Apprentice winner, Dr Leah explains how to tackle ageing
In her regular column in the Evening Standard, Dr Leah Totton, gives advice on tacking the ageing process with non-surgical treatments. This month, the Apprentice winner describes how HIFU non-surgical face lifts, liquid face lifts and Silhouette Soft thread lifts works. At her clinics in Moorgate and Loughton, Dr Leah offers “The Dr Leah Lift” which is a bespoke treatment which combines all three.

L ike most things in life it's nice to have a choice, and when it comes to treating ageing many people believe that the only way to really tackle sagging jowls and loose skin is to go under the knife.

However over the past few years and with the advances in technology, there are now many non-surgical options for anyone in search of a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance - without the downtime of surgery.

Despite this - and although going under the knife can be a daunting prospect, not to mention the associated recovery time - surgical procedures may be a more suitable option for some.

While your best friend may look fabulous after a non-surgical face lift, this may not meet your individual needs, goals or concerns. But for many it will. So in this month’s article I am going to explore some of the most effective non-surgical treatments to help you tackle ageing the non-surgical way.

Leah opening her latest clinic with business partner Lord Sugar

Non-Surgical Face Lift - HIFU

HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound also known as ‘3D SkinMed or , ‘Ultrasound Facelift’, has become one of the most sought-after lifting treatments for face and neck. It is a one-off treatment which will help you achieve tighter, firmer and more lifted skin.

The key advantages of this treatment are:

Stimulates natural collagen production

Noticeable results

No recovery time

Once per year treatment

During this treatment, ultrasound energy is used to stimulate the deep layers which support the skin. In doing so, it creates a lifted and tauter appearance whilst also stimulating collagen. A suitable candidate is someone who is aged 30+ who has noticed that the skin on their face or neck has become more lax and wishes to lift and tighten the specific area. The whole face and neck can be treated and the best results can be seen 3-6 months post treatments.

Liquid Face Lift

A liquid facelift makes it possible to gently contour and lift the entire face. This restores the naturally curved contours of the face in a subtle way. It can also be used to lift specific facial features depending on the aesthetic harmony of your face.

Being a bespoke treatment, it is designed according to your unique facial symmetry.

It can be used to lift under the eyes area, the jowls and curves of the mouth. The eyes can be opened up and brightened, the natural shape of the cheeks and the temples can be restored, the chin and jawline can be softened and bumps on the nose can be smoothed.

The Lift is achieved by advanced dermal fillers which are precisely placed to lift and contour specific facial areas - resulting in more youthful looking face. My filler of choice is Juvederm which I would usually combine with Anti-Wrinkle injections for an even smoother correction, and longer lasting results.

Silhouette Soft Thread Lift

I was recently very proud to be awarded the top prize in the UK for excellence in Silhouette Soft Thread Lifts. This award is based on medical excellence and skill. It also helps that I have performed the most procedures in the UK with the best results, so this is a treatment I am very familiar with.

A Silhouette Soft thread treatment takes approximately one hour to perform and involves pulling a thread under the skin of the jawline and lower face and mechanically pulling it upwards, lifting the mid and lower face to improve sagging. Lifting results are immediate yet discreet but the regeneration of collagen will continue over time due to the thread itself dissolving. This stimulates collagen production for additional anti-ageing benefits and natural looking results, lasting approximately 18 months

Though it is carried out by a doctor in a clinical setting, the treatment requires no general anaesthetic and no scalpel is required.

This procedure responds to a desire for effective but subtle anti-ageing treatments which combat the sagging brow, jowls and neck and as such, it has become one of our most popular offerings at my Moorgate and Loughton Clinics.

The Dr Leah Lift

Here at the Dr Leah Clinic I also offer a combination treatment which incorporates HIFU, a Liquid face lift and Threads for a complete non – surgical transformation. By combining all three of these cutting-edge lifting techniques I am able to achieve dramatic results for my patients by offering them a combined approach to lifting, firming skin and rejuvenation.

There are many different types of anti-ageing treatments out there and it can be difficult to decide which approach is best for you, so I would always recommend booking a consultation with a qualified and experienced practitioner who can guide you through the different options and help you achieve your desired result.

For more details on Dr Leah Clinics and full price list of treatments, visit drleah.co.uk