Aesthetic treatments such as micro needling, dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections are becoming more and more popular in the UK. However, with the rise in popularity of these treatments comes an increase in the number of unqualified and potentially dangerous practitioners. It is vitally important that you do your research on who is providing this treatment for you as there is currently no regulation regarding who can carry out these treatments in Britain. Some aesthetic products such as botulinum toxin are a prescription only medication and needs to be prescribed by a healthcare professional prior to administration.
Other products such as dermal fillers also contain local anaesthetic, although these are not currently prescription only products this may change in the future. There are moves afoot to regulate who can carry out these procedures and the minimum level of certification that is required is muted to be a health care professional with a level 7 diploma in aesthetic injectable treatments. You should look for this qualification from the person who is providing your treatment, and also research whether they can demonstrate their safety records such as providing pre-filler ultrasound scans to map facial blood vessels and have knowledge on how to dissolve hyaluronic acid filler if treatment results are undesired or if there are any adverse reactions.
When we consider aesthetic treatments, the most obvious thing we can see is the skin. One of the best tips for keeping healthy skin is to wear sun protection factor, especially in the summer months. Younger people who still have good facial structure and fat mass do not require aesthetic injectable treatments, they would be better served with skin treatment such as facials, peels and even micro needling. If you have poor quality skin, or if you have acne scarring, for example, micro needling especially using PRP can help improve the surface of the skin.
There is an unhealthy trend in younger women having lip fillers to have abnormally large, oversized lips. Treatment using lip filler can be very useful for slim lips. However, if you already have full lips, adding more volume will not create an aesthetically pleasing or balanced look. It is best to have a consultation with an aesthetics practitioner to establish your goals and expectations, but also to receive some honest appraisal on whether you need this treatment or not.
As we progress into our later 20s and early 30s, it is very common to start having anti-wrinkle injections. As we talk, smile and laugh we will create wrinkles in the skin around the eyes, on the forehead and between the eyebrows. When we are young, these remain dynamic lines only appearing when we move. However, treatment to relax and suppress muscle activity in these areas of the face can help to prolong the appearance of a youthful face and help to prevent static lines appearing. It’s still useful to have anti-wrinkle treatment into your mid to late 30s and early 40s. However, the expectation must change. We will not be able to prevent the appearance of static lines. However, we can once more slow the progression.
When we pass into the late 30s and early 40s we start to lose volume from the face. This occurs at different rates in different people and from different parts of the face. Common areas include losing bone mass from the cheekbones, jawline or chin. It’s also common to lose volume of the fat pads in the face, such as around the cheeks, whilst the fat pads around the jaw line remain, and gravity can create sagging skin around the jawline often known as jowls. Alongside having anti-wrinkle treatments, it would also be common at this age to start having filler treatments to restore lost volume in the face, such as a restoring volume of the cheek, chin and jaw, as well as some of the fat pads in the face to maintain a beautiful looking face.
As we pass into the 50s and 60s the effects of these aesthetic nonsurgical treatments become less pronounced. There still may be cases where we can use these treatments. However, the results will be very subtle, and it is at this age that you may need to start thinking about surgical procedures such as blepharoplasty or full face lifts. Even though non-surgical aesthetic treatments might be less effective at this age, having treatments on the skin, such as micro needling and peels can still be useful to maintain the appearance of the skin.
In summary then, it’s important to look after your skin from a young age much like you would look after your teeth from a young age. Starting anti-wrinkle treatment when you are younger, perhaps in your late 20s, can help to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles as you age. Work with your facial features when you think about filler treatments, going for subtle looks to enhance your natural features rather than trying to create large overfilled and unnatural features. When you start to see changes in the shape and structure of your face in your 30s or 40s, this would be the time to consider filler treatments with full facial rejuvenation. Speak with your aesthetics practitioner to see what treatment you might need to remain looking as young as you feel.
