Dermal fillers are a minimally invasive, non-surgical cosmetic procedure used to enhance facial features by adding volume and plumpness for an overall fresher and rejuvenated look. Dermal fillers consist of a concentrated gel-like substance called hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid (HA or hyaluronan) is a compound naturally produced and found in the skin. It works to heal, hydrate and promote collagen formation for a smoother texture with elasticity. We naturally cycle through our own production of HA every 24hrs and as we age this cycle declines in productivity leading to the loss of volume in our face and body – our bones resorb and the fat pads that lay on top begin to thin. Some common areas of concern include the lips, cheeks, chin, jawline, marionettes, nasolabial folds, tear troughs, temples, and fine lines. There are different types of filler that accommodate different areas. These differences lie within the viscosity of the filler, i.e. thin gels are used for fine lines, thin to medium gels are used to define and volumize the lips and surrounding area, thick gels are used to sculpt the cheeks, jawline, temples and chin, etc. Results with dermal fillers are immediate and last approximately 6 – 24mths depending on what type of filler you use and where it’s injected. Downtime is minimal. At Face Doctors, we have qualified doctors and nurses here to help you achieve your aesthetic goals and answer any questions you may have regarding cosmetic procedures.
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Botox® is a non-surgical procedure commonly used for cosmetic purposes to reduce fine lines and wrinkles caused by the natural aging process. Not only does Botox® achieve a more youthful appearance by smoothing the face, but it’s also used as a highly sought-after medical remedy to relieve uncomfortable conditions such as jaw clenching (bruxism), migraines, excessive sweating, and muscle spasms. This popular treatment works by blocking communicative signals between the nerves and muscles of the targeted area, preventing them from tensing and contracting. Repetitive micro movements (i.e. facial expressions) are what cause these lines and creases to form and become more dynamic over time. The effects of Botox® are temporary, typically seen within a few days of treatment and lasting a few months before it’s time for a top up. At Face Doctors, we have qualified doctors and nurses here to help you achieve your aesthetic goals and restore your overall wellbeing.
What do you get a fashionista and a self-care champion for her birthday? Well, definitely aim for something on the beauty and style side of the spectrum. Today, both beauty and style are very wide categories so you’ll have a lot of freedom when it comes to your gift choices, just keep in mind the birthday girl and her lifestyle and preferences. These ideas that follow are just some of the best choices for all women that love to look beautiful, pampered and stylish:
New brushes Here’s a simple gift solution—new makeup brushes. Makeup brushes, especially quality ones, are not cheap or easy to find, but if you manage to dig out a good set, your birthday girl will have a bunch of new allies for her beauty routine. Pay attention that the brand you choose is thinking about sustainability and materials, but also style. For instance, the Gucci Westman’s collection has managed to charm big names like Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon and Anne Hathaway, so your gift recipient would be happy to find herself in such a company thanks to her new gift. Beauty treatment Pampering and self-care are very popular and for all the right reasons. They make us feel great about ourselves and allow us to relax, unwind and enjoy our lives to the fullest. If you want to provide your birthday girl with a gift of pampering and beauty, go with a set of treatments in your local spa or clinic. Choose something the establishment is specializing in, such as anti-ageing treatments or even plastic surgery, and find a treatment that will target your girt recipient’s problem areas. There’s a variety of treatments from medical facials to light therapy, fat freezing and PRP treatments that might sound interesting to your birthday girl. Flowers Here’s a classic gift that can many anyone feel like the main character—fresh flowers. These are gorgeous, elegant and fragrant, just like your gift recipient. However, flowers can be wasteful. If your birthday girl is very eco-friendly and a true plant