Dermatology in Johor

Dermatology is a branch of medicine that focuses on health issues affecting the skin, nails, hair, and mucous membrane. It is a specialty with both surgical and medical aspects. A dermatologist can address cosmetic issues, which can help to rejuvenate the appearance of the skin, nails, and hair. Being a dermatologist requires a great depth of clinical knowledge, including the variety of internal health problems that may cause skin symptoms. Dermatologists can treat over 3,000 conditions. Some of the most common are acne, dermatitis and eczema, hair loss, nail problems, fungal infections, warts, vitiligo, and skin cancer.

Dermatology has a number of departments and specialties, including:

• Cosmetic Dermatology – dermatologists have been the leaders in cosmetic surgery. Many dermatologists are trained on the use of fillers, botulinum toxin, and laser surgery. Some dermatologists also perform blepharoplasty, liposuction, and facelifts. However, most dermatologists limit their cosmetic practice to minimally invasive procedures.
• Dermatopathology – this field is a joint specialty of dermatology and pathology. It focuses on the study of cutaneous diseases at molecular and microscopic levels. Dermatopathology can make a definitive diagnosis of various skin diseases, including melanoma.
• Trichology – this is the study of the hair and the scalp. This field of dermatology deals with diseases such as hair loss, scalp changes, hypertrichosis, and hair abnormalities.
• Immunodermatology – this filed specializes in immune-mediated skin diseases, such as bullous pemphigoid and lupus.
• Pediatric Dermatology – pediatric dermatologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases in children, which include newborns and infants.

What does the Procedure Involve?

A range of medical and cosmetic procedures are used to manage issues affecting the skin, nails, and hair. Many skin conditions can be treated by medications and noninvasive procedures, while others may require more invasive approaches. The following are several dermatologic procedures:

• Cosmetic injections – cosmetic injections can temporarily address scarring, wrinkles, and reduced facial fullness. A dermatologist can inject botulinum toxic (Botox) or fillers, such as fat and collagen. The results may last for a few months before you need another injection.
• Chemical peels – this procedure is used to treat some types of acne, as well as sun-damaged skin. It can also treat other cosmetic complaints, such as lines under the eyes and age spots. During chemical peels, a chemical solution is applied to the skin. This chemical solution causes a layer of skin to peel off, revealing regenerated skin beneath it that is typically a lot smoother.
• Dermabrasion – this type of procedure uses a high-speed rotating brush to remove the top layer of the skin, which can help reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles and tattoos, scar tissue, and potentially precancerous areas of the skin.
• Cryotherapy – cryotherapy involves freezing skin lesions, usually with liquid nitrogen, to destroy the affected cells. It can be a quick treatment for a number of benign skin issues, such as warts.
• Hair removal or restoration – various methods can be used to address hair loss, such as hair transplants. On the other hand, dermatologists can use lasers to remove unwanted hair from the body.
• Excision of lesions – skin lesions may be cut away to prevent a disease from spreading, to improve symptoms, for cosmetic reasons, or to prevent reoccurring infection. Excision of lesions may be done under a local or general anesthetic.
• Laser surgery –can be used to treat a number of cosmetic problems or skin issues, such as warts, tumors, moles, scars, birthmarks, wrinkles, and unwanted tattoos.
• Tumescent liposuction – this procedure is used by dermatologists to remove fat. Large volumes of local anesthetic are injected into fatty tissue, then it is sucked from the body. Note that tumescent liposuction is performed to contour the body, not to treat obesity.
• Vein procedures – people with superficial leg veins, called spider veins, may want them removed. Several procedures can be done to remove them, but sclerotherapy is the most popular treatment. It involves injecting a special solution or a foam into the vein. The special solution and foam irritate the lining, causing the vein to become less noticeable or, in some cases, disappear completely.
• Skin grafts and flaps – missing skin can be restored using skin from other areas on the body. Dermatologists can also repair skin loss by making a flap of skin from a nearby area of the body. The flap of skin is then used to cover the damaged patch.
• Biopsies – a skin biopsy is usually needed to diagnose or rule out certain conditions.
• Mohs surgery – this procedure is a treatment for skin cancer. It involves removing layers of skin in order to get rid of cancerous cells. The removed skin layers are then examined under a microscope. Then, successive layers are removed until there are no more cancerous cells found in the skin.
• PUVA – Psoralen combined with ultraviolet radiation (PUVA) is a procedure to treat several skin diseases, such as vitiligo, dermatitis, and psoriasis. Psoralen is a drug that can make the skin more sensitive to radiation treatment.

