Time and time again my clients ask me, ‘Nicci, what happens when my treatment wears off, does everything collapse and will things be worse than before as a result of me having this treatment?’ The answer is a big, fat no! Your Thread Lift, Botox® or Dermal Filler will not only offer stunning results straight after your procedure but also keep your skin looking fresh and youthful in the long run!
‘Nicci!’ I hear you cry, ‘how on Earth can my Thread Lift, Botox® or Dermal Filler keep me looking my best after the product has worn off?’ Well, they do so by increasing your collagen synthesis.
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in the human body. It’s an essential component of connective tissues and it also gives our skin strength and elasticity. Boosting your collagen production means tighter, more youthful-looking skin!
If you know me and my clinic, you’ll be aware that Thread Lift, Botox® and Dermal Filler treatments are my specialities. I focus on them as they are proven to help you age positively. This means you age well, still looking like yourself but better!
Let’s examine the longevity of these options a bit…
Longevity:
Threads PDO - 12 to 18 months
Aptos PCL Threads - 24 to 36 months
Predicting the longevity of a thread lift is tricky as they differ so much from one another. This means that it’s really important for you to ask your practitioner about the composite of the thread. My advice is to research the thread being used. Polycaprolactone (PCL) threads offer superior strength and longevity compared to Polydioxanone (PDO) threads, so that’s what I mainly use in my clinic. I also love Aptos threads as they’re coated with hyaluronic acid, which helps to speed up your recovery.
You can expect Aptos threads to last about 1-2 years before the ester bonds that hold them together are broken down by your body’s enzymes, metabolised and excreted by your liver. The variability in longevity is down to your particular circumstances, where the thread is placed and how much stress is placed on them.
Longevity:
Botox® injections (for wrinkle reduction) - 3 to 4 months
The breakdown of Botox® is dependent on enzymes that dissolve the molecule and break it down into its component amino acids. These are then either used to build other proteins or excreted by your kidneys. The botulinum toxin molecule is extremely delicate, that’s why it’s broken down so easily and doesn’t last as long as Thread Lift or Dermal Filler treatments.
Longevity:
Dermal Fillers for the lips - 6 to 12 months
Dermal Fillers for adding volume to the face - 12 to 18 months
The longevity of HA Dermal Fillers depends on the chemical bonds that hold them together and their frequency. Without these bonds, the filler chains would be removed from the body very quickly - in less than 24 hours! This means that dermal fillers with strong bonds and more cross-links last much longer.
However, if the filler is injected into a very vascular area such as the lips, the bonds will dissolve rapidly as this area can process it faster. As HA occurs naturally in the human body, once the bonds break down, it is processed and excreted just like your own supplies of HA.
Now you know a bit more about Thread Lift, Botox® and Dermal Filler treatments, you might be ready to book in for your online pre-assessment. However, if you have questions that you would like to ask first you can always contact us via our website or call our team on 07595221484.
You can also visit our website to learn more about all of these procedures and don't forget to make sure you’re following us on Facebook and Instagram to find out more about our team and the treatments we offer.
The world of medical grade skincare products can be an intimidating place. There are so many brands that claim all kinds of results, with wildly different prices and promises about their efficacy. That’s before even knowing what’s right for your skin, as everyone is so different.
Unfortunately, this confusion can lead you to waste your hard-earned cash on products that do nothing for you or worse, actually have a negative impact on your skin. To cut through some of this confusion, I thought I’d clear up a few myths for you…
I’m going to take you through four common skincare myths to make sure you don’t fall for them!
Myth 1 - ‘Medical grade’, ‘professional’ and ‘clinical’ are regulated terms
Nope! These words are up for grabs, which I think can be a really confusing thing for consumers. They carry the implication that these products are superior and scientifically proven to work, but that’s not necessarily true. Don’t let this kind of wording trick you into thinking you’ve found something that’s guaranteed to work.
Myth 2 - Medical grade skincare ingredients are a higher quality
It’s easy to believe that expensive products, using the aforementioned unregulated words and phrases, must be using fabulous ingredients. Another myth! There’s no guarantee that they contain any higher quality ingredients or more actives than high street brands.
Myth 3 - Medical grade brands are required to test their efficacy
You might think that medical grade skincare products need to be tested to show that they actually work but this isn’t true either. There’s no requirement for regulated ingredients such as salicylic acid to prove their efficacy. The only rule is that the manufacturer details the strength of the active, not whether or not it works!
