Author: Marcin Kuna

Our philosophy has always been to help our clients make the best choices about their treatment and by partnering with one of the world’s leading cosmeceutical brands, Skinceuticals, we’re leading the way for reputable skincare treatments.

Choosing to partner with such an innovative skincare brand was an easy decision for us to make for us here at Cavendish Clinic as our plan is to create a ‘hub for innovation’ when it comes to skincare. Combining our medical expertise with Skinceuticals hardworking products to bring a whole new experience for our clients.

Professional Beauty covers our collaboration

Our treatments include Skinceuticals products such as their skin peel products and their custom D.O.S.E products for personalised serums which we make in the clinic. Being able to offer more hard-working skincare treatments to our clients is one of the many features that sets us apart from other skincare clinics and means we can ensure every person visiting our clinics will have a unique experience.

Pop culture magazine, Dazed,  recently wrote a review about CoolSculpting giving an edgy insight into one of our most popular fat reduction treatments. As their approach is body-positive, Dazed beauty loves to celebrate all invasive and non-invasive treatments that people are raving about, with our CoolSculpting treatment offering a non-surgical alternative to fighting stubborn fat.

read the article here

We were delighted to welcome the writer to help demonstrate just how powerful and effective CoolSculpting is – and judging by their review of the results, we think the proof is in the pudding! It was an honour for our clinic to be featured in such a body-positive and celebratory piece that covered non-invasive fat loss.

When it comes to non-surgical procedures and weight loss, one of the most popular options we see in our clinic is CoolSculpting. It works by selecting unwanted fat in the body and freezing them. The cooling of fat cells then naturally destroys the cells without affecting any surrounding parts of the body meaning after you’ve had the 35-minute treatment, you can get on with your day.

Results from CoolSculpting will start to show within 4 weeks of having the treatment. The fat cells that have been frozen will eventually disappear for good, making it the most popular outcomes of this fat-freezing treatment.

How much does CoolSculpting cost?

CoolSculpting prices do vary depending on where you are in the UK, in London clinics pricing for one cycle usually starts at around £480.

The cost for CoolSculpting cycles will depend on the size of the area on your body you’re looking to target as well as where your clinic is. As an example, the face and chin area will be different to a tummy or back, so pricing will differ.

What are the benefits of CoolSculpting?

One of the main reasons CoolSculpting has become so popular since it launched in 2011 is the many benefits it has! One of the biggest benefits is the non-surgical element, meaning you can have it done and get on with your day without any immediate side effects.

• Minimal side effects- it’s not invasive at all meaning you’ll be able to exercise
• Destroys fat cells forever- once you’ve had the treatment on the chosen area, the fat cells that have been frozen will be destroyed forever!
• It’s suitable for everyone- It’s a suitable treatment for all bodies over the age of 18, appealing to anyone with those hard to target stubborn areas.
• It takes just 35 minutes- unlike other fat reducing treatments, it only takes 35 minutes and because it doesn’t leave behind any sore bits- you can get on with your day

Other Types of Fat Reducing Treatments

There are other types of fat reducing treatments available that like coolsculpting, are also non-invasive including Velashape and Emsculpt which works by using highly focused electromagnetic energy to areas like your bum and tummy.

With so many non-invasive treatments available to people (HealthandRecoveryInstitute), it’s no surprise more people are choosing to fight the fat and try fat-reducing treatments in clinics across the UK. 

1. What is the difference between Botox® and dermal filler?

The brand name Botox® is the name for anti-wrinkle treatment that is injected into the skin and relaxes the muscles to smooth out lines and wrinkles, such as crow’s feet and frown lines. Dermal fillers, usually made of hyaluronic acid or someone’s own fat, are also injected into skin and fill out the lines. Dermal fillers also promote collagen production by stimulating your fibroblasts which are cells present in your connective tissue.

Here at Cavendish Clinic, we use both of these injectable fillers to plump, restore, define, contour and rejuvenate.

2. How long does Botox® take to work?

Botox®injections don’t give a result immediately, typically taking between 2-5 days for people to see and feel results. Dermal fillers however are immediate and can be seen as soon as the treatment is administered with additional collagen stimulation taking 6 weeks.

The effects of dermal fillers are not only temporary but can be reversed if necessary.

3. How long do Botox® and Dermal filler results last?

Depending on your age and the depth of lines, Botox® typically lasts 3-6 months. Patients in their 20’s and 30’s usually have Botox® twice a year with older patients having 3 or 4 treatments a year.

Depending on where the treatment area is, dermal fillers can last between 6 months to a year or even longer. Very active areas like your mouth will wear down quicker than others such as the nose. It will also depend on how quickly your body breaks down the hyaluronic acid.

4. What happens when Botox® results wear off?

You’ll be pleased to hear results don’t wear off overnight! It’s a common myth that the areas you have injected will look worse than the original state with both Botox® and dermal fillers.

You’ll very gradually see that you can move your forehead, your frown will eventually come back and crow’s feet appear again. Areas treated with dermal filler will slowly go back to normal too. 

5. What if I don’t like the look after Botox® or Dermal Fillers?

In the highly unlikely event you don’t like the look after your Botox®or dermal filler treatments, Botox® will wear off eventually and dermal fillers can be dissolved if you really want them to be.

If you choose to have a treatment with our consultants here, you will have had an in-depth and informative consultation where we will manage expectations properly.

6. Will my face look older once I stop using Botox® or fillers?

No. 

Whilst the natural ageing process does continue the use of Botox® and dermal filler will make you mature nicely. The collagen stimulation from hyaluronic acid filler will also give your skin better support.

