November is Training Month

We finished October at a high and welcome Dyna to our team. Dyna is a Staff Nurse in the Philippines, and joins us just in time for the next phase of growth.

Just as Dyna is learning the ropes in our clinic, the rest of us will be putting our thinking caps on in November too!

Ivy & Mery will be accompanying me to Bangkok on 7th November for training with Dr Chanchai, the inventor of our DermaRF radiofrequency machine. We will be learning from the expert himself, how successive treatments allow us to mould a person's face into a more desirable contour. We currently take over an hour to do each treatment. He gets the results in twenty minutes!

This will also be the first time he teaches the course attendees how to use his new body hand piece. From body lifting, butt lifting, breast lifting and fat melting, this new addition can also be used for vaginal tightening! Wonder if anyone will volunteer for that demonstration!

The machine also comes with a variety of surgical attachments. Dr Chanchai will demonstrate how these can be used for minor surgical procedures, particularly for skin lesions. This allows us to increase the number of minor operations we can perform at Simply Aesthetic.

The learning continues the following week with eyelid and eyebag surgery, and nose augmentation with silicon implants. The double eyelid procedure is with the stitch technique which does not require the skin to be cut. As this technique is less invasive, the recovery will be faster.

Then it's just a week to rest (!?!!) before Dr Ueberreiter flies in from Germany to train us on the Water-Jet Assisted Liposuction technique. He will be with us from 23rd to 25th November 2007. We have lined up 5 operations so far, and are extremely excited about this new addition to our services.

We're almost ready with the preparations for these new services. We've had to order new drugs, equipment, reorganize our storage and procedures completely so things will run smoothly on the day.

The training sessions do mean periods of reduced services in November. Please call the clinic for more information and book your appointment early! And yes, we are offering very low introductory prices for the new medical procedures. Numbers are extremely limited, particularly for liposuction (only 3 left before the price goes up!)

Body Jet Presentation by Dr Meyer

Lunchtime liposuction: The new ninety minute surgery

Source: Daily Mail 5th October 2006

Liposuction, sold as a short-cut to re-shaping your body, usually involves a general anaesthetic and an overnight stay in hospital. Now, however, a new technique uses a local anaesthetic which allows the patient to be home just a couple of hours after surgery. So does it work? Helen Conyers, 29, a PR who lives in Manchester, is one of the first women in the UK to undergo Liposoft — the new surgical alternative. Here, she tells her story to FEMAIL.

"I’m naturally slim but I’ve had a major hang-up about my thighs since my mid-20s when cellulite started to appear in abundance, largely, I think, due to my sedentary office job.

"Today, I’m having a consultation with a surgeon at the Transform Clinic in London to see if I’m suitable for Liposoft — a new treatment in the UK that promises to be a revolutionary alternative to traditional liposuction, thanks to its short operative and recovery times.

"Some of my friends think I’m mad because I’m a size ten, but I still have lumpy thighs. I am not comfortable wearing a bikini and, like millions of women, am frustrated that the fat on my thighs won’t budge despite regular exercise and a healthy, low-fat diet.

"Transform’s surgeon Mr Singh is lovely and says it would be the ideal treatment for me as it’s been designed for women who are slim but have stubborn areas of fat they can’t shift. "Even better, Liposoft can be performed under local anaesthetic so I can go home shortly after surgery.

"I decide to go ahead with the operation and, amazingly, there’s a slot for me in a week’s time. It’s going to cost £3,400, but I’ve got savings and you can’t put a price on self-confidence.

Thursday September 7

"I’ve arrived in London for my operation in the morning and will spend tonight at my aunt’s house in Bromley. I have to be at the clinic in Golders Green, North London, at 10.30am.

"The butterflies in my stomach tell me the chances of my sleeping tonight are slim. Although I’m excited about finally waving goodbye to my saddlebags, I feel nervous, too.

"I’ll be awake during the 90-minute procedure and wonder whether I really won’t be able to feel a thing.

