April 25th, 2013

The Keogh Report on the Cosmetic Industry: My View

The NHS Medical Director, Sir Bruce Keogh, has submitted a report regarding cosmetic intervention, the content of which has sparked a media frenzy.

NHS Medical Director

The ‘Keogh Report’ contains guidelines that could have a big impact on Cosmetic Surgery in the UK.

Spurred on by the PIP breast implant scandal in 2011, Sir Keogh and a panel of industry professionals have created a 68-page document in which they have pulled the industry apart in order to rectify, regulate and reconstruct its existing flaws.

With quotes such as: “It is our view that dermal fillers are a crisis waiting to happen” in the report, it is easy to think the cosmetic industry is heading for trouble.

Well, in many ways, it is. It is in trouble because there isn’t always adequate protection or support for the patient and there is a host of unregulated, illegal products being used by people who are simply not qualified to administer it. This then often falls into the laps of the NHS, who are left to pick up the pieces.

If the Keogh Report regulations pass, Botox will be better controlled

If the Keogh Report regulations pass, Botox will be better controlled

The Keogh report proclaims that a person having a non-surgical cosmetic intervention has no more protection and redress than someone buying a ballpoint pen or a toothbrush. That simply has to change. One way is to classify fillers as a prescription-only medical device, a point made by the board.

I cannot tell you how relieved I am of the report’s findings and suggestions as I have encountered far too many unfortunate people who have come to me following botched surgery or unnecessary complications as a result of these so-called ‘Cosmetic Surgery Cowboys’.

We work to an incredibly high standard and ethos at Karidis, whereby our staff are fully qualified to carry out the treatments and where consent forms, cooling off periods, advice on alternative solutions and quality of care are the absolute norm.

With the cosmetic industry in the UK estimated to rise to £3.6 billion by 2015, the government must act quick to make sure the safety standards and common practice guidelines set out in the report are fully implemented to stop more people falling victim to pushy cosmetic sales people, irresponsible advertising, illegal wrinkle smoothing solutions and potentially life-threatening situations.

Only then will we be able to improve the industry as a whole, for both the patient and the professionals.

Follow the link below to read the full report: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/192028/Review_of_the_Regulation_of_Cosmetic_Interventions.pdf

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April 5th, 2013

The One Stitch Face Lift: Unravelled

 

In my experience, quick-fix procedures that sound too good to be true in the world of cosmetic surgery, often are and this can be said of the ‘One-Stitch Face Lift’.

The minor surgical procedure, also referred to as the Silhouette / Thread Lift, is performed under local anaesthetic and usually takes under an hour. Two incisions are made on each side of the hairline and a barbed thread is inserted by a long needle which then anchors itself in the tissue around the cheek. The thread is then pulled, creating the lift, and secured with a suture.

Mr Karidis gives his verdict.

Sounds quite straightforward doesn’t it? However, don’t forget,  this IS still an invasive procedure and as such isn’t always as straightforward as the title may suggest. The one stitch face lift can cause scarring from the incisions, there is still a period of downtime after the procedure and the results are only said to last up to 18- 24 months. Furthermore having performed similar thread lifts in the past myself, I also found problems with the “threads” extruding from the skin as well infections developing around the tracts of where the threads were inserted.

Moreover, as a cosmetic surgeon  one of my main concerns is that there is no longevity in the results and it feels like a false promise. The client will often pay a lot of money and not get the matching, long lasting results they deserve.

My advice is to have a consultation to determine whether you even need to go down the surgical route. If your situation is such that you do not have significant skin laxity or droop, then it could well be that Ultherapy would be a better option for you. Ulthera is a completely and truly non-invasive, non-surgical treatment which is both effective and simple to perform. It uses ultrasound to tighten, shrink and stimulate your skin’s natural ability to rejuvenate and rebuild the collagen. Furthermore it is only performed once and so no need for multiple sessions.

Alternatively of course, it may be advised that Ulthera wouldn’t be effective and the best solution to complaints of sagging skin and jowls would be best treated by a full or part-face lift. However if this is what you require, then you should not fear this but accept it. The truth is that, provided a face lift is performed by a suitably experienced surgeon, it should be able to turn the clock back effectively and give you many years of satisfaction. In these situations,  there is no point in offering a lesser or smaller procedure just to appease you or entice you into having surgery.

Ultimately, the saying is true: “You get what you put in” and if that is one stitch, you shouldn’t expect too much in return, so please do keep your options open and do what is best for your skin, your look and what you want to achieve.

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March 14th, 2013

Will you be a sucker for the ‘Vampire Facelift’?

 

American Reality TV star Kim Kardashian caused controversy this week when she shared photos of herself undergoing a Vampire Facelift. The ominously titled procedure gained press attention earlier this year when it was included via gift certificate in Oscar nominees’ gift bags. As a result, I’ve been approached by numerous people over the past month all asking the very same question… What exactly is a Vampire Facelift?

