Growth Factors are natural proteins found in our body especially in young skin - they play a key role in regulating growth of a wide variety of cells and tissues including production of new collagen and elastin. They help slow down the skin aging process, stimulate new collagen, elastin & hyaluronic acid growth, improve wound healing, decrease skin pigmentation & improve moisture content & elasticity.
They can address skin problems like wrinkles, sagginess, age/sun spots, enlarged pores, acne scars & stretch marks.
Growth factors can be delivered into the skin straight after fractional laser resurfacing or after needle therapy.
Please visit this link to look at before & after pictures of what growth factors can do for your skin. It's in Korean so just visit for pics: http://www.enskin.com/shop/m_mall_detail.php?ps_ctid=01000000&ps_goid=232
An alternative to growth factor therapy is PRP (platelet rich plasma aka PRP (For more info: http://www.my-cells.net/FAQ.htm)
Details of current promos @
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lengs-Clinic-Medical-Cosmetic-Services/286085575374
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Treatment updates
Explore new treatments now available for:
1. Hair loss - DIY treatment @ home instead of spending thousands in clinics or salons
2. Acne scars - harnessing stem cell growth factors
3. Hyperpigmentation - paradigm shift in treatment approach - making it manageable for long-term maintenance & certainly more affordable
Check out new product "Reactiver" now available:
http://www.radiant2life.com/reactiver
30-50% discount on various products including:
- Lashbooster
- Skin whitening range
- Hair loss prevention
1. Hair loss - DIY treatment @ home instead of spending thousands in clinics or salons
2. Acne scars - harnessing stem cell growth factors
3. Hyperpigmentation - paradigm shift in treatment approach - making it manageable for long-term maintenance & certainly more affordable
Check out new product "Reactiver" now available:
http://www.radiant2life.com/reactiver
30-50% discount on various products including:
- Lashbooster
- Skin whitening range
- Hair loss prevention
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Dysport - wise words
Wise words about Dysport (botulinum toxin) from Dr Sergio Escobar M.D.,Argentina, International Fellow American Academy of Dermatology.
"Each patient should be evaluated individually in order to customize treatment according to his/her personal characteristics & preferences.
Notwithstanding this, irrational use of this cosmetic tool has generated fear in many individuals, thus making them reluctant to treatment. There are numerous cases in which excessive use of aesthetic procedures has led to terrible outcomes, but it is also true that doing nothing does not seem to be a good alternative either.
Long term use of botulinum toxin has a beneficial effect fro the aesthetic point of view, and it is estimated that if the treatment approach is adequate, with the right dosage, treatment administered twice to three times a year & in combination with other treatments, the passing of time may work in the patient's favor & not against."
"Each patient should be evaluated individually in order to customize treatment according to his/her personal characteristics & preferences.
Notwithstanding this, irrational use of this cosmetic tool has generated fear in many individuals, thus making them reluctant to treatment. There are numerous cases in which excessive use of aesthetic procedures has led to terrible outcomes, but it is also true that doing nothing does not seem to be a good alternative either.
Long term use of botulinum toxin has a beneficial effect fro the aesthetic point of view, and it is estimated that if the treatment approach is adequate, with the right dosage, treatment administered twice to three times a year & in combination with other treatments, the passing of time may work in the patient's favor & not against."
Friday, June 17, 2011
IV skin whitener could be deadly
Publish date: May 19, 2011
By: Bill Gillette
Source: Cosmetic Surgery Times
Manila, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines has issued an advisory that warns of the potentially serious risks of using the popular intravenous skin whitener glutathione (Glutathione IV), GMA News Online reports.
Citing reports received by the agency, Director Suzette Lazo, M.D., is quoted in the advisory as saying, “The alarming increase in the unapproved use of glutathione administered intravenously as a skin-whitening agent at very high doses is unsafe and may result in serious consequences to the health of users.”
According to Dr. Lazo’s statement, adverse reactions include the deadly Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis; thyroid function derangement; suspected kidney dysfunction, potentially resulting in kidney failure; and severe abdominal pain in a patient receiving twice-weekly glutathione administered intravenously.