Myth 4 - Medical grade brands are rigorously lab tested for safety
Ok, for me, this is where things get a bit scary. All of these skincare products do need to go through three rounds of checks; microbiological, stability and challenge testing. The issue is that the last two of these aren’t necessarily done in a lab. They can be done in-house by any suitably qualified employee. This means that the results may not be unbiased!
Sorry if I’ve scared you a bit with all of those myths, but I think that it’s important for you to be well informed. I also want everyone to be comfortable in their own skin, without spending too much or having to try hundreds of products until you find what’s right for you. So, here’s how I choose the products that I use and recommend.
Compare - A lot of medical grade skincare products are very similar to each other, despite what their marketing may have you believe. This means that it is incredibly important to judge each on its own merit, NOT by the brand.
Research - I don’t accept product claims as facts until I’ve got some evidence. I want to know the clinical trials they have been through and then I critically evaluate these before accepting anything.
Check the cost - I’m not going to choose products that I don’t believe are priced reasonably. This is because once you’ve got your routine sorted, you’re likely to keep it pretty much the same. I don’t see the point in finding the ideal fit for someone if it’ll only be affordable for a month.
Get a bit cheeky - Once I’ve gone through the above I like to get a bit cheeky and ask for some freebies. I want to be able to test the product myself before I endorse it!
Doing all the above takes a lot of time and effort, it’s easier if you have experience and are knowledgeable about skincare products in general but I know that isn’t the boat everyone’s in. I appreciate that most people will not be able to do this but don’t worry, that’s why I’m here!
I’ve curated a collection of products that I truly believe in and I have them all in one place for you to browse…
To get your hands on high quality, reasonably priced and effective products just head over to my online store! After any of our treatments, we’ll always give you advice on what skincare products to choose to maintain your results. Of course, if you have any questions, you can always pop back into the clinic or give us a call on 07595221484.
Once upon a time the only way to target fat loss by area, achieve a washboard stomach or rid yourself of your saddlebags was to have liposuction. However, this procedure has fallen out of favour in recent years. In fact, Statistica indicates that it’s fallen by a massive 77% since 2015! This is partly because during the pandemic people were reluctant to undergo surgery. Add to that the hefty price tag, the long recovery time the procedure requires, and also the fact there are other effective treatments for fat loss these days, of course, it was bound to decline in popularity! I imagine that the introduction of the Emerald Laser is going to have this number falling even lower…
The Emerald Laser is a safe, non-invasive, non-surgical fat loss treatment which shrinks fat cells in stubborn areas of the body. Patients lose an average of 6 inches over a course of treatment, with no downtime! Compare this with fat freezing or liposuction and you’re on to a winner!
Interestingly, it was liposuction that sparked the development of the Emerald laser, the first laser in the world to be FDA approved for circumferential weight loss and cellulite reduction. Steve Shanks, Erchonia president, explains that in 1996 he and his partner at the time, who was an engineer by trade, were fixing lasers that were coming over from Europe. Soon, having gained knowledge of their workings, they were making them and selling them in America. (The company has grown so much that they are now in most countries and hold 22 of the 23 FDA approvals for low-level lasers in the USA.)
Steve says they are so successful because they are predominantly a research and development company that happens to make lasers. This puts them on the cutting edge of low-level laser technology. He believes that it’s important to be able to have proof that the treatment is effective, and FDA approval is crucial. The trials to achieve this accreditation involve blind clinical tests which take years and years, so they can’t be reproduced easily by any other manufacturer.
The first low-level laser device was FDA approved in 2002 and treated chronic neck and shoulder pain. These lasers are still used today by many chronic pain management clinics.
So, how does a company that specialises in chronic pain management become a world leader in developing low-level lasers to treat fat loss?
Steve explains that this happened by accident. The year was 1998, and he was at an anti-ageing conference, talking to a plastic surgeon. This particular surgeon was an expert in liposuction and was interested in using laser technology to manage the post-operative pain experienced by his patients.
The surgeon attempted using the low-level laser before and after his liposuction procedures and discovered something amazing. They found that by using the laser he was also emulsifying fat! He was so excited that he presented his findings at the conference to his colleagues, who dismissed him, not believing what they were seeing. Not Steve! He agreed that what the surgeon had discovered was amazing, and so they pushed to develop the Emerald laser.