Friday September 8: 10.30am

"It’s a beautiful late summer’s morning as I report to reception, which is a hive of activity. A lady stands on the doorstep with her overnight bag, waiting for a taxi.

"I think she must have had a boob job the day before since she has a voluptuous chest but a slender frame.

10.45am

"I’m looking forward to my operation now and a nurse comes to take me up to my private bedroom. We walk past a waiting room where a mix of men and women all nervously pretend to read magazines.

"I wonder who’s here for surgery and who’s here to give moral support. My bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, a large single bed, a TV and quaint leaded windows.

"With the consent forms completed, Mr Singh comes into the room and asks me to strip to my underwear. I jokingly tell him that I’m getting used to showing him my bottom.

"He draws on my thighs with a purple pen to outline the areas of fat I want removed — my outer thighs, saddlebags, and around my knees. Strangely, the right leg is apparently more fatty than the left.

"A nurse gives me a bright turquoise gown and hat and a pair of fetching paper knickers to put on.

11.25am

"This is it. I’m led into the theatre — a big room with bright white walls, lots of lights, technical-looking equipment and an operating table in the middle.

"At the end of the table is the Body Jet — the machine responsible for draining away my fat. It’s a neat unit with a clear, three-litre plastic container on each side. That’s where all my fat will collect.

"A clear tube protrudes from the machine onto which Mr Singh will attach a large, foot-long canula — a tube the size of a knitting needle that’s hollow inside.

"He’ll insert it repeatedly into my thighs to spray in a liquid — a mixture of saline and adrenaline — that will help break down the fat cells before using the same tube to suck them out.

"I’m introduced to the anaesthetist who inserts a small canula into the crook of my left arm and injects a sedative into it. A pulse monitor is clipped to my thumb.

"Within minutes the sedative kicks in and I feel as if I’ve had a few glasses of wine. Theatre nurses busy themselves wrapping my feet, lower legs and torso in protective sheets, then paint my legs with iodine to prevent infection.

11.40am

"Mr Singh begins surgery on my right leg and first injects a local anaesthetic into the deep tissue of the saddlebag. ‘It might sting a little,’ he warns, and he’s right.

"I wince as I feel a scratchy, burning sensation but he reassures me this will be the only discomfort.
"He makes a one-centimetre incision in my saddlebag with a scalpel and inserts the large canula, attached to the Body Jet machine, into the cut.

"He explains that a solution containing adrenaline is now being sprayed under my skin to help loosen the fat cells.

"Unlike conventional lipo, I’m not being pumped with a large quantity of fluid, which is used to attack a bigger area of fat.

"Instead, Liposoft allows him to have more control over the procedure and for the fat cells to be removed with precision — leading to significantly improved symmetry and reduced swelling.

"I feel a pulling sensation but no pain. There’s a lot of suction and spraying noises as the fluid goes in and the fat is sucked out.

"The anaesthetist reports that the first plastic container attached to the Body Jet is already filling up with fat.

11.50am

"Amazingly, there is already almost a litre of fat and body fluids in the plastic container. It’s a mixture of one third fat which sits on the top, with the rest being fluids and the adrenaline solution.

"Mr Singh manipulates my thigh with the flat of his hand to ensure an even finish. Then he announces that my saddlebag is gone and that he is now injecting anaesthetic lower down my outer thigh, ready to make a second incision. It stings again, but lasts only a few seconds.

12.10pm

"We’re on the home straight with my right leg. Mr Singh numbs the inside of my right knee and it hurts because there’s not much flesh in that area.

"Again, he inserts the canula and begins to work on breaking down the fat and sucking it out. I feel much more awake now as the sedative I was given earlier wears off.

12.20pm

"Just 40 minutes after surgery began, my right leg is apparently a shadow of its former self, with the treatment completed and an astonishing 2,700 millilitres of fat and fluid expelled.

"I can’t wait to see the results once the procedure’s finished.

