Foot forward

04 Oct 2007, ST, Urban

Singaporeans are embracing the era of the cult sandal and putting comfort before fashion. Even premium prices aren't getting in their way, finds NOELLE LOH

Singapore has racked up many lofty achievements over the years in terms of infrastructure and economics, but Urban can reveal a little-known, down-to-earth area in which the Republic has put its best foot forward too: cult sandals.

For when it comes to wearing sandals - humble, open-toe footwear that has graced Man's feet since prehistoric times - Singapore has a track record to be proud of.

For example, hark back to the colonial-era 1930s and migrant Samsui women who, in trademark blue tunic suits and red headdresses, toiled under the hot sun.

What was on their feet? Why, strappy soles that they fashioned (rather creatively, actually) out of the rubber of old tyres.

They may not have been pretty, but they were a triumph of function over form.

Later in 1972, sandals again made their mark - this time in the form of Peranakan-inspired beaded slip-ons that completed the Singapore Girl look. Now, those were pretty.

Today, both men and women have made sandals - whatever the style - a staple in their wardrobe, wearing them on adventure trails, at the beach and even at clubs.

Sandals may have once been humble footwear, but prices these days can be anything but.

Sure, you can still buy basic slippers and sandals at the neighbourhood market for under $5. But to step out in sandals that combine comfort and that 'cool' factor, be prepared to pay anything from $26.90 to $589.

Take the ones at outdoor specialist store Camper's Corner at Capitol Building, which sells criss-cross laced, polyeurathane sports sandals under the Colorado-based Chaco brand.

The sandals are said to offer a middle-arch support like none other, thanks to 'BioCentric' footbed technology, and a flip-flop leisure version costs at least $78.

A pair in its premium performance series, the ZX2 Unaweep, costs $187.

Despite the steep prices, sales are good, says Calvin Tay, owner of Camper's Corner.

'The market for Chaco sandals has been growing steadily since we started bringing them in about 12 years ago,' he says. 'People are beginning to appreciate the importance of the appropriate fitting and support when it comes to shoes.'

While he declines to reveal exact sales figures, he says the record number of Chaco shoes that one customer owns is 25.

Functional and fancy-priced sandals can also be found at German footwear company Birkenstock, whose cult status is apparent from the mass of imitation designs in the market.

Love 'em or hate 'em, Birkenstocks are known for their chunky soles and straps with fashionable prints and cost an average of $110 a pair.

Geraldine Lee, brand director of Birkenstock in Singapore, says the main appeal of the cork-soled sandals lies in their anatomically designed, contoured footbed that ensures comfort.

'There is nothing quite like a Birkenstock that combines comfort and quality in a wide choice of styles,' she says of the sandals.

The other clompy sandals that have gained a cult following are, of course, Crocs. When Crocs first appeared in 2002, the brightly coloured lightweight plastic shoes with holes were ridiculed by the fashion world.

But the United States-based makers used that positively, coming up with the marketing tagline 'Ugly can be beautiful'.

'The beautiful aspect of Crocs shoes is that they are soft, comfortable, lightweight, non-marking and odour resistant,' says John McCarvel, managing director of Crocs Asia.

British actor Ian McKellen seems to endorse this, having been seen almost everywhere - from last year's London premiere of the movie The Queen to his recent interview on Channel NewsAsia - in a fire engine-red pair.

Equally unconventional is the design of new British strapless flip-flops Dopie.

You heard right - these rubber sandals, which were launched in Europe in April, have no straps.

Instead, the brightly coloured thongs feature a rounded slot for the toe cleavage, though Dopie newbies can hook on a detachable strap to get used to walking in them.

'Customers tend to be design and fashion enthusiasts who are a bit ahead of the curve in terms of cultural trends,' says a spokesman for Spin the Bottle, Dopie's first official retailer in Singapore.

Corporate banker Valerie Loh, 24, says she doesn't think most cult sandals on the market look very nice and are, for most people, a temporary fashion statement.

'I own three pairs of Birkenstock sandals, but that's because they really are very comfortable,' she says. 'I don't think they are very fashionable and would never be caught wearing them to an event.'

However weird-looking or expensive, there is no denying the star appeal of cult sandals. Urban walks readers through five of the most popular brands.

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BIRKENSTOCK
What originated as orthopaedic footwear used solely for podiatric care has developed into must-have footwear for generations of flower children and fashion followers.

Geraldine Lee, brand director of Birkenstock in Singapore, says the key draw of the cork and rubber-based sandals is their comfort - thanks to a signature anatomically designed, contoured footbed.

In 2003, the brand upped its street cred even further when it collaborated with supermodel Heidi Klum to come up with a more luxurious range embellished with stones, studs and chains.

Celebrity fans include British chef Jamie Oliver, actress Naomi Watts and Singapore MTV VJ Denise Keller.

This pair (right) is from Papillio, which is an official Birkenstock licensee.

$79 for kids' shoes to $589 for a pair by Heidi Klum, from World of Sports, Wisma Atria Isetan Level 4 and all authorised Birkenstock retailers, tel: 6835-2702


CHACO
These Grecian-style sandals with their signature adjustable criss-cross straps are said to provide maximum comfort and foot support.

You can recognise a hard-core fan from the Z-shaped tan lines on his feet.

Once favoured only by instructors from the local Outward Bound School, the sandals are gaining popularity among both men and women as streetwear, says Calvin Tay, owner of retailer Camper's Corner.

A new batch in seven colours arrives at the store every alternate month, he adds.

Its bestseller is the ZX2 Unaweep from the brand's top performance series.

$78 for a pair of Flipsides, Chaco's range of leisure flip-flops, to $187 for a performance pair, from Camper's Corner, 01-13 Capitol Building, tel: 6337-4743


CROCS
Despite being called 'goofy' by The Washington Post and 'hideous' by pop culture magazine Radar, Crocs have gained a strong following. Fans include Hollywood stars like Matt Damon, Jennifer Garner and Heather Locklear.

The sandals, known for their signature Swiss cheese-like hole-ridden surface, even made their appearance on hit television series Grey's Anatomy.

The secret of their appeal is their softness and comfort. The use of the material Croslite, a proprietary closed-cell resin, means the shoes are lightweight, non-marking and odour resistant, says Crocs Asia managing director John McCarvel.

The bestsellers in Singapore are the original Beach design in khaki and chocolate, and women's model Sassari in monochrome.

$48.10 for the Prima range, which look like ballet slippers, to $85.60 for the Islander range, a leather version of the Beach design, from Check, 04-23/24 The Heeren, and all authorised Crocs dealers, tel: 6755-2236


DOPIE
The newest kid on the block, these strapless sandals from Britain feature a rounded slot for toes. The result is that you can frolic in the sun without worrying about getting tan lines on your feet.

Its makers assure customers that the sandals' soft moulded rubber means Dopies won't slide off. But, for practice when you start wearing them, a detachable strap comes with each pair.

A spokesman for Spin the Bottle, the first official retailer of Dopie in Singapore, calls the slippers 'stylish and fashion forward'. Customers are usually from the fashion or design industries.

While no celebrities have yet to be seen in a pair, the spokesman says Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett are fans of Terra Plana, Dopie's manufacturers.

'It'll only be a matter of time before they start showing up on celebrities' feet,' he says.

$59.90 per pair, from 01-02 The Cathay, tel: 9150-2297


HAVAIANAS
First brought into Singapore by lifestyle brand NewUrbanMale.com (NUM) four years ago, these Brazilian slippers are made of a special rubber formula that gives them a 'butter-soft' feel.

What makes Havaianas different from the average pair of rubber slippers from the market is their quality, non-slip sole and the wide range of styles and colours that they come in, says Chua Shenzi, director of NUM.

'Some customers boast wearing their pair of Havaianas for three years or longer,' Chua says.

Since debuting outside Brazil six years ago, the premium brand of flip-flops has gained something of an iconic status, showing up on the feet of celebrities on the red carpet and featuring as a sponsor of the recent Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week.

