What happens to your face and body when you overexercise? The answer may shock you

When the global pandemic prompted stay-at-home orders two years ago, we entered an unprecedented period. Confined within our homes, we were nudged to change our behaviour in many ways, which led to quite a shift in our fitness routines.

“It was during the pandemic that I noticed two very diverse groups of patients in my clinic. The first group have reduced self-care, gained weight and started to look aged due to overeating and under-activity,” Amaris B. Clinic’s Medical Director and co-founder, Dr Ivan Puah, remarks.

“The second group is where looking and feeling good physically is not just a lifestyle but their continuous life goal. They take care of their body – inside and out.”

As reported cases lowered and restrictions eased, we emerged as different people.

How the pandemic has reshaped our priorities

The pandemic was undoubtedly a time when we rediscovered our relationship with wellness.

According to a recent study, 72% of respondents declared physical health a top priority, which sees a majority of locals carving out more time and spending more money on their health.

Almost half of Singaporeans said they’re healthier than before the pandemic hit. In fact, 50% are working out more while 46% are consuming more nutritious meals more often.

Paving the way to good health and making our journey much smoother is a slew of fitness professionals and enthusiasts who turned their social media platforms into an easily accessed trove of resources and guided practices.

Meanwhile, many people have dedicated themselves to a sport they enjoy, which is why there’s been an uptick in cycling, running, weight training and yoga. While regular exercise can improve our fitness level and health, how does it affect our skin and body?

What happens to your body when you overexercise?

Extremely intense exercises can bring about undesirable changes to one’s appearance, especially if you enjoy working long hours under the sun.

You may notice fine lines and wrinkles creeping up around your eyes and forehead, as well as the appearance of sunspots and hyperpigmentation. Repeated exposure to UV rays can alter your skin’s normal structure leading to an increased risk for premature skin ageing.

While cardiovascular exercises such as running are the favourite go-to workout for overall weight loss and improving cardiovascular health, there’s a caveat.

Excessive running may cause a substantial amount of facial fat loss resulting in sunken cheeks and a more worn-out, haggard appearance. In addition, a common complaint amongst female runners is that they notice their breast size has shrunk with intensive running.

So, how can you simultaneously stay fit without compromising your workout sessions and yet look rejuvenated, young, and maintain flawless skin?

Well, Amaris B. Clinic has the answer.

Sports Aesthetics®: Where aesthetics marries athletics

A firm believer that “Health is Beauty and Beauty is Health”, Dr Ivan Puah, who attained a Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine, coined and launched Sports Aesthetics® at Amaris B. Clinic.

Sports Aesthetics® is where a combination of unique offerings are available to help active individuals and athletes look rejuvenated, young and refreshed. The offerings also include procedures that can help men and women to stay shapely by effectively targeting specific areas of body fat that individuals find a real challenge to do.

It also includes fitness assessment, weight management, and a range of holistic treatments to take care of your cellulite, water retention, and sports injuries, all under one roof.

Love working out under the sun? Watch out for sunken cheeks, wrinkles, and pesky pigmentation!

Those who are committed to intense sports are likely to experience hollowness in the cheek area, which is why fat grafting comes recommended to bring back your skin’s glow and restore volume loss for a more youthful look.

ADR-C Facial Enhancement can fill up areas of fat loss, smooth out facial lines, and improve your skin’s texture while restoring youthfulness to the skin. This facial fat grafting treatment also allows you to replace the fat loss caused by ageing for a more “lifted” look.

“Facial grafting is popular amongst middle-aged people who wish to slow down the ageing process and maintain their youthful look. It is also popular for those between their 20s and 30s who have naturally sunken faces or experienced facial fat loss due to excessive dieting or overexercising,” Dr Ivan Puah explains.

“It can be combined with anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers for optimal facial enhancement. Interestingly, facial fat grafting is also helpful in improving skin texture due to excessive acne scarring.”

Sun’s rays help to improve our sleep, reduces stress, maintains strong bones and is great for mental health, amongst many other benefits. This explains why many people like to work out under the sun to achieve that sun-kissed, bronzed skin colour.

However, too much of it can severely impact our skin health. Over exposure can lead to sunburn. In the long run, sun rays can prematurely age the skin, causing photoageing. Signs of photoageing include brown spots, wrinkles and uneven skin textures.

Pico Fractional Laser is available to address these skin concerns. It delivers four different wavelengths of energy in short bursts, which helps remodel the skin, improve its texture, and penetrate the skin without causing any damage to the skin’s surface. Pico Fractional Laser also presents significantly fewer side effects, so you’ll see a faster recovery.

