108 AWW.COM.AU JANUARY 2015

Beauty

Beauty top tip

Treatments

C ALL IT THE January effect. For many of us, those two or three weeks of annual down-time help us to kick under-eye circles to the curb and sail

into the new year with clear, glowing skin. Now consider that the January effect could last a full 12 months, thanks to cosmetic treatments, such as lasers or injectables.

You may have heard names such as Fraxel or Thermage; maybe you’ve tried a wrinkle-smoothing injection, but fillers are new territory. The field of anti-ageing science is evolving rapidly. To help you make sense of the options and know exactly what you’re in for, we take a look at some of the most popular treatments available today. If you’re thinking of giving the January effect a helping hand, be sure to read this guide first!

Fractionated lasersBEST FOR: Treating visible sun damage, such as premature ageing and pigmentation,

and refining the look of the skin. Some stronger fractionated lasers also stimulate collagen production in the deeper layers of the skin, so are good for lines and wrinkles as well as deep scars. PAIN FACTOR: There’s a definite ouch factor with these lasers, which is why a topical analgesic gel is applied before they’re used. They come in different intensities, so one that’s designed for a light resurfacing (such as the newer Clear + Brilliant) will be less painful than one that goes deeper to help firm up the skin (such as Fraxel). Afterwards, your skin will be red for up to a week, but there should be no discomfort, says Emma Stein, the Nurse Manager at the Clear Complexions clinic in Balmain, Sydney. Skin can look rough and scaly for about two to five days as the old dead skin cells are purged, and then get ready for the glow!

“There’s a luminosity in the skin afterwards that you just don’t get from other treatments,” Emma says about Fraxel.HOW MANY TREATMENTS: The number will depend on what type of fractionated laser is used and the results you hope for. >

Anti-ageing cosmetic treatments are flooding the market with claims of making you look fresh-faced and fantastic. Michelle Bateman investigates what’s involved, how much

you need to spend and what you’ll look like afterwards.

hold backTO

TIMEOnly trained

medical professionals can carry out

procedures requiring injections.

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JANUARY 2015 AWW.COM.AU 111

Beauty top tip

CHECKLIST FOR A CLINICThere is little regulation in this industry, so it’s essential you do some research. Asking friends for a recommendation is a start and these tips will help you find a clinic that you’re comfortable with. DO ✔ check qualificationsOnly trained medical professionals (such as doctors or nurses) can carry out procedures requiring injections. Other treatments, such as laser, are less formally regulated. Suzie Hoitink recommends seeking out a medical professional and Robyn Cussell suggests asking how many times the clinic has done the treatment. DON’T ✘ assume all technology is created equalBoth Suzie Hoitink and Melanie Grant suggest you request details on equipment being used and listen out for “power brands”, such as Thermage or Omnilux. Imitation equipment does exist, but the results may not necessarily be the same. Bigger companies will provide in-house training to people using the equipment. DO ✔ have a thorough consultationA professional should take a holistic view of you and your skin, Suzie Hoitink says. They should take a full medical history, as certain conditions or medications can react with some treatments. DON’T ✘ shop around too muchOnce you’ve found a clinic you like, it can be worth sticking with it so that all your treatment history is in the one place. DO ✔ judge a book by its coverFirst impressions count, says Robyn Cussell, especially with injectibles. “Look at the first person you meet or see in the place and how they look. If they’re looking overdone, there’s a worry that’s how they make clients look!”

One might be enough for a general “refresher”, while severe scarring might require four or five visits. THE COST: From about $395 for a less intense treatment, such as Clear + Brilliant, and from $1250 per treatment for the more intense Fraxel.

Skin tighteningBEST FOR: Tightening up sagging skin around the eyes, cheeks, neck and chin, as well as the body. Tightening treatments use heat (generated by either ultrasound, laser or radio frequency) to contract the collagen fibres below the skin, giving an immediate lift to the area. PAIN FACTOR: As a general rule, the bigger the lift, the more intense the pain! Laser skin tightening is the baby of the group. “It suits all skins, is totally non-invasive, no down-time – you can do it in your lunch break,” says Robyn Cussell, a registered nurse and owner of The Facial Rejuvenation Clinic in Sydney. Ultherapy (using ultrasound) is less comfortable, but has no down-time. Devices that use radio frequency waves to tighten (such as Thermage) can be much more intense, says Robyn, and you’ll often be given a mild sedative beforehand, as well as an analgesic. HOW MANY TREATMENTS: You should see instant lifting and tightening after all three treatments. Ultherapy and radio frequency stimulate new collagen, so you’ll see improvements for six to nine months. Laser skin tightening can be done every couple of months, Robyn says.THE COST: Ultherapy is priced from about $2500 per treatment and radio frequency treatments are about $3000 each. Laser tightening is about $650 per treatment, but needs to be performed more often.

Skin fillersBEST FOR: Injected under the skin, fillers made from hyaluronic acid gel help to plump up and revolumise specific areas. “We have about 20 fat pads on each side of our face and as we get older, that fat

atrophies and there isn’t the volume to keep the skin taught and tight,” says Suzie Hoitink, a registered nurse and founder of Clear Complexions. We’ve all seen the results: jowls and heavier lines around the nose and mouth. Fillers can help to pad out these areas, though they won’t specifically lift and tighten the skin, Robyn Cussell says.PAIN FACTOR: There can be some pain, so anaesthetic injections or creams are generally used to numb the area beforehand. After the injections, you might experience bruising or swelling around the area. HOW MANY TREATMENTS: You’ll see results immediately, but it can take some time for the swelling the settle. Go for a follow-up appointment one to two weeks after the injections to determine whether a “top-up” is needed. The long-term effects of fillers depend on where they’re being used – for bigger areas, such as the chin or cheeks, it can last up to 18 months, Robyn says.THE COST: This depends on the area being treated, but it can start from $385 per treatment.

Skin needlingBEST FOR: Scars (including deep acne

scars), skin tightening, or breaking up acne cysts. It works by piercing the skin with very fine needles, causing an “injury”, which kick-starts the

production of collagen. “Almost everyone can benefit from skin needling,” says Melanie Grant, the clinic director at the Double Bay Clinic in Sydney. “You can never have too much collagen!”PAIN FACTOR: A topical anaesthetic gel helps manage the pain. Depending on the type and depth of the needling, it can cause redness that lasts anywhere from half an hour to five days. HOW MANY TREATMENTS: Extra collagen will be stimulated by a single treatment, but Melanie recommends that clients have three to five treatments for the best results.THE COST: From $200 per treatment, depending on the size of the area. #

“As a general rule, the bigger the lift, the

more intense the pain!”

A professional should take a holistic view of you and

your skin, and consider your full medical

history.

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