The cosmetic industry never sleeps and new developments are appearing all the time. The latest buzzwords are stem cells, carbon dioxide, and even blood, being injected back into the face to plump, smooth and iron out lines and wrinkles.
1. Dracula Therapy
Dracula Therapy or S3 Therapy (Stimulated Self Serum Skin Therapy), was introduced to the UK by innovative London-based French cosmetic doctor, Dr Daniel Sister. It’s not quite as scary as it sounds, but it does involve having your own plasma injected into your face.
Taking vials of blood taken from your arm, it is separated into red blood cells, clear serum and platelets. After adding vitamins and amino acids, the supercharged serum is injected into your face. The serum stimulates DNA repair, heals scars and makes dry, wrinkled and lacklustre skin feel and look younger. But most importantly, it triggers the growth of new collagen. All this without the need for fillers, lasers or peels.
Because the solution is injected deeper into the skin than regular fillers, there is little bruising or swelling, any of which will only last for a couple of days. The results are mild to moderate at first, and gain momentum with time, even up to six months, by which time a huge improvement can be seen, showing no signs of diminishing a year on.
S3 Therapy costs £500 (www.beautyworkswest.com)
2. The GYO (Grow Your Own) Face Lift
The GYO Face Lift is cosmetic surgeon, Dr Mario Luca Russo’s answer to the ‘natural’ face lift. Using liposuction, fat is removed from the abdomen, hips or thighs which is then processed to extract the stem and regenerative cells. The patient’s own stem cells are then injected into the areas of the face that need it.
However, as ‘fillers’ go, this is hardcore. Although the treatment is performed using local anaesthetic, possible side effects including swelling, bruising, and numbness may persist for up to two weeks. The full procedure lasts between three and four hours.
The GYO Face Lift costs £7,500 for the full face (http://www.therejuvenationclinic.co.uk/), which compared to a full surgical face lift, from £5,500, is considerably more, but it has a much shorter recovery time and is far less invasive and painful.
3. Carbox Therapy
Another first from cosmetic doctor, Dr Daniel Sister, Carbox Therapy is a ‘no trace face’ treatment that uses carbon dioxide - the odourless gas that is part of the air we breathe and that creates the fizz in Champagne – to banish dark circles, brighten the skin and tighten the jowls.
The carbon dioxide is injected into the skin and is all over in five minutes. The results are subtle, and this is not a treatment for deep lines and wrinkles, but it certainly leaves skin looking healthier, fresher and plumper.
Carbox Therapys costs £100 per session (www.beautyworkswest.com)
Next week.....Can face creams plump up the skin?
