Vogue Clinic Treatment Series- multivitamin drip

As a doctor, I have used intravenous multivitamin drip for severely malnourished patients who are ill and of whom recovery is likely to be slow and gradual due to poor nutrition. But this is my first time having the drip myself in the quest for beauty.

Vogue Clinic
Address 36-3, Jalan 30/70A, Wisma Rapid, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 KL
Phone number 018-234 2128
Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/vogueclinickl/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/vogueclinickl/

What's a multivitamin drip?

The active ingredients in parentrovite are
ascorbic acid/ vitamin C
pyridoxine, nicotinamide, thiamine, riboflavin/ vitamin B complex
glucose monohydrate/ sugar

This multivitamin drip had been used widely in hospital settings so I can be reassured that it's approved by the ministry of health. Generally speaking, it's very safe except a minority may develop allergic reactions towards it. As with any intravenous drip, please make sure it's from a reputed source. I have seen one too many ladies buying these online without questioning much. It could be potentially dangerous because it's given straight into the bloodstream heading to the heart.

How is it administered?

A small butterfly needle (less painful than a cannula because it's longer and bigger) was inserted into a vein by a trained nurse or doctor after the skin was sterilised by alcohol swab. Air bubbles were carefully removed from the line before the 100ml drip was connected. The whole process took about 15 to 20 minutes. No pain or discomfort when the drip was going in.

What's the potential benefit for the skin?
Vitamin C
It's well proven in the literature that vitamin C protects the skin from sun damage and reduces the effect of sunburn. It has antioxidant properties that mop out free radicals which eats up the elastic structure of the skin.

Vitamin B complex
Nicotinamide helps to retain moisture in the skin which rejuvenates the skin, making it supple and lightens uneven skin tone. Being an anti-inflammatory, it also soothes dry and irritated skin.

Read this article from WebMD all about the essential nutrients for beautiful skin.

This drip treatment is different from the much hyped up and negative news from the New Straits Time about gluthatione drip.

How frequent is it recommended?

Dr Teo from Vogue Clinic recommends having the drip once a week for about 5 sessions to achieve the maximal effect.

There you go, myth busted for multivitamin drip.

Disclaimer: the opinion given is merely a personal experience and does not constitute formal medical advice. Please seek your medical professional's advice before any complementary therapy. Always ask for certified professionals before proceeding with treatment and stop if discomfort or side effect ensues.

Tappers Cafe Food Review @Jaya One PJ

Founded by a group of Malaysians in their 50s to 60s, the influence from the colonial era was still strong. This gave rise to Tappers cafe inspired by popular snack bars headed by Hainanese chefs who were experts in both local and Western cuisines. This franchise can also be found in Malacca and Ipoh.

Tappers Cafe
Ground floor, Block D, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya
Phone +60 3-7955 1689
Official website
http://www.tappers.com.my/
 page https://www.facebook.com/tapperscafemalaysia/

On this lazy Sunday morning, our small family of 3 woke up late just in time for a brunch at Tappers. Met Micheal and Florence who are the masterminds behind the delicious menu. The new breakfast and lunch menu have just been launched! Lucky us.

Really enjoy hanging around and looking at these old schooled framed photos. Very retro. The baby-boomers will relate easily to the decoration and food. It's not easy to choose from such a great variety of dishes that's very much affordable even for students. We ended up over ordering :p

K-pop chicken wings

Started snacking on these delicious chicken wings. It looks very spicy but looks can be deceiving. It's actually on the sweet side, sticky and finger licking good just like the spicy keropok that we had in school.

American breakfast

A hearty selection of 4 pancakes, sausage, chicken ham and 2 sunny side up eggs. Can easily be shared between 2! The pancakes are really commendable because they smell heavenly buttery, are light and fluffy. They also go very well with the maple syrup which is fragrant and just has the right amount of sweetness.

Salted egg chicken burger

I would say this new item in the menu is a must try! Just looking at it is enough to make me drool. A cripsy chicken fillet still juicy inside layered with this generous cheddar cheese and salted egg sauce. The lettuce gives a refreshing twist to the dish. The wedges add on to the calories that's well worth to have though.

Soysauce chicken with rice

This old timer is great for those who is craving for comfort food. Sweet soy quarter chicken marinated and braised till tender and falling off the bones with extra sauce available for dipping. A serving of rice that's soaked in the same sauce. Yum yum!

