Botox

Anti Wrinkle Injections such as Botox – What are they and how do they work?
Anti wrinkle injections use purified protein produced by the Clostridium Botulinum Bacterium, which reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those lines to form over time. It works by temporarily reducing the contractions of the muscles that cause persistent lines.

One 10-minute treatment, a few tiny injections, and within days there's a noticeable improvement in those persistent frown lines, helping men and women achieve a healthier more youthful appearance.

Reducing The Signs Of Ageing

Wrinkle-relaxing treatments are one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures today. American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery statistics show that more than 3 million people in the U.S. were treated in 2005 alone. And, cosmetic use of botulinum toxin type A is available in more than 40 countries.

Wrinkle-relaxing treatments work by using a purified protein to block the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those persistent wrinkles to form.

Wrinkle-relaxing treatments - Department of Health recommendations (botulinum toxin type A) are available by prescription only. If you'd like to talk to a consultant about temporarily smoothing away the frown lines between or above your eyebrows (known as the 11s) or laughter lines known as 'crows feet' which may be causing you concern, we can help you.

Remember, any authorised consultant can administer wrinkle relaxers, but dermatologists, plastic surgeons, or physicians specialising in cosmetic procedures are generally more experienced.

Wrinkle-relaxing treatments are often used at the same time with dermal fillers or other cosmetic procedures, although in different areas of the face, for an all-over smoothing of wrinkles and facial lines. For example, wrinkle-relaxing treatments may be used on forehead wrinkles, while a dermal filler may be better used to treat lines at the mouth area.

Your qualified consultant is the most suitable person to advise you on what option(s) is most appropriate for you.

What is Botox?
Botox is an injectable agent which is used to temporarily diminish facial lines, wrinkles and dimples by relaxing underlying muscles. The injection contains a minimal amount of the protein secreted by the organism Clostridium Botulinum but is fully approved for medical use by the FDA. Botox is a simple, non-surgical procedure that effectively reduces fine lines and helps alleviate the signs of ageing and sun damage.

What does a Botox consultation/treatment involve?
All consultations are free and with no obligation. You will be asked to discuss what you feel your “problem areas” are and will then be asked to pull a series of faces so our consultants can see which muscles are being used to create the lines and wrinkles that appear when the face is moving.

If you decide to proceed to treatment, your face will be marked up with a pale make-up pencil as specific muscle groups are targeted and our practitioners need to ensure total accuracy. The treatment takes minutes and as a fine needle is used which does not penetrate deep into the skin, most patients find the treatment is either painless or only mildly uncomfortable.

How soon will I notice an improvement?
Patients will start to notice lines visibly improving within 3-4 days of treatment. However, Botox normally requires 10-14 days to settle down completely. In the event that a patient feels a level of movement remains after this time, we would welcome a return visit to the clinic within 2-4 weeks of treatment to enable our practitioners to perform a “top up” to the relevant areas free of charge.

How long does the treatment last?
Although all patients respond differently to Botox, a treatment usually lasts between 3-5 months. Patients will notice a gradual regression of the effects of the treatment from about two months after treatment, with the lines and wrinkles returning to their original state a few weeks later.

What are the side effects?
Botox has been approved by the FDA and although there is always the extremely rare risk of side effects as with any medicine/drug, these are always fully reversible. Possible side effects may include headaches and mild pain at the injection sites, mild to moderate bruising and ptosis, or drooping of the eyelid. There are now eye drops available to help speed up the reversal, in the unlikely event drooping should occur.

What are the “three areas” that are referred to?
The three areas most clinics commonly refer to are
The forehead
The glabella (in between the eyebrows)
The crows feet (sides of eyes)
However, for those patients having three areas of treatment we are happy to apply small quantities of Botox to areas of the lower face to help with balance and texture. This is done at no additional charge.

What else is Botox used for?
Botox is also used to successfully treat medical conditions such as migraines, hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating) and Bell’s palsy.