Emulsifying fat and letting the body get rid of it naturally is the core of how the Emerald laser works. The laser is highly effective, and with our support, we’ve been helping our patients manage their circumference loss holistically, without destroying fat cells or undergoing surgery.
Learn more about the Emerald laser here, and if you’d like to get booked in for a consultation simply fill out a contact form.
We hope to hear from you soon and can’t wait to help you on your journey to self-confidence!
Make sure that you are following us on Facebook and Instagram to get updates and any news about this innovative treatment!
Crow’s feet, the lines around your eyes that are formed when you smile, are inevitable. Some argue that they show a life well-lived - a happy and fulfilled existence. Others see them as a punishment, a sign that they are losing their vitality and youth. Whatever your viewpoint, they happen to us all. However, if you want to banish yours, there are steps that can be taken.
Crow’s feet look different on everyone. You may have one or two around the corners of your eyes, whilst others can have deep lines extending all the way down their face and some even join up to the lines around an individual’s mouth. I think of them as being similar to fingerprints - as unique as you are! That’s because there are several causes and depending on what variables created them, yours won’t be exactly the same as anyone else’s.
If you are one of those people who think crow’s feet are a blight on your face and have a medicine cabinet full of eye creams, then you need to think again. Eye creams are useful in helping to hydrate the eye area but it would be foolish to think that they are the answer. To understand this, it helps to know how wrinkles around the eyes are formed in the first place.
On average, we develop crow’s feet as a result of a loss of elasticity caused by the natural ageing process, which is accelerated by photoageing. Photoageing happens when light penetrates our skin. This energises our electrons, which hop out of their molecules and zoom around, thus damaging our DNA. This disrupts the way that the skin functions, rendering it unable to repair itself, meaning that eventually, with continued light exposure, the dermis’ ability to care for itself diminishes significantly. It’s interesting to note that all forms of visible light (UVA and UVB) damage our skin. This is why it’s so important to wear a broad spectrum SPF with UVA and visible light protection. You can find examples of these in our online shop.
There are a number of ways in which crow’s feet can be treated, the right one for you ultimately depends on the nature of yours and, to a lesser extent, your preference.
If the skin can’t rebound when the circular muscle around the eye contracts, crow’s feet are formed. Orbicularis oculi is the name of this muscle and it’s responsible for maintaining eyelid integrity, blinking and much more. For this reason, wrinkle relaxing injections can only be used to reduce muscle activity on the outer part of this muscle in order to maintain its full range of activity.
If you want to rid yourself of crow’s feet and loose skin closer to your eyelids, you may want to consider surgery. However, I would not advise this as it requires significant downtime and comes with several associated risks. I much prefer to use energy-based modalities such as ENDYMED FSR to achieve the same results.
These treatments renew the delicate eye area and have a great safety profile. The treatment area might be a little red immediately afterwards but this quickly subsides, leaving you free to return to your normal activities the next day! At Nichola Maasdorp No4 Clinic, we like to combine this treatment with our ASM MED Collagen Activation Plan. The plan reduces downtime post-procedure, speeds up skin recovery and enhances treatment results!
If you don’t want to commit to an ablative treatment, you can still give your eye area a boost with our Eye Perks by HydraFacial. This option refreshes your eye area through the use of key ingredients such as horse chestnut seed and arnica flower extract – leaving this delicate part of your face looking toned, firmed and hydrated.
The first step towards beautiful, youthful skin is getting booked in for a consultation. During this time, I will get to know you, your skin and your goals. From here, I can advise you on which treatment(s) will be most effective for crow’s feet or any other concerns you may have.
You can also learn more about how else we can help you to look and feel your best on our website, or by following us on Instagram and Facebook.
Your weight loss journey needs to start with a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity, that is something that we cannot avoid, but what if that isn’t helping with neck fat reduction? The issue with the changes I have mentioned above is that they don’t always tackle fat deposits we most want to shift and neck fat can often fall into this category.
Neck fat reduction can be very difficult to achieve using diet and exercise alone. That's where I come in! The treatments I offer provide a safe and effective way to get around the concerns that might be troubling you most.
Laser treatments that liquefy body fat have been in use for many years. It has become a very popular procedure as a result of the fast recovery time and almost immediate results they provide. However, many of these procedures involve either freezing or melting the fat cells, which essentially destroys them. Apart from some relatively infrequent, but undesirable, side effects as a consequence of this treatment, it is now understood that fat cells have a very important role to play in maintaining our immune system and regulating our hormones. Killing off our fat cells is actually not the best idea, even if you are really struggling to find a suitable method of neck fat reduction.
