Honeycombers’ own Sally Shoult puts beauty treatment, Xeomin, to the test in Singapore.
There are lots of #firstworldproblems we have to contend with here at Honeycombers HQ: figuring out where the best places to spend long weekends are, deciding which spas really are the most luxurious, and trying to find the hottest new tables and fanciest bars in Singapore, to name but a few. But all of this hard work (what? Someone’s got to do it!) has started to take its toll, and unfortunately, it’s my face that has suffered the most. For the first time ever, the fine lines and wrinkles on my forehead and around my eyes have really started to show. And when your aging face becomes the preferred subject of office bants, you know it’s time to do something about it.
The problem
My friends continually reassure me that I’m not that old, and up until now, I’d listened. However, as my 33rd year rolled around, I couldn’t ignore those pesky face dents any longer. No one else thought my lines were that bad, but they bothered me. So I decided the time had come to concede defeat and admit that no face cream, lotion, or potion was going to help. I needed some professional intervention, and I needed it stat!
The appointment
Given I’ve only got one face and, on the whole, I’m okay with how it looks, I didn’t want to tinker with it too much. Yes, I wanted to subtly erase the deepening lines, but I didn’t want to end up looking like a waxwork with no facial movement whatsoever. Thankfully, upon meeting Dr. Joseph See at See Aesthetics and Medical Clinic, any fears I had quickly disappeared.
I popped into his clinic after work one evening for a consultation, and we agreed that Xeomin would be the best course of action to reduce my frown lines. Pronounced as “zee-oh-min”, it’s the latest treatment on the scene and similar to Botox. In fact, Xeomin is sometimes referred to as “The Naked Botox” due to the absence of proteins that Botox carries. In other words, Xeomin is a more purified form of botulinum neurotoxin, the active ingredient in Botox. Without these proteins, it’s said that the human body is less likely to become resistant to the injectable.
We discussed the treatment in detail, possible side effects as a precautionary measure (turns out I didn’t experience any post-treatment), and the amount of Xeomin to be injected. As I wanted a natural look, Dr. See advised that less is more; we agreed to inject a lower dose (that would still last for approximately four months), but that if I didn’t experience the expected results, he would ‘top me up’ at a later date.
Consultation over, I hopped into the chair to get jabbed. My head was iced in advance to numb any pain, before Dr. See efficiently injected the wrinkles on my forehead and around my eyes with Xeomin. The entire process was over within five minutes, and I was absolutely delighted that I barely felt a thing!
Dr. See advised that I not touch the injected area or exercise for 24 hours, so as not to spread the Xeomin, and with that, I skipped off into the night.
Immediately after
My skin can be a little sensitive, so I did look as though I’d been attacked by mosquitos immediately after. But after around 20 minutes, the swelling went down and my face looked, well, normal! Huzzah! For the rest of that evening, my head did feel a little strange, like I had the onset of a headache – though a wine with the gals quickly sorted that minor issue.
The morning after
By morning, I could certainly tell the difference in my appearance – my skin looked firmer, taut, and my forehead definitely looked less wrinkly. There were still a few fine lines around my eyes that hadn’t quite disappeared, though Dr. See did mention that it would take a few days for the Xeomin to properly settle. The headache feeling from the previous evening had completely subsided.
Day three
The Xeomin had fully settled and I was really happy with the results.When I smiled, there were no crow’s feet around my eyes, and my forehead was completely smooth!
Day five
I had my first comment from a friend – who didn’t know I’d had the treatment – that I was looking ‘fresh’. Boom!
Day seven
I was absolutely loving my new look. Several people had commented that my skin was looking great, but were absolutely shocked when I told them I’ve had a Xeomin treatment: they couldn’t believe it looked so natural. Success!
Would I have it again?
It’s now several months after my treatment and my head and eyes are still looking as smooth as ever. I am even contemplating whether to add Xeomin to my regular beauty maintenance list (be warned, it is addictive!).
Thinking about having it done but feeling apprehensive? I say go for it! However, make sure you consult a reputable, qualified doctor like Dr. See who can safely inject the appropriate amount of Xeomin for the most natural results.
If you’d like to get in touch with Dr. Joseph See, you can visit him at See Aesthetics and Medical Clinic at Scotts Medical Centre. For more information call 6738 8842 or visit www.seeaesthetics.com.