Keolleo Glam x V Jet (anti wrinkles + shrinks muscles)

Ever since joining the late twenties club, I've been paying more attention to all things related to anti-aging so some time last month, I popped by Keolleo Glam for a lunch break beauty therapy!

Getting there:

Keolleo Glam is situated in Bugis Cube @ #02-08

Some services that Keolleo Glam provides include:

 V Jet, lashes, brows embroidery, nails, facial, nose lifting & anti-wrinkles treatments 💆

If you're looking for a hair makeover:

Keolleo Bar is also housed in the same building and focuses on hair services 💇

You will never miss Keolleo Glam as it's beautifully done up in pink 😻

There are also private rooms within the shop space for beauty treatments 👍

My beautician Venice led me into one of the rooms to get changed & started on V Jet!

What is V Jet?

V Jet is a specially designed nozzle that generates high pressure energy while spraying hyaluronic acid & collagen stimulating solution deep into the dermal layer. 

The high air pressure spray creates a jet bubble effect for a three-dimensional subcision.

This non-invasive & advanced delivery technique diffuses the solution uniformly into the target area without needles- it also covers up to 100 times the area of a single 32G needle's entry point while leaving virtually no signs on the skin’s outer layer.

After our consultation, Venice decided to treat the area around my eyes to prevent wrinkles, jaw area to relax my muscles and shoulder muscles to even it out!

We got started after some numbing cream and I gotta say I was kinda intimidated by the sound of the V jet but after the first 'shot' I was convinced I didn't even need the numbing cream 😂

Because there are no needles involved, there is absolutely none of that 'needle' pain. It just felt like someone flicked a finger on my face LOL.

This is my face right after the treatment and I swear it looks 100% worse than it really was because I have sensitive skin and I bruise/swell so much more/easier than the average human (unfortunately)...

BUT regardless of the redness, there really wasn't much pain (if any at all) both during and after the treatment- I'd say getting fillers DEFINITELY hurt way worse than V Jet.

Annnnd I was good as new in a couple of day's time 😂

If you're also into anti-aging treatments, Keolleo Glam is holding a promo (deets below) and y'can book an appointment here! 

#keolleobar #keolleoglam 

Review: Temple, lips & chin fillers at Halley Medical Aesthetics (Singapore)

Two years have flown by since my last fillers treatment so I paid Halley Medical Aesthetics a visit at the start of this month and if you're new to/keen on dermal fillers, this post's for you!

First impression

I was mightily impressed the moment I entered Halley because the place wasn't just incredibly spacious but also done up SO beautifully. All their staff were friendly and very accommodating when I showed up early for my appointment. 

There were plenty of comfortable spots to lounge about whilst waiting... Or to take some IG worthy shots lol. Check out my IG highlights for more stories!

Consultation

I learnt a lot during my consultation with Dr Mark Lim even though I've gotten fillers before so read on even if you've had fillers 'cause you just might pick up some new knowledge!

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are:

• medical products that sculpt the face for more definition or
• help to restore skin and facial contours to their former youthful appearance. 

Dermal fillers are made of various kinds of materials that have been developed for injection into the skin. 

 Types of fillers

Dermal fillers can be grouped into two types:

1. Hyaluronic Acid fillers:

• contain hyaluronic acid, an ingredient that is safe for most people
• hyaluronic acid is a natural compound found in our skin
• it is responsible for many functions in our body like hydration & lubrication of joints
• it also aids tissue repair and 
• stimulates the production of the connective tissue that plumps our skin (i.e. collagen)

2. Collagen-stimulating fillers

• use ingredients that stimulate our body’s own collagen for long-lasting effect
• AKA bio-stimulating fillers
• contain safe, synthetically produced compounds that when injected into the skin,
• volumises the area and stimulates the body’s fibroblasts to produce collagen
• this results in very natural, long-lasting volumisation.

The Juvederm Brand

Juvederm's fillers contain hyaluronic acid. 

Hyaluronic acid diminishes as we age, causing our skin to lose its moisture and elasticity, resulting in fine lines and wrinkles.

