Non-Invasive Face Reshaping With Mizu Aesthetic

Being beautiful is no secret - it only requires effort and truthfully speaking, some money to spend on aesthetic treatments. Hahaha.. I've started aesthetic treatments in the last few years and swear by a few treatments to maintain a nice facial shape, i.e. V-shape face. For the last 2 years I've been 100% off aesthetic treatments as I was expecting my 2nd child, followed by breastfeeding her for close to 18 months. Now that I've fully weaned her, it is time again to regain some beauty in Mama's face!

In the sharing session today are treatments I did to shape up my face and give myself a less tired look - I call this the mummy makeover (for the face)! My fitness regime has helped a lot with my post-partum figure, but we all know that one can't really exercise the face or target fat loss on certain areas – and this is when I will visit a clinic for an expert opinion on what I can do to for a facial rejuvenation. The v-shaped face and less tired looking results were achieved with HIFU (high intensity focused ultrasound), botox, and fillers. If you are not familiar with these aesthetic treatments, they're basically non-invasive, comes with minimal downtime, and little to no pain (though they all vary from treatment to treatment).

HIFU & JAW BOTOX:
LIFT, TIGHTEN AND ACHIEVE A V-SHAPED FACE

Here you can see my "BEFORE" face on the left, it is how my face was before ANY aesthetic treatments. I have not done any aesthetic procedures for the last 2 years prior to getting HIFU done, so thats probably how I look like naturally. Quite shocking to see the difference 'cuz it was my first time getting HIFU done. What is HIFU? HIFU aka High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound uses precise medical ultrasound for non-surgical tightening and lifting of the skin. It is usually done prior to jaw botox (if you require it to achieve a more v-shaped face) as the heat from the HIFU will denature the botulinum toxin. The doctor will advise you accordingly on what you require to achieve your desired face shape. What is HIFU for? The treatment heats up and stimulates existing collagen fibres, causing them to thicken and shorten, giving you a tightening and lifting effect. It is also used to melt facial fats while tightening the area. This is particularly useful for lower facelifts, double chins, neck tightening, and especially jowl reduction (fats around the corner of the mouth). On the overall, it sculpts a nicer and more lifted face shape for you from the combined effects.  What is the procedure like? The Ultrafomer HIFU is a moderately comfortable procedure - on top of topical numbing, some places may perform nerve blocks as well to make it more comfortable. Patients might feel a mild ache along boney areas, such as along the jawline. This is due to the ultrasound energy reflecting off the facial contours. The Ultrafomer HIFU procedure is approximately 60 minutes long for a lower face / half face procedure including numbing time, and has minimal downtime. Your skin may appear slightly flushed immediately after the treatment, but any redness will subside within a few hours. Pain Factor (for me): 2/5 for most areas, 3.5/5 on my jawline where the jaw bone is. I won't deny there is a certain degree of discomfort along the jawlines, but apart from that the rest was really pretty okay. Overall, it is bearable.

** Note - there are many brands of HIFUs out there, but the Mizu Aesthetic uses the Ultraformer HIFU, which is done by a doctor and typically performed only once a year, or twice for maintenance. Some HIFUs may be cheaper but will require you to visit more frequently and these are typically lower powered HIFUs which promises zero pain and sometimes less than ideal results.   

Here you can see my "BEFORE" face on the left, it is how my face was before ANY aesthetic treatments. I have not done any aesthetic procedures for the last 2 years prior to getting HIFU done, so thats probably how I look like naturally. Quite shocking to see the difference 'cuz it was my first time getting HIFU done.

What is HIFU?

HIFU aka High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound uses precise medical ultrasound for non-surgical tightening and lifting of the skin. It is usually done prior to jaw botox (if you require it to achieve a more v-shaped face) as the heat from the HIFU will denature the botulinum toxin. The doctor will advise you accordingly on what you require to achieve your desired face shape.

What is HIFU for?

The treatment heats up and stimulates existing collagen fibres, causing them to thicken and shorten, giving you a tightening and lifting effect. It is also used to melt facial fats while tightening the area. This is particularly useful for lower facelifts, double chins, neck tightening, and especially jowl reduction (fats around the corner of the mouth). On the overall, it sculpts a nicer and more lifted face shape for you from the combined effects. 

What is the procedure like?

The Ultrafomer HIFU is a moderately comfortable procedure - on top of topical numbing, some places may perform nerve blocks as well to make it more comfortable. Patients might feel a mild ache along boney areas, such as along the jawline. This is due to the ultrasound energy reflecting off the facial contours. The Ultrafomer HIFU procedure is approximately 60 minutes long for a lower face / half face procedure including numbing time, and has minimal downtime. Your skin may appear slightly flushed immediately after the treatment, but any redness will subside within a few hours.

Pain Factor (for me):

2/5 for most areas, 3.5/5 on my jawline where the jaw bone is. I won't deny there is a certain degree of discomfort along the jawlines, but apart from that the rest was really pretty okay. Overall, it is bearable.

