Why would anyone get their fillers dissolved? They’re the number two aesthetic treatment worldwide! Millions of people are queuing up for fuller cheeks, contoured features and plump, shapely lips.
However, some celebrities are rocking the boat by deciding to get their filler removed, encouraging us to re-evaluate our attitude towards this procedure.
I’ve never felt comfortable with very large lips, but thanks to celebrity role models and social media stars, overfilled lips are becoming the norm. I’m glad to see people challenging the trend, with Love Island star Charlotte Crosby making the headlines by having her lip filler chemically dissolved. She put a question mark over the value of excessive lip fillers, while cosmetic doctors are exploring the risks of overfilling.
For example, Dr Harris deliberately draws attention to the distortion caused by overfilled lips and cheeks. He believes that too much filler leads to ‘alienisation’, with features enlarged outside the normal range for the individual in question.
However, it’s not always an unscrupulous doctor or an excessive treatment that leads to these strangely exaggerated results. Many people forget what they looked like before treatment and return for more or the substance takes longer to dissolve than we originally thought. The patients believe that they’re in need of a top-up while it’s still in their system, leading to a double dose of filler.
We all think about our appearance. Low confidence is often the motivation to have an aesthetic treatment such as dermal fillers, as it helps us to embrace how we look. However, cosmetic treatment has been linked to an extreme preoccupation with appearance, known as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). People with BDD spend a disproportionate amount of time obsessing over minor or imagined flaws. This can be enormously upsetting, so it’s no surprise they turn to cosmetics to try and fix the problem.
It’s a difficult issue for us practitioners to identify, especially as fewer than 10% of patients with BDD are satisfied with the results of their treatment. They move on to other practitioners to correct this perceived problem or their anxieties transfer to another area of the face or body. Their constant quest to fix the flaw leads to distorted, overfilled features.
Now, not everyone with overfilled features is suffering from BDD. After all, we all worry about our appearance to some extent and BDD is the extreme end of the spectrum. In my practice, I tend to see patients who are delighted with a filler treatment, but quickly forget what they looked like before the procedure. They want a more discernible difference, so they come back wanting another treatment.
It’s easy to see how people’s faces become overfilled, especially as fillers may last much longer than we think. Alice Hart Davis, a beauty journalist and author, discovered that 35ml of dermal filler is still present in her face, even though we expect it to have dissolved naturally in less than two years.
Not at all! They help millions of people to look youthful, including me! However, we do need to take care.
In my clinic, I limit the amount I’m prepared to place at one time, assessing my patients via ultrasound to determine if any filler remains. This helps me decide if it’s suitable for them to have more treatment or whether I should direct them to an alternative, of which we have many. When I do conduct treatments, I tend to use Juvederm, which creates wonderfully subtle and natural-looking results.
Are you interested in dermal fillers? Visit our website for more information or contact us to book a consultation.
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The excitement of Christmas has faded away, replaced by a new year! We often see this as a new start and a chance to reset, as we abstain from bad foods, alcohol and an unhealthy lifestyle. We start a diet instead or take up running. However, you want to be careful with this ‘new year new me’ philosophy!
There’s one big problem with this mindset – it doesn’t work! Studies show that 23% of people give up on their New Year’s Resolutions after one week, while 43% expect to give up before the end of January. In fact, less than 10% of people successfully continue with their new lifestyle!
‘New year new me’ won’t motivate you for very long, especially after a slip-up. You need a plan for a long-term goal because you can rarely make lasting changes based on an impulse. As a dentist, I believe in making small changes, which culminate in significant improvements.
Take alcohol for example. From a skin perspective, we’re in favour of reducing your intake. Too much alcohol dehydrates the skin and reduces elasticity, leading to fine lines, creases and a dull, dry complexion. It can also give rise to conditions like psoriasis and rosacea, to say nothing of the increased risk of skin infections. On the other hand, going cold turkey can be a mistake. It doesn’t allow any flexibility for what can be a big lifestyle change (depending on how much you’re used to drinking). Similarly, you might be invited to a social event and feel like you’re unable to enjoy a drink, leading to regret, resentment and an eventual return to bad habits.
Instead of being stern with yourself, follow a little-by-little approach. Try giving up alcohol during the week and allowing yourself 3-4 units at the weekend or at a party. It may feel like a little change, but imagine the impact after one, two or three months! You’ll be in a much healthier state, without the inevitable disappointment caused by the ‘new year new me’ attitude.
