BESPOKE BEAUTY
Modern-day appearance medicine
In a bid to avoid women looking like a cookie cutter paper doll, the appearance medicine industry has had a shake-up. It’s no longer about a Stepford Wife result, but one that is bespoke and tailored to the individual. Sarah Simpson investigates the modern-day world of appearance medicine
It’s been 16 years since frown lines and wrinkles started to be ironed out thanks to Botox and in that time, like many trends, the approach to this muscle relaxer has evolved. A more natural aesthetic has come into play globally and we’ve seen a shift from people wanting to eradicate all signs of a life well lived to a softened look which still shows some expression – Hallelujah!
Expert injector Dr Catherine Stone, director of The Face Place, says it’s now more about working on creating the most natural effect around each person’s unique bone structure. “Every person has individual elements of beauty in their face – our job is to enhance the features which increase their overall perceived external beauty while reducing the negative elements which can make them look tired, sad, saggy and old. We want to help them look and feel more attractive, and the best version of themselves – which needs careful planning, communication and agreement on the plan moving forward,” Stone explains.
THE CONSULTATION
An initial consultation, which includes a carefully considered mapping out of a plan of attack, is non-negotiable according to Stone. “You can tell who is likely to be an excellent injector by the length of their consultation process. Clinicians who leave at least an hour for consultation and initial Botox treatment are most likely to cover adequate education, treatment planning, informed consent, photos, and treatment. If your consult is 30 minutes or less, you are likely to be leaving some – or most – of these essential elements to an individualised treatment out”, she says. And furthermore, it seems to be more common now to look at the whole face overall to analyse and look at ways to improve an appearance rather than just focussing on one concern like a frown line or crow’s feet.
TAG TEAM
Botox and filler are often paired together, working in unison to soften fine lines while also adding volume to areas that can start to sag – such as the cheeks and jawline. There’s also the initial texture and tone of your skin to consider. This plays a huge part in injectables looking their best, so it is often recommended to start by treating the surface of skin with things like facials and microdermabrasion before more invasive tweaks with small amounts of Botox and filler. Less is more. Let me repeat that… less is more.
LITTLE AND LIGHTLY
Taking this new strategic angle may seem like you’ll be given a never-ending treatment plan that will cost the earth, but the truth is quite the opposite. Working on a client’s concerns with an overall focus eliminates the risk of being over-treated while also benefitting from the results that a cocktail of treatments can offer. “A tailored treatment plan is all about small doses administered regularly, and a staged approach, which can all be agreed on during your individualised consultation process,” concludes Stone.
It is often recommended to start by treating the surface of the the skin with things like facials