Singapore Beauty Guide » Body

Reduce fat in all the unwanted places…

Sylvia — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:41:19 +0000

Do you have a healthy weight and exercise regularly, but can’t seem to shake off those fat bulges? You may just need a little help from a new procedure called CoolSculpting™ . This new procedure developed by Zeltiq is able to reduce fat by as much as 20% in the area of your choice

What exactly is CoolSculpting™?

The CoolSculpting™ procedure is based on research, where it was proven that fat cells respond to the effects of cold. If these fat cells get exposed to controlled cooling for some time, fat is removed through an inflammatory process called apoptosis, absorbed through the lymphatic system and finally excreted from the body. The fat then disappears within 2 to 4 months following the treatment.

The benefits of using this procedure include:

Painless procedure that involves no needles, surgery or downtime
Since you will be able to work or read, it is very time efficient
You can expect to see good results with a treatment of 1 to 2 hours
It’s a safe procedure as the precise cooling affects only targeted fat cells, leaving adjacent tissue unharmed and intact.
Results can be long lasting if current weight is maintained

What is the procedure like?

CoolSculpting™ is an easy procedure that involves no needles, surgery, or downtime. During the treatment, a non-invasive applicator delivers precisely controlled cooling to the treatment area leaving surface skin tissue unaffected. The device draws the fat bulge up between two cooling panels, which will feel like a firm tug and pull. Although you will get the sensation of an intense cold at the start of the procedure, this feeling soon disappears and you are able to relax. You can either lie down or sit and work on your laptop during the treatment, which lasts between 1 to 2 hours. After the procedure, you can continue with your daily activities as usual, although you may experience some minor bruising or redness in the treated area for a short while.

Which areas are usually treated?

CoolSculpting™ is usually used for those areas where fat is difficult to get rid of. It is especially effective for the tummy, your love handles and back fat bulges.

What kind of results can you expect?

You can expect to see a reduction of about 20% in the fat thickness of the treated area. This result will become apparent about 3 weeks after treatment but even better results can be seen after 2 months. One treatment can be sufficient for your needs but for even more fat loss you may want to get a repeat treatment. Please note that results can only be seen in treated areas, so this is not an all round weight loss strategy. It works best on those who eat healthy and exercise regularly but just can’t seem to shake off excess fat in some problem areas. Results are long-lasting with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Where to get CoolSculpting™?

CoolSculpting™ is now available at IYAC. Prices start at $1200 per area treated. Package prices are available and a precise quotation will be given at the time of your consultation. You can check out the CoolSculpting™ page from the IYAC website or contact them directly for more information at 6738 9989.

Have you tried CoolSculpting? What was your experience?

Croyez Power Plate® fitness classes – a review

Sylvia — Tue, 17 May 2011 03:43:59 +0000

You may know that I’m a big fan of all the daily deals sites. They alert to new interesting services and allow me to try out new services at low prices. I recently picked up a great deal for power plate group classes at Croyez Studio in Dempsey Hill. This is something I never tried (or even heard of) and I was keen to give it a go.

What is Power Plate®?

Power Plate® equipment are devices that vibrate the body while doing exercize. The vibrations result in energy waves throughout the body, leading to muscle contractions of about 25 to 50 times per second. The vibrations aim to accelerate your fitness training so that you get more benefit from your workout in a shorter time.

According to the Croyez website, benefits include:

Immediate improvement in blood circulation
Increased muscle strength and flexibility
Improved range of motion
Decreased cellultie
Incrreased bone mineral density
Reduced pain and soreness
Faster recovery

Different types of PowerPlate® programmes

They have several workout sessions with the Power Plate®. They include:

PowerZone. This is a good introductory lesson as it works on both muscle strength, flexibility and a little cardio. It will also get you familiar with the PowerPlate® machine.
Powercardio: this class focusses on getting fit and toning your body. A variety of equipment is used for this class.
PowerStretch: Aims to increase strength and flexibility and incorporates pilates and yoga
PowerSculpt: Total body conditioning class
PowerBox: Includes kickboxing to burn fat and tone your body.

My first session: Power Zone

My first session was the PowerZone. After a quick introduction to the PowerPlate® I was given very precise instructions on what you have to do. Basically you are doing all kinds of familiar exercizes (if you have ever done any workout exercize or yoga) which incorporate the PowerPlate.

