Technology can sculpt a more beautiful you
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."