Ageing is a natural process and occurs with time. Unfortunately, with age comes an increase in skin laxity — everything starts to sag and droop, especially when not taken care of properly. Another effect of ageing is metabolic slowdown, which causes a shift in body composition, decreasing muscle mass and increasing fat mass.
Fortunately, there are effective ways to tighten the skin and contour the body without having to go under the knife and endure long downtimes.
As we age, our dermis layer produces less collagen and can be affected by factors like sun exposure, stress, and poor diet. With lesser collagen production comes thinner and looser collagen and elastin fibres, which means less skin elasticity, causing wrinkling and sagging.
Collagen production gradually decreases in our 20’s, but these changes are subtle, and people usually undergo skin tightening treatments from the age of 35. Certain areas are targeted to encourage collagen production and regeneration. Other than age, collagen levels reduce due to:
Hydrolysed collagen supplements and fruits rich in antioxidants are a great help! However, to further combat these issues some treatments focus on skin tightening by stimulating collagen production and strengthening the elastin fibres.
Body contouring treatments, on the other hand, are effective ways to reduce weight, especially targeted areas with stubborn pockets of fat. This can be done by subjecting the fat cells to extreme temperatures that kill them off, after which they are naturally excreted from the body.
Skin tightening and body contouring can be done using a variety of technologies, from radiofrequency technology to laser-based devices. Read on as we highlight a few notable treatments to consider!
Known as High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), this treatment makes use of ultrasound and thermal energy to produce results akin to a surgical facelift. It lifts the skin and encourages skin regeneration, keeping skin condition at optimal levels — perfect for those who want to combat weak and slackened fibres under the skin.
Ultrasound and heat energy is used to induce a healing response, stimulating collagen production and tightening the skin without the use of needles. This treatment is most effective for smaller areas of the face, such as the cheeks and chin and improves fine lines around the corners of your eye, near the eyebrows and on the neck. It also treats issues such as frown lines, forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet.
As mentioned earlier, body contouring treatments often work by subjecting the fat to extreme temperatures, causing “cell death”, while leaving other tissues unaffected. Although we cannot spot-reduce with exercise, with body contouring treatments, we can.
As the name suggests, the Clatuu 360 Fat Freeze works by eliminating the fat cells using extremely cold temperatures. Based on the science of cryolipolysis, targeted areas are cooled to crystallise fat cells in a controlled manner. These cells atrophy and are removed naturally via the lymphatic system.
Clatuu 360’s surround cooling technology can effectively reduce up to 40% of fat, with abdomen fat loss of up to 5cm after every session.
The Onda Coolwaves utilises targeted microwaves to reduce localised fat deposits safely and effectively. The energy is only focused where needed and is balanced with a high-tech cooling system to cool the skin and counterbalance the heat produced by the microwaves. This preserves the surrounding tissues, reducing risks such as inflammation and providing total patient comfort.
The Onda Coolwaves has 3 main functions, which are to target:
Vanquish ME is the world’s first contactless technology that utilises selective radiofrequency to target fat deposits and heats them at extreme temperatures, reducing fat and shaping the body. This effective treatment creates visible inch-loss and works best on large areas of the body, such as the tummy, thighs and arms.
The Venus Legacy treatment utilises thermal radiofrequency combined with a patented MP2 Magnetic Pulse and VariPulse technology to target deeper tissues in the body. This evenly distributed energy delivery system breaks down fat cells and eliminates them through the body’s natural metabolic process.
Unfortunately, there is no “best treatment” but rather a treatment that is best for you based on your condition, needs and desires. At Cambridge Therapeutics, a detailed consultation is first done to examine your condition. A muscle-fat analysis is done to set a baseline for accurate tracking of your progress throughout your sessions.
In most situations, an individual will have to go for a few sessions regularly to experience visible results and improve skin elasticity. However, the optimum number of sessions largely depends on your current condition and will be advised by your doctor or therapist during your first consultation.
The costs of these treatments largely depend on what technology is used and the area being treated — smaller treatment areas, like the arms, would cost less as opposed to larger treatment areas like the tummy. For example, a single Clatuu 360 Fat Freeze treatment could cost anywhere between $350 - $1000 in Singapore.
At Cambridge Therapeutics, we offer a Clatuu 360 Fat Freeze first-time trial of $300. You may find more information on our promotions and offers, here.
Body contouring treatments involve fat loss and this reduction is permanent. That being said, it is important to incorporate exercise and a healthy diet into your regime to keep the fat off. Skin tightening treatments may need regular treatments to be sustainable.
As all of these procedures are non-invasive, there will be little to no side effects. However, some may experience temporary redness or bruising, which will subside within a day or two. At Cambridge Therapeutics, the patients’ comfort is the priority, and each treatment will be made as comfortable as possible for each individual.
Skin tightening and body contouring treatments can give you that added boost of confidence to make you feel comfortable in your skin. These treatments are designed to help improve your appearance based on the consultation plan recommended to you by our trained therapists.
Understandably, with the vast amount of technology available you may not know what treatment would fit you best. If in doubt, please contact our friendly staff to book a consultation and detailed analysis.