Major plastic surgery is cold. Non-invasive, zero downtime treatments are hot. They’re safer, they’re painless and you can do them during your lunch break before heading back to work looking great. Or are they? Recent tabloid stories of aging stars leaving a certain clinic in Chidlom with droopy eyelids certainly put a damper on the Botox-craze. And with some of these treatments costing over B10,000 a pop, we’ve got to ask: do they really deliver results? To find out, BK sent out some very brave guinea pigs to test five of these much-hyped, high-tech treatments.
BOTOX
Pain factor: 2
Results: 3
The promise: Fewer wrinkles.
The guinea pig: Greg, 32, managing editor.
The weapon: Botox is Allergan’s brand name for Botulinum toxin. A teaspoon of the stuff could kill off 1.2 billion people claims Wikipedia, making it the most toxic substance known to man. Dermatologist Rassapoom Sumaetheiwit, M.D., prefers to call it a protein. “It blocks the nerves controlling your muscles,” he ponits out as he crumples a piece of paper in his hand. “When your facial muscles contract, this happens. Botox stops that.” As opposed to surgery, the treatment is fast and there’s no downtime.
The dangers: “Statistics say droopy eyelids occur in about 2% of cases,” admits Dr. Rassapoom. “Personally, I’ve never had a problem and I can say Samitivej Hospital has never had any incidents. It’s all about technique. In any case, a droopy eyelid will disappear within two months, it’s not permanent. Botox has been used for 40 years. It’s safe; as within three days it’s flushed out of your system, not like collagen.”
The target: Most commonly, people in their 40s and 50s who want fewer wrinkles around the eyes and forehead. But new Botox techniques allow doctors to perform a kind of facelift by paralyzing downward pulling muscles and leaving the others to naturally lift your entire face. Botox can also reduce cheek size and open up eyes (particularly Asian eyes). Dr. Rassapoom admits using botox on patients as young as 17 as a non-invasive alternative to surgery.
The treatment: Hope you’re not afraid of needles. Dr. Rassapoom decided a little crow’s feet treatment was best for me, but most people get that, and the frown lines (between your eyebrows) and the forehead done. Each side of my eye was injected about six times (ouch!) and the whole thing took about 15 minutes. A whole face lift could take up to 50 minutes.
The result: After a couple days, the Botox really kicks in. When I smile, nothing really moves on the sides of my eyes. It does mean smooth skin and fewer wrinkles but also looks a bit creepy (see right). There is no numbness or tingling sensation whatsoever though and I can still squint. I have to admit, I’d like to try it on my forehead now.
Essentials: B5,000 would cover a small area, so you’d have to count B15,000 for crow’s feet, frown lines and forehead. The effects last 4-6 months. Think of it a subscription. For lifting or facial remodeling, you’re going to have to get a quote. Dr. Rassapoom is based at Samitivej Hospital, every Wed, 8am-3pm.
Samitivej Hospital, 133 Sukhumvit Soi 49, 02-711-8000. www.samitivejhospital.com
THERMAGE MINI (T-MAX)
Pain factor: 2
Results: 2
The promise: A firmer face and brighter, smoother skin.
The guinea pig: Duke, 31, general manager/creative director.
The weapon: Thermage uses radio frequencies (RF) to heat the innermost layers of your skin, allegedly stimulating muscles and collagen growth. For better results, we were advised to combine this with a Diamond Treatment (Microdermabrasion), which gently blasts the dead outer layer of your skin to create cleaner pores and brighter, smoother skin.
The dangers: Since Thermage heats deep skin tissues, there is a small risk of suffering from burns, creating blisters and/or redness.
The target: Usually those who are 35 plus. It mostly improves the texture of the skin so it’s good for wilted, leathery skin.
The treatment: I kicked things off with the Diamond treatment, a nice 15-minute scrub which was followed by a very relaxing aloe vera mask for 10 minutes. Finally, I got to the T-Max, the actual Thermage treatment. They put an ice-cold gel on my face and then started applying a metal rod charged with electricity. You do feel little shocks wherever the gel is applied too thinly, or where your skin is a little thinner, like around the chin—and it can get a bit hot. It’s no real problem though, just tell the therapist and she applies more cold gel. Finally, I got a face mask. For normal to dry skin like mine, they use a whitening mask for 10-15 minutes. The whole process is a bit lengthy to squeeze in to a normal lunch hour though, taking around 2.5 hours.
The result: I do feel my face is clean, clear, brighter and the skin more supple. At this price, I expected better instant results, but I can see a major difference between the before and after shots. APEX’s response was that a single treatment is not enough to get really dramatic results.