lover, you can present her with a nice live plant for her apartment. Some cities like Sydney even have services that arrange for new plants to appear right on your doorstep. Search for stylish plant gifts in Sydney and surprise your B-day girl with a home or work delivery. Everyone loves to be surprised with such an elegant and beautiful delivery so your gift will definitely be appreciated. Piece of activewear Any girl that cares about beauty also cares about fitness, because today, these two go hand in hand. For a fitness lover and an active lifestyle person, a new piece of quality workout gear is a very smart, thoughtful and fun gift. For instance, you can go with a quality sweat-wicking pair of leggings and a sports bra. These two will provide her with all the comfort and confidence she needs during a workout, but also ensure she looks perfectly stylish even when blushed and sweaty. And her workout selfies will be fire! Complexion fixer If your birthday girl is struggling with keeping her complexion clear and uniform, why not get a quality brightening product? This skincare product is specially designed to address skin discolouration and give you clear and bright skin all over. If a person wants to even out any imperfections and remove dark spots, this is a product that they are dreaming about. With continued use, your gift recipient should expect a reduction in dark spots, skin rich in antioxidants and quality addition to their skincare routine perfect for all skin types. Classic jewellery Who doesn’t love jewellery! Still, after all this time and forever, jewellery will stay one of the most desirable, elegant and stylish presents anyone can give or receive. If you want to go big with your purchase, choose diamonds, but these expensive gems are not the only option. A thin cord bracelet will look very elegant and medium hoops will be very fun. No matter the occasion, once she tries on her new jewellery, she’ll be overjoyed with all the compliments. These gifts are all designed to boost beauty, provide elegance and make the recipient feel great about themselves. She is guaranteed to love any gift from this list. Belkyra (similar to Kybella) is a fat-dissolving treatment used to improve the appearance of double chins. Dr Morunga talks about the process, the ideal candidate, the results and the downtime for Belkyra in this video. Check it out, and get in touch if you have any questions! Madatory Information:
BELKYRA® injection is a prescription medicine containing 10 mg/mL deoxycholic acid. It is used for the improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe convexity or fullness associated with fat below the jaws in adults. Do not use in people allergic to this medicine, with infection at site of injection, pregnancy, and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, difficulty swallowing, nausea, skin tightness, hypertension, injection site bruising/pain/swelling/numbness/redness/tingling/hardness/itching/discolouration/formation of small areas of hardness/warmth and injection site nerve injury. BELKYRA® treatment is not funded on the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule. You will need to pay for this medicine. Normal Doctors visit fees apply. BELKYRA® treatment should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Speak to your specialist about your own situation and about the benefits/risks of this procedure in appearance medicine. For further information, the Data Sheet and Consumer Medicines Information can be accessed at www.medsafe.govt.nz or ask your doctor. If you have any side effects or concerns speak to your doctor. Note: Results from BELKYRA® treatment usually last up to 4 years. Allergan New Zealand Limited, Auckland. Join Dr Mark Morunga as he talks about hair loss and thinning, and also what treatments are available for hair regrowth. Dr Morunga takes us through the process at Face Doctors in this video, discussing what the consult process looks like as well as some options for treatment. If you suffer from hair loss or thinning, you can take our free, no obligation and confidential hair loss online consultation. Or, if you would like to learn more about the Vampire Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Hair Growth treatment, you can read more here. Following best practice and based on information provided by the New Zealand Society of Cosmetic Medicine, current guidelines suggest that you should not have dermal fillers two weeks before, or three weeks after your Covid vaccine or booster.
