Lasers & Cosmetic Medicine, Coltishall Clinic, Norfolk, UK

Rosacea is a common condition. Often there is lack of awareness but there is no need to suffer in silence.

2011-11-01T21:17:00.000Z

Consider rosacea if you have suffered from any of the following-facial flushing, redness, broken blood vessels, coarseness of skin and inflammatory eruption resembling acne.

Rosacea is defined by persistent redness of the central portion of the face lasting for at least 3 months. Other symptoms include flushing, acne like eruptions and visible blood vessels. Often there is burning and stinging, swelling, plaques, a dry appearance, eye symptoms such as redness and stinging and a swollen, bulbous nose.

Frequent triggers to flushing include acutely felt emotional stress, hot drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, exercise, cold or hot weather, and hot baths and showers and some skin creams.

There are four different types of rosacea; each with their unique features and treatment may differ. Some other conditions can resemble rosacea but usually this is a clinical diagnosis. Occasionally blood tests are required to rule out other conditions.

Erythematotelangiectatic type [ETR]

Central facial flushing, often accompanied by burning or stinging, is the predominant sign. The redness usually spares the skin around the eyes. These patients typically have dry skin with a fine texture.

Papulopustular rosacea [PPR]

Papulopustular rosacea is the classic presentation of rosacea. Patients are women of middle age who predominately present with a red central portion of their face that contains small red lumps, some with white heads.

Phymatous rosacea

Phymatous rosacea is defined as marked skin thickenings and irregular surface nodularities of the nose, chin, forehead, one or both ears, and/or the eyelids. This is more common in men.

Ocular rosacea

This is rosacea, which affects the eyes causing blepharitis, conjunctivitis, inflammation of the lids and conjunctival redness. Symptoms include eye stinging or burning, dryness, irritation with light, or foreign body sensation.

Treatment

As rosacea is a poorly understood condition there is no cure but we aim to control the symptoms. It is important to avoid or reduce precipitating factors such as stress, spicy foods and sudden changes in temperature.

Your GP may prescribe antibiotic gels, creams or tablets that help in papulopustular type of rosacea but do little to help flushing and blood vessels. Other medications are vitamin A based creams or isotretenoin and some medications to reduce flushing.

Laser treatment is mainstay for flushing and broken blood vessels. We use IPL and a variety of lasers to help reduce it. Broken veins disappear in a few sessions but flushing control need multiple sessions. LED or light emitting diode therapy can help as well.

Phymatous rosacea is treated very successfully with a combination of vascular lasers and CO2 laser to remove thickened tissue under a local anaesthetic.

Ocular rosacea is currently not treated with lasers. Further research is likely to produce more treatment options but for now we advocate laser therapy, which helps a majority of rosacea sufferers.

Lasers & blemish removal at the Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic.

2011-07-28T22:20:00.000+01:00

Lumps and bumps are a very common complaint. These are not only a cosmetic issue but can cause symptoms such as itching, bleeding, catching on cloths etc.

Some darkly pigmented moles or changing, enlarging ones can indicate a need to see your GP or a dermatologist to exclude melanoma.

Here we discuss some common types of lumps and bumps and treatment options.

Seborrhoic warts and skin tags are very common minor skin lesions which usually do not produce symptoms or turn nasty. These are very easy to remove very successfully with barely noticeable scarring.

Raised flesh coloured moles- these are again very common and usually do not indicate any significant problem. Most remain unchanged for many years. It is best to get them checked if there are any changes or concerns. These can be removed almost instantly with shave excision or vaporised with the laser.

Pigmented moles- are a little bit tricky to remove as we remove these with a margin of surrounding skin and this means the resultant scar is usually much longer than the original mole. We also recommend these be sent for pathological examination. Routine examination of removed tissue is best practice here.

Skin cysts- these can be removed through a very small hole in the overlying skin. We now treat most small and longstanding cysts with the help of lasers.

Lipoma-or fatty lumps can be removed through a very small cut in the skin.

Xanthelasma-these are small whitish fatty deposits around the eyes. Most of these can be very successfully removed under local anaesthesia. If these are very large, especially on lower eyelids then removal in a hospital setting may be required.

Broken veins/ birthmarks- most of these can be faded with the help of lasers and no surgery is normally required. A few sessions may be needed.