How does an “eyebrow lift” work?
Botox is used to lift the brows by relaxing the muscles which depress the brow, allowing the elevator muscles to work more freely. However, a brow lift cannot usually be performed in conjunction with a forehead treatment as the muscles will then counteract each other.

Restylane & Juvederm – Dermal Fillers

Dermal or Facial Fillers such as Restylane & Juvederm – Why should I consider them?
The ageing process is associated with a loss of skin volume and the appearance of static lines i.e. lines that are permanently visible on the face rather than lines caused by movement of muscles. As we age, the hyaluronic acid content of the skin – which is so important for water retention and hydration – decreases. Oil glands become less active and the skin becomes drier, loses fat so becomes less plump, and its youthful texture and glow starts to fade.

Dermal fillers replace lost volume and treat static facial lines by replenishing the natural hyaluronic acid content of the skin. We offer dermal fillers as an alternative treatment to Collagen injections. Small quantities are injected into carefully targeted areas to help give facial features back their fullness, reduce wrinkles and enhance contours. As a result, the face will feel smoother and look younger.

Like Collagen injections dermal fillers are used to correct creases, folds or scars and add contour definition to the face and mouth. Injectable fillers can temporarily restore a smoother, more youthful looking appearance by increasing volume in creased and sunken areas of the face, results of which can last for 6-12 months.

How long does it take for the treatments to work?
The procedure takes about 10-20 minutes and the results are instant.

What can and can't I do after the treatment?
You can carry on life as normal as any redness can be covered with makeup. You should leave the treated area alone for 48 hours to let it settle. It is advisable to not have a facial or similar treatment that may disturb the products or expose the newly-treated areas to strong sunlight for 2-3 days.

How long does the treatment last for?
For about 6-12 months.

How often will I need to top up?
Most patients have top-ups when they feel the effect is starting to wear off i.e. any time between 6 and 12 months.

Are there any side-effects?
After the treatment there may be some redness and minimal swelling, which normally settles in 1-2 days. Very occasionally patients can suffer some bruising at the injection site.

Who is suitable for these treatments?
Almost everyone apart from those who are pregnant or breast feeding.

What happens if I do not have a top-up?
Correction of the wrinkles and the enhanced lip effect will subside gradually until your skin looks like it did before the treatment.

Are there any long-term problems?
No, because it is completely natural and over time can be completely broken down by the body.

Are the injections painful?
No, as doctors do all the treatments we are able to use local anesthetic injections which allow the treatment to be pain-free and comfortable.

Can it be used with other anti wrinkle injections?
Yes, sometimes to create the best effect they can be used together.  

Beautiful lips can enhance your look like no other feature can and lip filler & contouring treatments allow you to create a look that’s subtle but different, by enhancing the natural look of your lips. Treatments are performed using hyaluronic based products thereby restoring lip fullness and definition. Lips will not only appear more attractive, they’ll also feel healthier, softer and more hydrated.

You may not be happy with the natural size and shape of your lips or the fact that the ageing process has caused them to become thin with a lack of definition. Lip enhancement treatments are a safe and natural way to create the lips you have always wanted and can combat fine smokers’ lines, issues including lack of volume, wrinkles, smile lines, cupids bows, lowered corners and oral commissures. Lip treatments can also dramatise the impact of lipstick and minimise ‘lipstick bleed’ which sometimes occurs at the lip border.

Not only do Melior Clinics specialise in all lip procedures, they also excel in the use of anaesthetics, which can often mean the treatment can be performed without any pain and minimal swelling.

Sculptra is a simple, injectable volumising treatment that works by stimulating the build up of the body's natural collagen to help smooth out lines and wrinkles. It helps to restore lost facial volume to give you a fuller, firmer, younger-looking face. Sculptra allows you to restore facial contouring and eliminate lines, wrinkles and sunken cheeks without resorting to face lifts or cosmetic surgery. The enhancement is long lasting and looks completely natural.

