Quick Fix Holiday

April 18, 2008

Besides not needing loads of money to fix yourself up, you don’t always need to plan an extensive stay just to get some work done on your self. What you need is some Quick-Fix strategies while on holiday. First off - what are Quick-Fix strategies? These are programs and treatments that are quick, safe and do not involve any loss of time, i.e. NO downtime.

You could and should do them during short vacation! This is in contrast to aggressive treatments such as laser resurfacing, dermabrasion or face-lifts; these simply cannot fit into your day-itinerary and will involve several days of recovery time. So much for the sun and sea - if one is coming to Malaysia for cosmetic surgery but is restricted by time, then one should consider modern non-invasive, quick-fix cosmetic procedures.

Quick-fix procedures mean no down-time, no hiding in hotel rooms wasting precious shopping and sightseeing time. You can still have your cake and eat it....have a skin tightening procedure in the morning, and join the afternoon city tour. Or have a Botox injection to take away your worry lines and relax later in the company of the spirits of past colonials like Somerset Maughn in the famed Colliseum restaurant.

Or have an IPL session for skin rejuvenation and then have afternoon tea in the beautiful grounds of Sri Carcosa, once the residence of the British High Commissioner, now turned into an elegant 6-star hotel near the peaceful sanctuary of the Lake Gardens. Here are some treatments that you can have during a short vacation in Malaysia.

SKIN TREATMENT

Chemical Peeling. Since the 1980’s this has been a popular cosmetic procedure to freshen up skin tone and texture. You can secretly nip over to your dermatologist for a 5 minute glycolic acid peel and be back at your desk without anyone suspecting anything. You might get unsolicited compliments on how well you look these days. The procedure increases the skin cell turnover time so that the effete rougher outer layers are shed off invisibly (you don’t peel!) This leaves behind younger and smoother looking skin. Repeat ‘peels’ increases skin thickness and collagen content and the skin looks plumper, younger, with a more even tone.
Microdermabrasion (MDA). Recent studies have verified that gently abrading the skin with fine abrasive particles or a diamond coated wand can improve the appearance of ageing skin. This can also help soften the appearance of some scars and improve acne-prone skin. The newer diamond-wand systems are preferable as they are less messy than the particle-type systems. In popular Women’s magazines, rave reviews about the diamond-wand MDA systems proudly proclaim – “When it comes to beauty, diamonds are a girl’s best friend!” Many beauty salons also offer these MDA’s these days, but it is important to note that if you have a history of cold sores (herpes labialis), and a MDA is performed during an active episode, the herpes can disastrously spread all over the face!
Non-ablative laser re-modeling of the skin. The older CO2 and Erbium laser resurfacing techniques produce dramatic facial rejuvenation – after even one laser resurfacing treatment. However, there is a long recovery time (7-10days) and often some pigmentation for months. Newer non-ablative laser systems stimulate gradual collagen synthesis & re-modelling without destroying the skin surface. Hence, there is no loss of time off work. These have become very popular with busy, working women, and are true lunch-time procedures. These lasers produce more gradual results and include the Cool Touch Nd:YAG 1320nm laser, the Aramis Erbium:glass 1540nm laser and the Smooth Beam Nd:YAG 1450nm laser. All of these lasers are FDA-approved for treating wrinkles and fine lines. In addition, the Cool Touch and Aramis lasers have also been shown to be useful in treating acne scars.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). IPL systems are not lasers but powerful broad spectrum light sources that can be filtered to target fine lines, open pores, excess hair and abnormal blood vessels. Newer, so-called 2nd generation IPL’s are even more efficient in improving the overall tone and texture of photo-aged skin. They should not be confused with aesthetician-grade IPL’s heavily promoted in some beauty centres - these are generally stripped-down versions of the medical-grade IPL’s.
Radio-Frequency (RF) Systems. Thermage is arguably the gold standard for RF treatments for non-invasive deep skin tightening and facial contouring. It is often talked about as non-surgical face-lifts for individuals who have sagging jowls, jaws, chin and neck areas. Thermage uses high frequency radiowaves to stimulate deep tissue tightening and newer 2005 treatment protocols have patient improved safety and clinical outcomes with only one treatment session.
Botulinum toxin A (BTA) & Fillers. BTA injections for erasing frown lines and smile lines are one of most commonly performed procedures in the West. They are safe and fast – works within a few days to transform a tired-looking creased forehead into a more relaxed appearance. However, BTA injections only last 3-4 months and are useful only for motion lines on the upper half of the face. For gravity-induced naso-labial and oral commissure folds, one may need RF treatments (see above) or fillers such as hyaluronic acid injections. I prefer non-permanent fillers as they have a higher safety profile although they last only 6-12 months depending on the brand used.

These procedures are for a more youthful looking skin.

DENTAL TREATMENT

A quick visit to the dentist is not going to ruin your holiday itinerary. In fact, it may improve your holiday as you won’t have to worry about seeing an expensive dentist back home for at least another six months.
The cost of dental treatments is largely affordable here in Malaysia. Take advantage of the highly skilled Dentists and enjoy the comforts of friendly service. You may even find a dental centre that provides transportation service.

Scaling & Polishing
Regardless of where you are, this treatment is a must once every six months. So why not do it here at a fraction of the cost back home? And while you’re at it, ask the dentist to give you a check-up as well. You won’t need to be on the dental chair for more than 45 minutes.
Teeth Whitening
At a cost of between USD250 to USD500 the treatment will give you brighter teeth in approximately 2 hours. Teeth whitening or bleaching system utilizes a cold or high-intensity blue light beam to activate the whitening process. Teeth can be whiten by up to 8 shades The result will become immediately visible and it improves over a period of 2-3 days. The effects will stay on for 1 to 2 years; depending on your lifestyle and habits.
Composite Restorations/Teeth Bonding
Restore those decayed (cavity) and chipped teeth while on your short holiday. Re-shape crooked or uneven edges and fill gaps (diastema closure) with tooth-coloured filings. You should even replace those decade-old amalgam fillings with composite ones. All this can be done in less than 30 minutes per tooth.