| |
COSMETIC NIP-AND-TUC 2010:
MINI-FACELIFT NOW CHEAPER THAN NON-INVASIVE FACIAL REJUVENATION: SCALPEL REPLACES IPL, RF, PRP, AND FRACTIONAL LASER FOR TIGHTENING AND GRAVITATIONAL SAGGING.
Ever thought that you can under-go a mini-face lift for R7500 in Cape Town? Then read on. In CAPE TOWN a mini-face lift, with 5-day down-time, at that price, is on special until the end of 2009. But it still means the scalpel. The economic recession has put pressure on beauty clinics and SPAS, because ladies cannot afford facial luxuries at the moment, except a few. It has forced all clients to rethink the viability situation and reassess finances. Botulinum has sky-rocketed in price and the cost-price per bottle of 50-units is now about R2000. The days of cheap Botox™ are gone. But Botox™ is still the number one treatment, without question for relief of the frown-line. Fillers still immensely popular, also are costly. But a mini-face lift can be done now for less than the price of fillers, more durable and is available at cosmetic-surgery practises. The non-surgical boutique has had to rethink strategy in mean financial-times, and to address the new innovations and threats of facial surgery.
WHAT DOES A MINI-FACE LIFT OR THE SCALPEL OFFER THE CLIENT?
- Performed by a HPCSA-registered specialist plastic surgeon
- An affordable, one-off procedure, ridding one of lower-face wrinkles, sagging and ugly neck, providing a nice neck-line and smart contouring of the jaw-line profile with minimal and bearable down-time. Contouring attributes that RF, IPL, lasers, fractional-lasers and RF, LED and PEELS cannot provide. The mini-face lift is affordable at R7500, almost lasts for 10-years, compared to other skin-devices such as RF, that render non-permanence and need for exhaustive and repeated servicing and over-servicing. Client selection is important regarding aspirations regarding cosmetic facial-surgery, and terms and conditions apply.
- Suitable in the age group 45-65 when gravitational-sagging is prominent and escalating
- In office procedure under local-anaesthesia
- Duration of procedure 2-hours at which stage the client goes home
- Down-time 5 days and all swelling has subsided at 3-weeks
- Unbeatable restoration of the mandibular jaw-line and jaw-profile, under-chin smoothness
- Gets rid of the gravitational effects of aging ( thus effective anti-aging option)
- Gone are the lower face sagging and lines ( not achievable by RF, IPL or Laser)
- Gone is the double-chin and deep-lines in upper neck
- Elongates the neck with restoration of eloquence
- No “ wind-blown” effect
- 5-10 years of excellent appearance and no need for laborious multiple follow-up treatments with RF, IPL, lasers etc. But these still can be done naturally with fillers, but not as primary treatment anymore, to reduce the progression of aging. One-off and can be repeated at 10-years.
- Fillers are used synergistically and at intervals post-procedurally for complete facial perfection and to enhance the naso-labial folds, malar and mental enhancement, and Botox™ for the forehead-lines and frown. See TABLE-1 for outcomes of a mini-face lift and comparison to regenerative injections, non-surgical procedures and minimal-invasive rejuvenation techniques to improve facial-wrinkling, lines and facial-aging.
TABLE -1: SHOWS OUTCOME OF MINI-FACE LIFT VERSUS COMPARISAN TO RF, IPL, LASERS, FILLERS, BOTOX™, MESOTHERAPY, PLATELET-RICH PLASMA ( BOLAND CELL© 2009).