Rhinophyma or bulbous nose due to rosaces- this can be very successfully removed with the help of lasers. We may need to use 2-3 lasers and 3-5 sessions may be required. Results are very gratifying.

Warts- a variety of treatments are available and lasers are one option to cut off the blood supply so warts shrink and disappear. These can also be vaporised with CO2 laser.

Skin cancers-these are treated as a matter of urgency and treatment is available on the NHS. Laser therapy is not standard of care for skin cancers and we do not recommend it.

Log on to our website www.coltishallclinic.co.uk or call 0800 0430737 for more information or to book an appointment.

Image courtesy of coltishall clinic patients

Wedding planner-how to look your best on your wedding day.

2011-07-09T21:20:00.003+01:00

Anti-ageing specialist Dr Sanjay Gheyi MBBS MS FRCS BCAAM from Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic provides his tips for looking your best on your wedding day. The more time you have to prepare yourself the better it is. But if not, do not worry, our selection of treatments can do a wonderful job. A good moisturiser with SPF 25 and UV A & B protection, vitamins A,C and E based products are a good foundation for any skin care.

Treatments for the bride

Consider laser hair removal if unwanted hair is a problem. Don’t forget laser surgery to remove any unsightly blemishes or moles, lumps and bumps.

Try a course of very popular Photofacial™- these are no downtime IPL and laser treatments and you get a beautiful complexion blending and brightening for your special day. Why not try it on neck, hands and décolleté for that flawless complexion! We recommend 3-5 sessions 2-3 weeks apart.

Fractional CO2 laser skin peel or deeper resurfacing to turn the clock back a few years! Especially important if you have issues with acne scarring or uneven skin texture. Try Madonna lift for rejuvenation of eyelid skin and crow's feet area.

Using a little botox™ can provide a smooth brow, forehead and iron out those crow’s feet and frown lines. Allow a few weeks for full effects to be apparent and these last about 4-5 months.

Restylane™ for softening nose to mouth lines, lips, cheek and chin enhancements, nose reshaping etc. Having deep lines can show with bright lights and photographers flashes from different angles. Why not fill out lines and wrinkles. Again allow a few weeks if possible but new technology now allows us to use these without any bruising or swelling and you can get back to your schedule immediately.

Dysport™ to eliminate sweaty underarms- You may not think you suffer from hyperhidrosis, but spending hours in a gown, stressful moments, pictures taking and speech-giving can induce sweating even in the calmest bride. If you are spending thousands on a gorgeous gown, protect it from unwanted sweat marks, and consider treating your underarms to minimise sweating.

The Mother of the Bride or Groom

Using Botox™ before your son or daughter’s marriage celebration is a great idea. Botox is fast, easy, has little down-time and will last approximately 4-5 months. It also helps with migraines, tension headaches and keeps you looking and feeling calm.

Dermal fillers- You can have a small amount or you can have a liquid facelift. Time is a little short to consider a facelift if that is what you have wanted, but a liquid facelift has several advantages-it is more economical, stress free and has no downtime.

You can tighten your jaw line without any downtime at all with radiofrequency technology.

Dysport™ to eliminate sweaty underarms- Excessive sweating can sometimes interfere with your well made plans for your son or daughter’s big day. Using dysport or botox to combat sweating works very well, and is a quick lunch time procedure.

IPL Intense Pulsed Light treatments are helpful in removing sun damage (brown pigments such as sun spots and age spots, and red pigments such as broken capillaries, rosacea, and general redness). Creating more luminous skin with IPL treatments allows for a more even complexion and removes the unwanted effects of many years of sun damage. We recommend 3-5 treatments, approximately 2-3weeks apart, so be sure you leave yourself enough time to complete the series before the wedding. This treatment is so popular because there is little to no down-time. Areas such as the face, neck, chest and hands can be treated, as well as other areas, like the arms, which you may consider if your dress is sleeveless!

Laser skin rejuvenation With seven different lasers and light based devices at our disposal we are sure to have a treatment for your skin care needs. And, remember you are getting true skin rejuvenation and reduction in your skin age.

If you have wanted blepahroplaty [ eyelid surgery ] we can now do this laser eyelift avoiding downtime and cost of expensive operation.