UNDER EYE & CHEEK FILLERS:
FOR A YOUNGER, LESS TIRED LOOK 

Picture above shows my immediate results of getting under eye fillers. The fillers actually gave my under eye area an instant "lift" by filling up areas of fat/collagen loss, which means that there are less shadows at the under eye area, thus reducing the appearance and lightening my dark eye circles! This was also my first time getting fillers at my under eye area and I love! 'Cuz makes this panda-Mama looks more alert and less tired. Definitely a must-have for Moms.. Hehe.. What are Fillers and what are they for? Dermal fillers are a gel-like soft tissue filler injected into the skin.It can help with many things, including facial augmentation, diminishing facial lines and also restoring the volume and fullness in the face. As we age, we lose fat on certain areas of our faces, which makes us look tired and old. The fillers gives us a rejuvenated look by filling up areas of volume loss, making us look younger and less tired. The many uses of dermal fillers ~Facial Augmentation (Nose, Cheeks, Chin) ~ Enhance shallow contours ~Soften facial creases and wrinkles ~Improve the appearance of recessed scars Is the procedure painful? The area to be treated will be numbed with a topical anaesthetic cream and a cold pack 10 – 20 minutes before the injections are given, so pain is minimal. Pain Factor (for me): 1/5?? It's not painful really, but some parts of the procedure may feel scary b'cuz of the needle, but in fact pain is minimal. Especially it was my first time getting under eye filers, so it was pretty intimidating when the needle came close to my eye. Be sure to have a reputable aesthetic doctor perform any form of aesthetic treatment. WHAT ABOUT JAW BOTOX? I think I forgot to mention about my jaw botox, pain factor is the same as with for fillers 'cuz they are injectables and the feels are pretty much the same. And yes, it suitable for those of you who have muscular jaw. Clench your jaw to see how much muscles pop out on the side of your face, if yours throbs like mine, you might be a suitable candidate. But being said, PLEASE get a proper consult from a certified aesthetic doctor!!!

Picture above shows my immediate results of getting under eye fillers. The fillers actually gave my under eye area an instant "lift" by filling up areas of fat/collagen loss, which means that there are less shadows at the under eye area, thus reducing the appearance and lightening my dark eye circles! This was also my first time getting fillers at my under eye area and I love! 'Cuz makes this panda-Mama looks more alert and less tired. Definitely a must-have for Moms.. Hehe..

What are Fillers and what are they for?

Dermal fillers are a gel-like soft tissue filler injected into the skin.It can help with many things, including facial augmentation, diminishing facial lines and also restoring the volume and fullness in the face. As we age, we lose fat on certain areas of our faces, which makes us look tired and old. The fillers gives us a rejuvenated look by filling up areas of volume loss, making us look younger and less tired.

The many uses of dermal fillers

~Facial Augmentation (Nose, Cheeks, Chin)

~ Enhance shallow contours

~Soften facial creases and wrinkles

~Improve the appearance of recessed scars

Is the procedure painful?

The area to be treated will be numbed with a topical anaesthetic cream and a cold pack 10 – 20 minutes before the injections are given, so pain is minimal.

Pain Factor (for me):

1/5?? It's not painful really, but some parts of the procedure may feel scary b'cuz of the needle, but in fact pain is minimal. Especially it was my first time getting under eye filers, so it was pretty intimidating when the needle came close to my eye. Be sure to have a reputable aesthetic doctor perform any form of aesthetic treatment.

WHAT ABOUT JAW BOTOX?

I think I forgot to mention about my jaw botox, pain factor is the same as with for fillers 'cuz they are injectables and the feels are pretty much the same. And yes, it suitable for those of you who have muscular jaw. Clench your jaw to see how much muscles pop out on the side of your face, if yours throbs like mine, you might be a suitable candidate. But being said, PLEASE get a proper consult from a certified aesthetic doctor!!! 

The photo above and below shows more immediate results of my under eye fillers, just different in view. My point is just to show that the under eye filler perks my face up, giving me a fresh look even without or with minimal makeup.

I also did cheek fillers, which are injected to my cheek area to make the apples of my cheeks look fuller and more contoured. If you look at this photo above and the very first photo, you should be able to see slight, but visible enhancements of my facial contours.

Why cheek fillers?

Cheek fillers can be used for higher cheek contours to restore youthfulness or to create a more feminine appearance.

Difference of aesthetics are usually not that obvious compared to plastic surgery b'cuz it enhances our natural features instead of changing anything entirely. So do not be worried about your family or loved ones not recognizing you post-treatments. Based on experience, usually your friends around you won't know you did anything but might notice how you're better looking. Haaas. So the 3 treatments were what I did to achieve my V-face and overall rejuvenation which I am VERY HAPPY with right now. Maintenance is definitely a must b'cuz results from aesthetic procedures are usually not permanent. Depending on the nature of the treatment, some has to be done monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, annually or every other year. Do seek consultation from a reputable aesthetic clinic and doctor k. Cost wise I do find Mizu Aesthetic affordable. I've inquired online with a few aesthetic clinics over the years and I find that their price list is among a few named clinics a pocket-friendly one. Plus doctors there (Dr. Tan and Dr. Joanne) are really friendly. #notpaid !

