Fashions come, fashions go. I was a teenaged Goth in the 1980s and my hair was so stiff with hairspray that I should have been deemed a fire hazard. Every generation has their own style and we’ve since moved on from mullets and mohawks, with modern-day young people after big and bold in a different sense. Lip enhancements are in fashion and good lip fillers are essential in their quest for the perfect pout.
The hunt for attractive, full-bodied lips is strewn with pitfalls. Women are seeking bigger lips, but not grossly inflated pouts. Unfortunately, celebrities and influencers have normalised overfilled and misshapen lips and Generation Z have seized upon that look without question. Of course, it’s up to each generation to choose their own beauty norms, but lip fillers were never meant to be used this way! This misrepresentation of a great treatment means that you might not even know that you can achieve a natural-looking pout with good lip fillers.
Lip fillers are made from a gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid (HA). This forms naturally in our bodies, cushioning our cells, hydrating the skin and providing additional structure for our organs. The HA in our bodies is identical to that which is used in lip fillers. The only difference is that in fillers HA is stabilised, so that when it’s inserted into the chosen area it can do the job it’s meant to do, enhancing and beautifying by absorbing massive amounts of water.
It’s crucial that lip enhancements are carried out by expert practitioners to minimise complications and get the very best, natural-looking results.
I have been treating patients for years using HA fillers and have been trained in all the necessary skills. It can take years to learn how to place the filler so that it supports the lips and fills lip lines while remaining invisible to the naked eye, which means that good lip fillers should be the reserve of qualified and experienced experts.
A practitioner also needs a comprehensive knowledge of different lip filler products, so that they can choose the best one for a particular patient’s needs. Having the right concentration of HA is of primary importance, as it will affect the softness and smoothness of the result as well as the integration of HA into the tissues. The technology used to stabilise the HA will also impact the outcome.
Essentially, good lip fillers cannot be found on the cheap at non-specialist parlours. Comprehensive research, approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and safe delivery costs hike the prices up, meaning that quality stabilised products all come with a price tag. A bargain basement lip filler treatment probably won’t use premium products and is unlikely to give you the natural voluptuous lips you are looking for. When searching for good lip fillers, an expert is the only way.
The existence of badly applied fillers is no reason to be put off pursuing good lip fillers. Natural results are achievable with the right practitioner and the correct use of a premium product. Luckily, we can help.
Visit our website to view our full range of treatments or to book a consultation. Alternatively, get in touch with us at the No4 Clinic by calling 07595 221484, emailing [email protected] or filling out a contact form.
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Fat loss treatments are incredibly popular, especially for pockets of fat which just won’t shift, no matter how well we eat or what exercise regimes we follow. However, stories of negative experiences with specific procedures might cause us to doubt their safety. I think it would be a shame to give up on the benefits of all fat loss treatments, so let’s investigate.
80s supermodel, Linda Evangilista, would strongly discourage fat freezing as a form of fat loss treatment. She recently came forward to share her story. Linda claims that her CoolSculpting® treatment left her disfigured when she suffered from a side effect that increased, rather than decreased, fat in the affected areas. The complication, medically termed paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH, not to be confused with pulmonary arterial hypertension), meant that she managed to gain rather than lose fat in critical areas, despite dieting and exercising.
Such complications are rare, but it caused her great distress. No matter how infrequently a problem occurs, I believe the experience of the individual matters greatly.
PAH only occurs in 0.0051% of patients, suggesting that by and large what Linda went through is not a likely outcome for this fat loss treatment, although no unifying risk has been identified with this FDA-cleared treatment.
However, there is good news in the world of fat loss treatments! Something new has appeared to shake up the world of body contouring and it’s coming to my clinic soon! What’s more is that it’s a safe, painless treatment that can be done in your lunch break.
Introducing the Emerald Laser by Erchonia, the future of fat loss and body sculpting! It is a non-invasive fat loss laser that works with your body. It is the only technology that has been given FDA market clearance for overall body circumference reduction in patients with a BMI of over 30. The laser works as an alternative to the painful fat loss treatments that are currently on the market by using a non-thermal, low-level laser to create a temporary pore in the fat cells. This temporary pore allows the liquid fats to seep out of the cell and be naturally flushed out through your lymphatic system.
Yes! Instead of destroying fat cells that are vital for hormone regulation and metabolism, it reduces their volume. This process actually speeds up and improves the way your fat cells work, improving overall health and eliminating inches in the process. Some studies show that some lost a total of 6 inches after 10 treatments!
Studies also show an improvement in the appearance of cellulite. My own cellulite has been the bane of my life since my late teens and being able to target it, as well as take inches off my thighs is an added bonus.
The Emerald Laser has been tested thoroughly, undergoing numerous multi-centre clinical studies to gauge its efficiency and has achieved unrivalled results. Erchonia holds 18 of the 21 US market clearances for low level lasers!