Nice have treatments for everyone

Diamond microdermabrasion is a gentle, relaxing and enjoyable procedure. It provides you with a valuable ‘me time’ from your hectic schedule and you would love the smooth soft feel of your skin and luminous glow afterwards. This one is for everyone.

For more information log on to www.coltishallclinic.co.uk or call 0800 0430737

Sunday Times article on downside of fillers

2011-06-08T22:56:00.001+01:00

Joker Face

Why do fillers frequently look so false?

risks of going under the needle-

"You’ve seen this face – it’s everywhere. There’s something muzzle-like about the nose and mouth. The lips are taut and bulbous, and a little wonky when she smiles. In extreme cases, the cheeks sit like ping pong balls under spongy skin, eyes peering out of puffy sockets.
The “pillow face”, our current answer to the 1990s wind-tunnel look, is down to dermal fillers. These semi-permanent gels are injected into the lips, cheeks and the lines between the nose and the mouth in a bid for youthful plumpness. Trouble is, the result is often not eternal youth, but a face like a water-retentive lion....."

My view
Dermal fillers can give impressive results but they have to be done for right diagnosis, right product has to be used in right amount and in the right place.
So there we have it, results from dermal fillers depend entirely on your practitioner. Next time you ask for price of a syringe of Restylane-please do consider this. Ask for before and afters and if you see lots of pillow faces you have the option to walk away!

What is wrong with the alternatives that have been suggested in this article?
I am surprised by some of the suggested alternatives and outline my concerns with each of these here-

Antislackening mesotherapy-
This is a technique of injection of multiple ingredients and there are no standard formulations. You don't know what is being injected and results are not as good as standard cosmetic procedures such as botox, fillers, lasers & radiofrequency.

Dracula therapy
This is a procedure involving injection of patients own blood cells into the skin. Again this has been tried in various forms for last many years. This reminds me of Isolagen which was a procedure involving taking patients own cells and injecting them. Majority of patients spent thousands of pounds but were very disappointed with the results and eventually it was withdrawn. My advice-don't be a guinea pig. There are lots of tried and tested products out there and these work very well.

The old-fashioned facelift
Agreed, this can't be beaten for skin tightening. But, this only tightens loose skin, you may need a combination with fillers for restoring lost volume or you might get the dreaded wind-tunnel look. One more important point-no true skin rejuvenation takes place with a face lift, unlike laser resurfacing where true skin rejuvenation occurs.

Radiesse
What can I say, I like radiesse but this is a type of dermal filler. So, to say avoid dermal fillers but try radiesse instead does not make sense.

Let me know what you think and you can find out more about these procedures on our website-

Natural look with dermal fillers

Soft restoration

Laser resurfacing

Radiesse

Radiofrequency

Laser skin rejuvenation

Search Engine Submission - AddMe

A Face-Lift or fat reduction in your lunch hour. No surgery, no injections and no pain.

2011-05-28T21:35:00.000+01:00

I often get asked- “Doctor, I don’t want a facelift, but can’t you just tighten up some of this saggy skin a little?” Or, “I don’t want to have liposuction but want to get rid of stubborn areas of fat.”

Previously my answer would have been a tentative “maybe” but today it is a qualified “yes”.

Well, if this applies to you, then read on- technology moves fast and here at the Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic we like to offer it as soon as we are happy with the results and safety. If you have wanted to reduce wrinkles, jowls and sagging skin, improve your jaw line, remove crow’s feet and tighten skin anywhere on your face or body, then we have the best technology and expertise available for you.

We offer minimally invasive options and liquid facelifts but if needles worry you then we have an even better cutting edge option for you now.

How is this possible?

Gravity wins out over beauty and over time, untreated skin begins to sag and lose its elasticity. Advancements in technology have made it possible to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sagging without undergoing surgery. Coax med is a new medical device that uses radio frequency (RF) and ultrasound to improve skin without any downtime or discomfort. It is the newest radiofrequency and ultrasound device from Italy.

The Coax Medical system uses a sophisticated solid tip, which delivers a controlled amount of RF energy in a very special, brand new way to help decrease wrinkles and tighten the skin in a matter of minutes. A small hand piece is applied to the skin and it warms deeper tissue, stimulating the growth of new collagen. The hand piece tip of the device is cooled before, during, and after treatment to protect the skin and make the treatment more comfortable.