Glutathione is a liver-generated compound that plays a role in antioxidant defense, metabolism and regulation. It may induce a skin-whitening effect by inactivating the enzyme tyrosinase, which is needed in melanin production and converts the pigment to the lighter pheomelanin. Dr. Lazo noted that this claim has been disputed.
“When administered orally, (glutathione) is hydrolyzed by the gastric juices and further undergoes degradation by the liver enzyme, and the resultant bioavailability is low,” she said. “Intravenous administration delivers very high doses directly into the systemic circulation and may overload the renal circulation.”
By: Bill Gillette
Source: Cosmetic Surgery Times
Manila, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines has issued an advisory that warns of the potentially serious risks of using the popular intravenous skin whitener glutathione (Glutathione IV), GMA News Online reports.
Citing reports received by the agency, Director Suzette Lazo, M.D., is quoted in the advisory as saying, “The alarming increase in the unapproved use of glutathione administered intravenously as a skin-whitening agent at very high doses is unsafe and may result in serious consequences to the health of users.”
According to Dr. Lazo’s statement, adverse reactions include the deadly Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis; thyroid function derangement; suspected kidney dysfunction, potentially resulting in kidney failure; and severe abdominal pain in a patient receiving twice-weekly glutathione administered intravenously.
Glutathione is a liver-generated compound that plays a role in antioxidant defense, metabolism and regulation. It may induce a skin-whitening effect by inactivating the enzyme tyrosinase, which is needed in melanin production and converts the pigment to the lighter pheomelanin. Dr. Lazo noted that this claim has been disputed.
“When administered orally, (glutathione) is hydrolyzed by the gastric juices and further undergoes degradation by the liver enzyme, and the resultant bioavailability is low,” she said. “Intravenous administration delivers very high doses directly into the systemic circulation and may overload the renal circulation.”
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Confessions of a Grouponaholic
I got this fantastic article from CNN written by LZ Granderson.
It just about says it all - everything from the customer's point of view & the merchant's point of view.
Enjoy the read!
Grand Rapids, Michigan (CNN) -- There's a deliciously seductive power to Groupon, isn't there?
It creates an illusion of urgency by using flashy fonts and touting retailers who limit the number of people able to take advantage of the tantalizing discounts. So instead of stopping to ask, "Do I need this?" there is an overwhelming sensation to grab it before it's too late. It's like Black Friday, except instead of standing outside in a long line at 4 a.m. for a 6-inch waffle maker, I'm getting my shopping thrill online.
My partner and I bought six coupons -- worth a total of $360 -- for $150 at a fancy steakhouse here in town. The problem is we don't really like fancy steakhouses -- never have -- so we've only been once. The remaining $300 worth of discounts will soon expire, but hey, at least we didn't miss our chance to "save."
It's a brilliant concept really and builds on one retailers have been using for years, such as offering rebates knowing a good percentage of the customers won't bother to mail them in. It's easy money -- which explains in part why Google tried to buy Groupon for $6 billion. That may be a bit generous of an offer until you factor in that Groupon charges the merchant a hefty 50% of the sales made through its website. It's a lucrative business and one frugal customers like me love.
What I can't figure out is what does the company offering the discount get?
Besides screwed.
If you take a service that normally costs $100, the company may end up with as little as $25 once everyone else gets his or her share, assuming all the coupons get used. And that's before staff or utility bills are paid.
"There is an initial hit, but over the course of the year, there is a return," said Julie Mossler, a Groupon spokeswoman. "You can blindly spend a lot of money advertising on the radio or something like that, but Groupon does the best job exposing your business to thousands of people who may not be aware you even exist. That's the service we provide -- amazing exposure. And we work with our clients to help them retain those new customers.
"But our clients have to take responsibility, too. We can get the people in, but if the service isn't good or the quality isn't good, you're not going to benefit. ... If you suck, there's nothing Groupon can do."
Ouch.
But she's so right.
Joining Groupon's increasing mainstream popularity will likely bring in a rush of new customers, making it easier for small business owners to overlook the fact that they're getting squeezed between Groupon's fat cut of the take and the huge discount offered to consumers. And while initially Groupon may seem like a smart investment for small, struggling companies looking for a jolt, it shouldn't take long for mom and pop shops to see they may be cannibalizing what little business they have.
