The longer I see and treat a wide range of people for botox and dermal fillers and general aesthetic treatments, the more I realise the importance of having great skin. It does’nt matter how beautifully you smooth the lines away with botox or plump out and erase deep wrinkles with dermal fillers, if your skin is in poor condition, chances are you still feel ‘old’ and ’tired looking’.

People will often point out to me particular lines and wrinkles or areas of the face they are unhappy about, and there is no doubt that botox and dermal fillers do resolve many of these problems. However, many people that look in the mirror and see a tired face looking back at them with a dull complexion should probably focus more on their skin rather than specific wrinkles and folds. A poor complexion with age spots, sun damage, hyper-pigmentation and uneven tone is often far more ageing than having a few wrinkles.

The answer to a clear glowing complexion is often complex depending on the condition of the skin. Treating the lines and wrinkles is the easy bit! I’m not saying don’t bother having botox or dermal fillers, no, they are way too effective for that! But do take some time and consideration for your skin and understand that a bright smooth complexion can be just as effective as three areas of botox!

When I see clients for the first time, I always spend some time talking to them and trying to understand what it is they would like treating, what results they think they can achieve and planning what the best course of treatment is for them. I ask them to look in a mirror and point out what bothers them, and then I examine them and make suggestions that not only treat the areas they are unhappy about, but I also study the face as a whole and consider treatments I think are most suitable for them. During this consultation I listen to them and watch them to get a clear idea of how they express themselves, how their face moves, what the condition of their skin is; all these observations help me to help them to choose the right treatment.

Expectations are important. Non-surgical aesthetic treatments are fabulous. But they’re not a miracle. They’re not surgery and they’re not going to change your features. Non-surgical aesthetic treatments produce subtle, natural results which enhance your face and make the best of your feautures. This suits most people as they are not looking for something that everyone is going to notice. They prefer the subtle changes that result in people telling them how well they look or how fresh and young.

The best results are when clients have a treatment plan over a period of time and each step is gradual. These steps can be tailored to each persons budget for example dermal fillers topped up over a period of time will yield longer lasting results than a one off. Regular botox results in each treatment lasting longer in most clients. Great looking skin takes time too. Skin problems are varied, complex and often challenging to deal with. A good assessment of the skin at the outset is vital. Skin needs to be cared for, nourished and most importantly protected from the sun which traditionally we are not very good at here in the UK! That means using a good sun protection factor every day, winter included and particularly when in hot sun!

Most skin problems respond well to a good daily homecare regime (try Jan Marini!) using evidence based creams which work as opposed to cosmetic creams that cost alot of money and make no difference. A course of light peels can be extremely effective for a range of skin problems from acne to sun damage and fine lines. This needs to be followed up with maintenance peels once a month and continuation of homecare products.

If you would like a consultation to discuss your skin and how you could achieve a glowing clear complexion then call me on 01706 230075 now.