Treatments

Anti-Ageing Facial Treatments

"I've only ever had one wrinkle, and I'm sitting on it" – Jeanne Calment
(the world's oldest woman, before she died at the age of 122 in 1997)

While film and TV stars seem to get younger and younger, and the printed press grows more and more fascinated with the cosmetic enhancement of A-list celebrities, 'Anti-Ageing' has been the buzz word of the Noughties so far. This buzz shows little sign of slowing down - everyone wants to look and feel younger, and why not?? After all, it is achievable with the help of your friendly skin care therapist!

With such a wide range of non-invasive products and treatments available - and the sheer volume of adverts bombarding the consumer to buy this night cream, or that anti-wrinkle serum - it can be very overwhelming to decide the best way forward for you and your skin.

But before you make any decisions, let me take you back to the beginning with a quick tutorial about how and what causes ageing.

Recent research carried out by the International Dermal Institute indicates that 80-99% of adult wrinkles, loss of skin tone, pigmentation and dehydration are the result of exposure to daylight!

Don't fast-forward ageing!

Sunbathing - adds 20 years

Using Sunbeds - adds 20 years (according to an increasing number of dermatologists sunbeds are more damaging to skin than direct sunlight because they give out pure UVA rays which penetrate deep into the skin)

Stress - adds 3 years

City Living - adds 5 years (so use a cream loaded with anti-oxidants to protect the skin from free radicals in the environment)

Crash Dieting - adds 10 years

Some epidermal changes as we age:
Hyperpigmentation - spots evident due to UV exposure, and decline in melanocytes of 6% per decade after age 30. Melanocytes produce melanin which protects your skin against UV exposure;
Increase in broken veins as a result of dilated blood vessels which become more apparent as the skin thins with age;
Cell turnover slows down by as much as 30-50% between our 30s and 80s, which accounts for the dull, rough skin surface often seen in maturing skin;
The breakdown of collagen and elastin fibres, caused by UVB exposure results in a decrease in skin elasticity and strength.

As a professional skin care therapist it is my duty to educate and advise my clients on the best course of products and treatments to help combat visible signs of ageing, and it all starts with the Beauty consultation!

The consultation at Virginia Williams Skin Care Studio is split into 4 parts:

The comprehensive Client Lifestyle Questionnaire;
A skin scan;
The Face Map Analysis; and
Your prescription

This comprehensive consultation is the foundation on which any client who wants to invest in their skin long-term can build. Providing me with in depth information during your consultation allows me to personalise and customise your treatment plan and home care regime, working together to achieve your skin care goals, which will be evident from your consultation. All facial consultations are free and last approximately 20 minutes. Your consultation and facial analysis is reviewed on each visit, and a full consultation carried out seasonally.

AGE SMART - The Intelligent investment in your future skin

Dermalogica, in association with the International Dermal Institute (IDI), has recently launched 5 new products to their anti-ageing range, which focuses on preventing changes in the skin before they even start. The IDI has researched changes that occur during skin ageing, and instead of focusing on treating the manifestations of skin ageing, they have focused instead on understanding and interrupting bio-chemical reactions in the skin. The research resulted in the IDI developing Age Smart.

Virginia Williams Advanced Anti-Ageing Facial

Anti-ageing treatment At Virginia Williams, I am able to offer one 90-minute treatment session using two innovative machines - Microdermabrasion and Lifting. Both these machines came top of a list of the ten most popular non-invasive treatments in interviews carried out by top plastic surgeons and Medi-spa owners in the USA.

The microdermabrasion machine allows me to delicately remove the top layers of skin, which can help to lessen expression lines. Tiny crystals are blasted onto the skin then a suction mechanism removes the crystals, along with dead skin cells and skin debris. Some clients may experience sensitivity/redness after the treatment, which normally goes after a couple of hours.

In the second part of this treatment, a low level electrical microcurrent is applied, which increases the natural levels of energy in the skin cells and 'lifts' the muscles of the face, raising eyebrows as well as relaxing deep-set expression lines. You have the option to choose which part of the face on which you would like me to concentrate on, i.e. around the eyes and forehead, lower jaw and neck etc.