Due to the ageing process, the skin starts thinning and losing its natural elasticity. It becomes loose and starts to wrinkle. You also gradually lose the fatty tissue that helps to fill out your face, causing the skin to sag and wrinkle even more. Sculptra is a an injectable synthetic material that contains skin-smoothing microparticles to help lift and smooth sagging skin, wrinkles, creases, dark circles, and scars.

It can help to correct:
Deep folds between the nose and the mouth (nasolabial folds)
Folds around the corners of the mouth (marionette lines)
Sunken cheeks
Wrinkles and lines in the cheeks or chin
Deep scars

On average, three treatments are required and results should be noticeable after approximately six weeks. By helping to replenish your own facial collagen and restore lost volume, Sculptra can give you a fuller, more natural look that can last up to three years.

Sculptra is a proven treatment - The main ingredient of Sculptra is poly-l-lactic acid, which has been successfully used in surgical operations for more than 25 years. Sculptra was specially developed to repair facial scars and contour defects, and more than 150,000 patients have been treated worldwide since 1999. Sculptra is long lasting, biocompatible, and biodegradable.

How is Sculptra different?
A number of choices are available to you when you are deciding on treatment. Sculptra non-surgical cosmetic treatment has important advantages over the two main alternatives available, temporary ‘filler' treatments and permanent implants. ‘Filler' treatments only reduce wrinkles and creases for a relatively short time. Although permanent implants can remain for years, they can't accommodate the changes in appearance that happen as you age. Sculptra is also a far less invasive procedure than a face-lift or any other type of facial cosmetic surgery.

Sculptra is a volumising agent that reduces facial lines and wrinkles and helps to restore the fullness of your face by stimulating your own facial collagen production to replenish your skin and provide natural looking results. Once your treatment is complete, the results can last for more than 3 years.

Who performs treatment with Sculptra?
Sculptra injectable treatment is performed by qualified practitioners who have been trained to use the correct procedures for Sculptra.

Does the treatment hurt?
As with all injections, some discomfort is inevitable, and you may feel a brief burning sensation at the injection site. An ice pack applied after the treatment can help to relieve this. If necessary, your practitioner may also give you a local anaesthetic.

What happens after the treatment?
As your aftercare instructions will explain, you massage the treated areas of your face for five minutes at a time, five times a day for the first five days after treatment. Inform your healthcare professional if any side effects occur, such as inflammation or small bumps in the treated area.

Are there any side effects?
The most common side effects are tenderness or pain, redness, bruising, swelling or bleeding at the injection site. These side effects generally disappear in 2-6 days. One possible delayed side effect with Sculptra can be small bumps under the skin in the treated area within 6 to 12 months of the first treatment. These may not be visible, and you may only notice them when you press in the treated skin. The bumps sometimes disappear of their own accord. Visible bumps, sometimes associated with redness or colour change to the treated area, have also been reported. As with all procedures that involve an injection through the skin, there is risk of infection. Report any side effects to your healthcare professional.

Are the results from Sculptra treatment immediate?
Sculptra takes time to work, with the results becoming noticeable after about six weeks. It may appear to have an effect immediately after your first treatment visit, but this is because of swelling from the injections and the water used to dilute Sculptra.

When the swelling goes down after a few days and the water is absorbed by your body, you may look as you did before treatment.

Your healthcare professional will see you again in a few weeks to assess you. Two or three treatments are usually necessary to obtain the desired result.

However, unlike some other treatments that require refresher sessions, the results can last for more than three years after the end of your Sculptra programme.*

* The results can differ depending on age, wrinkling and the type of procedure used.

A chemical peel is designed to accelerate the removal of old, dead skin cells at the surface of the skin to promote new cell growth and accelerate rejuvenation. It offers a revolutionary way to effectively treat ageing skin, acne and other blemishes, reduce sun damage and hyper-pigmentation. The procedure can also help the skin to appear smoother, healthier, plumper and tighter.

