Your DNA plays a huge role in your skin’s glow – but there are still things you can do for your skin

In a world where we’re bombarded with skincare and cosmetic products on a daily basis, it’s hard not to feel like perfect skin is more than just attainable – it’s a standard all of us need to uphold.

From anti-wrinkle serums and acne creams to expensive facials, you’ll definitely find a product that claims to fix whatever skin ailment that you may have.

Beauty products aren’t the only factors that keep our skin looking polished, though. Turns out, our DNA can also influence the way our skin looks and behaves – though scientists are still actively researching just how much our skin health has to do with our genetics (and which gene is responsible for our skin’s appearance) at this present moment.

How our genes affect our skin health

Studies have discovered that humans have somewhere between 20,000 and 25,000 different genes (that are made up of DNA), which determine everything about us – and that includes how our skin behaves.

Yes, our skin type (like whether we’re dry, normal, or oily), certain skin conditions, and, to some extent,  wrinkles are all largely decided by our genes.

For instance, a researcher named Hugo Hecht found in 1960 that acne has a hereditary component, contending that the condition can be more difficult to treat when there’s a family history even though there’s no acne gene per se.

Experts believe that nature isn’t the only factor behind your skin’s appearance, the environmental factors that you’re exposed to can also directly change how your skin looks and how your genes function, ultimately influencing your skin’s overall health and appearance.

The genes you are born with may affect how you age but which genes are turned on over time – due to your inherent characteristics, what you’re exposed to, and what you do – makes a difference, too. Sun damage, pollution, stress, and smoking are just some of the main external factors that can affect skin’s health adversely and add years to your face.

Same skin problems through generations, different solutions

As mentioned earlier, most of our skin and health problems are largely hereditary which means our mothers and grandmothers are likely to have had them too. Wrinkles, sagging skin, dark circles, you name it…

Did mum hit menopause early? Odds are, you would too. And if that happens, your skin’s health could be at risk – that’s because the oestrogen hormone that helps to keep the skin thick and bouncy drops, causing the skin to thin and wrinkle.

Jowls, eye bags, and sunken cheeks are also some of the biggest signs of ageing, and these are often inherited as they largely form based on the structure of your face. In addition to DNA, the combination of UV rays and stress also contribute to the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin.

To address their skin issues, our grandmothers would’ve likely used traditional formulas like Kuan Yin Pearl Beauty Cream and makeup such as Sam Fong Hoi Tong Pressed Powder (also known as Fanbo Traditional Pressed Powder) while our mothers relied on Hazeline Snow, Yardley makeup products, and probably blotting paper to keep skin looking matte and clear.

Meanwhile, you hunt down the latest skincare to use and religiously follow the three-step skincare regime daily yet these prove to be ineffective against your skin problems. The issue may lie in the fact that you’re faced with higher levels of stress from all corners compared to the previous generations.

But the good news is, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to treatments that can effectively reverse the appearance of wrinkles, sagging skin, and dark eye circles.

The recommended treatment for wrinkles

To target wrinkles, there’s arguably nothing more effective than botulinum toxin injections – when done right, of course.

And in the Anti Wrinkle treatment offered at Amaris B. Clinic, you can count on Dr. Ivan Puah – who is the appointed doctor trainer in Singapore for botulinum toxin and dermal filler injections – to produce natural-looking results by using small doses of a neurotoxic protein that temporarily paralyses facial muscles to aid the smoothing and softening of lines and wrinkles.

Once injected into the targeted muscles underneath the skin surface, botulinum toxin relaxes the muscles and smoothes the skin, making it a popular anti-wrinkle treatment to counter signs of ageing effectively.  Apart from treating wrinkles, botulinum toxin can be used to raise the eyebrow as well as the lips and the tip of the nose. It is also popular for treating gummy smiles and slimming the jawline.

What’s more, botulinum toxin can also be used to treat medical conditions such as chronic migraine, eyelid spasms, and even excessive sweating in the armpits, hands, and feet.

The recommended treatment for sagging skin

To take care of sagging skin and “turkey neck,” you can ask for Ultherapy, which is capable of lifting and tightening skin from inside out – sans surgery. For the uninitiated, Ultherapy is the only non-invasive procedure that is FDA-cleared and has the European CE (Conformité Européenne, or European Conformity in French) certificate to lift the upper and lower face, chin, neck, eyebrow as well as to improve the appearance of fine lines on the décolletage.

Using precise micro-focused ultrasound with visualisation (MFU-V) energy, Ultherapy targets the deep structural layers of the skin without disrupting the skin’s surface. The body’s tissue repair process is then activated and this, in turn, stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin, creating a gradual and natural lifting effect for a firmer, younger-looking face.

If you’re dealing with volume loss in the face, then the ADR-C Facial Enhancement might be more suitable for you. Performed by Dr. Ivan Puah (who received fat grafting and syringe liposculpture training under renowned aesthetics plastic surgeon, Dr Pierre François Fournier from Italy), the ADR-C Facial Enhancement involves harvesting fat from certain areas of your own body and transferring it to identified parts of your face to replace lost volume and restore youthful contours while softening lines, folds, and wrinkles.

Since the harvested fat is derived from your own tissue, there is no risk of allergy as the material used is natural. Another plus point of this treatment is that it can also rejuvenate the skin as well as improve tone and texture!