According to Chua, hot favourites among local customers are Havaianas in gold, silver and bronze.

$26.90 for the basic range to $49.90 for the premium range, from NewUrbanMale.com, B1-11/17 CityLink Mall, tel: 6884-4253

Beauty talk

04 Oct 2007, ST, Urban

Beauty tips at your fingertips - just go to these fashion forums, says EMILY LEK

For your daily dose of beauty news, click on to online beauty forums.

Fashionistas are now hogging forums like Flowerpod and Cozycot to yak about everything from hair extensions to pedicures.

They post threads seeking fashion advice, rave about favourite make-up brands and trends and even double as fashion consultants to dispense help to hapless wannabes.

It's like a big bonding bash over shoes and bags. Which explains why several forums, both local- and foreign-based, have already attracted tens of thousands of members, many of whom are in their tween and teen years.


Urban picks out five of the hottest online beauty zones.

COZYCOT

www.cozycot.com

With a sleek homepage - chick-lit cover illustrations rule - and a slogan like Where Beautiful Minds Meet, you know this local website is out to seduce all women.

Here, Cotters - as CozyCot users are called - can find forums on fragrances (CozyFragrance) and spas (CozySpa), which are noticeably missing from most other forums.

If you're feeling narcissistic, tell the world what you wore today on Look of the Day, a thread in the CozyFashion forum.

OHGENKI

forums.ohgenki.com/fashion

Oh Genki, one of the most popular local online forums, hosts more than 60 sub-forums ranging from Automobiles to Pets.

Little wonder then that it has a shoutbox for fashionistas too. Under the Fashion sub-forum are seven categories like Shopping Sprees, Footwear and even Body Art for tattoos.

It may be fascinating, but the most popular of them all is still Beauty And Grooming, which has more than 800 threads and 16,000 posts to date.

FLOWERPOD

www.flowerpod.com.sg

This local site may just be the complete package for beauty fanatics. Hair Talk, Nails Talk and Intimate Apparels Talk are just three of more than 30 sub-forums available to members, most of whom are Singaporeans. Podders, or users, can devour beauty-related news and tips or even post their own. Watch out also for the Videos segment where you can view video tutorials on make-up.

Non-beauty-related sub-forums like Finance Talk and Food Talk offer respite for first-time users dizzy from beauty overdose.

ULTIMATE COSMETICS

forums.ultimate-cosmetics.com

This site, which attracts members mainly from the United States and Europe, is the only foreign site among this lot. Introduce yourself to other members worldwide at sub-forum Introductions before making a stop at Homemade Beauty Secrets where users share quirky stories of homemade beauty recipes. Tales of using toothpaste and banana peel to ward off zits are included.

The New And Upcoming Products section may be useful for its make-up and skincare recommendations by fellow users, though reading the posts feels a tad like watching commercials on the telly - buy, buy, have a heart, please buy.

SHOPPINGLIFESTYLE

www.shopping lifestyle.com/forum

This local site is more of a beauty site than a forum. It is divided into rather broad sub-forums like Skincare & Face and Fashion & Accessories, so looking for body part-specific advice may take quite a while.

The DIY Makeover section dispenses essential fashion tips such as how to choose the perfect sunglasses to suit your face shape. Extras like the What Is Your Nail Polish Personality? quiz entertains while the Bra Size Counter calculates your bra size in a jiffy.

Under-wonders

27 Sep 2007, ST, Urban

Instead of hitting the gym, some busy men are wearing body-transforming undergarments to turn from chunk to hunk. NOELLE LOH reports

When it comes to looking great in a tight pair of jeans, it's a cinch for some urban males. Literally.

Body-conscious guys are donning undergarments to help them compress bulging bellies and to fill out those bits that don't, er, bulge enough.

Instead of the usual boring boxers and briefs, they are girding their loins with items ranging from waist cinchers to padded briefs to butt-lifters.

The use of underwear to tweak a physique used to be a trick embraced by women. But now, with fashion trends for both sexes requiring slimmer silhouettes, it's become a guy thing too.

But think of it more in macho terms, as Transformers for the testosterone crowd - to borrow the title of the cult American animated series inspired by a line of Japanese robot toys.

German underwear manufacturer Triumph International stocks a line of men's girdles, while Japanese competitor Wacoal has introduced a line of tummy-tightening briefs. Unfortunately, both are available only in Japan.

But there are two local independent retailers - New Urban Male and SportsmenAsia.com - that local chappies can go to for some help.


IT'S A CINCH: According to Ken Hong, director of SportsmenAsia.com, this generic slimming wrap for men helps to support the back, maintain good posture and prevent sagging of the abdominal area. $38.90 from SportsmenAsia.com, cotton shorts, $49.90, from New Urban Male

New Urban Male, a multi-label fashion and lifestyle store, has been stocking such underwear since it first started business at its Heeren outlet in May 2003.

Among the body-sculpting intimates on sale are AussieBum Wonderjocks, which e-zine Trend Hunter calls the equivalent of the Wonderbra in men's undies, and sling support briefs from New York-based brand C-IN2.

Wonderjocks depend on a fabric cup to 'lift and promote' essential bits, while the sling support briefs make use of an adjustable elastic sling that encircles the scrotum to lift it forward.


RIGHT ON TARGET: These cotton briefs with sling support by New York brand C-IN2 have an adjustable elastic sling that forms a ring around the scrotum and lifts it forward.
$39.90 from New Urban Male, padded jacket, $329, from Calvin Klein Jeans

Over at Chinatown Point, men's underwear specialist store SportsmenAsia has also been catering to what company director Ken Hong calls an 'untapped demand' for the past year.


TRICK OF THE EYE: Three-dimensional underwear by Japanese company Vaux helps accentuate the male profile with strategically placed seams.
$109.90 from SportsmenAsia.com, denim jacket, $407, from Energie, embroidered trucker cap, $130.03, from Ed Hardy


Its array of men's underwear brands includes those that offer 'lift-up' effects and 'three-dimensional support'. The shop also sells a slimming wrap that helps prevent sagging of the tummy and 'far infrared' spandex shorts that claim not only to burn excess fat but also to shape attractive curves and are 'truly the killer of bulgy abdomens'.

Amusing as these products might sound, their sales are no laughing matter.


RAISING THE FLAG: These Italia boxer briefs by American brand Andrew Christian come with a built-in adjustable c-ring in front to enhance the male profile and a square-seamed back that provides added support for the rear.
$39.90 from SportsmenAsia.com, zip-up bomber jacker, $239, from Industrie at Tangs Orchard

'Such body-transforming underwear makes up 10 to 20 per cent of our monthly sales even though they are not cheap,' says Hong.

For example, the three-dimensional briefs by Japanese company Vaux - said to be designed to 'accentuate the male profile' - cost $109.90, while the Far Infrared undies are $39.90 a pair. Prices are comparable to high-end women's lingerie.

Average monthly sales at SportsmenAsia.com hit a six-figure sum, Hong reveals.

New Urban Male, too, sees a 'constant demand' for its body shapers for men, with its C-IN2 sling support range always sold out, says company director Chua Shenzi.

'Basically, the guys who are buying these items are looking to enhance or to improve their physical assets both front and back,' Chua says. 'Most were pretty shy when we first started the business, but now that these products are more common, customers are more at ease with the idea.'

Customers are usually a well-heeled bunch, made up mostly of professionals, managers, executives and businessmen (PMEBs) with spending power.

'Based on their spending habits, I dare say that these customers definitely earn high incomes,' Hong says.


BUTT OUT: These padded butt briefs by American company Go Softwear give the rear a boost with sewn-in foam pads in the back.
$62.90 from New Urban Male, nylon jacket, $149, from FCUK

Explaining how padded undies are a quick fix if you can't hit the gym, he adds: 'The gym culture among relatively young PMEBs is still very strong, so these select few really have very busy schedules and no time to work out.'

Equity analyst Liang Wei, 26, works a 12-hour day on average, but has no intention of getting into a pair of wonder briefs or tummy tuckers anytime soon.

