Lifts At Any Price

Posted: Tuesday 13 December 2011 01:30pm

You don’t have to pay a fortune to give a “lift” to your face. Choose one of these options and get more bang for your buck.

SPEND A FRUGAL $50 WITH THIS CREAM
Signs of ageing are targeted with this super-duper cream that certainly won’t break the bank. Olay Regenerist Superstructure Cream SPF30, RRP$49.99, contains an amino-peptide complex, which works on premature ageing and has great hydrating power. A fine alternative for those who hate injections, this cream helps boost collagen production. As the Aussie sun is known as a skin culprit of ageing, this contains an SPF30 to block direct DNA-damaging UV rays to help protect skin structural integrity. The formula is most effective in the prevention of ageing before your time.

SPEND $120 FOR AN ACUPUNCTURE FACELIFT
The only needles used in this facelift are traditional Chinese acupuncture ones. “It’s a non-invasive approach to facial rejuvenation,” says Claire O’Mara, acupuncturist and clinical nurse specialist at All Saints Cosmedical Clinics, Sydney. Working on the principle that beauty radiates from the inside out, and designed for each individual, Claire says this “facelift” helps you “eliminate fines lines” or “diminish larger wrinkles around the eyes, nose and forehead” as circulation is improved, “nourishing, toning and boosting the elasticity of the skin”. Ultra-fine needles are strategically placed locally in the face to improve a specific area such as the frown line between the eyes.  Says Claire: “There are no long-lasting side effects or allergic reactions, and this cosmetic acupuncture doesn’t compromise facial mobility.” Single treatments are $120, but a course of 10-15 sessions are recommended for best results, with top-up treatments every month.

More…

• Peel Off!
• Audrey Hepburn Under The Knife
• Erase Wrinkles In Seconds

SPEND $550 AND HAVE NO MORE SMOKER’S LIPS
A pursed, wrinkled lip area, often due to smoking, can bring the whole look of the face down. “Vertical lip lines have a particular ageing effect on the face,” says Dr Peter Bakaric, of Sydney’s Collagen Face Centre. To fix this and get rid of the ageing, fatigued look, Dr Bakaric suggests injecting a filler such as Esthelis directly under the vertical lines. “I also inject the filler in a ‘cross-hatch’ pattern under and at right angles to the lines to provide support structure under the skin which minimises creasing of the superficial layer of the skin.” When there is a problem of lipstick bleeding, the vermillion border can also be injected to “prevent lipstick ‘riding’ up the fine lines.” Dr Bakaric says the person will look “less weathered” and “more youthful”. Cost is around $550 and lasts about six months.

SPEND $1000 AND GET A BROWLIFT WITH ULTHERAPY
Ultherapy uses sound waves to safely firm and lift skin tissue without affecting the skin’s surface. Acoustic sound energy goes deep into the skin where cells are formed. This triggers the body’s natural healing process which results in strengthened collagen fibres, which work to firm or lift. Says Dr Warwick Nettle, of Sydney’s Silkwood Medical, “Ultherapy is extremely effective at lifting and firming.” People who suffer from brow droop can use Ultherapy to non-invasively firm up the tissue. You can also do the full face or neck, but this will cost more than the $1,000. After numbing cream is applied, the hand-held device is moved section by section over the areas to be treated. There may be some discomfort deep in the skin. Treatment takes about 30-plus minutes, and you may be pink afterwards. But soon your skin will be tauter and refreshed. Expect this to last12 to 18 months. (The full face costs about $3,500.)

A COOL $2000 FOR A LIQUID LIFT
“Cheek lifting has become a popular and simple procedure to provide lifting to sagging facial structures,” says Dr Peter Bakaric. “As we age facial tissues tend to sag with the effects of gravity.” He adds, “Higher and fuller cheekbone structure provides a more youthful look.”

Using the non-permanent hyaluronic-acid-based dermal filler Fortelis, which lasts 12 to 18 months, the process takes about 30 minutes and can “mimic surgical lifting”.

After an assessment and local or topical anesthesia applied in the areas to be treated, the dermal filler is injected into the appropriate zones and molded into position. Once this is done, an icepack is applied and normal activities can be resumed instantly.

“A repeat treatment may be required, and typically one to three sessions are required with Fortelis,” he comments. “One treatment of 1ml of Fortelis can cost $600, but usually 2-4ml or product is used, which cost up to around $2,000.” If you have an aversion to needles you may prefer the permanent filler, Aquamid, which lasts about seven years.

Says Dr Bakaric: “The end result is a pleasant and natural lifting to the cheek and mid-face areas.”

SPEND $4000 AND REVITALISE YOUR WHOLE VISAGE
If the face staring back at you in the mirror looks older than you feel, Thermage is the perfect non surgical treatment for lifting your face (and the added benefit of taking the neck with it).

It is a non-invasive skin tightening procedure that uses capacitive radio frequency (CRF) technology called ThermaCool to heat up the collagen in the deeper layers of the skin and its underlying tissue, while simultaneously protecting the outer layer of the skin with a cooling system.

“Thermage tightens and lifts the skin, and works especially well to define and smooth the jawline and give the cheeks a lift with virtually no downtime,” says Dr Mei-Heng Tan, of Skin Savvy in Sydney.

“It takes about one and a half hours depending on areas treated and, with a good result, changes can be seen almost immediately and are permanent. This same process can also be used effectively to firm and tone sagging skin on the thighs, buttocks and arms, and may help the appearance of cellulite.”

Depending on the practitioner and areas treated, Thermage for the face can cost between $3800-$4200.

by Kate Mahon

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