That's because the loyal customers who used to sustain the business at full price are now coming in with 50 percent-off coupons. But if it does take them long to figure that out, well, Groupon is probably the least of their worries. They're probably not a very good business to begin with, and they're paying Groupon and opportunistic customers to highlight that fact.
Now as I said, I'm a Grouponaholic so whatever problems I have with the company's practices is not enough to get me off the sauce. I love waking up each morning to see what new deals Groupon, Living Social and the other similar sites have are out there.
But truth be told, if I were starting a small business, I wouldn't do it.
Why?
Because the problem with attracting customers like me is that we're not loyal.
We're cheap. That's why 40 million of us signed up for discounts in the first place.
So even though Groupon works with merchants to help retain new customers, if we're offered a similar service or good from another company at a cheaper price, chances are we're gone.
Groupon's great at getting a customer's attention, but loyalty can only be earned.
It can't be purchased.
There's a boutique men's clothing store I frequent that doesn't do Groupon and only occasionally has sales. But I'm a regular, full-price paying customer because it does an amazing job.
It's like that line from the Oscar Wilde essay, "The Decay of Lying": If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.
For a new business owner the goal should be making the few customers believe whatever is being offered is worth the price, as opposed to selling the goods and services short to a lot of customers who may not even come back.
It's one thing for a company to see Groupon as a marketing investment. But if management believes it has to shell out upward of 75 percent of the receipts to get people to dine at their restaurant, then something may either be wrong with what's on the menu or with the people serving. And as Mossler said, if you suck, there's really nothing Groupon can do about it.
Besides something feels odd about a business model in which a restaurant owner stands to make more money if people don't show up to eat. At least not with the coupons sent out to attract people to show up to eat. That fancy steakhouse I mentioned earlier may make a profit off of my unused coupons. But it didn't earn repeat business, which in the end should be the most important thing.
Face it, if you're a businessperson struggling to make ends meet, Groupon's less of a solution and more like a magnifying glass.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of LZ Granderson.
It just about says it all - everything from the customer's point of view & the merchant's point of view.
Enjoy the read!
Grand Rapids, Michigan (CNN) -- There's a deliciously seductive power to Groupon, isn't there?
It creates an illusion of urgency by using flashy fonts and touting retailers who limit the number of people able to take advantage of the tantalizing discounts. So instead of stopping to ask, "Do I need this?" there is an overwhelming sensation to grab it before it's too late. It's like Black Friday, except instead of standing outside in a long line at 4 a.m. for a 6-inch waffle maker, I'm getting my shopping thrill online.
My partner and I bought six coupons -- worth a total of $360 -- for $150 at a fancy steakhouse here in town. The problem is we don't really like fancy steakhouses -- never have -- so we've only been once. The remaining $300 worth of discounts will soon expire, but hey, at least we didn't miss our chance to "save."
It's a brilliant concept really and builds on one retailers have been using for years, such as offering rebates knowing a good percentage of the customers won't bother to mail them in. It's easy money -- which explains in part why Google tried to buy Groupon for $6 billion. That may be a bit generous of an offer until you factor in that Groupon charges the merchant a hefty 50% of the sales made through its website. It's a lucrative business and one frugal customers like me love.
What I can't figure out is what does the company offering the discount get?
Besides screwed.
If you take a service that normally costs $100, the company may end up with as little as $25 once everyone else gets his or her share, assuming all the coupons get used. And that's before staff or utility bills are paid.
"There is an initial hit, but over the course of the year, there is a return," said Julie Mossler, a Groupon spokeswoman. "You can blindly spend a lot of money advertising on the radio or something like that, but Groupon does the best job exposing your business to thousands of people who may not be aware you even exist. That's the service we provide -- amazing exposure. And we work with our clients to help them retain those new customers.
"But our clients have to take responsibility, too. We can get the people in, but if the service isn't good or the quality isn't good, you're not going to benefit. ... If you suck, there's nothing Groupon can do."
Ouch.
But she's so right.
