The Best Of Me With CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics | Medik8 Beta Facial

My skin was in desperate need for a facial so I opted to treat my skin to a Medik8 facial at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics last Friday.

I met Jessica, the beautician which was to take care of my skin for the next 45 minutes and after asking me about any skin concerns I might have, I was invited to the couch so she can begin my treatment. I was provided with two plush towels to cover myself with and Medik8 poreCleanse Gel™ was first applied to my skin so that my skin could subsequently be thoroughly analyzed. The poreCleanse Gel cleanses the skin while providing anti-ageing benefits, with both AHA and BHA acids. It contains L-Mandelic Acid, which has been shown to offer similar exfoliation properties to glycolic acid, but without the same level of stinging. In fact, my skin proved quite tolerant to this cleanser as I didn't experience any burning sensations. Furthermore, the cleanser prepares the skin for subsequent product through deeply cleaning the pores.

The CHIC facial treatment room

Following this, JessicaMedik8 Beta Facial. Here is the description of the chosen facial from the CHIC website:
recommended the

Recommended for oily, congested and acneic skin types

Intensive anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment utilizing the benefits of the earth’s natural purifying and healing matter – Kaolin and Bentonite as well as a fine ground natural bamboo scrub. This treatment is designed to normalize oil production, alleviate inflammation and reduce irritation whilst improving the skins hydration, texture and tone.

Next, the Medik8 Bamboo Micro Polish face scrub was applied to reveal a brighter complexion, followed by a toner to prepare the skin for blackhead extraction. I was relieved that the procedure was not painful bar from the areas near to my nose. I also had a few whiteheads which were carefully and painlessly removed by a very fine needle.

Subsequently, it was time for the Medik8 clayMask™ to be applied to my now squeaky clean face. The Medik8 clayMask™ is rich in natural clays to draw out impurities and to absorb excess oil, and help prevent pore clogging. It is also enriched with Allantoin and Vitamin E which are known to aid in soothing the skin. The mask was left on my face for a few minutes and when the time was up, the mask was removed with lukewarm water and a pleasant facial and shoulder massage ensued. Lastly, the Medik8 Hydr8 Post-Treatment™ was applied to finish off my facial experience.

One thing which CHIC do differently is that the beautician even asks to take care of your eyebrows and upper lip if need be. I skipped both treatments as I had already had my brows thread and I treat my upper lip with laser hair removal (also at CHIC).

Medik8 products used for the various facials offered at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics

Before I left the premises, I was given a few product samples to try out as well so I shall be sure to let you know how that goes. 

I waited for a few days to publish this review just to see how my skin would react to the treatment and the products used. Well, I was happy to say this was another positive experience at CHIC as I didn't have any reactions and my skin looks really glowing. Also, I had a minor breakout which seems to be in check now and the redness around the pimples has subsided.

Apart from the Medik8 Beta Facial, CHIC offers various other Medik8 facials tailored to address different skin types and concerns. Also, with every treatment booked at CHIC, you always get 1 hour free parking at the airport car park. 

Do pay CHIC a visit and experience yourself a pampering and caring facial to reveal your best skin yet!

All opinions and experiences are my own and are in no way influenced by CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics. 

The Best Of Me with CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics | Spider Veins Laser Treatment {Review & Second Treatment Session}

To catch up where we left in my journey to have a spider vein removed at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics, yesterday was time for my review appointment following my first treatment session. 

I have been monitoring the treated area and taking pictures every week to document to whole healing process and be able to share it with you, but you know, a professional doctor's word gives you more peace of mind. Needless to say I was curious to see what Dr. Bonello had to say about how the vein healed during the past six weeks and what she would suggest next.

Fast forward to 11 o'clock and I was in the treatment room learning that many areas of the vein were completely gone and I probably only required another treatment session, which of course we did. Just to give you an idea of how effective the treatment was, during the first treatment session, 79 laser pulses were needed while for this second treatment session, only 28 were needed; That's less than half the pulses needed the first time!  