With the ADR-C Facial Enhancement, you can reduce the hollowness of your eyes, smooth out wrinkles around the lips, add volume to saggy cheeks, and also improve the contour of your temples, chin, and even jawlines for a naturally youthful appearance.

Are body-related issues hereditary too?

We hate to be the bearer of more bad news but as it turns out, body issues such as double chin, bingo wings, and muffin top have been found to be largely hereditary as well and medical experts say that there’s very little you can do to avoid any of these problems if you’re already genetically predisposed to fat growth in those areas.

Our grandmas would have probably treated household chores as their workout of choice, while our mums turned to fitness equipment and techniques such as ab rollers, pull-up exercises, and aerobic tapes that were made popular in the 1980s.

Meanwhile, you’ve tried everything from fasting diet and yoga to new-age workout fads such as Pilates, HIIT, and even meditation but can’t seem to yield any viable results to send your double chin or muffin top packing.

The truth is, fat, especially really stubborn fat, can be resistant to fitness and healthy diets. What would be more impactful would be improved surgical fat removal procedures that can permanently remove localised stubborn fat effectively and safely.

The recommended treatment for double chin

Try as you might, many tried-and-tested methods and products such as non-invasive slimming machines, massages, and topical creams are not able to get rid of genetically predisposed fat. Instead, consider facial liposuction, one of the popular treatments offered at Amaris B. Clinic.

This 60-minute procedure is the most delicate yet effective facial fat reduction treatment for treating problematic chubby or chipmunk cheeks, double chin, and submental fullness. Performed under local anaesthesia, it involves the removal of facial fat pockets followed by careful sculpting of facial contour.

It goes without saying that in facial liposuction, the doctor’s experience, skills, and techniques play a pivotal role in helping you achieve a defined and slender facial contour.

The recommended treatment for excess stubborn localised body fat

Liposuction for the body is also the way to go in order to permanently reduce and remove stubborn fat on the arms, abdomen, waist as well as inner and outer thighs.

Don’t get put off by the gruesome images of tubes and huge suction cannulas that you used to see in the past as well as hospitalisation, general anaesthesia, and slow recovery that disrupts your daily routine – liposuction techniques have come a long way since then, in which the surgery has improved tremendously in modern times.

Now, it comes in the form of tumescent liposuction as well as various types of technology-assisted liposuction such as VASER Lipo, VASER Hi-Def Lipo, and Smart Lipo – all of which are all available at Amaris B. Clinic which is well-known for body sculpting and liposuction procedures in Singapore.

While liposuction has long been known as the go-to surgical method for bulk removal of unwanted fat tissues, Dr. Ivan Puah regards liposuction not solely as a surgical procedure but rather as a treatment that consists of 70% art and 30% science.

With more than 15 years of body sculpting experience, he customises his approach according to each individual’s body shape, problematic fat distribution areas, and the patient’s optimal goal in order to achieve the best possible results.

That’s because, to him, no two body shapes (and their fat distribution) are alike and contributing factors such as the patient’s skin and muscle tone need to be taken into account as well.

In light of this, Dr. Ivan Puah developed his own proprietary body sculpting approach known as MDC-Sculpt® Lipo technique, which not only is able to achieve a large volume of fat removed but also meticulous sculpts to create a shapelier body profile while achieving further tightening of the skin.

Carried out under local anaesthesia in the clinic’s MOH-approved operating theatre, you can be assured that you are in safe hands as Dr. Ivan Puah performs the procedure alongside a seasoned anaesthesiologist while assisted by a team of experienced surgical staff.

Worried about post-operative care? Fret not, Amaris B. Clinic offers a suite of post-operative recovery care treatments that will further improve and enhance your results.

How Amaris B. Clinic can help with your skin and body  problems – even if they’re caused by genetics

At Amaris B. Clinic, patient’s safety, health, and results are a top priority for the team so you can rest assured that your well-being is in safe hands no matter the procedure you undergo at the establishment.

With every patient, Dr. Ivan Puah will conduct a thorough consultation in order to advise on the suitable treatment plans after assessing one’s clinical conditions, needs, and expectations.

Armed with more than 15 years of experience in performing facial cosmetic enhancements as well as body sculpting procedures, Dr. Ivan Puah is the medical professional you can trust to recommend a treatment solution that gives you optimal results even when it comes to treating genetically linked skin and body issues.

In addition, Dr. Ivan Puah is an accredited liposuction doctor in Singapore and also a VASER® Certified physician who has obtained his VASER® Fundamental and Advanced Body Sculpting training in Colorado and Argentina.

More than just an aesthetic clinic, Amaris B. Clinic now has progressed to offering integrative medicine along with body sculpting and medical aesthetics. What this means is that the clinic now provides weight loss and fitness assessment, pain management, sports injury rehabilitation, and myotherapy as part of its suite of comprehensive treatments and services.

So if you’re looking for an aesthetic clinic that can help you safely improve your skin and body for a more youthful glow and sculpted figure, you can definitely consider Amaris B. Clinic where a team of medical professionals will be dedicated to enhancing your appearance, health, and fitness on all levels by fully personalising their approach to your treatment.

Amaris B. Clinic is located at 140 Arab Street, Singapore 199827. Call 6536 4211 or email [email protected] to schedule a consultation.

This article is brought to you by Amaris B. Clinic.