Face value

Our face is the first thing people notice when we meet them.  Like it or not, this is how we are seen, recognized, and even judged, rightly or wrongly.  Choices have to be made on what can be done to preserve youthful looks, and since I am not yet into invasive methods, here are a couple of procedures that can be done without much pain or downtime.

I am very happy with Ulthera and Intense Pulsed Light, or IPL, as it is quite easy to undergo.  One walks in and can be up and about in no time.  The best part is if there is an important event to attend a couple of hours later, you can do so, even putting on makeup to look presentable.

I was not too happy with some laugh lines in the nasal area and felt that my jawline was starting to make me look my age or worse, even older.  When I heard about Belo clinic’s Ulthera, the newest non-surgical treatment for facial skin tightening and contouring, I knew it was for me. It makes use of high-intensity focused ultrasound, which targets specific areas of the skin to promote collagen building and safely treats the deeper layers while keeping the surrounding areas safe. It is the only facial rejuvenation treatment where the doctor can visualize the layer of the skin that is being treated.  This is ideal for mild to moderate skin laxity and safe for all skin types.

Treatment time took less than 60 minutes after Dr. March Cortez gave me IV sedation at the Belo clinic in Alabang. She said this was to increase my comfort level despite my having a high tolerance for pain. I lay down on a surgical bed and before I knew it, it was over when I was being woken up by the pretty doctor!

The newest non-surgical treatment for skin tightening and contouring: Sandy Andolong’s Ulthera results are seen in these unretouched before-and-after photos.  

Though I had some minor discomfort in the jawline and temple area, a feeling of heat on my face and was a bit woozy for the first 15 minutes, I was well enough to pass by an antique store that was located beside the Belo clinic. I was told that results are seen six to10 weeks after one treatment and may last for up to a year. But I felt an immediate tightening in my face and firmness was visible in the areas of my face that I was unhappy about. A second session may be done three months after the initial treatment to improve and prolong results.

Belo has 10 clinics all over Metro Manila, with their flagship branch in Greenbelt Residences, Makati. For inquiries, call 819-BELO (2356) or visit www.belomed.com. 

Though I have fair skin, I abused it with sun exposure in my youth. No one told me it was aging or cancer causing, as dermatologists at that time didn’t know the sun’s dangers.  Plus, it was very “in” to be a morena then.   Now that the damage is visible, I have freckles and sunspots on certain parts of my face.  I certainly don’t want to get any fairer in color, but I do want to make sure that my complexion has the same overall shade.

Thank goodness for IPL or Intense Pulsed Light treatments from Beverly Hills 6750.  This procedure uses a combination of radiofrequency and broad-spectrum light to deliver a rejuvenation treatment, which over several sessions will make the skin look and feel smoother. This US-manufactured machine (by Syneron) has FDA approval.

The light stuff: Beverly Hills 6750 uses IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) for clearer, fairer skin.

IPL treatment improves the appearance of photo-aged skin, removes age spots (sun-induced freckles), most benign brown pigments and redness caused by broken capillaries through a process called photo rejuvenation for face and body.

The process is ideal for those with active lifestyles because the procedure requires no downtime and has a low risk of side effects. It also improves skin clarity by helping destroy bacteria and controlling secretions in the sebaceous glands.

The wide spectrum of IPL has the beneficial effect of stimulating the production of new collagen in the skin, which then improves skin texture and reduces the appearance of scarring. It can also reduce the appearance of red or brown areas on skin often associated with acne breakouts.

It’s also a method of removing broken blood vessels that break through the skin’s top layer on the face by focusing an Intense Pulsed Light beam onto the vein. Facial veins can be hereditary, a result of sun exposure, or occur as part of the aging process. The IPL FotoFacial-RF procedure has been dubbed the gold standard in skin rejuvenation and I try to have this done every few months to further prevent sunspots from emerging in the unlikeliest places on my face.

Beverly Hills 6750 is located at 6750 Ayala Avenue, Makati. For inquiries, visit com/”www.bh6750.com , call 893-6750 or SMS 0917-893-6750.