This device can tighten the skin without any pain or discomfort and requires no preparation with numbing creams. It takes about 40-45 minutes to treat the whole face, and only 15 minutes to treat smaller areas such as around the eyes. Not only do we help wrinkling, it also decreases pore size, brings out a better texture and appearance to the skin. Unlike lasers, it can be used on all skin colours, even very dark skin.

Multiple treatments are needed to get the best results. Results continue to improve for up to 12 months. Patients have one treatment every two weeks for 4-6 treatments and they can see a big difference in their skin for a healthier and more refreshed look. Compared to all of the other options in skin tightening that patients have available, I find that the Coax Med is the most comfortable to go through and it actually puts you to sleep. Its gentle warming feels like a massage of the facial skin. There is no recovery period required and you can get back to your normal schedule without any downtime whatsoever. There is no need for strict sun-avoidance either.

It can tighten loose skin on any area of the body such as tummy and arms and can be used with ultrasound to reduce areas of localized fat that cannot be improved with diet or exercise. We will look at some applications for body fat and stretch marks in my next article.

So, we now have an option that does not entail surgery, needles or pain and, best of all there is no recovery period required. It is also much cheaper than surgery.

Log on to the website www.coltishallclinic.co.uk or call 0800 0430737 for more information

Get ready for summer. Reduce excessive underarm sweating.

2011-05-27T21:08:00.000+01:00

Summer is upon us and unfortunately higher temperatures mean worsening of sweating issues for some of us. If you suffer from increased underarm sweating, worry about sweating through your clothes, work in close contact with others or in hot conditions or have to make public presentations then you may consider treatment.

Generalised sweating can be due to certain medical conditions but often sweating just affects underarms, most commonly affected area without any underlying problems. If underarm sweating is significantly interfering with your daily activities and anti-perspirants have not worked, you may be a candidate for botulinum toxin type A treatment.

Often patients have tried various over-the-counter products or stronger antiperspirants prescribed by the GP. One very simple and highly effective treatment option is botulinum toxin injection treatment which can result in dryness for up to one year or more. It takes only a few minutes and almost all of our patients have it once a year. The alternatives are surgical options or to do nothing. Lack of awareness can be a problem as we often see patients who have suffered for years with this crippling condition. They are delighted by the results from such a simple, quick and painless procedure.

If you would like to find out more please log on to www.coltishallclinic.co.uk. or call 0800 0430737.

Treatment of leg veins

2011-04-23T08:43:00.000+01:00

http://www.consultingroom.com/Blog/Display.asp?Blog_ID=176&Treatment-of-thread-and-spider-veins-on-legs.-Sclerotherapy-and-lasers.

Why aesthetic use of permanent fillers is a bad idea.

2011-03-14T23:27:00.000Z

Some people ask me why I don't use permanent fillers? One person wanted permanent fillers in her lips to avoid repeat treatments so she can avoid the cost.
Last week has been particularly hectic for me. I have used plenty of hyalase. This is an enzyme which is used to dissolve hyaluronic acid based fillers. I had to dissolve fillers done elsewhere as patients were not happy with the results. This may be due to various reasons but it illustrates the point which I have been trying to make. Unless there is a good reason not to use hyaluronic acid, it is always my first choice. I also prefer restylane range of fillers as these have unmatched safety data with more than 12 million treatments carried out worldwide.
OK, there are cheaper fillers available but I want to be absolutely sure that I am using the best product.
It gives me flexibility to reverse or modify the effects if there is a problem-and it is very rare to have to do this but it is nice to know that it is possible.
Permanent fillers can cause problems which are difficult to rectify. A filler that looks good today may look unsightly few years down the line, what will you do if you don't like it then?
Then there are bio stimulatory fillers which can also cause granulomas. This can occur many months or years after the treatment. Some doctors use fat but hyaluronic acid fillers are readily available, cheaper and one does not need to extract fat from somewhere! Also what happens if you gain weight in the future- the filler will become fat too!
I am not suggesting that there is no place for fat or permanent fillers or indeed bio-stimulatory fillers. I am sure some doctors are pretty good at doing these and get great results. I just think that there are simple and better options available and as aesthetic treatments are elective treatments we must try to minimise chance of things going wrong.

