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Thanks to recent television coverage of “non-surgical face-lifts” our phones have been ringing none-stop with patients asking about new “fractional” laser skin resurfacing technologies! Here are some frequently asked questions.

What is Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing is a revolution in ablative skin resurfacing technologies. The advanced Pixel Erbium laser removes thousands of tiny dots of skin each time. It allows the skin of the face, neck or hands to benefit from all of the advantages of traditional Ablative Laser Resurfacing such as collagen remodelling, skin tightening and skin texture smoothing without the pain, downtime or infection risk of older technologies.

Why can’t I resurface everything all at once?

Total resurfacing (getting rid of all the skin surface) using carbon dioxide laser is still the gold standard for wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. However, total resurfacing carries the risk of infection (up to 10% in the post-operative period), scarring, pigmentation changes and prolonged skin redness (around 3-6 months). Most patients today simply cannot afford the downtime.

How does Fractional Laser Resurfacing work?

My preferred system is the Pixel, which Pixelated 2940nm wavelength Erbium:YAG Laser. The laser creates thousands of tiny dots that penetrate the skin. This produces thousands of micro-injury sites without disturbing the surrounding tissue. These micro-injured areas start the process of healing as collagen remodels, skin tightens and the skin texture improves – giving the patient “new skin”. Over a course of treatments the effect on the skin can be as dramatic as traditional Laser Resurfacing techniques, without the downtime.

What precautions do I need to take before treatment?

Sunscreen should be used for at least 2 weeks prior to treatment. Active skincare ingredients such alpha-hydroxy acids, strong scrubs/exfoliation, tretinoin, or vitamin A derivatives should also be ceased at least 2 weeks prior to treatment.

What does treatment involve?

Usually treatment takes around 30 – 45 minutes for full face and neck. Your skin will be cleansed and prepared with microdermabrasion. Using the advanced Pixel system there is no need for anaesthesia and the treatment is very comfortable.

What should I look for when I book a treatment?

It’s very important to check that the laser system used by your practitioner is FDA-approved. Laser Skin Resurfacing technologies are more invasive than other light based technologies and should only be conducted by fully qualified Doctors. Make sure that your doctor spends time to answer all your questions and the staff is supportive and helpful when you need them too.

Fillers are the next step after Botox for non-surgical, facial rejuvenation. As we age we gradually lose volume in our faces – cheeks become hollow, lips shrink in size and turn downward, and skin becomes loose. Fillers do exactly what the name suggests – they fill up the skin where collagen is lost to restore youthful fullness to your looks.

Fillers? Do you mean collagen?

Collagen is being replaced by new-generation Hyaluronic acid based fillers (such as Restylane and Juvederm) which last up to 3 times as long and are even safer. Both Restylane and Juvederm are composed of clear, biodegradable hyaluronic acid gel, manufactured under strict sterile conditions using recombinant technology.  Because hyaluronic acid is naturally found in human cells, restylane is well tolerated and there is no need for allergy testing.

How do fillers work?

Fillers are delivered under the skin surface with a very fine needle.  Once injected, the gel plumps and lifts the skin gently to replace collagen loss caused by the natural aging process.  Movement and sensation are not affected – your lips and skin will look and feel soft and natural.  Fillers are extremely safe and versatile.  They can be used to achieve natural enhancement of lips, correct wrinkles and restore smoothness and volume to the skin.  The result is instantaneous and lasts around 6 to 9 months.  Most clients are able to return to work immediately after treatment.

Is the treatment painful?

A typical Restylane treatment takes 30 to 45 minutes and can be done during a lunch break.  For lip enhancements and lines around the month, your doctor will numb the entire treatment area with a few small injections of local anaesthetic.  After this, the actual injection of the Restylane is painless.  The result is instantaneous and lasts around 6 to 9 months.  Mild bruising and swelling of the lips can be covered with makeup.  Most patients are able to return to work immediately after treatment.

What about safety?

Because hyaluronic acid is naturally found in human cells, the likelihood of your body reacting to Restylane is extremely minute and there is no need for allergy testing.  Since 1996, millions of people have been successfully treated in more than 70 countries worldwide.  The safety profile is impressive and well documented.

