Laurie Arias

Future proofing your skin!

A facial SPF in your routine, every single day of the year, will protect skin from sun damage and help prevent premature ageing.

The single biggest cause of prematurely ageing skin is sun damage. And it's so easy to do something about it. I use an Obagi tinted sunscreen every morning, 365 days a year.

There are many high quality facial sunscreen products out there. Find one that your skin likes and you find easy to use. Both Obagi and Heliocare offer a wide range of broad spectrum, high factor sunscreen products to suit every skin type and skin colour.

The most important thing is to find one you like and will be able to easily incorporate into your morning routine.

Regenerative medicine is the latest 'buzz' term in facial aesthetics.

These are innovative treatments and procedures that stimulate skin to heal itself and to produce new collagen and elastin (as these will begin to naturally deplete from around our mid to late 20s).

A more holistic approach to ageing well is also becoming far more widely spoken about (I have long subscribed to this myself).

Effective skin regeneration solutions are already here for you at Laurie Arias Skin Clinics.

Dermapen microneedling is one of the best treatments for early signs of photoageing (cumulative effects of sun damage to the skin).

Dermapen 4 glides over the skin, creating millions of fine, vertical, fractional channels which can carry up to 80% more topical nutrients deeper into the skin. These micro injuries trigger a natural process of skin repair, increasing the production of collagen and elastin and repairing flaws; to effectively reduce the appearance of age and sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles and thinning skin.

The addition of Exosomes powerfully aids skin rejuvenation by boosting natural cellular repair to produce more youthful looking skin.

For transformational skin outcomes, 4-6 treatments are recommended, 6-8 weeks apart.

And Dermapen 4 is right here at Laurie Arias Skin Clinics.

You can rest assured that in my clinic, we only use the highest quality, authentic products; carefully selected for their safety and efficacy and supplied by established London pharmacies.

You may have seen the recent BBC News report on the seizure of thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit, unlicensed dermal filler products from a warehouse in Glasgow.

This is unfortunately not an isolated case. The use of unlicensed and unsafe products by non-medically qualified persons in the UK has been on the rise.

If you are quoted a ridiculously low price for an injectable procedure that looks too good to be true, please take care and do your research. What glistens is not always gold, as the old saying goes!

The new Dermapen 4 is now in clinic at Laurie Arias.

It's an advanced Microneedling treatment that's a holistic medical skin procedure. It's suitable for most skin conditions anywhere on the body and any skin type.

It can treat sun damage, fine lines, open pores, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, melasma, milia and acne, scarring and stretch marks.

It's a powerful procedure, creating nearly 2000 micro channels each second, to produce the best skin rejuvenating results. For transformational skin results, 4-6 treatments are recommended.

What's new in facial aesthetics?

I would say there's an increasing emphasis on the overall health and quality of the skin.

Brighter, hydrated and glowing skin will enhance your non-surgical treatment results.

Think of it like an artist preparing his canvas before beginning to paint his masterpiece.

My personal 'hero' skincare product is Obagi Medical's Professional-C Serum. I love this. I use it every day for healthy, protected, brighter and glowing skin.

I'd like to offer you the chance to try it too. Purchase a sunscreen from us and receive your free sample size Obagi Professional-C Serum.

ULTRACelQ+ has become a very popular treatment in my clinics. It can address a variety of concerns and the benefits include skin tightening and lifting, contouring and fat reduction.

What's more, this versatile and effective treatment is painless and the procedure is quick. It uses High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (or HIFU) and can pe*****te deep beneath the skin layers.

It's a favourite with both me and my patients alike.

"Please pass on my thanks again to Laurie. Face is looking great and lips are an absolute masterclass! Little bit of bruising but they look amazing and wonderfully natural." (Patient J)

I was delighted J loved her natural looking lip enhancement. Lip treatments need an artistic eye, as well as technical expertise.

I was also not at all displeased that she has mentioned a small amount of bruising. It is important for patients to know that our lips are incredibly sensitive (and they are being punctured with a fine needle).

No matter how carefully and expertly a lip treatment is carried out, some light swelling or bruising is completely normal. In my clinic, I take more care than most to minimise chances of bruising, having invested in a device to illuminate and reveal the location of veins underneath the skin and a magnifying head light to enable precision work.

We offer a wide range of non-surgical treatment options to reduce the signs of ageing, improve skin health and skin quality and help you look and feel your best.

Any treatment plan with me at Laurie Arias will always be bespoke to you.

We are always here to answer any questions you may have and to guide you along your journey with us. All the way from an initial enquiry, right through to your treatment and aftercare advice. Our patients can always expect top class customer service, which we pride ourselves on delivering.

We received the most lovely feedback from a long-standing patient. It really means so much to us. Thank you!

"Laurie Arias's aesthetic treatments are simply exceptional. Her expertise and attention to detail are unmatched, delivering outstanding results that leave her clients feeling rejuvenated and confident. With Laurie, you're in the hands of a true professional who knows how to enhance natural beauty."

