And now, the latest in anti-aging skin treatment
After 31 years of practicing dermatology, aesthetic surgery and genitology, I still find myself in need of skills to meet the diverse needs of my patients. This is because each patient requires a unique approach when dealing with their concerns, which include things they want to hear only when you are explaining to them, their various goals, their plans, their expectations which, most of the time, are unrealistic and, most importantly, would be the final outcome of whatever procedure they intend to undergo.
Of course, the last one is the ultimate and most significant of them all. In my conversations with patients, I recognize that their motivation to do an aesthetic procedure varies widely. Like there was this patient whose husband kept cheating on her so she wanted to improve on her looks in hopes of regaining his attention and finally putting an end to her husband’s indiscretion.
Another patient had been the butt of jokes even when she was still in high school because her face really needed a complete turnaround to improve her appearance.
Another one, a lady surgeon, had large breasts, giving her severe back pain after every operation she performed. Then I had a singer, an actress, a TV host and a lawyer, all pressured to constantly look good and felt they needed these physical enhancements to achieve their goals in life, while others just wanted to manage the changes they were currently experiencing as the effects of aging started to show up.
Others just want to improve their own self-perception as they often feel self-conscious about their physical appearance and so, they develop low self-esteem, which is why they will definitely opt to consider an aesthetic procedure. Others are influenced by compelling advertisements that are so convincing they can’t resist the temptation of wanting to try these procedures on themselves.
As I age, I find myself contemplating the aesthetic procedures I perform on my patients. I have always told myself I would not alter my appearance, fearing harsh judgments about the things I have done to my face. Some can be brutal in their comments and I would certainly be hurt if I hear comments like, “She is only beautiful because a lot of aesthetic procedures had been done on her face.” Or: “She was so ugly before but because of alterations to her face, she looks better now!” Or worst: “She’s already undergone a lot of aesthetic procedures, but she’s still ugly.”
As I continue to age, I have decided to seek advice on restoring my own features. I talked to a younger colleague but did not like the procedure he was suggesting plus, for me, it was too expensive, which would not even last long enough to justify my expenses.
Before, we only used volume restoration by filler injections to fight aging. Today, layering is the latest filler injection technique that addresses skin aging based on the anatomical changes that occur as one grows older.
Then an invitation for me to attend a lecture on filler injections came, which I joined. The lecturer was a foreigner, probably an Indian practicing in Singapore. I was one of the participants to arrive first, so when the lecturer asked for a volunteer for a live demonstration, I hesitated but ultimately agreed, drawn by the prospect of a free treatment with an expert. My decision was so sudden, but I proceeded with the procedure.
I was so nervous as I anticipated what I was about to go through. Since this was a demo, everything that the audience wanted to see would be done. I thought it was just a few injections, but it was more than what I anticipated.
Despite the doctor’s imposing build, his technique was surprisingly gentle, making the pain quite tolerable. He injected in different places, which I tolerated well but when he shifted to my left side, I started to feel more pain.
Pain is processed and experienced differently on the left and right sides of the body. To lessen pain from injectable facial treatments, doctors recommend placing the first injection on the left side of the face first, when possible, before injecting on the right side. The pain was intense on the left side of my face, probably because I was already anticipating it and also because I did not really prepare for this, like I’d prepare most of my patients on the protocol to minimize the pain.
I finished the multiple injections, though afraid my face would not look symmetrical. The procedure is called the glowing lift technique with multilayering. In my case, my motivation was to achieve a youthful, more radiant, healthy, attractive skin since I definitely needed it for my job.
Everyone who has aged will have slow, irreversible tissue alteration over time, resulting in skin quality, reduced skin elasticity, hydration and radiance (called intrinsic aging). This can be worsened by environmental UV exposure, smoking, pollution, lack of sleep, stress, nutrition, extremes of temperature (all of which increase ROS formation).
Before, we only used volume restoration by filler injections to fight aging. This is no longer the trend. Today, layering is the latest filler injection technique that addresses skin aging based on the anatomical changes that occur as one grows older. The glowing lift technique corrects the senescent changes of the skin in its three layers, using three different products to enhance patient satisfaction with a long-lasting improvement in skin quality, combining the natural volume of multilayering technique with Redensity 1 beauty booster.
First, the doctor injected the deepest layer of the skin with Teoxane ultra deep to promote the necessary support from the deep fat layer, which is the deepest layer where the fats are fixed but gradually disappear with time.
This was followed by injecting the second layer with Teoxane RHA 4, the dynamic superficial fat compartment, to provide soft and dynamic volume enhancement.
Lastly, the subcutaneous and/or subdermal plane was injected with Teoxane Redensity 1 to get plump, radiant skin, thus achieving skin brightening at the same time.
The doctor also injected a little bit on my temples, angle of the jaw, and on my hollow cheek area. It was a nerve-wracking experience, but it not only improved my own appearance but also deepened my understanding of the importance of patient education and preparation before and after any procedure. It taught me to be more mindful and thorough, reinforcing the significance of clear communication in my practice.