Hainanese chicken chop

This is a great example of Asian and Western fusion. 2 pieces of chicken fillet with skin coated with a crunchy layer of tempura which is then drizzled with tomato based sauce and green peas. The sides are boiled potato and carrot chunks. Have it fast to enjoy the full flavour!

Spaghetti carbonara

Another all-time favorite that's also popular with children. You can never go wrong with a generous portion of spaghetti cooked in wonderfully thick cream sauce, mushroom slices, chicken ham and lots of cheese powders and more upon request! The only thing is that I would really love to have more sauce because it's good!

Mee Siam

Together with nasi lemak, one can easily call Mee Siam the Malaysian breakfast choice. This classic dish with a Thai origin is vermicelli fried in spices, tamarind and fermented soy bean, goes well with a fresh squeeze of lime and the fried tofu squares.

The choices of beverage at Tappers cafe are a combination of traditional or modern ones.

Capuccino

This is a very decent cuppa even for Mr hubby who's particular about his coffee. Craving of the day satisfied with this warm cup of coffee.

Cookies and cream milkshake

Always have to order something baby Bing will drink. The whole thing just tastes like cookies and cream ice cream and we both down every single drop. But obviously not a great choice every meal because of the calories.

Our verdict 8/10! Love the ambience, family friendly, a wide variety of menu to satisfy everyone's appetite and cheap. Can't wait for the kuantan branch to reopen!

Vogue clinic treatment series- advanced aqua peel oxyfacial

Time to pamper myself again at Vogue clinic! I spent 2 hours enjoying an advanced aqua peel oxyfacial away from all the work and babysitting. Thanks Mr hubby for settling baby Bing and allowing some me time :)

Vogue Clinic
Address 36-3, Jalan 30/70A, Wisma Rapid, Desa Sri Hartamas, 50480 KL
Phone number 018-234 2128
Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/vogueclinickl/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/vogueclinickl/

What is advanced aqua peel oxyfacial?
It's a process of hydrating and oxygenating the skin in order to cleanse, nourish and brighten the face.

What's the benefit of aqual peel oxyfacial?

- Non-Invasive & No Downtime
- Hydrate Skin for dewy effect
- Removal of Dead Skin Cells, Sebum, Impurities
- Black Head & White Head Removal
- Demodex Folliculorum Removal
- Improvement of Acne Skin
- Skin tightening
- Skin Nourishing & Hydrating
- Intensive Skin Whitening

Just in case you wonder what's Demodex, it's a skin mite that's thought to worsen acne. I have written about it here previously.

Go through the steps of the facial with me and you will understand why it's really easy enjoyment.

Step 1 Deep cleansing

Lie down in relaxing background music for a good and thorough cleaning that removes all traces of makeup residue and impurities on the face. The face is then steamed for 5 minutes to open up the pores for the following treatment.

Step 2 Blackhead aqua suctioning aka aqua peel

Using gentle suction, this creates a vacuum that instills an AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid) solution into the pores directly which is then sucked back, bringing all the blackhead and impurities with it. These solutions are widely used for exfoliation, hence being named as 'peel'.

Step 3 Manual blackhead extraction

Our lovely nurse at Vogue Clinic is very gentle when she extracts the blackheads. Instead of using a rough extractor which may leave scars (a big no no!), she uses a needle to pick up these nasty stuff. It used to be a dreaded step during facial, but at Vogue there's no pain at all!

Step 4 Vogue Signature Volcano Bubble Mask

Excuse my funny face :p so puffed up and looking like a cloud. It's similar to a foaming cleanser only it's better because it rejuvenates the skin and cleanse it at the same time. The bubbles formed are a result of reaction with oxygen which deliver antioxidants into the skin. It felt as if something kept crawling/touching my face and popping away. Interesting sensation.

Step 4 Icy cooling pore tightening gun

After all the washing, cool down the skin and shrink the pores with this cold gun that feels just like a cold compress.

Step 5 O2 injector gun

Now my face can never be lack of oxygen again with this high concentration of oxygen infused directly. These are age defying treatments that I need so badly as I have a busy schedule as a full-time doctor, part-time blogger and full-time mother.


Step 6 Ultrasonic wave hydroskin penetrator

This low frequency ultrasound wave ensures serum is able to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin.