How Long Should I Stay in Johor?

Depending on the type of procedure you have, you may be able to leave the hospital on the same day or stay for several days. For noninvasive treatments, such as chemical peels and cosmetic injections, you should be able to leave the hospital on the same day and fly home within a couple of days. For invasive procedures, particularly to treat serious medical conditions, such as cancer, you may need to stay in the hospital for several days, and stay in Johor for at least 10 to 14 days. Your surgeon and/or medical travel team will advise you on this matter.

What's the Recovery Time?

Recovery time will vary depending on the type of procedure you have, the reason why you have the procedure in the first place, and your general health. Your dermatologist will usually give you a detailed recovery timeline for each procedure. In general, recovery time for nonsurgical procedures is typically short and you should be able to resume your normal routine within a few days. For surgical procedures, it may take several weeks until you are allowed to return to your full daily activities.

What About Aftercare?

Your dermatologist will give you a set of instructions to care for yourself during the recovery period. The instructions will be different for each type of procedures, but they may include a diet plan, light exercises to follow, how to care for your surgical wounds or affected area, activities you can or cannot do, signs of complications to be aware of, and medication to take. It is important that you follow your dermatologist’s instructions closely in order to avoid complications and to obtain the best possible results.

Some cosmetic procedures may not be permanent, such as dermal fillers and Botox, so you will need to have regular treatments in order to maintain the results. For skin cancer treatment, you may need to attend follow-up checkups to ensure that cancer has not come back.

What's the Success Rate?

Experienced and skilled dermatologists will be able to deliver a high success rate and satisfactory results. However, every type of procedure carries some risk, which may include infection, swelling, bleeding, adverse reaction to anesthesia, and unsatisfactory results.

Are there Alternatives to Dermatology?

If you have any problems with your skin, going to a dermatologist is the only way to treat it. However, if the skin problem is caused by an underlying condition, your doctor or dermatologist will recommend you to see relevant doctors to treat it.

What Should You Expect Before and After the Procedure?

Before seeing a dermatologist, you may have a problem with your skin. You may not like the wrinkles on your face, or you may have a lesion that needs to be removed. After receiving treatment from a dermatologist, your skin problems should be addressed. You may be able to achieve your dream appearance, any disease you had before may be treated.

Dermatology in and around Johor

About Johor

Johor, the Southern Gateway to Malaysia, continues to prosper as a tourism destination. Johor’s geographical position draws many tourists from neighboring countries especially Singapore. Tourists flocked to Johor to experience its great shopping deals, cheap food, beautiful nature, and theme parks. Johor Premium Outlets, LEGOLAND Malaysia, and Sanrio Hello Kitty Town are the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Johor is expecting a total of 17 million visitors in 2019.

Recently, Johor has become a thriving medical tourist destination. Johor recorded 60,000 medical tourists visiting the state in 2017 to seek medical treatments. As one of the biggest contributors to Malaysia’s rising medical tourism, the state keeps innovating and improving its health facilities to increase the number of medical tourists. Johor hospitals offer cutting edge technology with experienced doctors and at a reasonable price.

The hospitals in Johor are of world-class standards and accredited by global accreditation. One of the highest-rated hospitals in the state is Gleneagles Medini Hospital that offers a wide range of treatments. Cosmetic surgeries such as eyelid surgery and breast augmentation are the most popular procedures in Johor.

Popular Areas in Johor

Johor offers plenty of attractions to discover. It is easy to see why many people are drawn to travel to the state. Tourists have many options to choose the kind of adventure they want to experience, from exploring incredible islands and tropical rainforests, admiring famous historical landmarks, spending a day in theme parks, to shopping in a cosmopolitan city of Johor Bahru.