I get my treatments done with Dr. Joanna Chan of Mizu Aesthetic. They are located in the heart of CBD, at Marina Bay Link Mall #B2-12 Singapore 018984, right below Marina Bay Financial Towers! 

Difference of aesthetics are usually not that obvious compared to plastic surgery b'cuz it enhances our natural features instead of changing anything entirely. So do not be worried about your family or loved ones not recognizing you post-treatments. Based on experience, usually your friends around you won't know you did anything but might notice how you're better looking. Haaas.

So the 3 treatments were what I did to achieve my V-face and overall rejuvenation which I am VERY HAPPY with right now. Maintenance is definitely a must b'cuz results from aesthetic procedures are usually not permanent. Depending on the nature of the treatment, some has to be done monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, annually or every other year. Do seek consultation from a reputable aesthetic clinic and doctor k.

Cost wise I do find Mizu Aesthetic affordable. I've inquired online with a few aesthetic clinics over the years and I find that their price list is among a few named clinics a pocket-friendly one. Plus doctors there (Dr. Tan and Dr. Joanne) are really friendly. #notpaid !

Anyways juz wanted to give my skincare sponsor a shout-out. I use the Skinceuticals Phyto Corrective Serum and Masque post-treatments, like facial lasers or anything that causes redness to calm my irritated skin. It is a compulsory routine of mine and I swear by them, so if you need anything to calm your skin you may try them. 

That's all for today & I hope you liked my little sharing session. Do feel free to leave comments in the comment box below if you have any question/s regarding the topic and I'll try my best to answer them if it's not already stated in my blog above. Stay tuned for more reviews, bye~! ; )

If you'd like to see some short videos about my aesthetic treatment session, check out my Insta Highlights on my profile.. click here for my IG.

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Mummy Makeover - Getting A Breast Augmentation In Singapore_Part 1

Happy New Year everyone! I'm starting my first blog of 2019 with a change, something I've had thoughts of for the longest time and something I never thought I'll do. As much as it sounds contradicting, I've just done the craziest thing this New Year - a breast augmentation!! *Screams* I am now day-9 post op (#throwback 'cuz in fact today when I live this post I'm 13 days post op) and I am penning down what I have to say, share and tell about my experience b'cuz I know there are soooooo many like-minded Mummies (and non Moms) out there who dream of getting a BA and just like me have pondered for a long time. I hope what ever I share will help you have a better idea of what to expect about this procedure.

Ps. I am not encouraging anyone to get a plastic surgery, I only hope for those who're considering to be able to make informed decisions as you read through my real & honest experience. Ultimately the body is ours and its only our decisions that matter. I welcome exchanging feedbacks & information but certainly do not appreciate judgy ones. Thanks!

So here I was, seated at the reception of Allure Plastic Surgery (Sg) right after the op. I guess it wasn't that bad afterall. It was my first op on my body apart from delivering both my girls thru normal birth, I guess those didn't count? Frankly speaking, I was nervous weeks before the op. But the feelings of nervousness actually came from the thoughts of me being away from my kids for 4 nights b'cuz I chose to check into a hotel for a complete and peaceful rest before returning to my kids. And I was also worried about the post-op recovery, more than the op itself b'cuz I'm worried my kids (esp the younger one 'cuz she'e 19 months old) would not listen and cry for my hugs or to be carried, or worst, bang into my boobs. **nightmare** I've never been away from both my kids at the same time and my younger one has slept with me since she was born, I was actually worried if they'll be okay. That kinda went on and on in my mind for the entire month before the op, and the month before this month I was worried about how to wean my breastfed baby. #MomLife #facepalmsmyself

To summarize things, the 4 nights went well afterall and I finally realised that it was me #TheNeedyMom who worried too much.
And all thanks to my Hubs & family members being supportive, this is rather important when it comes big decisions like these 'cuz having unsupportive family or friends might lead to lots of negative feelings and might cause depression. It is tough and I do know friends who go thru that. (i.e. having to deal with negative comments)

If you'd been following my blog, you would've known it's not my first cosmetic surgery done but it is certainly the first one performed on my body. Not being new to this PS (aka plastic surgery) thing, I was not that nervous and I was surprised I didn't feel it at all even when I was lying on the operating bed. I was really calm & composed, as how the anesthetist (Dr. Yeo) described.

