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More than Skin Deep

Media

More than a specialist who can only rejuvinate your looks, A dermatologist is an expert who can advise if the condition of your skin, hair, nail and mucous membrane is a symptom of something more serious.

A dermatologist is a doctor who undergoes at least three years of intensive specialist medical and surgical training in dermatology. The training focuses on the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes. In Singapore, a dermatologist must complete this training and pass the necessary examinations before he is accredited by the Specialist’s Board of the Singapore Medical Council.

In addition to diagnosing skin diseases by noting symptoms and performing physical checks, a dermatologist can also improve the look of your skin through cosmetic procedures. Besides common problems such as blemishes and wrinkles, redness, itching, pain, rashes and pustules are all signs that merit a trip to the skin clinic. It is important to understand that skin conditions are linked to processes in the body, and they can indicate or even become risk factors for other diseases.

EXILIS®: A Skin Tightening Procedure

As mentioned earlier, dermatologists are the specialists to see if you wish to have a youth boost. There are numerous noninvasive procedures that can be done in the dermatologist’s clinic. One of these is Exilis®, which uses radiofrequency (RF) to improve skin texture and laxity.

For at least the past decade, RF has been the definitive, noninvasive procedure for improving saggy, crepey skin and wrinkles. However, older RF technology has not offered patients a pleasant experience, with many of them complaining of intense pain associated with the procedure. And yet, despite their ordeal, their skin often showed only subtle improvements.

The good news is that there have been improvements to that old technology. Enter Exilis®, a novel device that delivers monopolar radiofrequency in an innovative manner. The older method of RF therapy involves ‘stamping’ the skin to deliver RF energy to the skin one square at a time.

Preparing for the procedure Ensure that the treatment area is free from inflammatory skin diseases. Hydrate your skin by drinking six to eight glasses of water the day before the procedure takes place — this will help to optimise the results. No anaesthesia is required.

For facial treatment, a layer of gel is applied on the face. Then, the treatment tip of the device glides over a specified treatment area for four to six minutes. For the body, mineral oil is applied on the treatment area. In the first part of the treatment, the tip is moved constantly over the area for about six minutes to target the fat. The skin over the fatty area is treated again to tighten it. This aims to reduce the circumferential measurement of the girth and improve the wrinkly or dimpling appearance of lax skin.

If the patient reports that an area is becoming too warm during treatment, the tip is moved away temporarily. Depending on the areas to be treated, the procedure may take between 20 and 40 minutes.

After the treatment, the skin appears mildly pink for about five to 10 minutes. The patient will be asked to cleanse the treated area. A sunscreen is applied before he leaves the clinic.

The effects

On the face, Exilis® can achieve tightening of the skin around the eyes and cheeks, and reduce the appearance of sagging skin at the sides of the jaw. The crepelike appearance of the skin on the cheeks may be reduced as skin density and dermal thickening improve.

Exilis® is also effective on the neck, tightening lax skin and improving fine lines.

Signs of skin laxity such as wrinkles and folds of excess skin can be improved by the skin-tightening effect of the procedure.

Like other non-surgical procedures, the beneficial effects of Exilis® therapy appear gradually and incrementally after repeated sessions — do not expect immediate or dramatic results.

Meet A Skin Specialist

A Ministry of Health (MOH)- accredited dermatologist, Dr Cheong Lai Leng runs her own practice, LL Cheong Skin & Laser Clinic, located in Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre and a stone’s throw from Orchard Road, Singapore’s iconic shopping belt.

She graduated in 1985 from the Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS). In 1990, she obtained her Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine) from NUS, gained Membership to the Royal College of Physicians (United Kingdom) and started her residency training in dermatology at the National Skin Centre, Singapore (she finished her residency in 1993).

She delved into her subspecialty of Dermatologic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, between 1994 and 1995. In 1996, the year she was accredited by the MOH, Dr Cheong was conferred fellowship of the Academy of Medicine (Dermatology), Singapore, and was made a Corresponding Fellow of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. She has held leadership posts in the Dermatological Society of Singapore, and is actively involved in efforts to uphold professional standards in dermatology.

In Dr Cheong’s more than a decade of practising dermatology, the majority of her time has been taken up by the surgical management

of dermatological conditions and the practice of cosmetic dermatology.

She has incorporated the use of chemical peels, injection of botulinum toxin and fillers in her clinical practice as part of her armamentarium for combined procedures in facial rejuvenation.

She has lectured at medical conferences and participated in public forums on topics in her area of professional interest, such as laser therapy, cold-steel surgery, cosmetic dermatology, skin resurfacing with carbon dioxide laser and CoolTouch 3® laser, and photorejuvenation of the skin.

Services Available

Dr Cheong’s practice, LL Cheong Skin & Laser Clinic, provides a full suite of services for a wide range of dermatological needs and requirements for patients of all ages.

Aesthetic Procedures

CoolTouch 3®
Exilis®
Fractional CO2 Laser
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Laser Tattoo and Birthmark Removal
Wrinkle Treatment

Medical Conditions

Acne/Acne Scar
Eczema
Hair Loss
Hyperpigmentation
Mole Removal
Scar Removal
Wart Removal

Specialised Services

Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser skin resurfacing
Management of general dermatological disorders
Medical and surgical treatment of skin cancers
Chemical peeling for facial rejuvenation, acne scars, wrinkles, pigmentary problems
Injection of fillers for scars and wrinkles
Laser vaporisation of skin growths

Laser treatment of pigmentary and vascular skin problems
Surgical treatment of scars — excision, subcision, carbon dioxide laser resurfacing
Non-ablative laser resurfacing (CoolTouch 3®) for scars and wrinkles
Radiofrequency tissue tightening
Intense pulsed light therapy
Hair removal

Skincare Products

Physicians’ Therapy is a comprehensive range of skincare products specially formulated for various skin types. It offers a complete skincare regimen that effectively cleanses yet remains gentle on the skin.

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