Non-Surgical Face Treatments
It'll come to us all sooner or later - those signs of ageing! Wrinkles and loose skin can effect people differently and many end up deciding to search for ways of making their appearance more youthful by surgical or non-surgical means. The non-surgical methods of ‘tweaking' the ageing process provide quick treatments which allow the patient to carry on with their normal daily lives without the need for prolonged recovery periods as well as providing the individual with a cheaper alternative to surgery.
Botox
Botox is a nerve toxin that causes paralysis of muscles in the body which since the 1990s has been adapted to be used in the cosmetic industry in order to remove wrinkles.
Botox was actually first used back in the 1970s as a treatment for children's squints when it's potential for wrinkle-removal was noticed. As well as removing wrinkles, it can also be used for excessive underarm sweating.
Without the need for sedatives, a small needle is used to inject Botox in several areas of muscle (usually the upper third of the face). The treatments can be completed within 15minutes and you can immediately return to normal daily life. Results will be visible a day to three days after treatment, but will be more pronounced after a week. The results will last up to three or four months and gradually fade away at which point you can undergo a repeat procedure.
Botox injections can be available from cosmetic surgeons and from skin specialists, GPs and gynaecologists as well as some dentists. Certain eye specialists and nurses can also give Botox, but beauty therapists cannot due to Botox only being available on prescription. One treatment (for one area) costs around £170-£350 and is most suitable for areas around the eyes and for forehead line treatment.
The ideal end result is a smoother, more relaxed looking appearance and with repeat treatments, you'll find that the area will end up having less deep lines allowing you to actually end up increasing the time between treatments. However, besides the bruising, other side-effects can be experienced following treatment. These can include headaches, flu-like symptoms, temporary eyelid lag, and twitching of the eye.
It is important that you must not have treatment if you have any infection in the area to be treated or if you have allergies to any of the ingredients. Treatment is not suitable during pregnancy or for people with neurological disorders such as myasthenia gravis.
There are also some medications which can interact with botox (eg. some antibiotics). Alcohol is also known to interact with Botox and move its affects away from the desired site.
Lifting the Face
Use of radio frequency devices to tighten collagen in the skin are also becoming a new and popular technique instead of laser treatment for halting the ageing process. It is more suited for people below their 50s with only slight wrinkles and who still have some elasticity in their skin. One treatment costs just under £3000 and lasts for three to four years. It's best used for the area of the skin on the cheeks, under chin and on the neck. It tightens the skin over the neck helping to minimise the ‘double chin' and helps to provide extra skin tone.
The process is said to be pleasantly warm and can only hurt slightly if your skin is naturally more sensitive. To avoid this, the dose of radio frequency can be reduced. There may be redness to the skin following this procedure, but this will settle down in five to ten minutes. One treatment lasts around 40 minutes and if a top-up is needed, one can be performed three months later.
This procedure is recommended mainly for people in good health. If you have blood clotting problems or very high blood pressure, you may be more prone to forming large scars. As with all treatments, you must consult with your doctor before undergoing such a procedure.
Cheaper Facial Alternatives
If paying for botox or a facelift is a little too extreme for you to have more youthful skin, there are many creams and serums available which claim to delay or reduce the signs of ageing. Facial massage has also been shown to improve tone in facial muscles.
Above all, it is important to remember to always take care of your skin. Always use appropriate sunscreen and remember that smoking and excessive alcohol consumption will all have an effect on the state of your skin and how quickly it looses its elasticity.
by Dr Judith Juhasz for Whatprice.co.uk
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