Name of Salon: Fabulous Smile
Fees: $$$$/5Service: ♥♥/5Website: http://www.fabulousaesthetics.comGroupon Price: S$399 (UP: S$888)Location: 101 Beach Road, Singapore 189703Tel: 6735 5335 Have you always seen those dazzling pearly whites that those Hollywood Celebrities possess and have secretly yearned for a set too?
I happen to chance upon this groupon offer and bought it without much hesitation after watching the reviews given by Mediacorp TV Channel U. Lai Yi Lin gave a very positive feedback about the services and efficacy of the entire treatment process which boosted my confidence in this. I've never really trusted in salon teeth whitening before that as I have complete faith in dentists who are supposed to be more professional.
After doing some researches via google, I found more positive feedbacks which tempted me to buy the groupon as it was an offer too hard to miss!
Positive Reviews:
Hence I went ahead and purchased my groupon and made my appointment.
Really happy with my purchase, I continued to read more reviews on the internet to convince myself that I made the right choice...
However, I found out that the unsponsored reviews were mostly negative ones.
Negative Reviews:
- My Singapore Dentist
- Apparently I can't find more negative reviews on google now... Wonder if they have been taken down?
Aniwaes, in short, the reviews were criticising the staff for being unprofessional and that the treatment hurt a lot blah blah blah. Like horror stories.
But since this was featured on TV, it should be safe right? Even 赖大妈 personally endorsed this.. So shouldn't be much of a problem. Since, I do not have any sensitive gums / teeth issues ~ I can literally chew on ice-cream directly when my peers were complaining of soreness ~ *whee* ;)
Hence I took the GAMBLE...
I made my appointment at the Beach Road Branch as it is near Bugis MRT and I can pop by after work straight u see.. When I called, the receptionist sounded really unprofessional (*ooops* sorry no offence, but I used to work in the CPF Call Centre and is too used to being trained with the proper telephone etiquette). She spoke in broken English and switched to Mandarin afterward. OK fine, I am also a Chinese so I can understand -.-"
Initially I made my appointment at 7pm as I need some buffer time to travel from office to the salon. A few days prior to the appointment, the receptionist called me and asked if I can reschedule my appointment to an earlier slot, say 4.30pm. I rejected her nicely, trying to explain to her that I am working on weekdays and hence it will be tough. After a series of 'bargaining' we settled at 6.30pm as I need time to locate the place and travel as well. The receptionist was really pushy.. I guess they wanted to knock off earlier and I was causing them some inconvenience due to my appointment.
So let's just get into the review straight..
I arrived at the salon on time. The salon looked pretty decent although not very cosy. I was ushered into the treatment room and was told to sit onto the bed for treatment. The bed was not very short and I had difficulties climbing up (My height is 155cm). I have to jump TWICE in order to land my butts on the bed. Fine ~ they dun even have stairs to help me climb up.. Or lower the bed at least?? Its NOT a sin to b short OK?
Aniwaes I shall not be so calculative over the height issue.. I admit I was pretty offended by that.. But then, I met my consultant. She did not say anything and got down to work.. Preparing all the stuff.. I started feeling panicky.. Ain't she supposed to brief me through the entire process and understand my past medical history etc etc? She continued with what she was doing till I broke the silence before she could gag my mouth with her tools. I asked her about the procedure.
"Basically, its a very simple procedure...", she began...
Hey, I know its simple and you have done it to countless people. But its my VIRGIN trial ok? Back to my customer service training I had back in CPF. Our training was really demanding as although we are repeating the same answer to the same queries almost daily, we shouldn't sound bored or impatient to them because to them, its their FIRST time hearing an answer. So we shouldn't despise our customers no matter what.
OK, I was feeling jittery then... She explained to me that she would apply some sort of gel to protect my gums before applying the whitening gel and switching on the LED lamp to shine on my teeth. The whitening gel + LED lamp procedure would be repeated for another 2 times, each of approx 10 min each. Teeth sensitivity is expected but is normal, I will feel the sensitivity more during the last application of the gel.
