5 beauty treatments to try before Botox

Ah, Botox. The sure-fire way to get smoother, younger, wrinkle-free skin in one beautiful hit. We all know it’s out there, reeling us in like a big gin and tonic – some use the idea of it as a last resort, others can’t wait to get stuck in (if you’ll pardon the pun) – but admit it, the temptation is killing you. However, what if we told you there are other beauty treatments to try before Botox. Methods that are effective and less of a pull on the purse strings? From clever micro needling to regular microdermabrasion, let’s face it – a girl’s got to have options and the results of the following five are pretty damn close to the big one. So before you go there, scroll here…

By Philippa Pearne

• 1 Micro Needling

  Best for: Plumping the skin 

  Perhaps the closest sounding treatment to Botox, this method uses a dermaroller which is like a mini sticky brush with tiny needles. It is rolled over the skin, creating small, controlled punctures not only allowing product to sink in deeper and work harder, but also to kick start the brain into repair mode and stimulate collagen up to the surface to create firm, plumped skin. Whilst micro needling can be slightly uncomfortable, a numbing cream is applied at the start and you can usually choose the intensity of the dermaroller. Go to Aesthetica Medi-Spa, Great Barr, West Midlands County for their Fractional Micro Needling where you can choose between treating your full face or a particular area.
• 2 Ultrasound

  Best for: a bit of a lift 

  If you thought that an ultrasound device’s place was only in the anti-natal ward, think again. Ultrasound can actually be used to effectively lift and tighten the skin in (usually) one treatment. So effectively in fact, that it is known to some as a non-surgical face lift. Clever sound waves bypass the skin’s surface and send energy deep into the skin – deeper than a laser can go –  targeting structural tissues and muscles where our beloved collagen lives. Warm pulses cause these layers to contract, damaging the tissue in the process and producing more collagen over time, and therefore tighter looking skin, as the tissue heals. Through the Looking Glass in Eccles, Salford offer a 15-30 minute High Intensity Focus Ultrasound facial that aims to make you look 4-8 years younger. A word to the faint-hearted – in some cases, ultrasound facials can cause some discomfort but no downtime is required post-treatment and you normally only need one session to see the results.
• 3 Radiofrequency

  Best for: tightening sagging skin 

  Similar to ultrasound, radiofrequency sends energy deep into the skin to encourage the production of elastin and collagen. The difference between this and ultrasound is that radio frequency is less targeted – so where ultrasound reaches far into the tissue and muscle layers that are addressed in actual cosmetic surgery, radio frequency targets the more superficial layers like fine lines, wrinkles and pigment changes. The results are the same though and skin is left sculpted, tightened and younger-looking over time. It’s recommended that you go back every two weeks as, unlike an ultrasound facial, this isn’t a one trick pony. However it is pain-free so simply treat it as an hour of smug relaxation, with a side of Botox-esque skin. Try the Radio Frequency Facial at the Cleo Clinic in Wimbledon.
• 4 Galvanic Facial

  Best for: freshening the complexion 

  The Galvanic technique uses a handheld device that works much like a magnet. It pushes a low voltage DC current past the protective layer of skin via a treatment gel which as a result is allowed to penetrate deeper and therefore work harder. Not only does this help to improve blood flow, tighten and clarify the skin and reduce existing wrinkles but it also detoxifies by trapping toxins using a negative charge then pulling them out with a positive one. This alternation between positive and negative ions causes the muscles to contract helping to produce elasticity. You could say it was like a really deep cleanse but don’t be fooled – a regular cleansing, detoxifying facial has got nothing on this. We recommend the Signature A-List Treatment at Face Place at Rosewood London.
• 5 Regular Microdermabrasion

  Best for: brightening dull, tired skin 

  Botox VS microdermabrasion – which one you go for sounds like a no brainer in the quest to look younger. But if you’re new to ageing, hear us out and try this before any other method – it may be all you need. When done regularly, microdermabrasion helps you stay on top of ageing, dead cells that sit on the surface of the skin, keeping you looking fresh and youthful in the process. If these cells are allowed to build up, they can make your skin look old and lacklustre. There are a variety of microdermabrasion techniques – some use a stream of fine crystals to gently buff away the top layer of the skin, others a clever diamond tip method or even suction. Try the Microdermabrasion Treatment at Skin Life Beauty and Aesthetic Clinic at Hair & Beauty @ 17, Marble Arch every two weeks to maintain a youthful glow.