'Those things look really uncomfortable. I would rather look unfit than wear one of them,' he says.

But Hong wants to convince sceptics like Liang otherwise. 'With the exception of Infrared, all the body-transforming underwear that I sell are fashionable and comfortable. I believe men buy them because they can look and feel sexy in them. And when something looks sexy and feels comfortable, it sells.'

Which might explain lingerie giants Wacoal and Triumph's foray into the niche 'transformers' market in Japan last year.

A Wacoal spokesman says the company drew inspiration for its 'Completely Nude' tightening briefs from women's needs.


UNDER WRAPS: This pair of perforated tights are said to contain "far infrared" powers, which come from the rays of the sun, and help lift the butt and restrain the abdomen while burning excess fat. $39.90 from SportsmenAsia.com

'The product development of men's underwear was based on what women want in lingerie - to wear comfortable underwear and look more attractive at the same time,' she says.

Using a netted lining, the tightening briefs help compress a wearer's body by 2 to 3cm. However, she adds that although sales in Japan are growing fast, there are currently no plans to bring the line of control underwear for men here.

'The Singapore market for this category is too small for business.'

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WHERE TO GET TRANSFORMERS

New Urban Male
04-08 The Heeren, tel: 6378-8329

C-ring briefs that enhance one's natural assets - thanks to an elastic pouch-shaped ring of fabric - from American company Go Softwear. Wonder Jocks from Australian label AussieBum and sling support underwear from American men's underwear company C-IN2.

Price range: Between $39.90 and $69.90

SportsmenAsia.com
03-36 Chinatown Point, tel: 6327-4088

Over five different brands, mostly from Japan and the United States. Includes Toot 432 briefs, which have a deep-seamed front pouch and Y-seamed back that provide a 'lift-up' effect, and Japanese label Good Men Wear's jock strap, a daring update on the traditional jockstrap design to provide firm support for the butt.

Price range: Between $39.90 and $109.90.

Beauty treatments 2.0

20 Sep 2007, ST, Urban

Check out the next generation of cosmetic surgeries and treatments to help you look good

Need an extra hand in looking good? There's plenty of help now that at least 10 new cosmetic surgeries and treatments have hit the market this year.

From water-assisted liposuction to a face-lift that does away with needles completely, technology and beauty have never been more intertwined.

It's good news for people who want to improve their looks with virtually no pain.

Says Dr S. K. Tan, senior medical director of The DRx Clinic: 'With these technological advances, treatments are becoming more effective and comfortable.'

Urban brings you more on five of the latest treatments and procedures.

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Skin needling

What it is: A treatment, done with local anaesthesia, for removing wrinkles, scars and stretch marks. It uses a skin roller that puts tiny pin-point puncture wounds into the dermis (the layer of tissue below skin's outermost layer, the epidermis), which stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin. The production of new collagen continues for 12 months after each treatment, resulting in the development of new skin.

Advantages: It stimulates the dermis without affecting the healthy epidermis, which is not the case with other skin resurfacing techniques such as laser resurfacing or chemical peels. The dermis heals more quickly and there's less structural damage, loss of skin colour or hyperpigmentation on the skin.

Disadvantages: The skin is red and swollen for a day or two and multiple treatments are needed to see improvement in lines and scars.

Cost: $400 to $700
Length of treatment: About 30 minutes

Where: See Medical Aesthetics, 04-19 Delfi Orchard, and Starcap Medical, 04-08 International Building


Acne treatment by photopneumatic therapy

What it is: A treatment for acne of varying degrees of severity, the Photopneumatic Therapy Plus uses a vacuum handpiece to suck out whiteheads, blackheads and other acne lesions. This is followed by a burst of low-intensity light to kill acne-causing bacteria.

Advantages: An alternative to oral medication. It also improves the skin's texture and colour.

Disadvantage: Temporary redness.

Cost: $180
Length of treatment: 45 minutes

Where: The DRx Clinic, 16-01 Tong Building, and The DRx Medispa, 03-52/54 Suntec City Mall


Titan face-lift

What it is: A non-surgical procedure where infrared light is used to heat the skin, causing collagen to contract and resulting in tighter-looking skin. It also stimulates the growth of collagen, giving you long-term tightening of the skin.

Advantages: It is non-invasive with no surgical incisions on the skin needed.

Disadvantages: Complications such as mild blistering or hyperpigmentation may occur.

Cost: $1,400 per treatment, with three treatments every four weeks recommended for best results
Length of treatment: About one hour

Where: Raffles Aesthetics Centre in Raffles Hospital, 585 North Bridge Road


Vaser-assisted high-definition liposculpture

What it is: A body-sculpting treatment that combines the Vaser System Liposelection procedure with a high-definition sculpting technique. The Vaser procedure uses ultrasonic energy to break up fats while the high-definition sculpting technique redistributes fats in the body to create better definition.

Advantages: More refined than liposuction, where fats are only removed. With this system of liposculpture, fats are removed as well as moved from one part of the body to another to alter the patient's body shape.

Disadvantages: The same risks as liposuction, such as prolonged swelling and the removal of too much fat.

Cost: $4,000 and above
Length of treatment: One to six hours

Where: The procedure can be carried out by liposelection-trained and certified doctors in Singapore. Call Gigatt on 6547-1713 for the list of accredited doctors


Water-assisted liposuction

What it is: Previously with liposuction, a hollow tube is inserted into an area of the body such as the thighs or buttocks to remove fat with a suction device.

While previous techniques involved pumping a large quantity of fluids to detach fats which are then removed by suction, water-assisted liposuction uses high-pressure water jets to detach fats while sucking away fat and water at the same time.

Advantages: In previous methods of liposuction, a patient's condition could be assessed only after the procedure. If too much fat was removed, dents or lumps in the patient's skin would have to be corrected by another surgery.

But with water-assisted liposuction, the natural form and contours of the patient's body can be assessed during the procedure. Unevenness and dents in the skin can be caught then, reducing the need for correction.

Disadvantages: Risk of injury to nerves and blood vessels, which will cause bleeding, bruising, swelling and pain, although such risks are less than those in other methods of liposuction.

Cost: $3,000 to $4,000 per area treated
Length of treatment: Two hours

Where: Raffles Aesthetics Centre in Raffles Hospital

Saying no is no solution

20 Sep 2007, ST, Urban

Surgery of any sort is no simple matter. So how do kids and parents make the big decision to go under the knife? NOELLE LOH gleans some wisdom from experts


TEENS

Be certain

Psychologist Koo Shen Lin of Mount Elizabeth Hospital says teens can be a fickle bunch - just check what's been playing on their iPods now to see how fancies come and go. You need to know that plastic surgery is permanent, not something you can change at a whim.

Be reasonable

Knowing how much - or little - a procedure can do for you is important. Doctors will not usually agree to requests that are unrealistic and not beneficial to the patient. You should also have reached developmental and skeletal maturity before considering surgery, points out Dr Ivor Lim of the Plastic and Hand Surgery clinic at Camden Medical Centre.

Know what you are getting into

How you eventually look may be glamorous, but the recovery process isn't necessarily so. Psychologist Koo also points out that teenagers need to be able to know how to deal with their peers' reactions towards them getting cosmetic surgery.


PARENTS

Don't be quick to say no

Plastic surgeon Chua Jun Jin, who runs a clinic at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, points out that children are becoming more knowledgeable about what can be done to enhance their looks. Koo says if you simply put your foot down and forbid surgery, kids may see such outright rejection as a sign of you being too authoritative and distance themselves.

Sit down and talk

Find out the reasons behind the child's desire to get plastic surgery and, together, weigh the pros and cons. After all, experts reckon that plastic surgery can greatly boost self-esteem. It also helps you to assess if your child is mature enough for the procedure.

Seek advice you can trust

Doctors often discover hidden, sad pasts behind patients who come in with cosmetic surgical requests, Dr Lim says. Under all instances, the decision to carry on with the procedure is at the discretion of the surgeon.