I enquired if I can stop the process anytime if the discomfort is too bad for me to bear and she said "Yes". Hence I continued with the treatment.
She applied some Vaseline to protect my lips before stuffing my mouth with the plastic "enlarger". My mouth was being stretched to its maximum limit and this was really uncomfortable. I do not understand what she meant that some of her customers can doze off during the treatment...
Then, she applied some gel onto my upper and lower gums to protect them before applying the whitening gel. Then she shone the LED light on me for my first 10 min. My gums felt pretty normal just that my lips felt numb after all the stretching. Also, if you are a frequent visitor to a dentist, the dentist would normally use this suction pipe to drain out excessive saliva when you mouth is kept in an open position for too long. However, no suction is provided and I have a huge accumulation of saliva at the back of my throat. I was forced to swallow my saliva + the mixture of gel in gulps. *YUCK*
The consultant proceeded to do her own stuff at the study desk in front of the room till the timer buzzed off. So I feedback to her that I have a lot of saliva and she finally pulled out her one n only suction tube to drain some saliva off before reapplying the mixture and shining the LED light on my teeth for a second time. This time, my gums started to ache... Cuz the numbing cream applied on my gums earlier were being washed off by my saliva and the whitening gel is attacking my somewhat naked gums.. The pain was still bearable. I can't imagine if anyone with sensitive gums could proceed to bear with the pain aniwaes.. I persevered because I paid $$$$ for this...
Finally it was the final and last application. The consultant done everything and left the room after setting the timer, leaving myself ALL ALONE in the consultation room! Hey, she knew that the last application could cause the most complications (she mentioned that customers find the pain more unbearable on the last application) but she WALKED OUT of that room. I could hear her chatting with her colleagues outside.. And she DID NOT return the room until the last 2 minutes of the treatment.
My lips felt so plastic after all the stretching and my facial muscles were already very stiff. Plus, I have difficulty in swallowing my saliva together with the yucky paste.. I struggled to tell the consultant that the pain is excruciating... But it seemed that she did not understand me straight.. "You are asking how long more? Oh, just 2 more minutes.."
I gesticulated to her that I am experiencing high level of discomfort and she removed the gel off my teeth like finally. I got to do a few rinse and I could feel my gums feeling very very sore afterwards. I was advised not to take any food 1 hour after treatment and to abstain from food with colourings that can stain my teeth. And also, she claimed that my teeth is now TWO SHADES WHITER...
The pain was too excruciating that I did not pay much attention to what she was saying.. The receptionist then handed me a take-home DIY whitening kit to use at home. OK, after all the pain experienced in the salon, I have to torture myself at home now?! Whatevas~ All I wanted is to leave that living hell immediately as I can feel that it is somewhat sleazy... Felt soo damn cheated by 赖大妈 :( OK maybe they gave her royalty treatment when she was there so as to give such highly raved reviews.. Haix. I was a gullible and silly rabbit and I regretted buying that groupon instantaneously.
Le' Gruesome Torture
Yes, I lost my appetite afterwards. This means that the entire treatment was affecting me really badly.. I still can eat after I did my braces years back you know.. Yup, I can be a glutton when it comes to food. So if I suddenly lose my appetite, this means that a storm is brewing...
I bet you guys are all very keen to know the results.
I shall flash my before & after photos for your own evaluation:
1 Day Before
After
OK I do not deny that my teeth is whiter.. But it ain't the sparkling white that I see from celebrities.. And I am so NOT going to put myself through a similar torture. Perhaps if I strike rich, I might just go for a professional teeth whitening session with a dentist instead.
As commented by my friend: 便宜没好货 (Cheap stuff are not good), I have to really agree with her on this instance.. Haix..
The soreness and aching persisted for the next 2 days before it went back to normal.
So is it worth the price and the suffering?? I let you judge.
*disclaimer: this is my unbiased and first-hand sharing of my experience with the salon myself. I do not gain anything from smearing their reputation or anything. perhaps I was just unlucky that day or perhaps I do have sensitive teeth which made my entire experience a horrifying one.. But you can still choose to believe in the sponsored good reviews to your utmost good faith.
Adieus~
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