Aesthetics & Beauty Guide (ABG) is the first aesthetics magazine from Singapore to bridge the information gap between medical professionals and the layman. In every issue, you will find detailed treatment reviews , the lowdown on the latest aesthetic treatments available and profiles of qualified medical professionals – basically, your go-to guide for all things aesthetics.

I started ReviewAntiAging.com last year in my personal pursuit to look for the best aesthetic treatments for myself. My partnership with ABG has allowed me to share my vast experience with a wider pool of women (and men!).  In the name of “work”, I’ve reviewed almost 20 treatments and looking at my skin now – smooth, radiant and taut, I’m definitely a big believer that aesthetic treatments can help you get better skin and maintain your complexion for many years to come.

In this inaugural issue of ABG, you’ll get a crash course in Aesthetics 101, reviews of the latest and most effective aesthetic treatments, hear from Dr Georgia Lee as she talks about her new skincare range, get all your acne questions answered by renown dermatologist, Dr Joyce Lim, get the skinny on the newest slimming treatments to get rid of your wobbly bits, and many more health and beauty tips.

ABG is available at all major newstands and bookstores, get your copy before it’s sold out (I hear that Kino and Borders have had to replenish and copies are being stolen from doctors’ clinics)!

I often hear from my readers that they think that aesthetic treatments are too expensive or only relegated to tai-tais. That is just a myth as prices are really competitive now (check out this amazing promotion and my review!) and people from all walks of life are discovering the benefits of aesthetic treatments (look out for my interview next Friday in IS magazine!).

Shirleen Ho

One example is Shirleen Ho, a digital traffic manager and beauty blogger at Womenlovebeauty.com who has been doing aesthetic treatments for the last eight years. Shirleen is also 42 years old! Doesn’t she look much younger? Aesthetic treatments must really be working well for her! Here, she shares her experiences with her aesthetic treatments:

1. When did you start doing aesthetic treatments?

- Eight years ago, in my 30s.

2. What did you do and were you happy with the results?

- I started with microdermabrasion and IPL and were happy with both. This combination treatment made my skin glow.

3. What treatments have you done so far?

- Other than the two above, I have done Titan, Thermage, Fraxel (only eye areas), Pixel, Pigment laser (on cheeks), CO2 laser (only nasolabial fold), Radio Frequency, Botox (on my chin, forehead & brows) and Fillers.

4. Favourite treatment? Least favourite treatment? Why?

- Favourite treatment is probably IPL as I had great results. Least favourite – Pixel laser as I didn’t see any results and Botox on the chin area for face slimming. There was no different before and after the treatment.

5. Advice for women who are thinking of trying aesthetic treatments?

- Do your homework. First, identify what is your skin concern, find out what the various treatments available are, do research on reviews of these treatments then select the ideal doctor to perform the treatment.

Celebrate National Day and womanhood at the same time with this promotion by TOUCHE™ Elite via their Facebook Fanpage, Being WOMAN. Simply click on this link here and get started!

Dr Woffles Wu & me

It’s not every day that you get an invitation to have a private tete-a-tete with Singapore’s most famous doctor, so when fellow blogger, Shirleen, asked if I wanted to have dinner with Dr Woffles Wu at his home, I jumped at the opportunity.

As usual, I was super early and arrived at his modest but very cosy home, catching Dr Wu under the table, trying to work the steamboat pot. All my nervousness about meeting this famous plastic surgeon disappeared when I saw that he was  just a regular guy, trying to make sense of electronic appliances. As I am not exactly electronic-savvy, I wandered to his garden to admire his plants, cockatoo and two cats. Dr Wu actually lives in a separate bungalow at the back of his garden with his wife and two kids – a boy aged 10 and a girl, six. His mum, aunt and two maids live in the house in front which is also a communal gathering place for dinners and family bonding sessions.

Check out all that food!

As the other bloggers arrived, we were led to a huge feast of chicken rice, braised pork, vegetables and steamboat, as well as bottles of wine and champagne. After the usual photo-taking (what do you expect, we are bloggers after all!), everyone sat down and tucked in.

Dr Woffles Wu & bloggers

It’s easy to see why Dr Wu is such a media darling as he is an amicable and very humourous man who entertained us for five hours in a wide range of topics ranging from aesthetic treatments (“It’s aesthetic not aesthetics, just like I’m a plastic surgeon, not a plastics surgeon!” says the good doctor) to transgender procedures and iPhone apps. He answered all our questions eloquently, with his slight British accent, which kinda reminded me of the way MM Lee speaks. I learnt alot during our session, fascinated in particular with The Golden Ratio theory (go Google it!) and his take on the various aesthetic procedures available.

Dr Wu calls himself “old-fashioned” when it comes to advertising, preferring to let his work speak for himself. However, he is, in no way, unsavvy at marketing himself. This dinner is proof – even though it was a casual setting with no agenda, everyone got to know him on a deeper level – as a world-renowned doctor who jets around the world giving lectures, a caring son, husband and father, and a great dinner conversationalist. Guess who I’ll go to when I need any *ahem* maintenance? Dr Woffles Wu, of course!

