without taking medication, is not likely to make significant difference in your blood urate levels; while following a strict gout diet only lowers blood urate levels marginally.

Should you wish to get yourself screened, do not hesitate to make an appointment at any of our clinics. At Central Clinic, our doctors will assist you with your health screening and discuss which treatment is best for you. You can contact us using the Enquiry and Feedback Form on our website www.centralclinic.com.sg or drop us an email at enquiries@centralclinic.com.sg.