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TOP 5 PROCEDURES

CREATING DOUBLE EYELIDS

Popular among Asians, it turns the single eyelid into one with a double fold and is regarded by most as a way of making eyes look bigger and brighter. It involves cutting skin above the eyes to achieve the desired fold, and requires stitches. However, a new scar-free method known as clipping, which involves stitching of the skin to create a fold, has been developed. This process takes about 30 minutes, compared to the cut method that takes up to an hour.

Cost: Between $1,800 and $4,000


NOSE JOB (RHINOPLASTY)

Asians who tend to have less sharp facial features often go for this procedure. It involves re-contouring the nose with a silicone implant to create a higher bridge. Surgeons can also give better definition to the pit of the nose, as well as shave off the sides of the nose to make it look less bulbous. The surgery usually takes between one and two hours.

Cost: Between $4,000 and $7,800


CHIN AUGMENTATION

To give patients a stronger chin, doctors can either insert a silicone implant, which takes up to 40 minutes, or inject a synthetic filler, which takes five minutes, into the chin area. At Dr Woffles Wu's clinic, teenage patients are usually recommended the latter because it lasts only six months and thus acts as a trial to see if they really want the procedure.

Cost: Between $1,700 and $5,800


PINNING BACK EARS

Day surgery that involves shifting the position of the ears to the side of the head so they don't stick out so much. The procedure, which leaves no visible scars or bruising, takes about 30 minutes.

Cost: Between $5,000 and $8,000


REMOVING FACIAL BLEMISHES

Procedures range from removing moles and freckles to the reduction of acne scars. Apart from plastic surgeons, such services are provided by aesthetic medicine practitioners such as the Sloane Clinic in Raffles Place, which uses non-invasive procedures.

Cost: Between $100 and $850 per session

Playing doll

20 Sep 2007, ST, Urban

Once regarded as adults' access to the fountain of youth, plastic surgery is now gaining popularity among baby-faced youths. NOELLE LOH takes a closer look at the phenomenon

In these celebrity-, trend-obsessed times, the seed of desire to look perfect is planted young. Ben (not his real name) is 22 but has already had his nose reduced surgically not once, or twice, but thrice. (see below).

Tired of being teased about his 'Jackie Chan nose', the current undergraduate at the Singapore Institute of Management decided to nip the problem in the bud three years ago when he was just 19.

And there are more like him in this growing phenomenon.

Plastic surgeon Woffles Wu at Camden Medical Centre says teens have been going for plastic surgery as early as 10 years ago, but the trend is now getting more common. He reports that teenagers now form 35 per cent of his patients, up from 15 per cent five years ago. Currently, the average age of his pre-adult patients is 16.

Plastic surgeon Hong Soo Wan, who runs a clinic at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, says he has seen a 5 to 10 per cent rise in the number of patients aged below 18 over his seven years of practice. These patients are mostly between the ages of 16 and 18.

The legal age for patients seeking plastic surgery in Singapore is 21. Those below this age would need parental consent before proceeding.

Surgeon Ivor Lim of the Plastic and Hand Surgery clinic at Camden Medical Centre says his youngest patient to get Botox, a procedure that smoothens out wrinkles and lifts sagging skin, is a 21-year-old girl.

The reasons for teens going plastic vary. Dr Wu has had patients wanting to look like their idols, while plastic surgeon Chua Jun Jin, who runs a clinic at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, says some do it to get better-looking dates.

'Anything you can imagine,' he says.

Such procedures do not come cheap. Parents are shelling out between $3,500 for a double eyelid procedure and $20,000 for breast augmentation.

Dr Wu adds: 'Contrary to the notion that they are a well-heeled bunch, these patients come from all walks of life.'

But before you blacklist this breed of Botox babies as a bunch of superficial squirts, psychologist Koo Shen Lin from Mount Elizabeth Hospital's medical centre says it's not that worrying a trend - so long as the procedure is 'reasonable'.

'People are recognising that plastic surgery has moved away from helping to correct deformities to enhancing beauty,' she says.

'There is nothing wrong in going for plastic surgery at a young age as long as the child knows he wants it and is in a healthy state.'

Besides, she observes, local youths ask for simpler procedures such as the reduction of pore size or the creation of double eyelids, as opposed to those in the West who go for more extreme makeoevers such as breast augmentation.

Indeed, it seems like for every adolescent patient who seeks surgery to feed his vanity, there is another who does so for a better self-image, surgeons say.

Dr Lim recalls how a pre-school boy, brought in by his mother, went from shy to outgoing after removing a large hairy mole on his forehead.

'Plastic surgery is not as frivolous as you think it is. It is also psychological surgery,' he says.

Dr Wu adds that he once defended a 19-year-old boy's request to get a chin augmentation despite fierce opposition from his mother.

'I thought that it was the right thing for him because the disproportion of his face was just so glaring. It would help him psychologically,' he says.

But psychologist Geraldine Tan from the Centre for Effective Living, which provides counselling services, has a word of caution.

'The boost in self-esteem might only be temporary if the root cause of his inferior complex is actually not addressed. Furthermore, parental consent only enforces that the child is not good in whatever he does,' she says.

Housewife Eugenia Chandra, who has three children aged 24, 22 and 17, says it is a definite no for teens below the age of 18 to go for plastic surgery.

'Their facial features and bodies are still developing, and they might not be emotionally mature enough to know what they are getting themselves into,' she says.

To fully understand whether a growing teen would really benefit from a permanent cosmetic procedure calls for a collaborative 'discovery time' between parent and child, says psychologist Koo.

'Parents need to sit down with their kid to go through the pros and cons of going through the surgery,' she says.

'Can the child deal with having a swollen nose for a few weeks? Can he deal with his friends saying that he has got a new nose, for example?'

She recommends that youths go under the knife only when they are in their late teens.

'At that time, their bodies are more fully developed, and they're more likely to be sure of their decision,' she says.

Surgeons agree. They say that it is maturity level, not age, that is the defining criterion.

In fact, Dr Wu is so strict about making sure that his patients know what they're getting into that those below the age of 25 must visit him with their parents.

General manager Mrs Soh, 52, who declines to reveal her full name, is one parent whom experts would probably applaud for not immediately agreeing to her 19-year-old daughter's request for a nose job three years ago.

'I knew she had always wanted one because she has quite a flat nose, but I was worried about spoiling her. You know teens. One day, they are into something and the next, something else,' she says.

But once her daughter hit the age of 21, she gave her consent.

'I saw how my daughter, who'd just started university, has matured and was serious about the surgery,' she adds.

'And now she's always telling me she's eternally grateful for my $5,000 investment.'

-----------------------------------

NO MORE JACKIE CHAN

Meeting Ben (not his real name) for the first time, you would never imagine that the 22-year-old once hid himself at home because he was ashamed of his appearance. Energetic and outspoken, he has a lanky frame that he keeps in shape by hitting the gym three to four times a week.

And clearly, he doesn't mind being the focus of attention, judging by his multiple ear piercings.

What's more, his angular face and brooding eyes are features bound to turn a few heads at the clubs.

Yet his looks, and corresponding charisma, did not come naturally. In fact, he openly attributes his attractiveness to three sessions of rhinoplasty he had when he was 19 and fresh out of polytechnic.

'As a kid, I was always teased for my huge nose. My friends would call me Chen Long. When I smiled, the width of my nose was as wide as my mouth,' he says.

Chen Long is the Chinese name of action film star Jackie Chan, who is famous for his big, bulbous nose.

Ben began to toy with the idea of reducing the size of his honker when he entered polytechnic in 2002.

'The people around me were more image- conscious. They would put effort into dressing up because we no longer had to wear uniforms,' he says. 'That was when I realised that looks are important in society in Singapore.'

It was also a time when the teasing started to take a toll on his morale. 'I'd walk with my face slightly tilted down and avoid going out. I also hated being photographed,' he says.

Initially he was 'embarrased' to ask his parents about getting his nose surgically downsized, but his depression and desire got the better of him by 2004. Following the advice of his best friend, he summoned the courage to speak to his mother.

