Two new and exciting treatments making their way to my skin clinic in Needham Market...
You know how much I love introducing new, effective treatments to my skin clinic at Needham Market, and so I'm absolutely delighted to announce that I'm going to be offering two brand new facial treatments to my menu very soon.
Firstly, the wonderful HIFU Skin Tightening Facial, which is described by Medical News Today as 'part of a growing trend for anti-aging treatments that provide some of the benefits of a facelift without the need for surgery'. Clinical trials have shown it to be safe for wrinkle treatment and facial skin lifting.
What does a HIFU Skin Tightening Facial do?
Well, the clue is in the name! HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) uses ultrasound to generate heat in the deep layers of your skin, targeting and weak and damaged skin cells and boosting the body's natural repair process. It's a fantastically efficient treatment, too; because of the way it works with your body's natural collagen and carries on boosting cell renewal, you only need one treatment to see real results and after that juts an annual top up. HIFU works best on people with mild cases of sagging skin.
The procedure...
As with most non-invasive facial treatments, there is no down time, so you'll be able to book a session whenever it suits and get straight back to your usual activities afterwards. The treatment gives exceptional results without the risks you would expect with a surgical facelift, and it's fast too!
I'll start by gently cleansing the area and then applying a gel. I then use a handheld device on the area I'm treating, which produces ultrasound waves in short bursts. Sessions last anything from half an hour to an hour depending on how big an area you'd like treated.
It's not usually painful - some people feel a prickly sensation and it can feel a bit tender afterwards, but this soon wears off and you can go back to work, or whatever you were planning straight away.
The PRP Vampire Facial
You might have already heard about the 'vampire facial' and it's something I've been wanting to learn more about for a while now. So, what is it?
PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is a facial treatment that involves me taking blood from your arm and using a special device (a centrifuge) to extract platelet rich plasma - which I use to stimulate production of elastin and collagen. If you've had microneedling before, you'll know what the procedure entails once I have the plasma ready to go. While we wait for the machine to extract the PRP, I'll carry out a thorough cleanse on your face, and apply a mild topical anaesthetic. Then, I use microneedles to introduce the PRP into your skin. This helps stimulate your body's natural healing, elastin and collagen production in the same way as microneedling, but with the added boost of the PRP.
Does it hurt?
As I mentioned earlier, it's similar to microneedling so it can be a bit uncomfortable, and that's why I use an anaesthetic beforehand. You might find that your facial skin is a bit puffy or itchy for a day or so, but this is perfectly normal and will settle down within 24-48 hours usually. It's also not unusual to experience slight bruising in some areas, depending on how prone to bruising you are. Most people have no side effects at all, and unlike some cosmetic procedures like fillers, we're using your own blood, so adverse reactions are unlikely!
What to expect from a PRP Vampire Facial
As with any of my treatments, the results vary depending on factors like your age, skin condition and things like sun damage or smoking history. But - you can expect to see:
an improvement in your skin texture
a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines
improved appearance of acne scarring
reduced pigmentation (including sunspots)
better skin tone
an improvement in the appearance of stretch marks
The results of a PRP Vampire Facial can continue for up to three months after your initial treatment, although you should see an improvement pretty much straight away. I usually suggest three treatments, about six weeks apart for more mature skin, but younger skin might only need one session. That's something we can talk about when you come into the skin clinic for a consultation.
So, there you have it, two exciting new treatment options for you to try. I can't wait to get started on these in the clinic, I'm just finalising a few details and then they'll be available for you to sample. Any questions on whether these, or anything else I offer, would suit you - just contact me the usual way and I'll be delighted to chat skincare with you.