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Saturday, July 31, 2010

By fillers, to perfections...

In my practice of Cosmetic Medicine, my favourite would have to be facial augmentation by filler/Botox. Some of the fillers that I use in my clinic includes Restylane, Hyacorp, Juvederm, Esthelis...
For augmentation of the soft tissues, e.g, lip plumbing, improvement of the nasal profile, nasolabial fold, Marionette lines, the fillers of choice would be the pre filled 1 ml Restylane, Esthelis, or Juvederm, while, for cheek and chin augmentation, Hyacorp would be my choice as it comes in 10ml, which needs more fillers.
Otherwise, I don't favour any one over the other..
Give the best and the most expensive filler to an amature, you'll only expect mediocre results. While a good cosmetic doctor would be able to perform a beautiful job irrespective of the brand of the filler being used.
After a long practice, I tend mix my own cocktail of filler for a smoother longer lasting,bloodless, and less swelling.
Of all the procedures that I perform, nothing is more satisfying than face augmentation by filler injections as the result is immediate.
A middle age woman came few months ago seeking treatment for Marionette lines. That are line formed as a result of a droop at the area immediately adjacent to the corner of the mouth.
As you can see, the texture of her skin was dull, and seemed to have loss it's elasticity, as evident by the deep nasolabial lines.
After treatment, I've advised her to drink plenty of fluids. She used to only drink a cup of coffee that last her the whole day.
She changed her habit and took my advice. And five days later, when she walked through my door.
...a total different appearance. Her skin is more radiant and glows.  Her nasolabial lines seemed less obvious, and of course, her Marionette lines gets corrected.
Again and again, I can't emphasize the importance of proper and adequate hydration. One need not use regimes of facial treatments just for hydration. Simply drink plenty of water.
The photo was taken with the same camera settings and an environment which is constant.
This middle age lady came for treatment of sunken cheeks that gave her a tired look.
Immediately after the treatment.......
The filler revolumized the sunken area, enhanced her cheeks, which I was careful not to overdo it , as you do not want to look too puffed up as if your cheeks are about to blow up like Anita Sarawak's...
That looked like she might have pumped in at least 2ml of fillers per cheek to have such an unnatural puffed up "everyone knows you've had something done" kind of look.
A skillful doctor is able to make face appears natural and untempered, where someone will appreciate your looks without having a clue that you've got it done.


Fillers aren't being used to correct static lines that appears mostly during middle age.
Today, younger patients are coming for procedures to enhance their features.
Recently I had this lady in his late 20s with good bone structure, however had been regularly had fillers injected to enhance her cheeks as she is and without it, she claimed to appear emaciated. Her previous doctor is a plastic surgeon in a reputable private hospital in Klang Valley.She came with uneven tear trough area with dimpling of the right cheeks due to uneven amount of filler injected.
I was initially hesitant to  take up her case as I tried to convince her these little peccadilloes if imperfections is what makes a person perfect.
Due to the unequal amount of filler injected,  it caused facial asymmetry as shown by the unequal depth of the nasolabial fold.
In addition to procedures to correct, a little touch to enhance her chin to  her already prominent features adds on to the fine feature she possesses.
 As you can see, her chin was already beautiful to begin with, but a request for an additional enhancement and reshaping wouldn't be too much.

After the procedure, the cheeks look puffed up, she appears more refreshed. Chin reshaped, face bilaterally equal.
I didn't pumped in too much otherwise it would look pretty obvious she had something done. My rule in practicing cosmetic medicine is , moderation and natural.
Tear trough asymmetry,dimpling of the cheeks are both corrected, and chin enhanced.
It a norm by today's standard to get enhancement as early as late 20s.
Similarly, patients coming for Botox aren't limited only lines removal, but for facial slimming, and enhancement of jawline as well.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Pumped up MP5

Recently , I bought a MP5, not the real thing, but the BB version. It's not a toy either, considering the damage it potentially causes.