Here is how the vein looked over the past six weeks following the first treatment:

Of course, immediately after treatment, swelling was visible and certain parts of the vein were a little darker on the day following the first treatment. After a week, the darker parts were almost gone and by the second and third week, the vein was only slightly visible. For the last two weeks, the vein continued to fade away but of course parts of it were still visible and required further treatment.

Following yesterday's treatment session, this is how the vein looked immediately after treatment:

I will be going in for another review session in 6 weeks' time so be sure to stay tuned for a follow up post!

All opinions and experiences are my own and are in no way influenced by CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics.

The Best of Me with CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics | Spider Veins Laser Treatment {First Treatment Session}

Following my spider vein treatment consultation at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics, it was time for the first actual treatment session, which I went in for, last Thursday.

Needless to say, I was very excited to see how the procedure will turn out and of course really anxious to see the results. Dr. Bonello asked me if I had any problems with the test patch before she began treating the area and when all was clear, we proceeded with the full, first treatment. 

It is similar to laser hair removal, with a different wavelength, a specialised hand-piece and laser parameters, and a bigger eye for detail. I was told that doctors receive specialised training for the laser treatment of veins and pigmentation. I'm not going to lie and say it wasn't at all painful but for me, it was bearable. I would describe it as a slight burning sensation and of course if it is too painful for you, you can always ask the doctor to rearrange the settings or go a little slower. Since I am treating a small area, the session took no longer than 10 minutes. Here I want to highlight the professionalism of the clinic where firstly, all my appointments are booked with the same doctor and secondly, Dr. Bonello made sure to treat the whole area, even the smallest branches. 

As expected, the area became a little swollen and appeared a little red immediately after treatment. I must admit that I experienced a slight sensation of pain for a couple of hours following treatment but after that, I was only left with a slight swell all over the treated area (this can be seen in the second image below). I was told that this may take up to 6 weeks to return back to normal. To aid healing, Aloe Vera gel is always recommended. What I did notice is that some parts of the spider vein became a little darker upon treatment (which is a totally normal reaction and can be seen in the lowermost image) but other parts have already started to fade away - see the results for yourselves in the pictures below:

That's it for now! Do check back for another post in 6 weeks' time when I have my review appointment.

In the meantime, if you would like to experience this or any other treatment offered at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics, you can do so by having a look at their website and contacting them to book your appointment. One hour free parking is offered with any treatment booked.

All opinions and experiences are my own and are in no way influenced by CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics.

The Best Of Me with CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics | Spider Veins Laser Treatment {Consultation}

The demand for cosmetic treatments is ever increasing nowadays and I guess no one is immune to striving to achieve a better version of themselves, me included. My latest venture in cosmetic treatments is Laser Treatment of Spider Veins at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics at SkyParks.

This is not my first time at CHIC where I have already been having my laser hair removal done for the past three years and I have always been satisfied with their professional and impeccable service, from reception to delivery of treatment and ultimately, the actual results.

I wanted to involve you, my readers, in my latest venture and I had asked you on my blog's Facebook page for any concerns and curiosities you might have regarding the laser treatment of spider veins so I could ask them to the doctor during my consultation appointment. Fast forward a few weeks, and last week, on Wednesday, I went in for my consultation and patch test with Dr. Angel Bonello.

CHIC Laser Treatment Room - photo courtesy of CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics Facebook page

Here's a little bit of background information first. So, I first noticed my first (hopefully last) and only spider vein threads on the back of my left knee something around two years ago I think, the culprit being none other than prolonged standing periods at my work place. Of course they annoy me so I had to do something about them.

The spider vein I wish to treat - photo taken by Dr. Angel Bonello

The first thing Dr. Angel did was to assess my concerned area, then we moved on to discussing the questions you asked and the ones I had prepared myself before going on with the actual patch test. This post is only meant to discuss common concerns and what actually went during my consultation; if you have any other health concerns and are considering treatment, they are best discussed during your own consultation with a professionally trained doctor.

