Cosmetic Clinics

“Do whatever makes you happy.” That is the mantra of the liberal, life-loving. However, when you see yet another celebrity (this time, Cheryl Cole) denying they have had a cosmetic procedure in spite of appearing to have seriously inflated boobs*/lips*/bottom*. *delete as applicable. It really does make one wonder if all the effort was necessary or even really wanted. We all know that cosmetic surgery rumours heighten a celeb’s profile, think about what it has done for Victoria Beckham!

Cheryl Cole is 26 years old and clearly doesn’t need any anti-aging treatments like Botox or Restylane lip fillers. Typically, plump and full lips are a sign of youth which is why women have their lips done in the first place. They are losing collagen as a direct result of aging and their lips are starting to thin a bit. Lips are so sensuous; you eat, speak and kiss with them so theoretically, the bigger the better right?

Well, no actually. The birth of lip fillers was accompanied with the insult ‘trout pout’ for when lip surgery/fillers goes very, very wrong (think Lesley Ash, Jocelyn Wildenstein or Pete Burns)

Badly done lips stick out like a tiger in Africa or a sore thumb if you are more of a traditionalist. After all, who wants to look like they have two pick slugs stuck on their face masquerading as lips? Fuller lips do make a woman look younger, but it takes a talented doctor to know how much filler will make a woman be transformed from drab to fab with just a few Restylane injections.

At Cosmetic Clinics, we aren’t ‘scalpel jockeys’, we are professionals who take pride in our work so if we don’t think a treatment is right for you, we will tell you so. If you want to look like Heidi Montag, find another clinic.  

For a variety of reasons, maybe weight loss or age, a person may find that their face is beginning to look drawn and gaunt. Young skin looks plump and taut thanks to collagen, but as we age, the collagen in our skin slowly decreases. Fortunately, there are lots of non-surgical methods that can be used so that a patient can regain their former youthful looks.

The obvious answer to filling lines and wrinkles is to have Botox. Whilst this is a fantastic method for smoothing lines and wrinkles, not everybody is comfortable with the idea of having Botox injected into their face as an over-zealous practitioner could wipe out a patient’s ability to move their face.

The best non-surgical alternative to Botox is dermal fillers. This is a very useful method of smoothing lines and wrinkles and does not paralyse a person’s face into an expressionless mask. Dermal fillers can also fill out a person’s face to replace fat and plump out areas that have come to look somewhat gaunt e.g. cheeks. A patient can have fillers as a means to fill acne scars or change the shape of their chin or the tip of their nose.

If you are wondering why dermal fillers have become so popular, I can explain why: The effects of dermal fillers are immediate - so you do not have to wait for weeks until the swelling has gone down to see how the procedure has turned out. However, patients may experience very slight bleeding where the needle enters the skin. This is completely normal and is no cause for concern. There may be slight swelling or redness in the treated area although this will go down very quickly.

Typically injected into the lower two halves of the face (Botox is better for use on the forehead), the effects of dermal fillers are softer than other treatments and are often preferred to invasive, painful and expensive surgery which carries the inherent risks of infection and use of general anaesthetics. Compared to a surgical facelift, there is no contest between this and dermal fillers on the subject of cost. It is also very apt to mention that with dermal fillers there is no extensive aftercare and time off work required.

Most of today’s dermal fillers contain hyaluronic acid – this is a compound naturally found in the skin and is critical to the structural integrity of the dermal collagen matrix. What consumers will find is that there are several types of filler such as Radiesse which is more suitable for filling acne scars and treating lines around the nose and mouth. Typically lasting 16-24 months, patients looking for a dermal filler more suitable for filling out cheeks may consider Belotero. It pays to do your research!

Treatment
Patients may be given a local anaesthetic or a topical anaesthetic cream to numb the treated area to avoid discomfort. The treatment typically lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. There is no cutting of the skin and few risks although this should always be discussed at length with the professional involved in the procedure.

When looking for someone to provide dermal fillers, be aware that doctors, nurses and dermatologists can administer the treatment. When looking for a professional to provide dermal fillers check they are qualified to do so. All of the doctors affiliated with Cosmetic Clinics will be more than happy to reassure you by showing their credentials.

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
... and a happy new year!

Merry Christmas to all our readers, we hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and exciting new year.

This is our last blog for 2009 but look out for our new and exciting posts in 2010! We'll be bringing you the latest cosmetic treatment news and treatments as well as fantastic offers.

Take care in this cold and icy weather and we'll be back soon.

We recieved a question regarding hair transplant surgery that a gentleman had undergone at a clinic unrelated to the Cosmetic Clinics Group. He was feeling unimpressed with the results and asked our advice on the matter and other hair restoration and hair transplant alternatives.