While advanced medical technology can lend you a helping hand to good skin health, you should also make an effort to use sunscreen daily (yes, even on cloudy days!). Always choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB radiation, is water-resistant and has an SPF of 30 or higher.

Finally, limit the time you spend out in the sun (between 10am and 4pm), where sunlight is the most intense.

Spot training (or spot reduction) is the idea that you can focus on specific areas of your body and exercise to lose stubborn fat and/or increase muscle definition.

The truth is, we can’t tell our bodies where to shed fat. Our biology is still the ruler in this game, and we’re genetically predisposed to store fat in certain areas, especially women. Females easily store fat on the face, arms, back, belly, waist, thighs, hips and even armpits.

If you’re a devoted gym goer or yogi, you have invested time and effort to achieve a flatter tummy and smaller waist, but you probably can’t achieve the results you want.

This is where 4D Liposuction (Hi-Definition Lipo) steps in.

Unlike standard liposuction that simply removes fat, 4D Liposuction (Hi-Definition Lipo) calls for more attention to detail. This advanced body contouring technique requires a skilful and experienced liposuction doctor to carve out a defined appearance on the treated area.

“4D Liposuction (Hi-Definition Lipo) is suitable for those who consistently work out at the gym, say, four to six days a week, eat healthily and maintain an active lifestyle. They are very close to their goal weight but find it tough to get lean and defined as they would like to.”

“My objective is to not only remove the deep layer of fat but also the superficial layer to highlight and define a more athletic appearance for them,” explains Dr Ivan Puah, whose clinic had received industry recognition as the “Body Sculpting Clinic of the Year in AsiaPacific” from 2019 to 2022.

If you have been working out a lot but cannot achieve the coveted six-packs or a lean and toned look, consider scheduling an appointment to consult Dr Ivan Puah on how he can help you attain the body shape you want.

Looking much older than your age?

Does your chest make you look much older than your age? Are droopy eyelids and a turkey neck adding years to your appearance? Dr Ivan Puah recommends Ultherapy, the only FDA-cleared, non-invasive skin lifting that targets tightens saggy neck, lift jawlines and brows, and improve ageing lines on the upper chest.

Using micro-focused high-intensity ultrasound, it penetrates your skin at a depth of 5mm, targeting tissues to trigger your body’s regenerative response and jumpstart the production of fresh collagen.

Doing so gently and gradually lifts the skin to make it firm and supple once again. Rest assured, no needles and knives are involved in this treatment, so sit back, relax, and watch your skin take on a more youthful glow over the next few months.

“Many patients are concerned about skin laxity but worry that a full facelift will make them look overly done. Ultherapy strengthens the skin’s foundation and is suitable for those with mild to moderate skin laxity and droopy eyelids. As it is non-surgical in nature, there is no downtime for patients,” says Dr Ivan Puah, who carries out authentic Ultherapy® treatment in his practice.

“It works beneath the skin, gradually triggering the production of new collagen and firming effect, with results peaking around six months. Friends will notice that you look well rested and radiant but have no idea that you had undergone any treatment!”

Achieve your aesthetic and fitness goals conveniently under one roof

Incorporating facial cosmetic injectables, fitness assessment, weight loss management, and injury rehabilitation under one roof, Amaris B. Clinic is truly a one-stop centre for all your health and aesthetic needs.

Not just any aesthetic doctor in the industry, Dr Ivan Puah has accumulated over 15 years of surgical body sculpting experience. He holds Graduate Diplomas in various disciplines, including Family Practice Dermatology and Acupuncture.

He is also the Chairman of the Lipo Peer Review Committee in Singapore and the creator of two innovative surgical body sculpting techniques - MDC-Sculpt® Lipo technique and 360°GTD®.

He also possesses an in-depth understanding of fitness and weight management, which makes him a trusted medical professional in the eyes of his patients. Constantly equipping himself with more skills, Dr Ivan Puah believes in upgrading himself to provide a good standard of patient care beyond just medical beauty aesthetics.

Rest assured, the clinic’s procedures are customised to suit the individual’s needs, as each patient is unique. Thanks to Dr Ivan Puah’s meticulous and personal approach, every piece of advice and recommendation is tailored to suit your goals without compromising your well-being.

The caring team behind Amaris B. Clinic will ensure that your safety and goals remain their top priority.