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Monday 14 April 2014

My Aesthetic Medlite Laser Experience @ Mediviron UOA - Part 2

When I was introduced to Medlite C6 Laser at Mediviron UOA Clinic two weeks ago, I was quite thrilled to learn about the concept of laser and to know that there is something relatively painless physically to solve my pigmentation problem.

My 2nd visit to Mediviron UOA was a less anxious one now that I know what to expect out of it. In fact, I did some research on the Medlite laser treatment and came about with some questions and concerns I have about this procedure.

The aesthetic doctor assured me that it was safe to have this procedure done on a fortnightly basis without any bad side effects. She went on to explain that it’s actually a stigma for people to think that lasers can actually thin or damage the skin which is entirely not true at all. As far as hypopigmentation, none of her patients encounters this problem.

Skin does get sensitive during the treatments. Therefore we should always wear sunblock to counter the effects even if we are not going outdoor. If possible, we should limit outdoor activities to avoid excessive sun exposure.

I also requested for a VISIA Digital Skin Analysis to be done this time as it is a complimentary assessment of our facial skin's health from the clinic. Hopefully, the results of this skin analysis helps to show the effectiveness of laser rejuvenation and compare my conditions before and after Medlite treatments.

One thing that helped me with a better understanding of my facial skin’s health is taking the VISIA skin and complexion analysis. The VISIA is a specialized camera that produces images beneath the skin's surface. This machine captures a clear, multi-dimensional image of my select facial areas while examining the severity of various age-related conditions such as: 
  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Hyperpigmentation (age/dark spots)
  • Enlarged pores
  • Skin tone evenness (colour variation)
  • Porphyrins (evidence of bacterial growth)
  • Sun damage (UV spots)
Sweet and demure-looking Miss Janet, the in-house beautician did the VISIA analysis for me. It took just a few minutes and once complete, the review of my results was printed out for me. I received a comprehensive assessment report on areas like brown spots, red spots, UV damage, wrinkles, skin texture, pore size and bacteria level. This report focused on the specific problem areas and compared my results with others of the same age, sex and skin type.

Well, my numbers were pretty good in some areas and not so good in others. Following is a copy of my VISIA Facial Assessment Report. The percentile score depicts our ranking relative to others of the same age, gender and skin type, higher scores are better. Phew, I was shocked initially when I saw the above 70% reading, thought my skin was such a bad shape, hahaha ...   

I shall be consulting my doctor on my 3rd visit to review this report of mine and see what she had to tell me. This 1st analysis report shall become my baseline from which I can measure my progress throughout the treatment program.   
  
My 2nd laser treatment begins with me lying on a bed covered with a blanket for comfort and assurance, I believe that the session with me this time was longer than the last time. She used different wavelengths to target certain stubborn pigment areas on my right cheek. In the beginning, I felt a slight tingling sensation that felt like pinpricks.

 
Later, I saw that my doctor wore some protective eyewear during the 2nd part of the treatment. I was told not to open my eyes as she switched to a different wavelength. She pointed the laser at my problem area, working in a back and forth pattern, delivering short rapid, high-intensity pulses of bright light. In the back of my mind, I had full confidence in my aesthetic doctor's expertise and experience. Hence, I am looking forward to my 3rd laser treatment in 2 weeks' time.

  Brown spots lighten on my left cheek 

7 days after 2nd treatment, my skin showed a very significant and positive result. I can see that the pigmentation on both cheeks has been lightened. The brown spot seems to lighten and my face looks clearer.

Significant difference in my right cheek 

From my understanding, the laser stimulates the collagen in the skin, improves pigmentation and overall, rejuvenate the skin's appearance. In short, I guess, it is a laser that zaps away the UV spots and breaks the melanin into smaller pieces.

I’m looking forward to great results in maximum removal of pigmented areas while preserving the surrounding skin. During the process of healing, I have limited the sun exposure to my regular outdoor activities such as gardening, exercising and even walking in the park.

I have been diligently using a moisturizing cream and sunblock until the area is healed. On top of that, the doctor has also given me a prescription cream called Quinbloc for the treatment of my hyper-pigmented skin conditions.