The Question

“I have had a 2300 graft strip surgery 3 months ago to the front and temple region. I am not happy with the density and also the direction of the hair. I have heard that with the specialised implanter used in H+ technique, you can achieve better density and also better direction than traditional strip procedures.

My question is can the density and direction be improved and if yes, how soon can this be done after my first surgery?”

Our Answer

“Thanks for your question. Before I start answering, I would like to reassure you that 3m is still very early days to determine the success or failure of your strip surgery. I do not belong to the school of thought that FUE hair transplant surgery is better than strip surgery. My belief is that both surgeries should complement each other. Moving on, yes we use a specialised implanter pen that helps in achieving better control over the angle and direction, whilst protecting the vital structures of the graft. With regards to density, a couple of factors influence the density. Logic says that to achieve the desired coverage a surgeon should aim to achieve 50% of the density of the donor area. Any density beyond that would not provide any additional benefits. So the answer to your question is that we can achieve the desired density in one procedure with the H+ technique.

With regards to answering your second question, I always advise my patients to wait at least 6 months before contemplating the second procedure. The reasoning behind this is that you have to wait this long at least before you could assess the success of the first surgery and hence you can plan your second surgery better, without disturbing the healing process.” For more information on FUE hair transplants, hair transpant surgery and hair restoration, visit the Cosmetic Clinics website.

This article was spotted at the Daily Mail Online and we thought it was worth mentioning.

It concerns a new pill on the market in Europe (though not Britain) called Inneov Fermete that claims it can restore, to degrees, the elasticity of the skin. Now many would say that we here at the Cosmetic Clinics Group are biased, as this would be competition for many of our anti-ageing treatments, but we cannot help but be somewhat sceptical.

The magic pill that solves all is not a new invention, there have been pills for so many things over the years. The problem is most of them just don't work, or work to a degree but only in conjunction with other things, such as diet pills that only work with a calories controlled diet and exercise. Well forgive us for saying but if you took the pills away from that equation, you'd have the same results too.

We aren't saying this flat out doesn't work, it's too early and the information is too little for us to comment on that, but reading below it says that the magic ingredient is something found in tomatoes. Now if that is the case why not just eat more tomatoes? They certainly aren't £25 for a ten day supply.

Also if you add it up it will cost someone in the region of nearly £1000 over a year for these pills. You would be better off trying an actually proven anti-ageing cosmetic treatment for that kind of money, as a matter of fact you could probably get several.

For now we will just stay sceptical, and see if we have to eat our words or not, only time will tell. You can read the full article below.

“A treatment has arrived that claims the way to look more youthful on the outside is to start with the inside.

Inneov Fermete is a little red pill that when taken daily supposedly provides the necessary nutrients to prevent wrinkles.

It contains a compound found in tomatoes which, it is claimed, protects old skin cells and promotes the growth of new ones.

The pills have been tested on two groups of women - 90 postmenopausal women aged 51 to 69 and 70 others with an average age of 45. Some were given the pill and others received a placebo.

Those given the anti-wrinkle product were found after six months of use to have skin elasticity that was 8.7 per cent better than those who had taken the dummy pill. Inneov Fermete has been developed by cosmetics firm L'Oreal in conjunction with the food multinational NestlÈ, and claims to combine nutritional and dermatological science.

It is among an emerging class of so-called cosmeceuticals - beauty treatments that claim to work from inside the body rather than being applied to the hair or skin.
Because Inneov Fermete is taken daily as a sugar-coated pill, its makers hope that it will be viewed as a lifestyle product, like a vitamin supplement, rather than as a medicine.

It is on sale in parts of Europe and South America and a launch is planned in the UK, although a date has not yet been confirmed.

But with a price tag of £25 for a ten- day supply, it is likely to be beyond the budget of most Britons, particularly as the manufacturers say it will take around three months for any effect to be noticed.

Patricia Manissier, of Inneov, said: 'We have done a lot of research which shows this product works and now we're looking for ways of improving it.

'We know that good nutrition can prevent the skin from ageing and that there are clear links between certain nutrients and skin health.' The three main ingredients are all antioxidants, which are believed to protect tissue against damage.

Lycopene, the red carotine pigment found in tomatoes, has been modified to be easily absorbed by human cells, and combined with vitamin C and isoflavones, which are extracted from soya beans.”

Source: Daily Mail Online

We are looking for a guinea pig...

Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it sounds, we are not endorsing testing on animals! In fact, Mulberry House has been fortunate enough to be asked to evaluate a new product that is taking the dermatological world by storm. We’re currently keeping the precise details under wraps, but if this product is as good as initial reports claim, this could be a breakthrough for those suffering from skin pigmentation conditions.

