Given the wind-tunnel results of plastic surgery as seen on the likes of Joan Rivers, not to mention the prospect of a general anaesthetic, scars and months of recovery, it’s not surprising that a full-on facelift is about as popular as last year’s It-bag.
After all, if you want to pretend your ever-youthful looks are down to yoga and water, it doesn’t do to be seen to look as if you’ve had serious work.
For a while it seemed as if fillers and Botox would be the secret of stealth rejuvenation, but not everyone wants the chipmunk cheeks and glassy forehead that so often go with them.
So the facelift has been fighting back. But this time it’s different.
The new ‘One-Stitch Facelift’ is a minimally invasive, super-sneaky way to lift cheeks and jowls, reduce double chins and tighten saggy necks. It is done under local anaesthetic and involves having just one stitch on each side of the head, buried in the hair.
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Healthy Choices: Go Wrinkle free
Until now, anti-ageing laser light therapy was only available in beauty salons and private cosmetic clinics. However, the personal Wellay Cosmetic Skin Laser has made that a thing of the past, allowing you to use patented multi-wavelength laser technology in your own home.
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Monday, September 20, 2010
Let there be light! LED treatments claiming to cure acne are now available as home kits - but are they safe?
When you’ve got acne or wrinkles, the last thing you want is for someone to come along and shine a light on your imperfections.
But an innovative home-use device requires you to do exactly that — with the promise of results that match up to professional-strength machines.
Treatments using the skin-repairing power of LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy are firm favourites with dermatologists and facialists.
Carla Bruni, Natalie Imbruglia and Sienna Miller are all said to be disciples.
But typical salon or clinic-based LED light treatment can cost more than £100 a go, and require six to 12 sessions.
Enter the Tanda Light Therapy Skincare System, a hand-held gizmo that mimics the light frequency used in clinic-based treatments, with the added bonus that you can use it in your own home, in your own time and at a fraction of the cost.
Developed in Canada, the mini-machines work by exposing the skin to different wavelengths of coloured light to gently and painlessly treat blemished complexions.
There are two devices, available only in Harvey Nichols.
read more
But an innovative home-use device requires you to do exactly that — with the promise of results that match up to professional-strength machines.
Treatments using the skin-repairing power of LED (light-emitting diode) light therapy are firm favourites with dermatologists and facialists.
Carla Bruni, Natalie Imbruglia and Sienna Miller are all said to be disciples.
But typical salon or clinic-based LED light treatment can cost more than £100 a go, and require six to 12 sessions.
Enter the Tanda Light Therapy Skincare System, a hand-held gizmo that mimics the light frequency used in clinic-based treatments, with the added bonus that you can use it in your own home, in your own time and at a fraction of the cost.
Developed in Canada, the mini-machines work by exposing the skin to different wavelengths of coloured light to gently and painlessly treat blemished complexions.
There are two devices, available only in Harvey Nichols.
read more
Friday, September 17, 2010
Cosmetic surgery industry in UK 'has key weaknesses'
There are fundamental weaknesses in the way cosmetic surgery is carried out in the UK, an official review body says.
The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death found many centres were failing to assess and care for patients properly.
In particular, the poll of 361 sites found patients were at risk from a culture which saw teams "have a go" at operations they rarely performed.
The professional body for cosmetic surgeons accepted there was a problem.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons only has about a third of the industry as members.
President Nigel Mercer said: "This presents a distressing picture, but one which is sadly not surprising. Aesthetic surgery needs to be recognised as the multi-million pound specialty it is."
read more
The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death found many centres were failing to assess and care for patients properly.
In particular, the poll of 361 sites found patients were at risk from a culture which saw teams "have a go" at operations they rarely performed.
The professional body for cosmetic surgeons accepted there was a problem.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons only has about a third of the industry as members.
President Nigel Mercer said: "This presents a distressing picture, but one which is sadly not surprising. Aesthetic surgery needs to be recognised as the multi-million pound specialty it is."
read more
Shining a light on acne
Laser treatment may be the new panacea for acne.
It isn’t just the young stars of the Harry Potter movies who are plagued by zits – a huge number of more mature celebrities are cursed with problematic skin. Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Madonna, Uma Thurman, Billie Piper and Victoria Beckham have all been spotted (sorry) with outbreaks. Adult acne is increasing and a recent study in the US shows that 25 per cent of women aged 30-40 will suffer from the condition.
“It’s a major psychological problem,’’ says Tony Chu, professor of dermatology at the University of Buckinghamand medical director of the West London Dermatology Centre. ''I have had patients who have cancelled their weddings as the stress made their skin worse.’’
Stress is a major cause of the spot epidemic. “Acne is caused by hormonal changes normally onset by puberty,” says Prof Chu, “but it’s now seen in adults who lead more stressful lives.’’
Pharmacist Shabir Daya from online pharmacy Victoria Health agrees. ''Stress stimulates the production of male hormones. The major culprit is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which increases the production of the skin’s natural oil, sebum, clogging the pores.’’ The bacteria associated causes acne to thrive in these conditions, feeding on the sebum and irritating the glands, which leads to spots.
The standard prescription is an antibiotic and a vitamin A cream to unblock the pores. For tough cases, stronger medications such as Roaccutane (isotretinoin) are used, which take four to six weeks to take effect and can clear about 50 per cent of lesions. However, they might have side-effects such as dry skin, eyes and lips, raised blood fats and sugar.
