Monday 4 April 2011

No Trace Faces – Botox Lite

No Trace Faces – Botox Lite
Line-free luminaries such as Demi Moore and Jennifer Aniston seem to defy every possible law of nature and gravity. Despite having faces that beautifully express every emotion, we rarely see a line, wrinkle or furrow appear on their face, even on those tell-all close-ups.
A new technique of wrinkle-relaxing injections, where Botox is administered in lower doses but more frequently, could quite possibly be their secret.
Dr Ram Nath of The Wellness Clinic says he often treats  women from all walks of life, with this new, softer technique that has been dubbed “Botox Lite”.
“Instead of injecting Botox in high doses to absolutely erase the lines and wrinkles every four to six months, we are now injecting lower doses every 8-10weeks,” he says.
“Wrinkle relaxing injections should not completely freeze the face. They should simply minimise the lines and wrinkles and still allow for some natural movement.”
Botox Lite offers the perfect solution for patients wanting a more natural appearance to a line-free face, rather than the frozen, immovable and expressionless faces we have seen on certain celebs in the past.
“Increasingly, we have patients asking us for a very natural result, where people think they simply look relaxed and refreshed, rather than looking like they have had a great deal of work done, or that they have no expression,” Dr Ram Nath says.
“By injecting lower doses more frequently, we are able to maintain full expression and movement of the face, together with a refreshed and more youthful look. We are experiencing tremendous success with this method of injecting.
“What it means is that the face maintains a relaxed and rejuvenated appearance consistently. In the past, we waited until the injections completely wore off before the next treatment, which meant that the patient’s lines began to reappear.
“While this new method does mean the inconvenience of more frequent clinic visits, it also means that patients don’t ever experience the reappearance of unwanted lines and wrinkles. We are able to consistently maintain a natural, youthful result.”
Another added bonus is that patients are able to choose to have some expression lines stay, which again offers a more natural result and give the appearance of ageing beautifully.
“For a woman in her late 50s to have absolutely no lines or creases on her face is just unrealistic,” he adds. “What we like to achieve is a look that will complement the age that they feel, but will also be true to their biological age. A hint of laughter lines around the eyes, for instance, keeps the results very realistic, but still beautifully refreshed.”
Expect to pay approximately from $450 to $650 per treatment, depending on the practitioner you visit and the areas you are having treated.
(Article published in Shape magazine, Singapore in October 2009)

Botox Works Wonders On Men Too!

Botox Works Wonders On Men Too!
by Dr Ram Nath - June 7, 2008
Beauty has always been considered a woman’s domain. However, it is not just women who are beauty-conscious; men are toeing the line and visiting parlors more than they ever did. Men of today are as eager to slap on a beauty mask as a woman. Facials, manicures, pedicures and even Botox are just some of the treatments that men subject themselves to, in their quest for eternal youth.
Men’s skin is also exposed to pollution and smoking, which is harmful to the epidermis and they need all these beauty treatments to look and feel good. A man needs to care about his clothes and grooming because it says a lot about him personally as well as making a huge difference in business. Men with pronounced lines between the brows are usually perceived as stressed or angry and nobody wants to look that way. Botox is fast becoming a man’s favorite treatment, which has been favored mostly by women until now.
Statistics show that about 250000 Botox procedures were performed on men alone in the United States last year, making it the leading cosmetic treatment for men; so much so that it has gained the nickname “Boytox.”
This growing interest for Botox in men has been said to be fuelled by the growing competition, among other things. Men want to look younger because once they reach a certain age; they begin to feel the pressure of the younger generation waiting to take their place.
Botox is a natural and purified protein that temporarily reduces contractions of the facial muscles that cause lines, by blocking nerve transmissions, leaving the skin unwrinkled. This creates a smooth and a more youthful appearance.
Botox treatment is a simple and nonsurgical procedure that requires no anesthesia. Serum is injected into the facial muscles using a tiny needle. It is used for forehead lines, crow’s feet around the eyes, frown lines, brow lift (when one eyebrow is lower than the other) as well as for jaw contouring. It is also used to control sweating of the palms, soles of the feet and armpits.
Contrary to what most people think, Botox does not freeze facial expressions, but it softens them. It only takes about 10 to 15 minutes for the treatment but the results will show only after about a week, and last for 4-9 months. Side effects are not long-term, with some minor bruising that disappears in a week’s time. Patients are asked to avoid aspirin, alcohol and anti-inflammatory medications at least a week before getting a Botox treatment done. A small percentage of people also report eyelid drooping but this can be avoided by taking care not to rub or lay on the injected areas for about four hours. Botox is affordable and costs the same as some facials.
Doctors say that men need higher doses than women, probably because they have greater muscle mass. It has also been observed that larger and stronger men need more units per treatment area than small-boned men.
Vanity wins and both men and women are more than willing to undergo the ant-bite stings, which is what doctors say it feels like when injecting the Botox serum. However, experts say that this treatment should be avoided by people with neurological disorders as well as women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The safest way to ensure if a person is a good candidate for Botox treatment is to consult a physician.
The best part about Botox is that the world has younger looking men and gone are the days when women looked young and beautiful and the men by their side looked at least a generation older.