So basically, laser treatment of spider veins works on the same principle of laser hair removal - colour differentiation. In fact, the same machine is used for both treatments yet for spider veins, a different wavelength and a specialized handpiece is used. In this case, a 1064nm wavelength (known as NdYag) is employed to penetrate through the skin where the energy from the laser is absorbed by the red cells, causing them to break down. The specialised handpiece is capable of using small spot sizes to target the relatively smaller blood vessels and not the surrounding skin. Whilst in laser hair removal 15mm or 18mm spot sizes are commonly used, in veins 1.5mm or 3mm spot sizes are needed.

A slight sensation of pain may be felt but this of course depends on the individual's pain tolerance. Redness and swelling of the treated area are possible but they are temporary 'side-effects'. One might also notice that the treated vein gets darker after treatment. This is because the broken down red cells clot and it takes the body approximately 6 weeks to get rid of these minor clots. In fact, it is recommended to leave 6 weeks between treatment sessions. Depending on the area to be treated, 1 to 3 sessions are usually all it takes to get rid of spider veins. The good news is that once an area is treated, it is not likely that the veins will re-appear (of course, there might be other areas where new spider veins appear though).

Since the treatment involves the use of laser, it is important to avoid exposing your skin to the sun for 4 to 6 weeks before and after treatment and it is recommended to use products with SPF50. It is also advisable to avoid laser treatment of veins if pregnant. Furthermore, treating spider veins with laser is avoided on tattooed skin and where there are any suspicious moles or lesions.

As for after care and prevention, aloe gel is your best friend to soothe your skin after treatment while doing leg exercises and elevating your legs whenever possible and avoiding prolonged standing may help you lessen the likeliness of spider veins from developing.

Finally, my own experience. The feeling of pain depends on the individual but I have to say that the laser treatment of spider veins hurt much less during the patch test than laser hair removal. The area which was tested swelled up a little bit for a few hours after treatment but it has greatly subsided by the day after and it is now almost back to normal; the redness subsided almost immediately. I did not experience any intolerable pain or discomfort whatsoever during and after treatment. I did sign a consent form prior to the patch test and I was given a sheet explaining the pre and post-treatment care to get the most benefits out of the whole experience.

I hope this post has been helpful to you and do check back in a few weeks where I shall write about my experience for the first treatment session.

Don't forget that you get one hour free parking at the airport when doing a treatment at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics. For treatment prices, kindly consult the CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics website.

All opinions and experiences are my own and are in no way influenced by CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics. 

Laser Hair Removal - One Year On

When I posted about my first time experiencing laser hair removal one year ago, I received a good number of emails and messages asking me if I think the procedure is really effective or not. In all cases, the response was the same - I will have to wait for a few more treatments to be able to give a thorough assessment. 

Well, now it's been a little over a year that I have started LHR and I can say that I am positively impressed with the results. Actually, I could see a difference in the amount of hair right after the first treatment but it was still too early to comment. The first area I decided to have treated was my back, which is in actual effect the very reason I wanted to get LHR. I would like to point out that had very fine hair but since it is dark, I was always very conscious about it especially during the summer months. After the first treatment, I noticed however, that the hair took around 7 and a half weeks to grow back and it appeared to be lighter than before. Furthermore, I noticed that some patches didn't have any re-growth straight away. 

As you would expect, I maintained my 8-week appointments for a year and now I can really see the difference with only a few areas of my back requiring further shots of treatment. Since my year membership entitles me to a 30 minute session every 8 weeks, I always manage to fit in other areas such as lower legs, upper lips, under arms and full brazilian.

In fact, I have renewed my membership for another year to treat all other areas as well and so far I am very pleased with the results! All the positive results are not possible without the amazing team at Chic Med-Aesthetic Clinic where I get LHR. I always recommend the clinic to anyone who asks me where I have laser done especially in the light of the excellent customer service and also because I have never had any problems with burns or any other complications. Everyone at the clinic has a professional approach to the client and they always make sure the bring out The Best Of You ;)

If you would like more information about LHR you can either check out my first post here or else the Chic Med-Aesthetics Facebook page or website.

