Non-surgically invasive treatments

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Intradermal fillers
Botox injections
Chemical skin peels (Blue Peel)
Thread vein removal with thermo-coagulation or sclerotherapy

Correction of wrinkles, frown lines and lip enhancement with intradermal fillers (stabilised hyaluronic acid: Restylane, Restylane Fine Lines and Perlane)

Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in all living organisms. It is a polysaccharide, which has been used in many different pharmaceutical products, including ophthalmology and orthopedics. So far, over 27 million people worldwide have been treated with hyaluronic acid based products. Restylane, Restylane Fine Lines and Perlane are stabilised hyaluronic acids of non-animal origin, which are biodegradable. As each part of the polysaccharide is degraded, water takes its place and binds to the molecule. An increase in volume within the skin following an injection is maintained until the hyaluronic acid is fully degraded. The body has its own system for degrading hyaluronic acid without leaving any traces within the tissues. No skin test is necessary prior to injection. No acute allergic reactions have been reported. There can be local skin hypersensitivity reactions. These only occur in one in two thousand patients.

The effects of the treatment last different lengths of time from person to person as it is a natural product and is gradually broken down by the body. Hyaluronic acid has been proven to be present in studies of skin, from both women and men, more than a year after treatment. A patient may have repeated treatments. There are many scientific studies published on the use of these products. After application of local anesthetic cream on the skin for approximately 20-30 minutes, a doctor or nurse injects hyaluronic acid intradermally. The skin can bruise slightly and it can remain reddish and swollen for a short while. It is possible to apply make-up immediately after treatment.

We use local anesthetic injections if a lip enhancement is performed. The swelling of the lips will initially be greatest directly after the treatment, this usually persists for approximately 3-7 days.

Intradermal filters | Botox injections | Chemical skin peels (Blue Peel)
Thread vein removal with thermo-coagulation or sclerotherapy

Treatment with Botox (Botulinum toxin) in minute doses to relax/paralyse muscles and to reduce excessive sweating

Botox is a sterile chemical that can be used for:
1. Correction of frown lines to areas of the forehead where frowning causes wrinkles. If a patient has been frowning for years and wrinkles have developed, the wrinkles will be prevented from worsening and there will be a cosmetic improvement.
2. Reduction of excessive sweating to armpits, hands and foreheads. After injection of Botox, a reduction in sweating will be observed. The treatment last for different length of time in different patients and the patient may require further treatments. Many people, both male and female, have this treatment regularly and only a few complications have been described in published medical literature. Patients with Myasthenia Gravis should not be treated.

Following application of a local anesthetic cream, which takes 20-30 minutes to take effect, a doctor or a nurse may inject Botox. The skin can bruise a little and it can remain reddish and swollen for a short while. The effect of Botox takes at least 24 hours to become apparent. It is possible to apply make-up immediately after treatment.

Intradermal filters | Botox injections | Chemical skin peels (Blue Peel)
Thread vein removal with thermo-coagulation or sclerotherapy

Treatment to improve skin wrinkles with skin peels containing Trichloracetic acid (including Blue Peel)

It is possible to improve the skin’s appearance by peeling off the superficial skin layer. A new skin layer forms underneath and becomes apparent as the top skin layer peels off, which takes 7-10 days. The patient is given simple analgesia such as paracetamol, while a doctor or a nurse applies the peeling solution to the skin of the face and the neck. The procedure takes about 30 minutes. Patients describe this procedure as stinging but they seem to cope well. It is not possible for the patient to apply make-up straight away following treatment. Patients are issued with post peel skin creams, which should be used according to instructions given. It is possible for patients to appear in public after a peel but their face and neck will look slightly swollen and blue-reddish for 7-10 days. After the skin has peeled off it is possible to apply make-up as usual. Scientific data has been published on the use of Trichloracetic acid as a skin peel.

Intradermal filters | Botox injections | Chemical skin peels (Blue Peel)
Thread vein removal with thermo-coagulation or sclerotherapy

Thread vein removal with thermo-coagulation (Veinwave) or sclerotherapy

A new treatment - thermo-coagulation - is now available for women and men with spider naevi/thread veins. Thermo-coagulation is based on a high frequency wave producing a thermal lesion with the protection of the skin. A very fine needle is introduced into the spider vein and it disappears instantly. This technique is safe and it has no side effects, but we do not want to use Veinwave on patients with epilepsy or pacemakers.

The Veinwave may be used to treat red spots and all spider veins on the legs and feet or on the neck and facial regions. You will feel a slight stinging, burning sensation during the procedure and there will be localised swelling and redness to the treated area. There is no loss of pigmentation or permanent scarring afterwards. Initially there are some red spots present after the needle insertion in the skin which will be absorbed within a few weeks. Bandaging is usually not necessary. You can apply make-up after the treatment and also expose treated areas to the sun, using sun protection cream.

Some small veins are too large to treat effectively with veinwave. You may instead need treatment with sclerotherapy (aethoxysclerol is injected), which leaves a reddish-bluish hue for a week before it settles.

Intradermal filters | Botox injections | Chemical skin peels (Blue Peel)
Thread vein removal with thermo-coagulation or sclerotherapy