Step 7 hydrating blue LED light mask
It actually has 4 colours and make me look at iron girl :p This is a very detailed explanation on how it works.

LED Light Therapy are wavelengths that are able to pass through tissue up to 1 inch deep. Red and near-infrared have beneficial effects on cells by “kick-starting” them into immediately creating more ATP (cellular energy) and increasing DNA and RNA activity. Red light LED stimulates the fibroblasts that produce collagen, which gives young skin its plump look.  LED machines can also minimize fine lines and wrinkles, treat sun-damage and stretch marks, and reduce redness.

Red LED Light
Red LED Light, featured on Dr. Oz and one of Hollywood’s top beauty secrets, has the ability to reach down into all the layers of the skin where it rejuvenates, stimulates collagen production, prompts cellular repair, and increases circulation promoting a more vibrant and youthful complexion.  Red LED lights work synergistically to deliver optimal skin rejuvenation.  This combination of LED lights is ideal for deeper lines and wrinkles, scarring, promoting a more even skin tone, and burning fat.

Blue LED Light
Blue LED light has been proven to have powerful anti-bacterial properties that have the ability to kill the acne causing bacteria, P. acnes.  It prevents and treats  acne.  Blue light also helps to purify the skin, stabilize oil glands, and sooth inflammation.

Orange LED Light
Orange light helps to revitalize the skin.  It has been shown to bring vitality to dull and lifeless complexions.  Orange light is good for bringing a glow to the skin for special occasions.

Yellow LED Light
Yellow light reduces the appearance of redness, swelling, and inflammation.  This color of light is beneficial for Rosacea and treating burns such as sunburns.  Also stimulates the production of red blood cells in the skin and is effective in treating abnormal pigmentation (hypo and hyper), improving lymphatic function, and stimulating circulation.

Green LED Light
Green light is absorbed into the skin where it has a calming effect.  It helps to lighten hyper-pigmentation spots revealing a brighter complexion.  The calming effect also has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the surface of the skin.  Green LED Therapy is used to treat dilated capillaries, sagging skin around the eyes, under eye circles, hyperpigmentation and sun spots, even sagging breasts.

Purple LED Light
Purple LED light therapy increases cell regeneration.  It decreases the telomeres of DNA in the cell to essentially bring it back to a stem cell-like (brand new cell) state so that it can divide and create new cells.

Finally a soothing head and neck massage. My weekend could never been better! Tempted to try it yourself? Contact Vogue Clinic today :)

Kad Ceria for federal territories in Malaysia

I have good news for KL people! Have you heard of Kad Ceria? It gives you so much discounts so you definitely need to know about it. The cost of living is going up exponentially and there's no way it's coming down anytime soon. But your voices are heard! There you go, a simple analysis about Kad Ceria by the government for the people. Kudos to KL town council for this initiative!

The official website is
https://kadceria.kwp.gov.my
Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/kadceriakwp/
Who can use it?
All residents in the federal territories of KL, Labuan and Putrajaya.

Who are the merchants that have participated?

There are over 3490 merchants involved! That sounds insane to me.
Card holders can enjoy up to 70% discounts for participating outlets. Those who want to rent the chosen facilities from the KL , Putrajaya and Labuan Town Council will also get it at a discounted rate. From supermarket such as KK, eateries like Kenny Rogers and book stores such as Borders, Kad Ceria all has it covered. Who doesn't love discounts?
You can find the whole list here. Obviously I cannot believe listing everyone here :p


Since it's that good, how do I get one?

Simply get onto this page to check your eligibility.

Can you believe that 51096 people have already signed up for this but you have just heard about it?

After submitting the application, you can also check the application status online.
Approved applicants can then collect their card with their names printed from these following offices. It's very convenient because KL alone has more than 5 centers available for collection such as Kepong, Cheras, Bandar Tun Razak and Bukit Bintang.



As if having discounts itself is not attractive enough, there's also Kad Ceria carnival.
Official website
https://www.karnivalkadceria.com.my

This means one can even use Kad Ceria to get discounted rates for joining various activities such as

Sports events like Amona street soccer challenge

Leisure events like coloring competition for school aged children

 I personally think that this is a positive step of showing how the government wants to take up social responsibilities and help the people to deal with the unbearable living cost. The various activities organised also create a sense of belonging for the people of KL to stick together. Too bad I'm not living in one of the federal territories! But those eligible should definitely get one!