Treatment of facial blood vessels

2011-02-06T18:23:00.000Z

Facial redness and spider veins are a common cosmetic and medical complaint. These are particularly common in rosacea suffers. Common associations are seen with sun damage, a fair complexion, stress, spicy foods and fluctuations in temperature which exacerbate rosacea symptoms. As with many conditions, genetics plays a role too.
Numerous treatments are available but laser and light based treatments are the gold-standard treatment options. Commonly used lasers are ktp and pulse dye lasers for red veins and nd-yag lasers for blue veins. The smaller wavelength lasers work well on superficial spider veins whereas, the longer wavelength lasers are effective for the ablation of slightly deeper and larger veins. Pulse duration must also be matched to vessel size; the larger the vessel diameter, the longer is the pulse duration required to treat the vessel.
Recently intense pulsed light devices have gained popularity. Unlike lasers, IPL devices produce a broadband light and effectively target a number of cosmetic concerns such as brown/ black pigmentation and red and blue vessels simultaneously. IPLs also tend to have larger spot sizes and purpura [bruising] is not a required endpoint as is the case with certain lasers. Patients see gradual but very noticeable improvements with complexion blending and brightening achieving photo rejuvenation of the skin.

Often we see larger blood vessels especially around the nose and these may require treatments with nd-yag lasers. Caution is required with these lasers as high energy or pulse stacking can cause scars. Some doctors use sclerotherapy for facial veins and very precise small volume injections are made. I do not use sclerotherapy on the face as a rule. Area around the mouth and nose is a danger area as veins here communicate directly with venous sinuses inside the skull. Similarly veins around the eyes are another risky area as there is a possibility of flow of scleroscent in the retinal vessels. Sclerotherapy is very valuable for treatment of leg veins but laser and IPL treatment is safer and better for facial veins. We will look at leg vein treatments in my next blog.

So, aspirin is the re-discovered wonder drug!

2010-12-08T21:51:00.000Z

Recent media headlines are dominated by rediscovery of aspirin as a wonder drug. Doctors are well aware of benefits of low dose aspirin. It thins theblood so naturally reduces chances of stroke or heart attack which are predominantly caused by blockage of blood supply to these organs. It has also been shown to have anti-cancer properties.
So, do we all rush out and start taking aspirin!
Well, let’s put this in perspective. I am not against aspirin and use it very often in my practice. Some patients can have side-effects or problemswith intestinal tract bleeding with aspirin and its risks in certain
circumstances can outweigh the benefits. So, is there an alternative without the risks?
The good news is, yes. Omega 3 fish oils can provide many similar benefits.Populations that consume a diet naturally rich in omega 3 fish oils have a low incidence of cardiac and cerebro-vascular disease, cancer and all causemortality [a low death rate from all causes.] These populations also have other factors that contribute to their longevity but fish oils do play a role.
A natural approach to longevity and reducing diseases such as heart disease,stroke and cancer would include a number of things such as stress reduction, regular exercise, adequate sleep & hydration, positive relationships, positivemental attitude, balanced diet, avoiding sugar & tobacco, hormone balancing in certain circumstances and nutritional supplements suchas fish oils. It is synergy of these which is much more powerful than one thing in isolation.
So, what omega-3 oils do we consume? Vegetable oils such as flax seed oil provide some of these but not enough. The best source is fish oils. 1 gm of oily fish three times a week shouldbe adequate for most of us. Another option would be fish oil capsules, ideally these should be in enteric coated formulations and provide EPA and DHA as mainingredients.
Are there any risks?

Due to contamination of our oceans, concern has been raised about mercury content of the large predatory fish such as tuna, grouper, snapper & bass etc. Theoretically smaller fish would be low in mercury content and better in this regard. Also, too much of fish oils can thin the blood so I would not recommend more than 1-2 gm a day for most healthy people. And, do remember to tell your doctor if you are having any aesthetic procedure or surgery. It is possible to run a fatty acid profile as part of a nutritional assessment. This would indicate omega-3,6 and 9 oil levels in the blood. Testing can also reveal mercury levels in the body. This testing however is not widely recognised by mainstream medicine at the moment.
Most important thing to remember is that there is no one answer or magicdrug to solve all our problems. It has to be a combined approach.