The vibrations feel a bit weird at the start, but you soon get used to it. However, if you get dizzy very quickly it may be a challenge. The instructor was very good in her explanations and makes adjustments when necessary in my posture. She urges you to do the best you can, but does not stretch you too far, which I found very pleasant. Since the class was small, I got a lot of personal attention which was great.

Another thing I liked is that the session is not that long. Total about 45 minutes. And the last 10 minutes are spent on massaging your muscles using the PowerPlate.

My second session: Power Box

I was keen to give the kickboxing a try. I had done kick boxing fitness classes before and loved the energy of them. I was not disappointed. The Power Box class is an energizing cardio class that is very doable. The instructor was actually surprised that I was doing so well in this class, considering I had told her that I’m not very keen on cardio. The secret? I’ve got good rhythm and if there is some good music with a beat, I cannot but help but keeping on track and stay on the beat.

Conclusion

I really enjoyed my sessions with the Power Plate. Of course it’s still a workout so I will need some motivation to go. But the sessions are a lot more manageable than normal workout sessions as they are shorter and due to the accelleration achieved with Power Plate, you get the same (or possibly even more) benefit out of them as compared to a regular fitness session. Prices start at $300 for 10 lessons. For more information you can check out the Croyez Studio website.

Massage at Kedaton spa Ayam Sari Bintan – review

Sylvia — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:45:27 +0000

Although I haven’t discussed massages as much as facials, I’m actually a big fan of a regular massage. However, as opposed to facials I’m not so keen on trying out new massages as I find the quality of a massage quite important.

Since I suffer from RSI (repetitive strain injury) a good massage is essential for me as it keeps my symptoms in check. So in Singapore I go for regular massages with my favorite remedial massage therapist. More on this is a subsequent post.

Trying resort spas

However, when I’m away on holiday or for a short break as I am now, I usually try out a new spa. I have had some great massages during these trips. Good examples are a 2.5 ayurvedic massage I had during my yoga retreat in Bali. I also loved my thai massage during a detox retreat I had in Thailaind. I also still remember some cheap but very good massages on the beach that I had in Thailand. I’m currently at Ayam Sari Resort in Bintan and was keen to try out their Kedaton Spa.

As I like a firm massage I selected their javanese massage package which is supposed to be quite firm. The spa itself looks great. A lovely little building surrounded by greenery and very tropical. As is usual with spas like these, the rooms are lovely. They usually have a window overlooking lush greenery adding to the nice relaxed atmosphere of getting a massage.

unfortunately, it is often hit and miss with spas in resorts. If you’re lucky you can get a great massage, but the opposite also happens often.

What is a good massage?

As I get really good massages from my usual therapist my standards are, of course, high. A good therapist will know the tense spots, has special techniques to apply firmness and pressure and can really make a difference in the tenseness of the muscles.

An average therapist on the other hand just goes through a standard routine and doesn’t really pay any attention to the individual body. They are poorly trained so they can never manage quite enough pressure.

Massage at Kedaton Spa

Unfortunately, today I was not in luck. The pressure was not firm enough and the therapist just seemed to go through some standard ineffective strokes that were pleasant but not very effective in releasing tension in the muscles. Such a pity as it’s the rainly season now and it’s raining non-stop. Perfect opportunity for getting several massages!

Conclusion

If you like a calm relaxing massage in a relaxing and beautiful environment then you may enjoy the massages offered here. However, if you need a massage that will treat you tense muscles in a meaningful way, you may want to shop around for another alternative.

PS. I later want back for a ayurvedic facial which was gorgeous! Here they did everything just right!

BizzyBody detox and slimming treatment – a review

Sylvia — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:06:39 +0000

I recently went for a detox day and slimming day at BizzyBody in Singapore. I don’t really need to slim down much, but I did like the idea of detoxing and slimming down certain parts of the body so I wanted to give it a try.

Who is Bizzybody?

BizzyBody is a slimming centre that has clinics in both Malaysia and Singapore. They differentiate themselves from other clinics by offering a lose weight guarantee. They offer customized weight loss and detoxing programs that guarantee to offer results.

These are some of their programs:

8 Days Programme - Lose min of 20” or 2-3kg
16 Days Programme - Lose min of 25” or 5-8kg

I signed up for a special promotion that allowed me to try one detox day and one slimming day. This works out to be 1.5 hours for each day really.

