Celebrity Life

Although many women experience discomfort in their bodies, especially after childbirth, Dr Lisa Chan says a range of procedures and therapies are available.

Women’s Health Through Life Stages

We women go through a host of changes throughout our lifetime. From puberty to childbirth to menopause, the female body undergoes a range of physiological transformations across various stages of life. While we grow and blossom into our mature bodies and beyond, occasionally these hormonal and physiological changes can be distressing, especially after childbirth and menopause. The passage of a baby through the birth canal can result in vaginal laxity and stress incontinence (involuntary leakage of urine), while menopause can cause vaginal atrophy, a loss of vaginal lubrication and dyspareunia (pain during intercourse).

To reduce the chances of vaginal laxity and stress incontinence, pregnant women are often advised to strengthen their pelvic floor using Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises can be done lying down, sitting, or standing, and involve contracting the pelvic floor muscles — a sensation similar to holding in the urge to pee. When done in three sets of 10 to 15 times a day, Kegels will help improve the muscular support for the uterus and the bladder. It’s important not to do them while actually peeing, as this can result in incomplete emptying of the bladder and lead
to urinary tract infections.

After menopause, the main cause of vaginal atrophy and decreased lubrication is a drop in estrogen levels. Vaginal tissues also become thinner, more fragile and easily irritated, and there may sometimes be bleeding post intercourse. Options for treatment include lubricants, estrogen creams, vaginal suppositories and rings, oral medications and hormonal supplements. Your doctor may prescribe them based on symptoms and your previous medical history.

Some of the treatments, such as estrogen supplements, are contraindicated in patients who have had breast cancer, and non-hormonal treatments can be used instead. There are also minimally invasive options for vaginal rejuvenation, which include the use of radiofrequency, focused electromagnetic energy and laser treatments. These machines heat up the vaginal tissues and induce pelvic floor muscle contractions to improve tone and reduce laxity. They can be performed as a day procedure with or without topical anaesthesia.

Results typically last about six months to a year, before maintenance treatment is needed. They aren’t suitable for use in women who are pregnant, have an IUD, uterine or vaginal infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, a history of keloid formation, cancer or endometrial disorders.

Feeling confident in your body and enjoying connection and intimacy with your partner is something every woman should be able to take pleasure in. If you’re experiencing any of the above, be open with your doctor and know that there are various options available to you.

For more stories on women’s health, check out Dr Lisa Chan’s stories here

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Signs of ageing don’t necessarily mean a full-on facelift. As Dr Lisa Chan explains, there’s a more subtle and natural-looking alternative: a threadlift.

Given enough time and gravity, age begins to show on our faces in the form of loose skin, sagginess and loss of elasticity. Procedures such as skin resurfacing and filler injections can combat some of these issues early on, but sometimes a surgical facelift may be required to get the desired results. In between lies a relatively newer procedure: the threadlift. Instead of a full-on surgical approach where loose skin is removed and sutured for a tightening effect, patients who want more subtle and natural-looking results may opt for a threadlift. This procedure utilises absorbable medical-grade sutures to mechanically anchor and lift up sagging skin. As the threads dissolve over the next few months, they initiate a healing process within the body that increases the amount of collagen in the treated areas.

More collagen strengthens the skin, improving its elasticity and reducing wrinkle formation. Various types of sutures are available depending on the area being treated and the required degree of lifting: mono, screw and cog. Mono and screw sutures promote collagen formation and are usually placed in wrinkle-prone areas such as the forehead, around the eyes, upper cheeks, lip corners, and neck, while cog sutures tend to lift up the skin better and are inserted near the hairline to tighten sagging cheeks and jowls.

A typical threadlift procedure is done under local anaesthesia, and will last 30 minutes to an hour. In addition to an immediate tightening and structuring of the skin, gradual improvement in elasticity and hydration can be seen over the next few months. Since the sutures are relatively small, healing of the insertion sites usually only takes a few days. Most patients can go back to work straight after the procedure.

With any injection procedure, swelling and bruising as well as pain may occur. As there’s a risk of suture migration with excessive facial movement, patients are advised to sleep on their backs and not to rub the treated areas vigorously over the next few weeks. There’s also a risk of infection, and care must be taken to keep the treated areas clean. Signs of infection include redness, swelling and fever, and you should notify your doctor immediately.

The threadlift is suitable for patients who have mild to moderate skin laxity, which usually concurs with patients in their late thirties to fifties. Results are less dramatic than a surgical facelift, and can last from one to three years.

