Not only does Botox help reduce the formation of wrinkles, it can also help make you feel happier. This is the conclusion of an independant study of the American Organisation of Psychological Science.

As Botox prevents you from frowning the brain receives less messages to frown, which can cause a sense of unhappiness. Less frowning therefore means fewer feelings of unhappyness according to the researchers.

Make sure though not to use too much botox around the mouth as that would have the opposite effect. It would prevent you from laughing which would make you feel happier!

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This is an article by Dr Isabelle Yeoh on Sculptra; a new filler that can enhance hollow cheeks and can give you a fresh, natural look.

As we get older we tend to lose fat in our face. This causes a sunken and sometimes depressed look. A new filler called Sculptra can help with this problem. It helps to restore lost facial volume and will give your face a natural facelift.

What is Sculptra exactly?

It is a cosmetic injectable filler made of poly-L-Lactic acid, a form of Alphahydroxy acid, that is capable of stimulating the body’s own collagen production. Hollow cheeks will become fuller, and wrinkles and lines on the face are smoothed out. It is an FDA approved product that will result in a more youthful and lifted appearance. It is most commonly used to:

• Naturally volumize hollow or flattened cheeks
• Better define the jawline
• Fill hollow temples
• Firm up the “depressed” chin
• Soften nasolabial and marionette folds
• Achieve a natural facelift

How is Sculptra different from other fillers?

There are 2 major differences: Sculptra will stimulate YOUR OWN facial collagen production and therefore will increase dermal thickness and firm up your skin naturally and it lasts longer than conventional cosmetic fillers (up to 2 years).

Who can use Sculptra?

Sculptra is suitable for everyone that wants to enhance their facial features through adding volume or smoothing out wrinkles. Those who are pregnant or have any kind of bleeding disorder or who are taking blood thinning drugs should avoid the treatment.

What are the side effects like?

Some immediate side effects may include bruising, skin redness and swelling which disappear within 2 to 6 days. Medium to long term side effects include small lumps. These tend to resolve spontaneously with minimal intervention. They tend not to occur if proper dilution and injection techniques are observed. Most patients are able to resume normal activities within 24-48 hours. The immediate volume effect is related to the volume of water injected and this disappears within 72 hours.

What kind of results can you expect after a Sculptra treatment?

There is a natural increase in dermal skin thickness which begins to take place over the first 4 weeks after injection. This continues to increase over the next 6 months and persists for up to 2 years. It takes 2-3 months after the last treatment to see the full results, as it works by building your own collagen.

Is it painful and how many treatments do I need to get desired results?

Most patients find the discomfort very tolerable and better than expected. The number of treatments required is dependent on your specific needs but 2-4 is the average number of treatments required for optimal results. Results last for up to 2 years. In general most patients have a positive experience with high satisfaction rates, as they see a natural improvement in their looks that lasts for a long time.

If you want to find out more about Sculptra please view IYAC’s profile or visit the  IYAC Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Clinic website .

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As we grow older, ugly lines and shadows appear on our face and the nasal folds and dark shadows below the mouth (causing you to look depressed) may be the ugliest of them all.

Once these lines and shadows appear, no cream will help and unfortunately the only solution is to use a cosmetic procedure. I decided to give it a try and opted for restylane injections below the nose and around the mouth area. Here is my report of the procedure and my experience.

Choosing an aesthetic doctor

I opted for trusted local aesthetic doctor Isabelle Yeoh from Isabelle Yeoh Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Clinic in singapore.

Dr Isabelle Yeoh is one of my favourite aesthetic doctors in Singapore as her approach is friendly and the attention to detail in the clinic is superb. Rather than a clinic this place looks friendly and welcoming. Expect lots of magazines to entertain you in case you need to wait a little, a cup of tea, informational books and television. She also follows up on each procedure but more on that later.

Before the appointment

It is recommended to have a meal at least 2 hours before the procedure. If you have the injections on a empty stomach it can lead to dizziness and you may start to feel a bit flustered.

Preparation

The appointment starts with a consultation by Dr Yeoh to establish what needs to be done, and which product is most suitable for the particular problem area. Restylane was chosen as my folds are quite pronounced. She will then proceed to take some pictures, so you can compare them to the after pictures and see the difference. Of course these pictures are only for your private use only!

Numbing

After that some numbing cream is applied to numb the injection area. Applying takes about 5 minutes and about 30 minutes to settle. You will also be presented by a form that clearly states the benefits and risks of the procudure. Although all products used by Dr Yeoh are FDA approved, it is still a medical produre that comes with risks. This is why it is so important to choose a qualified and experienced doctor.

Injection of Restylane

After the numbing cream has taken effect you will be taken to the treatment room. In my case I also got some additional anaesthetic into my upper mouth. First some numbing cream is applied and when that has taken effect (after only a few minutes) I received 2 injections. All almost completely painless.

Your doctor will then proceed with the injections. Although the injections are almost completely painless it is never a fun thought to have needles inserted into your face. It helps to breathe deeply and completely relax. The procedure only takes a few minutes.

