Technology can sculpt a more beautiful you

By Christiani S. Tumelap

JAKARTA (JP): When God created His most beloved creature at the dawn of time, dust and holy breath were all that was needed for shaping the human form.

When cosmetic experts resculpt and rejuvenate people in the 1990s, they draw on a collection of helpers -- creams, the operating knife, biotone machines and chemical peels.

Due to stunning technological breakthroughs in the beauty business, it is now almost impossible to tell whether someone's translucent skin, perfect nose, shapely body or radiant locks are thanks to nature, or due to a lot of help from a cosmetician.

Thwarted in your best efforts to squeeze into that tantalizing, hip-hugging pair of pants? Never fear: liposuction is just a phone call away.

Pimples, wrinkles and dark skin can all be put paid with laser chrome lighting treatment.

Others may accuse the patients of vanity for their unwillingness to accept the looks God gave them.

But the wonders of technology have beauticians itching to makeover their customers, and the esthetically dissatisfied among us going for a nip here, and tuck there.

Plenty of beauty parlors and health clinics in Jakarta offer services for those on an unending search for beauty.

Laser surgery treats pigmentation, tattoos, facial spider veins, port-wine birthmarks, warts, scars, stretch marks and even vulvodynia, diseases of female genitalia.

The Obagi Clinic in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, touts its speciality, a blue peel which it is claimed will remove damaged, pigmented, wrinkled and blemish-prone facial skin.

The BB&C, also in Kebayoran Baru, has a range of services, including the popular nonsurgical facelift, costing an affordable Rp 100,000 per one-hour visit.

For a new and revised you, these treatments may be the thing. But first you have to recognize your body and skin type, condition and needs before deciding which is best.

It is also crucial to know the requirements, procedures, advantages and side effects of whatever you opt for.

Liposuction

According to dermatologist and cosmetic skin surgery doctor, Edwin Djuanda, liposuction rids unwanted fat from parts of the face and body, usually the cheeks, chin, thighs, hips, underarms and abdomen.

"The surgery takes about one to two hours, and the patient is able to go home afterwards," he said, declining to disclose the cost.

He said the doctor administered local anesthetic, treated the fat tissue and injected a round-edged steel pipe, two to six millimeters in diameter and between 10 and 45 centimeters long.

The pipe is connected to the syringe or vacuum machine, which suctions fat from the area.

"The scar is quite small, about four to five millimeters. It's much smaller for liposuction in the face, only one to two millimeters. The scar soon heals and fades.

"Liposuction is most beneficial if used to correct or contour particular parts of the body where the fat can't be easily eliminated by diet or exercise," he said.

Results are best in younger patients, preferably under 45 years old, as their skins are still elastic.

"That will help the skin regain its suppleness and firmness after surgery," he said.

Desired body shape can be achieved within six months.

"The result is almost permanent for parts like thighs, underarms and abdomen," said Edwin, who treats patients at several clinics, including the Jakarta Skin Center in Radio Dalam, South Jakarta.

"But it won't last long if the patient does not watch his or her health by eating nutritionally balanced meals and exercising."

There is also lipoinjection surgery, in which some fat, or collagen, is injected into parts of the body, favored particularly for a sensuous bee-stung contour to lips.

"Lipoinjection of lips is currently very popular in some foreign countries. The women there want to have the sexy full- lipped look."

Whitening

Black is beautiful, as with supermodels Naomi Campbell and Iman, but some Indonesians stubbornly hold to the view that a paler complexion is more attractive.

A beauty parlor owner said there were at least three ways to whiten up your face or body's skin tone.

"You can do it by body scrubbing and masking, chrome lighting or whitening injections," said Grace Taniajaya, owner of Bella salon on Jl. Gunawarman in South Jakarta.

Body scrubbing and masking costs around Rp 126,000 (US$38) per two-hour treatment, and Grace said there were no unwanted side effects.

Results are seen after three months of intensive treatments. "For the face, it'll take only a month," she said.

Chrome lighting treatment, which is safe for the eyes, is one step up from the facial and body scrub. The chrome light aids emergence of a fairer skin tone.

"You may see the results in two weeks on your face. But for the body, it'll take longer, depending on the nature of your skin tone and the duration of the treatment," Grace said.

Injections should only be done by trained experts, like doctors, she said. They yield the best results, but can also cost millions of rupiah.

She said money was no object for many people, intent with looking the best that technology can make them.

All the treatments and fantastic results will be worthless without the will to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle, she said.

"Money can acquire beauty, but only self-discipline and caring for oneself can make it last."