In patients who desire not just a lifting effect but also wish to improve volumisation, reduce wrinkles and smoothen out skin tone, other modalities such as injectable fillers, botulinum toxin and light-based therapies may be used to achieve the desired results.

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Unless we’re especially fortunate, most of us carry physical scars somewhere on the body. In the event these are particularly troubling, Dr Lisa Chan explains how they can be minimised.

Life is a series of unpredictable and feels different from the surrounding skin. can help, but for older stretch marks a
Scars take more than six months to settle into their final appearance, usually becoming flatter and paler with time. In cases where there’s an excessive tissue response, the scar can become raised (hypertrophic) and even extend beyond its original borders (keloid). This is more common in younger and darker-skinned patients. In other cases where there’s been rapid stretching of the skin — during puberty or pregnancy, for example — or increased tension, such as over the joints, rupturing of the collagen and elastin fibres can result in stretch-mark scars. After surgery or instances of deep-seated inflammation, such as acne, the loss of supporting structures, fat and muscle can also cause scars with a sunken or pitted appearance.

Treatment will vary depending on the type of scar. For keloid and hypertrophic scars, steroid injections and vascular lasers can help to flatten the scar and reduce redness. As for stretch marks, these are notoriously difficult to treat. Early on, hyaluronic acid and tretinoin creams occurrences. Whether by accident, disease or surgery, most of us carry scars as reminders of the experiences we’ve been through. If the experience has been particularly upsetting, the scar and its appearance can be something my patients wish to minimise.

Scars are formed when there’s been a break in the skin to the dermis or below. As the second layer of the skin, the dermis contains elastic and fibrous tissue that contributes to the skin’s strength and elasticity. The body initiates its natural wound-healing process by depositing new collagen fibres, resulting in a scar that looks combination of chemical peels, microdermabrasion, radiofrequency, ultrasound and laser treatments may be needed. For sunken scars, dermabrasion and filler injections can help lift up the scar and make it less noticeable. In certain cases, scar revision surgery may be considered.

To prevent the formation of an unsightly scar, proper wound care is important. Keeping the area clean reduces the chances of infection and inflammation. Instead of letting the wound form a scab, applying an ointment such as Vaseline and covering the wound with a hydrogel or silicone dressing allows it to heal faster. After the wound has healed, good sun protection with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF30 can help to reduce the chances of the scar becoming more red, brown or discoloured.

We’ve all had experiences we’d rather forget, but they’re nonetheless a part of life. If your scar bothers you, know that treatments are available and like all things in life, they will fade with time.

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To those whose whirlwind romance looks likely to become permanent, we've put together everything they'll need to know about that all-important token of everlasting love – the engagement ring.

If we didn’t know this already, 2021 definitely proved a certain point – that nothing can get in the way of love, not even a pandemic that knows no end. People may reschedule their weddings to 2022, even 2023, but proposals and engagements are still very much happening.

And with every proposal, there’s the ultimate prop: the ring to symbolise eternal love and commitment. It doesn’t have to be a diamond, but it sure needs to be something you know your partner will cherish. Whether you’re dropping hints to your partner about the ring of your dreams, or even shopping together for it, we’ve gathered all the advice from our favourite bridal jewellers to narrow down the top engagement-ring trends that we believe are here to stay.

Read on to discover all the engagement ring trends.

Trend 1: Keeping it Classic

The diamond engagement ring will forever remain a classic, even if it isn’t technically traditional – diamonds only became synonymous with bridal jewellery when copywriter Frances Gerety coined the phrase “A Diamond is Forever” for a 1947 De Beers campaign. Nonetheless, white diamonds remain a popular choice and numerous jewellery brands purport to offer the best of them.

For example, Graff, the king of diamonds, takes its diamond selection process extremely seriously, having spent generations perfecting the journey of a stone from mine to boutique, ensuring on the way that the cut, the setting and the craftsmanship behind each jewel are flawless. Diamonds are graded by the 4Cs, a universal standard set by the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) that refers to a diamond’s cut, colour, clarity and carat weight. At Graff, the diamonds are cut and polished to be perfect balanced with symmetrical mirror-like facets to display the optimum scintillation; you’ll also find that in terms of colour, Graff only uses diamonds ranging between D and G – the rarest and most sought-after grades.

At Hearts on Fire, cut is the most important of the 4Cs. A round, brilliant-cut diamond is arguably the most sparkling and radiant, as it displays the highest number of facets within to reflect light, and this is also the cut that Hearts on Fire exclusively specialises in.