Essentials: B12,000 for a single treatment or B50,000 for a course of five sessions.
Apex Profound Beauty, 11 Sukhumvit Soi 39, 02-662-6018/-9. Open daily 9am-9pm. www.apexprofoundbeauty.com/th, other branches at Siam Center, Central City Bangna, CentralWorld and The Emporium
INTENSE PL
Pain factor: 1
Results: 1
The promise: Fewer wrinkles, and lighter, clearer skin.
The guinea pig: Nick, 36, associate editor.
The weapon: No drug but super high-tech lasers and a machine that looks like a cross between a vacuum cleaner and R2D2. There are three different types of treatment which use different strength lasers. Depending on the laser used, IPL can stimulate the growth of collagen, remove blemishes or break down unsightly veins without the need for knives or needles. There’s also no real after care which means that you can get zapped in your lunch hour and head straight back to work.
The dangers: It’s relatively safe but people with sensitive skin can suffer from excess redness or even peeling skin after treatment. Dermatologist, Dr Ausaneya Urupongsa, of the A-Risa Clinic warns me “People with dark skin, especially Thais should make sure they pick a well qualified doctor as there is a 10% chance that blistering or burns can occur. It will fade eventually, but it can take a couple of weeks.” For once I am grateful for my pasty farang complexion.
The target: It’s great for people suffering with unsightly veins or blemishes. However, the fact it can help lighten your skin and remove freckles without the need for surgery also make it popular with those seeking flawless, lighter features. One look at my wrinkles and the doctor decides I need the laser that stimulates collagen and helps tighten skin.
The treatment: It’s simple, I hop into the reclining chair, don a pair of protective goggles and a lovely hair net and lie back. Because the laser generates plenty of heat my face is first coated in a thick layer of cooling gel (which feels pretty gross). The doctor then methodically zaps every inch of my face with the laser gun. It’s actually pretty painless, like a light pinch, but I still can’t help flinching like a big girl every time the laser is applied thanks to the disconcerting flash of red light. Most parts of my face only receive one blast but Dr Ausaneya gives specific darker areas on my cheeks a double dose. Before I know it, their scraping the gel off my face and ushering me out the door.
The result: It’s certainly pretty painless, has no real side effects and only takes 15 minutes but, to be honest, for the price of the treatment I did expect more of a wow factor. No one stopped me in the street to comment on my radiant skin and no one at work could spot any major difference. As you can see from the photos after 24 hours any positive effects had faded away.
Essentials: B4,200 for a single treatment or B21,000 for a course of five sessions. You should notice an effect within 24 hours and Dr Ausaneya says that if you use sunscreen and stay out of direct sunlight then it can last up to 4 months.
A-Risa Clinic, 29 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-258-6736/-7.
Open daily 10am-7pm. www.a-risaclinic.com
JET PEEL
Pain factor: 1
Results: 2
The promise: Glowing, rejuvenated skin.
The guinea pig: Pim, 42, business development director
The weapon: This treatment blasts oxygenated salt water at your skin, cleaning it, massaging it and, allegedly, oxygenating it. The saline water is accelerated to supersonic speeds for that extra kick. It’s also able to remove layers of dead cells and help stimulate the growth of new collagen.
The dangers: No chemicals, no heat—so, not much. But some people can suffer from redness as a result of the high pressure and the saline.
The target: It claims that it can treat acne, unclog pores and stimulate tired skin so just about anyone can see the benefits.
The treatment: Dr. Sukamas zSuwanwalaikorn keeps repeating it’s painless and thankfully it’s true. After cleaning and applying a milky cream to the face, she gently pushes four big cotton pads into my nostrils and ears. Seems more like the preparation to cremate a body than a beauty treatment. With the supersonic high speed salt water spraying all over my face, it starts to go numb and then number. I feel at peace on my face but not in my ears thanks to the noisy machine. After 15 minutes of saline spraying, she applies Vitamin C and a collagen spray and then blows fresh air to dry my face. The treatment lasts roughly half an hour and the only discomfort was the noise. Good job the cotton buds double up as ear plugs. Before leaving eye cream, moisturizing cream and sun block are applied as the final part of the process. They also get a plus for the nice massage afterwards.
The result: My face first turned to a glowing pink. Apparently some can even turn a brighter red, if your skin is particularly sensitive. But after half an hour of this tint, my face was back to normal. The results are pretty much immediate and impressive: glowing skin and a smoother face.