DNA-RNA Platinum NanoPLUS Treatment

Platinum and silver are used for jewellery but do you know that these precious metals contain anti-bacterial and antioxidants that can be used to achieve exceptional results in skin rejuvenation?

Platinum helps lock in skin moisture while enhancing skin self-defense function. Silver, an anti-bacteria agent used by NASA as a preservative of drinking water, can enhance skin immune system, boost blood circulation, skin metabolism and prevent skin degradation.   

I got a chance to experience this outstanding treatment at TOUCHE™ Elite, and now you can get a chance to try this amazing facial valued at $600 for only $210! Read my review here and then follow the instructions there:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/dna-rna-platinum-nanoplus-anti-aging-treatment.html

Look young, feel young!

Age management is the new buzzword for anti aging. These are treatments are designed to tackle chronic fatigue, stress and other aging signs which are the by-products of a hectic city life.

Treatments available include:

1. Nutraceutical Consultation and Testing

Pharmaceutical-grade nutritional supplements are prescribed according to individual requirements. These can help increase energy levels, control blood sugar, prevent bone loss, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and help the bodu cope with chronic stress.

2. Bio-idenical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Our bodies produce less of the essential hormones we need for optimal function as we age. Women and men undergo difficulties at menopause and these bio-identical hormones are customised and prescribed to slow the onward march of time.  It is suitable for both men and women and they are clinically indicated and supported by laboratory data.

3. Stress Hormones Evaluation

Stress increases the production of a stress hormone called the cortisol, a natural defence mechanism of the body. However, extended periods of elevated cortisol levels create many negative consequences such as inability to sleep well, heart problems and lowered immunity. An evaluation test, via a simple blood test, is suitable for individuals who are chronically fatigued. This helps to identify unhealthy levels of cortisol in your body and problems with your adrenal glands.

4. Oxidative Stress Test

Cells of the body are constantly under attack and damaged by free radicals which are produced naturally and environmentally. The reaction of free radicals with our lipids, proteins and DNA, known as oxidative stress on the body, can lead to cancer, heart disease, conditions related to the immune system, diseases and premature aging. You may also wish to consider an oxidative stress test if you have any pre-existing medical condition related to the above organs, have a poor diet, suffer from chronic stress, fatigue, allergies, sinus or smoke.

If you’re keen to explore these treatments, you can check out Prive Clinic which offers these age management procedures. Go to http://www.priveclinic.com for more information.

Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment

Don’t know your Mosaic from your Fraxel? Or confused about what laser treatments are suitable for you? Get all your anti aging questions answered here… The Aesthetics Clinic’s , “Solutions for Skin Laxity versus Skin Quality – Any Difference?” Workshop is back by popular demand.

Details:
 
Dates: 29th May Sat 2-4pm, 17th July Sat 2-4pm

Where: The Aesthetics Clinic @ Bukit Batok Civil Service Club
91 Bukit Batok West Avenue 2, Singapore 659206
 
Date: 12th June Sat 2-4pm
Where:  The Aesthetic Clinic @Shaw Centre Penthouse 27th Floor
 
Free admission for all! Call 62358770 to reserve your seat now.

Dr Karen Soh of Prive Clinic

In need of a youth boost? Hold back the sneaky hands of Father Time at Privé Clinic, a one-stop age management centre to help individuals attain true beauty inside and out. Helmed by medical director, Dr Karen Soh, Privé offers a holistic concept that helps create a younger you with a range of targeted aesthetic and therapeutic treatments, and preventive health care services backed by medical science including oxidative stress tests and stress hormones evaluation.

Experience it firsthand at Privé Clinic’s launch on 13 April. Attendees of the launch will have an up-close and personal session with Dr Karen Soh to find out all they need to know about age management as well as enjoy a mini hand massage combined with laser therapy. Privé Clinic is  located at 1 Raffles Place, #05-04A.

Look out for my review of their treatments soon! For more anti aging reviews, go to:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/anti-aging-and-laser-treatment-reviews.html

Dr David Loh at Society of Aesthetic Medicine press conference

Injecting stem cells under the skin to make a person look younger, or using platelet-rich plasma to treat acne scars – could such procedures soon become accepted aesthetic treatments?

These experimental therapies are some of the clinical trials a new independent review board is looking into. David Loh, honorary secretary and spokesman of the Society of Aesthetic Medicine, announced the new independent review board yesterday – CREATEIRB. It stands for Create Independent Review Board and its members will comprise doctors who are GCP (Good Clinical Practice) certified and who have taken the Institutional Review Board (IRB) exams.

It targets the independent private practitioner, who now either goes to a hospital’s review board or direct to a relevant authority, such the Ministry of Health or Health Sciences Authority, for regulatory approval to conduct a clinical trial. David Loh said the board will help “sieve out the less suitable” trials and “at every stage of the clinical trial, there’s an independent oversight, there’s reassurance, there are multi-layers of safeguards and scrutiny. We want to be at the forefront (of the aesthetics field), but also want to be safe,” he added.

These stem-cells have numerous potential cosmetic applications, but because these treatments are necessarily experimental at this stage, CREATEIRB will provide the necessary safeguards to guide the clinical trials to a stage where they can be subjected to peer scrutiny.