Let me answer some questions (along the way) that are often asked when people first find about someone getting a PS or after getting a PS:

Why?
This is probably the first or most common question, but before I answer that I have to share this. There are 3 kinds of people in this scenario; one that can relate and will not question but support your decision because they feel the same and want the same, the other who doesn't understand or can't/have not relate (yet) and questions your decisions, the last being similar to the latter but will show support even if they do/do not understand/relate. Why am I saying this? Because that's what you will have to deal with if you're going thru with it. It may get to you and some people get depressed about it (that's why I want to put it out there), but you have to know what you really want and if its worth. It's like what I mentioned earlier on, having to deal with it.

The real answer to this qn? Simply put... I am a mother of 2, and after breastfeeding both of them my boobies have become smaller than the already small size they were. For me I didn't have saggy boobs and this is probably the only plus point for having small boobs. Haha.. As you can see in my picture above, that was taken when I was in a pageant end 2016 and I was in my early pregnancy with my 2nd child. I could barely fill the bikini top up and even if I wanted to wear a push-up bra, I would neither fill the cups up entirely. That's pretty sad.

I mentioned that it was something I never thought of doing, that was b'cuz I thought if not one sees "them" no one knows so I don't care. Then one day (or a few occasions) one of my pageant BFFs tried to brainwash me telling me how good I'll look in fuller boobs and if I had fuller boobs I'll look perfect. I'm not saying that I am or I will but it got me thinking. I started looking around and I come to realise yes I am really small and I sometimes do not look as good in clothes or rather I couldn't wear certain types of clothes and I did wish I could. I looked up online for local plastic surgeons and clinics then stumbled across Allure PS, booked a consultation (end August 2018), spoke to Dr. Ho, thought for 2 months, then finally decided to go for it.

Fast forward 4 months after the initial consult with Dr. Ho, these were what I packed for my 4 nights staycay @ Genting Hotel. I picked Genting Hotel as it was the only hotel in Jurong and the closest to my place. It'll be convenient for my Hubs to drop by when I needed something.

The must-packs include:
1. Nipple tape - no bras for at least a month
2. Front-buttoned clothing and PJs - b'cuz you won't really be able to lift your arms so much the first week post-op

The rest are really optional depending on what you need. I brought face & eye masks since I thought it'll be a great time to do these things since I have to lay down all day. Brought my iPad along to keep myself entertained by Netflix, and my protein shake + fruits fix for breakfast 'cuz I knew my Hubs wouldn't be that early so I had to settle my morning meals on my own.

How to prep for the op? (not the full list)
1. Remove all accessories and jewelry - nothing should be on you
2. No manicure - your vitals need to be checked
3. Fast 6 hours before the op

And so the day came, 2nd day of 2019 and also the day I've been prepping myself for. I took a last photo of myself before getting changed and headed for the clinic. I was never able to wear bralettes b'cuz I wouldn't look good in them and my boobs were to small to fill them. I bought this VS bralette a week before my op to try for a before-and-after pic, hoping I'll finally be able to fill them and look good in them. I'll try them on for photos when I'm ready to and show you guys how I look in them post-op. I know there's many of you who can't wait to see my new boobies, you pervs! Hahahaha.. Kidding. I'll share when I feel they're ready k.

On a side note, the morning I left my house for the clinic, I cried b'cuz I missed my kids even before missing them literally. I was such a needy Mom and I had separation anxiety my Hubs laughed and joked saying that I wouldn't even have cried if I had to leave him. Lols. He was not wrong.. Hahaha... I was totally emo man, but I did it and I'm glad it all went well. I faced-timed them everyday and it filled my heart to see them happy and okay.

Arriving at Allure PS, it was close to 11am. I filled up the consent form, made payment, was explained on the medication and dosage, took some photos, then sat at the waiting area all excited (but still emo, haha) to get changed.

The clinic had a cosy setting, and is located on the penthouse of Wisma. Who knew there was a PS clinic on the 22nd floor right?!

Why did I choose Allure Plastic Surgery?
My 2 previous PS-es were done overseas, this round I decided on getting my BA done in Sg b'cuz now that I have 2 kids I wanted to be close to them. I looked up online for PS surgeons and clinics in Sg and one of the reasons why I chose Allure was b'cuz of their vision. Dr. Ho. is dedicated to helping mothers restore their self-confidence after having children. This vision was very relatable and exactly how I felt at that moment so I decided to give it a go - a consult with Dr. Ho.

Both the consultations went well, all I can say is that Dr. Ho. seemed friendly and professional. He knew what I wanted and listened to what I was concerned with - which is very important when it comes to making such a big decision. He was also patient with my MANY questions b'cuz I bombarded him with questions on my first and second consult, and even on the surgery day. LOLs. I actually asked alot of questions b'cuz BA is a very new topic to me and I wanted to get my thoughts straightened and also understand better so I can share with you guys. I felt comfortable with the clinic, Dr. Ho, the staff, and everything I was going thru so I confirmed my surgery with them once I was successful in weaning Baby H. (my toddler) off. It was not an easy process (emotionally - yes I cried many times) to wean her off at 17 months PP but she was good to me by making the transition easy.