After the procedure

After the restylane has been injected you can see the results right away. In my case there were hardly any marks or bruising but this is a possibility. In order to prevent any bruising you are given 2  tablets every hour which you put under your tongue. Directly after the procedure you will also have eletrive waves light treatment which further settles the skin.

Then some special cream is applied and you are ready to go. Although you can apply makeup and concealer this was not necessary in my case and you are out of the office within 10 minutes of the procedure.

After care

You will continue to use your 2 tablets for a few hours more and apply anti-bruising cream. Any irritation that you may have will dissolve within 1-4 days. I had some mild irritation which was gone within a week.

The results

Results with injectable fillers are instant and you can see improvement straight away. In my case the folds are a lot less profound, I have more face volume and the dark shadows at the mouth have lessened.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an effective way to remove ar decrease facials folds and shadows, then cosmetic injectable fillers are a good non-invasive solution. It is a quick procedure that is practically painless and leaves no physical marks. The procedure at IYAC costs $1000 and will last for 6-12 months.

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Anti-aging and skincare treatments are always evolving and new treatments have been added this year that could really make a difference. Let’s have a look at the best advances in anti-aging and skincare in 2009.

Dysport

Dysport is an alternative to Botox and was FDA approved for the US market in April. Dysport is similar to Botox in that it breaks down the protein that causes muscles to contract and form lines. There are also some diffeences, however:

• You can see results within 48 hours (instead of the 3 to 7 sevens it usaully takes for Botox to take effect)
• It also seems that results last longer. 6 months as opposed to Botox which lasts about 4 months
• Overall, therefore, Dysport is a cheaper alternative to Botox

Latisse

Latisse is another product that got approved this year. It is an eyelash-thickening treatment which contains prostaglandins, and is only available on prescription. Eyelashes can become longer, thicker and darker after treatment.

Latisse comes in the form of drops and applicator which you apply along the line where the lashes meet the eyelid. It will take up to 4 months before you can see the full results. It is currently available in Singapore at IYAC.

Sculptra

Another new product is Sculptra which is a facial injectable that is used to fill out hollow cheeks or for approving the appearance of nasolabial folds (those ugly lines just between the nose and mouth that become ever more prominent while aging) for a more youthful appearance.

What’s good about it:

• The big advantage of this product is that the results last a lot longer than competing fillers like Restylane and can last up to 25 months.
• This product acutally halps replace lost collagen which provides the foundation to gradually restore the fullness of deep facial wrinkles and folds.

Be careful though as Sculptra may cause some small bumps under the skin for some patients. As this is a new product you will also need to make sure that you get a trained and experienced doctor who has received training in the use of Sculptra.

To find out more about Sculptra please read this article by Dr Yeoh.

What do you think? Are you keen to try out any of these new treatments?

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Botox is becoming increasingly popular and now many people in Singapore are getting their Botox shots at private parties. But is this a wise thing to do? Not according to The Health Ministry who says that only registered medical professionals can prescribe Botox. So why are singaporean women going to these parties and what are the risks?

Read the full original article

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Botox is one of the most popular beauty treatments these days. In this article I will discuss what botox is and how it can help you look younger.

What is Botox?

Botox is a trade name for the neurotoxic protein called botulinum toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is actually a toxic that is used in very small doses to treat muscle spasms. Currently, botox is now commonly used in various  cosmetic procedures. In this article we will concentrate on the use of Botox for cosmetic purposes.

As a cosmetic procedure Botox is used to:

• Reduce ugly frown lines
• Soften or prevent wrinkles around the eye
• Decrease facial creases

How does Botox work?

The procedure works by injecting a small amount of diluted botox that weakens the contraction of muscles. It will start to work after 3 to 4 days after the injection and you will notice that you can no longer move certain muscles in your face or have weakened muscle use.

The longivity of the effect of the injection depends on the indivdual but it is always of limited duration, and can be as short a period as six weeks. Usually though there is an effective period of between 3 and 8 months.

How is Botox administered?

Botox is a relatively simple procedure that does not require anesthesia. Your physician will usually mark your face on the places the injections should be inserted. You may be given some numbing cream to soften the needle impact. The protein is then injected into the muscle using a fine needle in order to minimize discomfort and maximize accuracy.

Possible side effects

Botox is a relatively and easy and painless procedure and if administered correctly there should be minimal side effects. However, the following could occur:

• Paralysis of the wrong muscle group and allergic reaction.
• Bruising at the site of injection is a side effect not of the toxin
• Drooping eyelid, uneven smile, or loss of the ability to close eyes. This will wear off in around 6 weeks.
• When injecting the masseter muscle of the jaw, loss of muscle function will result in a loss or reduction of power to chew solid foods.
• Headache
• Nausea
• Flu-like symdrones
• Allergic reactions

Who should use it?

Botox can be used by anyone who wants to prevent wrinkles from forming on their face. As wrinkles start to show in your thirties, many women will start the procedure then.

Botox clinics in Singapore

Isabelle Yeoh Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Clinic

Find more local Botox clinics in Singapore

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