Facials are great for maintenance, but sometimes you need a little more. The latest non-surgical “tweakments” include the newest generations of injectables, plus laser rejuvenation, mesotherapy and LED treatments that aim to rejuvenate the skin, soften lines and wrinkles, as well as target irregular pigmentation. Administered by doctors, these different therapies are mixed and matched to suit your skin, bone structure and needs.
So, how do you find out what’s new and useful for you? We sent brave testers all over Singapore to test and review the latest high-tech, non-surgical facial treatments. Here are the winners for The Weekly’s Spa Awards 2022.
VidaSkin Aesthetics Exilis
Exilis is an FDA-approved pain-free face and body contouring procedure. It uses both ultrasound and radio-frequency technology to tighten the skin and reduce wrinkles and sagging, especially for the lower face and under the chin. The treatment uses a special probe to deliver energy deep within the skin, where it heats the tissues to stimulate the production of collagen. As the Exilis handpiece is moved across the treatment area, you will feel heat and pressure, but our tester described it as “very bearable”. Your face might be a little red afterwards but there’s no downtime – you can get on with your normal life right away. You’ll need several sessions to see noticeable improvements.
$450 for 30 minutes
VidaSkin Medical Aesthetic Clinic, 501 Orchard Road 02-12 Wheelock Place, Tel: +65 9830 0597
IDS Clinic Cryo Therapeutics Treatment
Suitable for dull and sensitive skin, this treatment starts with cleansing and gentle water dermabrasion with a multi-minerals solution. Then, vitamins and brighteners are applied to the skin through iontophoresis, followed by cryotherapy technology and a serum sheet mask to soothe skin by reducing redness and skin sensitivity, as well as improve skin tone and texture.
$235 for 60 minutes
IDS Clinic, Novena Specialist Centre, 8 Sinaran Drive, #05-07/08, Tel: +65 65683559 or International Building, 360 Orchard Road, #02-01, Tel: +65 6450 3555
Freia Aesthetics Auteur Regenerative Therapy
This facial combines pampering with high-active Auteur Skincare made in Germany, and the latest beauty machines. For example, peptide serum delivery is enhanced with LED light, while dermal electroporation is used to push active ingredients into skin. Dermal electroporation uses electrical pulses to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin and split open skin cells, so anti-aging serums can be transported into skin cells at the highest efficiency rate. Our tester enjoyed the painless experience, and commented that her face looked firmer and less tired after this treatment.
$450 for 90 minutes
Freia Aesthetics, 435 Orchard Rd, #19-03 Wisma Atria Office Tower, Tel: +65 9109 1574
Mendis Aesthetics Mosaic Laser Skin Rejuvenation
This sleek, all-white medi-spa often brings in new treatments, and Dr Mends often tries the new treatments on himself to assess their efficacy. The Mosaic Fractional Laser is a new generation of laser used to diminish wrinkles, stretch marks, discoloration and different kinds of scars. To be technical, the laser damages the top layer of skin to stimulate its natural healing process. But don’t worry, numbing cream is first applied so the laser feels warm rather than hot, with none of the pain you get with some IPL treatments.
To maximise the effects, you can add on other treatments, such as Profhilo injections (a form of diffused hyaluronic acid filler). Our tester reported: “The doctor works fast and the needles are so fine that the ‘ouch factor’ is very bearable. A week or so later, I looked in the mirror and saw firmer cheeks, fewer lines at the outer corner of my eyes, and less sagging around the chin, neck and eyes. Overall, I’m thrilled.”
$1,000 for 90 minutes
Mendis Aesthetics Clinic, Mandarin Gallery, 333A, #04-17 Orchard Rd, Tel: +65 6235 1728
SkinLab Medical Spa Profhilo
Skin fillers can be injected to plump specific areas (like the lips) or they can be injected along a wrinkle to fill it in. But Profhilo is a new type of skin filler that diffuses itself over a wide area to internally firm and hydrate the skin. It uses one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid in the market to attract moisture into cells and firm up sagging tissues. You get about 14 short, sharp jabs over the face, but the needles are very fine and short – so it feels more like an ant bite rather than an injection. It’s not a pampering treatment as such, but you get results.
$1,500 for 45 minutes
SkinLab has five locations:
Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road, #04-04 Tel: +65 6235 3246
Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, #04-56, Tel: +65 6235 6108
Junction 8, 9 Bishan Place, #04-02 B/C, Tel: +65 6262 5698
Causeway Point, 1 Woodlands Square, #04-11, Tel: +65 6877 0162
Tampines, 10 Tampines Central 1, #04-30/32 Tel: +65 6634 8101
Clifford Aesthetics Sygmalift
As well as treating sagging skin on the neck, chin and face, this non-surgical face lift treatment is designed to help younger patients who want a sharper or smaller face shape. The treatment used HIFU or High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound lasers to target connective tissues as well as heat up the skin with precision. This stimulates firming collagen production where you need it. If you have a special event planner, it’s best to work ahead because the collagen grows overall few months, rather than immediately. You may also want to have a few sessions to see maximum benefit.
$1200 for 60 minutes
Clifford Aesthetics, #01-03 Clifford Center, #01-04, Tel: +65 6532 2048
Freia Aesthetics Skin Reset Mesotherapy
Electromagnetic waves help skincare ingredients penetrate deep into skin. After cleaning, an exfoliation peel and extraction, the snazzily named Meso Infinity Thermal Electroporation Mesochip Mesotherapy Device uses electromagnetic waves to deliver either hyaluronic acid or collagen serum into the skin. Our tester found it painless and shared that her skin looked very nourished and plump afterwards.
