Stop the clock with the latest advances in anti-ageing skincare
Wouldn’t it be great if you could hold back time? Imagine a smooth, untroubled brow, free of the tell-tale signs of stress and time. Or bright, sparkling eyes, without a wrinkle in sight. How about regaining that youthful pout, or those soft apple cheeks? Head to your local medispa, and you will find all this is within reach.
Botox has long been touted as the Holy Grail of beauty, and for good reason. It works by blocking the transmission of impulses from nerve endings to muscles, causing the muscles to relax and wrinkles to magically disappear. Those deep-set frown lines will smooth out with just one little injection.
But is it safe? The scarily-named Botulinum Toxin A (known as BTA in the medical world, and Botox to us consumers) is actually one of the safest, and most effective treatments on the market. There have been no cases of allergic reaction to Botox in the 25 years it has been in use, which is pretty outstanding by any standards. Furthermore, it has long been used for more serious medical cases including treating celebral palsy in children. Dr Marc Armangue from the Medispa at U.R.Beautiful, believes this is the ultimate proof. ‘I can assure you this - in medicine, you do not use a medication with children unless its safety is proven.’
Despite this reassurance, there is still a negative association with Botox. Stories of frozen faces, pounding headaches and painful injections seem to hit the headlines more often than the happy endings. The problem is not Botox itself, but the lack of regulations surrounding the administration of the injections. ‘Unfortunately there are few regulations at present, and cowboys are inevitable,’ says Dr Armangue. ‘Botox will not freeze your face if the dosage is correct, and injections shouldn’t hurt. Many patients of mine say that plucking their eyebrows is more painful!’
Results tend to last between three and six months, so an ongoing programme is essential if you are to retain your wrinkle-free brow. And it’s not just frown lines that can be improved. Botox can treat many problem areas, including forehead lines, crows feet, smokers lines, popply chin, marionette lines and neck lines.
Alongside Botox, dermal fillers have become equally popular. A simple injection can restore your lips back to their pouty youthfulness, vanish ageing nose to mouth lines, or even lift tired eyelids.
There are a variety of fillers available, but they can basically be divided into non-permanent (e.g. Restylane), semi-permanent (e.g. Radiesse) and permanent (e.g. Sculptra). They have a gel-like consistency, so when injected they will enhance the volume of the tissue.
So what type of person has injections in the pursuit of youth? According to Dr Armangue, just about anyone! ‘I treat 75% women and 25% men,’ he reveals. ‘The age varies a lot, from 20 to 65 years old. Younger patients usually have treatment to prevent the appearance of lines, whereas more senior patients achieve a softening of existing lines.’ You can’t even nail the type by profession. ‘I treat everyone from actors and models to housewives, lawyers, bankers… In fact anyone who wishes to maintain and improve their looks.’
But, Dr Armangue doesn’t think we’ve found the answer to eternal youth just yet. ‘In my opinion, the idea is not to make you look extremely younger or different, but to make yourself look your best whatever your age.’
YOUTHFUL ESSENTIALS
Dr Marc Armangue's range of dermatological products are available to purchase here.