7. What can’t I do after using Botox® or fillers?

Some things to watch out for:

• Don’t touch the area treated for the first 2 days following treatment. No facials, waxing or massages for the first 2 weeks
• Don’t take aspirin, ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medication for 24 hours after treatment as -this may increase bruising. You may take paracetamol or codeine if you are uncomfortable
• No strenuous exercise or gardening for at least 24 hours but light exercise such as walking is ok
• Don’t have a sauna, hot tub or go in a tanning booth for 2 weeks after treatment. Always wear a broad-spectrum, high factor sun protection (SPF 30-50) on the face, neck, décolletage and hands

8. How much does Botox® cost?

We treat each patient individually and different treatment options may be available. A guide price can be provided upon an injectables consultation.

9. What are the risks with Botox®?

Some common injection-related reactions are mild swelling, redness, pain, itching, discolouration, bruising and tenderness. Some very rare and usually temporary side effects can include an allergic reaction to Botox, local numbness, upper eyelid ptosis or a temporary headache.

10. What are the risks with dermal filler?

As with everything, there are risks to using dermal fillers such as skin reactions like redness, swelling, or a rash. These can be accompanied by itching or pain when you apply pressure afterwards. Bruising, lumps or nodules can also occur the first few days after treatment. 

Other very rare risks include discolouration or lightening of the injection area, necrosis (cell death,) abscesses or foreign body reactions and immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reactions along with a poor or weak filling. 

This is why we always advise anyone exploring Botox® or dermal filler treatments to do their research and find a highly skilled medical aesthetic practitioner to minimize these risks. 

Why not speak to one of our consultants today and find out more about dermal fillers and Botox®.

By Dr. Veerle Rotsaert

Cavendish Clinic was founded in 2011 by consultants from Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals. It all started when one of the plastic surgeons, Jamil Shaikh, heard of new technology for non-surgical fat reduction that had shown great promise with its initial results, so he wanted to establish a clinic to offer this to his patients as an alternative to liposuction.

Other aesthetic clinics in London seemed to be missing extensive medical oversight, and we felt that was the key difference we could make. Within our network of medical professionals, not only did we have a range of expert opinions available for decision-making, but these experts are also the most qualified amongst their peers. This meant that before we offered any particular treatment or surgery, we were able to understand how it worked, any associated risks, and what results could be expected. That was our key difference, and although it delayed our opening to take the time to do this research, we felt this evidence-based approach should become the core philosophy of our business.

Our medical relationships meant that on the rare occasion that something did go wrong, we would be able to make a call and organise an immediate appointment with one of the leading experts in that field of medicine. Between us, we know who is the best in their field in London, and in most cases, we have personal relationships with these experts. We felt that being able to extend that knowledge base to our patients would ensure that our patients were in safe hands.

Between holding NHS positions, private practice, continual professional development, and family responsibilities, it was not easy to find the time to research the treatments available and find premises. But once we found premises, we were ready to launch in October 2011. We also had to get the right team together. We needed the best practitioners in London, and it took time to build a great team. We invested heavily in training and wanted to create an environment for the team that was positive, supportive, and allowed opportunity for growth.

Once we opened, we learned that if our mantra was going to be that patient care would be at the centre of everything we do, then medical expertise alone is not good enough. It needed to be coupled with five-star service. Whilst recognising that it is not possible to perfectly meet service expectations in every scenario, we wanted our team to exceed those expectations as often as possible, and where we did not, apologise and look to exceed expectations as we focused on making that individual situation right.

So, as we approach the landmark anniversary of our first decade of business and the accomplishment of operating four clinics, we can look back and see that we have learned a lot! It was much harder than we imagined and a lot more time consuming. There were many challenges we overcame and many lessons learned.

As we go through the current global pandemic, it reminds us of what the most important things are for us to focus on. We are now focusing on NHS work, either COVID- or cancer-related cases, and that will be the priority for the near future. When we are able to re-open, we look forward to continuing Cavendish Clinic with more innovative, medically-proven treatments in a safe environment for the new world we now find ourselves in. We will only do what we believe is safe – in many cases beyond government guidelines – and we look forward to welcoming back existing patients and meeting new ones.

Collagen induction therapy, also known as micro-needling, is a fantastic cosmetic procedure that involves using small sterile needles to mildly puncture the skin. In time, this will trigger collagen regrowth and break down scar tissue.

What are the benefits to micro-needling?

There is a wide range of benefits from micro-needling, such as improvement of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scarring, textural concerns, pore size, stretch marks, and more. It’s understandable why people are willing to try this procedure. As micro- needling has become more popular and easily accessible online, home users are performing the treatment at home without taking proper precautions. This means these users are not achieving their desired results. More importantly, performing this procedure at home can be incredibly dangerous.

What are the dangers of micro-needling?

There are many factors that you need to be aware of given the nature of this procedure. A sterile environment and equipment are crucial to avoiding infections as you are creating an open wound and exposing your skin to many foreign bodies. Applying the correct post-procedure skincare is necessary to help recovery time and enhance results.

Many home users are more likely to miss important contraindications of this treatment, such as cold sores, active acne, retinoids, steroid creams, rosacea, keloid scarring, etc.. If these concerns have not been considered, it can lead to many complications after the procedure and potentially leave the skin compromised, which is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve.

I believe in achieving the best results in my patients’ skin with a thorough, effective treatment plan, including a personalised home-care regimen to enhance and prolong the results whilst maintaining healthy skin and attending follow-up appointments.

From personal experience, when it comes to micro-needling, the results speak for themselves. I know beautiful skin is, without a shadow of a doubt, achievable when you are in the knowledgeable, safe hands of a fully-qualified Practitioner.

Want to learn more about micro-needling using Dermapen at Cavendish Clinic, click here.

By Manisha Khatri