Joining Groupon's increasing mainstream popularity will likely bring in a rush of new customers, making it easier for small business owners to overlook the fact that they're getting squeezed between Groupon's fat cut of the take and the huge discount offered to consumers. And while initially Groupon may seem like a smart investment for small, struggling companies looking for a jolt, it shouldn't take long for mom and pop shops to see they may be cannibalizing what little business they have.
That's because the loyal customers who used to sustain the business at full price are now coming in with 50 percent-off coupons. But if it does take them long to figure that out, well, Groupon is probably the least of their worries. They're probably not a very good business to begin with, and they're paying Groupon and opportunistic customers to highlight that fact.
Now as I said, I'm a Grouponaholic so whatever problems I have with the company's practices is not enough to get me off the sauce. I love waking up each morning to see what new deals Groupon, Living Social and the other similar sites have are out there.
But truth be told, if I were starting a small business, I wouldn't do it.
Why?
Because the problem with attracting customers like me is that we're not loyal.
We're cheap. That's why 40 million of us signed up for discounts in the first place.
So even though Groupon works with merchants to help retain new customers, if we're offered a similar service or good from another company at a cheaper price, chances are we're gone.
Groupon's great at getting a customer's attention, but loyalty can only be earned.
It can't be purchased.
There's a boutique men's clothing store I frequent that doesn't do Groupon and only occasionally has sales. But I'm a regular, full-price paying customer because it does an amazing job.
It's like that line from the Oscar Wilde essay, "The Decay of Lying": If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.
For a new business owner the goal should be making the few customers believe whatever is being offered is worth the price, as opposed to selling the goods and services short to a lot of customers who may not even come back.
It's one thing for a company to see Groupon as a marketing investment. But if management believes it has to shell out upward of 75 percent of the receipts to get people to dine at their restaurant, then something may either be wrong with what's on the menu or with the people serving. And as Mossler said, if you suck, there's really nothing Groupon can do about it.
Besides something feels odd about a business model in which a restaurant owner stands to make more money if people don't show up to eat. At least not with the coupons sent out to attract people to show up to eat. That fancy steakhouse I mentioned earlier may make a profit off of my unused coupons. But it didn't earn repeat business, which in the end should be the most important thing.
Face it, if you're a businessperson struggling to make ends meet, Groupon's less of a solution and more like a magnifying glass.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of LZ Granderson.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
RM3000 hCG Weight Loss Programs
hCG Weight Loss Programs: What Is the Evidence?
Andrew Kaunitz, MD
Hello, I'm Andrew Kaunitz, Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Florida. Today I'd like to discuss hCG Weight Loss Programs: What Is the Evidence?
On a regular basis, patients are asking me about human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) weight loss programs. Not being familiar with this, I looked into hCG as used in weight loss programs.
It turns out that the use of hCG for the treatment of obese and overweight patients has a long and controversial history. In the 1950s, a Dr. A. Simeons introduced the use of hCG injections combined with a strict 500-calorie-a-day, high-protein diet.[1]
By the 1970s, Simeons' method had become popular among those seeking weight loss, with advocates claiming that this approach indeed induced rapid weight loss with minimal hunger. While the program appeared to work, this approach to dieting fell out of favor after clinical trials noted that weight loss occurred because of the strict diet, not because of the hCG injections. A 1995 meta-analysis concluded that "...there is no scientific evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of obesity..."[2]
Notwithstanding the lack of evidence supporting hCG's efficacy,[3] for profit weight loss programs are once again promoting hCG injections. A Google search turned up a number of programs advertising hCG-based weight loss right here in Jacksonville, as well as more than 7 million hits overall.
In a 2010 press release, the American Society of Bariatric Physicians indicates that it is "...officially not recommending..." hCG injections for weight loss, once again pointing to numerous studies that fail to demonstrate efficacy.[4,5]
This press release goes on to point out that the pillars of an effective approach to weight loss include:
* Diet modification based on safe caloric and nutrient guidelines;
* Exercise programs tailored to the capabilities and limitations of the patient; and
* Behavioral counseling, including development of proper eating habits, how to deal with stress-related eating, and how to address the diet and lifestyle of the whole family.
Seems like sound advice to me. Thank you.
