Niks maple clinic

I had been a patronizing Niks Maple clinic since 2008. Before I decided to visit Niks Maple Clinic, I have read forums such as flowerpod, which many reviewers mentioned that there is a famous doctor called Dr Ong. Niks Maple clinic now has a few doctors. I believe they are equally qualified. But Dr Ong is still the most popular one. 

 

I still remember I specially took leave from work and went to the Tampines branch on a day when Dr Ong was on shift. I reached early in the morning at 8.20am. But there was already a snake-like queue starting all the way from the gate. The clinic was not opened yet but the queue was already so long. At around 8.30am sharp, a nurse came and started to give out some number queues. She gave from Queue #1 and stopped at #40. I was at 42nd place... I didn't get a queue number and the nurse told me to come back in the afternoon at 2pm. I asked her if she could give me a queue number for the afternoon slot. But the nurse tried to explain that she cannot and it was the policy, and told me to come back earlier in the afternoon. I was really MAD. I took leave specially to come and I had to waste a whole morning to come again at 2pm? Worst of all, I wasn't guaranteed a visit as I don't know how long the queue would be in the afternoon. Maybe even worst.

 

Anyway, enough of my rambling. I managed to see Dr Ong after a really loooooooong wait. I spend about $200 at her clinic which included the consultation visit and the creams and face wash. I don't have the picts of all the products now because I stopped using the face wash which I found too creamy. I was also given a sunblock lotion which made my face so white and sticky. I particularly like the skin repair cream (4.4oz for $80, can use for 3 months) as it doesn't not have a stingy feeling when I apply on my already-sensitive skin. I had Stieva A (0.01% and 0.1%) which I have to apply alternately every night. I was also given Clindagel (a topical antibiotic approved for the treatment of acne vulgaris). For your info, after the first visit, one could replenish the products without having to see the doctor. Thank goodness. I can't imagine myself queuing again!  

 

Based on my experience with Niks Maple Clinic and the effectiveness of the products used in combating my acne problem, I will rank the value add of Niks Maple Clinic as 6 out of 10, where 10 is considered highest value. When I first started to use the products, I had outbreak. I wasn't surprised because the doctor warned me that that would happen as the face needed to purge out the toxins before recovery could occur. Reflecting back, I think I was kinda gullible to have believed.

 

After almost 4 years, my acne may be more controlled (could be due to other factors like weather and skin care regime) but really very very slowly and I still have outbreaks every month. So, personally, I feel Niks Maple Clinic is quite costly and not that effective. I definitely need a better solution.  

 

Below is my recent facial condition. Above is the photo directly from camera. Apparently the acne doesnt look that bad on photo (a). It actually looks worse-off real life than on picture. Hence, I did some accentuation using Picasa cross process to show you my skin condition. I think (b) is more representative of the actual skin condition. As you can see, it is quite bad.

(a) Direct from camera

 

(b) With some photo editting to contrast the colour.