I've always have this fascination with military and weaponry. As expected, I spent plenty of time playing with it. Recently, I've upgraded it by installing a Picatinny rail and a laser reflex sights on it. the sights is the real ones used by the military.
It was fun and all, but after a short while, the sights simply wasn't enough as soon as I discovered there is room for more modification.
Recently bought a 9.11 38" AEG Sniper Hand shoulder bag to house the rifle.
It comes with multiple compartments with Velcro seal.
The 4 handy prolonged compartments is designed to house extra magazines, scopes, goggles, laser sights, etc..
The inner padding thick enough to cushion and absorb any shock while carrying the rifle,especially the ones fitted with delicate scopes or laser sights.
38" inch carrying bag was designed for sniper rifle, but it fits when my MP5 is stored with it's stock fully extended.
Recently, I've changed the motor that generates the air pressure that propels the pellets to add extra power into it... by 40% to be exact.
Bigger motor means more energy needed to run it. Hence, I've changed the battery as well, from 6 AA size to a packed 8 into 1 rechargeable power pack.
So, in what way has the performance of the rifle improved?
Prior to modification, from 10 meters away, it penetrates through this 5mm thick Styrofoam board.
But after modification!!!......
.....from 10 meters away... it effortlessly shoots through this...
Styrofoam of about 15mm thick!!
In addition to that, in full auto mode, it shoots around 600rpm compared to 300-350rpm before mod.
Now, that's definitely ain't a toy anymore, isn't it?

Thursday, July 29, 2010

One of the best film ever!...

Horror, comedy, sitcoms,political, suspense, these are some of the genres of mainstream movies today. Undoubtedly, one of the most heart moving,emotional, and engaging movie that I've watched...intently, has to be 7 Pounds.
It was such an intense and emotional movie, that drove me to paint a Madonna Lilly for my dearest wife. I don't know why, but I guess the story was so moving, and emotionally I was all churned up inside out, something tells me to express my love for my wife as often as possible.
There isn't a single paintings that doesn't say something. Each and every one says something..
You may ask me what is it with the movie that moved me so much. For that, the ONLY method of making one comprehend how it made me feel is by watching the movie themselves, THEN would only would anyone understand what it meant, and how quick and thorough it makes them not only appreciates but to express their love for those who shares their life with.
There are so many things in life that is presented to us so wonderfully, yet we take it for granted.
Beautiful artwork is an expression of a mind and emotion. Only one who is equipped with the right set of emotions and mindset would able to pour out the heartiest expression.
And mine was jump started with this movie.
The initial half of the movie makes no sense. My initial impression on the character "Tim Thomas" played by versatile actor Will Smith, was that of a disturbed man with a lost sense of direction in life.
The movie started with the scene where Tim, seemingly distressed made a 911 call to report on a suicide, on himself.
With an artistic choreography, it then jumped into a scene where Tim was swimming in the sea with his voice narrating," God created the world in seven days, I've shattered mine in 7 seconds"....
I watched this film several times, and each time it never fails to bring out the tears in me. Why do they call this movie "Seven Pounds"? That was a key question that i asked myself initially. After spending some time on the net, I found out it's significance. Originated from William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, payment of a debt involved giving a pound of the debtor's flesh to the creditor. Harsh. It's that saying we sometimes encounter about someone demanding a pound of flesh in compensation for something. 
In the movie, at the very last scene, it revealed that Tim was involved in an accident that claimed 7 lives, that includes his fiancee. In the bid for redemption, Ben sets out to save and permanently change lives of 7 people. 
It started with Tim making a call to a blind meat salesman,Ezra, and intended to harass him by verbally being abusive towards him in order to test his patience, which Tim found it worthy of a "gift" that change his life. 
Tim stole the identity of his brother, an IRS employee, in order to have access to personal particulars of individuals. The moment Tim hangs up the phone after the conversation with Ezra, with anger and frustrations, he trashed his house while calling out seven names. 
 It made no sense to me initially, which to my heartiest emotions, sees the rationale and the plot of the movie in the end.
Every minute of the movie was emotionally gripping. Fast forward to the scene where Tim meets his friend, Dan, a lawyer(I think) where the conversation was suspenseful and made you think Dan owed Tim something, a favour perhaps, which Dan wasn't keen on attending to.
A seemingly distressed Dan who appears to avoid Tim while being contacted to perform, or execute a task requested by Tim.
video
My initial impression on Tim(who stole his brother's identity, Ben, and IRS employee) was that he was out doing his job, and Dan despite being a close friend wasn't spared in being harassed while performing his duty as an IRS officer.
"Ben" continues with his "duty" in the scene with Dan in the motel room. The conversation suggested everything but the true purpose of conversation that took place. I bet those who watched this movie at this point would probably thought Dan owed "something big" to the IRS and yet to deliver what he had promised Ben.



