An effective skincare regime is important for maintaining healthy, beautiful looking skin, but there might come a time when you want to do a bit more to turn back the clock. Thanks to a wide range of minimally invasive aesthetic procedures, we can now diminish the signs of ageing effectively and achieve natural appearing results non-surgically. However, it might seem daunting to choose the right type of treatment for your ‘first time’. Well, my first advice would be to go for a temporary treatment, as these offer a lower risk of unwanted effects compared to permanent options. Also, remember that our face changes with time and a treatment result, which looks great today, might seem out of place in 10 or 20 years.
Two of the most popular minimally invasive treatments are fillers/volumisers and wrinkle relaxing injections with botulinum toxin. Hyaluronic acid is an example of an excellent temporary filler for so-called ‘static lines’ such as the nose-to-mouth lines. Fillers/volumisers can also be used to improve a gradually ‘deflating’ facial contour with a gentle cheek or lip plumbing for example. For ‘dynamic lines’ (caused by repeated mimic movement) such as frown lines between the eyebrows, the muscle relaxing botulinum toxin remains my all-time favorite.
Overall, I recommend a step-wise approach with phasing of treatments, so that changes will be gradual and you will continue to feel your own self, while optimal correction is achieved over time. Compare it to joining the gym – you wouldn’t expect to be all ‘sorted’ after a single session, would you?
Last, but not least, it is advisable to see a cosmetic dermatologist early enough, as minimally invasive procedures can not only combat visible signs of ageing and beautifully enhance your facial features, but also play an important role in prevention.