Here is our recommendation:
There is currently no evidence that the Covid vaccination has any effect on any other cosmetic procedures. Some background and facts: The media hype started as it was reported that in a trial of almost 15,184 patients with the Moderna Vaccine, 3 patients reported facial swelling a few days after the vaccine and they had had prior facial fillers (<0,02%). In all 3 cases, the swelling resolved with some oral antihistamine or steroid tablets with no further issues. This prompted a bit of frenzy but what’s been reported in the media about the facial swelling after Covid vaccine isn’t a new phenomenon at all! The aesthetics industry was expecting the potential for this type of reaction. We’ve always known that when the body fights any infection, fillers may very rarely feel swollen and tender. This is short-lived swelling is known as a Delayed Inflammatory Reaction (DIR), which can occur weeks, months or even years after placement of the filler, when the immune system is challenged. Other potential triggers include:
A vaccination mimics an infection to create immunity and hence can trigger the same response. It is important to note that it’s not the filler causing the problem but rather a result of the body responding to the vaccine and not the vaccine “infecting” the filler. A recent global survey has shown that the currently available Covid-19 vaccines DO NOT have any greater a risk of a soft tissue reaction than the other triggers in the list above. In most cases the swelling subsides spontaneously as you recover and no further treatment is needed. However extremely rarely does it require antihistamines, steroids, antibiotics or having the filler broken down. References: 1. UK ACE Group guidelines on SARS-CoV2: https://uk.acegroup.online/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/03/ACE-Group-Guidelines-SARS-CoV-2.pdf 2. Gotkin, R.H et al (April 2021). Global Recommendations on COVID-19 Vaccines and Soft Tissue Filler Reactions: J Drugs Dermatol, 20(4): doi:10.36849/JDD.2021.6041 3. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Guidance Regarding SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Side Effects in Dermal Filler Patients: www.asds.net/Portals/0/PDF/secure/ASDS-SARS-CoV-2-Vaccine-Guidance.pdf. 4. Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Surgery :Coronavirus Vaccine Considerations for the Aesthetic Patient Mar 2021 doi.org/10.1089/fpsam.2020.0638 In this video, Dr Mark Morunga talks about our Vampire Facial Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment. This treatment uses micro-needling augmented with the PRP treatment to create long-lasting results, including firmer, tighter and younger looking skin. This treatment can be used on other areas of the body too, like the chest area to tighten it up and get rid of tough, crepe-like skin. Interested in this treatment? Contact us now to book your obligation free consult with the Face Doctors team. The cold, dry, and incredibly harsh winter air can truly take a toll on our skin. During this period, many people experience dryness, flakiness, irritation, and sometimes even cracked skin that can be quite itchy and painful. But even though these symptoms might be common when experiencing such harsh weather, your skin doesn’t necessarily have to suffer throughout the winter months. With the right skincare routine, you could easily maintain a soft and hydrated complexion during winter, and here are some beneficial tips that will help you achieve just that:
Switch to gentler ingredientsAs our skin tends to be drier, more sensitive, and more prone to irritation during wintertime, it’s important to focus on more mild and gentle ingredients that aim to nourish and repair the skin, without overly stripping it. Whether it’s a cleanser or a body wash, try to avoid fragrances and harsh ingredients, and opt for milkier or oilier formulations that tend to be milder options. Choose products that contain glycerin and hyaluronic to ensure proper hydration, and focus on beneficial ceramides to help repair your skin’s moisture barrier in harsh winter weather. However, if you suffer from conditions such as extreme dryness, rosacea, or eczema, it might be best to schedule a skin consultation with a professional to find the right winter treatment for your skin. Improve your moisturiserOnce your skin is hydrated with proper ingredients, it’s essential to apply a good moisturiser that will help to trap moisture on your skin, preventing transepidermal water loss, and leading to soft and supple skin. Instead of more lightweight or even gel-based moisturisers that might have suited you in the summer, switch to slightly thicker and heavier options in the winter, to battle the harsh, cold weather. When it comes to your body, it’s also recommended to choose ointments and thicker creams over lighter lotions to ensure proper hydration. Your body moisturiser should be applied on damp skin, as soon as you leave the shower or bath, to keep your skin soft and smooth in winter. Invest in quality productsWhile we might feel free to experiment with different products during the warmer months, dry and sensitive winter skin requires very thoughtful care. Not only are the beneficial ingredients we choose important, but also the quality of these ingredients, as well as the overall formulation of the products. For this reason, it might be best to only select luxury skin care products when constructing your winter beauty routine. From cleansers and essences to serums and moisturisers, high-end products tend to contain high-quality ingredients that are incredibly potent, helping to efficiently nourish and care for sensitive winter skin. Stay away from hot waterAlthough taking a hot shower or bath might seem like the perfect solution for warming up in cold weather, this could actually be quite damaging to your skin. Water that is too hot can further dehydrate your skin, leading to flakiness, cracks, irritation, increased sensitivity, and other skin concerns. Instead, it might be a much better option to use warm or lukewarm water, and only take showers that are 5 to 10 minutes long, in an effort to prevent excessive water loss and dryness. Don’t forget to apply a good moisturiser as soon as you leave the shower, in order to protect your skin’s barrier and maintain soft and hydrated skin throughout the colder months. Try to keep moisture in the airApart from being quite cold and harsh, winter air also tends to be incredibly dry. And while this isn’t often a concern many people have, such dry air could pull moisture from your skin, leading to dehydration, excessive dryness, and flakiness, among other skin concerns. To combat this winter dryness, it might be a good idea to use a humidifier in your home, including your bedroom. By keeping the humidity level between 45% and 55%, a humidifier can help bring moisture back into the air, particularly if you tend to blast the heat. Drinking a few extra glasses of water a day might also be helpful when it comes to keeping your skin soft and hydrated. Even though the cold, dry, and harsh winter weather can often wreak havoc on your skin, adhering to the helpful tips mentioned above will allow you to combat winter air, and maintain a soft, supple, and hydrated complexion. The big 30 is approaching, and it's time to draw the line and sum up what you've been doing wrong with your skincare so far. There's no doubt you've been putting your skin through a lot in the previous decade, and now you need to become more attentive. All those nights you went to bed with your make up on, went out without wearing a sunblock and indulging in junk food need to stop. Your days of experimenting with partners, beauty and health need to stay behind you as you begin a new healthy chapter of your life.