Fillers are the next stet after Botox for non-surgical, facial rejuvenation. As we age we gradually lose volume in our faces – cheeks become hollow, lips shrink in size and turn downward, and skin becomes loose. Fillers do exactly what the name suggests – they fill up the skin where collagen is lost to restore youthful fullness to your looks.

Fillers? Do you mean collagen?

Collagen is being replaced by new-generation Hyaluronic acid based fillers (such as Restylane and Juvederm) which last up to 3 times as long and are even safer. Both Restylane and Juvederm are composed of clear, biodegradable hyaluronic acid gel, manufactured under strict sterile conditions using recombinant technology.  Because hyaluronic acid is naturally found in human cells, restylane is well tolerated and there is no need for allergy testing.

How do fillers work?

Fillers are delivered under the skin surface with a very fine needle.  Once injected, the gel plumps and lifts the skin gently to replace collagen loss caused by the natural aging process.  Movement and sensation are not affected – your lips and skin will look and feel soft and natural.  Fillers are extremely safe and versatile.  They can be used to achieve natural enhancement of lips, correct wrinkles and restore smoothness and volume to the skin.  The result is instantaneous and lasts around 6 to 9 months.  Most clients are able to return to work immediately after treatment.

Is the treatment painful?

A typical Restylane treatment takes 30 to 45 minutes and can be done during a lunch break.  For lip enhancements and lines around the month, your doctor will numb the entire treatment area with a few small injections of local anaesthetic.  After this, the actual injection of the Restylane is painless.  The result is instantaneous and lasts around 6 to 9 months.  Mild bruising and swelling of the lips can be covered with makeup.  Most patients are able to return to work immediately after treatment.

What about safety?

Because hyaluronic acid is naturally found in human cells, the likelihood of your body reacting to Restylane is extremely minute and there is no need for allergy testing.  Since 1996, millions of people have been successfully treated in more than 70 countries worldwide.  The safety profile is impressive and well documented.

One of the new and exciting uses of Botox is facial reshaping. Pioneered by Korean Cosmetic Doctors, the technique has quickly spread to the rest of Asia where the ideal heart-shaped face is popular with women of all ages.

History of Facial Reshaping In the past the only way to change the shape of one’s face was through painful surgery. The surgeon would make an incision in the inside of the mouth, saw off a small piece of the mandible (jaw bone) and fix the jaw with metal plates and nails to create a smaller jaw. The procedure involved risks of nerve and blood vessel damage, infection and also significant recovery time. It’s easy to see why Botox is quickly replacing surgery as the treatment of choice – 70% of the Botox given in Korea is now used for facial reshaping! (In Western countries, over 95% of Botox is used for wrinkles.)

How does Botox work to shrink the jaws? Botox works by relaxing muscles. When we inject the Botox precisely into the Masseters (chewing muscles) we can relax and weaken them. What happens when the chewing muscles weaken and get smaller is that the mandibles (jaw bones) shrink in size with them. The change in face shape is visible and dramatic. Moreover, the effect of both muscle AND bone shrinking is proven beyond doubt with CT (Computer Tomography) Scans.

Can Botox really change the shape of bones? Every part of the human body is in a state of constant renewal and change. Weightlifting puts high forces on muscles and bones, stimulating them to grow bigger. Conversely, without exercise muscles shrink, and bone mass is reduced. A good example is Astronauts. When Astronauts enter space, because there is no gravity (thus their muscles and bones don’t have to work to support their own body weight) they rapidly lose around 10% of their bone mass.

What does the treatment involve? The treatment involves 3-4 injections placed into each side of the face (into the Masseters). The needles used are tiny and there is very little discomfort.

What are the side effects? We aim to weaken the chewing muscles, not completely paralyse them! So, the patient might feel tired towards the end of eating a 500g steak. But, normal eating is definitely possible. There have been no permanent side effects reported for Botox® treatments. In the tiny quantities used for Cosmetic uses the main side effects are some minor bruising or swelling around the injection site. These are easily covered with make up.

How many treatments are needed? 3-5 treatments are generally required to achieve optimal results. Most patients see a visible difference after just 1 treatment.

How long does the effect last? If the patient never exercises the chewing muscles again the results would theoretically last forever. This is of course unrealistic – we can’t expect people to live just on porridge. However, with just simple diet changes such as avoiding chewing gum and tough foods patients can usually maintain results with just one touch-up treatment every 2-3 years.