Essentials: B1,500 for one time treatment. Dr. Sukamas is on duty every Mon, Wed and Fri, 9am-5pm, at PAI Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Center.
PAI Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Center, 2/F, Bangkok Mediplex Bldg., 2/70 Sukhumvit Soi 42, 02-712-1111, 08-1890-4499. Open Mon-Sat 9am-6pm. www.pailaser.com.
CRYOSTEM CELL
Pain factor: 1
Results: 2
The promise: Less wrinkles and scars and a more youthful look
The guinea pig: Fun, 42, business director
The weapon: Originating from that haven of natural beauty, the Alps, this treatment sounds more Frankenstein horror story than age defying treatment. Stem cells are extracted from pregnant cows in a super high tech dungeon (sorry) laboratory. These new cells are then massaged into the patients face to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, causing higher moisture reserves and greater firmness. The treatment claims to help restore the skin naturally.
The dangers: As there is no laser, needles or poisonous lotions being used, the side effects are almost nonexistent. It’s just a gentle facial massage using a few drops of the stem cell serum.
The target: People aged 25 and above. Dr. Saichalee Thaploga explains that natural growth hormones, which stimulate cell reproduction, will automatically begin to decrease when a person reaches 25.
The treatment: The first step is a 20-minute consultation with Dr. Saichalee who discusses my skin type and what the treatment can do. If nothing else it calms my previous fears that it’s going to really hurt. For those who have normal to dry skin, including me, Dr. Saichalee recommends the CryoStem Cell Therapy-H and the CryoStem Cell Therapy-F for those with oily and mixed skin. Next a professional therapist comes in to clean up and scrub my face ready for the serum containing the stem cells. This involves placing a few drops of the serum on my face and then spending 15 minutes massaging it in. The only thing I feel is a bit heat, but I am happy to ignore that if I am adding strength to my inner cells! After the massage, I am told to lie back and relax for ten minutes while the serum is absorbed. In total, I am in and out in about one hour.
The result: I feel an improvement in the softness and smoothness almost instantly and my lovely glowing complexion lasts until I head to bed. Disappointingly, when I get up the next day it’s the same old face looking back at me. The doctor suggests doing this weekly or bi-monthly but it’s not exactly cheap.
Essentials: B6,500 for the one time treatment. And there’s no discount for the package, ten-times cost B65,000. Dr.Saichalee is available every Tue 9am-noon, Thu 1-5pm, at TRIA.
TRIA Integrative Wellness, 998 Rimkhlongsamsen Rd., Bangkapi,
02-660-2660. Open daily 8am-6pm. www.triaintegrativewellness.com
6 Tips for Eternal Youth
Want to avoid being lazered, injected or cut? The trick is to rein
in those “free radicals,” the nasty molecules responsible for visible signs of aging.
1. Eat less sugar and starch, which kick-start the metabolism, aging your cells. Instead, focus on protein, fruits and vegetables.
2. Exercise, but not too much. More than 3-5 times a week for 30-45 minutes can speed up your metabolism.
3. Slap on the sunscreen. “The best way to prevent aging is to apply sunscreen every day, every three hours,” says dermatologist Dr. Taweeratana Butsuntorn. She recommends sunblocks of at least 15 SPF, but normally finds 30-40 SPF the most effective.
4. Cut out all alcohol and tobacco from your life. Seriously—we never said this was easy.
5. Sleep 6-8 hours a night. You need at least 4 hours of deep sleep, so try to go to bed around 10pm!
6. Say no to heavy metal, which also tends to rouse nasty free radicals to dirty deeds. No, not the music; it’s the old-style fillings and braces that anti-aging specialist Dr. Patsri Pongsatit is talking about. “The body should be in contact with as little metal as possible,” she says, adding that studies have shown long-term exposure to metals leads to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer.
BK Asks: Would you rather look like you’re 20 all your life or get B20 million?
Pornpong Wongwatpong, 21, student
Absolutely B20 million. Why would I need to look like 20 forever anyway? What if one day I become an entrepreneur and no one respected me because I looked so much younger than them?
Orathai Techatunyakul, 32, sales associate
I’d choose to be 20 years old. There are lots of opportunities for me to make money, but there’s little chance that I can stop myself getting older.
Chatmani Panan, 23, sales assistant
I totally choose to look young forever because I get really pissed when people say I look old. I feel the happiness of being admired is much better than the happiness of being rich.
Watcharin Somcharoen, 26, business owner
I would rather be 20 years old forever because then I could have loads of time to make as much money. Also I don’t want to die!
