7 Visible Signs of Ageing in Asians
Did you know that your neck, hands and eyes are delicate areas to pay particular attention to, in your attempt to cover up the piling age?

Anti-wrinkle Injection (BoNTA) is an incob*t*linumtox*A neuro-muscular blocker that inhibits neurotransmitter function. It blocks the transmission of acetylcholine from the neuron to the muscle and therefore impedes muscle contraction.
This medicine treats muscle spasms and arm stiffness, severe spasms in the neck muscles, and muscle stiffness in the elbows, wrists, fingers, ankles, or toes.

Reduce hyperhidrosis in the armpits, foreheads, and hands[17].
Blocks nerve impulses, helping to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines & headaches[18].
Blocks nerve signals to disrupt the stimulation of sebaceous glands for oil production[19].
Treat Bell's palsy, cervical dystonia, strabismus, crossed eyes, uncontrolled blinking[20].
Prevents chewing muscles from activating strongly to reduce teeth grinding and jaw clenching[21].
Relaxes the involuntary contractions of the bladder muscles, preventing a sudden and urgent need to urinate[22].
7 days before your treatment, discontinue taking blood thinners, NSAIDs, vitamin E, fish oil and other herbal supplements.
Avoid consuming alcohol and excessive caffeine for at least 24 hours before your appointment.
Avoid using makeup, skincare products, including waxing or bleaching, on the treatment area for at least three days before your treatment.
24 hours before, limit strenuous exercise and avoid going for saunas or using the hot tubs.

Do not immediately apply make-up, sunscreen, or skincare products after treatment.
Avoid touching, rubbing, or massaging the treated area.
Try not to lie down or rest on your side for about 4 hours.
Give your face a break from any pressing or massaging for at least 12 hours.
Avoid any intense workouts that would require you to tense your facial muscles for the next 24 hours.
Steer clear of heat sources (BBQ etc) and solarium activities (sauna etc) for 24 hours.
Hold off on any facials, massages or medical aesthetics treatments for at least 2 weeks after.

Your result is dependent on the skills and aesthetic sense of your doctor. Not every medical practitioner has the aesthetic sensibility to provide patients with the optimal cosmetic outcome.
An example of a less-than-ideal result is a "frozen" look, "Spock Brow", or droopy mouth.
A successful and optimal anti-wrinkle injection results lie in the doctor's ability to create a subtle, balanced, rested, and natural appearance for the patient, which is what we do at Amaris B. Clinic.
Treatment such as Anti-wrinkle Injection (BoNTA) is marked as a medical device in Singapore under the HSA regulations. It can only be prescribed and carried out by registered and trained medical doctors in Singapore.
Dr Ivan Puah, medical director of Amaris B. Clinic, obtained a Graduate Diploma in Family Dermatology from NUS. He has over 20 years of clinical experience treating patients with skin laxity, wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring issues, and many others.
He is also the appointed trainer-to-doctor by Merz Singapore and Allergan Singapore.