• Seribuat Archipelago lies on the east coast of Johor; the archipelago has beautiful clear waters and sandy beaches that will take your breath away. Tourists who want to discover the amazing underwater life can do many activities such as diving and snorkeling.
• Gunung Ledang National Park (Mount Ophir), the highest mountain of Johor is known as the home of a mythical princess, Puteri Gunung Ledang. Tourists can go hiking on this beautiful mountain and will be rewarded with an amazing view and do not miss out on the chance to cool off in Puteri falls.
• Legoland is the best place for tourists who travel with kids. The first Legoland in Asia offers over 70 rides with a separate water park and ‘Sea Life.’ There is also a Legoland hotel for tourists who want to fully experience the theme park.
• Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, Johor’s state mosque, is located on top of a hill in Johor Bahru with beautiful views to the Johor Strait and Singapore. The architecture follows the style of Victorian and Moorish and takes the form of British 19th-century clock towers.

Weather and Climate in Johor

The tropical weather allows Johor to enjoy a relatively stable warm temperature throughout the year. The highest average temperature is 33°C and the lowest is 31°C. Humidity is generally high in Johor so tourists are advised to pack light and comfortable clothing.

The rainy season usually starts from April to September and from October to early November. Some islands in Seribuat Archipelago may be ‘closed’ during the rainy season due to the rough weather.

Getting Around in Johor

Senai International Airport is the gateway to Johor. Located 32km from Johor Bahru, the airport serves domestic flights as well as international flights to and from Bangkok, Jakarta, Seoul, Guangzhou, and Ho Chi Minh City. Senai International airport serves budget airlines and is the hub for AirAsia and Malindo Air.

To reach the city center, tourists can take a taxi or Airport Shuttle Bus. A ride to Johor Bahru by taxi takes approximately 30 minutes while taking the bus will take longer. Remember that taxis use a coupon system, the coupon can be bought from the taxi counter inside the Aeromall.

Tourists from Singapore can go to Johor by bus or car via Johor–Singapore Causeway. Tourist who wants to avoid traffic jams can opt for the KTM’s Shuttle Tebrau from Woodlands Train Checkpoint to Johor Bahru.

Tourists visiting Johor Bahru can travel to different attractions within the city by using the bus service although it can get pretty confusing since the bus stops may not be shown clearly. It is advisable to directly ask the bus driver for the destination. Taxis are available in the state but it is best to insist on using the meter or negotiate the fare in advance.

To travel to other cities in Johor, tourist can ride long distant buses from Larkin Bus Terminal. Buses normally leave once every hour and have a reasonable price. If you wish to travel to many cities in Johor, renting a car is the best choice.

Tourists Visas in Johor

Tourists are only allowed to enter Malaysia if their passport is valid for at least six months after arrival. Most nationalities can enter Malaysia without a visa for 30 or 90 days. Several foreign nationalities including China, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Serbia, and Montenegro must apply and obtain a visa before entering the country.

The Malaysian Immigration provides an online visa application for selected foreign nationals, the process is usually faster and easier. Those who travel to Johor for medical treatment can apply for eVisa Medical. The visa is valid for a single journey with a maximum of 30 days. Patients who need to stay for more than 30 days must obtain a long term Medical Pass.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The ringgit (RM) is the local currency. 1USD is equivalent to RM4.20. Printed in a variation of colors and sizes, it is easier and less confusing for travelers to work with the currency to avoid giving the wrong bills when shopping.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are easily available around the state and credit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants. It is wise to always carry a small amount of cash especially when traveling to a more suburban area because many vendors will only accept cash, some vendors won’t change bills over RM20. Tourists can bargain with street vendors but always remember to be polite. Tipping will be appreciated but not necessary.
3. Local Language: Malay or Bahasa Melayu is the official language in Johor. The majority of people, especially in Johor Bahru, can speak English relatively well. Directions and signs are usually written in Malay and English. Other languages that are widely-spoken in Johor are Mandarin Chinese and Tamil.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The state’s culture is heavily influenced by the Arabs, Javanese, and Bugis people. Johor is also home to a large Chinese and Indian community. The official religion is Islam with Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, as the other religions freely practiced.
5. Public Holidays: It is important to keep in mind that the weekend in Johor is Friday and Saturday. Like other parts of Malaysia, Johor celebrates the holy days of every major religion and holds a number of festivals throughout the year. One of the most famous festivals in Johor is the annual Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival. Usually held around February and March, the festival showcases one thousand modern and traditional kites.