Prof Chu is pioneering the use of a different approach – the N-Lite (or Regenlite) laser. It was developed for general skin rejuvenation but when one patient with severe acne found her lesions virtually disappeared after two weeks, a clinical study was set up at Hammersmith Hospital.
read more
It isn’t just the young stars of the Harry Potter movies who are plagued by zits – a huge number of more mature celebrities are cursed with problematic skin. Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Madonna, Uma Thurman, Billie Piper and Victoria Beckham have all been spotted (sorry) with outbreaks. Adult acne is increasing and a recent study in the US shows that 25 per cent of women aged 30-40 will suffer from the condition.
“It’s a major psychological problem,’’ says Tony Chu, professor of dermatology at the University of Buckinghamand medical director of the West London Dermatology Centre. ''I have had patients who have cancelled their weddings as the stress made their skin worse.’’
Stress is a major cause of the spot epidemic. “Acne is caused by hormonal changes normally onset by puberty,” says Prof Chu, “but it’s now seen in adults who lead more stressful lives.’’
Pharmacist Shabir Daya from online pharmacy Victoria Health agrees. ''Stress stimulates the production of male hormones. The major culprit is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which increases the production of the skin’s natural oil, sebum, clogging the pores.’’ The bacteria associated causes acne to thrive in these conditions, feeding on the sebum and irritating the glands, which leads to spots.
The standard prescription is an antibiotic and a vitamin A cream to unblock the pores. For tough cases, stronger medications such as Roaccutane (isotretinoin) are used, which take four to six weeks to take effect and can clear about 50 per cent of lesions. However, they might have side-effects such as dry skin, eyes and lips, raised blood fats and sugar.
Prof Chu is pioneering the use of a different approach – the N-Lite (or Regenlite) laser. It was developed for general skin rejuvenation but when one patient with severe acne found her lesions virtually disappeared after two weeks, a clinical study was set up at Hammersmith Hospital.
read more
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Botox industry register launched
A government-backed register for providers of injectable cosmetic treatments such as botox and dermal fillers has been launched.
Those who meet the standards set down for the Independent Heathcare Advisory Services' voluntary register, will receive a quality assurance mark.
The IHAS hopes people will be steered away from "botox parties" or treatments offered in inappropriate locations.
But cosmetic surgeons say such self regulation will not stop bad practice.
Botox boom
The introduction of the register comes amid a boom in demand for botox and dermal fillers.
According to the IHAS, there are currently about 5,000 providers of injectables in the UK, carrying out about 200,000 treatments each year.
Other estimates suggest far higher numbers of people in the UK are seeking out these treatments.
But there are growing concerns over people receiving treatments in inappropriate settings.
"We've heard stories of botox parties and people going to even garden sheds [to have treatment], " IHAS director Sally Taber said.
"It's just amazing that the general public think that they can have an injection into their face in a nail bar, a garden shed or at a botox party, because you are dealing with a prescription medicine.
"They can cause permanent damage. The patient will be reminded all their lives that they've gone to an inappropriate practitioner who wasn't appropriately qualified," she warns.
read more
Those who meet the standards set down for the Independent Heathcare Advisory Services' voluntary register, will receive a quality assurance mark.
The IHAS hopes people will be steered away from "botox parties" or treatments offered in inappropriate locations.
But cosmetic surgeons say such self regulation will not stop bad practice.
Botox boom
The introduction of the register comes amid a boom in demand for botox and dermal fillers.
According to the IHAS, there are currently about 5,000 providers of injectables in the UK, carrying out about 200,000 treatments each year.
Other estimates suggest far higher numbers of people in the UK are seeking out these treatments.
But there are growing concerns over people receiving treatments in inappropriate settings.
"We've heard stories of botox parties and people going to even garden sheds [to have treatment], " IHAS director Sally Taber said.
"It's just amazing that the general public think that they can have an injection into their face in a nail bar, a garden shed or at a botox party, because you are dealing with a prescription medicine.
"They can cause permanent damage. The patient will be reminded all their lives that they've gone to an inappropriate practitioner who wasn't appropriately qualified," she warns.
read more
Monday, September 13, 2010
Botox being injected by 'practitioners' with less than half a day's training
Botox administrators with less than half a day's training are injecting patients' faces with the muscle-paralysing poison.
Dozens of medicals firms are allowing employees to carry out this cosmetic treatment after learning to how to perform the procedure using an orange, the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS) found.
And many trainers have no medical employment history or qualifications.
This lack of regulation is putting trusting clients at risk as many hairdressers and beauty therapists, according to the IHAS, are storing Botulism at the wrong temperature and in unhygienic conditions.
Approximately one million Brits have Botox or facial fillers injected each year.
It is estimated one in twenty suffer from resulting complications such as droopy eyelids from the former and lumps developing under the skin from the latter.
read more
Dozens of medicals firms are allowing employees to carry out this cosmetic treatment after learning to how to perform the procedure using an orange, the Independent Healthcare Advisory Service (IHAS) found.
And many trainers have no medical employment history or qualifications.
This lack of regulation is putting trusting clients at risk as many hairdressers and beauty therapists, according to the IHAS, are storing Botulism at the wrong temperature and in unhygienic conditions.
Approximately one million Brits have Botox or facial fillers injected each year.
It is estimated one in twenty suffer from resulting complications such as droopy eyelids from the former and lumps developing under the skin from the latter.
read more
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