We went with the Juvederm brand and although I've heard of them, I never knew that it carries a range of fillers, which are differentiated based on the firmness and viscosity (thickness and stickiness) of the gel. 

Whether you need a firmer or softer filler would depend on:

• the area that requires treatment,
• the condition of your skin and 
• the desired result.

Doctors might even prescribe a firmer filler together with a softer one to fill up facial volume loss whilst delivering a natural result!

Areas of concern & recommended types of Juvederm fillers

I highlighted my areas of concern which are mainly my chin, lips & temples and Dr Mark prescribed:

• Juvederm Volux (chin) as Volux is a firmer filler capable of enhancing definition, 
• Juvederm Voluma (temples) as Voluma is known for its volumizing capability and
• Juvederm Volift (lips) as delicate areas require a softer filler to keep it supple while plumping them up.

Treatment: #1 Numbing 

After the very informative consultation, we moved from Dr Mark's office to the treatment room where Emily (one of Halley's therapists) removed my makeup before applying some numbing cream- it'll typically be left on for 15-20 minutes and you'll feel a cooling/tingling sensation as the cream works its magic!

I requested to have the cream on longer as I have a rather high tolerance for anaesthesia 💀

Treatment: #2 Marking

After Emily wiped off the numbing cream, Dr. Mark began marking my face and showed me the fillers that we were talking about previously and will be using in my treatment.

These Juvederm fillers contain lidocaine, an anaesthesic which minimises discomfort during treatment so after awhile I relaxed a bit and even wanted to ask Dr Mark if he has ever sneezed whilst holding a needling in his patient's face... But decided against it as I didn't wanna risk distracting him LOL.

I was slightly nervous at the start of our treatment because it hurt pretty badly during my last session two years ago (in a different clinic overseas) I swelled up and bruised almost immediately after that treatment and it didn't subside till almost a week later; I had to spend CNY looking like a bruised peach fml.

Treatment: #3 Icing

Whilst Dr Mark prepped the syringes, Emily iced my temples- we injected my temples first, followed by lips and chin respectively.

Treatment: #4 Temples

I wanted to get under-eye fillers initially but Dr Mark didn't think I need any and I trust the professionals so we went ahead with fillers for my temples- I've never even noticed my hollow temples until a doctor picked it out in 2018 when I first got fillers 😅 

Treatment: #5 Upper & lower lips

I have relatively thick lips naturally but my upper lips aren't as full as my lower lips so I wanted to both even them out and have even bigger lips; Dr Mark also touched up the middle of my Cupid's bow because we thought that's a good look so feel free to look in the mirror and voice your concerns/feedback as you go along!

Treatment: #6 Chin

Dr. Mark uses the "Magic Needle" which is not actually a needle but a micro-cannula to distribute fillers more evenly, and as it is blunt and extremely pliable, it slides under skin with minimal discomfort.

Tip for those who are nervous during your fillers treatment: close your eyes to avoid seeing the 'needle' LOL.

Before & After

How long do fillers last & how much do they cost?

Juvederm Voluma:

• Lasts up to 12 months
• $850/syringe 
• I used 2 syringes of Voluma (temples)

Juvederm Volux:

• Lasts up to 18 months
• $890/syringe
• I used 1 syringe of Volux (chin)

Juvederm Volift:

• Lasts up to 12 months
• $830/syringe
• I used 1 syringe of Volift (upper & lower lips)

*Prices listed are inclusive of GST 

**Duration listed are a rough gauge (it varies for each individual)

Can fillers be removed?

Should you not like the outcome of your fillers, they can always be removed by injecting an enzyme.

Aftercare/downtime?

There isn't usually any downtime or special aftercare for most people getting dermal fillers treatment aside from avoiding having someone punch you in the face LOL.

BUT

I am someone who bruises/swells easily so I found it slightly uncomfortable to chew solid food in the first 24h because moving my mouth felt somewhat sore.

This was taken days after my fillers treatment and I'm really happy with the results 😊

If you're keen on dermal fillers or ANYTHING beauty related, Halley is a one-stop since they offer everything regarding aesthetics from your face to body, even hair and basically the whole nine yards. Feel free to contact Halley for a consultation- more details down below!