Trend 2: Going for Fancy Shapes

Today, however, there’s definitely a rise in popularity for fancy shapes. Clients who go to Angie Marei in New York, aren’t looking for round brilliant-cut diamonds.. The Dominican-Egyptian designer takes inspiration from Ancient Egyptian decorative arts, architecture and the anti-traditional elegance of the Art Deco era to bring each piece a unique story. Her Ayla Bridal Collection for example, is inspired by the majestic open curves and fluidity of Arabic calligraphy and decorative arts, with a serpentine design that’s a spiritual symbol of rebirth, transformation, eternity and immortality.

“Most of my clients are requesting unique cuts over the traditional round brilliant cuts,” Marei tells us. “For example, our Ayla Engagement Ring featuring a marquise-cut diamond is in high demand now. They love the ultra-feminine look of the marquise shape. We’re also getting a lot of requests for pear and oval-cut diamonds.”

Similarly, De Beers has noticed the trend for fancy cuts, and has extended its offering of fancy-cut and fancy-colour solitaire diamond rings this year, offering its clients full control of their individual expressions. Marquise-cut, a modification of the round brilliant that maximises carat weight and gives the illusion of longer and slimmer fingers, dates back to the 1700s. According to legend, Louise XV of France requested a diamond cut to resemble the perfectly-shaped mouth of his mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour.

Heart-shaped diamonds are also making a comeback among hopeless romantics. Their popularity dates back to the 16th century, when Mary Queen of Scots gave Queen Elizabeth a heart-shaped diamond ring as a gift of friendship.

Trend 3: Design-Forward

London-based designer Liv Luttrell, who excels in creating bespoke engagement rings for her clients, says she’s “found a real interest in dramatic design-led pieces.

“I’ve been exploring geometric shapes paired with detailed settings and simple curving architectural-inspired lines,” says Luttrell. “The challenge I relish is to take a bold brief and bring it to life, where the final design has the right balance of quality, uniqueness and timeless elegance that will be wearable for a lifetime.”

Intricate design is on the mind of Harry Winston’s designers, too. Inspired by the intricate details and elements of a bespoke wedding gown, the house has applied the same mindset and artistry to its new Bridal Couture collection of rings. Each ring highlights the various diamond cuts with signature elements that recall the wedding-day ensemble – such as the corset lacing of a couture gown, married with a pear-shaped diamond centre stone, or an emerald-cut diamond contrasting with the delicate open-weave fabric of Chantilly lace. For a more avant-garde take on an engagement ring, there’s also an exquisite ring designed with two marquise-shaped diamonds of approximately the same carat weight, resting asymmetrically side-by-side on a diamond and platinum band.

Trend 4: Attention to the Ring Band

Jewellery designer Rachel Boston has noticed a trend for more unusual band styles. “At the moment, we’re seeing a lot of interest in more unusual band styles, with people leaning towards wider statement bands,” she says.
“A chunky band is a perfect way to turn something that would otherwise be a much more classic-looking engagement ring into a piece with a really unique character,” says Boston. “Split bands are a popular choice as well, and much easier to wear and pair with a wedding band than you’d think. We’re also seeing a draw towards intricate, Art-Deco inspired halos.”

For popular British fine-jewellery brand Annoushka, which introduced its first bridal collection this year, it’s all about the ring jacket. Called Love & Commitment, the collection ranges from simple solitaires and delicate three-stone designs to more extravagant fine stone rings. What’s super interesting is the diamond ring jacket that clients can pair with an engagement ring. Available in yellow or white gold, the interchangeable ring jacket slides snugly around the solitaire ring for extra oomph and pizzaz. The ring jacket functions perfectly as a wedding band, or could even be added as a milestone gift in years to come.

Trend 5: Making a Statement with Colour

Every couple is different, and every proposal is unique. There’s definitely a growing number of people looking for something different – and coloured stones have never been more popular. According to London-based jeweller Michelle Oh, “We’re seeing a huge and growing demand for coloured stones to be used in engagement rings these days. Gone are the days when someone just wants a round brilliant-cut white diamond solitaire for an engagement ring.”

People today are looking for uniqueness. “More and more people try to be different and steer away from silhouettes and shapes that feel too commonplace,” says Oh. “I think this is all part of the zeitgeist of wanting to express individuality and uniqueness.”

Colour is an extremely personal way to display this sense of individuality, she adds. “Even those who still want some diamonds on their ring will opt for less traditional-looking diamonds, such as champagne or grey diamonds, or maybe an unusual cut or shape, to get that different look in their diamond ring.”