This post was written by me out of my own will and is in no way sponsored by Chic Med-Aesthetic Clinic.

My Laser Hair Removal Experience at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics

Today's post is a little different from what you're used to on this blog as I will be relaying my own personal experience with Laser Hair Removal (LHR).

I'm sure you have all heard about this revolutionary hair removal method to get rid of unwanted body hair. LHR has been in practice for some years now and I have been intrigued by it from the very beginning. Those who know me really well know how much I hate excess body hair and I am on the verge of obsession to always make sure there is no hair where there is not supposed to be any!  

After doing my homework and looking up information about LHR and clinics that offer this service locally, I have finally decided to go for it and get rid of the hair on my back. I am very self conscious of it even though the hairs are really fine and as much as I love summer, I dreaded the thought of baring all in a bathing suit.

At this point, you might be asking 'couldn't you have waxed it?' Well yes and no. I did have my back waxed a couple of times when I was going to wear open back or strapless dresses to special occasions but waxing can actually make the hairs harsher so I tried to avoid such sartorial picks in the first place.

The main reason why I kept holding back from having LHR was for fear of getting burnt or developing an allergic reaction as I had heard of similar experiences before. However, through reading articles and actually asking people who had it done already about their experiences, I finally took the plunge to try it myself. 2014 is proving to be a year of many changes for me in general so why not include LHR in the mix? I settled to have it done professionally at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics at Skyparks Business Centre, near our international airport.

First Appointment ~ The Consultation

I booked a consultation and patch test to start with and when the day came, I have to admit I had mixed feelings about it all. However, upon reaching the clinic, the modern, opulent, clean and chic (no pun intended) ambiance really made me feel at ease. The super friendly receptionist made things even better and after she inputted my details in their computer database, I waited for my turn comfortably on a lush leather sofa in front of a flat-screen TV and I also had access to free Wi-Fi.

CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinic Reception Area

Subsequently I was called into the treatment room (well on time) to meet my doctor and start the consultation. The doctor was very nice and welcoming and the treatment room décor complements the rest of the clinic which is all very professional, cosy and private. All this definitely helped me formulate an excellent first impression.

The treatment room

During the consultation, Dr. Casingena Garcia took her time to explain in detail what the procedure entails, possible side effects and what was expected of me prior to and after treatment. She also explained how LHR works and why I would need multiple treatments to ultimately get rid of all the hair. She also noted my personal details as well as relevant medical history and I was asked to sign a Treatment Consent Form. Again, I have to point out that all was carried out professionally. 

Hair growth phases - image sourced on the internet

Next came the patch test. I was asked to lay on my side and wear the protective glasses. Eventually, the doctor shaved a small area on my lower back and treated it with the laser machine. I felt no pain and I didn't develop any reaction or redness whatsoever. My skin felt really smooth afterwards. I decided to let two days pass before I book the actual treatment to make sure my skin didn't develop any reaction. Luckily all went well and I phoned to book an appointment for the week after.

The Actual Treatment

On the morning of the treatment, I asked mum to shave my back as was asked of me, then subsequently I headed out to the clinic. The treatment was held in the same room where I had my consultation and it lasted for 15 minutes. Overall, it was virtually pain free though I could feel a little stinging which only lasted a few seconds in certain areas. However, the redness subsided quickly and the application of Aloe Vera gel helped soothe it immediately. You can tell the treatment worked because of the smell of burnt hair...or rather the hair follicle. 

How LHR works - image sourced on the internet

I decided to opt for the Silver Laser Card instead of paying for treatment each time as it offers better value for money. Also to note is that the consultation fee is refunded on booking your first service at the clinic and you also qualify for 1 hour free parking.

Overall, I am very satisfied with the service I was given and I will keep you posted with how things progress after my next appointment which is due in April. I also highly recommend CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics for the professional services and cutting-edge technology. 

For more information about the services offered by the clinic, please check out their website and Facebook page. 

Images courtesy of CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics Facebook page unless otherwise stated