Below, I am going to answer some questions that my patients often ask me about neck fat reduction.
Yes, you can, thanks to the Emerald laser! It is a revolutionary device that targets fat cells and shrinks them. This low-level laser encourages fat cells to develop tiny openings through which fatty liquids escape. They are then expelled by the lymphatic system, it’s as easy as that! The fat cells themselves remain in the body to continue their essential job of maintaining our general health and well being.
This is a non-invasive procedure with no known side effects and no discomfort. As there is no heating or freezing of the skin or cells, there is no need for pain killers or recovery time. Most people report that it is a very relaxing experience and they can simply lie there while the machine does the work. The Emerald laser can target several areas at once, so if neck fat reduction is one of several concerns you’d like to address, it won’t be an issue. A few have reported a tight or bloated feeling after their sessions, but these symptoms are mild and resolve themselves spontaneously after a few hours.
Sadly not, but good things come to those who wait! At least 10 treatments are recommended but you might notice a significant improvement after 6. Each session takes around 30 minutes and your treatment might be combined with the ENDYMED™ V Shape, a radiofrequency laser that targets the deeper layers of the skin around your jowls, stimulating new collagen growth to enhance the skin tightening effect of the Emerald laser. See, now neck fat reduction seems a lot more attainable, doesn’t it?
Get in touch and book a consultation today! My team and I will be able to answer all of your questions. All you need to do is fill in a form on our website, call us on 07595221484 or email [email protected].
To keep in touch with us, don’t forget to follow our Instagram and Facebook accounts!
Sadly, exposure to the sun and the effects of gravity contribute to sagging jowls, it’s a fact of life. As we age, our bodies are far less efficient when it comes to producing the proteins collagen and elastin, which keep our skin looking plump and fresh. Genetics also has a part to play in creating sagging jowls - they might even begin to appear well before middle age. Whilst we can't do too much to influence our genes, there are alternative and very safe non-invasive treatments that will ensure younger and firmer-looking skin.
You may have heard that some facial exercises can help but this isn’t quite the case. Unfortunately, facial exercises will be relatively ineffective. Sagging jowls are caused by a loss of elasticity in ageing skin and not by muscle wastage. Exercises are great for muscle strength but it's not going to boost the production of the proteins we need to restore skin flexibility and a more youthful appearance.
Read on to learn more about what can be done!
Some of us feel nervous about opting for surgery to address issues such as sagging jowls, but there are different options that produce fantastic results. Successful non-surgical treatments will improve volume in the face to restore a fuller, plumper and more youthful visage. Non-invasive procedures, on the other hand, will also work to address the loss of elasticity in the skin, reduce sagging jowls and improve your confidence. Whatever treatment you are considering, it's important to seek a qualified and experienced practitioner, such as myself or a member of my team. We will arrange a personal consultation to assess your suitability for treatment and put you on the right track!
Dermal fillers are a great non-invasive option! I’d inject a hyaluronic acid-based solution into the cheeks to restore volume and you’ll be able to see results immediately! This will lift the skin and improve support to the lower face and jawline, therefore reducing your sagging jowls. This is a simple procedure that will create fast results and could last for between 6-18 months, depending on a range of factors.
An increasingly popular alternative is the thread lift. This lifts and smoothes the skin on your jowls by using very fine threads, no wider than a single hair to pull the skin on your face back to reduce laxity. These threads will dissolve in over a year or so, and this particular procedure is very quick and requires minimal downtime. An additional benefit of the thread lift is that it stimulates your skin to produce more collagen, which will also benefit your overall skin health! Your results will be visible for around 12-18 months as a result of this.
ENDYMED™ is another non-invasive option. It uses radiofrequency to tighten and lift the face and neck. These energy pulses encourage your skin to produce collagen which, in turn, will improve elasticity and reduce sagging jowls. Alternatively, ALLSKIN | MED offers a selection of professional skincare products and I stock some of them in my shop. Contact me to find out what would be best for you!
As you can see, we have a range of non-invasive options for you to consider. Why not get in touch and book a consultation today? All you need to do is fill in a form on our website, call us on 07595221484 or email [email protected].
To keep in touch with us, don’t forget to follow our Instagram and Facebook accounts.
See you soon!
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!