Non-surgical face lift in your lunch hour. Liquid facelift at the Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic.

2010-11-08T23:22:00.001Z

If you have thought about having a facelift but worry about aneathesia,
bruising, pain or recovery then read on. You can now have a pain less face lift in your lunch hour. It provides great results at lower cost than surgery.

How is this possible?

A face lift only tightens loose skin; it does not replace lost volume from the face which is probably the most important component of facial ageing. It will not improve skin texture or tone either. We are increasingly using volumisation of the face in addition to skin tightening which if performed without volume restoration gives a tight but not a natural look. I prefer a natural look for my clients.

Most of us do not have time to recover from a surgical procedure and with recent advances in non-surgical treatments we can achieve very impressive results. We have an impressive array of lasers and other devices to address all aspects of ageing skin.Restylane Sub Q lifts your face in an instant and the results are great. It is being hailed as something of a breakthrough. My clients who have received this treatment are very pleased with it. It is performed under local anaesthesia and takes about 30 minutes. You can then walk away with a rejuvenated natural look and years taken off your face. As it is a deeper filler, there is usually no bruising or redness.

The best part is that I don’t use a needle anymore. I use a special cannula which has a blunt tip. So, now there is no pain or bruising which sometimes occurred when we used to use the needle. It is an alternative to permanent cheek implants which can be problematic as they sometimes cause infection or move, creating asymmetry in the face. Although fat can be used to transfer into the face and add volume, deep filler is the only method available to achieve a similar result without the need for surgery.

Restylane Sub Q is the brand name for an injectable form of hyaluronic acid
specially formulated for facial contouring. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar that is
found in the connective tissue of our skin and along with collagen forms the
building blocks of healthy tissues. As it is totally natural component of our
skin, no allergy test is required. Restylane is the most popular facial filler
in the world today and has been used in over 11 million treatments. It has a
proven safety record. The result from the treatment is immediate and can last more than a year.Another exciting development is the use of botox to achieve a defined outline of the jaw. The so called “Nefertiti lift”. We also use botox for
eyebrow lift to correct drooping eyebrows. A combination of these procedures and other non surgical tools is now capable of producing remarkable results without going under the knife. Everyone is not suitable for these procedures and as we each have our unique features and requirements we tailor our treatments and pick and choose best options from our increasing number of non-surgical treatments.For more information, phone 0800 0430737 or log on the websitewww.coltishallclinic.co.uk

Do your hands give your age away?

2010-10-08T18:59:00.000+01:00

Most of us look after our faces very well, but our hands take a lot of abuse and most of us pay little attention to their care and protection. They are subjected to cumulative sun exposure and wear and tear just like the skin on our face, neck, and décolleté. The skin on the hands also tends to be thin and sun damage causes brown spots, slackening, and wrinkling. These textural changes cause visible signs of ageing. Wearing a hand cream with SPF 25 and occasional exfoliation helps prevent some of this damage, but there are many effective treatments to help correct it. You can have a combination of treatments to reverse visible imperfections or pick and choose a treatment to best address the concerns that you have.

For discoloration, tone, and texture, a course of intense pulsed light treatments can help significantly over time. IPL treatments from Lumenis, for example, used to treat the hands address the effects of photoaging and sun damage without downtime. Brown discoloration will be lightened with each session. If deeper pigmented spots are your main concern, lasers such as the Q-switched Nd: YAG or alexandrite laser can lighten them more effectively. If you have sun damage generally, then we recommend a fractional CO2 laser peel for global improvement with a little downtime which can be customised to your needs.
Restylane vital is also commonly used for hand rejuvenation. Three sessions at monthly intervals can provide dramatic results as shown here.
If you are after a maintenance treatment and next step up from hand creams then a course of gentle chemical peels and or diamond microdermabrasion is all you need.

Fractional eyelift - a non-surgical alternative to blepharoplasty!

2010-09-20T23:17:00.000+01:00

I am convinced- Surgery is taking great strides, we now have a full-face transplant surgery.
But....
The future in facial and body aesthetics is non-surgical. Most people today prefer a quick, no downtime procedure rather than risk anesthesia and downtime associated with surgery.
Certainly our CO2 lasers are capable of providing great results for skin tightening. I have achieved a great degree of skin tightening in neck and eyelid areas. You can read more about fractional eyelift here

BRIC dominate cosmetic surgery and non surgical procedures

2010-08-15T23:19:00.000+01:00

I am sure you have heard about BRIC. Whilst we were all worried about the recession in the west, BRIC [that is Brazil, Russia, India & China] economies were roaring ahead.