Definitely one of the heights in the movie.Makes you wonder for a while what the heck was going on then.
The suspense goes on with Tim's visit to the Child's welfare department officer, Holly, where he asked for a name who needs help, which he was then referred to a Latino woman who lives with an abusive boyfriend.
Tim decided to give his beach house to the Latino lady with her two children, on one condition that she mustn't under any circumstances, contact him.
Holly, the officer who seemed to be close to Tim questions his actions and rationale for his intentions, to which he simply answers, "I just wanted to help."
While searching for candidates to be recipients of his acts, he got to know Emily, played by the beautiful Rosario Dawson, who suffers from a heart condition and has a rare blood group. Tim spent more time with Emily during which as expected, developed into a relationship.
Another 2 candidate as recipients of Tim's act of redemption are Hockey coach George, and Nicholas, to which he donated his kidney and bone marrow respectively.


Tim found George deserves of his "gift" for his philanthropic work that goes unnoticed.
Slowly as the story continues, the reason for Tim's actions soon revealed.
Soon after the fatal crash, Tim fell into deep depression, which he felt the only right thing to do was to perform acts of selflessness towards 7 people, in redemption for the 7 lives lost.
In the course of the film, Tim developed a relationship with Emily, which in the act of ultimate sacrifice and selflessness, Tim quietly slipped away to commit suicide as by dipping himself in a bathtub filled with ice and allowing himself to be stung by jellyfish.
video
It was only after this scene that I understood the conversation that took place earlier on between Dan and Tim, that Dan acted as an executor to make sure Tim's will is in order and being carried out. This was a tear jerking moment in the movie. I know why Dan shed tears when questioned on his reliability to carry out his duty that took place in the motel room.
Towards the end of the movie, the scene where Ben revealed Tim's reason for his actions was simply overwhelming. 
No matter how manly you may be, it never fails to bring out the tears in you. It softens and warms the coldest of hearts like a melting butter... ok, bad example,but you understand what i meant, right?
Seven changed lives. 123 minutes of pure golden minutes, 1 heart warming, emotion churning movie. 
My personal recommendation is to head towards the nearest DVD store to grab this movie. It touches my soul, and reaffirms my belief that with our given temporary existence in this slowly dying, inevitably ceases to function body, we can do so much... even after our passing, we continue to live. 
I know it may be a taboo to many traditional Chinese, but there are thousands of lives who depends on organs to continue living. 
What else could be more precious than donating what isn't yours in permanence, to give others the second chance of life, and to continue living after our passing?Think about it. 
Immediately,  I called up Kuala Lumpur general hospital to reconfirm my status as a organ donor. 
Now, this is life worth living......

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Like father like daughter.

There is no denying that for everyone parent, one thing they can always be proud at is the fact their children inherited the talent they have.
For instance, I appreciate life and all it's beauty expressed in the form of arts, poetry, song..
I've always carry around a notebook, no, not a notebook computer, but a real notebook that enables be to pen down my thoughts on the spot, while I'm in the zone, while my thoughts are still fresh.
I've written over 30 poems, and yet, I would never call myself a poet, rather, merely being expressive. Hey, we only live once.
Often times, my poem revolves around life and it's ups and downs.
Most of them are my thoughts and ideas in life, my aspirations, my inspiration, my ideals.


Up till today, there are over 30 poems written, while some selected ones are posted in this blog, some are merely too personal to be publicized.
I must admit, as expected for a person who sees life as a playground, and often plays around, I am rather....emotional. 

My anger, my curses, all written and expressed eloquently. Some for one's own interpretation, while some being not too subtle.
 Often times, words don't justify what my thoughts, hence, paintings.
One of many of my paintings.
Singing, dancing, drawing, & painting, these are the qualities Isabelle inherited from me.
Isabelle's own painting for my wife's birthday.
Simple, yet beautiful at it's own rights.
Isabelle's latest but unfinished work.
She has no idea how proud she makes me feel.