There’s more to January than giving up bad habits. Many of you contact me in the winter, asking me to restore your faces after the festive period. You might be searching for a quick fix, hoping that I’ll turn around and present you with a miracle cure. We have some excellent treatments at No. 4, including luxurious Hydrafacials and healing light therapy, but they’re not magic. I can’t solve all your problems with the wave of a wand or give you an undetectable treatment with no downtime.
We’re not here to transform you into your ‘new year new me’ ideal. We’re here to walk alongside you as you seek to renew your skin and age well. Ageing well takes commitment, much like a New Year’s Resolution, which is why we encourage you to stop and think about the best ways to achieve your goals.
We’re partners, you and me. You trust me to listen to you, identify your main concerns and then come up with a plan. I might direct you to Su’s Skin Program, ideal for investing in your future complexion. Alternatively, I might point you to my own skincare plan, perfect for combating signs of ageing and menopause. Through 12 in-depth sessions, I’ll boost your collagen production, reduce fine lines and soften wrinkles, helping you achieve a healthy, glowing appearance.
Are you ready to take the first step? Then contact us to book a consultation! It’s the best opportunity to find the right treatment.
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‘Good skin doesn’t happen by chance, it happens by appointment.’ I’m not sure who came up with this phrase but I can honestly say that it’s true! I have found that many of my clients who seek injectables to fix their fine lines and wrinkles don’t recognise that their skin is in crisis! Read on to discover whether your skin is in need of my help.
Early intervention is critical if you're going to avoid premature ageing. Although some might say that premature ageing is inevitable, I believe this isn’t necessarily true. Recent findings show that the environment plays a huge role in how our skin ages. Epigenetics - the study of how our genes react with our environment - means that, if you look after your skin, you might not look like you’re long in the tooth when you’re over 50!
So how do you know if your skin is in trouble and showing the early signs of damage and disease? Here are five signs to help you recognise that you’re in trouble.
Sun damage can cause some cells in the skin to go rogue. Melanocytes are the cells that colour your skin and are easily damaged by UVA, UVB and visible light. When they ‘go rogue’, excessive pigment is released into the skin, causing dark spots and uneven skin tone.
So if you’re starting to see dark spots, BEWARE - you may have caused damage and it’s starting to show!
Using harsh, damaging detergents or double cleansing will dry the skin and make it susceptible to pollution. Stripping it of its protective layer is not what you want to do if you want healthy skin. The surface is covered by a fatty layer, called the lipid barrier. This layer functions to protect your skin from environmental onslaughts, like pollution, whilst simultaneously preventing moisture from being sapped by dry air. If you disrupt this barrier, you will experience skin problems, like dehydration and premature ageing, and your cells won't function normally, leaving you vulnerable to skin damage.
Fine lines and wrinkles are a sign that your skin is losing elasticity. Elasticity is the ability of the skin to rebound after a mechanical force is applied to it. A good test to do on yourself is to lightly pinch the skin under the eye and see how quickly it returns to shape. This is commonly known as the ‘snap test’ by us clinicians. If the skin doesn’t rebound within a few seconds, it means you’re already losing elastic properties.
These usually first appear around the nose and cheeks, and are a sure sign that your skin is deficient in elastin, the fibre that keeps our skin in shape. As mentioned before, elasticity gives our skin the ability to rebound. It’s the same with our blood vessels - if they lose elasticity, they can’t return to shape and become dilated and visible on the surface of the skin. This means that, if you’re seeing broken vessels on your face, then you need to take action if you don’t want to look like a beet in your old age!
Large, open pores are more common than you think. Many women ignore them and plaster over the top with makeup. However, enlarged pores are a warning sign that the skin is suffering. Excess sebum and bacteria irritate the pores and cause inflammation, which damages the surrounding area, depleting elastin and collagen, allowing the opening of the pore to dilate. Makeup further inflames the situation, so simply covering pores isn’t a good option. What you need to do is pay attention to what your skin is telling you and come to its rescue!
So, now you know the signs, what can you do? My recommendation is to see someone like myself or Su to give you good, honest advice on how to manage it. Yes, you’re going to see changes happening to the skin as the years pass by, but some can be avoided, or at least minimised! Our wide range of treatments at No4 Clinic can help you to age positively and look your best!
If you’re ready to take the first step towards beautiful skin, simply book your online consultation! For more tips, tricks and advice, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. My live streams on Facebook are not to be missed!
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].
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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.
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See you soon!