About Halley Medical Aesthetics 魅丽医学美容诊所

At Halley Medical Aesthetics, everything they do is a labour of love. 

They help you uncover your beauty – both inside and out – with the use of medical aesthetic tools and techniques that are safe, medically-proven and effective. 

Their non and minimally invasive medical aesthetic treatments focus on face rejuvenation, face lifting and contouring, acne and acne scar treatment, and tattoo and hair removal.

Halley Medical Aesthetics also offers body treatments dedicated to weight management, fat reduction, body firming, and muscle toning through their sister clinic – Halley Body Slimming Clinic.

Halley Medical Aesthetics
277 Orchard Road #03-15
orchardgateway
Singapore 238858

Opening Hours
10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Contact
Tel: +65 6737 8233

For more information:
Website: www.halley.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/halleymedicalaesthetics
Instagram: www.instagram.com/halleymedicalaesthetics
YouTube: www.youtube.com/HalleySGMedicalAesthetics

Getting Braces @ Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic

So I've decided to resume blogging and today I'm going to write about the initial phase of my braces journey 😁

Back story

In September 2016 I pulled an infected molar (if you're wondering why, my filling dropped out and I procrastinated for far too long cause I was lazy to get it fixed LOL) and was supposed to get an implant and crowning done after that area has healed. 

When it was time for me to get my implant -which would cost a few thousand dollars- I decided to get braces instead! Although orthodontic braces cost more than getting implant and crowning, the results are better (i.e straight pearlies). 

It may be a blessing in disguise after all that I have an overcrowding issue because the plan now is to utilise orthodontic braces to move my teeth to cover the gap cause by the extraction of the above mentioned molar. 

My teeth never bugged me enough to get braces but the inner perfectionist knew that I'd do it one day. That day turned out to be 12 April 2017 when I woke up one day and decided that I'mma get my dental issues settled once and for all. 

How I decided on Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic

I texted a couple of friends who have had braces before and I decided on the same clinic my sister and friend Kacey went to. I didn't do much research about various clinics/orthodontists because I know my sis and Kacey did 😂

There are two orthodontists in Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic, namely Dr Cheng and Dr Wee. My sister went to Dr Cheng while Kacey and myself went to Dr Wee. I told the nurse I had no preference when it came to the orthodontists so I was assigned to Dr Wee cause he had the earliest available slot, which was on that very day itself when I called the clinic.

First visit to Alfred Cheng Orthodontic Clinic

I popped by the clinic for my first consultation with Dr Wee in the afternoon on the 12th of April. He took a look at my teeth and I told him about my situation (pulling a molar, needing an implant et cetera). We spent some time going through things like:

• price breakdown,
• types of orthodontic braces,
• an estimate of the duration of my treatment and
• extraction of teeth (if needed) 

Dr Wee will also address any queries you might have and ask you if you'd like some time to make a decision. 

In my case, I told him I didn't need time to consider so we went ahead with the X-Ray 'cause #YOLO. Nawh I kid, I just wanted to get everything over and done with ASAP so I wasted no time deciding.

After getting my X-Ray done, Dr Wee informed me that I have to get 4 teeth extracted but since I already extracted one last September, I'm left with 3 to pull out. If you need it, he can refer you to certain clinics to get your extraction done. 

I told Dr Wee that I'd settle the extraction at my own dental clinic and was instructed to call the orthodontic clinic to inform them about the date of my extraction once I've made an appointment with my dental clinic so that we can fix a date for the placement of my braces (you need around a week of recovery time after extracting your teeth before you can get your braces).

Cost Breakdown

*The prices quoted are all before 7% GST*

There are different types of braces- metal, ceramic, lingual braces and Invisalign. I decided on the traditional braces which costs about $4500- which is not inclusive of extraction. I paid $40/tooth at my dental clinic. 

The cost would be significantly higher if you need to have surgery done, say if you have to have wisdom teeth removed, or if the X-Ray shows that you have teeth that never erupted.