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If you have an urge to radiate the effortless good looks of a K-pop star, Dr Lisa Chan explains how it’s done.

With the explosion in popularity of global K-pop superstars, such as Blackpink and BTS, many of my clients have come to me with requests for the kind of skin and contour enhancements that make such artists look impeccable without make-up. Some recent favourites include:

Glass Skin: Poreless, luminous skin that glows from within. As any good make-up artist will emphasise, foundations and concealers can only do so much to cover blemishes and pockmarks. Dewy, hydrated and radiant-looking skin is the basis for flawless make-up and, depending on the initial condition of the skin, this can be achieved via deep dermal hydrating injections and sessions of intense pulsed light.

Eyelid Contouring: Prominent creases that widen and increase the charisma of the eyes. Over time, sagging of the upper eyelid skin and loss of volume under the brow area can result in a tired, defeated appearance. Biostimulant and hyaluronic acid filler injections can fill in creases and make up for fat loss and bony resorption, while devices utilising high-intensity focused ultrasound and radiofrequency energy can help tighten and lift sagging skin. Opaque lenses will need to be worn to protect the eyeballs during treatment.

Aegyo Sal: The creation of “charming fat” under the eyes radiates youth and good cheer. If you’ve ever wondered why so many Korean celebrities always look as if they’re smiling, this is one of their best-kept secrets. Tiny cannulas are used to deposit minuscule amounts of hyaluronic acid fillers under the bottom lash line to mimic the muscular action of “smiling eyes” and create a highlighted, cheerful effect.

Smile Lipt: A lip reshaping and “smile” formation technique. To add to the impression of effortless serenity, gone are the days of puffy overblown lips, in favour of delicate petal-shaped borders with upturned corners. Carefully placed botulinum toxin injections and low-viscosity hyaluronic acid fillers can smooth out wrinkles and gently lift lip corners, while intense pulsed light can reduce unwanted pigmentation.

Jaw Contouring: A sculpted, defined appearance to the jawline. Double chins and loose skin can make it difficult to be camera-ready at all angles, but there are multiple ways to combat these issues. Deoxycholic acid, a fat emulsifier naturally found in the body, can be injected to reduce stubborn fat under the chin area, while a combination of hyaluronic acid fillers, polydioxanone threads, high-intensity focused ultrasound and radiofrequency treatments can be used to tighten, lift and improve the definition of the chin and jaw.

K-pop artists are known for their meticulous attention to detail and high beauty standards that make it seemingly impossible for unflattering photos to surface. Beauty filters and Photoshop aside, there’s nothing quite like the glow of confidence that comes from looking and feeling your best.

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

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Having a child is a life-changing moment, dictating the start of a whole new chapter in life where your priorities get reshuffled and suddenly nothing matters apart from the sleeping (or crying) baby in your arms. This was the predicament Joyce Lau found herself in, who changed the entire course of her career in 2018 to start a new company, NakedLab, to bring quality bedding for her then two-month-old daughter, who was battling serious eczema.

A former architect and now a full-time mother and entrepreneur, Lau tells us about her frustrations with the bedding industry, her belief in the health benefits of bamboo textiles, and how she hopes NakedLab can ultimately bring a family better sleep, health, and mindset overall.

Name: Joyce Lau
Profession: Entrepreneur
Industry: Textiles and bedding
Company size: 8
Startup since: 2018

When did you launch your company and why?

NakedLab™️ was founded in 2018 when I became a mother. When Pia was 2 months old, she was battling a serious eczema situation. With this sudden urgent need to focus more on skin health and sleep health, I struggled as a new mother shopping for quality bedding that didn't break the bank. So many options were overwhelming and unreliable in terms of quality. That sparked my curiosity to find out that the bedding industry was very ambiguous and antiquated. This frustration initiated the beginning of my journey and the birth of NakedLab™️.

Retailers were selling high-end bedding at up to ten times markup, inflating thread counts, and operating on bloated supply chains that added to cost but not quality. I had no background in textiles or manufacturing, but I soon realised just how savvy one can become after spending one year educating myself on the industry, visiting factories, and sampling fabrics.

I discovered bamboo sheets, which have a lot of health benefits. It's not only scientifically backed to make you sleep better because of its thermoregulating properties, but it is also naturally anti-dust mite, anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic. It also feels so silky soft and feels extremely luxurious.

