Facing up to the RevLite laser treatment

Once a woman hits a certain age, things happen to the skin. Especially visible are changes on the face, such as wrinkles around the eyes and deep smile lines.

As I couldn't think of anything but upsides, I decided to give the radiofrequency and RevLite laser treatments a try at Dr Lynn Chiam's clinic at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital.

When I arrived, I was immediately ushered to a treatment room.

I had to wear a shower cap so my hair would not get in the way during treatment. I also had to use a facial wash before the treatment. After that, I lay down comfortably on a treatment bed and a towel was draped over me.

Dr Chiam's clinic assistant applied a gel on my face and slowly hovered a device which delivered radiofrequency energy over my face. It felt warm and it was like having a face massage.

Radiofrequency helps to tighten the skin and encourage collagen growth. It took about 1hr 15min to do both sides of my face, my forehead and both sides of my neck. A numbing cream, an anaesthetic, was then applied on my face.

After about 20 minutes, Dr Chiam started the RevLite laser treatment. This laser emits energy of an extremely short duration to remove pigmentation, tighten pores and promote collagen growth, while avoiding damage to the top layer of the skin, said the consultant dermatologist.

At first, it felt like tiny ant bites, but I got used to the sensation quickly. This was over in about 10 minutes.

After the treatment, it seemed that there was a little improvement - perhaps my face seemed slightly more contoured. But I was not sure if I was motivated enough to continue the treatment.

In general, patients need four to six sessions of radiofrequency treatment, each one a week apart. The results can last for nine to 12 months, said Dr Chiam.

Each session costs $600 to $800, depending on the area treated.

The RevLite treatment consists of four to six sessions. A session costing $350 to $500 (depending on the area treated) is done every fortnight. Results can last for several months, she said.

Visible improvements are usually seen after a few sessions.

MYB did not pay for the treatment. It was complimentary.

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