Tag: skincare

  • A Little Bit About Fillers

    A Little Bit About Fillers

    What are they? 

    Fillers are generally made of hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring substance. The hyaluronic acid molecule pulls water to it, so it is very good at plumping. The appearance of hyaluronic acid fillers is that of a clear gel. It comes in various consistencies and a good injector will know which filler type to use depending on the intended outcome for the patient. 

    I think there can be a real concern amongst clients that their faces will look obviously “done” or “overdone”. As I’ve stated before, my ethos is towards the understated. Restoring a natural-looking volume to the face or creating a subtle lift, or enhancing existing contours. 

    What are fillers used for?

    Fillers can be used to replace lost volume due to loss of fat and bone caused by ageing. This creates a support structure that lifts the overlying tissues and skin. They can also be used to contour a face: to create a pleasing silhouette by enhancing cheeks, or the chin or the jawline. Hollows under the eyes can also be softened with filler. 

    Fillers can be used to volumize lips or to create more defined lips. Some fillers are injected more superficially and help to improve the composition of the collagen in the skin and to improve hydration. 

    I tend to use Juvederm products and really like their Vycross range. 

    Products such as Voluma, Volift, Volux, Volite are all from this range and have various benefits in terms of being long-lasting and not producing too much swelling after injecting. Some of these products contain local anaesthetic to produce a mild numbing effect to make injections more comfortable. 

    Is filler a good choice for me? 

    The decision to use a filler is a joint process between practitioner and client and should be based on what the client’s area of concern is and what the doctor can reasonably achieve. A natural outcome is what I aim for and is my general approach to aesthetics. 

    Hyaluronic acid fillers are safe as they mimic a substance that is naturally occuring in the human body. The products I use are reversible – so they can be dissolved if so desired for any reason. They do need to be injected by a practitioner with a good understanding of facial anatomy and who has an eye and passion for achieving a harmonious, holistic and bespoke “beauty” that the individual patient is trying to achieve.

    What about pain and downtime? 

    Filler injections can be done with needles or with blunt cannulas. The method used depends on where the filler is placed and what effect is trying to be achieved. Different patients respond differently to pain – generally, filler injections are well tolerated. The fillers with local anaesthetic in them will cause a more lasting numbing effect. The effects of filler can be seen immediately after treatment although there may be some redness, some mild bruising or swelling which will settle in a few days. There is no downtime and one should be able to return to normal activities 

    Please don’t hesitate to email me or arrange for an initial consultation to discuss any queries you have around the aesthetic treatments that we offer at Coyne Medical.

    DR CHRISTINA EUSTACE
    MB BS BSc

    Christina is a GP at Coyne Medical with special interests in menopause and HRT management, cognitive health, and mental health. She graduated from Edinburgh University with a BSc in Neuroscience and completed her medical degree with distinction from Imperial College London, gaining membership to the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2010.

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    For educational purposes. This article is written by a practising GP and is intended to inform, not replace a consultation with your own doctor. It does not constitute medical advice. A note on clinical guidelines: Coyne Medical is an independent private clinic. Our approach is guided by the best available evidence, tailored to each individual. This may go beyond standard NHS or NICE guidance, which is designed for population-level care and weighted by resource constraints.

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  • Caring for your Skin in Winter

    Caring for your Skin in Winter

    It is that time of year, when the weather is less kind and it starts to affect your skin. With the cold wind, wet outdoors and heating indoors, skin tends to get very dry and irritated. Here are a few simple things we need to remember to keep our skin happy throughout these colder months.

    1.Try to switch to soap substitutes during these months, for both your face and body. For your face this means avoiding gel cleansers and opting for cream based cleansers. Your local pharmacist can assist you in choosing an array of soap substitutes to use either in the bath or shower.

    2. Although it is tempting to have a very hot bath or shower when it is cold outside, it is better for your skin to have less contact with water and instead have a shorter warm shower. Try not to rub yourself dry vigorously, but pat yourself dry and apply a fragrance free moisturiser or emollient immediately after. This will help lock in the moisture.

    Similarly, if you are washing your hands frequently, try to apply an emollient after each wash if convenient. Choosing an emollient is based on how dry your skin is and what you feel comfortable using. Cream or gel based emollients go on without leaving a greasy feeling, and although they are less moisturising they are fine for regular use. If your skin is very dry it is probably best to opt for an ointment which is greasier, but will work more effectively and quickly to sooth irritation. You could consider using a greasier emollient at night and a less greasy one in the day.

    3.Exposed skin is vulnerable and more likely to dry out and become irritated, so if you can – cover it up! This means wearing gloves, hats and scarves in addition to your other warm winter gear. For some people direct contact with wool can cause irritation, so it is sensible to layer up and wear comfortable breathable materials under these.

    4.Although it may not feel like you see the sun much at this time of the year, it is also advisable to use sunscreen in winter if you are going to be outside – even if you are not skiing on a sunny mountain slope.

    5.It is also important to stay hydrated and maintain a healthy balanced diet. Our eating habits tend to get worse during the colder months and we reach for things that we find comforting. Additionally, it is worth considering taking supplements during this time of the year, especially vitamin D (see our blog about this for further details).

    If you are still struggling with dry irritated skin despite these measures, it may be worth coming in for a review to see if your skin condition is more serious and may need topical steroids. We at Coyne Medical are always looking to help with any questions you may have, therefore please get in contact with us to book an appointment today.