We focus on Oeko-Tex certified BambooSilk fabric, which is free from harmful chemicals although because I insist on the Oeko-Tex certification, it means that the bedding is more easily creased than cotton (which is dipped in chemicals) and has to be carefully handled (cold or low-temperature wash, and no bleach and tumble dry). We started out with one product, which is a pink baby cot sheet for Pia, but have since added kids' bedding, adult bedding, and duvets, which are coming soon.

To me, NakedLab is more than just a shop that sells bedding. Bedding is such an overlooked item at home – it's a household item where we spend most of our hours (the average person spends almost 230,000 hours of their life in bed, that's approximately 26 years!) and it is also the one item our skin has the closest contact with. I believe a good set of bedding gives you not just good sleep, but also the foundation to good health and most importantly for me, a good mindset. And that is the key to a happy home and a happy life. This is what kept me going, it just makes me so happy knowing that I can help make a little difference to somebody’s sleep and happiness because they had a good rest.

Was sustainability a factor for you when you created your line?

I think sustainability is an essential factor in any business nowadays, that’s fundamental. I’m not even going to dive into the manufacturing process, for one simple fact is that bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, with some species growing up to three feet a day. It doesn’t require the use of pesticides, or any other agrochemicals, nor fertilizer or irrigation, both of which are common in cotton farming - cotton sheets are still the traditional choice of bedding while so many of us still know anything about bamboo bedding.

Did you always want to be an entrepreneur?

Not in a million years! I wanted to be an architect since I was very young, and I have not strayed from that path until now. I was trained in the UK and came back to Hong Kong for a China development project eight years ago.

Your husband is also an entrepreneur. Has he helped you in any way along your own start-up journey?

He is my mentor when it comes to business. He has so much more experience in terms of this entrepreneur journey. I have seen all the downs and I see how he overcomes them and becomes better and better every day. I always say I understand what he is going through, but honestly, I only truly understand now when I became an entrepreneur myself. Your business is like your own baby, it’s so close to heart. Because you build it yourself, sweat and tears. He always says “running a business is all about self-improvement and self-challenge every day”, there’s many more other good quotes from him because he reads so much, he’s the most disciplined person I have ever met. I always go to him when I need advice.

What are some do's and don'ts of starting your own company?

If I can give one piece of advice to the aspiring business owner, I will say: don't try to do everything at once. When you have an idea, you often get overly excited and try to get everything done at once. I think the key is to really do it step-by-step and to try to balance the inside and outside of the business. Prioritizing is super important; try to focus and tackle one hurdle at a time.

You started your business at a time when you still had a full-time job and caring for a newborn. Thinking back now, would you have done it any other way?

I think that was the perfect timing. When I started, it was really just a passion project, I didn't think it would go far. I had a full-time job and a daughter, and a side business was taking a lot of time, especially at the early stages. But I have learned how to hyper-focus, delegate and prioritize. That was something I was pushed to learn when I had so many hats on, and now I think these are the keys to success!

Has the pandemic impacted your business in any way – good or bad?

In a good way for sure. People are now very curious and focus on wellbeing and self-love. People are also staying at home more often, they are more aware of and yearn for good quality products so business is taking off.

What's in the works currently?

Loads of exciting things. In October, we're finally launching our very own 100 percent bamboo duvet – say bye to allergies! In December, we're launching a donation/ repurpose programme with Hong Kong Dog Rescue where we'll be setting up recycling stations at major offices and donating old bedsheets to rescued dogs at their shelter for the winter season.

We're also planning for more colours, mattresses … and in February we're launching an exciting new product that we'll have more information for later. But very exciting things are coming up.

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While we all look forward to the summer, one unpleasant consequence of warmer weather can be the appearance of warts on the skin. Dr Lisa Chan advises how to deal with them and, better still, avoid them completely.

As the days get hotter and we tend to wear less clothing, more patients are coming to me with complaints about discovering various lumps and bumps over their skin. One of the most common ailments we see at the clinic are warts, which are small growths that appear as the result of an infection by human papillomavirus (aka HPV).

HPV spreads via skin contact and from one part of the body to another, especially if the skin is damaged or the immune system is weak. It’s more common in children, whose immune systems aren’t as well-developed as adults', while mothers with warts can occasionally spread them to babies through the delivery process or breastfeeding.

Two to six months after infection, warts can appear as brown, pink, grey or flesh-coloured growths. There may also be a pattern of tiny black dots, due to clotted blood vessels. Depending on where the virus takes hold, different types of warts can occur over the face (filiform, flat), hands (common), feet (plantar) or genital areas. When there are several warts in close proximity, the lesions can even appear cauliflower-shaped.

