Taking the Plunge

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 23rd February 2011

Meet Vicki. She works in a busy cosmetic practice, but has never undergone treatment herself... until now. Over the next few issues, we’ll be following her on a journey of discovery to freshen up her look

Vicki Hewitt is 43 years old and works as a nurse in a cosmetic clinic. “Since I’ve been working here, I’ve seen a lot of patients treated and I’ve been quite impressed with the results,” she says. “And, after a while, you do start to look at your own face in a different way.

“When I first came here I had a port wine stain on the side of my face and I had that removed with a laser. It was amazing, because it didn’t hurt and it got rid of the stain in two treatments.”

Vicki has had a difficult time over the past three years, looking after her children and going through a divorce, and the stress is beginning to show on her face.

“My sister’s five years younger than me, and we always used to joke that I was the younger, prettier one, but I’m noticing now that I really do look five years older than her.

“I think the reason I want these treatments is to boost my self esteem – I feel like for the past few years I’ve just concentrated on the divorce and my kids, and now finally this is something for me.”

Vicki has now decided to take the plunge and undergo a series of cosmetic treatments, including peels, laser and injectables, performed by her boss, Dr Julia Piper.

So what is she most looking forward to?

“I’m really conscious of the lines between my cheeks and my mouth, and Dr Piper said she’ll be able to do something about those, so that’s what I’ll be most pleased with, I think,” says Vicki.

And anything she’s not so sure about?

“I’m not nervous about the laser or the peels, but I am a bit of a needlephobic – I’m alright giving injections to anyone else, but to me, that’ll be the biggest thing to overcome.”

Expert opinion – Dr Julia Piper

“Vicki presents with a wish to improve her face which her sister tells her is 'sagging'. She has developed deep oral commissure lines at both corners of her mouth, has developed filling defects in the nasolabial fold area and wishes to reduce the lines around her eyes as well as the lines that appear when she raises her eyebrows and when she frowns.

“She is hoping to improve the texture of her skin and the uniformity of colour. She wishes to have treatments with us and use anti-ageing products in between in order to reinforce the treatments.

“Vicki is well in herself and is divorced with four children. She has had a stressful time with her divorce but is now much happier. The treatments will further reinforce the self-confidence that she has been building since her divorce.

"Nutritionally, she will be fully assessed at a later date in order to optimise both the 'information that goes into her mouth' and 'cell signalling' to reduce the signs of ageing and promote wellness.

"Our planned treatment will include a course of four photorejuvenation treatments with our Gemini laser. We will include face, neck and décolleté with this. She will receive six peels in order to stimulate collagen growth, increasing uniformity of colouring and reducing pigmentation.

“Vicki will use NeoStrata sensitive skin products in between her treatments and have botulinum toxin for her 'moving lines' and the frown area, forehead and crow’s feet. We will use dermal fillers for her oral commissures and nasolabial folds.”

CS&AG