But he had little to fear. His 52-year-old mother says she had always known a day would come when her son would express interest in plastic surgery.

'My son had been a subject of mockery for quite some time by then,' she says. 'I guess the easiest way to solve the problem was corrective surgery.'

His Mum was so supportive that she funded all three of his procedures, which cost about $4,500 in total.

'I never thought my son was ugly, but I knew he had self-confidence issues because of his looks,' she says. 'I wouldn't say that the surgery was necessary, but as long as he's happy, I'm happy.'

Within six months of the first operation, which involved using a laser to shave off excess flesh, he returned twice to the surgeon, thinking that his nose was still too burly.

'Had the doctor not advised me to stop, I would probably have gone back a fourth time,' he says. 'It is addictive. When you look slightly better, you want to look much better. When you are much better, you want to look perfect.'

Three years on, both mother and son agree that his life has moved one step closer to being perfect following his rhinoplasty.

'The most important thing is that he has regained the self-confidence that he lost over the years of mockery,' she says. 'He walks with his head held high again.'

Meanwhile, he admits that he now gets more attention from girls when he is out. He also has the guts to approach people, where once he would not have.

While he keeps his enhanced nose a secret from strangers, he says he will admit to it when asked.

'I am not ashamed of having gone for plastic surgery,' he says. 'Without it, I wouldn't have so much confidence today.'

Blow a kiss and look younger

09 Sep 2007, ST

NEW YORK - Botox and plastic surgery may promise to reduce wrinkles and worry lines, but some New Yorkers are turning to facial yoga to achieve a youthful appearance.

At a recent class in Manhattan's wealthy Upper East Side, yoga instructor Annelise Hagen teaches several facial exercises designed to stretch and tone facial muscles.

A group of women practise moves including The Lion, showing the tongue hanging out and eyes rolled up.

Ms Hagen encourages class members to hold the position for 60 seconds, joking: 'You can do this any time. It really helps you get a seat on the train.'

She recently released a book titled The Yoga Face: Eliminate Wrinkles With The Ultimate Natural Facelift.

She said she developed a workshop using facial yoga because women wanted to look their best, 'but they weren't really thinking about how to exercise their facial muscles'.

She said facial muscles become weak and flabby and need regular workouts and circulation to reduce wrinkles.

Besides The Lion, other exercises include Satchmo, in which the cheeks are blown out Louis Armstrong-style, and Marilyn, in which glamorous kisses are blown to strengthen mouth muscles for full and firm lips.

'It uses the same principles of exercise you would use for any other part of your body,' she said. 'Facial muscles also become more toned, so it is a natural way of getting a lift.'

She recommends facial yoga for those wanting to find outer and inner beauty, saying 'the emotional aspect is just as important as the physiological'. But she does not rule out plastic surgery or Botox.

'I don't rule it out for myself. One day I may feel like I need that. But regardless, maintaining elasticity and tone is really crucial, especially if you have had Botox and plastic surgery,' she said.

While making faces in front of strangers might intimidate some, those who attended the class thought it the perfect way to combat busy New York lifestyles.

'Working in New York is very stressful,' Ms Kathy Healey said. 'It's a perfect way to end the week.'

Reuters

Solid perfumes

05 Jul 2007, ST, Urban

Solid perfumes come in pretty little packages, smell good and can make you a tidy profit

Corinna Chang has a unique obsession with decorative trinkets that smell - and appreciate in value. The director of Klassique Music, a music school in Balmoral Plaza, collects solid perfumes - scents that come in waxy, balm-like consistency - for the high prices that the eye-catching metal cases they come in can fetch.

Such perfumes are made by only a handful of cosmetics houses such as Max Factor, Shiseido and Estee Lauder. Going by its client list, Estee Lauder estimates there are about 200 solid perfume collectors in Singapore. Its most avid collector, Ngiam Su Ying, deputy director of a statutory board, owns 300 solid perfumes.

But Chang, who is in her 40s, has a cache of 500 solid perfumes made between the 1950s and today, singling her out as someone most dedicated to the acquisition of these collectibles.

These solid perfumes are prized because their containers are often made of high-gloss enamel, studded with rhinestones or intricately carved from ivory. Chang hopes to reap a substantial profit from her collection one day as solid perfumes, when kept in good condition, appreciate in value over the years.



Similarly, perfumes in collectible bottles, like those from French glassware brand Lalique also appreciate, making them good investments for magpie-types with penchants for decorative bling.

Chang has already earned an 'attractive little sum' selling about 20 of her solid perfumes through online auctions and via her personal website, www.rubylane.com/shops/my-delightful-vanity. She usually sells them for about 40 per cent more than what she paid for them.

'Solid perfumes are very valuable and luxurious because they are pretty, handmade, produced in very limited quantities and never repeated,' says Estee Lauder Singapore's brand general manager Jo Yong.

Online marketplaces, like Yahoo! Auctions and eBay, sell solid perfumes for at least 30 per cent of their original sale price. The price tag can go much higher, up to 200 per cent of the original, if the piece is particularly rare or in high demand - or, better yet, both.

Some of the most avid collectors, like Chang, willingly fork out US$1,700 (S$2,606) for a particularly exquisite or vintage solid perfume case. That is how much she paid on eBay for the Estee Lauder Oriental Princess (left), the rarest piece of the Oriental collection, which comprises nine trinkets of carved ivory.



The Oriental Princess is a good example of how profitable a business collecting solid perfumes can be. When it was first sold in 1981, it cost US$35. Now, according to Chang who has monitored some recent online auctions, it is now worth up to US$4,000 - a whopping 114 times the original price. Imagine selling 10 of those for a profit of US$3,965 each. What a windfall.

Says Ngiam, 45: 'The asking price for solid perfumes in online auctions is sometimes more than double the original cost. It's crazy.'

Another Singaporean collector who has been collecting solid perfumes for possible monetary gain is 47-year-old homemaker Veronica Goh, who has a collection of 50 solid perfumes worth about $10,000.

'I started collecting them more than 10 years ago simply because I liked the design of the cases. Over the years, I found out from other collectors that these things go up in value, so I now collect them for investment,' she says.



Collectors say particularly good solid perfumes to invest in are limited edition ones. These include those sold exclusively at posh department stores in New York and London, like Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Harrods, and special collaborations with American evening bag designer Judith Leiber and American homeware designer Jay Strongwater.



A popular model is a gold, glitzy, perfume coffret-sized model of Harrods (above), which Chang, Goh and Ngiam all own. It cost roughly S$1,200 and can only be expected to be worth a lot more a decade from now.

Chang began collecting solid perfumes in 1987 when she first saw them in Saks Fifth Avenue department store in New York. Her first purchase was a green enamel turtle from Estee Lauder that cost US$60 then but is worth US$200 on eBay today.

She has spent 'easily a five-figure sum' that is 'nearer to $90,000 than to $10,000' acquiring them. One day, she hopes to reap a 'six-figure sum' from selling them. 'Otherwise, what's the point of this painstaking effort?' she asks.



Part of that effort entails keeping the scents in 'mint condition' - meaning there is no change in the colour of the scent, and the seal and original packaging are both intact - so they will fetch a higher price.

She keeps her collection in an air-conditioned room, covered and away from the sunlight. She estimates that her monthly air-conditioning bill is probably 10 to 20 per cent higher than usual because of this. Her 'best pieces' are stored in an air-conditioned warehouse for safekeeping.

Chang, who has a seven-year-old daughter, says her dream is to set up a perfume collectors' convention here so collectors around Asia can meet to trade tips and socialise. She believes that more Singaporeans may start collecting too.

'Some Lalique bottles go for £10,000 (S$30,760) to &pound20,000 at perfume auctions. But since they're so expensive, many will go for the next best thing, which is solid perfume.'

Male nail buffs

05 Jul 2007, ST, Urban

More men are being waited on hand and foot - at the nail salon

The guys are taking a (finger) tip from the gals these days - and splashing out cash on buffing up their digits.