Although warts are benign, they may feel unpleasant to the touch, due to their roughness, and may also be painful because of their protruding nature. Some of my patients are embarrassed when they occur over prominent areas, such as the face and hands, which can interfere with social activities and impact their quality of life. If you do get warts, what treatments are available? You could wait and see if your body gets rid of the warts on its own, which might take several years, and new warts could grow in the meantime. There are also over-the-counter and prescription peels, which can gradually remove the wart after several months.

However, home remedies can cause blistering and scarring. If you have diabetes or other chronic illnesses, it might be best to get warts treated by a doctor if they bother you. Options include carbon dioxide laser, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, curettage or immunotherapy. As there are no treatments for the virus itself, warts may still reoccur after removal.

To lower the chances of getting warts, there are several things that can be done:

• Get vaccinated against HPV;
• Wash hands after touching items used by others;
• Don’t share towels;
• Keep skin dry and clean;
• Don’t bite fingernails;
• Don’t pick at warts – this can spread them to other parts of the body
• Bandage and cover affected areas;
• Don’t go barefoot around public pools, locker rooms or showers;
• Pay attention to good diet and exercise – a stronger immune system will help fi ght off a host of illnesses!

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

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Lisa Chan grew up with a condition that made her self-conscious about her outward appearance but made her aware of the importance of inner beauty. She opens up about how two doctors inspired her to join their profession and dedicate her life to helping others feel beautiful inside and out.

Everyone gets asked this question at some point in their childhood: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For Lisa Chan, there was no question about it: she wanted to become a doctor. Chan was diagnosed with Graves’ disease as a young girl, an immune-system disorder that causes an overproduction of thyroid hormones. It affects the body in a wide range of ways, most noticeably a swollen neck due to an enlarged thyroid gland, bulging eyes and weight loss.

Puberty is already a difficult time for any teenage girl, but Chan endured painful years at school being the odd one out and recalls hiding in the school library during breaks, safe among books, and ridicule from a clueless teacher who, unaware of her condition, compared her to a goldfish in front of her classmates.

Chan recalls all of this with barely a hint of trauma. She grew up shy and lonely but was very much loved by her family, who instilled in her the value of beauty in all its forms – not just in outward appearances.

“I used to be really self-conscious about my appearance, and I guess that’s partly why I was drawn to things like art and music,” she says. “Even sad experiences can have a beauty to them if it’s made you grow. You relate better to the world around you, and you become more resilient.”

Her saviours were Gary Wong and Wai Fan Chan, the two doctors who ultimately cured her and became her lifetime mentors. Kind and considerate, they’re credited by Chan for instilling in her the belief that there’s good in everyone, for inspiring her to pursue a career dedicated to serving humanity and helping others, and for bringing confidence and normalcy back into her life.

Chan remains stoic while recounting her tough childhood, but when talking about her two mentors she chokes back tears of emotion.

“I owe everything I do to them. They really showed me that a doctor’s office doesn’t have to be a scary place, and they did everything they could to look after me, to look after my parents, and give us hope that everything would be OK one day.”

While recovering from the illness, Chan made many trips to the hospital for treatments and blood tests, but ultimately surgery was inevitable. When she was just 16, Chan tells me, the gland in front of her throat had grown so large that it made breathing difficult. Dr Chan Wai Fan, her surgeon at the time, was with her every step of the way.

“He told me he’d hide the scar between my collarbones, so it wouldn’t be too visible when I grew older,” she tells me, while subconsciously patting the base of her neck. “He kept his promise; the scar is barely there anymore.”

Today, Chan is a general practitioner and the co-founder of EverKeen Medical Centre with her husband, Alvin Lee, also a doctor. Perhaps due to her own experiences and her upbringing, she also has an avid interest in aesthetic medicine.

Chan graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and has a Master’s in Practical Dermatology with Distinction from Cardiff University; as well as Diplomas in Dermatology from Cardiff University and Queen Mary University of London. She also obtained a Diploma in Advances of Medicine at CUHK and a Diploma in Child Health at the University of Sydney. Since 2018, she’s obtained a second master’s at Queen Mary University of London with a research interest in anatomy, dermal fillers and threading, and has received further overseas training in aesthetic gynaecology.

I ask how she’s managed to do all this while running two clinics and, laughing, she replies, “My father-in-law is also a doctor and, along with my husband, we study a lot together. It’s a family bonding time for us and it also almost makes studying easier, as we can share notes and work on assignments together.”

