Smooth, pert, bouncy and plump – I could be talking about your supermarket basket of delicious fruit and veg – but for me, it’s more likely they are the adjectives thrown around when I'm discussing the faces of fabulous 50-somethings like Halle Berry and Elizabeth Hurley. Just how does their skin look so fresh and firm? Well, luckily for you, I've got the scoop on how these latest treatments can really help...
Time to face facts
Ageing is happening to us all. And don’t get me wrong – I'm delighted to have the privilege of getting older but, sometimes, it’s just the aesthetic changes I'm not too keen on. As we age, the structure of our skin diminishes and we start to experience a loss of volume in our cheeks, drooping contours and deepening wrinkles. This is due to a combination of internal factors, such as the breakdown of elastin fibres and slowing down of collagen production plus external factors from environment and general ‘wear and tear’ like sunbathing, poor food choices and lackadaisical skincare. So, if you’re tired of people asking, “You ok, hun?’ due to the onset of drooping lids and hang-dog jowls, these super face-firming treatments will soon hoik things up where they belong...
Thread lift
The caught in a wind-tunnel effect of yesteryear’s surgical face-lifts have long gone (thank heavens) and this relatively new, no-knife procedure can have you in and out of the clinic within the hour, sporting a subtly - but much improved - lifted visage. You know that slight few millimetres lift you delight in when you wrap your hair in towel after a shower? Well with a thread lift, that fabulous effect can last up to 3 years.
What happens during a thread lift treatment?
Your practitioner may apply a topical numbing cream as well as injecting a local anaesthetic into the area to be treated. Once numbed, the resorbable surgical suture threads - Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), Poly Lactic-co-Glycolic acid (PLGA) and Polydioxanone (PDO) are placed into the fat layer of the skin, 5mm beneath the surface, using a needle or cannula. The skin is then lifted into its desired position.
How long does a treatment last?
It can take around 30-45 minutes.
Is there any down time?
Initially, some puckering of the skin is normal and can last for 1-5 days and normal activities can resume the day after your treatment. For a week or two following a treatment you will likely have some mild bruising, swelling and soreness but this can be managed with arnica and over the counter pain medication.
Who is it good for?
Thread lifts are ideal for those in their late 30s to 60s who are bothered by skin laxity and sagging.
What areas can it treat?
Jowls, deepened nasolabial folds (nose to mouth) and prominent marionette lines.
Why is it a great choice?
We love thread lifts for their double whammy restorative effect. As well as giving you an instant lift, the controlled trauma stimulates cell renewal and collagen production in the treated area, further bolstering the skin’s rejuvenation.
Thread lift cost
From £600
For more information read the Glowday Guide
The liquid facelift
When Courtney Cox decided she was done with the weird, puffy-face look that fillers were giving her and had them dissolved, we all cheered. Then, a few years down the line, we wondered, ‘how come she and her female Friends co-stars look more incredible in their 50s than they did in their 20s, supping their coffee Central Perk?’ It could be that like many of today’s high-profile women, they didn’t say no to injectables after all – on the contrary, with advanced formulations and refined injectable techniques, dermal fillers just upped their game!
What happens during a liquid facelift treatment treatment?
After using a topical numbing cream to make the treatment more comfortable, the practitioner will inject small volumes of a hyaluronic acid-based filler into the skin in up to 8 specific areas on each side of the face (this is why the treatment is also sometimes referred to as the 8-point-facelift). Hollow areas are plumped up and volume is restored where facial fat pads and collagen has naturally been depleted.
How long does the treatment take?
A liquid facelift typically takes between 60-90 minutes.
Is there any down time?
You can go back to work the same day, though you may experience a little bruising, swelling for a day or two. You may have a tiny bit of bleeding on the site of the injections during the treatment.
Who is it good for?
As hyaluronic acid is a substance produced within the body, there is minimal risk of any allergic reaction and so hyaluronic acid-based fillers can be used by most adult men and women. A liquid facelift works well for those who have noticed skin sagging and volume loss - most typically those in their late 30s upwards.
What areas can it treat?
Baggy jowls, sunken cheeks and dark, hollows under the eyes
Why is it a great choice?
Your practitioner can adjust the amount of filler needed for your exact requirements and you may not have to have all 8 points injected, depending on your needs. The results are instant and long-lasting – up to 18 months.
Liquid facelift cost
The cost takes into consideration various factors such as the type of dermal filler used, how many areas of the face requiring filler and the number of syringes needed to obtain the optimum results. As an estimate, prices can range from £650 to over £950
For more information read the Glowday Guide
BTL Exilis
Defying gravity isn’t just that Idina Menzel song from the musical Wicked that gets stuck in your head for days the moment you hear it – it’s something most of us wish we had the ability to do as our magical power! And I’m not talking about being able to fly, I’m talking about having skin that defies gravity and stays taught, firm and peachy plump. So, lucky for us, there’s the BTL Elixis treatment!
What happens during a BTL Exilis treatment?
This high-tech, non-surgical skin tightening treatment uses ultrasound technology and radiofrequency to stimulate the production of collagen, breakdown fat cells and sculpt the facial contours. During the session the Exilis computer-controlled, handheld device is guided over the treatment area by your practitioner. You will feel a warming sensation as the energy is delivered to the deeper layers of skin focusing on the specific areas needing treatment at the targeted depth of penetration. The radio frequency then stimulates the collagen and elastin in your skin to retighten areas that have lost their elasticity.
How long does a treatment take?
Usually around 20-30 minutes.
Is there any downtime?
No, although skin will be flushed for up to an hour afterwards.
Who is it good for?
Most people from 30 upwards would be suitable candidates
What areas can it treat?
This marvel can treat you from top to bottom. Saggy necks, droopy cheeks and baggy eye areas are lifted, tightened and contoured. It can also be used on the body to smooth away stubborn fat pockets, sculpt and tone arms, thighs, abdomen and buttocks.
Why is it a great choice?
Apart from the fact that Kim K credits the Exilis for helping maintain her razor-sharp cheekbones, this treatment encourages the growth of elastin and collagen – important structural fibres – so skin becomes noticeably tighter and firmer, regaining a youthful appearance which improves further over 2-3 months.
BTL Exilis cost
From £400 for a recommended course of 4 treatments for the face.
For more information check out Kat & Co Aesthetics on Glowday
Profhilo
This super beautifying treatment is like the new kid on the aesthetic block. I don’t know anybody who has been profhilo’d that didn’t love the juicy skin results it gives. Looking for a reaction that says, ‘wow, she’s been sleeping well, getting her vitamins, working out like a demon and drinking from the fountain of youth’? Then Profhilo is your go-to – so get to it!
What happens during a Profhilo treatment?
This injectable skin treatment is made from highly concentrated, purified hyaluronic acid. During a treatment (after your numbing anaesthetic cream has kicked in) five injections with a very fine needle are administered on each side of the face, spreading out under the surface, hydrating deep within the skin. This introduces an amazing amount of moisture and triggers collagen and elastin production which leads to a bio-remodeling of the skin. Profhilo is recommended as a course of two treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart and optimal results can be seen 2 months after the second treatment.
How long does a treatment take?
You can expect the treatment to last around 30 minutes.
Is there any downtime?
No, although some clients experience a little bleeding at the point of injection, which is normal. Redness and swelling settle very quickly and little bumps may be visible for a few hours after treatment but once the product has fully absorbed into your skin (within 24 hours) these will disappear.
Who is it good for?
This is the perfect treatment for anybody from 30 upwards who is looking to keep their skin looking bright and firm. I recommend it from the first sign of skin beginning to dull and lose its vibrancy.
What areas can it treat?
As a fabulous skin booster, Profhilo can improve texture and suppleness in most areas such as the entire face (including eye area), neck, décolletage, upper arms and hands.
Why is it a great choice?
Profhilo treats skin texture, laxity and volume together by reversing ageing from deep within. As well as hydrating and plumping, another wonderful benefit of Profhilo treatment is that it helps to increase skin elasticity, improving firmness, tightening and lifting the skin. There is a remarkable improvement in overall skin tone and texture which makes the skin look radiant.
Profhilo cost
You can expect to pay between £300 and £500 per treatment.
For more information read the Glowday guide
Ready to get glowing? All of these treatments and more can be found on Glowday.com - and all performed by medically qualified professionals!