Celebrity Life

Given the passage of time and the effects of gravity, sun exposure and lifestyle, even the most beautiful pair of eyes aren’t immune to signs of ageing. Dr Lisa Chan describes how to take care of and protect these wonderful assets.

Often described as the windows To the soul, the eyes are an integral part of how we communicate and are perceived by others. A glance can convey a multitude of meaning and emotions, and looking deeply into another’s eyes can build trust and affection.

It comes as no surprise, then, that seeking to enhance the beauty of our eyes has a lengthy history. From Cleopatra’s famous kohl rims to modern eyeliners, concealers and mascaras, the desire for magnetic and alluring eyes is a time-honoured tradition.

Regrettably, with the passage of time and the effects of gravity, sun exposure and lifestyle, even the most beautiful pair of eyes aren’t immune to signs of ageing. The average pair of human eyes blinks 24,000 to 28,000 times a day, and at only 0.33 to 0.36mm, eyelid and periorbital skin is only a fifth as thick as that covering the rest of the face. The combination of these factors, as well as certain genetic expressions and facial structures, results in the skin around our eyes being susceptible to dehydration, wrinkling, sagging, discoloration and puffiness.

So how can we combat these dreaded signs of ageing? Moisturising the delicate periorbital skin, especially during drier winter months, is key. Other minimally invasive options for those looking to turn back the hands of time include botulinum toxin injections or volumisation with hyaluronic acids and biostimulant filters. Rejuvenation and tightening is also possible with the insertion of polydioxanone threads, or the use of high-intensity ultrasound and radiofrequency energy-based machines.

Aside from getting in our prerequisite hours of beauty sleep, diet and exercise play important roles in maintaining youthful-looking eyes and clarity of sight. We can incorporate foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and E, zinc and lutein, and stay at a healthy weight to prevent age-related ocular diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts.

When stationed outdoors for prolonged periods, we should also take care to use a good pair of sunglasses that can block 99-100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Squinting will hasten the onset of wrinkles, and excessive ultraviolet-light exposure is related to macular degeneration and cataract formation. With society’s increasing reliance on technology, it’s also a good idea to take a break from screens every 15 minutes or so – your eyes will thank you, as will your neck and shoulders.

The eyes are our first point of contact with the outside world, so it’s imperative that we take good care of them – after all, we only get one pair for life. Not everyone can be born with long-lashed doe eyes, but clear vision and a healthy lifestyle will always reflect that youthful joie de vivre within.

Follow Dr Chan on Instagram for more beauty tips and musings.

The post Dr Lisa Chan on How to Combat the Signs of Ageing of Eyes appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Dr Lisa Chan begins her series of monthly columns by concentrating on that most expressive and sensual element of the face: the lips. "Beauty is power; a smile is its sword,” said John Ray, a 17th-century English naturalist and philosopher. As fashionable as a moody, pouting model on Instagram may be, it’s still the curve of a lip and a sensual smile that attracts the eye. I’ve had patients who worry that they come across as aloof and unwelcoming, due to naturally thin lips or droopy mouth corners.

Sometimes this is also caused by ageing – with a loss of subcutaneous fat and collagen, a thinning of the lips and sagging around the mouth area can occur. This can often be corrected with the Smile Lipt (lip-plus-lift) technique, which is a minimally invasive procedure that combines the use of botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid fillers.

Botulinum toxin reduces the contraction of muscles, such as the depressor anguli oris, which is a muscle that pulls the lip corners downwards. When this muscle is weakened, the lip corners will naturally curve upwards. The effects of botulinum toxin will take a few days to be seen, and can last anywhere from three to six months.

Hyaluronic acid fillers can re-volumise areas and strengthen lip definitions for an aesthetically pleasing result. The effects of fillers are seen instantly and can last approximately a year from injection, depending on viscosity and cross-linkage.

Popular lip shapes include:

• The Cupid's Bow: a classic lip shape with a well-defined vermilion border and the upper lip volume at 70 percent to the lower lip. This lip shape is set off beautifully with red-hued lipstick.
• Heart Shaped: a fuller-bodied lip shape with a gentle curve to the upper lip and a smooth contour to the lower lip. This lip shape is well suited to pink- and peach-toned lipsticks.
• Petal Shaped: an Asian favourite, with its delicate pout effect and lifting of the lip corners. The contours of this lip shape can be highlighted with two-toned lipsticks (darker in the lip centre, then fading out at the lip borders).

To avoid the dreaded trout pout caused by overfilling, an experienced injector will take care to inject in a ratio best suited to individual facial proportions. To minimise bruising, I typically ask my patients to refrain from aspirin, multivitamins and fish oil a week before injections. Other minimally invasive options for an irresistible smile include lower face lifting with the insertion of polydioxane threads, or the use of machines delivering high-intensity focused ultrasound or radio frequency energy. A range of treatments is available, which can be tailored to your needs.

All these options should be discussed with your physician, together with your medical history and aesthetic goals, in order to formulate the most appropriate treatment plan.

Follow Dr Chan on Instagram for more beauty tips and musings.

The post Dr Lisa Chan’s Secrets to an Alluring Smile appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.