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Published on October 1, 2007

Pansak Sugkraroek's face offers all the proof needed that anti-ageing medicine can work. The 55-year-old gynaecologist's skin is youthfully radiant, thanks to his thorough understanding of hormones. And yet few of his patients know that their doctor is a hormone specialist.

The average Thai has little knowledge about hormones and what they do, so Pansak's expertise is even more important in terms of promoting health, especially when people rush to buy anti-ageing treatments of dubious quality.

The first misconception he wants to correct, though, is that karn charoen phan means "reproductive health", not "reproduction".

"The term is often mistranslated as 'sex' or 'sexual activities', but that's karn sueb pan," he says. "That's a different area. Reproductive health involves the changes we go through from age 15 to 46 - from our initial reproductive age to mid-life."

Pansak is universally admired for his good cheer and his ability to explain complicated health matters in an understandable, even fun, way. He often coaches teenagers on reproductive health at schools and universities.

But it's the latest fascination with anti-ageing techniques that's made his knowledge of hormones all the more important. The room was packed for his recent talk on men's health on behalf of Bangkok's S Medical Spa, for which he's an adviser. Prominent executives from various fields were in attendance.

Like Dr Pakpilai Thavisin, the spa's president, Pansak follows the holistic approach to anti-ageing.

"As our body ages, our hormonal levels change, and that's what contributes to the signs of ageing," he points out.

Any gland that fails to produce enough hormones to keep your system in balance is contributing to the ageing process, beyond what time does on its own. If the pituitary gland slacks off on growth hormones, your skin and hair aren't getting the reinforcements they need, and you're left with old skin and grey hair.

Unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking alcohol and skipping sleep add to the imbalance.

Pakpilai says many of the growing number of male patients seeking holistic treatments at her spa complain that they can't make quick decisions like they used to.

"In most cases we have to persuade them to change their lifestyle, and if they want fast results, we prescribe hormones as supplements."

The doctors can determine whether you're ageing irregularly by checking your hormone levels and running a "total body scan", which at S Medical Spa involves BEM (bio-energy mechanism), which despite the name originates in traditional Chinese medicine. A device is used to read energy flow and indicate deteriorated cells and organs.

But, technology aside, Pansak stresses that staying young is really about taking good care of yourself.

"Most people who don't understand anti-ageing or rejuvenation think it's a far-fetched dream, but it's not," he says. Anyone can avoid ageing if they follow the recommended lifestyle, he says: in bed no later than 10, a diet free of sweets and oily and salty food, and 45 minutes of daily exercise.

Pansak's own diet goes like this: "I have a breakfast fit for a king, an ordinary man's lunch and the dinner of a beggar."

Additionally, you have to avoid stress. You have to relax.

For those left cold by these guidelines, there is medicine. Pansak describes the anti-ageing treatment on offer at S Medical Spa.

"The treatment doesn't just try to fix the problems, it tries to prevent them. It involves external and internal treatments that mix Eastern and Western medicine.

"If the patient has a sleep-deprivation problem, we may suggest acupuncture, and we can supply a hormone supplement like melatonin to help them sleep soundly."

There are massages and Thermage treatments as well, and Botox injections to reduce wrinkles.

But Pansak insists that the best way is still the natural one. For him, it comes down to three golden rules - enjoy your work, think positively and say "yes" to every request.

"I love my job, but lately I've been cutting back on the number of patients because I'm no longer young. So I allocate a third of my workday to seeing patients. And I never turn down an invitation to give a lecture - at least I never say no, but I've learned the art of bargaining on the time and date."

He also travels regularly to relax.

"It's important that you take a break, and it should be totally relaxing. Everybody knows that I turn my mobile off when I'm on vacation. I used to take two months' leave, but I only go away for a month at a time now because it's so stressful catching up when you get back to work!"

Veena Thoopkrajae

 The Nation