The world of tweakments is booming and interest in this beauty sector isn't looking likely to wane any time soon. For many, injectable hydration boosters and glow-givers like Volite and Profhilo and semi-permanent make-up options like lip blush have become a regular fixture in their long-term skincare and beauty routines.
Recently award-winning aesthetics doctor Dr Sophie Shotter took to Instagram this week to spotlight the nine treatments she decided to book in for before her 40th birthday. From injectables to radiofrequency facials, here's everything she ticked off:
Dr Sophie Shotter On The Aesthetic Treatments She Booked In For Before Her 40th Birthday
'People have always told me that I look young for my age, whatever that really means. And much of that can be attributed to the fact that I have been diligent about my skincare regime from quite an early age. I also make time for regular professional treatments to help maintain my collagen levels and keep my complexion healthy. I decided to ramp up my efforts in the lead up to my 40th birthday. Here are the treatments I booked in for:'
1/ CoolMini
'CoolSculpting's innovative 'CoolMini' is a fat pocket reduction treatment and is ideal for targeting small pockets of fat. It works by freezing the fat cells to -11*C, killing between 1/4 and 1/3 of the cells in the targeted area. I used it to reduce my under chin area, which I’ve always struggled with as I have a naturally smaller jaw. Results can be seen in as little as eight weeks.'
2/ Sofwave
'I’ve been losing collagen for around 15 years or so now. Sofwave is excellent at stimulating the production of new collagen and tightening the skin. I wanted to tighten my face and neck and help keep my skin firm. Sofwave is a novel type of ultrasound skin tightening device, which is very different to other devices on the market. It works to create parallel cylinders of heat in the skin at a depth of 1.5mm. This means that a larger volume of tissue is heated than with other devices, and more energy is delivered. I had the treatment back in November, allowing 3 months for the collagen stimulation to really kick in, and my skin to be tighter.'
3/ Volite
'Volite is an injectable Hyaluronic Acid that boosts skin hydration and glow. The HA injected actually stays in the skin and holds moisture there forsix-to-nine months. It is injected superficially in a series of tiny injections and really helps skin glow, feel smoother and more hydrated. I always notice when it’s worn off, as my skin is less radiant, and make-up just doesn’t sit quite so well.'
4/ Botox
'I have regular treatment every three-to-four months. It targets my frown, forehead, around the eyes, chin, neck and jaw. I do have jaw grinding issues and find it so helpful for that. It prevents fine lines and wrinkles but it also helps to balance my muscles so that my mouth corners stay turned upward turned rather than downwards.'
5/ HArmonyCa
'This was administered expertly by my colleague and friend Dr Tapan. HArmonyCa is a novel hybrid injectable product which adds volume and lift as well as addressing laxity. It combines a cross-linked hyaluronic acid which provides immediate lift and volume with calcium hydroxyapatite for collagen stimulation. This means you have an immediate result which continues to improve over the following three-to-six months, with less laxity and less fine lines and wrinkles particularly on animation.'
'Tapan used this through my jawline to support my lower face and stimulate some tightening where I had early laxity.'
6/ Fillers
'Again, administered by Dr Tapan (there are very few people I trust with my face!), in strategic places where it was needed. I maintain my filler consistently, so we refreshed wherever needed, including my chin, jawline and cheeks. I don’t want to look different, but I do want to maintain myself.'
'I have a small chin and have had this treated with filler for many years. I had fillers injected to my cheeks and chin on this occasion, but have previously also had other areas treated. The key is that you don’t necessarily need everywhere treated every single time - you need to work with an expert who you trust, who assesses your face as a whole on each occasion.'
7/ Profhilo
'This is an injectable bioremodeller that makes my skin feel smoother, firmer and more hydrated. Rather than altering the shape of your face or relaxing your muscles, this skin booster delivers hydration deep into your skin to help plump, moisturise, smooth and give a radiant glow! It's injected within the skin to stimulate neocollagenesis (boosting collagen and helping skin to repair). I had two sessions four weeks apart to my face, neck and décolletage.'
8/ Venus Viva nano-fractional RF
'This is a nano fractional radiofrequency device, meaning the energy is delivered into the skin through multiple tiny pins. I wanted to use it to refine the texture of my skin, tighten pores, and help target fine lines around my eyes and neck. I had a course of treatments to refine my skin texture, keep pores tight and address any fine textural lines.'
9/ Permanent make-up
'I’ve long wanted to try this, and had a treatment at Tracie Giles. I had whip shaded eyeliner to help define my eye shape (I always wear liquid liner anyway), and lip blush. This was all super subtle, but as we age our lips do lose pigmentation and I wanted to restore some of that pink-ness which I felt had started to go.'
If you're considering booking in for any aesthetic treatments, always do your own thorough research before making an appointment. Ask to see your practitioner's credentials and if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. For more advice on booking in for cosmetic treatments, click here.