FYI Breastfeeding Mummies:
You need to fully wean you baby off at least for a month before you're able to go for the procedure. I did an ultrasound scan 1.5 months after I weaned my toddler to get confirmed clearance for the BA surgery. The scan was about $130+. Do note that even if you're not a breastfeeding Mom, you'd likely have to get your boobs checked before the op. The doctor/clinic will advise which type of scan you will be going thru 'cuz I know it is also dependent on you age.

Getting an op like this done is a huge decision, and I did actually feel a teeny bit scared when I was reading thru the consent form. Well, consent forms have to indicate clearly the seriousness of the procedure as well as the possible implications. Clearly every procedure would have its own risks and do read up and speak to a PS-surgeon about your doubts.

These were all the medication given for post-op recovery. They included anti-nausea meds which you may take if you feel nausea from the general anesthesia, which is a common side effect apart from shivering. I experienced shivering when I was waiting in the waiting area after the op but I was SOOOOO HAPPY I did not feel nausea AT ALL!!! This is probably the happiest thing about the surgery I felt b'cuz the last time I was under GA, I woke up feeling CRAP and I vomited like the whole night and lucky thing there was someone taking care of me so I didn't puke all over myself and on the floor. I was so worried if I'll go thru the same bad experience as the last and thank goodness I felt really great 'cuz I was gonna be alone in the hotel. Can't imagine if I was that nausea and puked all over the hotel room. Jeez.. I must say the anesthetist (Dr. Yeo) did a great job. Before the op he spoke to me for awhile, asking me some questions on my experiences with GA and getting to understand how my body reacted towards it. He told me he'll try his best to make my experience comfortable, and he did. So thank you Dr. Yeo!!!

Oh yes back to the meds, besides the anti-nausea medication, I was given anti-gastic pills, pain killers, anti-biotics, and sleeping pills to help tide thru the initial nights.

I was also given this "warranty card" or some sort and a stabilizing elastic band which I did not take a photo of b'cuz I've been keeping it on. It's basically a white elastic band where I go one round around my chest to keep the implants in place. I'll have to wear them for 2 weeks; 24 hours a day for the first week then 12 hours a day for the next. You can briefly see how the band looks like in my YouTube video.

How Much Did I Pay?
This is what I call starting the year with a bang.. a bang in my bank account that is.. LOLs. Probably my biggest sign off on my credit card. But I guess 一分钱一分货 (you get what you pay for), some things can't be thrift on. I've seen friends who thrift on PS and the results they get was really what they paid for, had to get revisions at a better place and so end up spending double/triple the supposed costs. Besides, I get to stay in Sg and I save on traveling and other additional costs. But please note that my costs may not be the cost for your BA at Allure b'cuz different sized implants are priced differently, so please go for your consult and get your questions answered by a qualified doctor and staff of the PS clinic/hospital.

If you're wondering, it typically cost $15-17K to get a BA done at Allure.

I haven't shared much about the brand and type of implants yet so here it is.

Type Of Implant
I got "gummy bear" implants by MENTOR®. MENTOR® is FDA-approved and "gummy bear" implants are one of the latest types of implants. These MENTOR^® MemoryShape^® implants are termed as "gummy bear" implants b'cuz the implants are filled with a highly cohesive gel and have a unique, tapered appearance. Meaning if you cut the implant into half, there won't be anything "flowing" out b'cuz the material is cohesive.

This was what I meant by "gummy bear".

Unlike round breast implants, MENTOR® MemoryShape® Breast Implants are teardrop shaped, meaning they're thinner at the top and gently slope to a fuller projection point near the implant's bottom to mimic the silhouette of a natural breast. Each MemoryShape® Implant features SILTEX® Texture, a gentle imprinting process designed to help keep your implants in place (info and description taken from http://www.mentorwwllc.com/global-us/Breast.aspx).

These are the 5 simple steps to expect of the BA surgery and post-op.

Type Of Incision
At Allure PS, Dr. Ho performs the BA surgery using the IN-BREAST-FOLD-INCISION (aka underboob incision). There are definitely pros & cons for each type of incision. Underboob incision I heard was not as painful as the underarm incision and the nipple incision has a higher risk of nerve complication around the nipple and therefore is not suitable for ladies who are considering breastfeeding in future.

Placement Of Breast Implants
Dr. Ho recommended me to go for the SUBPECTORAL IMPLANT PLACEMENT which means the implants will be placed below my pectorial (aka chest) muscles. This was the best option for someone who might consider having another baby and also breastfeeding again and it also looks more natural. IDK if I am or will have another baby, but doing this means playing safe and keeping my options open.

Will Having Another Baby Change My Implant/Boob Size?
This is another popular question. The implant will not change its size or shape even after pregnancy and breastfeeding, but your boob size/shape might change b'cuz afterall out breasts are made of fatty tissue. If we gain/lose weight it changes our natural breast size. So to answer the question, it may change out boob size/shape after pregnancy/breastfeeding but defo not sag. I was told by a friend that her friend who had a BA done before having a baby, experienced a downsize after breastfeeding. But she was still full and bigger than before, so I guess its not too big an issue? This may be something to consider - the timeline of your BA with your family planning if it is a concern for you.