Now it seems they have overtaken most western economies except the USA when it comes to cosmetic surgery and non surgical treatments.

Recent figures released by The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) revealed a new hierarchy of countries with the most surgical and non surgical cosmetic procedures. 1^st is USA , 2^nd China, 3^rd Brazil and 4^th India. Russia is at no 12 and UK is at 17.

The popularity of surgical procedures varied by country with Brazil, the United States, China, Mexico, India and Japan the dominant countries for the top five procedures.

The countries where non surgical procedures were performed were dominated by the United States, Brazil, Mexico and China and to a lesser extent by Japan, Hungary, South Korea, India and Germany.

The top five non surgical procedures are: toxins or neuromodulators injections (Botox, Dysport) (32.7%), hyaluronic acid injections (20.1%), laser hair removal (13.1%), autologous fat injections (5.9%) and IPL Laser treatment (4.4%).

Most popular surgical procedures were liposuction representing 18.8% of all, followed by breast augmentation at 17%, and blepharoplasty (upper or lower eyelid lift) at 13.5%, rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) at 9.4% and abdominoplasty ("Tummy Tuck") at 7.3%.

What stands out is that more Non surgical than Surgical procedures were performed. This data relates to plastic surgeons. Recent figures also show us that vast majority of Non surgical procedures are performed by non plastic surgeons. So we can reasonably conclude that Non surgical procedures are rising at a much faster rate than cosmetic surgical procedures.

See how this compares to our experience.

Don't hide those legs because of Spider Veins, Varicose veins or Thread Veins

2010-08-11T23:38:00.000+01:00

11.8.2010

Spider and thread veins are a common problem worldwide. These are not only of cosmetic concern but can be medically important as they can cause achy and tired legs specially in the evenings after a days work.

Abnormal leg veins are more common in women who often suffer in silence. But it does not have to be this way. Often the first step is to be aware that there are excellent non-surgical treatments available for treatment of this condition.

US FDA approved Asclera [Polidocanol]

Varicose veins can be an embarrassing condition that causes patients to avoid shorts and outdoor activities. Recently, the US FDA approved Asclera (polidocanol) injections for the treatment of varicose veins.

The FDA has approved Asclera to close spider veins (tiny leg veins less than 1 millimeter in diameter) and reticular veins (those that are 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter). Asclera acts by damaging the cell lining of blood vessels. This causes the blood vessel to close, and it is eventually replaced by fibrous tissue.

Dr Gheyi has been using this medicine for last 4.5 years with excellent results. Another medicine that he uses is fibrovein which is approved in the UK. This is a further testimonial that we use safe and effective treatments in our clinic.

So what other cutting edge treatments can we offer for treatment of Leg veins, thread veins and spider veins?

For those of us who prefer not to have injections of mdicines or for those patients where we think laser is likely to offer a better solution we can offer three different state-of-the-art laser treatments.

find out more about laser treatments here

read a patients experience of leg vein treatments here

read patient testimonials here

Laser Tattoo Removal

2010-07-12T23:04:00.000+01:00

Is your Tattoo stopping you from moving forward in life?

Would you like to have it removed in a painless, scar less way with the latest technology?

Look no further…the answer is right here….

In many parts of the world greater than 15% of adults have tattoos. It is estimated that 50% of those receiving tattoos will want to have them removed within 10 years of their application. Tattoos can have negative associations and can be a hindrance in obtaining certain jobs. Whatever the reason, the best technology for tattoo removal in now available.

Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic have announced the arrival of a new high powered laser.
“The last few years have been very exciting for us and we have continued to invest in training and education and to add new services to our treatment menu”, says practice manager Trish. “We already have 4 different IPLs and 2 different lasers in addition to light emitting diodes and diamond microdermabrasion. Now we have added a Q-switched Nd-Yag laser ‘ the gold-standard tattoo removal laser’ which will help us not only remove tattoos, but also treat people with deeper pigmentation and sun spots”.