$4500 covers the X-Ray, mould of your pre-braces teeth, braces and retainers. I paid $400  for the X-Ray on my first visit and $1100 for the placement of my braces on the next visit to Alfred Cheng. The balance will be paid out in instalments of $100 during each of your next visit to the clinic when you go to have your braces tightened. 

Before photos: 

I know some guys dig the whole fangs/tiger teeth thingy but.. Not me LOL.

I apologise for the low quality photos- these are the best I can find 😅

The gap was where I extracted a molar last year 

After Braces:

I chose pink brackets because it matches the color of my lips and Kacey swears by that color 😂

You can see in the photo above that two of my lower teeth did not have brackets on them- just the wire and a clear plastic tube wrapped around it (I assume to lessen abrasion against my lips) because there wasn't enough space for Dr Wee to attach them.

1 Month In

Excuse the filter- I couldn't find the photo I took of my teeth right after the 1st tightening 😂

I returned for my 1st tightening session in less than a month because I broke my wire chewing LOL.

I requested for Dr Wee to change the clear plastic tube on my bottom row when I went to get my braces tightened cause it got stained from whatever I ate and turned a gross shade of yellow but he removed the tube and replaced it with a spring to push my teeth apart.

2 Months In

There's now space for one of the two teeth on my bottom row to have a bracket attached to it!

3 Months In

I went for my third tightening session on the 10th of July and there still isn't space for Dr Wee to attach a bracket on that one tooth in the lower row so I still have the spring on. Apparently my teeth is shifting pretty slowly because the overcrowding is kinda bad but Dr Wee mentioned that it's normal for it to be slow at the beginning so that's that!

Life With Braces

The initial days are the toughest cause there's SO MUCH metal in your mouth out of a sudden and you'd find it odd to eat/smile/talk/brush your teeth. Everyone's gonna be commenting on your new brace face and sometimes you feel like even strangers are staring at your braces when they aren't (cause they don't know that the braces are new) LOL. 

With that said, it does gets better. On days that I feel self conscious about it I just tell myself that it's all for the greater good 👍

Eating With Braces

At the start I couldn't chew for nuts- quite literally. I popped by llaollao right after getting braces and ordered a large llaollao with some sauce that had peanut bits in it and ended up having to spit it all out cause I couldn't chew on them 😓

So for the first few days after getting my braces on I stayed away from solid foods and tbh even until now that there are still things that I find are hard to chew, such as super chewy things like bubble tea pearls and noodles. Your orthodontist will also advise you to steer clear of hard foods lest you break the wires like I did in the first month 😂

I've heard that we are to stay away from chewing gum with braces but I went to JB and a friend got me to chew some gum LOL. I didn't break anything but I might have bent some wires so the best bet is to just stay away from chewing any in the first place- which is no challenge since that's banned in Singapore anyway. 

Last but not least, I personally do not stay away certain foods that are rumoured to stain your braces (curry for instance) because so far I do not have problems with it. Yet. And I hope it stays that way lol.

Cleaning Your Teeth With Braces 

I was instructed to brush my teeth after every meal on top of the usual twice a day before and after you get up and I did. 

For the first few days. 😅

Let's face it... No one really follows that rule cause it's just waaaaaay too much trouble. The most I'd do is it gargle my mouth with water (or mouth wash if I have access to any).

Next up, introducing the best friends for people with braces:

Dental Pro Card picks

Dental Pro Interdental brushes

Thank you Dental Pro for sending me these and a whole lotta other dental care items 😁

I slip a few card picks into my wallet and they go everywhere with me!

Konolone for mouth ulcers

I went to Penang shortly after getting braces and feasted nonstop over there until the braces cut my inner cheek so my friend swung by the pharmacy and got me this 👍

Dental wax

If at any point in time you feel any abrasion against your lips/inside of your cheeks, just break off a piece of wax and press it into the brackets- INSTANT RELIEF. 

