Dr Mun Heng Lee

White patches can appear on the skin for multiple reasons, and not just because of Vitiligo. Most commonly, it can be caused by fungal infections like Pityriasis Alba and Tinea Versicolor. We see these white patches on the faces of children, and it can also appear on the affected body parts in adults and teenagers. With Tinea Versicolor, the white patches can be accompanied by symptoms such as itching and scaling. Fungal microorganisms such as Malassezia furfur can be isolated. As with most medical conditions, the strategy is to treat the cause and not to cover up the white patches.

I think the question should be more aptly rephrased as “What type of laser treatment is suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin? ” To this point, I must say a lot of this depends on the clinical experience of your doctor. Textbook doctors may sometime run into real-world problems as most of us doctors experienced when we first started treating patients. After more than 10 years, we learn from the exceptions and when textbook protocols don’t apply exactly. The Asian skin type is rather different from Caucasian skin.

Over the course of more than a decade in clinical practice, I have used and come across many lasers. Some have withstood the test of time and stayed relevant. Some disappeared almost as soon as they were launched, not that I care to mention. There is no perfect laser and neither are there perfect doctors. There are only suitable lasers for individual patients and a rewarding doctor-patient relationship. In my clinic, I am fortunate to have access to a vast array of medical lasers. In our local diverse population, I increasingly find myself spending time with the Fotona™ Laser platform.

In Singapore where we have a diverse ethnic population, it is important for a medical practice to be equipped with suitable equipment. There are indeed many good lasers out there, some from the big brands in the US and Europe. But caveat emptor applies where a population is mainly Caucasian and clinic trial subjects are mostly Caucasian, which raises the question about extrapolating results and side effects on patients who are NOT Caucasians. Don’t discount lasers with origins or parts from Japan or Korea.

Hi Jun Yi, Thanks for your D2D. It is true that our looks are a result of our genetic makeup. Recently, there was a case where I had to treat 4 sibilings with similar eye bag conditions. However, such an example of familial inheritance in features is not always the case. The cause of eye bags is a confluence of factors, bone structure, fat volume, skin laxity, and so forth. You can imagine that a patient with a shallow orbit (eye socket) and a large fat pad under the eye area will tend to exhibit an eye bag. I hope this helps!

If your eye bags are indeed very larger and swollen, you should explore a surgical option. Moderate and milder eye bags can be effectively dealt with non-surgical options. In my practice, I adopt the technique used by a Korean dermatologist called Dr Ahn that requires only some numb cream followed by a little local anaesthesia. The Eye Revo technique uses a patented micro filament that is introduced under the skin to shrink the pad pads and at the same time, the under eye is area is firmed up and rejuvenated. Some other non-surgical techniques are available. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your question. It is not uncommon for teenagers to have eye bags. I do see quite a number of young patients coming for consultations regarding their eye bags. I usually will examine the patient to ensure that an eye bag is the predominant problem before discussing the treatment options. A general approach will be for me to help the patients understand the surgical and non-surgical options.

Hi Janice. My honest advice will be for you to consult a doctor for a consultation and confirm that it is indeed an eye bag. Having been in medical aesthetic practice for over 10 years, I have had many instances when seemingly ‘eye bag appointments’ have turned out to be something else. I have had a few patients with prominent lower eyelid muscles which were solved with just a simple shot of BOTOX ™. No surgery or other procedure was required. These patients are often pleasantly surprised.

First of all, rest assured that many other ladies identify with you, thanks to the multitude of "v-shape" face advertisements. Your face is like a ‘layered cake’. Simplified from outside to inside, the layers are: Skin Fat (we doctors call it subcutaneous tissue) Fascia or SMAS (tough fibrous tissue layer) Muscles and then Bone . i. e your skull Smoking destroys the elastin part of the skin. The skin tissue matrix has many components, not just collagen.

you can ask for micro-botox which is a technique that uses finer amounts of botox around delicate areas, such as the eyes and forehead. The “frozen” look can be easily avoided when performed by an experienced doctor. Tip: Ask the doctor how many times he has performed a botox procedure. An experienced doctor does several botox procedures each day. Hope that helps.

Hair transplantation in Singapore varies and can cost anything between $6 to $8 per graft. On average we perform 1000 to 1500 grafts for each patient. A detailed consultation discussing this procedure is the first step in deciding if you are a suitable candidate for hair transplant. Men are usually good candidates for this procedure. At my clinic we also provide post-transplant care, this enhances the survival rate of the transplanted follicles and improves patient satisfaction. You can read this article for more information about hair loss treatment in Singapore.