What methods of Tattoo Removal are available?

We must stress that older methods of tattoo removal are now outdated and have been replaced by better technology. These methods included dermabrasion, chemical peels, destruction of tattoo ink by various forms of injectable substances.

Why are older Tattoo Removal methods not recommended?

Older methods used to remove the part of skin with the tattoo! The results were less than desirable due to scarring. Whilst surgical excision may have a role in some smaller tattoos, older methods of tattoo removal cause unacceptable scarring and poor cosmetic outcome.

Why are Q switched Tattoo Removal lasers so good?

Q switched lasers produce very high powered and short nanosecond [one billionth of a second] pulses of light that shatter and disperse pigment particles without damaging the skin. Consequently ink particles are removed and surrounding skin is not damages. This dramatically reduces the risk of scarring.

Is the Laser Tattoo Removal treatment painful?

We use a local anaesthetic to numb the skin so our patients do not find the treatment painful.

Is the Laser Tattoo Removal treatment permanent?

Yes. Dr Sanjay Gheyi MBBS MS FRCS FP Cert. BCAAM, Medical Director and Laser Surgeon of Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic has many years experience with IPL and lasers. He has received one to one training from pioneers of laser technology in USA & Italy and has reproduced excellent results in his clinic. He specialises in ‘no downtime’ gentle laser facials to more invasive laser resurfacing procedures and ‘knifeless’ laser surgery for lumps, bumps and skin tags in addition to botox, dermal fillers and leg vein treatments.

For Laser Tattoo or pigment removal contact Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic on 0800 0430737 or http://www.coltishallclinic.co.uk/

Lunch time laser facial

2010-06-29T22:43:00.000+01:00

Sometimes I hear people ask-

I don't really have much time- can I have a quick treatment without any down time or signs of having had a facial or a laser treatment and still see results? or....

I would love to have a laser treatment but I have dark skin, can I still have a laser treatment? I have heard that laser is only suitable for fair skin! or......
I do not wish to have cosmetic treatments but would like to slow down skin ageing and look fresher! not necessarily younger. or....

I tried laser/ IPL / creams/ chemical peels for my skin pigment but nothing worked. Can you suggest something?

Well, if any of these apply to you then consider our Q yag laser facial

We are impressed with it and you too can take advantage. Watch a treatment video and call us or use our appointment form to book your experience

Laser hair removal just got better

2010-06-28T23:16:00.000+01:00

My aim is to offer best technology to my patients and clients. They come not only from Norwich or Norfolk but but also surrounding counties of lincolnshire, cambridgeshire and Suffolk.
OK I perform most of my laser hair removals myself rather than delegate it to most junior staff members. Why?
Because I believe that this is perhaps the most important & difficult treatment to do well and it takes experience to do it correctly. Low energy and it will not work, higher energy and you get side effects. It is a delicate balance.
Then there is the technology. No one machine works best for everyone. Hence we have invested in what I believe to be the best technology out there for laser hair removal. Often we see the same old technology being repackaged and introduced as 'latest advance in laser hair removal'. Well, it is not, it is a marketing technique. I am yet to see a true technological breakthrough that outperforms the time tested Alexandrite laser for laser hair removal on fair skin.
Then there are some IPLs which can do a fair job but these are not the best. Sometimes these are combined with RF energy but I do not believe that this combination offers any advantages. If you search the internet for 'laser hair removal' the majority of search results will indicate IPL rather then true laser and a few will claim IPL is better or latest! No, it is not. I can tell you as I use both.
So what machines do I use in our clinic-
IPL 645-1200nm
IPL 695-1200nm
Nd-yag 1064nm
Alexandrite 755mm
Q switched Nd-yag 1064nm
How do we choose- we consider your skin type, hair type and body area to treat and then decide which machine will work best for you. You do need to have a proper consultation for laser hair removal. This is not a salon service. This is a medical service and we see people who can have medical reasons for hair growth and further testing or issues may need to be considered.
What about the pain and speed! It is not painful, sensation is just like snap from a rubber band. A cool gel is used with IPL and cool spray with our laser which is incredibly fast and allows us to treat a full back or lower or upper legs in under 40minutes. It is very safe and offers unmatched results.
More information and treatment video here