Modern twist on ancient beauty

All about Korean skin care

Next, a cooling layer of gel is spread over my face. It's time for the light treatment. A flash of light, like the flash of a camera, bursts in front of my face near my forehead, followed by more flashes near my cheeks, nose, chin and above my upper lip. My skin feels hot where the flashes were, and I imagine it’s a little like being mobbed by the paparazzi.

A few seconds later it's all done and an assistant removes the gel from my face and applies sunscreen for me, all without disturbing my eye makeup. The whole process, while mildly uncomfortable, seems painless enough and is over in about 15 minutes.

So how soon do patients typically see results? "In one to three sessions, skin looks clearer and brighter and feels fresher," says Loh. "In 15-30 sessions, acne swells go down, whereas pigmentation takes between 80-100 sessions, or up to three months, to go away."

I examine my face in the mirror, and indeed some of the redness has gone down, while my skin feels like it can breathe more easily.

"We call it a skin gym, because, like going to the gym, you need to do it consistently with short sessions for best results," says Loh, emphasizing that PPP uses very low doses of lasers for safety. Maintenance is also key, with customers coming in at least three times a week or even every day, as laser treatments keep acne and pigmentation at bay, and lifestyle and environmental factors mean that people are constantly exposed to their causes.

Loh estimates that about 20 percent of PPP's customers in Shanghai are male, and expects that to increase due to the clinic's no-frills, scientific approach to improving their skin.

IF YOU GO

PPP

Hong Kong Plaza North Atrium Level 2 Unit 11A, 282 Huaihai Middle Road (淮海中路282號11A） 021-6373-3881

Other laser clinics

Bioscor 2F, Zhong Rong Jasper Tower No.8 Yin Cheng Middle Road (銀城中路8號2樓）021-6859-0020

East Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery 3rd Floor Shanghai East Hospital 150 Jimo Road (即墨路150號3樓上海東方醫院）021-5876-4134