For most people, a doctor’s office is an intimidating place, where the smell of antiseptic is strong and the lights are stark and cold. But Chan’s Tin Hau clinic is an entirely new world. I tell her it feels as if I’ve inadvertently walked into a spa or even a girl’s fantasy bedroom. She smiles, her eyes crinkling with warmth, and says, “I’ve put a lot of thought into creating this space, so people can feel relaxed and comfortable, just like how my own doctors made me feel safe and comfortable in their clinics.”

In a way, Chan’s clinic is an outward representation of who she is. All her hopes, dreams and convictions are on full display in every corner of her newly renovated office. A large mirror printed with the Hippocratic oath sits at the entrance to her office.

“I walk past it every morning and see my own reflection in it,” she says. “It’s a daily reminder of the oath I’ve taken – the part in the Hippocratic oath where it says: ‘May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.’ That really resonates with me.”

Even tissue boxes are printed with inspiring quotes, such as: “You were born an original work of art.” Art she’s painted herself, of white horses and cats and blue skies, and beautiful Chinese calligraphy by her own hand are placed sporadically around her office.

One particular piece, a singular Chinese character that says “Dream”, sits on her desk, next to a photo of herself and her mother.

“My mother introduced me to the world of art when I was small,” she says. “She brought me and my brother to classical music concerts and bought us a lot of beautifully illustrated storybooks. She loved classic movies and often talked about the actresses who inspired her – Audrey Hepburn and Julia Roberts were two of her favourites. She always emphasised their inner beauty, their kind souls, their authenticity and generosity, and not just their outer elegance.”

Chan’s own role models include Helen Keller, Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie and Emily Jane Brontë, influential women who also helped shape her own concept of beauty.

“They lived the lives they dreamt of and never let themselves be limited by any of the supposed restraints on women at the time or even physical disabilities,” she explains. “They made me realise that beauty is also about giving back and leaving a lasting legacy for the better.”

Today, her patients come to her for any number of problems, ranging from dermatological issues to aesthetic procedures. To Chan, medical aesthetics aren’t about guaranteeing or even encouraging perfection. But what she hopes she can do is to give her clients a small boost of confidence and to restore their self-worth.

“True beauty will radiate from the soul,” she says. “I particularly love this quote from Audrey Hepburn: For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

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There’s no doubt Alex Lam inherited his musical talent from his parents, his father being Cantopop legend George Lam Chi-Cheung, and his mother, Sally Yeh. Still, the singer-songwriter and actor hasn’t let privilege get to his head — he’s not afraid to explore other paths, from a stint in Los Angeles to discover yoga and becoming a yoga teacher, to dipping his toes in fashion.

Lam met Hiro Yoshikawa, founder and designer of Washi Jeans, a Japanese denim brand, a couple years back and was intrigued by the designer’s backstory. Now based in Hong Kong, Yoshikawa is the 18^th generation of a revered sake maker in Okayama, Japan, and the first to leave the family business to pursue his own passion in denim-making. By chance, Yoshikawa had found an old document that charted out his family’s history, written on washi paper. Inspired by this, he developed and patented the Washi No. 6 paper yarn, which he utilizes in his first solo collection launching this month.

Lam, who has always had an eye for detail, quickly became an ambassador and muse for Yoshikawa, and took it upon himself to bring the recognition Yoshikawa deserves by helping him stage his upcoming solo debut.

We sit down with Alex Lam and Hiro Yoshikawa at Washi Jean's studio to talk about style and the upcoming debut of Yoshikawa's solo collection Life on Earth.

Can you describe your style? What are your wardrobe essentials?

AL: My style has always been inspired by musicians. I grew up watching some of my favourite bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and today, I'm inspired by singers like Drake. For me, my summer essentials include a sleeveless vest, a good multi-functional blazer and a pair of high-quality designer jeans.

Have you always been passionate about fashion and did you want to work in fashion?

AL: I have always cared about how I look and my outfits since I was a kid. I remember there was one time when the collar of my t-shirt wasn't right and I wouldn’t wear it out until my parents fixed it for me. Having friends who are in the fashion industry allows me to execute and experiment my ideas during workshops, like the ‘marshmallow’ colourway of the t-shirt I’m wearing right now. 

How did the both of you meet?

AL: I met Hiro-san thought some of our mutual friends.

HY: have been making jeans for other brands for the past 30 years and it has always been my dream to have my own denim brand. I have always hung out with people from the fashion industry, and meeting Alex from the music and acting world has made my life more fun and exciting.