Hope you enjoyed reading this article I had written a couple of years ago.
Here are some tips you should read before considering botox injections:
# Before you start using botox, you should consult with your doctor to make sure it is right for you.

# Before you are going to have the procedure, make sure to get as much information as you can. Ask friends that made the procedure, read online to find out about risks and benefits, and use the botox treatments forums to ask as many questions as you can.

# Go only to certified places that know what they are doing and have the right substance and materials.

# Make sure the doctor that performs the procedure is qualified in cosmetic skin treatment of the face.

# Cheap is expensive! Remember that when you have your botox treatment. You might pay cheap but then you might have to fix your face for more money. Just go to well known places with reputation and certifications.

Thursday 31 March 2011

Meet Dr Ram

MEET DR. RAM


I graduated with MBBS (United Kingdom) in 1996, and started my first aesthetic practice in 2001. It was a time when the aesthetic industry was still in its infancy in Singapore,  even  the term “aesthetics” was still unheard of in those days.

In the early days of my career, I built a solid foundation in aesthetics and cosmetic medicine by going through training and mentorship with learned and experienced practitioners in Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Korea and USA.

Over the past decade, I have gone on to treat thousands of patients and have performed a vast array of procedures to enhance and improve skin complexion, facial features, and body contours.

Degrees / Courses / Workshops Attended:

•MBBS (United Kingdom)
•Postgraduate Dip. in Practical Dermatology (United Kingdom)
•Board Certified Dip. in Aesthetic Medicine (American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine)
•International Certificate in Aesthetic Medicine (American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine)
•Certificate of Training, Asian Workshop Aesthetic Medicine
•Certified Laser Physician, Arcadia Laser Course
•Advanced Botox® Certification
•Certificate in Silhouette Thread lift
Certificate of Completion, Klein Tumescent Liposuction Course (USA)
Certificate of Training, 4th Breast & Facial Cosmetic Surgery Course (Korea)
•Certificate of Attendance, Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery
•Macrolane™ Breast Augmentation Workshop

Memberships:

•American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine
American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery
•Society of Aesthetic Medicine, Singapore
•Singapore Medical Association

My approach to aesthetic medicine

The culmination of my training and experience has been to form my own approach to each individual case, with my own signature treatment regimen for each patient. This is what I call the “3-D” approach to skin treatment, which means, I often combine two, if not, three procedures at one time.

Combining Procedures

Our skin is one of the most delicate structures in our body, yet it is the most vulnerable to the ravages of time and the environment around us. Everyone's skin has a  limit to the intensity of treatment it can tolerate. This threshold limit varies so much from person to person, that it is impossible, to know for sure where this limit lies with each individual.

If the approach to treatment was to use just one treatment modality to address a certain type of skin problem, the only option available would be to increase or decrease the intensity of the treatment to achieve the desired result.

Such a one-dimensional approach of using one treatment modality and increasing its intensity in an effort to achieve better results will test the limits of skin tolerance and can result in unpredictable and sometimes damaging results. High treatment settings can also lead to pain and discomfort during and after treatment, as well as prolong recovery time, making the whole experience unpleasant for the patient. 

3-D approach

In my 3-D approach to skin treatment, I often combine two, if not three procedures that are individually gentle and safe, but in combination, provides excellent results.

