I believe it must be done carefully and conservatively, always with the intention of keeping it natural, and age appropriate.

I am very strict on this. I must be absolutely certain in my professional opinion that a procedure is right for the patient, that they need it and that there will be significant benefits to them. I will decline to treat a client if the procedure they are requesting is unnecessary, their expectations are unrealistic, or I feel they have psychological issue to address first.

I encourage open and detailed discussions at consultation so that my patients have the necessary information to make an informed decision. There are risks with every medical procedure, but by making the right choices these can be kept to a minimum.

The treatment involves a combination of two of the most popular and advanced skin-perfecting and anti-ageing techniques, utilising Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections with fractional CO2 laser treatment to treat the visible signs of ageing.

The Angel Lift takes about one hour.

The Angel Lift™ treatment targets the skin to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes on the skin surface as well as addressing the structure of the layers beneath to produce visible natural results. This combination of treatments gives an immediate visible improvement with subtle, longer lasting changes to the tone and texture of the skin optimising over time.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections is a procedure that works by extracting the patient’s own blood, processing it using the hospital grade ‘Angel™’ system – the most sophisticated on the market with medical grade credentials ensuring it delivers the highest possible results.  The separated platelets are then re-injected into the face.  When the platelets are activated in the body, these highly specialised sponge-like molecules release healing proteins called growth factors.  These growth factors have a range of responsibilities, a predominant feature of which is their ability to accelerate tissue repair and improve wound healing.  After the PRP injections are completed, skin is left looking and feeling younger, using no foreign or manmade substance, just the body’s own cells!

Fractional Laser Treatment utilises a very narrow laser microbeam to remove columns of tissue deep into the layers of the skin.  The body then heals the channel which stimulates new collagen growth immediately to improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars and fine lines.  TotalFX uses a larger beam to treat the upper layer of skin to remove unwanted pigmentation, promote new skin regeneration and improve fine lines and texture.  The goal of TotalFX fractional laser skin treatments is simple: replace damaged skin with new, fresh skin.  TotalFX treatment produces a dramatic effect on the skin and the results of CO2 treatments like TotalFX, with proper sun protection, can last for many years.

Prices start at £3,750 for single areas and £5,750 for full face treatment with me at the Dr Rakus Clinic in Knightsbridge (www.drritarakus.com)

Average down time is 5-7 days, a patient may experience a very slight pinkness for a couple of weeks (however this is easily covered with makeup).  Sun protection is mandatory for at least 3 months after any laser treatment.

As I mentioned before, there are risks with any medical procedure or even with taking medications. Thankfully with using the latest technology combined with experience, serious complications such as scarring are a thing of the past. Minor problems that can arise rarely can be dealt with effectively.

You should always wear sun protection that is at least SPF25, to ensure skin is protected around the clock – even when it’s not sunny!  Always make the time to cleanse, tone and moisturise each and every day – starting and sticking to a routine will make a huge difference on the fine lines and wrinkles that will appear as you get older.  If you don’t smoke, don’t start – smoking is incredibly ageing on the skin.   If you do then the sooner you give up, the better your skin will look in the future.

It’s always advisable to inform your GP if you are thinking of having any treatment as they will be fully aware of your medical history which is one of the things we will also need to know from you before agreeing to any procedure.  We in turn always provide each patient with all the medical information they require i.e. consent forms, brochures regarding the products to be used and there is an opportunity to have any questions answered plus a current price list.

If you have a history of a phenol peel or have used Accutane in the past 12 months, Coumadin or other blood thinners, or have a recent tan, you should tell you practitioner and wait before having the procedure.  You must also inform your specialist if you are taking medication, undergoing steroidal, or any long-term therapies.

I think we’re going to see the continuing trend for clients demanding more natural looking results.  As well as new developments in procedures and treatments, surgeons are looking for new and innovative ways to achieve these natural results, harnessing the technology and techniques available and combining them for the best possible results.

There are a couple of interesting developments that may well be making their presence felt here in the UK over the coming year. The first is fat grafting – billed as “one of the hottest revivals in plastic surgery” it uses a patient’s own fat to restore volume to the aging face.  This method is experiencing a renewed popularity and is recognised as a natural and organic alternative to dermal fillers. Studies have shown that as we age the face undergoes bony changes such as enlargement and elongation of the eye orbit, as well as a loss of fatty tissue or volume.

A new procedure that’s becoming increasingly popular is the use of fat injections to restore volume and plump the facial tissue.  Traditionally surgeons have looked at aging faces and seen a laxity of the tissues.  The classic correction was to tighten the tissues through facelifts and brow lifts.  It’s now recognised that the problem may not always be from loose tissues but from volume loss.  Initially this was done with fillers but fat grafting used in combination is showing positive results.

A second development utilising body fat is a “reverse liposuction” technique known as simultaneous implant exchange with fat (SIEF) and is a new approach to replacing breast implants with the patient’s own fat cells.  As technical developments in cosmetic procedures become more advanced, myself and many of my peers are looking to creatively combine treatments to offer patients the ultimate solutions to their cosmetic enhancement needs.

Further afield studies and tests are being conducted on the viability of a topically-applied version of the popular treatment Botox.  Early reports are proving positive and if these go well we could see this being introduced later in 2013.

And finally – more men are seeking the advice and consulting with surgeons.  Numbers have been growing steadily in recent years as it becomes less stigmatised for men to seek out cosmetic procedures with treatments like Botox and other injectables, liposuction, and rhinoplasty among the top choices.

If you would like to ask our experts any questions please email us at experts@elixirnews.com