I recommend a course of either 6 or 10 treatments for maximum results. Clinical photos will be taken of clients before and after their course as a record of progress. You'll be looking like a glamorous A-lister in no time!

Treatment Time is 90 minutes
Cost Per Session - £65

Course of 6 treatments - £325.00 (you pay for 5)
Course of 10 treatments - £520.00 (you pay for 8)

Microdermabrasion

What is Microdermabrasion and how does it work?

Microdermabrasion involves a stream of aluminium oxide micro crystals which are projected against the skin surface, by using a vacuum system, smoothing and eliminating weathered skin cells from the superficial layers of the epidermis. Microdermabrasion is a mild treatment, and is completely safe. The aluminium oxide micro crystals are sterile and are not reused. They circulate in one direction which is towards the waste recipient of the machine which is disposed of after each treatment.

Microdermabrasion has proven satisfactory results for the following:

Fine, soft skin
Disappearance of fine lines
Reduction of wrinkles and imperfections
Diminished post acne marks and scars
Pigmentation disorders & hyper pigmentation disorders
Blackhead removal
Progressive reduction of scars
Progressive reduction of Stretch marks
Photo-ageing - gradual recovery of ageing skin by stimulation of collagen and elastin fibres

Treatment Time is 45 minutes
Cost Per Session £45.00

Course of 6 treatments: £225.00
Course of 10 treatments: £360.00

This treatment is best as either a course of 6 or 10 treatments. If you book a course of 6 you pay for 5. When you book a course of 10 treatments you pay for 8. All courses come with a free Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster factor 30, (RRP £23.60) which must be used with your moisturiser daily for 10 days after treatment to protect your skin from harmful sunrays (even during winter).

Deluxe Microdermabrasion

The deluxe microdermabrasion is a slightly longer treatment which allows me to use the AGE Smart Complex under the firming contour masque. The AGE Smart complex is a highly-concentrated professional treatment that smoothes skin texture and reinforces skin's natural protective barrier while helping to prevent and correct the signs of ageing well beyond the professional treatment.

Summary

Microdermabrasion is a safe and effective treatment which does not involve surgery. The results makes the skin look younger and fresher, with a more uniform complexion. It can stimulate circulation in the face, bringing fresh oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells, as well as causing new skin cells to grow more rapidly.

Treatment Time is 60 minutes
Cost Per Session - £55

Course of 6 treatments (pay for 5): £225
Course of 10 treatments (pay for 8): £360

A free Dermalogica Solar Defence Booster SPF30 (RRP £24.40) comes free when you book a course of 10. It is important that a sunblock is used daily for 10 days following your treatment to protect your skin from further sun damage (including during winter) whenever you have a microdermabrasion facial treatment.

Click pictures to enlarge

Lifting-C ("The Facial Workout") Treatment

What is Micro-Lifting, and how does this work?

Micro-current therapy began as a medical treatment. It was originally developed in the U.S. in the late 1980s to treat facial weakness in victims of Bell's Palsy and strokes.

The machine works by tiny micro-currents of electricity are used to stimulate facial or other muscles in the body. When the current is applied to your skin you will feel very little, or nothing at all, and there is no sign of any visible muscle contraction. The muscles are gently exercised, leading to an increase in the production of protein.

This treatment provides a firmer, more youthful complexion with better skin tone, and restoring a firmer shape to the face or area treated. The results are evident after the first treatment session, and normally 12 further sessions are usually sufficient to obtain long-lasting results.

The most prominent benefits are:

Disappearance of fine lines, attenuation of grooves and deep wrinkles;
Improved muscle tone;
Stimulation of skin renewal;
Activation of increased collagen and elastin production;
Skin toning;
Easier elimination of toxins and retained fluids;
Activation of blood circulation, and improvement of cell metabolism;

Treatment time 90 minutes
Cost per session £50.00

Courses of 10 treatments are recommended to achieve the best results - 2 treatments per week for either 5, 6 or 8 weeks.

Courses of 10 - £400.00 you pay for 8
Courses of 12 - £500.00 you pay for 10
Courses of 16 - £700.00 you pay for 14

Summary

Micro current treatment has over 20 years of research. Although the treatment is intensive and time-consuming at first, it comes with a very low risk of side effects and gives results that satisfy most people who undertake this form of non-invasive treatment.

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