Can you tell us a bit about your project with Hiro-san?

AL: I was hanging out with a group of producers and we often talk about fashion shows, designer brands’ videos, installation art and music. Once we found out Hiro-san wanted to launch his own denim brand this year, we decided to catch this opportunity and put our ideas together. We are organising a VIP launch event with a fashion show on June 11, 2021.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome with this project?

AL: I think the rules of the game changed after Covid started last year. We looked at online fashion shows last year, without the tradition styles, and we knew our team needed to do it in a cleverer way. The restriction for event gathering is 30 persons at the moment, so we were not able to invite too many friends and make the event as big as before. Plus the campaign and fashion show video shoot all in one day, that’s the biggest challenge in this project.

HY:  We have been staying in our studio almost every day is the past few months, meeting different parties like our PR team, models, videographers and producers.

What else are you up to this year that you can share with us?

AL: I have released a new song and I just finished a music video for another song. I have also been working on my YouTube channel and created a few series, but it’s been slightly slowed down because I was focusing in this project.

Has the pandemic affected the way you work or changed your priorities?

AL: Before Covid, I was busy working with clients, who often prepared everything. With changes and restrictions during this period, I am able to organise and create more content by myself.

What are you currently inspired by?

AL: There are many indie musicians and young kids out there who are doing their music in their unique styles. I admire them a lot as they can release songs as long as they think it sounds good. I used think good music requires the best studio and recording equipment, but turned out a lot of indie musicians are producing high quality songs just by working at home.

You have a YouTube channel, you're into fashion, music as well as classic cars. How did you get into each of those passions and how do you balance it all?

AL: Project by project. I’m now focusing more on quantity over quality and I'll keep learning from the progress and mistakes.

Do you have a motto you live by?

Stay healthy. As I was a yoga teacher, I still practice yoga for two to three hours each day. It’s a good way to reflect on myself and find peace.

The post Walking Back the Clock: Dr Lisa Chan’s Secrets to Minimise the Effects of Ageing appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

This month, Dr Lisa Chan advises on ways to keep the infamous "maskne" under control during the pandemic

Unless you’re one of the rare few who are genetically blessed with clear skin, chances are you’ve experienced acne at some point. It’s estimated to be present in up to 90 percent of the population, so most of us know all too well that sinking feeling as we wake up to an unsightly red bump on the face.

With increased mask-wearing, I’ve been seeing more cases of facial acne at the clinic. Also known as acne mechanica or “maskne”, these lesions are not only disfiguring and damaging to our self-esteem, but they can also be extremely painful and require a lengthy period of recovery.

Acne tends to form over areas of the body that have increased sebaceous gland activity, such as the face, chest and back. When hair follicles get clogged by excess sebum and dead skin cells, bacteria can proliferate and cause Infection and inflammation. Triggers include drugs such as corticosteroids, hormonal changes during midlife and puberty, carbohydrate-rich foods and stress. Friction against the skin and heavy make-up can also lead to a build-up of sebum and bacteria.

The Best practices to avoid maskne

• Using gentle cleansers and water-based, non-occlusive creams;
• Avoiding abrasive soaps and irritating peels;
• Wearing minimal and non-comedogenic make-up;
• Using a cotton pad with toner or micellar water as a facial wipe after strenuous activity;
• Keeping hands away from the face;
• Changing masks daily;
• Applying topical benzoyl peroxide to easily affected areas (forehead, nose, chin) as a preventive measure.

If you’re suffering from a breakout, don’t panic and definitely don’t try to pop that pimple on your own! Picking at the lesions can deepen the infection and worsen hyperpigmentation and scarring.

Acne treatment involves oil control and elimination of bacteria. If the breakout is mild (whiteheads, blackheads, papules or pustules), it can be treated with topical creams such as benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, azaelic acid, salicylic acid and dapsone.

In more severe cases involving nodular or cystic (deep, painful and pus-filled) acne, a combination of topical, oral and light-based treatments such as lasers and intense pulsed light will be needed. Oral medications such as isotretinoin, antibiotics, hormonal contraceptives and spironolactone may have a variety of side effects, so it’s best to be followed up regularly by a physician. Steroid injections or incision and drainage of a cyst can also be performed to quickly reduce inflammation and the chances of scarring.

All types of acne take time to treat, so patience is your best virtue. Given the current pandemic, mask-wearing doesn’t seem likely to end anytime soon. It may be challenging, but with self-love and a good skincare regimen, healthy and blemish-free skin can still be a reality.

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

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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.

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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.

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