The first thing to note is that the procedure is much less scary than the name suggests… The non-invasive procedure provides patients with fantastic results without the need of going under the knife. The 90-minute procedure begins with roughly two teaspoons of blood being drawn from the patient’s arm. This is then spun through a centrifuge for around 6 minutes, during which time the red and white blood cells separate. This process produces a plasma rich with platelets, or very small cells, which stimulate the growth of more cells.

The platelets are reinjected back into the face, neck and décolletage in areas viewed as ‘trouble spots’. These include the wrinkles under the eyes, the neck and the ‘tram lines’ that run from the nose down to the mouth. The platelets need to be injected back into the face within ten minutes of the blood sample being drawn; otherwise they coagulate and turn to jelly.

Platelet-rich Plasma Therapy, as it is commonly referred to amongst medical professionals, is one of the best and safest procedures for skin rejuvenation and boosts the creation of new blood cells and collagen without surgery.

Would you consider a Vampire Facelift? Tweet me @MrAlexKaridis

For more information on Platelet-rich Plasma Therapy and other treatments available at the clinic, please visit my website.

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March 11th, 2013

A Spot Of Trouble

As people enter their forties it is often assumed that the bad skin that has plagued them since their teenage years will be long gone. Yet for many this is far from the case…

Thankfully there are multiple courses of treatment available to treat this painful, embarrassing and sometimes disfiguring condition. Everything from the contraceptive pill, to antibiotics and intense pulse light therapy have been proven as effective solutions to achieving a clearer complexion.

However, tackling the initial outbreak is often just the beginning of the battle, with some spots leaving scars that can take months, or even years to fade.

In addition to the face, acne outbreaks are also common on the chest and back, which can have a damaging effect on a person’s self esteem and even dictate what they choose to wear.

In extreme cases, acne can even leave permanent scars on the skin’s surfaces, and as celebrity sufferers Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry and Cameron Diaz can confirm – make up can only cover so much…

 

 

I receive a significant number of enquiries from women in their 30s, 40s and older, asking for solutions to eradicate their acne scars.  Here at the clinic, we offer a number of treatments aimed at improving the appearance of the skin, the treatment that I most often recommend for this type of scarring is Micro-Needling.

Medical Micro-Needling is a treatment that constitutes a form of Collagen Induction Therapy (CIT). It is also referred to as a non ablative skin treatment. This means that the deeper parts of the skin are treated without removing the top layer of skin. Its ability to improve skin colour and other skin texture changes means that is an effective solution for light scarring from acne and photodamage.

For more information of this procedure, please visit my website.

Do you suffer from adult acne? Tweet me @MrAlexKaridis

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March 8th, 2013

The ‘Thigh-Gap’ Trend

The ‘thigh-gap’ first sparked controversy last month, when Twitter users admitted that they were prepared to stop eating in order to achieve the super-slim thighs of the models they saw on the catwalk’s at fashion week.

This trend had spread far and wide across the social landscape, with dedicated sites such as ‘Mind The Gap’ and Twitter account, @CarasThighGap, which cites model, Cara Delevigne.

The desire for such slim thighs is so strong, that some surgeons have  reported an increase in demand for thigh specific procedures.

While diet and exercise can help slim down and tone the area, there will always be stubborn pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise alone; liposuction can help with this.

Inner thigh liposuction is a common area of concern among many women who visit my clinic looking to have the procedure. The treatment can significantly improve the silhouette of the thigh and sculpt problem areas. Following  the procedure, the patient will be able to instantly see and feel a difference.

During an initial consultation with your surgeon, you will be assessed on your suitability for the treatment and your expectation for the end result. Your surgeon will give you a realistic overview of the results you can achieve. It is important to remember that liposuction alone will not give long lasting results, a healthy diet and exercise routine are also needed to prolong the results..

If you would like any further information on the treatment, please don’t hesitate to contact me on Twitter @MrAlexKaridis or alternatively, call a member of my team on 0207 432 8727.

 

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March 5th, 2013

The Curse of the Hollywood Botox Binge

Despite not being nominated, Renee Zellweger managed to garner a large amount of attention at last Sunday’s Academy Awards due to her surprisingly youthful complexion.

The 43 year old’s face, and its lack of movement, caused something of a debate on Twitter during Sunday night’s ceremony, with many users speculating that she had resorted to cosmetic treatments to turn back the clock.

In my opinion, the smoothness of her complexion and omission of any wrinkles is unnatural for a woman of her age. From her appearance I believe that she has undergone a non-surgical treatment such as Botox, though her lack of expression suggests that she may have been prescribed a little too much.

Renee wouldn’t be the first Hollywood actress to resort to Botox as a means of competing with a more youthful Hollywood crowd; Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman and Courtney Cox have all admitted to having Botox treatment in the past.

Botox is a purified protein that works by relaxing the contracted muscles in the face that cause wrinkles, thus creating a more youthful look.

At my clinic, we selectively address problem areas in order to achieve a natural, rejuvenated appearance for all of our clients. In Renee’s case, I would say that through overdoing her Botox treatments, she has failed to achieve this effect.

What do you think of Renee’s new look? Tweet me @MrAlexKaridis

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Posted in Botox Treatment | 1 Comment »
March 1st, 2013

The Rising trend for Bro-tox

Clinics across Britain have reported a rise in the number of men opting for ‘Brotox’ last year, and here at my clinic I can certainly vouch for that.

