| The Beauty Business Boom By Susheela Menon |
It is a tad boring to point out how popular cosmetic treatments are getting in Asia, as all that has become stale news. It is not uncommon for the guy next door to come home looking like some stranger because of a nose job he had on a whim. It is not so shocking to see even teens wanting to change some part of their body to look good and, as they say, to raise their confidence levels.
How far has Singapore come in this world of nip and tuck? What are the latest technologies to hit the market and why are these better than the others? A look at Singapore’s most modern techniques…
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
The appeal that beauty carries has been stressed from the time of Helen of Troy and Cleopatra. Its subtle power lies embedded in most fairy tales – right from Cinderella to Snow White. However, never has the world
seen such an active interest in the physical form. Breast augmentation surgeries seem to be the most sought after amongst women and rhinoplasty (nose surgery) is the most popular amongst men. Asian women, in constant pursuit of Western forms, pay for double eyelid surgeries that supposedly make the eyes look bigger.
Teenage girls are seen getting into cosmetic enhancement clinics with their mothers and it is definitely no hush-hush thing to get a facelift today. |
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Aesthetic enhancements are the “in” thing now and it sure seems to be the survival of the cutest. Singapore seems to have sniffed out the biggest factors that attract local as well as foreign clients – modern equipment, proficient doctors, and stringent regulations.
The latest in Asia
Medical science is forever changing, and
changing for the better. Newer methods
that guarantee more efficacy are being
invented on a huge scale and any nation
that hopes to attract medical tourists simply
has to be proficient and technologically
adept at all times.
MEDICAL TRAVEL Singapore approached
Dr Andrew Khoo, Consultant Plastic
Surgeon, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Centre
(a member of the Pacific Healthcare group
of healthcare institutions in Singapore).
Dr Khoo explained the many new techniques in the field of invasive as well as non-invasive aesthetic enhancement .The most recent invasive therapy to hit the market is VASER Liposelection that betters liposuction by reducing any damages done to important tissues, nerves or blood vessels during the process; it also gives optimal recovery and efficient results. “Liposuction has been made more effective, particularly in the more difficult to treat areas like the buttock, thigh, chest and back by the advent of VASER liposelection,” says Dr Khoo. “This is a technique where ultrasound energy is used to dissolve the fat prior to liposuction allowing more efficient removal of fat with less discomfort to the patient.” Another novel way of invasive treatment is the use of ratcheted threads, which are threads with tiny hooks on them. “These allow us to achieve facelifts, brow lifts and neck lifts without resorting to extensive surgery,” says Dr Khoo.
As far as non-invasive treatments go, the Refirme ST is the newest way of facial rejuvenation whereas the Sciton Contour erbium laser provides a more efficient way of refining the skin. The Refirme ST machine mixes radiofrequency (RF) with infra-red light to cause tightening of the collagen layers of the treated areas. It can make facial lines shallower and tighten aged skin. The Sciton Contour erbium laser has been effective for pore refinement and correction of fine lines and surface irregularities. It isa very precise way of removing the outermost layers of the skin and has a computerized scanner to treat large areas of the skin accurately.
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Nevertheless, treatments that have mostly appealed to patients are those that are most effective and include the least downtime. “There is a saying that patients are always “im-patient” for results and recovery,” quips Dr Khoo.
Another of the most cutting edge noninvasive treatments to reach Southeast Asia is the Autologous Cellular Rejuvenation (ACR) therapy for treating dull or ageing skin. In other therapies, there is always a possibility that the body might reject any alien substance that is injected into it. However, ACR uses the patient’s own blood cells to rejuvenate the skin. Cells from the patient’s blood are taken to be stimulated and then re-injected into the face, mainly into areas that need attention. Some notice changes as early as a week after they undergo the therapy. The DRx clinic in Singapore is the only clinic in Asia to offer this treatment. DRx clinic also offers Rejuvenation Mask or R-mask that helps reduce pigmentation problems (freckles or age spots) brought about by age or sun damage. The mask is applied for a specific number of hours and results are seen in a week in most patients. The mask is available only through DRx.
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With the number of new techniques in the market that have been designed to give better results in lesser time, there seems to be an increase in the number of patients as well. Improved surgical techniques and a greater importance placed on one’s looks as well as greater affluence and disposable income have also contributed to the rise in demand.
But what about culturally conservative nations like India? Dr Khoo is of the opinion that the love of beauty and standards of beauty transcend all cultures. “For example, symmetry is almost universally accepted as an aspect of beauty,” he says. Patients seeking aesthetic treatments come from all races and cultures. “The people that I see mostly want to look their best for their particular age, skin and body type.” A large proportion of his patients are locals, and foreigners from Indonesia; there have been patients from India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, China and the UK as well.
Singapore – One of the Most Preferred Destinations
The system in Singapore ensures a certain standard of competence in its medical practitioners, nursing staff and facilities. Latest technologies are employed and the staff is trained in the use of such advanced techniques and therapies.
Dr Khoo is of the opinion that it is important for the government in Singapore to allow foreigners to travel to the nation for medical care with minimal restrictions. He maintains that though Singapore is considered one of the most reputed countries for healthcare 22 services, the city-state has to reinvent itself. “I would say that we are at the forefront in medical equipments, skill, and expertise, but this is a constantly changing situation and we must continue to work hard to maintain this edge,” he stresses.
The popularity of Singapore has brought many a talent to its shores. Its doctors are well in touch with the latest in the field because of the many gatherings held in the city and its research skills are efficient too. To attract foreign patients, it is important to look into their concerns of time and convenience. How can Singapore reassure them in these areas? Communication is a very important element of medical practice. Doctors in Singapore make sure that their patients know about how long they might be expected to stay after the therapy. If the proper information were given in a timely manner, most wouldn’t mind staying longer to achieve a good outcome.
Tying up with doctors from the nations that
the foreign patients come from almost
always proves more convenient and
medically better for the patients. Doctors
here do collaborate with local doctors
abroad. It is common for doctors to send patients home to their
respective countries after an
appropriate amount of time
and rely on a trusted doctor
in their home country to
remove their sutures or
follow them up. Sufficient
contact is maintained
between the doctors through
voice and video recordings.
Besides, medical
conferences help doctors be
in touch with each other and
this helps them assist each
other in the aftercare of
patients. Foreign doctors
sometimes send their patients to doctors
in Singapore and so it is a two way street.
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Singapore is a country that follows excellent ethics and norms, and the same attitude rules the aesthetic industry as well. The growing demand for aesthetic medicine pressed the Ministry of Health to form a Committee of Self-Regulation in Aesthetic Medicine so that any concerns regarding the quality of treatment can be addressed appropriately. Singapore also has the Society of Aesthetic Medicine that plans to hold the first medical conference here on the various breakthroughs and progress made in this sphere (The Straits Times, 8 November, 2006).
There is no dearth of talent, skill, modernity or standards in Singapore, which is why the nation is fast heading for the top spot in Asia as far as medical services are concerned. The Aesthetics industry is indeed one of the most sought-after these days, and Singapore has both medical expertise and lots of fun-filled days to offer to the medical tourists that flock to this country. The Lion City has indeed made its mark, and its reign over Asia is definitely going to grow stronger in the days to come. |
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