Detox Day

After an evaluation of what you want to achieve with the program you get weighed and your measurements are entered on a chart. You then proceed to start the first part of the detoxing treatment.

First a cold gel is applied to your body and massaged into the skin with a small pad that is hooked up to a machine. After that your body is completely wrapped in some kind of plastic. That in itself is an experience. You end up like a plastic package waiting to be delivered. Once you’re completely wrapped, you walk (yes, it’s still possible to walk) to the next treatment room. Here you will receive the second pat of the detox treatment. You go and lie on a special bed where tubes are attached to several parts of your body. Once that is done, a special machine pumps air into the tubes that puts pressure on your body. Then the pressure gets released and the whole process starts again. Quite an experience!

The process is meant to revitalize the body by stabilizing fat cells, soothing and relieving tension and firm the body in the process. This procedure will last 45 minutes and concludes your first treatment session.

Slimming day

The day starts with a machine treatment that sends vibrations through the body. It’s a very strange sensation, but you soon get used to it. This part of the treament will improve circulation, relax the musles and remove lactic acid accumulation.

After that you’ll get wrapped again and are provided with an infra red heat blanket. This allows for all the toxins to be sweated out and flushed away.

Overall benefits

I asked Bizzybody how the treatments would benefit the body and they supplied me with the following list of benefits:

Improves lymphatic drainage (flush out waste and toxin)
Relaxes nerve endings of fat cells
Detoxifies body
Burns 600 – 1200 calories (exercise intensive exercise burn only 300 – 500 calories)
Additonal detox day benefits include: restored body equilibrium, improved circulation and metabolism
Additional slimming day benefits include: increase metabolism rate and blood circulation and lessening of tense muscles and increased lymphatic drainage

My experience

I thought this was an interesting experience. However, I can’t say if or how well the treatments work. Since I simply wanted to try it out, I only had one detox and one slimming session. Although I did lose a bit of weight I think you would need more sessions to really experience results. I’m not really overweight so the urge for more treatments for me was not that great. Although it can possibly be a good way to lose weight and detox fast (and without all the exercize!) for the moment I will stick to my routine of healthy eating, exercize and the occasional fasting detox.

Pricing and Location

$380 for Detox Day & $380 for Slimming Day

Ngee Ann City Tower A #05-34
Toll free number: 1800 888 3300
www.bizzybody2u.com.sg
www.facebook.com/bizzybody.sg

I like to hear your experiences with detoxing and slimming at a special centre. Let us know below in the comments!

[starreview tpl=16]

Strip at Beauty Emporium; one of the nicest places to get a manicure?

Sylvia — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:15:57 +0000

I had a special party to attend and badly needed having my nails done. So I decided to go to the Beauty Emporium at Dempsea Hill here in Singapore. I remember from a previous visit that I was really impressed by the interiors of this place. I also noticed then that the actual spot for a pedicure was right opposite a window overlooking the luscious greenery. I thought that this would be a very relaxing and inspriring place to get a pedicure so I gave it a try.

Both a pedicure and a manicure

I decided to spoil myself this time and opted to have a manicure at the same time as the pedicure. Although this saves a lot of time, I did actually miss not being able to read a magazine during the pedicure. Since both hands are either worked on or in a hand bath, there is nothing else to do but just relax. Plenty of time to take in the greenery or look around the Beauty Emporium which I find very inspiring. A lovely modern interior with lots of colours and polished concrete floors.

What was it like?

There is a nothing out of the ordinary to report really as this was just a regular pedicure and manicure, with cleaning, massage, preparing for polish and nail polish finish. However, my seat was comfortable, the music hip and fun, the ladies skilled and friendly and the nails of both my hands and feet were in top condition after the treatment. My initial choice of colour was not to my liking and they were very quick to accommodate me with choosing another colour that was just perfect.

The final verdict

This is certainly a place I would go to again as I find the Beauty Emporium a fun and relaxing place to be and Strip did a very good job with my nails. Both manicure and pedicure are $35 each. I also picked up a folder of Browhaus which is in the same building, who also offers some interesting services. Also need to check out their interesting beauty products sometime… View the beauty emporium profile for more details.

Do you have a favourite beauty place in Singapore? Let us know!

[starreview tpl=16]

Increasing muscles for anti-aging

Sylvia — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:38:25 +0000

There is always a lot of focus on anti-aging treatments like Botox and fillers but we tend to focus less on what’s on the inside: the muscles. Yet weak muscles lead to body sag and poor posture. So not only will you look worse and older, you will also have less body functionality. Women tend not to foucs so much on muscle training but this article makes a good case on why we should!