Each procedure is done at a safe and comfortable setting, and in quick succession. They target different layers and structures of the skin, thus treating the skin at all levels. This approach can lead to “1 plus 1 equals 3” effect, with minimal pain, minimal downtime, but crucially, maximum safety and excellent results.

The treatment procedures are complemented with dermatological products from our very own customised skin care range . We formulate and prescribe products of the highest quality, to provide optimal post-treatment skin recovery and ensure  continual improvement of the skin condition long after each treatment session.



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The Wellness Clinic, Singapore


ABOUT TWC



When Dr Ram Nath first opened his first aesthetic clinic in 2001, he only had a single member of staff. Today, TWC employs four skilled aestheticians and has an excellent range of leading anti-ageing technology and equipment. Offering a wide selection of safe, effective and practical rejuvenation therapies and aesthetic treatments, Dr Ram attributes his clinic’s success to the passion and extra-special care that each individual patient receives.

  
 Our Philosophy 

  
The philosophy at The Wellness Clinic is to provide each patient with safe, proven, high quality therapies that are individually tailored to meet their needs and aspirations. We aim to be innovative and to only use fully-tested, non-surgical rejuvenation and anti-aging treatments to achieve excellent results for each patient. TWC’s philosophy demands that we provide frank, honest and realistic assessment and advice in order to meet patient expectations and avoid unnecessary disappointment. Patient privacy, dignity and confidentiality are always respected. Each individual will always be welcome and valued as our patient and treated accordingly with courtesy and consideration.

Holistic Approach
We see health and beauty as one. We offer a range of aesthetic treatments to improve the quality of the skin. Some of the treatments using medical grade cosmetic pharmaceuticals are able to quickly and safely improve the skin’s vibrancy and tone. We offer advice on nutrition, general health, lifestyle and diet all of which can affect skin quality. We can also offer advice on a variety of medical matters. Since The Wellness Clinic is focused to provide anti-aging therapy as well as rejuvenation Dr Ram can assess the hormonal status of any patient and provide advice and treatment accordingly.

Team Approach
At The Wellness Clinic, we are fully aware that many patients need several different rejuvenation therapies and aesthetic treatments to achieve their goals. Thus we are able to offer a range of treatments performed by various members of our aesthetic team. Each patient receives personal attention at all times.

Training / Education
All the staff are fully trained to use our equipment and products and we are constantly updating our technical skills, as well as attending lectures and conferences to add to our knowledge. It is through continuous updating of our skills that we can confidently offer superior treatment outcome. We are very careful to evaluate new techniques and therapies before offering them to our patients.

Value
Our fees are competitive and we will always give a clear indication of the cost of any treatment. We are able to offer payment plans in some circumstances.



WHY CHOOSE TWC?

In coming to The Wellness Clinic you are part of an increasing number of women and men actively choosing to refine and improve their appearance. Aesthetic medicine is not about radically changing your looks. It is about looking the very best you can. Once regarded as treatments only for the rich and famous celebrities, treatments are now available to everyone who seeks them.


A few years ago most patients seeking aesthetic improvements were women, but men are now taking up treatments much more frequently. Once regarded as a vain indulgence, aesthetic enhancement is now commonplace for people who are concerned about maintaining or improving their looks and shape.

For women it may be the cellulite on their legs or the hard to shift fat pocket on the stomach and outer thighs or the shape of their arms. For men, the shape of the small double chin or the hair on their back or the deep lines on the forehead. Of course for women and men it may be as simple as getting some advice and care to improve skin tone and texture and to enrich the skin and make it glow with health and vitality.

At the The Wellness Clinic  we can offer a comprehensive range of safe and effective therapies. We do laser hair removal, muscle relaxing botulinum toxin injections, and various fillers, lip enhancing injections and facial volumising (Sculptra) enhancement. We have lasers and sclerotherapy to treat spider veins of the legs and face. We have advanced  body contouring. We also have specific lasers to improve skin tone and texture and to diminish facial blemishes and acne scars.

No matter what your needs are we will give you honest and ethical advice. We use products and procedures that are safe and effective. All the staff are fully and appropriately trained.

We promise to treat you with dignity, courtesy and consideration. We will be sensitive to your concerns and only recommend treatments that are right for you.





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