Wash and cleanse your face thoroughly. You know how in your 20s, you couldn't care less for removing all the makeup before bed? In your 30s, you won't be able to have that luxury. Chances are your skin remembered all the lazy bedtimes when you skipped your beauty routine, and you have wrinkles to prove it. Once you hit the big 30, you need to be religious about skincare. Thoroughly removing the makeup with micellar water and face wash is of the essence. Follow up with thoroughly washing your face with lukewarm water and cleansing it with a cleanser appropriate for your skin type. We recommend you use some of the facial cleansing brushes to be sure all the makeup and oils have dissolved and removed. Hydrate all the time We couldn't emphasise the need for hydration strongly enough. Once your body is dehydrated, it will instantly show on your skin, nails and even hair. Keeping yourself stocked up on H2O will not only make you more energised and awake, but also radiant. Investing in a reusable water bottle would be a wise choice, as you'll want to bring it everywhere with you. Keep it on your desk as you work, put it in your bag when you need to go out and keep yourself hydrated all day long. Pay attention to your diet Forget about all those sugary sodas, energy drinks and alcohol. Hydrating yourself with water is the best practice. Not only because it'll offer the healthiest hydration but because it'll prevent you from gaining weight too. You're an adult now, and you need to start acting more responsibly. Avoid junk food and takeout, but cook for yourself. No more crunchy and sweet food that causes cavities galore. Instead, opt for fruits, veggies, lean meat and whole grains to keep you fit and your teeth healthy. The last thing you need is a chipped tooth or cavities that arose due to your unhealthy diet. In case it’s too late to prevent a problem, you can always turn to Sydney’s best Chatswood orthodontics and solve your dental problem quickly. Invest in high-end serums Moisturizing is vital in your 30s. You need to make sure your skin is supple and plump, and the best way to do it is to always offer it enough moisture. Facial serums are a much better alternative to creams, as they won’t cause any breakouts. Your skin will get all the moisture that it needs, without the risk of clogged pores. Be sure you apply the serum to your face and all the way down to your breasts. Your neck and décolletage should also get the necessary care and moisture to prevent turkey neck and wrinkled cleavage early on. Slather on SPF Sun protection has never been a higher imperative than in your 30s. If you've spent days upon days in tanning salons when you were in your early 20s, now it's time to pretend you've never done it. Tanning under the harmful sun UV rays is dangerous enough, so make sure you always slather on sunblock with a high SPF. Whether you're heading to the beach or you're running errands, wearing a sunblock will protect you from the UV rays and prevent your skin from getting old too soon. Final thoughts With a new decade come new lifestyle rules. You've used your 20s to go wild in every aspect of your life, which is why now, when you're in your 30s, you need to practice balance. Living a healthy lifestyle will be good for both mental and physical health and allow you to live your life to the fullest with the highest energy levels ever. As long as you pay attention to your health and beauty routine, you won’t have any trouble juggling all the challenges that a new day brings to you. Written by Peter Minkoff. |
Written by
Danica Marie Morunga Editor @ Face Doctors |