Finally I was taken to the waiting area to change out of my clothes and prep for the op. I took photos as a last look of my old body. Just to set things straight, I was never flat but I was small. I've been a B cup and Dr. Ho told me I'm (if I didn't remember wrongly):

My Boob Size
330cc on the left and 290cc on the right, something like that I briefly remember.

Implant Size
And I opt for 330cc implants to achieve a full C.

Dr. Ho came into the waiting room to measure me up again and did some markings on my breast, those like what you see in Nip Tuck. Hahaha, loved watching that show all about PS but it is all getting real so soon.

These were the boxes of implants prepped for my op. Obviously I didn't use all of it, i'm not a cow! There were 2 different sizes presented on the counter b'cuz previously I have not decided on the size I wanted.

#Throwback To My Consultation And How I Decided On The Implant Size
When I went for my first consult, I tried on a white & tight Tee where Dr. Ho's assistant placed some implants inside of the Tee to "stimulate" the actual size of my boobs with the chosen implant size. Being so afraid of ginormous boobies, I asked to try the smallest and then eventually the 2nd smallest. At that time I was overwhelmed by how big I felt even though I had the smallest size on. I think I was just so not used to how it felt. Subsequently during the 2nd and final consult, I request to try the 3rd smallest which was the 330cc size. Dr. Ho told me that it was a good fit for me as I was tall and since have a bigger built, it'd be much proportionate and look better on me. I am happy I got this size 'cuz it really seems just nice now on my big-framed body. Couldn't imagine if I had anything smaller 'cuz there wouldn't be much of a difference then.

Being positive about my decision after confirming the implant size again, I waited for the clock to strike 12pm (time of my surgery), I kaypo-ed and took some more photos and IGS to say BRB & TTYL... And that was it.. in I went to the surgical theater.

Almost 3.5 hours later, I got up at 3:30pm and found myself in the waiting room of the clinic. I did not feel pain but more like tightness in my chest and I was slightly groggy but conscious enough to think straight and speak. Called for my Hubs to be in the waiting room with me, I asked for him to take a video of me 'cuz I wanted to see how groggy I was.. Hahahaha.. Obviously I was conscious enough. I'll share the video below so please click and watch my post-op videos.

To wrap things up, I got up awhile later, changed and got my stuff and waited in the reception area for the nurse to bring me some hot Milo and medication to prevent gastric & nausea. Hubs drove to get some soup and checked me into the hotel.

How Long Does The Surgery Take?
Probably just over an hour or max 2...
So i'll say 1-2 hours.

It was about 4:30pm when I checked in. Got my Hubs to open my luggage up and keep everything in the open so I'll be able to navigate thru my stuff easily, and he took off to get my kids. All in all I felt really okay, I started taking videos and photos, walked around the room doing my stuff, and felt GREAT b'cuz I didn't have to deal with being nausea or puking. That was one of the best thing from this surgery apart from everything being so smooth.

Please please do remember to prepare front-button clothing 'cuz its really not gonna be easy changing and I doubt I'll be able to even if someone helped. The ROM (range of motion) of arm and shoulder movement is really limited during the first few days post op so you're definitely gonna need this kinda clothing.

That's all for today & I hope that this sharing session has been informative and helps you to make better informed choices. I'll be ending this post with my Op Day Vlog (above). Feel free to leave comments in the comment box below if you have any question/s regarding the topic and I'll try my best to answer them if it's not already stated in my blog above. Stay tuned for part 2 of this blog where I will share my post-op recovery experience, bye for now~! ; )

If you'd like to see some short videos about my BA journey and post-op updates, be sure to check out my Insta Highlights on my profile.. click here for my IG.

I've also uploaded more post op recovery vlogs on my YouTube channel, click here to watch!

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Mum-Tested Tips And Tricks For The Growing Little Learners

As parents, we worry about children’s development and learning ability as they grow. Creative expression plays a central role in toddlers' learning & development. Letting children express themselves creatively gives them another ‘language’ with which they can express their thoughts, feelings and ideas. To be honest I don't have time with my kids round the clock but when I do we try to come up with some activities, even the simplest ones, be it play or create.

Here are some simple ideas:

Aspire to Be an Architect

Help your toddler discover a talent for architectural design! Visit your favorite playground or play area, and evaluate what your lil' one loves most about it. What equipment does he/she enjoy the most? Can he/she come up with a new type of slide? Or what could make the playground more interesting/fun? Use these visits and conversations to inspire your toddler to design an original mini home playground or swing set. Start with drawing paper and have your toddler illustrate diagrams and plans with specific placement of each piece of equipment. You may also help to draft as your toddler describes what he/she imagines. Then create a visual representation using cardboard, straws, toilet paper, and paper towel rolls.