How to achieve financial Independence featuring Ubis Academy

I have always been interested in the area of investment and financing. But you may ask, hey you are a doctor! It's not enough just to know about my own profession though. Things that determine how the economy works is fundamental to help one to achieve financial independence. I had the opportunity to attend a Fintech vs currency war talk held by Ubis Academy recently. And I would like to share with you all about the following interesting facts about our current economy and how to use it in our favor.

Ubis Academy is a college that offers financial education to create entrepreneurs. They have short term courses ranging from weeks up to 12 months and offer interesting courses like Professional diploma in applied finance. These are part-time courses which means that you only need to attend classes every fortnight or so. But these are very practical real-life scenarios being played out during the classes.

Ubis Academy
11-12 Menara Sentral Vista, Jalan Abdul Samad.
+60 3-2711 4292
Official website
http://www.ubisacademy.com.my/
Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/ubisacademy/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ubisacademy/

The following are a few interesting concepts introduced during the talk.

A successful entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki said, "a rich man does not worry about money" because he doesn't depend on the paycheck or pension financially. He does that by making sure a steady cash flow of passive income from his business ventures. Watch him on YouTube explaining why getting a job is for losers.

How good is the thought of waking up knowing that your pocket is full and you don't have to worry about how to fend for yourself and your family? What about not having to think about expenses? What about an impromptu overseas trip? For one, I'm a full-time doctor and always carry this guilt when on holiday because my colleagues have to cover my work when I'm away. And I wish I can stop calculating my budget which sometimes kill the fun.

Most graduates go through this predictable course. Got a job, bought a car, got married, bought a house, gotten a few children. We, unfortunately only think about investment later in life. Ubis Academy seeks to introduce this concept of importance of using investments to cover expenses and loans. That includes investing early, maybe even before one starts to have steady income.

The speaker Mr Partiban also explained how us the Ninja generation can earn something out of nothing by fully utilising the concept of FinTech aka Financial Technology. Do you even know that Cradle Fund exists in Malaysia to encourage youngsters to come up with more FinTech ideas? One of the main components of FinTech involves the use of social media replacing conventional banking services.

He further concluded that due to the currency war in which giant economies, in the effort to reduce national debt, deliberately devalue their currencies resulting in dumping of currencies into young economy like Singapore and Malaysia. This is at the expense of a much higher cost of living. Thus investment becomes even more important.

Does this sound mind boggling? I find that these are very practical advice and financial planning for individuals and families. And Ubis Academy is offering a series free of charge at the moment. If you want to know more in depth and become a trader or broker, enrol into one of their courses and become inspired by these important facts that is not taught by the textbooks.

Gotten this book about cryptocurrency after the talk. Gonna be my bedtime reading for the next week :)

Laser hair removal featuring Premier Clinic Bangsar

Hands up who hates excessive body hair especially under the armpits? This little dress is cute but I must remember to shave myself before wearing it. Hold on where's my shaver? Fret not, Premier Clinic is here to solve your worry permanently.

Premier Clinic
Bangsar Branch
Jalan Telawi 4
Official website https://premier-clinic.com
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Premier.Aesthetic/

What's laser hair removal?

Basically highly concentrated light beam is used to destroy the hair follicles to achieve permanent hair loss in the area. The more technical term is called Long Pulse ND:YAG.


Where can it be used?

Under arms, legs, bikini lines, arms and even delicate area like the face.

Preparation before the procedure

Avoid plucking or waxing or performing electrolysis in the area as this removes the hair follicles temporarily for 6 weeks. Shaving is fine. Make sure the doctor can easily see the follicles by leaving some short hair visible.

Dr Jaswine Chew was my doctor in charge of the day. She carefully explained what the procedure entailed. Doctors in the Premier Clinic group are all professionally trained to perform aesthetic procedures. Baby Bing sat in and agreed that Mommy should go for the treatment too :p

Really love how relaxing the setup of the waiting room is, completed with TV and a collection of articles published by the experts from Premier clinic in the press. Dr Chen himself has a Facebook page that talks about aesthetic treatments here.

Firstly numbing cream was applied for about 20 minutes. Excuse the cling wrap underneath my armpit ( to contain the numbing cream from coming off).