This effective non-surgical procedure involves using a low concentration of chemical trichlororoacetic acid (TCA) mixed with a special blue base. The Obagi Blue Peel allows regulation of the depth of the peel and removes surface layers of aged and damaged skin. These dead cells are replaced by healthier ones, allowing the skin's own clarity and tightness to resurface. The procedure is performed by our practitioners who have specialist training and experience with this highly effective Obagi peel.

We offer a range of skin peels to treat fine lines, shallow acne scars, dry or rough skin, dull skin tone, reduce sun damage, hyper pigmentation, acne and enlarged pores.

A well-tolerated procedure, Blue Peel rarely produces erythema or inflammation. Patients can thus resume their normal lives more quickly after Blue Peel than after CO2 lasers or dermabrasion. Blue Peel healing is relatively painless and occurs within seven to ten days.

With all types of peel you may need to use specified homecare products to help prepare your skin and ensure that it is in optimum condition prior to the peel. You may also need to use specified homecare products after your peel, all of which can be provided by Melior Clinics.

The Obagi Nu-Derm System
For Skin that acts Younger and Healthier

As you age and your skin incurs the abuse of daily living (such as sun, stress, pollution), the cell turnover rate slows down. This means that the new cells take longer to form and reach the top. The old cells accumulate and stay on the surface longer. You begin to notice those unwelcome signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles, freckles and age spots, uneven skin tone, loss of elasticity and loss of natural skin hydration.

How It Works
The Obagi Nu-Derm System, a physician-prescribed skin care system, accelerates the cellular turnover. This System penetrates deep to improve damage in layers of the skin. It boosts functions of the skin at the cellular level to improve skin's cellular function to help it look and act younger and healthier. The System triggers our Therapeutic Cascade of actions that: -

- Pushes fresher cells to the surface faster, for smoother skin, reduced wrinkles and increased tolerance.
- Reduces mottled pigmentation (freckles and age spots) and helps prevent the appearance of new pigmentation.
- Promotes more uniform cells at the deepest layer for better skin structure and balanced, more even skin tone.
- Helps increase collagen and elastin for firmer, more resilient looking skin.
- Increases nutrients natural hydration and circulation for supple, healthy-looking skin.

Obagi Professional-C Serum: Maximum Antioxidant Protection
Your skin deserves all the protection you can give it from daily exposure to the sun’s damaging rays and environmental conditions that cause premature aging. Visible signs of aging, those fine lines and wrinkles, are caused by tiny molecules known as ‘free radicals.’ Free radicals dramatically multiply with exposure to sun, air pollution and other environmental assaults, ravaging skin cells and breaking down collagen that gives skin its youthful resilience.

Benefits to Skin
Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals to prevent skin cell damage. Professional strength Vitamin C can give your skin the superior protection it needs to:
- Prevent premature signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles.
- Protect against future damage.
- Stimulate collagen production for firmer, more resilient skin.
- Lighten and brighten skin for more even tone.

Superior Results Only From Obagi New Obagi Professional
New Obagi Professional-C Serums use advanced scientific formulas developed and tested by leading Vitamin C experts. Obagi Professional-C Serums offer maximum daily antioxidant protection and greater penetration than other Vitamin C products. The greater the penetration, the greater the antioxidant benefit to your skin.

Greater Penetration
Obagi Professional-C Serums provide up to 2 times greater penetration.

Professional Strength Concentrations
New Obagi Professional-C Serum uses stabilised ascorbic acid - the only form of Vitamin C that can be effectively absorbed by the skin. You and your consultant can choose from four concentrations to determine which one’s right for your skin.

Due to overwhelming demand, we are delighted to introduce Dermaroller treatments to the Melior Clinics portfolio.

For decades many treatments have been developed to help repair the surface layer of the skin and stimulate collagen production e.g. laser resurfacing, chemical peels mesotherapy and often these treatments are either expensive or invasive to the point that up to 3 weeks downtime is experienced after. Now the quite simple and affordable Dermaroller has revolutionized the approach to this area and is producing amazing results which helps improve the appearance of old scars, sun damaged skin or simply as a method to revitalise and rejuvenate.