$400 for 90 minutes
Freia Aesthetics, 435 Orchard Rd, #19-03 Wisma Atria Office Tower, Tel: +65 9109 1574
Illumia Therapeutics Needleless PRDN Healer
This treatment uses “Rejuran Healer” or PDRN, a substance derived from salmon DNA. Packed with large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, it’s popular as a rejuvenation ingredient in Korea, where it’s called Skin Booster or Baby Skin Injection because it adds radiance and youthful volume. PDRN is sometimes injected into the skin, but this treatment uses electrical pulses to drive the serum into the skin. Our tester described the electrical pulses as “gentle pokes that were not painful”. Needleless PDRN Healer can be administered to all parts of the face and neck area. It is especially effective to treat fine lines around the eye
$480 for 90 minutes
Illumia Therapeutics has three locations:
Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd, #05-12B, Tel: 65 6464 6459 or Whatsapp +65 9656 5464
Nex, 23 Serangoon Central, #04-26, Tel: +65 6556 5565 or Whatsapp +65 9625 6565
i12 Katong, 112 East Coast Road, #03-05/06/07, Tel: +65 6518 4545 or Whatsapp +65 9645 9645
Ulthera at Dr Kevin Chua Medical & Aesthetics
Ultherapy is an FDA-approved skin-tightening treatment for “tired skin” that uses micro-focused ultrasound energy to target the deep layers of the skin, and stimulate the production of skin-firming collagen. Ultherapy is non-surgical, with no downtime except some mild redness and swelling immediately afterwards. You should see results within a few weeks as the collagen level increases. It’s also good to know that the safety and effects have been established through over 1,250,000 treatments performed worldwide.
$1,988 for full face and upper neck treatment, which takes about 1 hour
Dr Kevin Chua Medical & Aesthetics, 360 Orchard Rd, #03-05 International Building, Tel: +65 6694 6700
VidaSkin Hydrafacial
This high-tech facial is suitable for all ages and skin types, especially oily or clogged skin. It treats clogged pores without squeezing or pressing, which means no pain or downtime. The secret is combining vortex pressure witha proven clog-removing solution of salicylic acid, willow-bark extract and anti-inflammatory ingredients. The facial also uses the HydroPeel Tip, a pen-like device with a spiral design that extracts clogs painlessly. For a customised treatment, you can add on different booster serums to smooth fine lines, improve elasticity and firmness, or lighten the appearance of dark spots.
$200 for 30 minutes (Signature Hydrafacial); $250 for 45 minutes (Deluxe Hydrafacial)
VidaSkin Medical Aesthetic Clinic, 501 Orchard Road, #04-05 Wheelock Place, Tel: +65 6235 4429
Illumia Medical Elite IQ 5D Face Rejuvenating
The dual wavelength lasers used for this treatment deliver energy to five different layers of the skin. At the deeper layers, fat deposits are reduced for a more sculpted face. The lasers also heat tissues to tighten skin and stimulate the production of collagen. As a bonus, the treatment also helps to reduce redness, refine skin texture and add a radiant glow. Your skin may feel hot afterwards, but pain is negated due to numbing cream and a cooling air jet.
Good to know: the laser energy is delivered via a contact-free treatment tip, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
$1,800 for 90 minutes
Illumia Medical has two locations:
Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd, #05-12B, Tel: 65 6464 6459 or Whatsapp +65 9656 5464
i12 Katong, 112 East Coast Road, #03-05/06/07, Tel: +65 6518 4545 or Whatsapp +65 9645 9645
SL Aesthetic Clinic PICO Pigmentation
Fun fact: Pico laser is not a brand or name of a laser machine. It refers to a type of laser technology used to treat uneven skin pigmentation, dark spots, freckles, and reduce pores and scars. It can also be used to effectively remove tattoos.
The Pico laser fires super-short pulses that shatters pigment so it can be quickly removed by your body’s own waste disposal process. It can also help to treat deeper pigment problems, such as melasma or dark scars caused by injury or acne. Pico laser treatments usually take an hour, but half of that is spent applying pre-treatment numbing cream. Be aware that Pico lasers are not suitable if you have moderate to severe active acne.
Prices vary depending on your treatment. As a guide, it’s $350 for 10 dark spots or $450 for mild melasma.
SL Aesthetic Clinic has eight outlets:
Causeway Point,1 Woodlands Square, #04-11, Tel: +65 6877 0144
Junction 8, 9 Bishan Place, #04-02B/C, Tel: +65 6262 5898
Jurong Point, 63 Jurong West Central 3, #B1-32 Jurong Point Hse 2, Tel: +65 6316 2556
Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, #04-08B, Tel: +65 6336 1106
Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1, #04-30/32, Tel: +65 6634 8102
Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road #04-04,Tel: +65 6235 8403
Watergate, 3 Gateway Drive, #04-22, Tel: +65 6358 4588
Waterway Point, 83 Punggol Central, #01-15, Tel: +65 6346 8758
Dr Cindy’s Medical Aesthetics Hydrating Brightening Laser Treatment
This treatment uses a combination of different lasers that target dark spots and excess pigmentation, to achieve more translucent and even-toned skin. The treatment also includes extraction and LED light therapy to increase collagen production, and reduce the look of wrinkles and acne marks. While it takes a few sessions to see noticeable results, our tester commented that her skin felt more hydrated and tighter after one session.
From $761, depending on the laser and serum combination
Dr Cindy’s Aesthetics has four outlets:
International Building, 360 Orchard Road #05-06, Tel: +65 6733 4433
Jurong Point, 1 Jurong West Central 2 #03-05 Jurong Point Tel: +65 6533 4433
KAP Mall, 9 King Albert Park #01-47, Tel: +65 6898 4433
Tampines One, 10 Tampines Central 1, #05-12, Tel: +65 6786 4433