Ace With Shapes And Colours

Your toddler’s brain is quickly forming new connections which allows for more complicated mental processing and motor functions. The more you stimulate these connections, the stronger they become. Every action, thought and expression from your toddler involves a specific set connections and is strengthened via repeated usage. With every new skill your toddler masters, the connections in the brain gets stronger, laying a foundation to be built on. Puzzle play helps to develop small muscle movements and dexterity in their hands and fingers. While developing fine motor skills, playing with puzzles requires children to learn to make their eyes and hands work together to find the right piece.

Form a Family Book Club

It is always a good habit to have some book-time everyday. Choose age-appropriate books and ask questions for discussion about the characters, plots, themes, and settings. This makes book time a little more interesting for your toddler with simple brainstorming time, and also stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word.

Besides keeping my kids busy with creative activities, it has also been a priority for us as parents to fulfill my child's nutrition intake. By now my girls are eating many of the same foods as the rest of the family, and Fayth is still on her favorite formula milk. As a grown toddler, Fayth is also continuing to develop her own food preferences. Here's a brief look on how we continue to make sure she gets the nourishment she needs to fuel her growth and development.

Remembering that these are prime habit-forming years;

we try our best to introduce and stick to healthful habits even though it's not easy,
we believe that our efforts are well worth it.

Variety is smart;

keeping meals interesting and ensure that our girls are getting the full range of nutrients they need, from each of the basic food groups every day and expose them to a wide range of flavors. Remember to keep everything in moderation.

You are a role model at the dinner table;

I am probably the biggest role model at home because I always eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and a variety of healthful foods in general. Hoping that one day they'll be much more likely to eat that way, too.

Make desserts a treat, not an everyday indulgence;

choosing snacks and treats that are healthy, or rather low in sugar and salt.

And avoid excessively sweet, processed foods with refined sugar.

DHA, you never outgrow the need for it;

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) is one of the good fats found in the body. Its job is to go straight to tissues, like those in the brain, and keep them functioning to the best of their ability. Fayth has been drinking Enfamil A+ Stage 2 and now that she's three years old, she is move on to Enfagrow A+ Stage 4. Enfagrow A+ Stage 4 is scientifically formulated with 360° DHA PLUS, which is a unique blend of nutrients that are important for overall mental and physical development, which I guess is what all of us parent wants for our child.
Frankly speaking how we chanced upon Enfamil A+ Stage 2 was purely out of luck. When she wouldn't stop crying no matter how hard I tried to feed her for an hour straight before bedtime. I decided to supplement her with formula just to fill her up a little, and at the brand was Enfamil A+ Stage 2.

We never once thought to change her formula because everything was going smoothly for her, and us. She didn't suffer from any constipation nor "heatiness" which I heard some brands may cause such symptoms. I only knew last year after doing some research when I had my second child, that Enfamil A+ Stage 2  has the highest amount of AA+DHA, and corresponds to the lowest price per AA+DHA. (Link to my previous blog post: https://vannytelly.blogspot.com/2018/03/infant-formula-milk-review-price.html)

Everyone has different parenting styles and beliefs, but I think ultimately health is wealth!

That's all for today & I hope you liked my little sharing session.  Do feel free to leave comments in the comment box below if you have any question/s regarding the topic and I'll try my best to answer them if it's not already stated in my blog above. Stay tuned for more reviews, bye~! ; )

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How I Keep My Kids Safe with Cleaner Air for a Healthier Home

I remember when we had Fayth (my first born), that was the time the haze-days had peaked. Hubs and I were pretty desperate to get something for the baby to keep the air clean. She was having pretty bad eczema at one point and we were trying to keep her face and the house clean because we knew that dust and dirt would worsen her condition. Plus if you remember, how bad the haze period was? I felt like I was walking around Genting!

Dirt Which You Can't See

Do you know what's more scary than dirt & dust? It's the kind of pollution that we can't see!!! Are you aware that even when you can't see haze and dust they're still floating around  everywhere? I'm referring to micro-particles and pollutants that may result in more bad air quality at home than outdoors! I really didn't know this in detail until recently, but I'm feeling more at ease now because I have invested in a really good purifying fan for the family. Let me share a little more on this as it’s informative for everyone, especially parents who're concerned about their children's well-being.

What Are the Pollution Sources at Home?

• Outdoor air pollution: Sources such as tree pollen and city pollution can enter the home and may remain trapped there.
• Pollen: Plants and flowers can release microscopic pollen into the air. Sometimes they get into our homes or are trapped onto hair and we bring them into the home.
• Pet hair: Cats, dogs and other household pets can spread some kind of microscopic material around the home.
• Scented candles: Some chemical substances found in scented candles can release benzene and formaldehyde (chemicals/pollutants) into the air as they burn.
• Furniture foam: Foam that can be found in furniture can release formaldehyde gas.
• Indoor paints: Some indoor paints may release gaseous chemicals when they dry and also potentially throughout their life.
• Air fresheners: Some household air fresheners can contain volatile organic compounds and benzene, which can be released with the fragrance when sprayed.
• Gas hobs and cooking fumes: Gas hobs and the food cooking process itself can emit fumes, odours and particles into the air.
• Cleaning products: Household cleaning products can contain benzene and household fumes and odours.
• Carpets, rugs and flooring: Some carpets, rugs, flooring and their backing materials can emit formaldehyde when new and potentially throughout their life.