Year-on-year I have seen a five percent increase in the number of male patients visiting the clinic for treatments, and a recent study revealed that in one in five Botox patients are, in fact, male.

Famous fans of the procedure include Simon Cowell, Gordon Ramsay and David Hasselhoff – resulting in the term ‘Bro-tox’ – which has lead to the treatment becoming more acceptable for men.

Male clients often approach me in their late thirties wanting a fresher, more youthful appearance – therefore in most cases we would look to treat the glabella lines, which are frown lines between your eyebrows.

Nowadays most people spend the majority of their day at a computer causing them to inadvertently frown for hours on end which can have a wear and tear affect on the region. By applying Botox to the area, we are able to block impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. The treatment relaxes the muscles so that they do not contract. When muscles relax, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles continue to contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial lines to be unaffected.

If you would like any further information on the treatment, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or a member of my team on: 020 7432 8754

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February 25th, 2013

The ‘Fuller Faced’ Celebrity Trend

It seems that a trend for fuller ‘puffier’ looking faces has swept the celebrity world recently with stars including; Madonna, Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Holden all choosing to ‘plump up the volume’ in order to achieve a more youthful looking appearance.

I was recently asked to comment on this trend in the popular women’s magazines – Closer and Women’s Own. Looking closely at two British stars in particular who appear to have adopted this trend…

Starting with Amanda Holden – If we compare the most recent pictures of her to those taken last year, it would appear she may have had dermal fillers around the nose mouth and lips. Her smooth forehead and lack of lines around the eyes point to Botox, and it would also seem that she may have had cheek fillers to plump up her skin. The smooth appearance of her skin could well be the result of a medical facial, such as microdermabrasion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up is Patsy Kensit where unfortunately, it would seem that the actress’ attempts to remain youthful have actually resulted in her adding years to her face.

Patsy, who has admitted to having cosmetic surgery in the past, says that she now prefers to have non-surgical treatments as she feels they give a ‘fantastically natural result’. However, in my opinion Patsy may have taken this a little bit too far. As you get older, your skin tends to lose its plumpness. Fillers can act to replace this and help you achieve a more youthful look; but in this instance, it seems to have had the opposite effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I have often noted in previous blog posts, our philosophy at the clinic is very much ‘less is more’ and we achieve this by selectively addressing the problem areas to achieve a natural look for all our clients.

If you are thinking of having an anti ageing treatment, and would like some advice, please don’t hesitate to tweet me @MrAlexKaridis.

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February 21st, 2013

Is your workout ageing you?

In order to look picture perfect in front of the camera, many actresses in Hollywood follow intense exercise regimes, and exercise – like anything done to excess, has the potential to age you…

Years of running, weight training, dancing and cycling have given them bodies that women half their age would kill for, but have their faces paid the price?

Many people talk of developing a ‘runner’s face’, believing that pounding the pavement will have a negative impact on the skin – however this is not the case. It is actually the free radical damage from an increased intake of oxygen that contributes to ageing. Free radicals are atoms that can cause damage to your cells and speed up the ageing process. However it takes very strenuous exercise to increase cell damage, so jogging a few times a week isn’t going to create a noticeable impact on the tautness of your skin.

In my experience, people who exercise outdoors are likely to be more susceptible to ageing than those who favour the gym, as many fail to protect their skin against sun damage. This can cause an array of skin problems, from age spots to premature wrinkling. If you’ve been left with wrinkles as a result of sun damage from exercising outdoors, we have a range of excellent treatments specifically designed to target premature ageing. Chemical peels and Botox can help reverse signs of ageing, enabling you to look as youthful on the inside as you feel on the outside.

A chemical peel works by removing the top layer of the skin (epidermis), stimulating the dermis to promote cell renewal. Peels are usually carried out in a series to ‘train’ the dermis to create tighter cells, giving the skin a smoother look.

Are you unhappy with the effect that running has had on your body? Tweet me @MrAlexKaridis

For more information on anti-ageing treatments at my clinic, please visit my website.

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February 20th, 2013

Bring your skin back to life with the hydrating Oxygen Treatment

The winter months are notorious for drying and dehydrating the skin. With this in mind, why not inject a new lease of life into your skin with the innovative Oxygen Treatment, now available in my London Clinic and Liverpool Medispa.

Favoured by celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law, the Oxygen Treatment helps to combat the negative effects of everyday life and pollution leaving your skin looking and feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It was recently reported that pop star Madonna even has a machine of her own that accompanies her on her travels.

The treatment uses a high pressured Oxygen delivery system that pushes light molecules of hyaluronic acid into the deeper layers of the skin along with Vitamins A, C and E for cellular repair. Following the treatment advanced products are used to lock in the hydration and ensure your skin maintains that soft, supple feeling.

Results will be noticeable following one treatment but for optimum results, I’d recommend a course of six weekly treatments. These results can last for up to three months following a full programme.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the Oxygen Treatment, call my team on 0207 432 8727 or you can tweet me directly @MrAlexKaridis

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