– Advertorial –

As much as I want to be comfortable in my own skin, I find it nearly impossible to step out of the house without applying at least some foundation on my face. I wasn’t blessed with the most fantastic genes and was plagued by acne during my teenage years. Yup, you might have guessed it. My old acne scars just wouldn’t go away despite me having tried various creams that claim to eliminate or smooth out these awful blemishes. I was left feeling dejected each time I did not see any visible results after weeks of diligently applying these creams. Recently, I came across Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser, a form of laser skin renewal, and it certainly piqued my interest as I found out that it’s an effective yet non-invasive procedure that can help to address my concerns.

Crawfurd Medical Centre is one of the clinics in Singapore that offers Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatment and what’s really awesome is that Crawfurd Medical is a one stop facility that provides GP, Health Screening and Aesthetic services! How convenient is that? The clinic is located at Suntec City which is highly accessible by public transport. A few weeks back, I went for a consultation with Dr. Peter Chen to learn more about Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser and of course, to determine if this treatment is suitable for me!

I was greeted by a very amiable Dr. Chen, who explained Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser to me in layman terms, which definitely made it easy for me to understand. In a nutshell, Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser works by using light energy to penetrate the dermal layer of the skin and remove areas of damage, while at the same time, stimulate collagen growth. It is a treatment used to combat acne scars, uneven skin tone, wrinkles and large pores. Apart from my old acne scars, I also raised another concern of mine, which is some pigmentation which has begun to form on my upper cheeks, probably the result of long sun exposure as I used to play a lot of tennis. Dr. Chen advised that he would rather under treat than to over treat this problem as there is a possibility of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which could worsen the problem. It was certainly a very insightful consultation session for me where I learned about what Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser could do for me! Noticeable results could be seen after the first session but it takes at least a couple of sessions to achieve optimal results, depending on individual skin condition.

I was ushered into a treatment room and was asked to change into a robe. Elaine, the Head of Aesthetic from Alcove at Crawfurd, started the session by first cleansing my face.

A good amount of topical numbing cream was applied thereafter.

Elaine explained that the cellophane cling wrap will aid in better and faster absorption of numbing cream, which took all of 20 minutes to take effect.

As you can see, these are the old acne scars and pock marks that had prevented me from heading out without any makeup!

Before beginning the procedure, Dr. Chen first tested the moisture level of my face to determine the suitable level of laser intensity to be administered. Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser works in such a way that laser energy is delivered in tiny dots in a grid formation. I have a pretty low tolerance for pain but found the entire process to be quite tolerable. For the first round, it actually felt like having a rubber band hitting lightly on my face. I wasn’t used to the sensation initially and kept jolting, and Dr. Chen made sure that I was alright before proceeding with the laser treatment for the next targeted area of my face.

For the second round, there was a very slight burning sensation, but it was still tolerable. The only thing that bothered me was the smell of my burnt skin that filled the room. Apart from that, it was all cool!

Visible grid marks could be seen after the treatment but not to worry, they will go away in a few days!

The immediate after-effects of the Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser treatment was a lobster red face and the feeling of getting a sun burn on the face.

Elaine slathered on some Intensive Hydrating Marine Algae mask on my face, which felt very cooling and soothing to my red-hot skin. I drifted off to lala land for about 20 minutes and Elaine proceeded to peel off the mask for me. My face didn’t feel that hot and was really refreshed! I highly recommend it!

As you can see in the photos that I have taken on a daily basis following the treatment procedure, my face was the reddest on Day 2. Scratching, scrubbing and sun exposure is not advisable as the skin is very sensitive during this recover period. When I needed to head out, I made sure I applied sunblock of at least SPF30 as advised by Elaine. My face felt itchy and by Day 3, my skin started to scab. I would say that there is very little downtime and I could apply light foundation whenever I wanted to head out of the house. During the recovery phase, it’s best to keep the face cool!

I was also given some products by Nelly De Vuyst that helped my skin heal faster. Nelly De Vuyst is a premium skin care brand from the United States and its products are exclusively offered through spas and medical spas. It has a longstanding reputation as one of the most effective, anti-aging and corrective skincare line in the market.

As my skin is slightly on the dry side, Nelly De Vuyst Cleansing Milk Hydrocell works really well for me as it contains ingredients that thoroughly and gently cleanse the skin while respecting the quality of the hydrolipidic film. The cleanser has a light and creamy texture, which helps to remove impurities from the face while leaving the skin feeling refreshed and moisturized. It is very gentle and perfect for dehydrated, sensitive and irritated skin conditions.

My skin was red and felt raw after the Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser treatment, and Elaine told me to rub a few drops of Nelly De Vuyst Sensitive Skin Serum onto my palms before pressing the serum on my face. It is specially formulated for sensitive skin and visibly reduces any signs of redness. It also soothes inflammatory reactions, itching and irritation. Lastly, Elaine told me to apply the Nelly De Vuyst Sensitive Skin Cream whenever my face felt hot or itchy, as this cream helps comfort, hydration and softness to sensitive skin.

Currently, there is a promotion code for my readers! Quote “CHARLENECMC15” for 15% off all Nelly De Vuyst and Douglas Laboratories products at Crawfurd Medical! And quote “CHARLENECMC” to try the Laser Skin Renewal @ $300 NETT!

CRAWFURD MEDICAL
3, Temasek Boulevard, #02-482, Suntec City Mall (North Wing between Tower 1 & 2), Singapore 038983
Mondays to Fridays: 8.30 am to 6.00 pm
Saturdays: 8.30 am to 1.00 pm
Sundays & Public Holidays: CLOSED
Call 6804 9579 to book an appointment today !