THE PRE-PARTY SEASON TREATMENTS THAT ACTUALLY WORK

A well-chosen in-clinic treatment can make a huge difference to how we look and feel. Most of us are frazzled at this time of year but obviously want to look our best for the upcoming social gatherings and festivities. Or it may simply just be the case that we want to look good in photos on Christmas Day! Whatever the reason, here’s a roundup of the in-clinic treatments that deliver results and will make you look radiant for the holiday season.

For clearer looking skin

Brilliant for targeting blackheads and congestion, Hydrafacial has revolutionised the meaning of a ‘deep clean’. The pen-like device uses a jet of water and varying tips to deliver a very thorough skin cleanse and hydra-dermabrasion (ie water-based exfoliation), followed by a gentle glycolic acid peel that softens up gunk in your pores so it can be hoovered up via the device’s painless suction extraction. Targeted serums are then pushed into your skin to maximise their benefits, before a touch of soothing red-light therapy concludes the experience. Consider it a great quick-fix for instantly fresh and clear looking skin.

For brightening under eye dark circles

Polynucleotides are the buzzy, new injectable treatment that lots of people are talking about. People favour them over filler, for example, as they don’t change or edit your appearance but merely work with your own body to naturally enhance it. They are part of a family of injectables called bio-stimulators which kick start our own fibroblasts to start producing more of our own collagen which we lose as we get older. They also improve tissue regeneration and restore the skin tone and elasticity.  They can also have a hydrating effect on the skin so it simply looks and feels healthier. Polynucleotides can be used anywhere to improve the look of the skin but they work particularly well for improving the look of tired, crepey or dark under eyes. I’ve also tried them in my neck and saw a great improvement in the horizontal necklace lines. You usually need 2 rounds of treatment about a month apart.

For smoothing forehead wrinkles

Toxin - or botulinum toxin A to use it’s correct name – is one of the best known categories of drug in the world. It’s mainly used for wrinkle relaxing injections by reducing muscle activity in the area. It is still one of the most requested and effective in-clinic treatments for a quick fix to smooth forehead wrinkles or the ‘11’ lines in between the eyebrows. If done well, Botox can really make you look like you’re just come back from a holiday. Results take between 4 days to a week to be fully visible. Toxin can also be used on crow’s feet around the eyes and on a ‘cobblestone chin’ to make it look more smooth. Toxin has many other uses. It’s really effective if you’re a jaw clencher at night for relaxing the muscle, and it can also be used on the trapezius muscle (remember ‘Barbie Botox’) to relax the shoulders. You can also have toxin injections in your hands to control excessively sweaty hands and armpits too, as they work by blocking the activation of the sweat glands.

For a red-carpet glow

An in-clinic chemical peel can have a really dramatic effect on the skin to reveal a real wow-factor radiant glow. There is about a week of downtime though so consider this when booking.

Dr Ophelia loves the VI Peel because it really delivers results. It’s a virtually painless chemical peel that refines the surface layer of the skin to improve the tone, texture and clarity of the skin. VI Peels are medium-strength, medical-grade chemical peels that can help treat acne, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. They also minimize signs of ageing including fine lines, wrinkles and pore size. It can also simply enhance any skin tone to make it look its most radiant.

How does it work?

It works by gently eliminating the outermost layer of the skin. This allows for the regeneration of smoother and more radiant skin in its place. The VI formula uses a blend including retinoic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), salicylic acid, phenol and ascorbic acid. These ingredients work to safely remove the damaged top layers of the skin.  There is up to about a week of downtime. Most patients will see results after one session, but a series of sessions may be advised.

For a snatched jawline

Filler has had quite a bad rap recently, but the right practitioner can strategically inject it into the jawline to instantly improve the area giving you a tighter, more lifted ‘snatched’ appearance. The jawline is the only place I’ve tried filler, and I was really impressed with the results. It’s a subtle tweak but can give an instant, noticeable more ‘snatched’ appearance.

Collagen boosting treatments such as Thermage FLX, one of the most powerful RadioFrequency devices out there, can also produce great results for tightening the lower face and giving the face a ‘lifted’ shrink-wrapped effect. But it’s not an instant fix. It takes about 3 months to start seeing results but they can last approximately 2 years. You do get a superficial instant tightening effect after the  treatment (but this is due to the skin contracting after being blasted with RF). It’s one of the most effective treatments I have tried and I’d highly recommend this.

 By Lucia Ferrai