Read the news article

Stop looking older – avoid aging blunders

Sylvia — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 01:49:08 +0000

I liked this article from Aging backwards about the aging blunders to avoid. I definitely agree with not showing gray roots and wearing fitted clothes. Just never thought that bare hands make you look old. Will need to work on that…

Another one would be not to reveal reveal too much skin and cover up a bit more. This is a tricky one in Singapore since it’s so hot. But sagging skin on arms and boobs is not s pretty sight and shouts old.

What do you think? Which blunder should you avoid to avoid looking too old?

Read the original article

Permanent hair removal with laser: how does it work?

Sylvia — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:36:21 +0000

The biggest limitations to laser hair removal in the past were firstly pain, and secondly, it was not safe if you had dark or tanned skin. However with the newer generation of diode lasers (which are the gold standard for laser hair removal worldwide), the treatments are more comfortable (some may say even painless), and also safe for dark skin types.

The procedure is quite a gentle process. Instead of the standard pulse method of treatment, the new diode lasers use an innovative in-motion technology that treats in a continuous sweeping motion. During the treatment, a high energy beam of light goes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. The laser energy does not go into the skin as a painful blast, but rather heats the hair follicles safely and gently until they no longer produce hair in the treated area.

How safe is laser hair removal

The removal of hair by lasers has been recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an effective and safe treatment. As the laser only destroys the ability for hair to grow and does not effect the surrounding skin tissues, it is generally deemed a very safe and popular way for removing hair.

How many sessions are needed for effective hair removal

The number of treatments depends on the individual as hairs grows differently depending on your age, metabolism, hormones, weight and several other factors. As a general guide about 4-6 treatments are required to achieve a permanent reduction of hair growth.

Several sessions are needed as the hair may be in a different growth stage. In the active growth stage (85% of your hair), which can last several years, the hair grows steadily and the hair contains melanin. When melanin is exposed to the laser, the hair follicle is destroyed which makes this hair growth stage ideal for hair removal.

However, after the growth stage there is the regression stage (3-4%) during which the hair stops growing, and the resting stage (10-13%) where the hair is getting ready to be replaced before falling out. During these 2 latter stages there is hardly any melanin present and therefore the hair will be difficult to remove through laser treatment. As the hair in the treated areas may be in different stages it is necessary to repeat the treatment at various times.

On what parts of the body can laser hair removal be used?

You can do laser hair removal on almost every part of the body, but the most common areas for treatment are the underarms, arms, legs, upper lip and chin.

Which laser hair removal method is used?

At our aesthetic clinic we like to use the Soprano XL that uses a unique IN-Motion technology which treats in a continuous sweeping motion. Instead of a pulsed movement of treatment where the laser energy goes into the skin as a painful blast, hair removal through the Soprano XL laser heats the hair follicles safely and gently until they no longer produce hair.

The emphasis is on having a pain free and effective treatment that makes the hair removal process a comfortable one. Some people even describe it similar to a “hot stone massage”.

Written by Dr Isabelle Yeoh from IYAC Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Clinic at Camden Medical Centre in Singapore. Dr Yeoh specialises in aesthetic & anti-aging treatments like fillers, botox, laser hair removal, IPL and laser skin treatments, hormone balancing and weight control.

How to get rid of cellulite

Sylvia — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:44:04 +0000

Cellulite is one of those things we would rather do without, but most of us women will have cellulite on some parts of our body. Just to be clear on what cullulite is: Cellulite is a cosmetic condition where the skin of the lower limbs, abdomen, and pelvic region becomes dimpled.

So what can you do to get rid of cellulite?

Here are some the options:

Healthy lifestyle and prevention

Leading a healthy lifestyle is by far the best treatment for cellulite. Here are some things to take care of:

Have a detoxification treatment regularly; As toxic build-up is one of the main causes of cellulite, it is important to do this at least 3 times a year.
Drink a lot of water.
Don’t smoke.
Do plenty of exercize.
Have regular massages. Massaging of the parts that are affected by cellulite will help improve blood circulation to those parts and it will also improve the drainage of your lymphatic system, thus preventing further formation of cellulite.
Reduce stress through yoga and deep breathing. All of the above will help to stimulate the cleansing flow of the lymphatic vessels.
Be sure to eat a healthy diet. This will help to control and prevent as well as eradicate cellulite.

