The collective appetite for aesthetic treatments has steadily risen over the last eighteen months, which is hardly surprising considering we all spent well over a year looking at our tired and traumatised faces on Zoom calls. Aesthetic procedures are now also considered by many to be a routine part of their anti-ageing regime. In both of my clinics, I have seen a tidal wave of women in their thirties and forties who want to get a head start on their anti-ageing process. They are looking to start investing in their collagen bank for the future and prevent signs of ageing before they occur.
My biggest advice is to focus on your skin health now, and your future self will thank you. My ethos is that before seeking any aesthetic treatment, you should focus on the quality of your skin by implementing a good quality regimen that includes an antioxidant, exfoliation, and SPF protection, alongside regular chemical peels or specialised treatments such as the HydraFacial. Maintaining your skin’s health will keep it looking plump, youthful, and radiant for longer, which should always be a priority over injectables.
If you’re ready to make 2022 the year that you get serious with your skin health or,
embrace a fresher look, whether through targeted skincare, research-driven treatments or injectables, this guide will help you make a start.
The face reboot
If you’re starting to notice the first signs of ageing or wish to freshen up an ageing face, pick your main concerns and discover how treatments and skincare can help.
Forehead and frown lines
Forehead lines and frown lines are expressive lines that become more apparent as we age. They occur primarily due to genetic ageing; however, sun damage or smoking can also result in creases that are deeper and more difficult to treat. Botox injections are usually the most effective way to reduce these lines temporarily but, in some cases, I might combine Botox with dermal fillers or energy-based treatments like the Venus Viva.
Crow’s feet
Crow’s feet lines occur at the outer corners of the eyes and are sometimes referred to as ‘smile’ or ‘laughter’ lines. They form when we smile or squint and as the skin loses collagen and elastin with age, reducing its elasticity. Loss of volume in the cheek, a natural part of the ageing process, also contributes to crow’s feet lines. Botox is the most popular solution for smoothing and eliminating lines in this area.
Sunken tear troughs
Tear troughs can be addressed non-surgically with tear trough filler, which plumps up depleted hollows and smooths the surrounding area. Dermal fillers sit where they are placed beneath the skin and attract water which improves local hydration and, over the following weeks, integrates with your body’s tissues to improve results further. We may also add in a good, targeted eye cream like the SkinBetter Science Interfuse Eye Treatment Cream, which contains a blend of caffeine and a highly specialised yeast derivative to improve the look of under-eye puffiness and is proven to brighten the eyes and minimise the appearance of dark circles.
Lost volume in cheeks, lips, and temples
We can use injectables to restore volume, reduce wrinkles, and rejuvenate the face to give it a more youthful appearance. Fillers can be injected in various areas of the face, including in the cheeks, along the jawline, and in nasolabial folds, lips, and temples to selectively volumise, lift and sculpt.
Our understanding of how ageing impacts the structure of the face is ever-evolving. In the past, dermal fillers were placed directly into lines to bulk them out and soften them. These days, the aim has shifted towards harmonising and softening the face by replacing lost volume, particularly in the cheeks and lips.
Rough, crepey skin texture
Typically, we use energy-based devices like microneedling and Profound RF or skin boosters like Profhilo to smooth skin texture and minimise crepiness. These treatments work by renewing skin and boosting collagen levels. They reverse time, reducing visible signs of ageing and make the skin appear more supple and even.
Sun damage or pigmentation
We can reduce sun damage and pigmentation using chemical peels and medical-grade skin treatments like Cyspera and Obagi Nu-Derm.
Receding chin
The chin may seem an unlikely place to inject dermal fillers but thanks to innovative techniques, injectors are now turning their attention to this area more and more to improve the structure and balance of the face.
Using filler in the lower part of a weak or receding jawbone can project the chin further forward and improve the side profile, balancing it with the other features of the face. This technique works well for both men and women, and it is a beneficial method for counteracting the bone resorption in the chin that creeps in with age.
Jowls and sagging skin
We can effectively minimise the appearance of jowls with Profound RF, which combines microneedling and radiofrequency technologies to give a long-term lifting effect through all layers of the skin, from the lowest right up to the surface. Dermal fillers are commonly used to rebuild volume and definition in areas of the face, such as the cheeks and lips. When placed strategically, they can also help elevate the skin and lessen the appearance of jowls.
Wrinkled neck and decolletage
There are several ways that we can improve an ageing neck. Botox can reduce the virtual lines across the neck by injecting the strong platysma muscle to relax it. As we age, the muscle often gets stronger as the shrinking jawbone allows it to pull downwards more forcefully. Botox stops this problem in its tracks and, when maintained, is an excellent preventative method for future signs of ageing.
Sofwave is an FDA approved breakthrough ultrasound technology. It is a brand-new device on the market that uses proprietary high intensity, low divergence, multiple ultrasound beam technologies for non-invasive skin tightening and improvement in fine lines and wrinkles, making it an excellent option for treating the neck and lower face.
Profhilo stimulates natural collagen production and long-lasting hydration within the skin, improving crepiness for a smoother and tighter appearance. The Profound RF is a little more invasive but provides incredibly effective tightening and lifting to the lower face and neck. It’s a unique treatment that combines microneedling and radiofrequency technologies for an advanced result. In studies, it has been shown to deliver the effect of a third of a facelift.