12.25pm

"Mr Singh begins to anaesthetise my left leg and makes an incision into the saddlebag. It stings. The anaesthetist, Dr Moustafa, tells me to relax.

"I joke that I loved the blissed-out feeling the sedative gave me at the start and ask if I can please have some more. He agrees because I’m feeling a bit of discomfort on my left side because I’m more awake now.

"It’s injected through the canula in the crook of my arm and, almost immediately, I’ve got that warm, fuzzy feeling again.

12.45pm

"I’m so sleepy that I’m struggling to keep my eyes open as Mr Singh continues to extract fat from my left thigh through a second incision.

"He tells me about a young woman who had Liposoft on her stomach at another London clinic the week before and an hour later she was out buying shoes on Oxford Street.

12.55pm

"There’s 1,700 millilitres of fat and fluid now in the second plastic container and Mr Singh makes the final incision on my inner knee. It’s sensitive again but I’m so woozy I barely notice.

"I’m vaguely aware that Dr Moustafa is entertaining Mr Singh and the nurses with tales of his grandmother, who died recently — at the age of 110.

1.10pm

"I must have dropped off because all of a sudden I’m opening my eyes to hear Dr Moustafa saying: ‘That’s it Helen, it’s all over now.’

"I’ve only been asleep for about 15 minutes. Mr Singh is putting an internal stitch into each of the incisions and a plaster on top.

"The nurses remove the protective sheets and lift me carefully onto a trolley then wheel me into the recovery room next door.

"A total of 2.2 litres was taken from my left leg and Mr Singh tells me about two litres of the total fluid sucked out of my thighs will be pure fat. I feel fresh and totally awake. It’s difficult to believe I’ve just had surgery.

1.30pm

"Back in my private room, I sit up and peel back the bedcovers to admire my new thighs. It’s like looking at someone else’s legs.

"Gone are the saddlebags and I’ve got a lovely smooth, flat shape like an athlete’s at the top of each thigh. My knees look much slimmer, too.

"But my legs are still covered in iodine and I can see what looks like the first signs of bruising and swelling.

1.45pm

"I stand up and lift my gown to inspect my legs in the mirror. I’m given a three-day course of antibiotics to prevent infection, painkillers in case I need them and a pair of tight, white leggings to wear for two weeks while my legs heal.

"A nurse says she will call me this evening to check I’m feeling well.

3pm

"I can’t believe it, but I’m already waving goodbye to the medical team and jumping into a taxi to meet Mum in central London before she drives me down to stay with her and Dad in Kent for the weekend.

"It’s all very surreal but if I’d had a general anaesthetic and traditional liposuction I’d have needed an overnight stay at the clinic and probably wouldn’t have been able to sit down for a week due to the bruising.

September 9

"I wake up, and it takes me a second to remember that 24 hours ago I was in an operating theatre.
"My thighs look quite puffy and swollen this morning but there’s barely any bruising and no pain, which means I’m ready for a shopping trip with Mum.

September 11

"I’m back at work today in Manchester and my thighs are swollen. But that’s normal — the body’s natural defence when it’s been through a trauma is to retain water to protect itself.

"In two weeks’ time I’ll be totally recovered and I can’t wait to see my new thighs.

September 27

"It’s almost three weeks since my operation, and I’m happy with the results. My thighs are so smooth that it’s like looking at someone else’s legs.

"The lumps, bumps and saddlebags are gone, the sides of my thighs are toned and my knees look slender. I can see the difference when I wear skinny jeans because my silhouette is lithe.

"I can’t wait to get a little pair of shorts on next summer.

For more information or to arrange a consultation with Transform Cosmetic Surgery Group, call 0500 595959 or visit www.transforminglives.co.uk

Doctors See Increasing Demand for Cosmetic Procedures

Source: Channel News Asia 16th October 2007

SINGAPORE: Doctors in Singapore are seeing a rise in patients seeking both non-invasive cosmetic procedures as well as major cosmetic surgeries.

