Ask Alice

Hiya, it’s TTG editor Georgia here answering your question on Alice’s behalf.

If you’re just after general skin rejuvenation and you want to avoid injectables, you could try a gentle laser facial – though there will be a bit of downtime – or a course of superficial skin peels. Both of these options will freshen up your skin and help soften those lines and wrinkles. Do still check that you’re safe to go ahead while breastfeeding, though.

Hiya, it’s TTG editor Georgia here answering your question on Alice’s behalf.

You can watch how Alice got on with Belotero Revive with Dr Granite in her Tweak of the Week video here. Results-wise, says she liked the way it can be used wherever the practitioner decides it’s most needed – in her case, around the crow’s feet wrinkles and her upper-lip-lines – and it gave a really nice hydrating and softening result in these areas.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

You may want to look into Profhilo for the body – it’s a new(ish) treatment that uses the same product and works in the same way as original Profhilo for the face, but with special treatment protocols for the body. Alice tried it herself recently on her arms and was impressed with her results – see her Instagram post on it here, and read more about Profhilo and how it works on crepiness here.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

There are a few things you can do for jowls. If you suspect yours are more to do with fat rather than loose skin, I’d look into fat freezing with CoolSculpting (if the fat is beginning to group under the chin and around the jawline), or FaceTite. FaceTite is slightly more invasive as it involves extraction of the fat from under the skin with a cannula, but it can be very effective and only one session is needed. It first uses radiofrequency energy to melt the fat before sucking it away and leaving you with a more taught jawline. There are more options on our free Jowls factsheet, which you can download here. The most suitable treatment will depend on how your jowls have formed, so make sure you see a good practitioner for a thorough consultation.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

One filler isn’t necessarily more ‘effective’ than another. Each brand will have a range of filler products in its line that are better suited to various indications depending on their composition – like the lips vs. the jawline, for example – but what’s best for your own face is impossible to say for anyone other than the practitioner assessing you. Use our practitioner finder to find a brilliant injector near you, and set up a consultation. They may even recommend a treatment other than filler. This is the only way to find out what will be most effective for your concerns.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

Do you mean the Halo fractional laser from Sciton? If so, there’s some more info on it here, and you can find out what Alice thinks of it herself after trying it. I hadn’t heard of Genius RF microneedling but I see it is from Lutronic, which is a reputable manufacturer. We’re gradually updating brands on the site, so soon you’ll be able to find info about every branded treatment on the market in the UK.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

Alice had Belotero Revive with Dr Alexis Granite at Skinesis Medical in London last year. You can watch the Tweak of the Week video here and find out more about her experience.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf. I’m sorry to hear this.

You’re right – Radiesse is a type of collagen-stimulating filler that can’t be dissolved. How long ago did you have treatment? Lumps can occur immediately following injection but should settle after around four weeks. If it’s been longer than this, unfortunately you’ll have to wait until the filler is absorbed by your body, which can take up to 18 months. If they’re really troubling you they can be surgically removed. I’d suggest following up with your practitioner and asking for a referral.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

Without being able to say for sure as you can’t remember the exact name of the product you had injected, Profhilo is categorised as an injectable moisturiser, yes. Other widely-used products in this category include Sunekos, Juvederm Volite, Restylane Skinboosters, Belotero Revive and Texone Redensity 1. If none of these ring any bells it would be a good idea to get back in touch with the practitioner who did your previous treatment and ask what product they used, and how much you had injected. It’s always good to note down exactly what products you had injected in your face and when, as this could affect your suitability for other tweakments. Do have a look at the Injectable Moisturisers tweakments page if you’d like some more info. You can also download our in-depth factsheet on this page.

Hiya – editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

Yes, Profhilo works if you’re a suitable candidate. However, no tweakment is 100 percent guaranteed to give you the results you’re after – it’s also about being realistic with your expectations. Some people try Profhilo and don’t see much of a result, so go on to try another injectable moisturiser like Teosyal Redensity 1, Restylane Skinboosters, Juvederm Volite or Belotero Revive, and are satisfied. There are a few on the market so it may be worth finding a practitioner who offers a couple of them and knows each product’s ideal patient selection well.

Hiya – editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

Unless you have a particular concern in the lower face that could be helped with toxin, I’d forgo that bit and do Profhilo on the face as well as the neck. This should give you a nice refresh all over, as it sounds like you look after your skin and don’t have any specific concerns. Use our practitioner finder to find a great doctor near you.

Hiya – editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf.

It’s the overuse of the muscles in the chin that causes this uneven ‘pebbly’ or orange-peel type texture. You can have a little bit of toxin injected to relax the muscles and give a more even skin texture.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf. While I’m sure it’s not necessary for you yet, it’s not at all unwise to start anti-wrinkle injections in your late twenties – in fact, preventative toxin has been clinically proven to stop imprinted lines (the ones that are still present when the face is at rest) settling in in later years. Alice actually made a video and wrote about this topic in December.

‘Baby toxins’ is a good approach at your age, too – a sprinkling of just enough toxin to soften and freshen. Just don’t have too much or get it too often and keep in mind the financial investment that comes with starting at a younger age.

Hi Becky, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf. How long has it been since you had Ultherapy? Full results can take up to three months to be visible so you may wish you wait and see if you really do want to do something else. Having said that, yes – RF microneedling would be great to tighten up jowls and define the jawline a little more. You could have some filler along the jawline further down the line for extra definition, but fillers won’t do anything for the jowls as such.

Difficult one to answer – in that technically the treatment won’t harm you. Not that there are studies to show this, as no companies want to use pregnant women as a test group for any cosmetic treatment. But legally, doctors should not treat a woman who is pregnant or breast-feeding with anything unless there is a medical need to do so.