Will Anti-Wrinkle Injection (BoNTA) hurt?
Most patients feedback that the discomfort is manageable.
Can I return to work after the treatment?
Yes, you can, but avoiding the gym and exercising until the following day is advisable. Also, do not rub the area aggressively and refrain from facial massage for a couple of days afterwards.
Can I have an Anti-Wrinkle Injection (BoNTA) while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
Not approved for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
I have had a similar Anti-Wrinkle Injection (BoNTA) done elsewhere, but I don't see any effect. Why?
There are a few reasons why the treatment is not working for you:
• The product used may be counterfeit
• It may be over diluted or the dosage might be incorrect
• The product is not injected in the right location
• The wrinkles might be too deep. In such cases, dermal fillers may be required to further improve the results.
Will facial products such as cream or serum achieve the same effect as Anti-Wrinkle Injection (BoNTA)?
No, it is not possible to do that with cream or serum as they cannot produce the same muscle action blockage as anti-wrinkle injections do. Argireline, a type of peptide used as an ingredient in some facial/skin care products, may provide a mild effect, but the result is not comparable to Anti-wrinkle Injection (BoNTA).
Why and how do wrinkles develop?
Wrinkles and fine lines develop for several reasons. Firstly, ageing causes the skin to be thin, dry and lose elastin, leading to creases, wrinkles, and fine lines.
But this is not all. Repetitive muscle movement is another major cause of facial wrinkles, resulting in "dynamic wrinkles" (which appear when the muscle is used). Over time, these become "static wrinkles" permanently etched in our skin if left untreated. These static ones eventually make a face look fatigued and aged.
What's the difference between fine lines and wrinkles?
Most dermatologists understand fine lines as being one to two millimetres in depth. The folds are shallow, caused by sagging and dry skin.
Wrinkles, on the other hand, are deeper than 2mm. They are predominantly caused by muscle contractions, like frowning and smiling, during facial expressions. Repeated facial muscle movements create folds over the years.
There are different types of wrinkles to understand too:
Dynamic wrinkle
Occurs only with facial movements such as frowns or squints.
Fine Lines
They occur in the earliest signs of ageing. Collagen breakdown and repeated muscle movements cause wrinkles.
Why and when do wrinkles develop?
The development of wrinkles and fine lines happens from natural collagen reduction and loss of skin elastin within the skin, sun exposure, smoking, poor diet, and dehydration.
This process begins in the mid-20s when collagen production begins to slow and elastin starts to weaken. The signs may not be immediately apparent, but as decades pass, certain traits manifest due to intrinsic ageing, including fine lines and wrinkles.
When can I see the results?
The effects gradually kick in on days 3 to 5, and it takes around two weeks for the final results to appear.
How long will Anti-wrinkle Injection (BoNTA) last?
Results can last anywhere from three to six months.
Is Anti-wrinkle Injection (BoNTA) safe?
At Amaris B. Clinic, we only provide FDA and HSA-approved injectable products with a good safety profile.
Is this treatment FDA-approved?
Approved by the US FDA, Xeomin is an incob*t*linumtox*A neuro-muscular blocker available in Singapore.
Reference
[1] Small, R. (2014). Botulinum toxin injection for facial wrinkles. American family physician, 90(3), 168-175.
[2] Carruthers, J., Fagien, S., Matarasso, S. L., & Botox Consensus Group. (2004). Consensus recommendations on the use of botulinum toxin type A in facial aesthetics. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 114(6), 1S-22S.
[3] Ahn, M. S., Catten, M., & Maas, C. S. (2000). Temporal brow lift using botulinum toxin A. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 105(3), 1129-1135.
[4] Duruel, O., Ataman-Duruel, E. T., Berker, E., & Tözüm, T. F. (2019). Treatment of various types of gummy smile with botulinum toxin-A. Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 30(3), 876-878.
[5] Wu, W. T. (2010). Botox facial slimming/facial sculpting: the role of botulinum toxin-A in the treatment of hypertrophic masseteric muscle and parotid enlargement to narrow the lower facial width. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics, 18(1), 133-140.
[6] Jeong, T. K. (2020). Mouth corner lift with botulinum toxin type A and hyaluronic acid filler. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 145(3), 538e-541e.
[7] Jabbour, S. F., Kechichian, E. G., Awaida, C. J., Tomb, R. R., & Nasr, M. W. (2017). Botulinum toxin for neck rejuvenation: assessing efficacy and redefining patient selection. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 140(1), 9e-17e.
[8] Modarresi, Z. S., Beshkar, M., & Bakhtiari, Z. (2024). The use of botulinum toxin for nasal esthetics: A systematic review. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 76(5), 3757-3765.
[9] Corradino, B., Di Lorenzo, S., Corradino, A., & Cascino, A. (2023). Chin imperfections: our experience with botulinum toxin A. AESTHETIC MEDICINE, 9, 22-27.
[10] Wollina, U., & Goldman, A. (2020). Lip enhancement and mouth corner lift with fillers and botulinum toxin A. Dermatologic Therapy, 33(6), e14231.
[11] Cohn, J. E., & Greco, T. M. (2020). Advanced techniques for the use of neurotoxins in non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Aesthetic plastic surgery, 44(5), 1788-1799.
[12] Ascher, B., Talarico, S., Cassuto, D., Escobar, S., Hexsel, D., Jaén, P., ... & Viel, M. (2010). International consensus recommendations on the aesthetic usage of botulinum toxin type A (Speywood Unit)–part II: wrinkles on the middle and lower face, neck and chest. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 24(11), 1285-1295.
[13] Brandt, F. S., & Boker, A. (2004). Botulinum toxin for the treatment of neck lines and neck bands. Dermatologic clinics, 22(2), 159-166.
[14] Xu, X., Liu, D., Wu, M., Luo, L., Feng, J., Ou, Y., ... & Cui, Y. (2024). The effect of calf subcutaneous fat thickness on patient satisfaction after calf contouring with botulinum toxin A. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 154(1), 63e-69e.
[15] Kim, N. H., Chung, J. H., Park, R. H., & Park, J. B. (2005). The use of botulinum toxin type A in aesthetic mandibular contouring. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 115(3), 919-930.
[16] Kim, D., Park, J. H., Favero, V., Mah, J., Jung, Y. S., & Kim, S. T. (2020). Effect of botulinum toxin injection on asymmetric lower face with chin deviation. Toxins, 12(7), 456.
[17] Heckmann, M., Ceballos-Baumann, A. O., & Plewig, G. (2001). Botulinum toxin A for axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). New England Journal of Medicine, 344(7), 488-493.
[18] Kępczyńska, K., & Domitrz, I. (2022). Botulinum toxin—a current place in the treatment of chronic migraine and other primary headaches. Toxins, 14(9), 619.
[19] Endly, D. C., & Miller, R. A. (2017). Oily skin: a review of treatment options. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 10(8), 49.
[20] Schulte-Mattler, W. J. (2008). Use of botulinum toxin A in adult neurological disorders: efficacy, tolerability and safety. Cns Drugs, 22(9), 725-738.
[21] Long, H., Liao, Z., Wang, Y., Liao, L., & Lai, W. (2012). Efficacy of botulinum toxins on bruxism: an evidence‐based review. International dental journal, 62(1), 1-5.
[22] Grishin, A., Spaska, A., & Kayumova, L. (2021). Correction of overactive bladder with botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A). Toxicon, 200, 96-101.

Dr Ivan Puah's novel 360° Glandular Tissue Dissection (360°GTD®) technique minimises surgical invasiveness while achieving cosmetic results.

Dr Ivan Puah's novel 360° Glandular Tissue Dissection (360°GTD®) technique minimises surgical invasiveness while achieving cosmetic results.

Dr Ivan Puah's novel 360° Glandular Tissue Dissection (360°GTD®) technique minimises surgical invasiveness while achieving cosmetic results.