Experience the benefits of this relaxing and painless 30 minute treatment by signing up to our waiting list for introductory rates for release treatment packages at my clinic.
For more information on what my team and I offer at No.4, visit the website or call us on 07595 221484 or email [email protected]. Alternatively, you can fill out a contact form.
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Skincare is a minefield. From double cleaning and retinol to glycolic acid and niacinamide, there are so many factors to consider and so many common skincare mistakes to avoid. And with the rise of internet know-it-alls claiming to know everything about skincare… it’s a real issue for me. I often end up dealing with the fallout, with patients coming to my clinic with a plethora of concerns they’re desperate to address.
Take my patient Mary*, for example. Mary sadly fell victim to new products wreaking havoc on her skin. Mary made some incredibly common skincare mistakes, which left her skin dry, dull and lacklustre.
Keep reading to find out more about how I helped Mary’s skin!
*Mary’s name has been changed to protect her identity.
I asked Mary to bring along her skincare products for me to look at and I was shocked at what I saw! She came in with a huge bag of products and was hoping I’d be able to tell her what else she needed to improve her skin. Anyone who knows me, or has come to see me, knows that I won’t always tell you what you want to hear. The reality for Mary was that there were no magic creams or lotions that were going to help her. But her existing products were certainly at the root of her issues and she had unwittingly subjected herself to several common skincare mistakes.
One incredibly important thing that I tell patients like Mary is that they need to scale back their routines in order to restore their skin to optimal health. Our skin has a barrier that needs to be protected, but when Mary was double cleansing, she was drying out her skin.
In younger people, this may not have been as much of a problem, but as Mary had aged, her levels of oil production had slowed down, which meant her skin was now much drier than it once was. This common skincare mistake is one that perimenopausal women tend to make.
You need to listen to your skin as you age because changes in the body can have a detrimental impact on your skin.
There are many common skincare mistakes you need to avoid throughout your life, but one to consider as you age is the fact that you can’t treat your skin the same as you did in your twenties when you’re well into your forties. As oil production slows down and spots become a less frequent occurrence, you should lean towards a gentle cleanser that will help you keep your skin’s natural barrier intact. My personal favourites are by CeraVe and ALLSKIN | MED as they don’t dry the skin out at all.
To help you even further with your menopausal skin, it might be time to invest in a tailored skincare routine that has been designed by an expert. By getting a thorough consultation and a skin scan, you can gain a better understanding of what your skin needs, whilst also learning more about products within your budget.
When you visit my clinic, you will be able to benefit from Su’s expert advice. She will teach you about the common skincare mistakes you’re making and how to avoid them going forward. Su is an absolute expert and her honest and informative advice during a skin consultation will show you the extent of any damage you’ve accidentally caused before getting you back on the right track.
She will then look at the products you’re using alongside your lifestyle and diet, as this will give her a more holistic understanding of your relationship with your skin. As part of your consultation, Su will also put together a tailored skin improvement plan and treat you to a condensed but equally effective version of one of our favourite treatments - HydraFacial. She will also give you a sample product that she thinks will benefit your skin before you commit to any purchases. When you follow this plan, you will be left with healthy, youthful and glowing skin - what more could you ask for?
There are no short-term goals here! The focus is on long-term prevention and management because we don’t want you to learn the hard way, like Mary.
To get in touch, fill out a form on our website, call us on 07595221484 or send an email to [email protected] today.
To keep in touch with us, don’t forget to follow our Instagram and Facebook accounts.
See you soon!
We all have body hair. As much as you might not want to admit it, it’s an unavoidable truth. But if you’ve ever wondered whether or not permanent body hair removal is possible, keep reading to find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know.
I would love to say yes, but I wouldn’t be telling you the truth and that’s just not me. Laser hair removal works by damaging the thick hairs that are the bane of our lives. It does this by targeting something called chromophores.
Chromophores are coloured molecules that are present in our hair, skin and retinas. They give these things their characteristic colours. These little molecules are very specific. If the hair colour doesn’t match the chromophore the laser is targeting, then the hair will remain undamaged.
All lasers aimed at hair removal debilitate the hair follicle, but only for a period of time. This is why permanent body hair removal isn’t completely possible, which means your hair will eventually grow back. When I first heard this, I was confused too. If the hairs grow back over time, why would anyone have laser hair removal? But that was before I learnt about the advantages of IPL! We could say intense pulsed light treatment, but that’s a bit of a mouthful.
There are, of course, several benefits to laser hair removal treatment. Yes, I know body hair removal isn’t permanent, but hear me out. Laser hair removal is a more permanent solution than waxing or shaving. Unlike these other methods, laser hair removal doesn’t just target surface hairs. It gets all the way down to the follicle, meaning hairs take much longer to grow back. What’s even better is that when they do, they are often lighter, finer and fewer in quantity.