Spider veins are caused by hormonal changes such as pregnancy, and people who are on their feet all day or have a family history are prone to the problem.

The condition does not usually cause pain or health problems, but laser treatment is available for those who want to maintain their youthful legs.

Dr Sanjay Nalachandran, Consultant, General and Vascular Surgery at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said: "Laser heats up the blood within the blood vessels and this causes a certain amount of damage to the vessels and over a period of time, these vessels disappear as they are reabsorbed by the body."

Serene Teo has had three sessions to erase the miniature veins.

She said: "You don't feel a thing at all. Just take a little rubber band and snap it on your skin and that's what it feels like – it's like tiny ant bites."

Such non-invasive cosmetic treatments have grown in popularity over the past ten years.

But cosmetic surgeons are now seeing an increasing demand for major procedures, with liposuction among the most popular.

The latest technique uses ultrasound to break down the fat, making it easier to remove.

Dr Martin Huang, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, said: "When you liquify the fat beforehand, it's a lot easier to remove, so we can accomplish this much more gently with less trauma to the tissues, and it is more thorough and effective."

Doctors said it also allows for a high definition technique that creates the illusion of six-pack abs.

"The most I have ever removed safely, meaning everything went smoothly and there were no problems at all, is about 10 litres (of fat) and I've only done that once. Most times it would be anything from 2 litres to 5 litres," said Dr Huang.

A 36-year-old patient, who does not want to be identified, said she used to weigh 100kg and suffered from knee pain.

So two years ago, she started dieting and exercising regularly.

She lost 33kg, but could not tone up her arms and trunk, so she thought she would "cheat a little bit" with liposuction.

The eight-hour surgery plus two-night hospital stay cost about S$30,000.

But she thinks the money is well spent.

She said: "I want to go for more exercise because now that I have lost the weight, I want to maintain my figure. Hopefully, I will be more confident going out at night, meeting people and friends."

The first few days of recovery from liposuction are often painful and it can be a couple of weeks before the patient is ready to go back to work.

There are also the risks of infection and blood loss, and at the end of the day, the patient still has to adopt a healthy lifestyle because too much food and too little exercise will bring back those unwanted pounds.

Return of ALCAT Food Intolerance Test to Singapore

After a 3-month absence from Singapore, the ALCAT Food Intolerance Test is finally available once again. The test lab is still in foreign lands (Australia currently), which does complicate matters somewhat, but the blood can still get processed within the 30-hour window as long as collections are made fresh before 11am on Mondays to Fridays.

We have certainly missed having this as a weight loss option. I see so many people who claim to eat no more than the next person, exercise religiously, yet are classed overweight or obese. Some do look for a quick fix, but many are truly desperate to find out why they absolutely cannot lose the weight.

Having done a good number of tests in the past year, I can certainly testify that those who manage to stay away from their "banned" food types seem to have no problems losing weight.

And who knows? You may not be intolerant to chocolate (I'm not!), so indulge in this decadent treat without fearing weight gain. Your chances of being intolerant to lettuce and black pepper are much higher. And there's really no way of knowing until you get tested.

Where It All Began...

Many have wondered about the time and effort taken in creating the Simply Aesthetic website. The current one is I believe version 4. Just creating version one resulted in many nights without sleep, changing from one program to another in a desperate attempt to find one simple enough for me to handle. The first launch also resulted in the first major argument with Dr Ivan, a petulant deletion of the entire site by myself, followed by disaster as my computer crashed with the entire "masterpiece" in it!

The current version was launched in March 2007 and has proven satisfactory. Re-doing it would we a nightmare now, as the number of pages exceed 50, and grow in number almost every week.

But my attempts at web design did not start with www.simply-aesthetic.com. I only dared try this task because of a previous website many years ago. Long forgotten, I was only reminded of it by my old friend, web host & SEO guru Shi Heng Cheong last night. It turns out he bought the domain I abandoned & took over my entire content! He re-did the site a year back, and the traffic now is in the thousands every month. Worldwide! WOW! He's graciously offered to share the site with me again.