 I had the chance to rest in this nice treatment room in the clinic.

Time to selfie a bit with my cute treatment gown on.

Premier Clinic is very professional and has their own emergency trolley well laid out. I would say even better than the ones I have in my ward haha. Excuse my occupational habit. Ehem. The staff also treated us so well that baby Bing also enjoyed himself and gotten a treat of cookie.

How did I feel during the treatment?

When the laser treatment was given, I felt the zapping. Just like barbequeing my hair. Lol. There's some burning pain but still tolerable. It's also normal to be able to smell the singed hair. The whole process was over in about 5 to 10 minutes.

I had this supercooler blowing cooled air to relieve the discomfort, as well as cold compression after the procedure. The pain itself was fairly comparable to plucking the hair individually so it's still bearable. For those who have coarser hair like me, it tends to be slightly more painful.

In all the excitement, I forgot to take a video of the procedure :( But here's a YouTube video to explain how it works.

Aftercare for the procedure

Some steroid cream was applied immediately after the treatment but pain, redness and swelling is fairly uncommon because there's virtually no downtime. The pain disappeared as soon as the lasering stopped. Phew.

One can continue to shave but should avoid sun exposure for about a week as the lasered skin is sensitive to sunlight. I'm really to rock my sleeveless dress the next day!

What's the effect?

Generally speaking, after a single session, one would expect sparser hair growth so one will be able to space out the need for shaving. It needs to be repeated every month for 3-7 times to achieve permanent hair loss.

There you go, my experience having laser hair removal for underarms. Safe and effective, after all it's the most common aesthetic procedure done in the world!

Read here to find out more about this procedure on Premier Clinic's website.

The ultimate beauty solution featuring Magic Jelly by Lovera

They always say there's no ugly woman, only a lazy one. Oh well I'm the lazy and busy one. My time is mainly dedicated to work, research and my family. Very little time for myself. As a result, I am always on the lookout for great skincare solutions that solve everything in a single step.

Had my hands on this Magic Jelly by Lovera recently. It promises to heal a long list of skin issues . Just my cup of tea!

It's myriad benefits for the skin:

Treats pimples effectively
Get rid of dull skin
Fade scars (old/new)
Fade dark spots
Soothes Eczema
Hydrates dry skin
Treat sunburn
Shrink pores
Help to ease rashes , allergic and sensitive skin
Anti-Aging
Repair and restore skin from within
Makes skin more smooth and supple

Wow! Very tempting indeed. Not only that it can also be used for the hair and lips, as well as minor cuts and burns. Great stuff that's both approved by the ministry of health and halal. It's so versatile that even babies can use it to relieve rashes.

The 4 important ingredients are:

Chamomile

Photo from Google

These Daisy like flowers are touted to relieve inflammation, contains antiseptic and antioxidant properties. It is also hypoallergenic and is great for sensitive skin types. By restoring the skin's moisture balance, it's the key to achieve the glowing skin.

Cucumber

Photo from Google

Very rich in water, vitamin C and caffeic acid, it's not difficult to see why it's a great skin food. This soothes the skin as well as calming the angry and swollen skin.

Jicama

Photo from Google

Aka Mexican turnip, more commonly known in creating culinary delights. Contains vitamin A, B1 and C. Pachyrhyzon is great for skin whitening. Both pachyrhyzon and rotenon weekend together to eliminate black spots and acne scars on the face.

Aloe Vera

Photo from Google

This has been used for centuries to heal cuts and burns. It's also great for sunburns and moisturise the skin without clogging the pores. Its anti-inflammatory properties is even compared in studies and is proven to be stronger than 1% hydrocortisone cream (I do use this sparingly for my eczema).

Watch my short video on YouTube for how to use magic jelly. It's lightweight and does not make the skin feels sticky after application. And my face still remains shine free after a hectic day. But I still need my regular lip Vaseline as my lips can turn really dry and cracked.

Besides applying it after cleansing, it can also be used as makeup primer, makeup remover, facial serum, eyelash serum and lip moisturiser. Looks at I will need to stock up more magic jelly! Going to be extra useful for people who travels outstation often just like us. One size for the whole family to use.

Official website
http://www.lovera.com.my
Facebook
https://m.facebook.com/lovera.malaysia
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/loveramalaysia/