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Starting young: The millennial approach to ageing well

Millennials are embracing aesthetic treatments to build an anti-ageing foundation for the future.

Dr Gabriel Wong, medical director of SL Aesthetic Clinic, with Tiktok personality, Ng Ming Wei. Photos: SL Aesthetic Clinic

Dr Gabriel Wong, medical director of SL Aesthetic Clinic, with Tiktok personality, Ng Ming Wei. Photos: SL Aesthetic Clinic

Millennials are embracing aesthetic treatments to build an anti-ageing foundation for the future.

Traditionally, aesthetic treatments were all about reversing skin damage associated with getting older. Not any longer.

Today, millennials in their 20s and 30s are flocking to get aesthetic treatments done in a pre-emptive strike to stave off signs of ageing. Dr Gabriel Wong, medical director of SL Aesthetic Clinic, has observed this uptrend in recent years, which he attributed to millennials placing great importance on looking and feeling good. The “selfie culture” has also become a part of everyday life, fueling demand to look good from all angles, he shared.

While people under 40 formed just a fifth of those seeking aesthetic treatments at SL Aesthetic Clinic in the past, this proportion has doubled today. Most of the clinic’s younger adults, Dr Wong observed, tend to be more educated about the efficacy and safety of aesthetic treatments. They are also more open about sharing their beauty enhancement experiences.

“To them, there is no taboo in going for quick aesthetic fixes, such as laser treatments or Botox. In fact, many of them are willing to share their experiences with friends and family through word of mouth or via social media,” Dr Wong said.

Men are also part of the growing group of millennials seeking aesthetic treatments. What is interesting to note is that they tend to be more conservative and discreet when seeking such treatments.

Dr Wong explained: “Men want to look good, but do not wish for anyone to be able to tell what they have done. As aesthetic treatments offer natural results with little or no downtime, they are more willing to give them a try.”

AGEING WELL WITH THE RIGHT TREATMENTS

While older adults may be more concerned about fixing skin issues that have already cropped up, people in their 20s and 30s are focused on staying ahead of the curve with the right pre-emptive anti-ageing treatments.

“In the past, people used to think that aesthetic treatments were expensive, reserved only for celebrities and the rich and should only be done when one looks aged. In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift as the whole population is more enlightened about the positive and beneficial effects of aesthetic treatments.

“People have started to realise that they require fewer procedures at a younger age to achieve better results, and with a strong foundation, they are going to age much better,” Dr Wong said.

He added that younger adults seeking aesthetic treatments tend to veer towards treatments that do not require much downtime or frequent follow-ups.

At SL Aesthetic Clinic, the Fotona5D Laser Lift is one of the popular non-invasive skin tightening treatments among clients, including those under 40. The treatment was developed by the team of doctors at SL Aesthetic Clinic last year.

Looking to improve upon the original Fotona4D four-step protocol that has been available in the market since 2017, the treatment tightens and lifts a larger area such as the hairline and back of the neck, areas which are not covered in the Fotona4D protocol. Unlike conventional laser treatments, Fotona5D mainly aims to improve the deeper layers of saggy skin. It is also much less painful than other skin tightening treatments such as Ultherapy and Thermage FLX.

But are skin-tightening treatments necessary for those below 40?

According to Dr Wong, skin laxity actually starts from the mid-20s, and this affects areas like the neck. Women in their late 20s may notice their face looking a little more “droopy” and squarish compared to when they were younger. “Non-invasive skin tightening treatments such as Fotona5D are suitable to mitigate the effects of time and gravity on our skin by stimulating the formation of collagen and elastin, keeping the skin looking lifted and taut,” he said.

A 5-IN-1 TREATMENT TO TIGHTEN AND LIFT SKIN

The Fotona4D protocol involves a four-step laser treatment that tackles skin concerns such as skin laxity, wrinkles, age spots, deepening of nasolabial folds (also known as laugh lines) as well as uneven skin tone and texture.

However, it does not address the issues in all areas. For example, Dr Wong said the effects of time and gravity can also affect the skin near the frontal hairline and back of the neck, which are not addressed in the existing four-step protocol.

To improve results, SL Aesthetic Clinic has included a fifth step – hence, its name “Fotona5D” – using a SMOOTH Erbium Laser on top of the four steps.

Fotona5D Laser Lift kicks off with the SmoothLiftin non-ablative Er:YAG laser treatment that stimulates collagen contraction and production from inside the oral cavity to tighten facial skin.

The second step uses the FRAC3 fractional laser to target deeper imperfections of the skin, thereby improving appearance of sunspots, skin lesions, fine lines, pore size, uneven skin tone and acne scarring.

Next, the PIANO treatment delivers controlled heat in long laser pulses deep into the dermal layers of the skin while sparing the epidermis (outer layer of skin). This stimulates skin tightening and collagen production.

SL Aesthetic Clinic’s proprietary additional step, SmoothFirming, is carried out at this point for further skin firming and tightening.

Dr Wong explained that this addition enhances face-lifting and tightening of the face and neck, including the skin over the frontal hairline that lifts the upper area of the face, and the back of the neck that helps improve appearance from the front of the neck.

To wrap up the treatment, a gentle laser peel procedure exfoliates dead skin cells and smoothens the skin surface for a healthy glow. This step can also help with acne marks and scars, a treatment many are looking into because of daily mask-wearing that results in "mask-ne."

LONGER-LASTING RESULTS

A full treatment of Fotona5D Laser Lift takes up to one and a half hours, which is more than twice the duration of the 20 to 30 minutes that most clinics take to do the Fotona4D treatment.

Dr Wong explained that a longer treatment session is needed due to the additional fifth step. The upside is that most people will only require maintenance treatment once a year after their initial treatments. For optimal results, the SL Aesthetic Clinic team recommends a minimum of two sessions at the beginning, with at least a month between treatments.

“We take a longer time to perform each step as we believe that delivering more energy to the skin achieves better results and saves time for the patient, compared to doing more sessions with less amount of energy delivered per session,” Dr Wong said. According to him, immediate improvements can be seen after a session, especially around the laugh lines.

“Within a week, there will be surface improvements such as clearer, smoother and brighter skin with tightened pores. Skin quality and tightness will continue to improve over the course of three months as new collagen and elastin are formed under the skin,” he explained. At the same time, he added that it is important not to neglect one’s self-care routine and to use a sunscreen daily. This, in tandem with starting skin-tightening treatments from the mid-20s, would build a strong foundation in looking good in the next few decades, he said.

Individual results may vary.

For more information about the Fotona5D Laser Lift treatment, contact SL Aesthetic Clinic at 9850 7112 or visit slclinic.com.sg.

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