Drug Mule In Malaysia

DRUGS ARE CHEAPER IN JOHOR BAHRU

Anjung Medini Where Amber Pharmacy Is

Ever since relocating to Johor Bahru, friends and relatives In Singapore and back home in Europe have taken me for a drug mule - asking me every now and then to buy certain drugs which they can only get with a doctor's prescription or if they pay at a much higher price in their respective countries..

A friend's elderly parent had to take a prescribed drug from the Singapore government hospital doctor to increase the body's bone density. For a month's supply of that drug (I cannot remember the specific name), I was told it cost approximately S$160 from the pharmacy in Singapore.  I visited the Amber pharmacy at Mydin Anjung - a local chain of supermarket in upmarket Nusajaya which envelops bungalow parks like East Ledang and Leisure Farm developments, the same drug cost just MR260 which is about less than S$90.  

I also became the pharmacy's Compounding Service  harbinger - for I am always announcing to all visitors I host how great the idea of compounding is, which to me is like custom drug instead of generic over the counter drugs.  Compounding is hard to find in Malaysian or Thai pharmacies  - and even in developed countries like Singapore.  What the service does is it compounds the vitamins and minerals you need - based on the symptoms you have related to the pharmacist - who in turn prescribe the nutients for your condition - and compound them into a capsule for your easy intake.  My partner is experiencing middle age (okay I did not just say that for she will have a cow!) hair fall and thinning, so the pharmacy had compounded Vitamins D and B Complex and minerals Zinc and Iron (there may be more vitamins and minerals compounded  - please visit a pharmacist to be sure). And for a month's supply it only cost her MR50.  I believe Singaporeans and Malaysians spend much more going for hair and scalp treatments per session?


Dr Ko Clinic

Then there is Dr Ko's clinic which we visit for our daughter's teenage acne.  I remember for our elder daughter, we used to visit a dermatologist in Singapore who prescribed the same
course of Aacnotin/Isotretinoin variant anti-biotic medication for her  acne condition. Every month we had to spend about S$150 for the pills and consultation.  With our second daughter, we visit Dr Ko's Clinic in Malaysia who charges us just MR180 or S$63 (we do buy the pills in Thailand too when we visit - and the price is only S$45 including doctor consultation). 

ItsMdz.blogspot.com Dr Ko Patient Image

But please be wary that these oral tablets must be taken only under the supervision of a dermatologist, who will adjust dosage month by month. It  has been advised that the oral tablets increase photosensitivity, with tendency of skin phototoxicity and photoallergy due to exposure to outdoor conditions, especially heat and sunlight.  This happens when the drug itself gets dispersed throughout her body and ends up near the skin surface, where it absorbs UVA light and causes cellular damage - also called phototoxic event - which happens within hours of initial sunlight exposure.  The UV light alters the chemical drug structure and her body immune system sees the new compound as an intruder and reacts to it as in an autoimmune attack on the body - resulting in itchy and painful rash.  Herdoctor has advised against exposure to extreme outdoor weather, including sunlight exposure.

Dr Ko's Clinic does a host of other aesthetic treatments - of which my partner is rather excited to share details - so looks like I may have to feature her favorite beauty procedures soon.  Or I just should ask her to guest blog them!

USEFUL INFORMATION

Amber Pharmacy

Lot 33, Anjung Neighbourhood Centre No.5 Persiaran Ledang Heights

Email:  info@amber-pharmacy.com

Dr Ko Clinic

101, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru
T: +607 338 1878
GPS Coordinate: 1.48480997,103.77531818
Closed on Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blepharoplasty In Bangkok

An Eye For Eyes 

The Vampire Lift Effects Were Quite Dramatic

 

My ex was a beauty by an everyday man's standard - and even though she is my ex, I must say she still is a raving beauty.  So I was always very curious why she was always complaining about her body or her facial features - especially her beautiful Lucy Liu-esque eyes - to which I was attracted when we first met.  She had her first double eyelid operation done when we first married decades ago in Singapore. Even then it cost S$2000 at a plastic surgeon's clinic. 

