HW SPECIAL
Doc Talk
Dr Karen Soh, medical director of Prive Clinic,
answers your questions about fillers
and botulinum toxin injections.Dr Karen Soh, Medical
Director of Prive Clinic, is
best known as a trainer
for Merz Aesthetics and
Silhouette Soft threadlifts.
She is recognised for her
experience and skill across
different modalities in
aesthetic practice. With
passion and a keen eye for
detail, she balances the art
and science of aesthetic
enhancement, achieving
natural-looking results
safely and effectively.DOC TALK
Q
Afriendrecently
confessedthat
shedidfiller
injections.She
looksgreat,butrefusedto
tellmewhereitwasdone
onherface.Whatcan
fillersdo?A
Fillers help to
restore the facial
volume you lose
with age. It brings
the skin back to its original
position, and softens smile
lines and creases from the
corner of the mouth to the
chin. When plumped up with
fi llers, the fi ne lines are
smoothed.
Fillers can also improve
facial proportion and shape- so, to achieve a V-shaped
face, we may use fi llers in the
chin to increase the length
and fullness, and in the nose
to slim the sides and raise the
nose bridge.
There are also very
soft fi llers to improve skin
hydration and collagen
levels. The main component
of fi llers is hyaluronic acid,
which acts like a sponge
and holds water. So fi llers
injected at or just below the
skin level retain water there,
plumping it up.
Imperceptibility is the
ultimate goal. Those around
you should say, “Oh, I never
knew you had brown eyes”
instead of, “Have you had
fillersdone?”Q
I’m in my 40s and
notice that my
frown lines are
deeper, and my
forehead lines more
prominent. I’m open to
botulinum toxin injections
but am afraid I will end up
looking “frozen” or worse,
addicted to them.What does the perfectfacelooklike?
The ideal facial proportion
obeys the rule of thirds: One
third from the forehead hairline
to the highest point on the nose
bridge; one-third to the nose
tip, and one third to the tip ofthechin.InAsia,mostwomen
liketohavea V-shapedor
heart-shapedfacebecauseit
makesthemlookyouthful,due
totheslimlowerface,defined
jawlineandsharpchin.
MAIN PHOTO
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A
The use of
botulinum toxin
in aesthetic
medicine has been
proven safe and eff ective for
many years.
In the forehead,
botulinum toxin relaxes
the muscle that contracts
when we raise our eyebrows,
resulting in softer lines
and a smoother forehead.
If it’s done by experienced
doctors, you will not have
an unnatural or “frozen”
look. Your doctor may also
recommend that botulinum
toxin be administered to
other areas of the face to
balance muscle activity –
this keeps the face looking
consistent and natural.
The results last four
to six months, depending
on the area injected and
dosage used. When it wears
off , the original lines will
return. You will need to be
treated again in the same
area for continued eff ects.
You won’t be addicted to
the medication; many of
my patients love the results
and natural eff ects of this
treatment, and have it done
two to three times a year.
Other options are
non-invasive treatments that
use focused ultrasound and
unipolar radio frequency,
that will reduce frown lines,
and provide skin tightening
andlifting.Q
I had injectables
(both botulinum
toxin and fi llers)
done about eight
months ago. The results
still look good, but should I
do a top-up for CNY, just
to “refresh” my look?A
It’s diffi cult to
pinpoint exactly
how often you’ll
need more
treatments, as everyone’s face
and skin responds diff erently.
Some people want more
frequent treatments as they
don’t want their lines or
wrinkles to fully return,
others are able to leave seven
or even nine months in-
between treatments. But to
maintain your new look, you
will need regular top-ups.
Botulinum toxin
injections last four to six
months, and fi llers, 12
months. Your doctor should
be able to tell, from the
condition of your skin, how
often you need treatments
to maintain the fresher look
that dermal fi llers and anti-
wrinkle injections bring.
However, it’s impossible to be
certain until the procedure
has been carried out.67