The Dermaroller is a revolutionary skincare and rejuvenation device which has the incredible ability to naturally stimulate collagen & elastin production in the skin without damaging it, to create smoother, tighter, healthier, younger looking skin. The Dermaroller can be used to treat general skin management issues including:

Anti-ageing, Anti-wrinkle, Scar removal - including acne scar removal, Sun damage, Stretch-mark removal/treatment and Hyper-pigmentation treatment.

The Dermaroller has the features of a precision-engineered medical instrument including 192 surgical steel micro-needles which, when rolled across the dermis, creates pin-point punctures.

This is perceived by the body as damage, which stimulates the release of growth factors that trigger the production of collagen and elastin.

Melior Clinics will generally recommend a course of 3-4 40-minute treatments with a break of 4-6 weeks between treatments. This allows for new cell reproduction, collagen & elastin stimulation and general skin healing. Noticeable results can be seen within one week of treatment.

Side effects of Dermaroller treatments are minimal but may include post treatment redness. This can be effectively camouflaged with mineral make up, available from Melior Clinics.

Upon completion of the Dermaroller treatment, the skin may feel dry, tight and uncomfortable. However, as part of your Dermaroller package, we provide an oxygenated moisturiser specifically formulated to nourish and sooth traumatised skin, together with an SPF 50+ moisturiser for use after treatment.

Discus Dental’s state-of-the-art whitening system is proven to comfortably and safely whiten your teeth in a matter of days, Nite White ACP and Day White ACP is from the worldwide leader in professional whitening and the maker of the Zoom teeth whitening system.

The variety of Discus Dental’s take-home whitening products allows your consultant to provide the best treatment for your personal needs. The mint gel is worn overnight using a comfortable and inconspicuous custom fitted tray.

During your diagnostic visit, your consultant will take impressions of your teeth. This allows your consultant to make a custom gel-holding appliance called a whitening tray.

At your second visit, you will be fitted with a take-home whitening tray. You will also be give specific instructions on how to administer the gel and how often to wear your tray.

Follow the take-home directions and those of your consultant. Continue to maintain proper oral hygiene through brushing and flossing.

What is tooth whitening?
It’s a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of enamel and dentin. The system uses a mild solution retained in a custom-fitted tray that is worn over your teeth.

What causes tooth discolouration?
There are many causes. The most common include aging, consumption of staining substances (coffee, tea, colas, tobacco), trauma, nerve degeneration, and old restorations. During tooth formation, consumption of tetracycline or excessive fluoride may also cause tooth discolouration.

Who may benefit from tooth whitening?
The vast majority of people will benefit from tooth whitening. However, there are some cases where the treatment may not be effective. Your consultant will be able to advise on whether tooth whitening would be worthwhile. The degree of whiteness will vary from patient to patient, depending on the structure of the teeth, the number of applications, and/or the duration of time that the system is used.

Is the process safe?
Yes! Research and clinical studies indicate that whitening teeth with Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide under the supervision of a consultant is safe for teeth and gums. In fact, many dentists consider that whitening process the safest cosmetic dental procedure available today.

How does it work?
The whitening gel is placed in a thin bleaching tray that fits over your teeth. As the active ingredient in the gel is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, and bleaches the colour substances. The structure of the tooth is not changed; only the tooth colour is made lighter.

How long does it take?
Maximum results generally occur when the process is continued for 10-14 day/nights. For quicker results, try Night White Turbo, which whitens an average of 6 shades in only 3 nights.

Are there any side effects?
Some people experience temporary increase tooth sensitivity to cold during treatment. These symptoms disappear within 1-3 days after interruption or completion of the treatment.

How long do the results last?
The teeth will always be lighter than they once were; however, some patients may need a tooth whitening “touch-up” for 1-2 days, once or twice a year. In order to maintain the whitest tooth shade possible, it is best to avoid substances like coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco.