Dermal fillers are injectable gels synthetically made to be structurally identical to their naturally occurring counterparts in our skin. They are made from hyaluronic acid (HA), which occurs naturally in the skin. HA’s structural matrix helps to keep the skin firm and moisturised by attracting 100 times its weight in water.

From our early 30’s onwards (and sometimes earlier depending on lifestyle factors) we start to lose the HA content in our skin. Collagen and elastin (which keeps our skin firm and elastic) is also lost as well as the fat contained in fat pads around our face. All of these contribute to the loss of support given to our skin, so inevitably our skin starts to sag, wrinkle and age. We also lose bone from our facial skeleton, most notably at the temples, maxilla (where the upper teeth attach to the bone) and along the jawline. This can further compound the loss of support.

Fillers can be used to replace some of the lost volume in our face and so help to support and moisturise the skin, leaving it looking less wrinkled and firmer. Thick fillers (High G Prime) can be used to mimic bony support particularly along the jawline and cheek.

Microneedling is a safe and increasingly popular skin renewal technique. It is used to restore the healthy youthful appearance of your skin at a fraction of the cost of comparable treatments, and with minimal or zero downtime.

Microneedling produces comparable results to techniques such as lasers, dermabrasion and deep chemical peels, but is much less invasive and does not require the removal of the skin surface. As a result, healing time is shorter and there is no post-treatment sensitivity to UV light. Microneedling is also one of the few skin therapies that is suitable for treating all skin types, including fragile skin around the eyes, mouth, hands, neck and décolletage.

If you are unhappy with lines on your face caused by smiling or frowning, then you should consider anti-wrinkle treatments.

These are prescription-only injections, consisting of botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin which, when injected in tiny amounts into the facial muscles, causes them to stop working, allowing skin cells beneath to regenerate and push out wrinkles over time.

Useful for the treatment of:

• Frown lines between the eyes.
• Forehead lines.
• Crow’s feet.
• Some mouth lines (marionettes).
• Neck bands.
• Excessive sweating from the armpits.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatments offer a non-surgical way to lift and tighten specific areas of the face and neck. With visible results after just one session, this safe and effective treatment can be used to lift areas such as the brow, jowl and neck. The technology stimulates collagen production which creates tighter, firmer skin. Depending on the area being treated, it will take around 30 – 90 minutes, after which you will be able to go back to work or continue with your day.