Have you ever fancied a facelift but don't want to 'face' the surgical route? It's possible. We asked local beauty experts about their favourite non or minimally-invasive new beauty treatments for giving us flawless skin in 2019, without having to go under the knife. Here’s our round-up of the top five treatments which can help you look younger without scrubs and scalpels.
Platelet- rich plasma facial
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) facial includes drawing blood from your arm, and then injecting them into your skin via microneedling. The doctor runs the needle pen over your face while squirting the platelets into the mini injection holes. The platelets are rich in growth hormone and the microneedling stimulates skin regeneration - the entire procedure is meant to aid cell turnover.
Dr. Amany Morshed, specialist cosmetic dermatologist, Aster Clinic Arabian Ranches & Aster Beauty Clinic, Al Warqa said “Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a naturally induced rejuvenation treatment that increases collagen production at no risk of contamination and gives long lasting results. It significantly reduces scarring. The flip side is it may be painful and has the potential to spark allergic reactions or skin discolouration.
Laser carbon peel aka Hollywood facial
A popular go-to non-invasive skin treatment for celebrities, Laser Carbon Peel is more famously known as the Hollywood Facial. Also referred to as a lunch-hour or before-party instant glow treatment, it is a totally pain free practise that treats skin imperfections without any downtime. And, that’s what makes it one of the most sought after beauty treatments of the year. The process includes application of dark coloured carbon cream on the skin, which is left on your skin for few minutes to dry. After the drying process, a laser is used on the carbon layer. The cream absorbs the rays and micro explosions on the epidermal layer of the skin take place due to the heat released by the carbon cream, which in turn exfoliates the skin and cleans out the pores through skin resurfacing. After the carbon laser facial skin treatment, you will need to use a high SPF sunscreen to avoid sunburns.
Kasia Puckeridge, Beauty and Laser Therapist at Mediclinic Dubai Mall said, “this treatment gives instant results. It has little-to-no side effects with a rapid recovery period. However, the patients must avoid sun exposure for at least a week after the treatment. The possible side effects include slight, temporary tingling and redness. These effects typically fade within a few hours.
Ultherapy
Ulthera is one of the most popular non-invasive alternatives to plastic surgery commonly used to uplift loose skin around brows, chin and neck. The procedure involves ultrasound imaging that counters the effects of gravity and ageing on skin. The treatment only takes 45-60 minutes and leaves you looking younger and more refreshed without a scalpel in sight. With its ability to stimulate collagen production to tighten, lift and tone the skin around the neck and chin, it is a great option for those who are seeking an effective way to get rid of unattractive facial lines but are not willing to go under the knife.
Rebecca Treston, Founder and Manager of Rebecca Treston Aesthetics, Euromed Clinic said, “it is a lunch-time procedure to lift the skin with no downtime and results last up to 3 years. However, the full results will only be visible within two to three months as the collagen keeps regenerating itself and results depend on the experience of the practitioner and how they deliver the treatment.
PICO Genesis
PICO Genesis laser procedure fixes pigmentation issues for all skin types. Picosecond pulses can be used on both the face and the body. The treatment combines the benefits of wavelengths, pulse durations and selectable fluences to target a number of different concerns such as superficial pigmentation, sun spots, melasma, acne scarring, ice pick scarring and much more. It is equally as effective at providing noticeable improvements in skin tone and texture.
Rebecca Treston of Euromed Clinic said, “The Micro Lens Array (MLA) fractional handpiece allows us to increase the power and depth of both the 532 nm and 1064 nm lasers with minimal downtime or complications. Rejuvenation and scar treatments can be customised based on the needs of an individual patient rather than a preset, limited number of shots. Some patients may experience a few days of downtime.”
Exilis
Exilis is a non-invasive treatment for the reduction of targeted fatty deposits, skin tightening, and sun-damaged or wrinkled skin anywhere on the face and body. The procedure uses safe radio waves to heat your skin and targeted fat cells. This thermal energy speeds up the metabolic activity of the fat cells causing them to shrink. At the same time it stimulates and strengthens the collagen network which improves skin laxity and texture.
Kanta Jethwani, CEO and cosmetologist at Bloom Aesthetic and Laser Clinic said, “It uses a device that never punctures or pokes the skin in any way to transmit radiofrequency energy and ultrasound and you can treat almost any part of your body and face. The treatment is short. Most individuals will be in our office anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes for each session that they have. Some individuals are able to get great results after just one session, while other individuals may need to have a couple in order to get the best results. However, you are in and out of our office in a very short amount of time. You can receive great benefits from this treatment for just a tiny bit of effort on your part.
These beauty treatments are beneficial for your skin problems and aspirations. You can choose any of the above treatments, however, we advise you to be careful of few things before and after the treatment. Including being wary of cheap deals and making sure you choose experienced dermatologists from reputed clinics.
Dr Mansi Suman Mukherjee at Kaya Skin Clinic gives few tips and notes to be aware of while being at the skin clinic you chose to go to:
- "Check if they are using original products
- Ask for the expiry date of the products used
- Check that they open everything in front of you
- Check that the products/tools are all sanitised.
After treatment: whilst specifics vary from one treatment to another, there are a few general pieces of advice to remember
- Soothing creams or moisturisers may be applied immediately after the treatment
- A sunblock SPF 30+should be applied if there is going to be any sun exposure immediately after the treatment
- Avoid hot baths till the redness subsides.
- Wash the area with cool water and a gentle cleanser.
- Avoid intense exercise"
Our experts are convinced these trends will continue to rise in popularity this year. Tackling a variety of skin complaints and with minimal side effects, we can see why.