Increasingly, more males are putting the 'man' into manicure, making regular visits to nail salons for neater, cleaner and better-looking hands and feet.

That's according to a check of eight salons by Urban.

For example, international chain O.P.I, which has two outlets in Singapore, has between 15 and 20 male customers a month, a jump from the five to 10 men a year ago.

Over at local nail salon Flair Nails & Beauty Services, owner Victoria Koh says about 15 men a month trot in for a mani or pedi, almost double that of a year ago.

At Daisy's Nail Cottage, the increase is even more pronounced with 20 men turning up on average a month, up from just three to five for the same period a year ago.

They pay anything from $20 to $80 for a manicure, and $25 to $85 for a pedi - slightly more than what women fork out. Men are generally charged more because their feet are bigger and their calluses worse, say those in the industry.

The salons say there are two reasons for testosterone types wanting tidier tootsies and fabulous fingernails.

Some want to spruce up their image and enjoy a little pampering at the same time, while others have physical problems such as infections that need attention.

Staff at O.P.I say they often handle male customers suffering from cracked and split nails.

And at local nail salon Fave Nails, which has three outlets, many men turn up seeking help for ingrown toenails caused by wearing closed-toe shoes for prolonged periods.

Other common problems salons see include thick calluses, hardened, thick skin on hands and feet and fungal infections.

Flair's Koh recalls: 'I once had a customer who had fungus on all 10 of his toenails. I recommended a fungal lotion and had to throw away my tools after treating him.'

One man hooked on talon time is Steven Ong, a private banker in his late 30s. He started getting manis and pedis 10 years ago and now visits a nail salon once or twice a month.

'It's a luxury and I always feel refreshed after a manicure and pedicure,' says Ong, who suffers from ingrown nails.

He has recommended manicures and pedicures to both his male and female friends and adds: 'Some women are surprised. I suppose it's something different for a guy to do.'

Dr Wong Su-Ni, a consultant dermatologist with Pacific Specialist Practice, gives the trend the thumbs-up, noting: 'Some fungal infections have been picked up by pedicurists who refer them to dermatologists.'

Doctors point out that fungal infections are best dealt with in clinics. According to Dr Chris Foo, a consultant dermatologist with Raffles Hospital, they need to be treated by a dermatologist, using anti-fungal medication. In some instances, the nail may need to be removed.

Also, salons' tools must be clean. 'Unsterilised tools allow the spread of viral infections such as warts,' says Dr Foo.

Guys can do plenty of hand-and-foot upkeep at home too.

Moisturising regularly will prevent dry, cracked heels. And if you're in the sun a lot, slap on sunblock to prevent hands developing wrinkled skin.

For those with weak, peeling nails, Tan Juat Li, director of Fave Nails, recommends painting on a strengthener. Macho men worried about a glossy look can use matte shades.

Also, open sandals will help ease the stress placed on toes that often causes ingrown toenails.

--------------------------------

NAIL TIPS AND OTHER HANDY ADVICE

Problem: Dry nails
Signs: Nails are brittle and thin.
Solution: Moisturise your hands and feet regularly. Rub lotion into your nails when moisturising your hands.

Problem: Fragile/brittle nails
Signs: Uneven surface with discoloured areas.
Solution: Can be caused by a variety of conditions including fungal infections, frequent contact with harsh household chemicals, skin conditions such as psoriasis and deficiency of iron or vitamins A, B6 or C. Consult a dermatologist; make sure you get enough iron and vitamins in your diet.

Problem: Leukonychia
Signs: White spots on nails.
Solution: Minor injuries such as damaged cuticles can cause these. Spots will grow out as nail grows. Some white spots, however, are signs of a fungal nail infection.

Problem: Fungus-infected nails
Signs: White, yellow or brown discoloration. Nails become increasingly thick and brittle and free end of nail lifts off nail bed, making white band wider and irregular.
Solution: Consult a dermatologist who may either provide an anti-fungal cream or tablets or remove the infected nail.

Problem: Calluses
Signs: Thick, hardened layers of skin.
Solution: Moisturise regularly and wear socks to bed if you sleep in an air-conditioned room to prevent your feet from drying out further. Use a callus file in the shower.

Problem: Corns
Signs: Smaller than calluses and have a hard centre surrounded by inflamed skin.
Solution: Same treatment as calluses.

Problem: Plantar warts
Signs: A round or oval-shaped wart on the sole with a dark spot at its centre.
Solution: Caused by viruses, they are contagious and can be spread by walking barefoot in changing rooms. Consult a dermatologist who will either freeze the wart with liquid nitrogen or prescribe a solution to peel off the skin a little at a time.

---

NAIL STATIONS

A LITTLE PAMPERING
Manicures: 30 to 35 minutes. From $30 for basic - removal of cuticles, shaping, filing, buffing and shining, plus moisturising - to $60 for a customised manicure where nails are individually analysed and treated.

Pedicures: 40 to 60 minutes. From $45 for basic, to $80 for a customised pedicure.
02-10 Balmoral Plaza, 271 Bukit Timah Road, Tel: 6735-4500

DAISY'S NAIL COTTAGE
Manicures: 20 to 30 minutes. From $30 to $80.
Pedicures: 30 to 45 minutes. From $40 to $85. There's also a spa range that costs $200 for a manicure and pedicure.
69A Killiney Road, Tel: 6738-0627

FAVE NAILS
Manicures: 15 to 60 minutes. From $20 for an express manicure - shaping and filing and a short massage - to $60 for a spa manicure.
Pedicures: 20 to 90 minutes. From $30 to $75.
05-10 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, Tel: 6235-5015; 04-16 OUB Centre, 1 Raffles Place, Tel: 6536-6825; B1-08 CityLink Mall, 1 Raffles Link, Tel: 6341-9159

FLAIR NAILS & BEAUTY SERVICES
Manicures: 30 minutes to 11/4 hours. From $30 for basic to $55 for a spa manicure.
Pedicures: 35 minutes to 11/4 hours. From $40, to $85 for a spa pedicure.
Henry Park Apartments, 18 Holland Grove Road, Tel: 6468-3989

ISKIN
Manicures: 35 minutes; $32 including a scrub and hand massage.
Pedicures: 40 minutes; $42 including a light foot massage and foot scrub.
235A South Bridge Road, Tel: 6220-1255

NING SPA
Manicures: 30 to 50 minutes. From $35 for a basic manicure to $50 for a spa manicure.
Pedicures: 45 to 65 minutes. From $45 to $75.
09-00 MacDonald House, 40A Orchard Road, Tel: 6737-0303

O.P.I
Manicures: 30 to 60 minutes. From $25 for basic to $55 for a spa manicure.
Pedicures: 45 minutes to 11/4 hours. From $35 to $85.
02-26 Forum The Shopping Mall, Tel: 6736-1735; 01-07 The Ogilvy Centre, 35 Robinson Road, Tel: 6221-2213

STRIP
Manicures: 20 to 45 minutes. From $20 for an express manicure to $40 for a paraffin manicure.
Pedicures: 20 to 75 minutes. From $25 to $50.
20-01 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, Tel: 6737-0201, 05-09 Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, Tel: 6836-4874; 02-10 The Cathay, 2 Handy Road, Tel: 6732-9287

Melt away fat

05 Jul 2007, ST, Urban

A new treatment, lipo-dissolve, is less invasive than liposuction. But is it safe?

Beauty sometimes demands toughness, but Suzanne Thomas had never imagined she would agree to have 72 injections of a fat-burning chemical cocktail in her neck and chin.

Yet that is the treatment called lipo-dissolve that the 35-year-old American preschool teacher underwent - twice - several months ago to eradicate the jowls and double chin she hated. She said the discomfort was worth it because 'I absolutely love my results'.

'I just really didn't want to do anything invasive like liposuction,' said the mother of three children younger than six. She would have had little time to recuperate from cosmetic surgery.

Her procedures, which cost a total of US$1,000 (S$1,522), were performed at MedSculpt, a six-month-old centre in Rockville, Maryland, that specialises exclusively in the controversial fat-loss technique.