My comment: A lot of my clients have paid no less than RM3000 for a month of hCG jabs to various clinics around Kuala Lumpur. Sure, they've lost weight, one even lost 10 kg in that month. It just goes to show that when you have someone nagging you to eat no more than 500 calories a day, you'll lose enough weight to model in Oprah's show.
Wow, if I implement this programme in my clinic, I could make a name as a weight loss guru & get me that BMW I always wanted. Ka-Ching!!
Andrew Kaunitz, MD
Hello, I'm Andrew Kaunitz, Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Florida. Today I'd like to discuss hCG Weight Loss Programs: What Is the Evidence?
On a regular basis, patients are asking me about human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) weight loss programs. Not being familiar with this, I looked into hCG as used in weight loss programs.
It turns out that the use of hCG for the treatment of obese and overweight patients has a long and controversial history. In the 1950s, a Dr. A. Simeons introduced the use of hCG injections combined with a strict 500-calorie-a-day, high-protein diet.[1]
By the 1970s, Simeons' method had become popular among those seeking weight loss, with advocates claiming that this approach indeed induced rapid weight loss with minimal hunger. While the program appeared to work, this approach to dieting fell out of favor after clinical trials noted that weight loss occurred because of the strict diet, not because of the hCG injections. A 1995 meta-analysis concluded that "...there is no scientific evidence that hCG is effective in the treatment of obesity..."[2]
Notwithstanding the lack of evidence supporting hCG's efficacy,[3] for profit weight loss programs are once again promoting hCG injections. A Google search turned up a number of programs advertising hCG-based weight loss right here in Jacksonville, as well as more than 7 million hits overall.
In a 2010 press release, the American Society of Bariatric Physicians indicates that it is "...officially not recommending..." hCG injections for weight loss, once again pointing to numerous studies that fail to demonstrate efficacy.[4,5]
This press release goes on to point out that the pillars of an effective approach to weight loss include:
* Diet modification based on safe caloric and nutrient guidelines;
* Exercise programs tailored to the capabilities and limitations of the patient; and
* Behavioral counseling, including development of proper eating habits, how to deal with stress-related eating, and how to address the diet and lifestyle of the whole family.
Seems like sound advice to me. Thank you.
My comment: A lot of my clients have paid no less than RM3000 for a month of hCG jabs to various clinics around Kuala Lumpur. Sure, they've lost weight, one even lost 10 kg in that month. It just goes to show that when you have someone nagging you to eat no more than 500 calories a day, you'll lose enough weight to model in Oprah's show.
Wow, if I implement this programme in my clinic, I could make a name as a weight loss guru & get me that BMW I always wanted. Ka-Ching!!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Medical advice v. sales talk
I have copied & pasted something I wrote on this blog in September 2009 below as a reminder to new visitors to my clinic. My sentiments haven't changed. It still saddens me to see a lot of people who would rather get "free" consultation from a "consultant" who gets a 30-50% commission on successful referrals (to more often than not, dubious unregistered surgeons) than pay RM30 for decent medical advice from a registered doctor. Sales talk is free. Medical advice from a registered medical practitioner does cost a little bit of money - it might save you thousands in the long run. Do go to September 2009 of this blog for related stories.
Cosmetic medicine trade - story of friends & unscrupulous middlemen
NB: names have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved.
Alice had just turned 50 & developed pigmentation she was desperate to get rid of. In her vulnerable state of feeling old & ugly (not uncommon with hormonal fluxes during the peri-menopausal period), she fell victim to a "friend" who pretended to do her a favour by introducing her to another friend (let's call her Meegan) who could introduce a doctor "highly skilled in removing pigmentation".
Alice was so happy to find a friend who would unselfishly introduce a good doctor to solve her problem, she immediately signed up for a RM800 "PRP/Fxl" treatment. However, after the RM800 treatment, her pigmentation was still there, as stubborn as ever.
