By: Wendy Lewis
Created on 09th November 2009
Aesthetic consultant Wendy Lewis gives us the lowdown on all the latest treatments and procedures hot in from the US
Kinder, gentler Thermage CPT
Short of a proper surgical facelift and neck lift, there are not too many effective treatments to lift and tighten drooping skin. But Thermage has been around for the longest time delivering deep heat treatments for the forehead, face, neck and now on the hands, thighs, knees and tummy as well.
The newest Thermage technology incorporates proprietary Comfort Pulse Technology, which makes it less painful, faster, and offers practitioners more options in terms of treatment tips and sizes to suit each individual patient. The CPT device allows for more even heating across each treatment area which results in better skin contraction, which is considered the holy grail of skin tightening technologies.
The new system works better for treating saggy body parts like upper arms, loose tummies, and slack knees. There is no real downtime so no one will know you have had anything done. One or two treatments are usually required, and fees range from
£2,500 up to £5,000 for larger areas.
Thermage has long been a favourite of Hollywood's A-list and ageing supermodels for firming up slackening jawlines without the scalpel and is now available in the UK.
www.thermage.com
Say goodbye to brown spots
Nothing ages you like patches of brown appearing on your hands and chest after years of sunning. One of the newest technologies is the Fraxel® re:store Dual System that is a step up from other fractionated lasers because it can treat skin texture and tone, acne scars and discoloration with one device.
Fraxel re:store was the first fractionated laser device on the market, and the next generation also treats fine wrinkles around the eyes, sunspots, melasma and actinic keratoses, which is especially important for long-time sun worshippers.
The new system involves about three to five days of redness and swelling, after which sunscreen and make-up can be worn and most people can return to work or normal activities. It can treat sun damage and hyperpigmentation faster and with even more accuracy, and the new 1927 nm wavelength, increases the areas of the body that can be treated and works 25 per cent faster.
So it means getting better results than traditional non-ablative fractional lasers, even closer to the results of a deep laser resurfacing treatment, but with more comfort and much less downtime.
www.fraxel.com
The power of retinol
RoC® introduced into the UK a new variation on its retinol legacy that dates all the way back to 1995 at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress held in Berlin in October 2009.
The beautiful RoC® Retin-OxTM Wrinkle Correction range includes four new products that capture the potency of pure retinol with the addition of biopeptide and hyaluronic acid. The patented DMC technology boosts the effectiveness of retinol and makes it easier to tolerate for all skin types.
The range consists of a lovely Daily Moisturiser, a pleasant Regenerating Night Cream, silky Intensive Serum and light reflecting Eye Cream. These easily absorbed formulas fight fine and deeper wrinkles, target discolouration, and improve skin radiance and texture. And the fragrance and texture are even lighter and more luxurious than the rest of the RoC products. From £20.99-£26.99 at Boots nationwide.
Double duty spot patrol
As acne seems to be on the rise among teens as well as peri-menopausal women, more helpful medications are available in the UK.
One of the best is DUAC®, a potent topical gel that contains one per cent Clindamycin Phosphate and five per cent Benzoyl Peroxide, made by Stiefel Labs. This powerful gel comes in a tube and delivers a one-two punch on acne; the clindamycin is an antiobiotic that prevents p.acnes bacteria from growing, and the benzoyl peroxide helps to dry out the area, prevent clogged pores and keep them clear.
You may get a bit red or irritated when you first start using it, so you might have to skip a day or use it only sparingly on the areas that tend to break out most. Your skin should get used to it after a few weeks. If you do have a little dry patch here or there, use an oil-free moisturiser such as NeoStrata® Oil-Free Lotion SPF15. Duac® is only available by prescription from your doctor.
CS&AM
Wendy Lewis, also called The Knife Coach, is President of Wendy Lewis & Co Ltd, Global Aesthetics Consultancy in New York and London, and the author of ten books including Plastic Makes Perfect (Orion). She is also Founder of www.beautyinthebag.com