You might be wondering what that means for your hair. After all, now that it’s lighter, will the laser still work? If that’s where your thought process is at - you’re on to something! This is true, unless you know a practitioner with access to ALPHA by Formatk, such as myself.
This isn’t any old laser device. It’s a laser AND IPL device! ALPHA has a much broader beam than your average laser and allows a wider range of hair colours to be treated. Therefore, if you have light, fine hair, the area you wish to treat can still be left smooth and hair-free. So, even though permanent body hair removal isn’t quite possible yet, IPL treatment is certainly better than shaving, waxing and epilating several times a week. You may argue that this isn’t necessary at all, but IPL provides people with the freedom to worry less.
If you want to spend less time worrying about removing your body hair, you can contact me or a member of my team!
You can do so by filling out a form on our website, calling us on 07595221484 or emailing [email protected] today.
To keep in touch with us, don’t forget to follow our Instagram and Facebook accounts.
See you soon!
Are your botulinum toxin treatments safe? If you’re visiting my clinic, the answer to that question is most definitely yes! Whether you’re receiving Botox for migraines or wrinkles, you deserve the best possible treatment. Botulinum toxin has been used for many years and there is solid evidence to suggest that it’s a very safe and effective treatment.
But have you ever thought about where your practitioner is sourcing their botulinum toxin products from?
These days, it’s not unusual for individuals to reach out to me on social media claiming to offer cheap Botox for migraines, wrinkles and anything else you could think of! Naturally, these people aren’t offering treatments from brands that are approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA.
This branch of the UK government is the equivalent of the FDA, an American organisation that you may already have heard of. This activity is highly illegal as botulinum toxin is strictly regulated in the UK, just as it is in several other countries. If you find yourself concerned about a supplier of botulinum toxin and you can’t establish the brands they’re using, there’s a strong chance they are not using reputable channels or products.
If you’re thinking about risking it with a dodgy dealer of Botox for migraines you may want to read some of these alarming facts about these unregulated products first…
Interpol, The International Criminal Police Organisation, has seen a sharp rise in counterfeit medication over the last few years and this includes Botox. If you didn’t already know, Botox is a prescription medication and cannot safely be administered by non-professionals. Yet, during lockdowns, many qualified practitioners weren’t able to administer non-essential treatments, which led to a number of desperate people looking elsewhere.
It became such a concern that Interpol created a ‘fake medicine’ page on their website to warn people about the dangers of receiving treatment with counterfeit products. Their website specifically mentions treatment for Covid-19, but their advice on how to spot those dealing in unsafe medication can easily be applied to Botox for migraines or wrinkles.
Such instances are likely to become increasingly common in the UK as in recent months, the government has deemed it illegal to administer Botox and fillers to people under the age of 18. Those who wish to work under the radar and provide such treatments to young people might be using products that have been “falsified or deliberately mislabelled”, according to Interpol. They have even found that some products they have seized have contained mercury, arsenic, rat poison and cement.
In a world looking to provide you with fake treatment for Botox for migraines and almost anything else you can think of, you need to find a practitioner you can trust.
Having questionable products injected into your skin and supporting criminal organisations isn’t how anyone wants to spend their time. The presence of these suppliers and their ability to manufacture medications that can seem incredibly convincing poses a much bigger problem - these products have the potential to reach NHS supply chains. If such a thing were to happen, it could harm countless individuals and that doesn’t bear thinking about.
But how do you know that the botulinum toxin being used is genuine? If you’re trying to find a practitioner who can provide you with fillers to enhance your lips, or Botox for migraines, you need to be sure that you’re choosing the right individual at a strictly regulated practice. Here are some signs to look for to ensure that’s the case:
Only Botox, Azzalure®, Dysport®, Bocouture® and Xeomin are licensed for use in the UK, if you see another brand name, then the product should not be used.
You have the right to ask for invoices to check that your clinic is ordering through the right channels, for instance I only order directly from well-known pharmaceutical companies. When it comes to wrinkle relaxing or Botox for migraines, I order from Allergan.
Your practitioner should be a prescriber, or they should be able to arrange a consultation with one. Aesthetic nurses are unable to prescribe medication such as Botox, but they are able to administer it. Any prescription medication needs to be signed off by someone with the correct qualifications.
So, if you want to refresh your look, it’s worth asking the right questions. If something feels off, take a step back. Has it all happened too quickly? Is the price too good to be true? There’s no harm in backing out, especially if you’re dealing with less than legitimate ‘practitioners’.
When you choose my clinic, you can be sure that my staff and I have the qualifications, skills and knowledge necessary to ensure you feel happier and more confident in your skin. My true passion is helping my patients and you could be one of them! I encourage all of my patients to ask questions, so please don’t feel shy!
You can contact me, or a member of my team, by filling out a form on our website, calling us on 07595221484 or emailing [email protected] today.
To keep in touch with us, don’t forget to follow our Instagram and Facebook accounts.
See you soon!