She called the doctor to ask further but the good doctor was too busy. Instead, she got a call from Meegan. Meegan told Alice that the RM800 treatment was to "prepare her skin" for the superior SuperR (name changed) laser treatment that would remove all types of pigmentation & the cost would be RM3000 for a course of 6 sessions. Alice balked at the thought of spending so much beyond her initial budget but she was persuaded by Meegan & the good doctor that SuperR was the magic laser that removes all pigmentation & that there were only 3 such lasers in the whole of Malaysia. Alice was already uncomfortable with the idea of spending more but since SuperR was the latest & best laser, she argued that she wanted to pay half 1st i.e. RM1500 since she did not see any results so far.
After the 1st session of SuperR laser, she went back to the doctor complaining that she still did not see any improvement in her pigmentation. During this 2nd consultation, there appeared to be 3 consultants, namely 1) Dr. Mickey himself 2) Karlos, the laser salesman & 3) Meegan, the friend who introduced. All 3 of them insisted that the pigmentation had lightened so Alice was outnumbered in her opinion. However, Dr. Mickey's naive clinic nurse walked in & commented that there was no improvement in Alice's pigmentation at all. The nurse got some "if looks could kill" stares but Alice had no choice but to proceed with the 2nd laser treatment. During the laser treatment, Dr. Mickey was receiving instructions from Karlos about what laser settings to use. At the time she said she felt uncomfortable with the whole situation but with 3 consultants hovering around in the treatment room, it was 3 against 1.
A week after the 2nd laser session, she found that to her horror, the pigmentation had actually got worse & she frantically tried to contact Dr. Mickey but the clinic nurse told her to call Meegan instead. She did not want to talk to Meegan but Dr. Mickey was uncontactable as well. Anyway, she received a call from Meegan who lashed out at her telling her she was an unreasonable client who complained too much & therefore Alice was no longer wanted as a client. As for the 3rd prepaid laser session, Meegan told her that the doctor had gone 2 rounds on her face during her 2nd laser visit so she was not entitled to any refund or further laser sessions.
At that point in time, Alice was referred to me by another client of mine.
This story ends here. Why am I telling this story & risking backlash from my own kind in my industry? I'm doing it to remind the consumer of the bad apples in this industry. And it's also an appeal to those in my industry & a reminder to myself that we're practising cosmetic medicine here - ultimately, it is still medicine & as doctors we're duty bound to look out for our patients, not rob clients of their wallets. We don't need laser salesmen & middlemen to interfere in our medical practice. If patients are losing trust in doctors, I don't blame them.
Cosmetic medicine is in huge demand & many non-medical entrepreneurs have jumped on the bandwagon to profit from this industry. I'm not saying free enterprise is bad, in fact, I encourage it BUT one should not profit through lies & deceit. For example, there is no such thing as "preparing skin for SuperR laser with a Frxel laser". If one wants to make money from another laser procedure then please just tell the client directly the benefits of that particular laser. Consumers want to look beautiful & are willing to pay top dollar for it - there is no need to pull the wool over their eyes.
As for friends who want to profit from their friends by making referrals, please tell the truth. There is nothing wrong with making a living but don't pretend to be doing it as a good Samaritan. If you are doing it as a business & receiving a commission - just please tell the truth.
As for marketing middlemen in the industry - do it ethically - don't go around recruiting people to lie to their friends & relatives.
As for consumers who don't want to pay doctors' consultation fees - Think for yourself if it's worthwhile saving $30 & falling into the traps of "friends" who will ultimately make you part with thousands you can't afford. Just as an example, Alice probably only needed to spend a few hundred on her pigmentation, instead she is already out-of-pocket $2300 & to make matters worse, her pigmentation is actually darker than when she first started with.
I'm just fed-up with the direction this industry is heading. As I've said before, much financial reward can be reaped in this industry but I know that it can be done in an ethical manner. Don't let bad apples tarnish the image of those who practise it ethically.
Cosmetic medicine trade - story of friends & unscrupulous middlemen
NB: names have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved.
Alice had just turned 50 & developed pigmentation she was desperate to get rid of. In her vulnerable state of feeling old & ugly (not uncommon with hormonal fluxes during the peri-menopausal period), she fell victim to a "friend" who pretended to do her a favour by introducing her to another friend (let's call her Meegan) who could introduce a doctor "highly skilled in removing pigmentation".