That lasted her for about 15 years before dissatisfaction set in, and we had to accompany her to Kuala Lumpur for a "consultation" which culminated in her having another pair of new lids.  It was not long before dissatisfaction set in within a year when the lids were obviously not "balanced" and "too Caucasion" for her.

We then set forth for Thailand where such double eyelid surgery called Blepharoplasty is immensely popular.  Our Thai supplier's wife was very helpful in showing us around and recommending us the ones either she or her friends had visited.  I for one was very grateful as I was not sure of the plastic surgery standards then - but my Thai friends gave us the reassurance that they had researched on the Thai language forums to make sure none were blacklisted or had bad reviews.  I was suitably reassured. 

Here goes.  There were 2 hospital recommendation if cost was an issue.  The common folk hospital for plastic surgery is YanHee.  But after checking with her friends back home, my ex felt that the feedback was too inconsistent for her.  Unless you are local and know exactly which local has been consistently good, you would be at the mercy of an English speaking marketer - who arbitrarily match you to a doctor who happens to be available.

There was also Bumugrad.  Our visit there was productive as the hospital was near Bangkok central, and the consultation with the doctor there was professional and sincere.  But the price was considerably higher than that of Yan Hee's.  So she decided to go to the other clinics recommended before deciding.

Next stop was Dr Pichet's clinic who emailed her his introduction ahead of our appointment DrPichetVideo.  Again, a kind doctor who listened to her concerns and was willing to perform the operation, and even recommended a canthoplasty to address her concerns of aging small eyes (what???? I remembered asking in frustration then!).



Her Eyes Were Revised Laterally - Canthoplasty

DrChartchaiClinic was professionally friendly and took his time to listen to her concerns and did not rush her into any decision. Dr Chartchai is a brilliant surgeon who works independently in a hospital. His cost are higher approximately 45,000 THB for upper eye lid.  He was quick to offer Dr Sutin and Dr Burin who had performed over one thousand eye lid surgeries, with of about about 26,000 THB (that is what my ex paid a long time ago in Singapore).

DrKamolClinic was a bit distant but we were glad she took the trip.  Dr Kamol is a leading professor in plastic surgery - and from the way he examined and tucked at her eyes, you could tell it was a master artisan at work. His assistant Khun Tak spoke perfect English and even showed us on the Thai forum that Dr Kamo was voted best for advanced Blepharoplasty procedures - which explains the prices - they are on the higher end.

Our last stop for what had been known in our family as the "Bleep Bleep Trip" (because the entire 5 day trip was spent visiting doctors and clinics - okay we did squeeze in some shopping, dining and massages) was  DrPatClinic.  The highlight of the visit was that Dr Pat pioneered his own technique for treating a common Asian eye problem called ptosis - which I belief is either uneven eyelids or lazy eye condition.  His before and after photos were very impressive:

  "Ptosis is a medical condition defined as drooping of the upper eyelid due to paralysis or disease, or as a congenital condition."

My ex ended going back on a trip with her friends to Dr Kamol for her 3rd Blepharoplasty - because "he is the best according to Thai forum chats" and specializes in the current "Korean natural eyefold as opposed to the Caucasian folds".

We subsequently went back again to Dr Pichet to do her Canthoplasty which Dr Kamol for some reason was not able to do on her previous trip:

Useful Information:
 
Dr Chartchai Clinic
Contact Sara Williams 
Email: info@intermedisol.com

Dr Kamol Clinic 
Email: kamolplastic@gmail.com

Dr Pichet Clinic
pichet@bangkokplasticsurgery.com

Beauty In Bangkok

Drawing Blood For The Wrong Reason?

Being a Bangkok veteran and unofficial city promoter of the city to my relatives and friends, a couple friend recently accompanied us to Bangkok so that we can accompany them on their to-go list.  While the guys headed for the car parts and accessories sancturary near Chinatown, the fairer sexed made a hasty retreat to Siam Square for their Vampire Facelifts
 
I was too hot near the BTS station of Siam where we parted ways, to fully understand what they were heading for or ask for further clarification.  So fast forward to dinner time when we met at the fabulous foodie basement of Siam Paragon shopping center for dinner, the two ladies came back with slightly bruised but invariably rejuvenated complexion - like a pair of vampires who just found fresh blood.  "Yes!" they chanted in agreement, and further related that they were fed centrifuged blood at the beauty clinic - except it was their own viles of blood.  My apetite then was near gone and I had to put down my utensils to hear the details without food in my mouth!