Does your skin feel dry, dehydrated, dull and lacklustre? If this sounds familiar, then a short course of Profhilo, the injectable skin booster, might be just the trick to spruce up your skin for Spring!

Between 1st March 2024 and 31st May 2024, we are offering a package of two Profhilo treatments for a total of £750 (saving you £150 on the usual price).

Profhilo boosts skin hydration from within, helping it retain more moisture. Profhilo also stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, improving texture and elasticity and giving you a healthy glow.

Please contact Practice Manager Julie for more details and offer Terms & Conditions.

The ‘golden ratio’ for lips

An interesting article in a medical publication I subscribe to (PMFA Journal) discusses in-depth research on lip shape preferences across ages and genders.

It’s quite complex; but the main message is that the time-honoured mathematical ‘golden ratio’ or ‘divine proportion’ - which gives the proportions between two objects the most aesthetically pleasing appearance – is now markedly different among age demographics. This mathematical ratio is 1.618 and is traced back to the ancient Greeks.

The study shows the Millennial and Gen Z generations seeming to prefer a ratio of 1:1, and perceiving that to be the most natural and appealing shape. Reasons for this are thought to be the greater use of social media and seeking to resemble the lip shapes of influencers and other celebrity figures. Whilst the older Baby Boomer generation still preferred the balanced lips of the golden ratio.

In my clinic, the over-filled lip look is not something I subscribe to. I always say that a lip augmentation treatment should primarily be about replacing volume that has been lost over time; rather than adding more volume than was ever there in the first place. The lips should be in harmony with the rest of our facial features, bringing symmetry and balance to the face. Looking ‘just right’ without being overstated.

How do we choose which products and devices to bring into clinic?

There are a wide range of products on the market; which are being added to all the time.

At Laurie Arias we use only the highest quality products, sourced from the most trusted pharmacies. Everything is evidence-based and I select the products I know will deliver the most effective results for my patients, whilst also coming with the highest safety profiles.

Whenever a new product comes along, I will carefully evaluate it myself before bringing it into clinic. I will want to see the clinical papers associated with it and will want to trial it first, to ensure I am satisfied that it would be a good fit for me and my patients.

This attention to detail and the highest standards of safety and efficacy are something we pride ourselves on at Laurie Arias.

Those wrinkles which radiate across the bridge of the nose and at a slight angle along the sides of the nose, are referred to as 'Bunny Lines'. These become more pronounced when we laugh or make exaggerated facial expressions.

Nose wrinkles don't bother everyone; and some people are quite happy to leave them alone. But they can become deeper as we get older. This can sometimes make them seem a little less cute and a little more unwelcome.

Bunny Lines can be treated with a wrinkle relaxant injectable, which will soften them and minimise their appearance.

You may have read the Daily Mail article on January 19th on the identical twins shown here. These women have been part of a study lasting 20 years and conducted by a Beverley Hills plastic surgeon.

The twin on the left had wrinkle-relaxing injectable treatments only a handful of times over these 20 years. Whereas her sister on the right received these same treatments two to three times each year.

You can clearly see the twin on the right has fared better; she has fewer and more shallow lines and wrinkles.

Both sisters said they used sunscreen, did not use retinols on their skin and lived healthy lifestyles. Interestingly, the sporadic user of aesthetic treatments was living in Munich, where the sun would have been far less powerful than in Los Angeles, where her twin with fewer wrinkles was located.

I think this all serves as a great advert for what a skilled facial aesthetics practitioner can deliver for our patients.

A CHEEKY PICK-ME-UP!

If you feel you’d like to start the New Year feeling uplifted and perky…

A cheek lift can do the trick! The addition of a little bit of subtle filler at the nose and mouth corners can also help you look and feel so much brighter and chirpier.

This gives a lovely, natural, lift and pinpoints exactly where the ageing process begins to show. A nice little pick-me-up.

Many patients tell me they just want to feel and look their ‘best selves’. They don’t want to actually change their looks; but rather they would like to ‘freshen it all up’.

Facial aesthetics done sympathetically, and taking into account the whole face, can restore a more refreshed and rejuvenated appearance, enhance natural beauty, highlight facial features and offer a boost in confidence too.

I always like to take a ‘whole face’ approach, as this leads to a more harmonious, balanced and pleasing result. Unfortunately, not every practitioner will do this!

Wishing a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year to all.

Wishing you all a very happy festive season...and see you in 2024!

As another busy year is drawing to a close, I am feeling so happy to receive such a lovely testimonial. Thank you SO much! It really does mean a lot to us.

Treating vertical lip lines (also known as 'barcode' lip lines).

Using micro amounts of fillers, the deep lines are vastly improved. It's delicate and skilled work and I use my magnifying headset light for this procedure.

Did you know we also have Pellevé on our clinic treatments menu?