Liponic Sculpturing

Liponic Sculpturing is a new technique that can reduce cellulite. It is a non-surgical procedure whereby a computer-c0ntrolled machine moves over the skin in rolling and sucking motions. It will improve skin texture, skin appearance and removes the dimples.

Liposuction

Liposuction is the removal of body fat by suction. It has become one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures and can remove unwanted fat and cellulite created by excess localized fat deposits.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is a technique that can reduce fat and cellulite by injecting various substances directly into the fat layer of the body. Mesotherapy can eliminate cellulite on the legs and buttocks, breaking down the orange-peel appearance of skin, and producing a smooth contour. It will take about 10-25 sessions to elimnate visible cellulite in most patients.

Hormone balancing

Hormones inbalance can play a role in the formation of cellulite. Recently the injection of Human growth hormone (hGH) has become increasingly popular as a treatment for cellulite and anti-aging. You may have heard of Suzanne Somers, who is taking expensive hGH shots for its anti-aging effects.

However, many practitioners still argue against the use of hGH for cosmetic purposes as there are still significant risks involved with the treatment. Nonetheless, in certain conditions and with the right professional care it can be a consideration.

Anti-cellulite creams

There are many creams available to treat cellulite and opinions differ as to how effective they are. The products feature ingredients such as caffeine, retinol and the antioxidant DMAE that help reduce the appearance of cellulite. I suppose they are worth a try if you want to avoid some of the more invasive treatments described above.

Creams available on the net

Revitol Cellulite anti-cellulite cream

Providers of cellulite treatments in Singapore

What is IPL hair removal?

Sylvia — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:02:49 +0000

IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light and is a way to get rid of unwanted hair permanently.

Why use IPL for hair removal?

Although there are various ways of removing unwanted hair (like plucking, waxing, shaving and so forth), these techniques only remove hair temporarily. The hair follicle stays intact and may even stimulate it which can lead to increased and stronger hair growth.

IPL not only treats the hair but also the follicle, which may lead to permanent hair removal.

How does it work?

IPL is a light energy that is applied to certain parts of the body, so that the target structure – whether it be hair or blood vessel in the skin – absorbs the energy and is destroyed. The IPL machine produces a burst of light that is applied to the skin through a hand piece. Through the hand piece the light energy is transmitted into the skin. The skin itself will be cooled with a cooling gel.

In order to destroy the hair follicles the hair needs to be heated as much as possible without damaging the skin. This is achieved by giving 5 or 6 light pulses in quick succession. The pulses heat up the skin while the pauses in between cool it down again. As the skin cools faster than the hair follicle the IPL pulses are able to destroy the follicle while leaving the skin intact.

How is IPL hair removal different from traditional laser treatment?

Unlike other types of hair removal lasers that use a single light wavelength concentration, IPL lasers use a full spectrum of light wavelengths. The IPL’s greater wavelength spectrum may also lead to less precision and less control, which could mean an increased risk of burns and hair removal side effects with misuse.

One of the biggest reasons why IPL lasers are so popular in the hair removal industry is the lower cost. On average, IPL treatments are cheaper. They can also treat larger skin portions at a time, so areas like the legs and back can be treated in a fraction of the time required with standard lasers.

Advantages

You can achieve permanent hair removal
More cost effective than standard laser hair removal

Disadvantages

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), as well as laser, are potentially harmful when used incorrectly so make sure that you see an accredited practitioner
It is possible that not all hair is permanently removed as some of the hair follicles escape destruction either by having very light or narrow hairs, or the follicles are in a reproductive phase during treatment.
All skins are different and some skin may may be so sensitive that it can burn, which could lead to blistering and cause pigmentation. This is why many clinics will perform a patch test at your first consultation: IPL treatment is performed on one part of the skin that is not clearly visible. If there are no reactions after a few days, it is safe to proceed IPL hair removal treatment of the other skin areas.
The treatment may not be completely painless (depending on your pain threshold)

Singapore IPL Professionals

There are many beauty professionals and aesthetic clinics in Singapore that offer IPL treatments. Please check our beauty professionals directory in the IPL hair removal section. If you want to have a look at what you can expect with an IPL treatment, you can have a look at the video on the right.

We would like to know your experience with IPL hair removal. Please let us know in the comments below.