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| Uplifting ... Jane Moore, before and right, after her non-surgical Thermage facelift |
THE elasticity of our skin, an expert once told me, can be likened to guy
ropes holding down the canvas of a tent.
When we’re young, they’re taut. As we get older, well... let’s put it this
way, I’m 50 this month and I reckon mine resemble those that have spent a
harsh, gusty winter harnessing a marquee to a bleak Welsh mountainside.
So I decided to do something about it. The question was, what?
Having once seen Sharon Osbourne without make-up and looking about 25, the
temptation to follow her path and go under the knife was powerful.
But I worried that the change would be so obvious that people would ask:
“Who’s your surgeon?”
What I wanted was still to look like me but a “refreshed” version, someone
who, unlike me, hadn’t damaged her skin over the years with a lousy
cleansing routine, excessive sun exposure and by — curse of the opinion
columnist — scowling at everything and cultivating two deep furrows between
the eyes.
So when I was offered the chance to try out what’s described as a “4D
non-surgical facelift,” my jowls wibble-wobbled with excitement.
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| Treatment ... Jane Moore undergoes non-surgical procedure |
“If it doesn’t hurt, then it won’t work,” said my sceptical friend who has
tried just about every cosmetic treatment going, including an impressively
subtle surgical facelift.
In fact, I can now report that it did hurt a little bit and, to my mind, it
worked a little bit too.
You can judge for yourself by studying the before and after pictures for which
I bravely — or is it stupidly? — posed entirely without make-up.
Whatever your verdict, all I can say is that several people have, unknowingly
and unprompted, commented on how “well” I look without the accompanying
suspicious scrutiny of someone seeking out surgical scars.
So, for me, mission accomplished then. But what exactly is a 4D non-surgical
facelift? Well, the 4D bit essentially means that the surgeon studies your
face, chats through your concerns, then uses a number of the non-surgical
treatments available to try and get the effect you require. In other words,
bespoke.
In my case, the main treatment used was something called Thermage, described
as a “safe, non-invasive, radio frequency cosmetic procedure” that purports
to trick the skin into producing fresh collagen.
Thermage uses radio waves — applied via a hot, vibrating pad — supposedly to
stimulate the lower layers of skin without damaging the surface. It took
just 45 minutes in a dentist’s-style chair and didn’t hurt, as such, but was
slightly uncomfortable around bony areas such as the jawline. It was applied
by Dr Mike Comins of The Private Clinic in London’s Knightsbridge, a former
President of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors.
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| Facelift ... Jane has noticed a visible change in texture and elasticity of her skin |
At our first meeting, he explained that my drooping jowls were a classic
symptom of my age, because the cheeks start losing their plumpness and this,
in turn, causes the jawline to sag. Thermage, he explained, would improve
the look and feel of my skin but to fully maximise any effect I would need
Restylane SubQ fillers to plump up my cheeks.
It was applied via four injections — two in each cheek. Again, uncomfortable
but not painful. Some people develop bruising, some don’t.
I did but it was small and faint enough to hide with make-up. Then came those
pesky furrow lines.
“Botox will sort these out,” he declared and my brow furrowed even further
with concern. But Dr Comins promised to keep it subtle and, two tiny
injections later, one each side of the furrows, it was done. The result?
Frown lines gone but I can still move my forehead.
And what of the Thermage? Well, some say they can see the effect immediately,
but I didn’t.
I had the treatment at the start of January and first noticed a visible change
in texture and elasticity about six weeks later. My kids, who didn’t know I
was having anything done, haven’t commented.
My husband, who didn’t want me to have anything done, says he can’t see any
change. But then he didn’t notice when I changed my haircut once either.
But I can see the difference and, as I said earlier, the “you’re looking well”
comments have increased markedly.
Equally, having this minor work done has prompted me to make more effort with
my appearance.
There have been many mornings when my pillow resembled the Turin Shroud
because I hadn’t removed last night’s make-up and my morning “beauty regime”
usually consisted of a quick face-wash. But as my “refreshment” didn’t come
cheap — my combination of Thermage, fillers and Botox cost £3,000 — it would
be daft not make the most of it by now taking greater care of my skin.
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| Fresh-faced ... Jane Moore when she was younger |
So I have invested in a good cleanser, toner and moisturiser and fastidiously
apply all three on a daily basis. And having been told by experts that the
majority of sun damage to British skins occurs between October and May when
we fail to apply protection, I will also routinely wear factor 15 on my face
in the winter months and SPF30 for the summer holidays.
The fillers, Botox and Thermage will eventually wear off, of course, and I’ll
droop again. But the change of mindset in taking care of my skin will be
permanent.
Lastly, why did I feel the need to do it? Well, it wasn’t through lack of
self-esteem, I have plenty of that. And as I said earlier, The Bloke liked
me as I was.
But I felt that I constantly looked tired and that my face could do with a
little boost. Now it’s had one and my spirits have lifted too. And to me,
that’s worth it.
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