It contains the active ingredient of Hydroquinone 4.0% which acts as a skin-bleaching agent that is used to lighten areas of darkened skin such as freckles, melasma, age spots and acne scars. I also found out that hydroquinone works by decreasing the production and increasing the breakdown of melanosomes (melanin pigment granules) in the skin's pigment cells (melanocytes). 

But this cream cannot be used on a long-term basis or for more than 6 months as this could bring about some bad side effects to the skin. Currently, I'm using it once every night, after my daily cleansing regime on the pigmented areas of my cheeks.

Anyway, I will be heading back to the clinic for my next treatment in three weeks' time. Look out for my final and last post on the treatment! By now, you can already tell how effective this treatment is and I can't wait for the next few treatments to finally see and share with you the end results of it all! XOXO

Website: http://www.medivironuoa.com/


Thursday 10 April 2014

Restoran Chen Fatt - Savour Hearty Flavours @Seri Kembangan by FollowMeToEatLa

Seri Kembangan is what I called the 'Foodie Heaven' due to the many good eateries hidden around the area.  I was exposed  to this place right  after my family shifted house to the nearby Bukit Jalil which a a few kilometres away.

My family and I  would always venture here  on weekends for our regular dose of cheap and tasty dishes. For noodles, the vote shall goes to Pan Heong for their shark fin mouse noodles, while for rice, the place to eat is none other than Restoran Chen Fatt.  

Chen Fatt Restaurant is basically your typical no-frills Chinese restaurant serving good Hakka home-style food for reasonably price yet tasty dishes. This ever-popular dining restaurant occupies two floors of a corner zinc roofed shop house, and a big chunk of corner space doubles up as a makeshift 'alfresco' dining area, so to say. No worries, it's got an air-conditioned dining room upstairs which is a makeshift of a container with aluminium wall and wooden flooring.   
  
On weekends, parking is terrible and you almost always have to wait for a table, so telephone to make reservation in advance. Plan ahead and come early and you might get lucky in getting a street side parking right in front of the restaurant.   

But if you're looking for ambience when dining, then you'd probably want to give this place a miss. Chen Fatt oozes the old school hustle and bustle of a typical Chinese restaurant. Foreign workers dressed in faded tops and jeans/shorts zip around either clearing tables or serving food. I actually enjoy the semi-hectic feel of this place as the sound of children's laughter and shouting can easily blend in! 
Four Season Combination 
RM 120

We started our meal with the aforementioned famous 4 Season Combination, which arrived looking tantalising and pleasing to the eyes. Platter consisting of chunks of deep fried stuffed foo chok rolls, scrambled eggs with shark fin, cold dish of jelly chicken and fish paste rolls.   

Crispy and Good To Eat - Deep fried Foo Chuk Roll

Tasty Starter - Fish paste roll with Filament stick 

Chilled Delights - Jelly Chicken Cold Dish

Eggy treat - Shark Fin fried with julienned carrots, yim sai and mushroom


Must Try ~ Taufoo Kang 
RM40

Another dish that stood out is the Taufoo Kang or Minced tofu with crab meat. Silky soft tofu, shredded crab meat, mushroom and minced pork are cooked together, to derive a near likeness to shark fin soup. Its starchy consistency and smooth texture of the minced tofu in silky gravy makes this an ideal soup dish for the young and old. For me, it was very delicious especially when taken with a generous dash of the black vinegar. 


MUST ORDER : Crispy Chicken skin with Fish paste 
RM 40

If you're looking for something crispy, opt for the Crispy Chicken skin with Fish paste that offers an interesting contrasting texture. It's my eldest daughter's all time favourite as she simply loves the crispy skin bonded together with the chewy fish paste.

It was fried boneless chicken with a layer of meat, but the 'meat' was actually fish paste. Crispy chicken skin matched with fish paste was strangely exotic and very tasty in this oddly agreeable combination of chicken with fish.

In truth, this dish is prepared using a tedious method of deboning, spreading of fish paste then deep frying to perfection. Uncommonly encountered as it is time-consuming to prepare: the chicken is firstly deboned and defleshed, and the cooked chicken skin is spread on a rattan frame. Fish paste is then applied to the inside of the skin, and has to smoothed out by hand, so each dish is very labour intensive. The whole chicken is then deep fried in the rattan frame and cut into bite size pieces while still very hot for serving. A must have for all those 1st timer to this restaurant.

