Pursuit of precision: why aesthetic mastery starts with personalisation

“As with all aesthetic treatments, precision is the key to success,” Dr Tan-Chiam explains. “It is able to produce precise thermal coagulation points to ensure the ultrasound waves are targeted accurately to the intended area.”

This precision enables true personalisation. Before beginning each treatment, Dr Tan-Chiam uses one of the transducers to scan the face, assessing whether the patient presents with standard anatomy or variations that require adjustment.

The technology offers three transducers, each designed to reach specific tissue depths. The 1.5mm transducer targets the superficial dermis, addressing fine lines and wrinkles. The 3.0mm transducer reaches the deep dermis where collagen production occurs, useful for tightening and moderate lifting. The 4.5mm transducer targets the SMAS layer, encouraging more significant lifting, particularly in the lower face and jaw.

Yet the depth of the SMAS and dermis varies considerably between patients—a reality that guides Dr Tan-Chiam’s clinical decisions. “If the patient is extremely thin with volume loss in the face, the SMAS will not be as deep, so I may even consider using the 3.0mm transducer to target the SMAS instead of the usual 4.5mm,” she explains. This anatomical variability means the choice of transducer is tailored to each individual's facial structure.

For patients with more soft tissue bulk, where the SMAS may sit deeper than 4.5mm, Dr Tan-Chiam applies additional pressure during treatment to ensure the thermal coagulation points reach the appropriate layer. This ability to adjust both transducer selection and technique allows for true personalisation of the treatment approach.

“Therein lies the beauty of Ultherapy Prime—the ability to fully exercise clinical judgement to personalise treatments so our patients have the best possible outcome,” Dr Tan-Chiam says.

This approach addresses a common concern in younger Asian faces. “Many of us struggle with bulkier lower faces, which transition to jowling or sagging in the lower face. This then results in a more tired appearance, which is not necessarily reflective of how we may actually feel.”

The ideal candidate for Ultherapy Prime is typically aged 30 and above with mild to moderate skin laxity. Collagen production significantly reduces from age 25, when signs of skin laxity become more apparent. At this early stage of facial ageing, concerns such as fine lines and the appearance of a double chin—often caused by skin and muscle laxity—can be addressed effectively.

Dr Tan-Chiam recalls one particularly meaningful case: a bride-to-be who had undergone dramatic weight loss for her wedding, which left her face looking tired due to skin laxity in the lower face. Four months before her wedding, she chose Ultherapy Prime focussing on the lower face.

“Six months later she came back to me and showed me her actual day wedding photos and she was beaming, definitely way more confident than when I first met her, and confidently told me that her photographer did not have to specifically do beauty edits or change her face shape.”

Patients often arrive with hesitation, remembering earlier iterations of the technology. “Once they get started with the Ultherapy Prime treatment, they are often surprised at how tolerable the procedure is with a much improved patient experience,” Dr Tan-Chiam notes. “They start to observe gradual improvement in the first three to six months, but most of the time, they notice it most when their friends and family comment that they look more rejuvenated, have a slimmer jawline or less sagging.”

Results typically last around one year, though Dr Tan-Chiam emphasises that maintenance extends beyond the treatment room. “The skin is merely an indication of your body's overall health. A big part of the results from Ultherapy Prime come from collagen production, which relies on more than just in-clinic treatments, but also lifestyle factors.”

She recommends ensuring adequate protein intake to provide the building blocks for collagen formation, using appropriate skincare for hydration and firming, and considering complementary treatments such as laser treatments, injectable skin boosters, or hyaluronic acid fillers for enhanced results.

At E:thos, where consultations and treatments unfold without rush, Dr Tan-Chiam and her team focus on building patients up and helping them achieve personalised goals. The clinic’s integrated approach aims to make each visit "an oasis of calm, an opportunity for them to be rejuvenated and reset, not just physically but mentally."

For Dr Tan-Chiam, success is measured not in before-and-after photographs, but in confidence restored. “I see the work I do as a great privilege. Our patients let us in at their most vulnerable state, and the kinship with my patients is something I do not take lightly.”

She views her practice as a conduit for patients to uncover their strengths and fall more in love with themselves—whether through subtle adjustments or more comprehensive treatment plans. It’s this philosophy that drew her to aesthetic medicine, and it's what keeps her engaged with the field's technological evolution.

“In a day and age where everyone is editing or adding subtle filters, when a patient is radiant and confident in their own skin, loving what they look like when they see themselves in the mirror, that’s what makes it worthwhile.”

As Singapore’s perception of non-surgical aesthetics continues to evolve beyond taboo into mainstream wellness and self-care, Dr Tan-Chiam sees her role expanding: not merely as a practitioner, but as an educator and partner in her patients’ journeys towards confidence.

“For my patients, a successful treatment is one where they like what they see when they wake up in the morning, and helps them have one less thing to worry about, so they can go on to achieve their goals with family, work and life.”

When asked to sum up her approach to Ultherapy Prime in a single line, Dr Tan-Chiam offers this: “Ultherapy Prime, a customised lift tailored to your natural beauty.”

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