Here's what they did.  Certainly not for the faint-hearted. Photo directly below is from Google Image as the photos they took of each other were not as systematically and aesthetically taken!  They spent a little over an hour at the clinic, including the numbing cream waiting period.  Here goes:

1. Face sanitized and anesthetic cream applied.

2. Platelet Rich Plasma from blood previously drawn at Photo 3 (sorry for the non sequential collage) injected back into problem areas of the face

3. Blood drawn from your arm for centrifuging to obtain platelet rich plasma to be injected back

4. Face injections should be done in 10 mins - apparently with slight bee-like sting per injection point

5. Neck injections (ouch!!!) is also available if you want to rejuvenate the neck area

Picture Paints A Thousand Words

The above shows how my partner looked just a few hours after the PRP filler. bEven though both of us guys were horrified by the process, we readily admitted that both girls came back resoundingly more youthful and refreshed - I guess "Vampire Facelift" was the right nomenclature coined by the inventor!

 

They paid about THB15000 each at YB Holistic Clinic founded by Dr. Adisorn Sirisunhirun.
 for the platelet rich plasma filler, which is supposed to last up to a year.  But you may do the blood letting 4 times in a year to get the optimal results of a mini facelift. 

Dr Adisorn is at

YB Holistic Clinic
Soi Thong Lo, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Take BTS to ThongLor and you can walk to the clinic

 

Happy Blood Letting!

Plastic Singapore

 

Non Invasive Singapore

Click Photo Above For Accurate Straits Times Report On The Case

There are several reports in Singapore news in recent years on botched plastic surgeries and aesthetic procedures gone awry.  While Singapore's reputation as one of the world's best  medical centers and medical tourism hubs is undisputable, one has to be sure of the doctor's experience and reputation.  The case of the CEO of a property firm in Singapore who died on the operation table while undergoing liposuction procedure is a clarion call not to throw caution to the wind - even if the clinic is in a hospital located in a top notch address - as it was in the case of this CEO. 

The Singapore Straits Times had done some investigative reporting and revealed that the doctors of the clinic had just set up shop recently in the upmarket hospital in Central Singapore to do liposuction. One beggars the question of how many years these young enterpreneurial doctors had in doing delicate operations such as liposuction. 

I am afraid I have not many plastic surgeons to recommend in Singapore, but perhaps non-invasive clinics at which my partner does her little maintenance touch ups and such. Being Thai, she would rather go back to her homeland for her spa pampering and beauty procedures.


Click Menu Above To Go To Kose Face & Hair Center

Our family unanimously votes for the Kose facials whenever the lady of the house wants some pampering.  She says the center is the only few who do not apply pressure tactics to sign up for a costly beauty package.  And of course she had been going to this Isetan Scotts branch for donkey years.  We vote for it because my kids and I could get my hair trimmed quickly and then head for Isetan shopping center browsing and finally wait for the lady at the F&B outlets in the basement - which had been recently renovated and the new layout gets my vote too.

As regards more "invasive" procedures than a facial, the lady requests that I bring her to Cosmopolitan Clinic to see her aesthetic doctors.  It is located just along Boat Quay at the Singapore River.  She has apparently been going there for nearly 10 years, and likes it since she knows both Dr Alan and Dr Bunn - which means whenever she needs a jab of botox or a flash of whatever light spectrum (IPL, Laser, the works!) - she could get the attention of one doctor if the other is away from the office. 

I know it sounds weird, but I look forward to her visit as the clinic is pretty cool, and so are the staff and doctors.  It is in a strip of conservation shophouses which I always enjoy admiring.  Besides, the kids could run along the riverwalk while I sip cold beer in one of the nice F&B outlets - which are a dime a dozen there.