Pump Up the Volume

By: Fiona Cowie
Created on 16th February 2010

Dr Fiona Cowie, celebrated cosmetic doctor and medical director of the Facial Contours Clinics, talks to Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetics Magazine about the recent increase in demand for non-surgical mid-facelifts and how a little volume can go a long way...

As we age we all develop expression lines which gradually start to deepen as time passes by. Thankfully there are a wealth of non-surgical treatments available to help hold back time. But these days, looking younger isn't just about getting rid of lines and wrinkles.

In my clinics, over the past twelve months we have seen a massive increase in requests for facial reshaping and contouring treatments. In the past, anti-ageing treatments were aimed more at erasing wrinkles and softening lines, using traditional dermal fillers and muscle relaxing injections.

Over time skin loses its firm, youthful appearance because of the natural ageing process. From an early age we start to lose collagen, which your body
produces to plump up the skin. We also lose fat from under the skin, which makes the face become thin, narrow and older looking. By restoring volume we can reduce eye bags, bring back those youthful, plump cheeks, minimise
nose to mouth lines and remove unsightly jowls.

Our most popular treatments at the moment are Sculptra and the Y-Lift, both of which work by restoring volume to the midface.

Sculptra is an injectable treatment that stimulates the body's own collagen to smooth out lines and wrinkles and which gradually restores lost facial volume to give you a fuller, younger looking face. A course of treatments may be required but as results last for several years, this is a cost-effective way to turn back time.

The Y-Lift, which is a natural looking, subtle, injectable midfacelift, instantly restores lost volume and reverses the sagging effects of gravity rather than treating lines and wrinkles alone. Water-based products such as Restylane Sub-Q, Voluma or Teosyal, which contain a form of hyaluronic acid that binds water in the skin to restore fullness, are injected deep under the skin to give the mid-face an instant lift. The results will last for up to 18 months.