Take a look. It's much prettier now than when I designed the template 5 years ago. www.healthychineserecipes.com.

I'm tickled pink!

DermaRF Radiofrequency Non-Surgical Face Lifting at Singapore clinic Simply Aesthetic

(PRLEAP.COM) Singapore - October 15, 2007 - Simply Aesthetic, a Singapore-based medical aesthetic clinic, has acquired the DermaRF Radiofrequency device for non-ablative skin tightening and fat melting. This adds a new dimension to the clinic's rejuvenation and body contouring services.

Using Superpulse RF technology, immediate collagen shrinkage occurs, resulting in an instant lifting effect. Deep dermal stimulation results in new collagen formation and long-lasting results. Used in combination with the other treatments available at the clinic, clients can achieve an improvement in skin texture, lifting, reduction in wrinkle depth and number, and lightening of pigmentary changes caused by sun damage and ageing. The new treatment can help in jaw line definition, lift cheeks and reduce the fine lines around eyes.

The rejuvenation mode improves skin tone and texture, reduces the size of open pores and helps to evacuate blackheads and comedones. Large pores are a particularly difficult problem to eradicate in the local Asian population, greatly exacerbated by sun damage and tropical conditions.

The DermaRF was chosen for its unique advantages over other radiofrequency devices. The radio waves are delivered through special glass tipped wands. The Superpulse technology allows a high energy delivery with minimal discomfort. The epidermis is protected as the heat is rapidly transmitted deep into the dermis, producing its effects on collagen shrinkage and activating new collagen production.

The treatment protocol is simple, with each session lasting about an hour (depending on area and degree of sagging). The lifting effect is immediately visible. The results are maintained with an average of six treatments spaced a fortnight apart. The frequency of treatment allows gradual moulding of the face into a more youthful contour.

Subsequent maintenance is one session every six to twelve months.

The treatment involves the rapid movement of the treatment wand over the areas of concern. A special ionizing gel is used for gliding. Heat is generated very rapidly to a target temperature of 40 degrees Celcius, and maintained for two to three minutes for maximum effect. Minimal discomfort is experienced during the treatment.

Different hand pieces are available for face lifting, rejuvenation, and body lifting. Clients have the option of purchasing personal body probes for non-surgical vaginal lifting. Small area targeted fat melting, breast lifting and buttock lifting is also possible with this device.

Simply Aesthetic is a medical aesthetic clinic located at Singapore’s UE Square Shopping Mall. Led by Dr Christine Cheng, the clinic offers a range of services to reverse the signs of ageing, weight loss and body contouring.

Source: PR Leap

"Hello Doctor" Episode 3 Features Simply Aesthetic

We were approached by Singapore's Mediacorp TV12 earlier this week regarding our willingness to provide information for a new Tamil health education TV series called "Hello Doctor". Episode 3 is about Obesity in Singaporeans and how to safely lose weight. The producers chose Simply Aesthetic as the clinic to seek advice for weight loss. Naturally, we were delighted to have the opportunity to showcase our entire weight management program.

Not knowing exactly what was expected of us, our preparations included requesting Humedical to lend us one of their demo Water-Assisted Liposuction units, which looked great, lined up next to our other machines.

Body Jet Water-Assisted Liposuction

Finally, the TV crew arrived, and briefed us on their requirements. It would be a straightforward interview plus demonstration of a few of our treatments.

Ffion Superstar-Wannabe peers out from the pantry
(Fortunately for her, no school today!)

Lights, Camera, Action!

Filming the introduction at Reception. Mery gets to be on TV too!

It was a unique experience to be part of TV production. Fun! We can't wait to see the final product. Roll on Jan 2008!

Battle of the TIGHTENs!

Radiofrequency technology is very popular for skin firming and fat melting. Thermage is the best known non-surgical skin tightening treatment, but is painful and results are delayed for 3-6 months.

