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When we play catch-me-if-you-can with the fountain of youth, we often find ourselves fearing the inevitable: ageing. Time stops for no one; the signs it leaves on our skin can be less than welcome (despite our efforts to age like fine wine). Enter the alluring world of aesthetics, where science and skilful hands can help out – one procedure at a time.
We've all heard about Botox and fillers – which do wonders, but unfortunately, are temporary solutions.
However, hear me out. What if there was a treatment that could help reduce, improve, and prevent the signs of ageing?
Imagine if there was a procedure that could tighten those fine lines, lifting sagging skin, while also gifting you that iconic youthful glow once more. Even if you're in your glorious 20s (like me), how could such a procedure benefit you, when your skin hasn't even begun to show the impending signs of ageing?
Well, imagine no more. Allow us to introduce you to GOURI, the injectable procedure that might just be your secret to ageless allure. We'll take you through a first-hand experience of this innovative treatment and why you might want to schedule one for yourself after this article.
GOURI — The Injectable That Overdrives Collagen Production
As we gracefully step into our 20s, it might surprise you to know that our skin embarks on a journey of its own: a journey of collagen loss (yeah, I don’t like the sound of that either).
Year by year, the skin surrenders approximately 1% of its collagen production so if we fast forward to our 40s, we've practically almost lost 20% of it! Unfortunately, it doesn’t get any better because women entering menopause lose an additional 30% of collagen within the first 5 years!
Enter the world of collagen biostimulators, a rising star among those in their 30s and 40s. Unlike your OTC retinoids, these injectable baddies take a more direct approach. They delve into the skin's middle layer, revving up your body's natural collagen production which results in long-lasting rejuvenation without playing the waiting game.
Then, there’s GOURI.
GOURI isn't your run-of-the-mill collagen stimulator – it's a game-changer. Crafted from PCL (Polycaprolactone), a biocompatible and biodegradable marvel trusted in both the medical and aesthetic world.
But here's where it gets exciting: GOURI isn't just another PCL product. It proudly boasts a 21% PCL concentration, thanks to the patented Collagenosis-Enabled Sollubised Active and Biodegradable Polymer (CESABP) technology. Thus, it offers a smoother, way more consistent distribution across your face so everywhere gets a bit of love.
What truly sets GOURI apart from traditional dermal fillers is its subtlety, which in the realm of aesthetic procedures, is KEY. It's not just about filling or plumping; it's about empowering your skin to do its job at hyperspeed. GOURI sparks your skin's natural collagen production, gently erasing fine lines and wrinkles while hydrating your skin for a subtle, graceful lift.
It's beauty from within, quite literally if you think about it.
ProductNation’s Live Review: the Process, the Effect, and the Verdict
Look, I'll be shameless and state that when I heard about GOURI, it sounded like a siren alluring and enchanting me. Weak to the call, I HAD to try it first-hand.
As someone in their 20s, there really is no reason for me to go and seek an anti-ageing-focused treatment, especially one as advanced as GOURI. This isn’t some auntie promoting her spa treatment “Amoi, come I give you special price for collagen boost treatment, buy 3 I give you free 2.”
However, what had me intrigued in trying out GOURI, was how it worked with the skin to provide a natural chain reaction that evidently resulted in enhancing the skin, rather than a temporary fixer-upper that we are normalised to see in clinics. So here’s what I hoped that GOURI could help with for a 20-something with no serious signs of ageing:
- Reducing the appearance of smile lines
- Reducing the appearance of frown lines
- Improving acne-prone skin
- Rejuvenating overall skin clarity
- The Procedure
The journey starts at My Bliss Clinic in Publika, and an in-depth consultation with their founder, Dr. Elson Chee. We went through each step of the treatment and he guided me through what to expect during the procedure as well as afterwards. He even answered all my questions thoroughly – despite some silly ones.
One point of the consultation that provided extra assurance – especially since this treatment involved my face – was the holographic authenticity sticker on every GOURI package. This is to avoid the possibility of consumers using counterfeit products which adds that extra level of security. A simple scan of the QR code on the sticker helped to put me at ease.
Afterwards, the friendly staff provided a deep cleanse and a quick skin analysis (as always, a very humbling experience) before numbing cream was applied to my face. As I do have a history of eczema, so as to avoid any flare-ups, I was given an antihistamine prior to the treatment.
