One early morning, Lisa turned up at the clinic with her mother. “My
mother is turning sixty years old in another six months. I intend to give her a
makeover,” she told me with a beaming smile.
"Hi, nice to meet you. What can I do for you?” I asked Lisa’s
mother. “I really have no idea. Since Lisa
is the one who brought me here, you might want to ask for her opinion instead
“, she told me hesitantly. “But Mom, didn’t you complain to me that you notice the
age spots/pigmentations on your face getting darker, your eye bags getting
heavier/ deeper and the wrinkles/crows’ feet are getting more obvious nowadays?
Lisa’s mother smiled.
The appearance of age spots, saggy cheeks/ naso labial fold, eye
bags and crows’ feet are all the usual signs of ageing. From Lisa’s description
of her mother’s ageing woos, I reckoned that she wanted the right treatment to
restore her mother’s appearance.
Pigmentation problems can be eradicated with the use of proper
laser treatment whereas wrinkles/ crows’ feet can be treated with BOTOX.
Lisa’s mother has no qualms about the treatments that I suggested.
Hence I started her on a session of laser treatment right away.
“Is it painful?”, I asked while conducting the treatment carefully. “Just
a tingle, there’s almost no pain at all”, she answered. “How do you feel now”,
I asked with concern.
She then shared. “I’m fine. Actually, Lisa has
been eager to bring me here for the treatment of my pigmentation, age spot. I
was indecisive then, because I was afraid that it would be painful and would do
more harm than good to my face, making me look unnatural and fake. I finally
decided to tag along after Lisa told me that it is not painful at all after
undergoing the treatment herself for several times. I really
must give credits to my Lisa. She’s a good daughter and very obedient since
young. Our family was not very well-to-do because her father passed away in
accident. She had a tough childhood but despite all the hardship, she had grown
up to be a very independent high achiever. This year she wants to give me an
aesthetics makeover as a birthday gift, so here I am!”
“I am sure this gift is priceless and
comes sincerely from your filial daughter. She understands very well, the
hardship you have gone through to bring her up, placing her as your priority
rather than your own appearance. Now that
she is capable to take care of you, appreciate and savour every sweet moment of
it”, I told her.
“Really?” Lisa’s mom said
with a curvy smile of warmth and happiness.
Most parents if not all, devote their time providing and caring for
their children. The selfless act of placing their children’s needs as the top
priority often result in them compromising on their own health and needs. As
grown-ups, it is time to reciprocate our parents’ unconditional love for us. Phone
calls, occasional meals and family trips together are just some of the simple
things that we can do to light up their day!
“Dr Hoo, although my mother would not admit
it, I know she is in fact just as vain as any other woman including me. Please
help me and my mother to look prettier, healthier and greater together!” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
