Are Non-Surgical Skin Lifting Treatments Suitable For Me?

It is everyone's dream to discover the elixir of life and never have to experience aging. Since the beginning of time, humans have been trying to find ways to restore youth and delay aging. Yet aging is a natural process that everyone has to go through. 

We speak to Dr. Siew Tuck Wah, Medical Director of Radium Medical Aesthetics to find out what cause aging and what can be done to delay the aging process.

Why Do We Age?


Our bodies are made up of cells. These cells divide and produce new cells to keep up with growth and repair of body tissue. However, cell division slows down over the years when we become older and weaker. When the old cells that are unable to generate stay in the body, it causes the body to degenerate slowly. 

Every time cells divide, the telomeres (protective caps at the end of each strand of DNA) shorten in all 3 layers of the skin. The shortening of telomeres leads to some of these changes that can contribute to visible changes to your skin:
  • Thinning of dermis layer by about 10% every 10 years
  • Production of less collagen and elastin fibers
  • Flattening of skin between epidermal and dermal layers due to the lack of nutrients being delivered to the top layer of the skin
  • Inability to retain moisture in the skin
  • Reduction in the volume of fat cells in the subcutaneous layer which can lead to formation of wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin

Non-surgical skin lifting treatments available in Singapore

There are many skin lifting – surgical and non-surgical – options you can choose from. 

Just less than 10 years ago, when people think of skin lifting treatments, the only option was a to undergo a cosmetic surgical facelift. Although results are visible and long-lasting, a surgical face lift does not come without risks. Patients are exposed to anaesthesia risks, nerve injury, temporary/ permanent hair loss at the incisions, etc.

For people who do not wish to opt for surgical procedures, there are non-surgical options as well. 

Silhouette Soft Thread Lift, also known as the ‘lunchtime facelift’ uses resorbable sutures made of Polylactic Acid (PLA). PLA is a 100% bio-compatible component that surgeons use for surgical sutures, medical implants and even drug delivery systems. 



Silhouette Soft threads have tiny bidirectional cones that are key to lift sagging tissue under the skin.  By performing the thread lift treatment, it achieves two main beneficial outcomes: 

  • Immediate lifting can be seen because the tiny cones anchor and lift the saggy skin to its lifted position
  • Ongoing stimulation of collagen occurs around the threads, sustaining a natural-looking lift even after the threads have dissolved

The threads are absorbable and will dissolve in about 6 to 9 months after the treatment. However, the lifted contours will remain and maintain its shape for another 12 to 18 months. In total, a single Silhouette Soft Thread Lift treatment can last for about 1.5 to 2 years, depending on individual. There are other threads that doctors may use to perform thread lift treatments in Singapore. Always consult your doctor to find out what threads he is using to perform the treatment.

Ultherapy is another skin lifting treatment offered by most medical clinics in Singapore. The procedure does not involve the use of any sutures, scalpel, or needles. This non-invasive skin lifting treatment uses High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to lift and tone saggy skin. It does so by delivering a consistent heat to the deep layers of the skin to stimulate your body to produce collagen. Ultherapy is currently the only non-invasive procedure that is FDA-cleared to lift the skin on the brow, neck, chin, and décolletage. 



Ultherapy is a popular skin lifting treatment that is well-received by many big names in Hollywood such as Courteney Cox. Medical technology has progressed so much that we no longer need to solely rely on invasive methods and submit ourselves to all sorts of associated surgical risks.

The regenerative process starts immediately after the treatment and some lifting may be seen. However, Ultherapy’s lifting effects are gradual and not dramatic and visible like facelift or Silhouette Soft Thread Lift. The full effects can be seen 2-3 months after the treatment because it takes time to stimulate the body’s collagen production. Results can last for anywhere between 12 to 18 months, depending on individual. 



Skin lifting can also be achieved with the use of only dermal fillers. Also known as 'liquid facelift', this procedure requires the rich experience and the doctor's great finesse to deliver remarkable skin lifting results with just the use of dermal fillers. Although such dermal filler treatments for face lifting is offered by most clinics, be sure to go to your trusted doctor for the best outcome.

Which Skin Lifting Treatment Should I Opt For?


Although the 3 different skin lifting treatments have different safety profiles and effectiveness, they achieve one common goal – to reduce appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and restore youthfulness by reversing the aging process.

Ultimately, you decide what is most suitable because you have to measure the risks you wish to take versus the benefits you like to achieve. 

Radium Medical Aesthetics offers all three non-surgical skin lifting treatments. Dr. Siew has more than ten years of experience with dermal filler treatments and other anti-aging treatments. He is also a certified trainer appointed by several dermal filler and thread lift vendors to train other doctors on the delivering the best results with their products.

Radium Medical Aesthetics is conveniently located at #03-326 Suntec City Mall, Tel: 6837-0507. For more information, visit http://www.radium-aesthetics.com/



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