Marketed as a safer and less invasive alternative to liposuction, proponents say lipo-dissolve is useful for treating small 'problem areas' such as love handles, bra fat and a softening jaw line.

A growing number of doctors, nurses and even spa personnel are offering the procedure known in medical circles as injection lipolysis - and more colloquially as the 'flab jab'.

But critics, among them officials of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), say there is no convincing evidence that lipo-dissolve is effective - or safe.

The procedure is similar to mesotherapy, an older treatment that involves injections of various drugs, vitamins or herbs to banish the dimpled flab known as cellulite.

Lipo-dissolve injections typically contain two ingredients believed to work synergistically. As with mesotherapy, the formula, which is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is prepared by compounding pharmacies, which are subject to little regulation.

Lipo-dissolve 'is catching on because it works', said Robert Adrian, one of the Washington area's best-known and busiest cosmetic dermatologists, who says he has treated 400 patients in the past three years.

Adrian, whose website says the procedure 'literally melts away fat in just a few short treatment sessions', maintains that most of his patients have achieved good long-term results.

Officials of ASAPS vehemently disagree. The group cited 'numerous reports of complications including bacterial infection, granulomas (disfiguring masses of chronically inflammed tissue) and localised necrosis (tissue death)'.

What some proponents tout as impressive results, said Alastair Carruthers, president of the dermatologic surgery society, appear to be temporary.

And patients who shell out thousands of dollars for fat-loss injections, critics note, are more likely to watch what they eat and to exercise, which may explain why lipo-dissolve patients say they are satisfied with their results.

Safety remains a paramount concern, according to Carruthers. He said he recently treated a woman in her 40s who nearly lost both lower eyelids after she developed a complication following lipo-dissolve injections administered by a physician. The shots killed tissue under her eyes.

Lipo-dissolve typically contains a mixture of phosphatidylcholine, or PCDC, which is derived from soybeans, and sodium deoxycholate, a bile salt that aids waste removal.

This cocktail is prepared in compounding pharmacies, which typically make small quantities of drugs for specialised treatments. Quality control and sterility can be spotty or nonexistent, experts say.

Using a fine needle, the PCDC solution is injected into fat deposits, typically in the abdomen, face, hips or back.

PCDC shots cause redness, temporary burning or pain and considerable swelling. The injections are believed to trigger an inflammatory response that results in the breakdown and excretion of fat; proponents say the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown.

Two to six treatments are usually required, each of which costs US$300 to US$1,500.

Lipo-dissolve proponents, including MedSculpt officials and Adrian, say that no deaths have been reported anywhere from the procedure and that their shots are carefully prepared in reputable pharmacies.

But in cosmetic dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi's view, basic questions about the treatment remain unanswered.

'If I thought it worked and was safe, I'd have it,' she said.

--------------------------------

Lipo -dissolve

What: Lipo-dissolve is a new treatment which dissolves fat in small problem areas such as love handles and sagging jawlines.

How: Like mesotherapy, lipo-dissolve works on fat through injections of two ingredients that are thought to work together to burn fat.

Cost: Two to six treatments are usually required; each treatment costs US$300 (S$457) to US$1,500.

Side effects: Swelling and pain are typical. Also, the chemical cocktail has not been approved by the FDA.

Giving age the boots

05 Jul 2007, ST, Urban

Sales of Boots' No. 7 Protect & Perfect anti-ageing serum soar after a BBC programme
London - Britain's new cult favourite skincare line is Boots' No. 7.

When the homely brand first introduced its Protect & Perfect anti-ageing serum (right) two years ago in Britain, consumers hardly took notice.

That changed when the BBC broadcast a special report on beauty products in March. A dermatologist's analysis showed that the serum actually might work, the BBC reported.

Sales promptly exploded.

'After the programme, there was an initial sales uplift of 2,000 per cent,' Boots spokesman Lucy Folks said.

In a single weekend, the chain sold 160,000 bottles. The manufacturing plant has increased production from 20,000 bottles a week to 20,000 bottles a day.

At 8.30am on a recent Wednesday, the scene at Boots Sloane Square, a tourist-filled neighbourhood in central London, was all squealing women and nervous staff.

'This is about the eighth time I've come, and now I finally got it,' chirped one customer.

Because the serum is in such high demand, Boots is restricting shoppers to one bottle each.

Interest in the anti-ageing serum mushroomed after the BBC featured medical professor Lesley Regan testing various over-the-counter brands in search of the best beauty products. During the televised hunt, she took the Boots serum to Manchester University, where professor Chris Griffiths, head of the dermatology department, carried out experiments and found that Protect & Perfect was the most effective.

'At both basic science and clinical levels, Boots' No. 7 Protect & Perfect has been shown scientifically to repair photo-aged skin and improve fine wrinkles associated with photo-ageing,' he announced to the network.

Not all dermatologists are convinced, however, that this serum, or any other, repairs ageing skin.

'Most of the anti-ageing creams have vastly too little retinol to make a difference,' said Dr John J. Voorhees of the University of Michigan Medical School.

He and his colleagues recently published a study on the effects of retinol on ageing skin. They found that high levels of the vitamin A- derived substance trigger collagen production just under the skin, reducing fine lines and protecting the surface from injury and even ulcer formation.

The key to retinol's success, however, is a high enough concentration to allow it to be absorbed into the skin to promote a healthier appearance. If the retinol concentration is low, the product is unlikely to make a significant difference.

'If Boots and other creams have enough retinol in them, and if that retinol exits the cream into your skin, you might actually have an effect,' Voorhees said.

But he added: 'Consumers should not expect much to happen when they use retinol products. All creams are moisturisers, and moisturisers fill in the nooks and crannies and make the skin look better. So people will think their skin is better, but nothing is really happening.'

The skinny on looking good

05 Jul 2007, ST, Urban

Urban lets you in on zero- effort tricks to look thinner, trimmer and firmer in a snap - treadmill not required

You've procrastinated starting that new fitness routine. You've even cheated on your diet. Well girlfriend, we're not going to berate you or beat you into submission. That's your gym instructor's job.

But we're going to help you cheat at looking skinny and feeling firmer and tighter, without breaking a sweat. Really. It's all about good posture and positioning, clever handiwork and the right beauty aids to buff and polish bodies back into shape.

Call it our 4-step Lazy Girl's no-sweat, pain-free guide to get skinny, pronto. Because the only time you should kick off your Christian Louboutins and run a race is when there's a Prada sale at the end of the line. Enjoy.

1. Better posture makes you look thinner

When you slouch, it makes your gut hang out. Just straightening up and standing tall makes you look leaner and taller instantly. There are long term benefits too, as Wendy Lim, senior physiotherapist from the Sports Medicine Centre at Alexandra Hospital, explains: 'It activates the core muscles - deep in the abdomen, the upper back and the pelvic floor. When you work your muscles in the correct manner, you end up burning fat efficiently.'

How you sit also makes a difference. And since most of us spend most of our time at the desks, this is one thing you need to correct right now.

The right position is to sit with both feet on the floor, with just a natural slight curve at the small of the back, squeezing the glutes and slightly tightening your tummy muscles. 'This not only creates a leaner look, but, again, helps you exercise your muscles properly, and burn fat,' says Ms Lim.

Tip: Stick a Post-It note on the top right of your computer to remind yourself to sit up straight always.

2. Lounging your way to lean

Basking by the pool is the fastest way to strip a woman of her confidence. Take heart: A black one-piece tank, cut high on the thigh, is a universal slimming style.

But there are other ways to cheat at looking slimmer, even while lying down. Take cues from the pros.

Freelance fashion stylist Martin Wong advises: 'When lounging, lie back and stretch your legs as much as they will go. This elongates them. Also bend the knees slightly, so your thighs don't spread.'

He adds that to instantly shrink the tum, stretch and raise your arms high over your head when reclined.

Another trick to hide a belly when sitting down on your deck chair, freelance fashion stylist Steven Kong advises, 'is to prop your knees in front of you and drape your arm over them.'

