Gone are the days when the thought of going to the dentist was enough make your blood pressure rise to an unhealthy level. Nowadays the dental practice can be a warm and welcoming environment and surprisingly enough, patients often enjoy their visit.

Anti Ageing treatments are becoming increasing popular over the past several years, Dental Practices are in a prime position to offer these treatments in a safe and clinical environment. I am going to discuss some of the best and most cost effective ways to combat the natural aging process.

Botulinum Toxin (Botox)
Price from £125-£400

Botox is a toxin that has been studied and used as early as the 1970’s, it was initially used the treat crossed eyes but during studies it was discovered that the solution made a huge
improvement for facial wrinkles. After injection the toxin works by effectively paralyzing the muscles that contribute to lines and wrinkles, this process can take unto 2 weeks The main  areas for Botox treatment include,

  • Glabella (frown lines)
  • Orbicularis Oculi (Crows Feet)
  • Frontalis (forehead lines)

Advanced practioners can also use it to treat hyperhidrosis (excess sweating) chronic migraines, tooth grinding and the treatment of gummy smiles. Results are impressive and last on average 3-6 months. The procedure itself should be comfortable, the face is marked up and tiny injections of the toxin are given into each active muscle. It is important to note that Botulinum Toxin is a prescription only medicine so therefore a full face-to-face consultation should be carried out with non-medical prescriber before treatment is
offered.

Dermal Fillers (Price from £120)

Dermal Fillers are made up of a gel like substance, typically made of Hyaluronic acid. They have been used for decades to restore lost volume in an ageing face. As we age the fat pads in our faces start to disintegrate (we need our facial fat!), with this, the skin starts to sag, especially around the lower half of our face. Dermal Fillers come pre packaged in a 1-3ml syringe and when stragically injected into the facial tissues can restore, plump and hydrate your face. The most common areas for dermal fillers are.

  • Lips
  • Cheeks
  • Jawline and Jowl Areas
  • Tear Trough (sunken area below eyes)
  • Nasolabial Folds and Marionettes (Lines running from nose to chin)
  • Non Surgical Rhinoplasty

Results are immediate and can last 6-24 months dependent on filler choice and area treated. Following the procedure bruising and swelling can be expected although this is drastically reduced when the clinician uses a cannula as opposed to needles.

Thread Lifts (Price from £250)

Thread lifts are a somewhat cousin of a surgical facelift. Clients should be assessed to assess their suitability for a thread lift and should show early signs of ageing. If you have severe facial sagging then you will not be a candidate for this treatment. Thread lifts are made of unique threads, which are inserted into the skin using a large cannula, they work by pulling the skin to lift and tighten. Common areas for thread lifts include.

  • Mid and Lower face tightening
  • Forehead and Brow lifting
  • Jawline and Jowl Tightening

Results are immediate however maximine effect can be seen a few weeks following procedure. Bruising and swelling are a common side effect of this treatment.

Plasma Treatment
(Price from £150-£400)

Plasma is a fairly new contender in the bid to look younger. Plasma works by a process
called sublimation, a small pen like device is used, this causes tiny controlled trauma to the
skin, this trauma promotes collagen production resulting in the skin becoming clearer tighter and smoother Plasma can be used on multiple areas of the face and body, the most common areas treated are

  • Non Surgical Blepharoplasty (upper and lower eyelid tightening)
  • Fine Lines and Wrinkles around the eyes and mouth
  • Jawline and Neck Tightening

Generally a course of 1-3 is needed to see optimal results. Downtime is noticeable, after the treatment the area will be inflamed and swollen for a couple of days, after this you will be left with small scabs, these fall off within a week but full healing can take up to 6 weeks. Treatment lasts on average 2-3 years.

Chemical Peels Chemical

Peels are an acid based  solution that is applied direct to the skin for a specific length of time, after this, the peel is neutralized. Peels can either be superficial, medium depth or deep. The depth of peel required will be determined on your skin goals and type of skin you have. Typically peels are used to treat.

  • Acne
  • Uneven Skin tone
  • Pigmentation/ sun damage and ages pots
  • Scaring
  • Anti Ageing (fine lines and wrinkles)
  • Rosacea

After a peel the skin may be red, flakey and depending of depth of peel you may experience full facial peeling, the skin may feel tight but there is usually very little discomfort. For optima results a course of 4-6 peels are recommended and a strict skincare routine should be followed.