Heal Yourself

By: Sharmi Wieck
Created on 11th August 2010

Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself when damage is caused. And it is this power that cosmetic practitioners harness to reverse the signs of ageing. Leading medical practitioner and specialist in cosmetic anti-ageing, Sharmi Wieck explains

We all know that the ageing process, coupled with external factors such as sun damage and pollution, causes the breakdown of collagen in the skin. But what you probably don’t know is that the body can reverse that process... in the hands of a skilled and qualified medical practitioner.

When the skin is damaged the body instantly goes on the offensive to repair that damage by stimulating collagen production. The structure and integrity of the skin is thereby improved.

Below I’ve outlined some of the top treatments on the market that embody this concept of collagen stimulation through damage. They all use different mechanisms and cause the ‘damage’ in different ways, but the effect is the same.

Carboxytherapy

Carboxytherapy – known as RioBlush – is a fantastic allround treatment that melts fat, erases stretch marks and can take years off your face. It is a non-surgical procedure used to infuse CO2 gas injected just under the skin.

It originated at the Royal Spas of France in 1932, and studies have demonstrated that carboxytherapy works in a number of ways. The carbon dioxide kills fat cells by causing them to distend, causing an imbalance that induces the body to release more oxygen into the area.

The extra oxygen eliminates fluid build-up between cells, and the skin is stimulated to produce more collagen. It is this process that improves skin elasticity in the face – new capillaries grow which improves the blood supply permanently and helps to rebuilds the collagen matrix.

Dermaroller

This is a relatively new device that has been producing fantastic results for my patients. The device itself is a small cylinder with micro needles that has been developed to perform micro-medical skin-needling.

The Dermaroller produces thousands of needle-columns which penetrate the dermis of the skin. The column will close rapidly enabling the skin to recover quickly but after the procedure your body will naturally start to regenerate and repair the skin from below.

It can take up to six weeks before the visible signs of regeneration are seen but the process will continue over the following months so the results just get better and better.

Genuine Dermaroller practitioners have been through thorough training, so they can also provide effective treatment on those hard to treat areas; around the mouth, the sensitive eye contour and even on the eyelids.

Eporex mesotherapy

This is basically mesotherapy without the needles. It is most suitable for younger skin which is starting to show the signs of ageing, such as fine lines. The treatment uses high doses of vitamin C and Eporex introduces it beneath the skin to where new skin cells are being formed.

Vitamin C benefits the skin because it is essential for the synthesis of collagen, the structural protein of skin, and it is also a potent anti-oxidant, meaning it works against the toxins and the free radicals that damage the skin cells.

So the treatment improves the tone, texture and general vitality of the skin and reduces fine lines.

Titan non-surgical facelift

Titan utilises a safe, infrared light to heat the dermis well below the skin’s surface. The heating causes immediate collagen contraction resulting in tighter skin on the face, neck and other body parts such as the abdomen.

Titan gives a double boost – as well as the immediate collagen contraction during the procedure, new collagen growth is also stimulated which results in further tightening. This is a great treatment for both men and women whose skin is showing the signs of age around their necks and jawline.

With no need for anaesthesia or pain medication, the Titan procedure requires no recovery time, which is a boon in modern, busy lives.