Basically it's A LOT of common things in our daily lives that may be causing air pollution in our homes. I'm sure many of you are like me and weren’t really aware of all these sources of pollution. It can start to get pretty worrying once you know all these facts, but it also feels good to have the knowledge to protect our loved ones.

Our Little Ones Suffer From It All

Children react more sensitively to what is happening around them, so the little ones can often suffer more when it comes to air pollution. Poor quality air can be linked to a whole range of issues in children causing anything from sneezing and itchy eyes right through to lung infections and even asthma.

How Do I Provide Cleaner Air for My Kids?

Two years ago the first versions of Dyson purifying fan was launched and hubs was excited over it so we got one for Fayth’s room when she was still a baby and we loved it!

Now they’ve launched their brand new purifier, the Dyson Pure Cool and we were lucky enough to get the chance to try it out.

As the girls are now a bit older we placed the Dyson Pure Cool within their play area where they spend a lot of their time. Besides being a powerful air purifier, I really love that it is blade-less and safe because you should see how my kids are around fans. They can be found constantly meddling with it, gosh! 

Functions Of The (All New) Dyson Pure Cool™ Purifiying Fan

Dyson’s unique air purifier has a LCD display which reveals pollutants in the home in real time, and reacts automatically using a unique Dyson algorithm.

I love how it easily cools the room thanks to its unique Air Multiplier™ technology. It absorbs and cleans the air and projects purified air all throughout the room. And while it can swing back and forth up to 350 degrees (compared to the old unit which swings up to 180 degrees), I love how it is quiet which is very suitable for the kids while they are asleep. I can even use the night-mode which uses its quietest airflow settings. This means that while the machine continues to monitor and respond to changes in air quality to keep the room purified, my baby, who is a light sleeper, can still enjoy a really good sleep.

Built-In LCD Screen As Your Smart Friend: What It Shows

Compared to my old unit, this latest model is bigger (yet is still very sleek) and has more functions. It has built-in LCD screen that shows the current indoor air quality. Aside from that, I was amazed by the fact that it can show particle pollution as small as 0.1 microns (including pollens and dust in the room!)  that is being captured through its HEPA filters.

You can still attach the remote to the top of the fan with magnetic surface, which was something I really liked. No frantic searching for the remote – parents you all know how messy our homes with kids can get!

Impressive New Filters

One of the most important changes to the Dyson Pure Cool is that it comes with new and improved filters.  The filtration system is made up of two key components, glass high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filters which capture up to 99.95 per cent of microscopic allergens and pollutants and activated carbon filters which remove any harmful gases that are lurking around.

What’s even better is that once the purifier has effectively captured all these nasties it then projects clean air into every corner of the room, meaning I can leave my kids to play safe in the knowledge that they’re in a healthy environment.

Smarter With Smart Apps

What's a smart home appliance without its own app which you can use to directly control it from your mobile phone? The Dyson Link app allows youtomonitor the air quality inside your home – anywhere anytime!

Downloading and connecting the fan to Wi-Fi was a breeze. You can start assessing the quality of the air at home immediately, setting different locations/rooms to track analysis which can then be shown as a trend on a weekly or daily basis.

You can also pre-set the purifier to work even when you're not at home. That way, you can start to cleanse the air in your children's room before they return home from school. Sometimes, when I'm on the couch watching TV and the kids are playing in their play area, all I have to do is turn the app on my mobile phone on and I'll be able to control the purifier from where I'm sitting. 

I'm definitely sold on the latest model mainly because of the upgraded functions of the 350° oscillation which allows us to cleanse the entire room. Plus I also love the smart functions & technology – with just one app I can not only control the purifier itself, but I can also track the readings of the "unseen" pollution in the heart of our home.

The Dyson Pure Cool™ purifying fan is truly a must-have for homes especially for us parents with young kids! It’s smartness made convenient keeping our home safe for the whole family!

Now I'm considering another set for my in law's place. Hahaha...

If you're keen to find out more or purchase the Dyson Pure Cool™ purifying fan, you may check this link out shop.dyson.com.sg, or test the fans out at major departmental and electrical stores from late May 2018.

That's all for today & I hope you liked my review for the day. Do feel free to leave comments in the comment box below if you have any question/s regarding the topic and I'll try my best to answer them if it's not already stated in my blog above. Stay tuned for more reviews, bye~! ; )

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Thank you for reading my blog. Cheers and see you soon! : )