A new year is upon us and for many people, this means resolutions regarding their health and well-being. Healthy eating and exercise are the golden standard for looking your best, however, sometimes some extra help is needed to combat the effects of busy lifestyles, ageing, environmental damage, and stubborn fat deposits.
Plastic surgeon at The Specialist Laser and Cosmetic Institute (SCIN), Dr. Gertruida van Niekerk, together with specialist dermatologist Dr. S’lindile Ndwalane, give their insights into some of the hottest medical aesthetic procedures to have you looking and feeling your best in 2022.
IV Vitamin Therapy
“Intravenous vitamin drips deliver essential vitamins and antioxidants directly into the bloodstream, for maximum absorption,” explains Dr. Sli. “IV infusions can be used to maintain optimum health, vitality, and performance, as well as to support the treatment of a variety of illnesses and chronic conditions. Some of the key benefits include increased energy levels, improved health and immunity, enhanced mood, reduced stress, boosted hydration and muscle recovery, and enhanced skin health and brightening.”
Vampire Facial
A vampire facial or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment is a procedure that aims to use a patient’s own blood to trick the body into healing and repair. The blood is extracted and undergoes a spinning process to separate the plasma, which is injected back by puncturing the skin using a dermapen or injections.
“I recommend this procedure for clients requiring collagen induction to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. PRP will also assist with the firming and tightening of the skin and improves moisture retention,” says Dr. Sli.
Thread Lift
A thread lift is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure where temporary sutures are used to produce a “lift” in the skin. A thread lift is performed in a clinic with minimal downtime and recovery.
“A thread lift restores “the triangle of youth” without surgery by immediately repositioning the sagging tissue and gradually stimulating the collagen production.”
Micro-Needling
“Medical micro-needling is a form of collagen induction therapy (CIT) that is extremely popular,” says Dr. Sli. “The idea behind micro-needling is that it creates a controlled injury underneath the skin’s surface, inducing the body to respond with the formation of new elastin and collagen, as well as new capillaries for an improved blood supply in the treated area. The skin plumps and thickens in response, reducing the appearance of scars, fine lines, and other skin texture changes.”
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injectable substances designed to erase wrinkles, augment lips, enhance volume and restore the youthful contour of the face by plumping up the area.
“This treatment has been around for some years and continues to grow in popularity,” says Dr van Niekerk. “We are seeing a move towards specific kinds of dermal fillers – as a variety of options are available – with patients looking for options such as hyaluronic acid, which is a natural substance found in all living organisms.
Chemical Peels
According to Dr van Niekerk, chemical peels are a top treatment request. “Chemical peels make use of chemical solutions to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers. They are helpful for the treatment of facial blemishes, wrinkles, and uneven skin pigmentation. With a chemical peel, you see an immediate brightening and smoothing of your skin. With time and regular peels, your skin regains its youthful glow, has fewer fine lines and a more even tone and texture.”
Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Laser skin rejuvenation improves sun-damaged skin, scars, and minor facial flaws. It also treats conditions such as excessive redness, large pores, uneven texture, and fine-line wrinkles.
“Laser skin resurfacing removes skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during healing give the skin a tighter, younger looking surface and reduce pigmentation,” explains Dr. van Niekerk.
Fat Transfers or Fat Grafting
Fat grafting is a procedure that takes fat from areas in which you have excess and injects it into areas that may be lacking in volume, such as your face, hands, breasts, or buttocks.
Dr van Niekerk advises that fat is harvested from one part of your body, washed, and purified, and then carefully reinjected with specially designed needles into the areas that need augmentation. “This is a safe, long-lasting, well-tolerated procedure that produces natural-looking results.”
In office liposuction
In-office liposuction gets done using local anaesthetic in the doctor’s rooms and uses controlled laser wavelengths which focus on the targeted area to painlessly liquefy the fat. A medical suction device is then applied to gently remove the liquefied fat from the affected area.
“The fat cells eliminated with this procedure are gone for good, and the patient goes through minimal to no downtime and discomfort – most patients will resume their normal routine and return to their workplace in about one to three days,” says Dr van Niekerk. “In-office liposuction can be used to sculpt the neck, chin, arms, breasts, back, flanks or love handles, abdomen, thighs, hips, pubis, knees, ankles and other areas where diet and exercise resistant fat is present.”
Electromagnetic technology for muscle toning and fat burning
Emsculpt is a breakthrough device which offers non-invasive body contouring to eliminate fat and build muscle.
“With Emsculpt, high intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology triggers rapid muscle contractions in the treatment region. During a half-hour procedure, you may experience up to 20,000 muscle contractions, a total that is significantly greater than can be achieved during exercise. These muscle contractions stimulate a process that eliminates fat and builds muscle in the treatment region,” advises Dr van Niekerk.
Radio frequency and ultrasound energy waves for slimming and skin tightening
Exilis is a no-downtime, no pain, in-office procedure used for both combined skin tightening and non-invasive fat removal and body contouring.
“Exilis is used to tone skin and improve skin texture while reducing fat, firming skin, reducing wrinkles and it also combats cellulite. It is a head-to-toe treatment using radio frequency technology. Exilis is completed as a series of sessions and delivers radio frequency and ultrasound energy waves as heat below the surface of the skin, safely destroying fat cells, firming skin, and triggering collagen production. Popular areas include saddle bags, stomach, love handles, thighs, face, and intimate areas.”
For more visit www.scinmed.com.