**********************************

That's about all I can think of for now when it comes to getting orthodontic braces; do feel free to ask me anything if I missed something out! I'll be glad to be of help and I'll do another check in prolly around 3 months later 😁

Do check back for other entries in the mean time! 😬

Merry Christmas (and a happy new year)

So the year is drawing to a close and the year, once again, feels like it has flown by. 2016 has opened my eyes to new things. I feel older, but that's cause I AM older. There's been changes, and there's been good and bad in the year. I've met people who made my year better, I've lost one or two along the way, grown closer to some and drifted apart from some. For the first time I feel like I let life harden me, in the more unfeeling kinda manner. And what scares me a lil is the fact that I don't even think it's necessarily a bad thing.

Growing up, we all had this ideal picture painted in our heads about the world but unfortunately the truth cannot be further from that. The world ain't just black and white, neither is it made up of just good or bad people. It's not always just yes or no, or wrong or right. Sometimes things get complicated. But sometimes it's only complicated when you want it to be. Sometimes as an adult, life is about making a decision and living with it. No one can make you do the things you don't want to.

I've learnt that you only get to know people as much as they let you, and people can hurt you as much as you allow them to. That unfortunately, not everyone says what they mean and means what they say. I've learnt that sometimes it's the people you least expect to hurt you who hurt you most. I've learn that what people say about others says a lot about they themselves. Always remember that at the end of the day, all you got is yourself, because when it's 3 in the morning and you find yourself in pieces, you're the one who's going to have to peel yourself off the floor and find the strength to move on. I used to think that I could never lose anyone if I photographed them enough but in fact, my photos show me how much I've lost. I've learnt that you need to let people earn your trust instead of just handing it over to them. Don't waste time on people who wouldn't give you the time of day.

I've also learnt that people who have been with you in the past may not necessarily be there in your future, and as upsetting as that may be, that's okay. Because that's just how it is. Be thankful for even the passersby in your life. You win some, you lose some. But sometimes, just sometimes, don't burn bridges- leave that door open. Because you never know what can happen in a decade's time, even if nothing is happening now. A friend is better to have than a foe. I've learnt that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, that you just have to walk through it.

As cliche as it is, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And even if the scars may remain, time still heals all wounds. That when you're at rock bottom, the only way is up. Even when things seem most bleak, have faith. Tell yourself that everything is going to be alright, and try your damned best to believe it, even when it is hard. Love yourself and never lose sight of who you are. Make mistakes, but learn from them. Be nice, but don't let people trample all over you. Forgive, but never forget. Get comfortable, but don't take anything for granted. Always be nice first, because you can always be mean later. Metaphorically- never throw the first punch. If you have to throw the second, make sure they don't get up for a third. Don't be too quick to judge- just cause you were in someone else's chapter of their book doesn't mean you know the rest of their story. Don't be afraid to be different, don't expect people to understand everything. People change. Sometimes, a defining moment is all it takes to change someone. Always take a deep breath before you speak when you're upset, because words can only be forgiven, not forgotten. Words carry more power than you think, sometimes one word is enough to start or end something and everything. Be the bigger person, you don't always have to have the last word. Put your ego aside for things that matter. Nobody is going to be around forever. Sometimes, a moment lost is a moment that you will never be able to recreate. Life is too short for regrets, so live well, love harder and laugh loudest.

That said, I hope everyone who's reading this has had a good year. If you didn't it's cool too 'cause hey the year is almost over and here's to a better 2017. *raises wine glass*

Clean Slate.

Like what I did before on one occasion when I was 'moving' blogs, I have just removed ALL blog posts on this space on impulse. Well maybe not entirely on impulse. With retrospect, my content seem slightly cringe worthy (given the fact that the latest entry was a year old) like how we'd look at old photos and cringe so hard- or is that just me?

A few have mentioned that I should resume blogging but I am still undecided about it. Sometimes I feel that blogging is becoming passe. I wonder how I used to blog religiously every single day with dozens and dozens of photos. I am feeling the strain after just two paragraphs LOL #blogger'sblock but to give myself some credit, it is currently 0328 hours. I shall retire before I nod off in front of the screen. I totally jinxed myself when I made a passing remark on how I have been sleeping early lately. Ugh. 

I shall be back tomorrow with another entry. I hope. LOL.