At Mulberry House, we currently offer a selection of possible treatment for skin pigmentation conditions. The new treatment involves one simple application to skin suffering with pigmentation problems. Studies have shown this product to be fourteen times more effective than the current treatment, hydroquinone.

Skin pigmentation problems can sometimes be caused by sun damage, so prevention is obviously better than the cure! Make sure you always apply an SPF 15 at least when you go out into the sun and try to stay out of the brightest and harsh sunshine of the day – between 11am and 3pm.
If you think that this treatment sounds like something you might benefit from and you are happy to have your before and after treatment photos used for demonstration purposes, please contact Dr Tanqueray by email – info@mulberryhouseclinic.co.uk

If the treatment becomes more widely available, we will of course let you be the first to know!

Christmas is now a week away so at Mulberry House, a division of the Cosmetic Clinics group, we thought we would cheer up our readers who may find Christmas somewhat stressful with an early gift.

In the interests of being environmentally friendly and saving paper, your gift is electronic! We are offering all our clients a 10% discount on any one treatment taken during January 2010. Often, those who decide to give their appearance a boost will decide to do it in January, so here is just a little gift from us to you to thank you for your interest in Cosmetic Clinics in 2009. All you need to do to take advantage of the offer is quote the Christmas Newsletter. It couldn’t be easier!

If you have a friend who might like to try a treatment for the first time, please do feel free to send on using the link at the bottom of the page and show them all the things we have to offer.

Mulberry House is part of the Cosmetic Clinics group, we will keep you up to date over 2010 with offers from ourselves and other clinics. Merry Christmas!

Below is an article, originally posted at the Telegraph Online that outlines a new trend in Botox injections for your feet. We thought we’d comment a little on the story ourselves. There are several ways of looking at this treatment, and at Botox in general.

Botox is used to great effect for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes, such as the removal of wrinkles on the forehead, around the eyes and neck areas. It has been used (and abused) by celebrities for decades, and when done correctly is a great way of achieving a more youthful appearance.

Botox isn’t just used for visual reasons though, and has medical applications such as the treatment of migraines and the treatment of excess sweating. The treatment mentioned below falls somewhere in between.

The article seems to point out that it is only useful for party goers who don’t want sore or tired feet, and it can be used for this, there is no doubt about it. However the same relief it can give to feet in heels can also work for feet that get sore and tired in general, so the medical applications are there as well.

The best thing to do is always talk with a professional before attempting any kind of treatment, especially Botox, and they can help you decide if it is something you really need or not. However getting Botox injections just for some heels may possibly be a little bit of an overkill, but only the ladies will really understand if it truly is or not.

Below is the full article: Source - Telegraph Online Female City executives are turning to Botox injections in the soles of their feet to help them cope with the exhausting drinks party season over the next few weeks.

According to the Harley Medical Group, one of Britain's largest cosmetic surgery chains, women in London are injecting Botox into their feet to alleviate the pain associated with wearing high heels.

Instead of buying a gel-filled pad to put inside their shoes, they are preferring to use collagen to plump out the balls of their feet. The Harley Medical Group calls the new technique "foot fillers".
The company said that it was common in the run up to Christmas to see a rush of bookings for Botox. However, facial injections used to be the only area clients requested, until last year when one or two asked to have their painful feet sorted out.

Dr Nick Milojevic, the main doctor to supply the injections, said: ‘This year we have received increased enquiries for foot fillers. We do say to patients that the results are not long lasting because of the high impact on this area of the body so that they should think twice before spending the money. Facial dermal fillers last for three months and Botox lasts up to six months, but on the foot area fillers will often only provide cushioning for around two to three months.’

Dr Joshua Berkowitz opened the Wimpole Aesthetics Centre way back on 2005, on Wimpole Street in Central London. During the time the clinic and he were taking those first steps, he had only one member of staff supporting him.

In only two years these numbers had swelled to four skilled aestheticians to support him, who brought a wide range of skills and knowledge with them. Along with this was the fact that Dr Berkowitz ensured the clinic utilised the most up to date technology and equipment to provide the best possible results for his patients, and to keep them at the cutting edge of their range of cosmetic procedures and anti-ageing treatments.

Today, Dr Berkowitz attributes the success of the Wimpole Aesthetics Centre to this collection of skills, knowledge and technology along with the passion his dedicate team have for their work and the extra special care that each individual patient receives. Patient privacy, dignity and confidentiality are always respected. Each individual will always be welcome and valued as our patient and treated accordingly with courtesy and consideration.

