I am often asked what I’ve learned during the making of MOOIMAAK (our cutting-edge makeover television series). Besides the emotional lessons & insights I’ve gained, I’ve basically been given a free course in “non-surgical cosmetic treatments for dummies” (quite a cool little fringe benefit, I reckon). I’ve been familiar with the, let’s call it, Tier 1 or 2 level of treatments for some time (aimed at relatively young women in their late 20s or early 30s), but – given that many of our participants were in their 50s or 60s – I learned a fair bit about Tier 4 and 5 treatments by working so closely with the fantastic doctors of Skin Renewal and, of course, witnessing the results of their skills…up close & personal.
One of the non-surgical interventions I was particularly interested in was the combination of neck lift treatments performed on candidate Bernice. The neck is a particularly sensitive area for most women over 40 and one of the first areas to give away our age, hence, my number 1 beauty rule of including the “neck & decolletage area” when applying SPF or serums to your face. Failing that, however, or if this approach is “too little too late” and the dreaded turkey neck has already reared its ugly head, fret not for help is at hand. Of course, non-surgical options will never be as dramatic as actual surgery, but the risks are much lower, and, in my opinion, there’s a lot to be said for the kind of gentle improvements that attract comments like, “you look younger, but I can’t put my finger on it.” I think we can all agree that subtlety is sexy.
The talented and gentle Dr Dalize Willemse of Skin Renewal expertly performed both PDO & Silhouette Soft threadlifting on Bernice, successfully lifting our makeover candidate’s sagging jowls and – of course – her spirits.
PDO THREADLIFT
- What is a PDO Threadlifting?
- PDO Threadlifting is basically a non-surgical, scarless face lift. The procedure involves using thin acupuncture, sterile needles to embed dissolvable threads deep underneath the surface of the skin. The threads are placed strategically into the dermis, where it acts as a frame for lifting and tightening loose or sagging skin
- By boosting the skin’s cell regeneration process with threads, one can increase dermal elastin and collagen tissue, which is slowly but surely destroyed by the natural ageing process (yes, ladies, ageing is a b-tch).
- How long does it take?
- Between 15 – 60 minutes depending on the size of the treatment area.
- Is it painful?
- The threads are placed into the subcutaneous dermis (5mm deep), where there is mainly fatty tissue (there are no nerve endings here), so the treatment is relatively pain-free. A topical aneasthetic can also be applied to minimise discomfort.
- Is there down-time?
- No. Some slight bruising and swelling may occur, which can last 2-10 days depending on the amount of threads inserted. Nothing a bit of Armani or Sensai foundation won’t fix, though:)
- What kind of result can one expect?
- The PDO threading treatment gives an instant lifting & firming effect, with optimum results setting in after about 3 months. Due to the dissolvable nature of the threads, they will last between 4-6 months, but the continued collagen synthesis will leave the new skin structure in place.
- Are maintenance treatments necessary?
- An annual top-up treatment is recommended, but your Skin Renewal doctor will advise you on the best treatment plan for you, depending on your objectives.
- For more info, click here.
SILHOUETTE SOFT® NECK LIFT
- What is a Silhouette Soft Neck Lift?
- Silhouette Soft Lift™ is a minimally-invasive technique used to lift and tighten sagging tissue. It is a non-surgical alternative to a traditional neck lift and is growing in popularity, having been successfully performed over 25,000 times in 55 countries around the world.
- How long does it take?
- Up to an hour.
- Is it painful?
- The patient will be unaware of any pain due to local aneasthesia.
- Is there down-time?
- Patients can return to work the next day, with full treatment recovery taking 2-4 days.
- Who is the ideal patient?
- A person who has already had skin-tightening treatments such as Exilis or Titania Radiofrequency, but need extra support or lift for their skin. This was the case with Bernice.
- What kind of result can one expect?
- After the threads are inserted, the first level of collagen induction is only really visible after 3 months, although an immediate lift is visible directly after the treatment.
- Are maintenance treatments necessary?
- Silhouette Soft threads have a lifespan of 18 – 24months, but we recommend annual check-ups and maintenance treatments to continuously support the skin and continuously fight the natural ageing process.
- For more info, click here
What Bernice Has To Say About Her Neck Lift Experience
“Regarding the PDO Threadlift & Silhouette Soft® Neck Lift, it was the most amazing change! Dr Dalize worked with such a gentle touch, inserting all the different types of threads in various locations to achieve the non-surgical lifting results. The only strange thing was feeling the barbs just under your skin whilst it was being pulled to tighten the sagging skin. After the threading in the neck, there was an immediate improvement. Within a week, I was receiving amazing compliments regarding my neck! This must be the quickest, least painful neck lift available. It’s done in a jiffy, with maximum results.” Bernice Du Plessis, MOOIMAAK 2017
If you’re interested in either the PDO or Silhouette Soft threadlifting to treat the sagging skin on your neck (or your face, for that matter), I can wholeheartedly recommend consulting one of the doctors at Skin Renewal.
For our show, we worked with Dr Dalize (mentioned here), Dr Rulene, Dr Graham & Dr Andre (all of whom are based in Cape Town and utterly fabulous human beings). If you’re based in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Durban, however, contact your nearest branch here.
With love,
Clare.
PS MOOIMAAK airs every Thursday on kykNET at 17h30, with repeats throughout the week. It is also available on SHOWMAX in certain countries (including the US). If you’re a before & after addict, don’t miss it!
Clare Wiese-Wentzel 