Alice was so happy to find a friend who would unselfishly introduce a good doctor to solve her problem, she immediately signed up for a RM800 "PRP/Fxl" treatment. However, after the RM800 treatment, her pigmentation was still there, as stubborn as ever.
She called the doctor to ask further but the good doctor was too busy. Instead, she got a call from Meegan. Meegan told Alice that the RM800 treatment was to "prepare her skin" for the superior SuperR (name changed) laser treatment that would remove all types of pigmentation & the cost would be RM3000 for a course of 6 sessions. Alice balked at the thought of spending so much beyond her initial budget but she was persuaded by Meegan & the good doctor that SuperR was the magic laser that removes all pigmentation & that there were only 3 such lasers in the whole of Malaysia. Alice was already uncomfortable with the idea of spending more but since SuperR was the latest & best laser, she argued that she wanted to pay half 1st i.e. RM1500 since she did not see any results so far.
After the 1st session of SuperR laser, she went back to the doctor complaining that she still did not see any improvement in her pigmentation. During this 2nd consultation, there appeared to be 3 consultants, namely 1) Dr. Mickey himself 2) Karlos, the laser salesman & 3) Meegan, the friend who introduced. All 3 of them insisted that the pigmentation had lightened so Alice was outnumbered in her opinion. However, Dr. Mickey's naive clinic nurse walked in & commented that there was no improvement in Alice's pigmentation at all. The nurse got some "if looks could kill" stares but Alice had no choice but to proceed with the 2nd laser treatment. During the laser treatment, Dr. Mickey was receiving instructions from Karlos about what laser settings to use. At the time she said she felt uncomfortable with the whole situation but with 3 consultants hovering around in the treatment room, it was 3 against 1.
A week after the 2nd laser session, she found that to her horror, the pigmentation had actually got worse & she frantically tried to contact Dr. Mickey but the clinic nurse told her to call Meegan instead. She did not want to talk to Meegan but Dr. Mickey was uncontactable as well. Anyway, she received a call from Meegan who lashed out at her telling her she was an unreasonable client who complained too much & therefore Alice was no longer wanted as a client. As for the 3rd prepaid laser session, Meegan told her that the doctor had gone 2 rounds on her face during her 2nd laser visit so she was not entitled to any refund or further laser sessions.
At that point in time, Alice was referred to me by another client of mine.
This story ends here. Why am I telling this story & risking backlash from my own kind in my industry? I'm doing it to remind the consumer of the bad apples in this industry. And it's also an appeal to those in my industry & a reminder to myself that we're practising cosmetic medicine here - ultimately, it is still medicine & as doctors we're duty bound to look out for our patients, not rob clients of their wallets. We don't need laser salesmen & middlemen to interfere in our medical practice. If patients are losing trust in doctors, I don't blame them.
Cosmetic medicine is in huge demand & many non-medical entrepreneurs have jumped on the bandwagon to profit from this industry. I'm not saying free enterprise is bad, in fact, I encourage it BUT one should not profit through lies & deceit. For example, there is no such thing as "preparing skin for SuperR laser with a Frxel laser". If one wants to make money from another laser procedure then please just tell the client directly the benefits of that particular laser. Consumers want to look beautiful & are willing to pay top dollar for it - there is no need to pull the wool over their eyes.
As for friends who want to profit from their friends by making referrals, please tell the truth. There is nothing wrong with making a living but don't pretend to be doing it as a good Samaritan. If you are doing it as a business & receiving a commission - just please tell the truth.
As for marketing middlemen in the industry - do it ethically - don't go around recruiting people to lie to their friends & relatives.
As for consumers who don't want to pay doctors' consultation fees - Think for yourself if it's worthwhile saving $30 & falling into the traps of "friends" who will ultimately make you part with thousands you can't afford. Just as an example, Alice probably only needed to spend a few hundred on her pigmentation, instead she is already out-of-pocket $2300 & to make matters worse, her pigmentation is actually darker than when she first started with.
I'm just fed-up with the direction this industry is heading. As I've said before, much financial reward can be reaped in this industry but I know that it can be done in an ethical manner. Don't let bad apples tarnish the image of those who practise it ethically.
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