Ask Alice

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.

Hiya, editor Georgia here answering on Alice’s behalf. 28 is probably around the youngest age I’d advise having toxin, as long as you can afford it – bear in mind that if you like the results it will be an ongoing investment around every 3 months or so. It’s also worth using a decent eye cream if you don’t already, either before you decide to have toxins or alongside, as a good one really can make a difference to crow’s feet, assuming that’s what you’re looking to treat. Here are some we recommend. Finally, as you’re young, stick to a small amount so you don’t inhibit too much expression around your eyes.

It sounds like you are resistant to the drug, but this is really quite rare. Manufacturer clinical trials showed that no more than 1.5% of patients develop “neutralising antibodies”, and the figures are something like 1 in 10,000 that it doesn’t work for. Usually, if the treatment doesn’t work, it can be because of the dosage (not everyone’s the same, and some people need a higher dose) or the dilution of the product. But you say the practitioner was an experienced dermatologist.

It’s hard to tell if you had all the treatments at the same clinic. It may be worth getting a second opinion, but you could be wasting your money if you are resistant. I am not a big fan of lotions and potions that promise they give the same results as toxins. They don’t. One thing you could try is the Dr Steve Harris Anti-Wrinkle Sleep Mask. 

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

I tried this search again for you with an Aylesbury postcode and a 23 mile radius – here are the results. Hope that helps!

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

I put a central Manchester postcode into our practitioner finder and you can view the results here. Any of these practitioners should be able to help you.

Yes, too good to be true!  I have tried the Lyma ‘laser’ but I’m not a fan – I used it every night for months on end in spring 2021 (on one side of one wrinkle on my neck, and on the knuckles of my left hand, as advised by the brand founder,) without getting any results.

My laser-manufacturer acquaintances laugh at it when I ask them what they think of its supposed powers of rejuvenation. Why?

‘Look, this isn’t competition to us,’ said one. ‘Laser?’ laughed another. ‘That’s more of a laser pointer.’

The Lyma makes enormous claims, claiming the sort of results that it normally takes several rounds of in-clinic treatment to achieve, and has the flimsiest scientific backup  – and despite making these claims the company hasn’t seen fit to put the product through a single clinical trial or comparison with other devices.

It has been brilliantly and stylishly marketed and it has persuaded a lot of journalists who should have asked a few more questions to repeat its extravagant marketing claims. What should they have asked? How can a device the size of a torch with a rechargeable battery generate enough power to do what it says it does? Or how can any light which is allegedly strong enough to prompt healing deep within the skin be safe to use around the eyes/ shine directly in your eyes without protection?  Why do they suggest using an oil or cream with the product to give it ‘slip’, when any oil or cream will distort the light beam that’s reaching the skin?

For what it’s worth, if you are contemplating spending that much money, and looking for properly effective LED light to tackle skin quality and acne, I know the Dermalux Flex works a treat because I gave it full road testing during lockdown #1 and got brilliant results. Plus it has a medical CE certification which means it can make medical claims to treat, for example, acne and heal wounds. That’s why I have added the Dermalux Flex to the shop on my site, and haven’t added the Lyma. I know which one actually works.

Hi, what a great question but please, let me reassure you, you are never too old to start with toxins or fillers. Many practitioners have patients who are in their eighties or even nineties, who love the treatments and the benefits they see from them.

Toxin and fillers are great for improving a grumpy-looking mouth. The toxin weakens the strength of the muscles that pull the mouth down, and the fillers can prop up the sides of the mouth just a little, or lift the cheeks a fraction which stops the lower face looking so saggy… so hop over to the practitioner section of the website, find someone in your area and have a consultation to see what they can do for you.

Hi yes the Body Ballancer is fab, the treatment is really good for improving lymphatic health (which brings serious health benefits) and also on the aesthetic side brings about volume reduction – by dispersing water retention – and also improves the look of cellulite no end.

There are various videos about the Body Ballancer on the site so take a look to learn more about it.

Hi, I saw Dr Sophie Shotter at her clinic in Kent (and one day I will get round to putting together an edited film to show the treatment). I was curious to try Profound RF because it’s more intense than other types of radiofrequency microneedling so you only need one session.

But meanwhile, there’s a pic on this post showing the difference it made to my jawline three months after treatment.

Yes, radiofrequency microneedling treatments like Morpheus8 are  great (though for saggy neck and jowls, they’re not going to give you anything like the effect of a lower facelift). And yes it’s good for treating those ‘barcode lip lines‘ around the mouth.

Have a chat with your practitioner and get their honest opinion on how much difference the treatment will be able to make for you – it will probably take three or four rounds of treatment.

The other option that’s fab for lip lines (and saggy skin and pigmentation) is laser.

Hi, I haven’t tried it and I don’t think it’s very powerful

Hi, yes you can take collagen tablets alongside Nuchdio Time + every day. I do!