We have had the unique opportunity of testing out two alternative radiofrequency devices, one from Bangkok and the other from Korea. Both units were on trial at Simply Aesthetic this week. My plan was to bravely volunteer for a half face test!

Part one: Korean machine from Skin MD. This came with three components: skin scraper, iontophoresis and radiofrequency. The right side of my face was treated with this machine. The treatment took 15 minutes. A warm probe was moved over my face with a special creams the gliding base. The process was pretty comfortable (just a little hot around the eye area).

Result: some lift of my cheek with slightly better definition of my jawline. My patient could see a difference, but she did not know which side I'd had done! Twelve hours later, after a night's sleep, the effect was gone. Both sides were identical once again.

Yes, I know I wanted the other side done with the other machine, but clinic was busy. It had to wait. And wait. Finally, a whole three days later, it was finally my turn!

Result: My jawline was more defined. My open pores were reduced in number and size. We'd seen great results for listing and reduction in depth and length of wrinkles too:

Before

After

The decision was quite simple really. The machine we chose offered more practical features:

• Instant lift (results lasting after 6 sessions)
• Painless treatment
• Rejuvenation mode to improve skin texture and colour
• Reduction of pore size
• Expulsion of comedones & blackheads (no extraction!)
• Fat melting
• Facial contouring (literally mould the face over the 6 sessions)
• Abdominal skin firming
• Tighten "bye-bye" upper arms
• Vaginal tightening (yes, really!!!)
• Surgical applications

And so we finally acquire the DermaRF Vision 7 Radiofrequency machine. It was delivered this afternoon.

We head off to Bangkok for training in November (from 7th evening to 10th). Mery & Ivy included. The inventor of the machine, Plastic Surgeon Dr Chanchai will instruct us on how to get the best out of the device, by changing the settings and handpiece to that most appropriate to the clinical situation.

Water-Assisted Liposuction at Simply Aesthetic

We will be adding the latest liposuction technology to our services shortly. The Body-Jet Water Assisted Liposuction (WAL) from German company Humanmed will be included in our services.

Developed to avoid the problems associated with tumescent anaesthesia required by other liposuction techniques, this new technique is believed to be the safest form of liposuction with the least downtime.

Traditional liposuction requires the infiltration of large volumes of fluid containing the vasoconstrictor adrenaline (to reduce bleeding) and large amounts of local anaesthetic. Many anaesthetists balk at the large amounts of the latter, as we are usually very cautious about calculating a maximum dose to avoid heart arrhythmias and seizures. It is believed that the slow absorption of local anaesthesia from the tumescent fluid renders it safe. However, the peak absorption into the circulation occurs 14 hours after surgery, when patients have gone home. This may be the cause of the fatalities associated with liposuction.

The infiltration of large volumes of tumescent fluid also makes the surgical field too bloated for the assessment of results at the time of operation. This can produce uneven results or skin rippling.

Ultrasound-assisted liposuction techniques such as Vaser are extremely popular in view of the protection of vessels and nerves. Laser lipolysis is also popular as it is associated with low downtime. Both these techniques risk damaging the skin by either ultrasonic or laser burns.

WAL uses the force of water to blast the fragile fat cells, protecting the other vessels and nerves during the process. The water is immediately sucked back with the fat, so less swelling is observed. Minimal infiltration with tumescent fluid is required, purely for vasoconstriction, to minimse bleeding. Intra-operative pain is minimal, and sedation is often not required! The patient can move on the table or even stand up for contour assessment. In the absence of excess fluid, it is very easy to assess if any areas need additional liposuction before the end of surgery. This produces superior results in a safer procedure.

British studies have shown less post-operative pain and a faster recovery. Fewer pain relief tablets are required by patients undergoing WAL compared to traditional liposuction, and most are pain-free by the third post-op day.

WAL can also be used for six-pack definition and the destruction of sweat glands in situations of excessive sweating.

We are awaiting confirmation of date of installation of the machine and are delighted to be the first clinic in Singapore to commit to the purchase of this latest liposuction technology.