Steamed Lala with Chinese Wine
RM 38

If you're a fan of lala, then you should try their Steamed Lala with Chinese wine and wolfberries or Kei chee. The best way to taste the sweetness of these fresh lala is to steam them with just some ginger strips, Chinese wine and Kei chee. The soup has a very strong alcohol flavour, thus is an acquired liking. Don't get carried away with the delicate sweetness of the fresh lala soup, you might get drunk on it alone. 

Soya Sauce Prawns
RM 80

Next up was an excellent fresh water prawns cooked dry-style called the 'Zi Chap Har', translated to Soya sauce Prawns. The savoury dark, caramelised black sauce comes from the light soya sauce, oyster sauce, dark soya sauce, sugar and Shaoxing wine. The freshness was especially prominent as you sink your teeth into the succulent prawns. This 'Zi Chap Har' is a classic dish goes very well with rice. Sure winner with prawn lovers out there!
  
Pai Kuat Wong 
RM 40

This 'Pai Kuat Wong' or Pork chop dish was a real disappointment. Although serving was generous with thick and chunky pieces of chops, but it seriously lacked flavour neither was it well fried. To me, it wasn't fried to achieve the right degree of  crispness every pork chop have. On top of that, the sauce was not too pleasing and not up to mark too. I'll probably give this dish a miss on my next makan trip here! :-(     


Stir-fried sweet potatoes leaves
RM 13

Stir-fried sweet potatoes leaves or 'Fan Shee Miu'  with garlic cloves was a simple but nice dish which complemented the other heavier, meaty dishes.  

Needless to say, the dishes were fantastic without burning a hole in your pocket. You see, our total bill that night came about RM 440 with rice, chinese tea, ice cubes and 5 bottles of Coca Cola for our group of 9 person. Mind you, everyone loves the lala so much that we ordered for 2 plates of the 'drunken' dish. I shall definitely come back if we are dining as group with family and friends, so we can explore and try out more dishes with more people. 

Restoran Chen Fatt
1487B Jalan Besar
Seri Kembangan
43300 Selangor.
Tel: 8948 6673 

Thursday 3 April 2014

Lee Hong Kee Specialty Standing Chicken @ Kampung Baru Sg Buloh by FollowMeToEatLa

Lee Hong Kee Restaurant is a popular and synonymous restaurant to many for its 'Standing Chicken' or 'Duk Tuk Kai' dish. Nevertheless, I was also one of the curious lot wanting to check out this special chicken dish. I had the pleasure of trying out this on special invite by my foodie friends who suggested that we should check out this place for our recent CNY gathering.
    
So there you have it. This famous chicken dish was served on upright manner, being held in place with a sharp long stainless skewer. Looking stunning and elegantly fried, it was all great fun for that splendid moments of Instagramming pleasure. 

This standing roast came with DIY tools to dissect the chicken before eating. Scissors and plastic disposable gloves were provided for those looking to have some fun and pure pleasure of operating on this chicken dish. 

Taste wise, there was nothing to shout about. Well fried, the skin was delightfully crispy and light. The meat tasted average, just like any ordinary fried or roast chicken. I have to say that was quite a skinny chicken, not much meat though and was hardly enough to be shared by 9 of us that day.

Anyway, it's good selling point and sales gimmick, bravo to those who came out with this brilliant idea. These chickens were selling like hot cakes that day and have to be pre-ordered in advance.  

**Many hands makes light work**

Well, overall it was an awesome treat. As usual the younger ones were having fun dissecting or dismembering the chicken into unimaginable mess while the seniors were craving it slowly with their experienced deft hands. 

The standing chicken can be quite good fun at any dinner table. Here's a picture of me - Auntie Lilly can't resist but to take a shot at the fun looking chicken dish!  

Lee Hong Kee Restaurant Sdn Bhd
No: 3,5,7 & 9, Jalan Kati GU 18/G
Kampung Baru Sg. Buloh
40610 Shah Alam.
Tel : 03- 6140 2678 / 016- 667 4810  

PS: Remember to call & book your chicken in advance. 



Tuesday 1 April 2014

Meng Kee Hokkien Mee @Bandar Baru Seri Petaling by FollowMeToEatLa

Meng Kee Hokkien Mee
Hidden Secret @ Bandar Baru Sri Petaling

There is a new neighbourhood cafe & restaurant in Bandar Baru Sri Petaling that is out of the ordinary. Why? Because this place serves Hokkien Char or Fook Kein Chow that is one of the best in the area. 