Then it was time for the actual procedure.
I was guided to the treatment room and after getting comfortable in my seat, Dr Elson briefed me once more on what to expect – such as where he would be injecting, sensations that I might experience, and encouraged me to speak up if at any point I faced any issues.
It started with tracing my face with a drawn guide to ensure an accurate point of entry for the injection. Despite my face being numbed up, the pain of the local anaesthesia was felt, if not evidently with the teardrops escaping my eyes (yes, we caught it in 4K as well).
But Dr Elson was careful and quick to get it over with because the next thing I knew, we were already moving on to injecting GOURI. The experience was swift, and despite the footage we had of the long needle used to get deep into your skin layer, I felt nothing but a tingle. Beauty truly is pain.
Lastly, after a quick application of moisturiser and SPF as well as medicine for the next 3 days, I was on my merry way. The experience, service, and staff at My Bliss Clinic were truly a blissful start to the GOURI journey.
- The Month-long Experience
Following the advice from the Doc, I made sure to stay indoors and be strict with applying sunscreen for the first few days post-treatment. My skin remained feeling tight and slightly sensitive to the touch; this was predominantly felt at the four entry points of the injection which was understandable.
Pro-tip: tap your skincare in, don’t rub – your skin will thank you for it.
There were no serious side effects from the treatment other than tingles and twinges that went away after a week. For me, the area that took the longest to subside was my forehead as it continued to feel tight even past the first week.
I was told there was a possibility of bruising during weeks 2 to 3 but gladly that wasn’t the case for me. However, around week 3, I did start to notice that the area below my eyes and near the base of both sides of my nose, had the sensation of a bruise but with no actual physical signs of it. I thought this was quite interesting.
GOURI doesn’t promise an instant lift the moment you step out of the clinic but it does ensure that within a week to a month, it influences collagen production to increase like it’s on a caffeine rush. Thus, the sudden bruise-like sensation gave me a sign that something indeed was happening within my skin.
It took me week 4 to realise the subtle yet significant changes that happened to my skin. It’s not drastic but enough for me to wow at my reflection in the mirror. I believe the concept is that the effects happen slowly but gradually; you might not even realise it but others certainly will because the next thing you know, you’re being complimented left and right on it!
- The Verdict
My skin indeed feels more plump and smooth and I have noticed a significant reduction in breakouts that usually occur especially during that time of the month. Areas of my face felt more “filled” and tight rather than tired and sunken in prior to the treatment. The skin clarity is beyond my expectations, and has been one of my few insecurities — obviously, that’s not the case anymore.
GOURI has indeed provided a subtle lift as my cheekbones (which was the area of the treatment’s entry point) are more prominent than before. Additionally, my deep smile lines were also a factor I targeted because makeup tends to crease there and I was delighted to see it reduced.
However, the frown lines caught me off guard because I have always been someone who is very expressive with her eyebrows – hence the prominent frown lines – but now it’s as if my eyebrows have been “trained” to not pinch in between. Instead, there’s a taut feeling when I try to bring my brows together. It’s not like I can’t furrow them anymore which is often the result when you get injections like Botox.
More or less, it feels like they require less muscle to be expressive, which in the long term, might be great at preventing fine lines and frown lines from happening in the first place.
The effects I have documented come from only 1 round of GOURI — they suggest the perfect amount is 3 and I can only imagine how drastic the change will truly be. That being said, as someone in their 20s who is diligent in skincare and shows little signs of ageing, I believe everyone can benefit from this treatment even if you're considered as young as me.
GOURI is a treatment you should experience if you want to achieve that beautiful, flawless, and lifted look as though you haven’t aged a day. Your skin will be at its optimal condition and it can also help in slowing down and preventing deep signs of ageing.
Will you try out GOURI? Find out more about GOURI on their official website.
*The content presented in this article is meant solely for educational purposes and does not endorse or promote any particular injectable treatment. We highly recommend that all readers perform their own comprehensive research and seek guidance from a certified aesthetic physician before considering any injectable procedure.
For a secure and pleasant treatment journey, it is essential to consult with an accredited aesthetic physician who holds a valid annual practice certificate, is registered with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC), and possesses a Letter of Credentialing and Privileging (LCP) licence issued by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).