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The new dermaroller treatment at Face & Eye is undertaken by Amanda Baker, our specialist aesthetics nurse.

MECHANISM OF ACTION OF THE DERMAROLLER

In this micro-needling procedure the body’s self-healing mechanisms are utilised. The skin reacts to the intrusion of micro-needles like it would react to any other object penetrating the skin but the difference is the size of the object - the micro-needle. The intrusion of the tiny surgical needles of the dermaroller is sensed by skin nerve receptors as an injury stimulus but the needles are so fine and thin that actual tissue damage is extremely unlikely. The injury triggers a healing process cascade. Skin cells, in a radius of 1 to 2 mm around the needle prick channels, release growth signals to undifferentiated cells. These signals in return stimulate the proliferation of new cells, e.g. fibroblasts to transform into collagen- and elastin fibres. The function of fibroblasts is to migrate to the point of intrusion to facilitate wound closure and healing. The needle prick channels, caused by the micro-needles, close very quickly and no tissue lesion can be detected, and none has to be repaired. The transformation of the wound repair cells is an automatic process. Their final mission is to transform into collagen fibres. They integrate into the existing collagen formation in the upper dermis. This new collagen fibre formation thickens the skin.  The thousands of microscopic needle-pricks caused by the dermaroller results in the induced collagen formation becoming confluent and forming a new collagen layer. This body reaction is called neo-collagenesis.

In addition, the inner cells that coat our vessels (endothelial cells), and in particular these of our capillaries, are also stimulated to proliferate. They react to this stimulation by sprouting out new capillaries that in return results in more and better blood supply of the skin. This reaction is called neo-angiogenesis.

For more detail contact Face & Eye on 08458 332233 or email: enquiries@faceandeye.co.uk

Restylane and Perlane are now available with a local anaesthetic agent (Lignocaine) combined in the same syringe. This means that the application of local anaesthetic creams or the use of painful dental blocks prior to injection of these fillers are no longer required. This has the advantage of making the treatment faster and much more comfortable. Contact Face & Eye on 08458 332233 for more details of this and other facial rejuvenation treatments, or email enquiries@faceandeye.co.uk

Restylane combined with a local anaesthetic agent (Lignocaine) in the same syringe is now available. This now removes the requirement for the application of a topical anaesthetic cream to the eyelids prior to injection making the procedure faster and much more comfortable. Telephone Face & Eye on 08458 332233 for more details of this very popular and highly specialised treatment. Alternatively send an email to brianleatherbarrow@faceandeye.co.uk

Facial thread veins are very commonly and can cause significant cosmetic problems which can be difficult to disguise with make up. Intense pulsed light treatment can improve on the appearance of facial thread veins making it much easier to rely on light mineral make up only. The treatment takes approximately 15-20 mins each session and requires 3-4 sessions depending on the severity of the thread veins. The Palomar machines at my clinic Face & Eye have patented cooling which helps to reduce the discomfort associated with the treatment.

Visit www.faceandeye.co.uk/face/threadveins.html for further information.

This fractional technology produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of treatment in the skin. This rejuvenates the skin but without the downtime associated with more aggressive skin ablative lasers. The best results are seen when this is combined with intense pulsed light treatment and microdermabrasion. Visit www.faceandeye.co.uk for more information. Our consultant dermatologist, Corinna Mendonca, can treat skin complaints including acne scarring using this technology. For clients with sun and age related skin changes only, our specialist aesthetics nurse practioner, Amanda Baker, can offer advice and undertake treatment sessions.

Restylane Vital offers an excellent way to complement a variety of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic treatments e.g microdermabrasion, intense pulsed light treatment and fractional laser treatment, as well as other Restylane products, and can be combined with skin care creams to achieve a rejuvenated skin appearance.

Restylane Vital can be used to hydrate, revitalise and restore the skins hydration where needed. The areas of the skin where the Restylane Vital range is ideal are:

1. The crows feet area (combined if necessary with anti-wrinkle injections)

2. The area between the nose and the upper lip

3. The neck and upper chest areas (the decolletage)

4. The back of the hands

Call my clinic Face & Eye on 08458 332233 and speak to Amanda Baker, our specialist aesthetics nurse practitioner, who can provide more information. Amanda herself has undergone this treatment and speak from first hand experience. Visit the clinic website at www.faceandeye.co.uk

Visit www.restylane.co.uk for more information about the whole Restylane range

My clinic Face & Eye has a highly qualified and very experienced nurse practitioner, Gaynor Ritchie, who puts clients very much at their ease. Gaynor is extremely enthusiastic but also very discrete about her treatments which are very successful. She is attracting a lot of male as well as female clients for hair reduction treatment. Although most clients expect hair reduction to be undertaken using a laser, hair reduction is actually undertaken using intense pulsed light (IPL). The use of intense pulsed light in the permanent reduction or removal of unwanted hair, together with advances in computer technology have meant that individual treatments can be designed specifically to suit the skin type, colour and variety of hair of each client (including asian clients). New technology allows the selection of the most appropriate and effective wavelength and pulse characteristics to remove hair, unlike lasers which can only use one wavelength and therefore only treat some skin types successfully. IPL is able to deliver much higher levels of energy safely to the hair follicle than a laser. Nevertheless, in spite of this better technology, most clients still enquire about “laser” hair removal”).

Go to www.faceandeye.co.uk for more information about this and other non-surgical treatments available.

Tear Trough Restylane injections have proved to be a very popular mode of treatment for patients with dark circles under the eyes. These dark circles create a very tired look. The injections take a few minutes to perform and in the hands of a skilled and experienced oculoplastic surgeon yield very good results with a very high patient satisfaction rate. Experience has shown that patients experience very little discomfort during the treatment and the application of a topical anaesthetic cream a few minutes before the treatment is all that is required. To date I have not had to resort to any anaesthetic injections for any of my patients. Patients generally return for top-up injections 6-9 months following their initial injections. The injections have also proved popular with patients who have undergone lower lid blepharoplasty surgery for eye bag removal elsewhere and who have been left with rather hollow looking lower eyelids and who do not wish to undergo further surgery e.g. Coleman fat injections.

Your eyes are precious: why entrust them to anyone other than an oculoplastic surgeon?

Can the injections be combined with anti-wrinkle injections? Yes they can.

For more information on Tear Trough Restylane injections visit:

www.faceandeye.co.uk/face/teartroughrejuvenation.html