Save your yoga sit in poses for class - 'it's a terrible angle because all the compression only shows off your cellulite.'

3. Massage to debloat

It's our favourite way to cheat. Even better since you can catch some shut-eye at the same time. Every spa or beauty salon will offer its own body tightening, lifting, contouring solutions, but the Pro Body Redefining Treatment ($128 for 60 minutes) at the Clarins Institute (05-05/06/07 Wheelock Place, tel: 6838-5060) never fails to help us shed excess water baggage and tighten us up quickly to fit into an event outfit. Some of the beauty editors in town also swear by it to shift post-maternity bulge.

It's a combination of massage work and exercise - merely a couple of leg lifts and contractions, nothing overly strenuous - that you do still lying on your back.

According to Clarins' beauty therapist Sylvia Lim, the massage and contractions help to break down the stubborn fat deposits that lie between your skin and muscles.

Other massage movements also boost lymphatic drainage to rid trapped lymph fluids and toxins in the body - a result of high salt intake, medication or poor circulation, especially if you're sedentary - that can cause tummy bloat and heavy thighs.

What's used in the treatment is a combination of products that include the brand's signature products like Anti-Eau oil to get rid of water retention and improve circulation, Total Body Lift cream to reduce sponginess, firm and tone skin and Body Shaping Cream to break down stubborn fats.

4. Get tanned to get skinny

It's an art class basic. Light emphasises, shadows recede.

'It's like wearing a darker outfit,' says celeb make-up guru Andy Lee. 'A tan can make you look slimmer.'

But before you run out and bare your butt, think fake bake. And with today's easy-to-use and more natural looking bronzers and self-tanners, there's no need to lie out in the sun and expose yourself to unnecessary skin damage.

Even better, with skilful shading, you can 'shave' pounds off a puffy face, give yourself cheekbones and even ab definition. Make-up artist Lynette Leong shares tips:

To slim down a broad face: Use a bronzing powder - it's less streaky than a cream product and much easier for a novice to pull off - on your jawline along the chin, blending it into the neckline. Go two shades darker than your normal skin tone.

To create cheekbones: Suck in cheeks and apply bronzing powder where the cheek hollows are, using an upward stroke towards the hairline hollow. Finish off with a light dusting of bronzing powder around the temple, blending it seamlessly.

For greater ab definition: Use a cream or mousse product instead of a powder.

'It's more efficient since you're working with a bigger surface area and it gives a more natural finish too.

'Feel where the muscles pop out, then use your little finger to apply tanner or bronzing cream over the contour of the muscle. This will define it. Work fast so you don't end up with streaks,' says Leong.

Keep youth at hand

28 Jun 2007, ST, Urban

Liver spots and crepey skin on your hands can give away your age. The experts tell Urban what you can do to hide your years

We use 'em, abuse 'em and neglect 'em. It's no wonder our hands show signs of ageing faster than our faces. Not only are they most exposed to ultraviolet rays - honestly, how many people use sunscreen on their hands - they take a beating from all kinds of aggressors.

As plastic and hand surgeon Ivor Lim says: 'Our hands are one of our primary sensors, and because we tend not to keep them covered, it leaves them exposed to sun damage, skin wrinkling or even trauma like burns (like cooking oil splatter) and cuts that can result in scars or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. All these factors can make them look pigmented, marked and therefore old.'

One major culprit lies in the home. Says Lynne Lim, Kose's assistant general manager of marketing: 'Most people don't wear gloves when they do household chores. That exposes their hands to household and industrial chemicals like detergent and plant fertilisers.'

Couple that with dryness caused by air-conditioning and chronological ageing, and little wonder our hands can look the worse for wear.

For already maturing women, the liver spots and crepey skin give away their true age, no matter how many peels, Botox jabs or facelifts they get.

Thankfully there are more preventative and reparative aids like light therapy (heat energy is used to remove marks or tighten skin) and anti-ageing hand creams to stop the tell-tale signs.

Even better news: Asian skin is thicker than Caucasian skin and that means Asians have a couple of years more before we lose skin elasticity that causes wrinkling, says Dr Lim.

'The intrinsic pigmentation in Asian skins also helps to protect against sun damage and is less prone to scarring than Negroid skin,' he adds.

What happens to hands as we age?

In your 20s

Dryness, hardened cuticles and brittle nails are the most common problems, says Brenda Loke, marketing and PR manager of French beauty house, Clarins. The great culprits: Wearing and removing nail polish constantly and the dehydration caused by air-conditioning.

In your 30s

The ageing of hands (as perceived by their appearance) becomes more obvious from the late 30s, says Dr Lim. Sun exposure strips natural skin emollients and can cause liver or age spots. You start to see skin wrinkling due to loss of elasticity.

In your 40s

The fat under your skin thins out. The tendons, bones and veins stand out more making hands look gnarled, says Dr Lim.

In your 50s and above

Skin sags and is dull-looking. Pigmentation worsens and nails become brittle. The skin loses the ability to retain moisture and hands feel dry and rough, says Jennifer Chia, sales and marketing manager of PharMed, the local distributor of Palmers hand-care products. If symptoms persist, they become irreversible after 60.


How to make hands look younger

Some problems are easier to treat than others and don't need more than a good hand cream to fix. For example, dehydration and fine lines that result from that.

Paraffin waxing, says Chia, can soften skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines, too.

Pigment changes like liver spots can also be prevented by using sunscreen and keeping one's hands covered. To remove age spots, procedures such as radiofrequency light therapy and laser therapy are done, says Dr Lim.

Constant hydration and wearing sunblock can also help prevent the loss of skin elasticity. But if you already have crepey skin, then consider radiofrequency treatments like Thermage or Refirme that use heat energy to tighten and firm the skin.

To restore subcutaneous fat - a normal consequence of ageing and not preventable - a fat transplant can be done, using your own tummy or thigh fat.

'OUR HANDS DRY UP EVERY TIME THEY COME INTO CONTACT WITH WATER. GET INTO THE HABIT OF APPLYING HAND CREAM THROUGHOUT THE DAY, EVEN AT THE OFFICE'
- Lynne Lim, Kose’s assistant general manager of marketing

Easy DIY treat

- Exfoliate hands with a mild body scrub. Do pick one with microbeads, not coarse pit granules, as they are less drying. Work the scrub in thoroughly from fingers to elbows.

- Rinse off and apply a face mask to hands. Go for a cream-based hydrating formula, since this will put moisture back into skin. Leave on for 10 minutes.

- Rinse off with warm water, and apply a hands and nail cream from fingers to wrist, right up to the elbows. Don't neglect the cuticles.

Slather Up

Here are hand treatments that do good and are absorbed fast so you can still open doors and not leave grease marks all over your things.

Clarins Age-Control Hand Lotion SPF15, $37, from Level 1 Tangs Orchard:

The milky lotion is so lightweight it feels like you haven't got anything on. But it brightens and softens your skin instantly.

Sally Hansen Age Correct Retinol Hand Creme, $15.10, from Watsons:

Reportedly helps to diminish the appearance of fine lines and fade discolouration.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E Therapeutic Hand Cream SPF8, $17.80, from Guardian Pharmacy:

Hydration and sunscreen in one, it can also be used on the lips.

Cosme Decorte Hand Renew Treatment, $60, from Level 1 Takashimaya:

This anti-ageing moisturiser for hands evens out dull, patchy skin, and firms and smoothens, too.

Inselene Golden Olive Natural Therapy Water Drop Essence Hand Cream, $12, from Robinsons Raffles City and The Centrepoint:

The balm transforms to water as you massage it in and can be used to soften scruffy heels and elbows, too.

Talika Hand Ritual Kit, $117, from Spa Lon, 02-04/05 Chijmes:

The two-part kit comes with a scrub (left) that uses salt and sugar crystals to take off dull skin and prep it for the repair action of the serum. The latter also helps to brighten the skin and reportedly reduces and prevents the formation of wrinkles and dark spots.