I am talking about my all-time favourite - Ming Kee Hokkien Mee which have just relocated from OUG to this new coffee shop called OVERNIGHT Cafe & Restaurant @ 2G, Jalan 14/149L, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, Kuala Lumpur.   (Now Relocated back to OUG again) 

Business was quite good even in OUG back then. But since the authorities cited that his stall was residing on an illegal plot of land, he was forced to shift to a new place. Well, it was a blessing in disguise for Uncle Ming Kee as his business got even better in the new place as his regulars tagged along and new customers come through from the surrounding residential areas.    

Can't resist not taking shots of Noodles Uncle in action

He was busy whipping out fried noodles or Chow Fun non stop the whole night when I was there. For someone that been cooking for the past 20 odd years, I think this is 'sap-sap shui'. At one point, he told me to get my camera ready for the 'Wok on Fire' shot, hahaha ... real sporting guy!   

Uncle Ming Kee doing the 'Wok on Fire' Shot

I believe that his noodles tastes so good was due to the wok hei and his many years of cooking experience. Something that cannot be replicated or done at home. Dining here is fun and the experience is definitely worth it.  

This black noodle is worth the wait. Flavoursome thick noodles cooked to the right texture, not too soft or too wet. Fried with pork, prawns, pork intestines and pork crackling (chee yau char) using lard oil (chee yau), the yellow thick noodles are extremely tasty and flavourful. 

Definitely a hot favourite among the locals by judging from the numbers of plates forming during peak periods. Using the lard, this Hokkien Mee comes nicely moist, rich and thick best eaten with the sambal belacan and minced garlic too. Spicy chillies and pungent garlic, it complements the dish perfectly. 

Some say that the best way to savour and enjoy Hokkien mee is to 'tau pau' or takeaway. My hubby is among those that love to Ta Pau (doggy bag). According to him, he explained that by the time you reach home, the noodles would have absorbed all the gravy, thus making it more delicious!
       
Simple and delicious filled with Wok Hei Chow Fan or Fried Rice. This is a Must-Have for my 2nd daughter as she loves fried rice in any style thus this is her favourite food. A generous portion of finely cut long beans, fish cakes, Chinese sausages and prawns. therefore this is one excellent dish you should not miss not eating.


By the way, this fried rice still tastes good the next day, even after a nite in my fridge. Yummy ... :-)

Enjoy lip-smacking Cantonese fried noodles or Yin-yong noodles goodness. Uncle does an excellent job every time he cooks this. Gravy is thick and flavourful, loaded with lots of lui - pork, pork intestines, prawns and sometimes fish cakes (depends on his mood) and not forgetting vegetable of the day too. This clever combination of eggy gravy and wok hei noodles was wickedly delicious!

By the way, this is a MUST HAVE for my youngest son. He usually asked for this after a hard day work ... that is when he completed his homework and revision with me on the weekends. It was an easy, delicious and comfort food for him to de-stress after a full week in school.

On the days that I don't cook at home, this is my regular place to take away and feed the family for dinner. 

A hearty and delicious meal will definitely put hearts at ease, right? So why not head on over to Uncle Ming Kee for some comfort food in the form of noodles or rice to ease your tummy and soothe your soul. 


Mouthwatering dishes such as Hokkien Mee, Cantonese Fried Noodle, Fried Yee Mee, Singapore style Meehoon, Law Meen and many more will surely put a smile to your face and tummies too! 



Ming Kee's Menu 


Price-wise, a plate of noodles for 1 pax here costs RM 6.50 while for double (2 pax) costs only RM 12.00. Reasonable price for serving cheap and tasty food.     

The noodles stall opens daily for dinner (6pm to 11pm), except on Thursday.  
  Telephone : 016 - 977 3182 / 016 - 919 4342 (Uncle Ming Kee)           


Please take note that WEF 1/09/2014 ~ Ming Kee Hokkien Mee had relocated to 

29 Jalan Hujan Rahmat
OUG Old Klang Road
58200 Kuala Lumpur

(at the Restaurant Sun Sea - lookout for the Big tree in front of the corner shop) 
(same row with Caring Pharmacy of OUG)