A Pellevé radiofrequency treatment delivers heat down into the deep layers of the skin, stimulating new collagen, while firming skin and reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In addition, you will see a lovely, healthy glow to your skin a couple of days after treatment. An initial course of 3, spaced one month apart, is recommended. Results should improve with each consecutive treatment.

Best of all, there is virtually no downtime at all!

I especially love Pellevé for treating around the delicate eye area.

One of my patients (whose husband was firmly against aesthetic 'interventions') would come to me for Pellevé. She told me her husband had said: "Whatever it is you are doing...keep on doing it!"

To help you plan your next appointment, these will be our Christmas and New Year holiday dates:

Christmas holiday closure: Sat 23rd Dec to Weds 27th Dec

Clinic OPEN: Thursday 28th Dec at OAKWOOD (afternoon still available)

New year holiday closure: Friday 29th Dec to Monday 8th Jan

Clinic reopens on Tuesday 9th January, 2024

I'm a big fan of my Tixel device. A pretty unique treatment using thermal energy and able to address just about every cosmetic skin complaint.

Results compare favourably with more invasive laser procedures; but Tixel is without painful side effects and lengthy downtime.

A course of 2-3 treatments will bring improvements in overall skin quality, tone and texture, improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkle depth.

I wrote an article on Tixel, published by the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing. The many medical research papers I studied on Tixel only added to my own positive observations in clinic.

Why not book your appointment via Practice Manager Julie, who has experienced Tixel's benefits at first hand. She'll be only too pleased to answer any questions you might have.

The very best facial aesthetic treatment results are almost invisible. By this, I mean your friends and family will not be immediately asking you what you have "had done".

This is because my whole clinic ethos is to provide effective and very natural looking results, with the highest levels of patient care.

My 20 years of experience, advanced training and an artistic eye leads to the delicate, skilled work I pride myself on. Natural looking and pleasing results, in harmony with your facial features. To enhance, refresh and help you feel and look your best (but not to alter your face in an obvious and often unharmonious way.)

Your friends will think how well and how fresh and glowing you look; at any age. Which is exactly my aim.

Menopause: What’s happening to my skin?

Big changes in our hormone levels can have a negative effect on our skin. It may be dry, dull and tired looking, starting to sag and with noticeable pigmentation. Loss of collagen and elastin are the main culprits.

We have various treatments in clinic that can stimulate collagen, hydrate the skin, improve pigmentation and address sagging and volume loss. It’s also well worth investing in high quality, medical grade skincare; bespoke to your own individual needs. Obagi Medical has a wide range, to suit all skin types and skin concerns. This powerful, transformational skincare with clinically proven results really does pack a punch. I can advise you on the products best suited to your own skin.

And of course, I am always happy to discuss any menopause issues with my patients. It is one of my areas of special interest and I will once again be attending a special Menopause in Aesthetics event in the new year.

Self esteem has no age limit!

By this I mean that wanting to feel good and look our best is perfectly natural. And age should not be a barrier.

My oldest patient is 86 and I have many others in their 60s and 70s; in addition to those who are a few decades younger.

Our job at Laurie Arias is to help boost your confidence and deliver natural looking results at any age.

I recently attended the annual CMAC Conference in London. This organisation, of which I am a proud member, stands for Complications in Medical Aesthetic Collaborative.

It comprised two full, jam-packed days. There were esteemed speakers from across the globe; all specialists in non-surgical facial procedures and facial surgery and experts in diagnosing and managing complications in medical aesthetics. We listened to and discussed the latest medical research and case studies.

And I found myself wondering: “Why isn’t every injector at this event?”

Patient safety and constantly updating my medical knowledge is incredibly important. It involves a big investment in both my time and my resources to make sure my patients are safe.

Facial aesthetics treatments never are ‘just’ an injection and no area of the face is ever ‘risk free’. My clinic will always focus on safety first, pleasing aesthetic outcomes and happy patients.

Now it's getting colder, it's even more important to follow a good skincare regime at bedtime. While we're asleep, our skin goes into 'repair' mode, so it makes sense to give it a helping hand by allowing it to breath and better absorb hydrating and restorative ingredients.

We don't want to go to bed with clogged pores; so always remove makeup, bacteria and the general debris from the day that accumulates on our skin. Obagi Medical Gentle Cleanser, followed by the Toner, is ideal. You don't need to use a huge amount of either, as a little product goes a long way.

A hydrating serum will give your skin some added TLC. Then apply eye cream and a soothing, moisture-rich cream such as Obagi Hydrate Luxe. And, of course, get a good night's sleep!

In a bespoke skincare consultation with me, I might also recommend a Retinol product for you. As we get older, I would recommend using more powerful medical grade products, as these will make the most difference to your skin. Although they are not the cheapest option, you really don't need to 'slap them on' so to speak! So your products should last you a while.

Care for your skin well and find a routine that you can stick to. Your face will thank you for it!