The philosophy followed at the Wimpole Aesthetics Centre is that each patient receives safe, proven and high quality therapies that are tailored to meet the individual’s requirements and aspirations. We aim to be innovative and to only use fully-tested, non-surgical rejuvenation and anti-aging treatments to achieve excellent results for each patient.

Wimpole Aesthetics Centre also believes in ensuring the patients are aware of the limitations of any procedures, along with the benefits, we use and that not every procedure may be utilised by everyone. In this regard we make sure patients are fully aware of what procedures and treatments are right for them, will provide the best benefits and what results can be expected during consultations before any course of treatment is decide upon. This realistic, frank and honest assessments of patients conditions and what can be expected from any procedure, and if these fit with the client’s expectations so any unnecessary disappointment is avoided.

At the Wimpole Aesthetic Centre we are realise and are aware that patients vary greatly and may require several different rejuvenation therapies and aesthetic treatments to achieve the goals they desire, to this end we are able to offer a wide range of treatments; performed by various members of our aesthetic team. Generally, the same therapist will perform a course of treatments in order to have continuity and help build up trust and respect between the therapist and patient.

All our therapists are fully trained to use our equipment and products and we ensure our range of technical skills is kept up to date. In support of our own personal knowledge and skill base, our therapists and aestheticians regularly attends lectures and conferences to further increase our knowledge. It is through this continually updating of our skills that we can confidently offer out treatments and the superior results that come with them.

Some of the treatments available from the Wimpole Aesthetics Centre include:

- Vaser Lipo (State of art non-surgical Liposuction)
- Smart Lipo (For the removal of smaller deposits of fat)
- Thermage (Skin Tightening)
- Laser Hair Removal
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical Peels
- Botox Treatments
- Sculptra
- Dermal Fillers
- Leg Vein Treatments
- Vela Smooth (Cellulite Treatment)

This are just a few of the anti-ageing and cosmetic procedures we can provide.

Our fees are competitive and we will always give a clear indication of the cost of any treatment,or course of treatments and in some cases we are able to offer payment plans.
We hope this gives you some insight into the Wimpole Aesthetics Centre and will be providing more information on our treatments and staff members soon.

The Wimpole Aesthetics Centre, part of the Cosmetic Clinics Groups, is based in Central London at the following address:

48 Wimpole Street
London
W1G 8SF

Telephone: 0207 224 2247
Fax: 0207 935 2845
Email: drberkowitz@cosmeticclinics.co.uk
Website: www.wimpoleaesthetics.co.uk or www.cosmeticclinics.co.uk

Over the last few years my experience with using Radiesse has brought dramatic results to clients.

This dermal filler is very versatile and with the recent innovation of mixing Lignocaine anaesthetic with the product, has resulted in making the treatment a more comfortable experience.

I have been using it very successfully as an alternate to Sculptra; the advantage of Radiesse is that it gives instant results, as opposed to having to wait for 6 months plus for Sculptra to work.

Full facial volumisation is for clients who have lost volume in their cheeks, mid-face, have deep grooves in their nose/mouth and deep marionette lines (lines between lips/chin). Correction has to be made to all these areas using Radiesse dermal filler.

Our clients range for this treatment is around the 50+ range because of the ageing process or some of younger age who have lost a large amount of weight which is particularly showing on their face.

They usually have had no cosmetic intervention and suddenly realize after reading magazine articles, watching TV shows or researching the internet that something can be done to melt the years away.

In my experience around 6 syringes of 1.5cc Radiesse are required for full facial volumisation.
At Selston Cosmetic Clinic, full facial volumisation is competitively priced at £1500 for SIX 1.5cc syringes of Radiesse. Our normal price for a 1.5 cc Radiesse syringe is £300.

CLIENT 1

Before



After - two months later after SIX 1.3cc Radiesse syringes

• Age 67
• She had deep grooves nose/mouth and mouth to chin and general face sag.
• She had previously tried sculptura1 year ago …Which had given disappointing results

As you would agree, a nice result; also notice the confidence returning to the client in the after picture. How can you tell? Just look at the colour of her clothes

CLIENT 2

Before - Mid 2007



After - October 2009, she had 8cc 1.3cc syringes of Radiesse initially with maintenance treatments.

• Age late 50s
• She had marked volume loss of the entire face
• She required correction to all areas

As you would agree - again a nice result needless to say she feels a confident new woman, just look at the hairstyle change!

by Dr S R Bassi

Dr S.R. Bassi is the lead cosmetic physician in North Nottingham's premier medical cosmetic and laser clinic, Selston Cosmetic Clinic. Dr Bassi is also a national trainer to doctors and nurses in the use of Radiesse dermal fillers.