TYPE |
SAGGING IMPROVEMENT |
DOUBLE CHIN |
SINGLE TREATMENT |
LIFE OF PROCEDURE |
TIGHTNING |
CONTOURING |
MINI-FACE LIFT |
++, THE BEST |
+ |
+ |
10-YEARS |
++ |
++, EXCELLENT |
RF |
_ |
_ |
5-10 SESSIONS NEEDED |
1 WEEK |
+ MODEST |
POOR |
IPL |
_ |
_ |
5-10 SESSIONS NEEDED |
1 WEEK |
NONE |
NONE |
LASER |
NONE |
NO EFFECT |
5-10 SESSIONS NEEDED |
1 WEEK |
MINIMAL |
NONE |
FILLER |
YES + |
ZERO |
TWICE YEARLY |
6 MONTHS |
MINIMAL |
EXCELLENT |
BOTOX™
|
ZERO |
ZERO |
3 MONTHLY
|
3 MONTHS
|
ZERO |
EXCELLENT |
| PLATELET-RICH PLASMA** |
ZERO |
ZERO |
3 MONTHLY |
ZERO |
ZERO |
ZERO |
** Commercial products available: Also referred to as plasma resurfacing, volumetric treatment, or biological or autologous (your own-plasma) dermal-filler: REGEN-PRP™, Plateltex™, MyCells™.
TABLE-2: APPROXIMATE RETAIL PRICES OF COSMETIC AND BEAUTY INTERVENTIONS: SURGICAL AND NON-SURGICAL*
|
SINGLE TREATMENT |
FULL COURSE |
MINI-FACE LIFT (SURGERY) |
R7500-8000 ( negotiable) |
FULL-FACE LIFT R50000 |
BOTOX™ (50 UNITS) |
R1200-1500 or R850 per area |
N/A |
FILLER (I.E. JUVEDERM™/ RESTYLANE™ |
R1500 ( 2 syringes) |
N/A |
IPL |
R450 |
R2700 (4-5) |
PEEL PLUS LED |
R850 |
R3400 (4-5) |
FRAXEL™ |
R6000 |
R24000 (4) |
THERMAGE™ |
R18000 |
N/A |
PLATELET-RICH PLASMA** |
R6000-9000 |
R15000 |
PEEL (I.E. Neostrata™) |
R400 |
R2000 (5) |
COSMELAN/DERMAMELAN™
( pigmentation) |
R5000 |
R7000 ( single treatment) |
FAT CONTOURING: VELASHAPE™, ULTRASHAPE™,ULTRACONTOUR™ |
R500 |
R7500 (8) |
SYNERGIE™ FAT CONTOURING |
R500 |
R4500 (8) |
LIQUID FACE OR MEDICAL FACELIFT ( BOTOX™ PLUS JUVEDERM™) |
R3500 |
R7500 ( twice yearly) |
** Autologous volumetric plasma resurfacing.* Feedback data from clients and patients undergoing treatment in the Western Cape and Gauteng.
Figure 1: Cell-culture showing proliferation of fibroblasts in monolayer. These mesodermal-cells are related to the production of collagen and are the target of RF, IPL and laser-skin rejuvenation ( 2009).
FILLERS: SOFT-TISSUE AUGMENTATION AND VOLUME-EXPANSION WITH REJUVENATIVE INJECTIONS:
he economic recession has bitten deep holes into the cosmetic budget of potential clients but will improve during 2010. Cleary Botox™ is as popular as ever before and is in great demand, especially temporary frown-line elimination and where fillers are excluded for fear of skin-ulceration. Because it works and only seldom do clients become resistant. The frown-line, is the most consistent area treated, followed by forehead and crow-feet.
But fillers are not far behind, especially for the amelioration of the naso-labial folds. In the past injections were painful, but that era is now past with the introduction of Juvederm™. Restylane ™ served the cosmetic surgery scenario well for 10-years. Fillers are important because skin physiology can be improved (surface-roughness and elasticity i.e. biophysical-properties can be improved).
PRP: Soft-tissue augmentation and volume-expansion are achievable with fillers. A new biological product, platelet-rich plasma, derived from the clients own blood, has been introduced into cosmetic practice, for the amelioration of wrinkles. A blood-sample is obtained from the client and the plasma extracted. The plasma extract, contains natural growth-factors from the patient. The plasma-extract is injected intra-dermally under the skin of the face and neck with the object achieving rejuvenation by plasma-resurfacing, within 30-minutes of taking the blood sample. Sometimes the procedure is referred to as PRP, ACR, A-PRP. This biological-process using the patient’s plasma is popular in the East. The procedure is not a filler, and cannot plump the skin. However, not all clients are going to respond to biologicals. To get a result in some clients, a fat-transfer is needed to address lipo-atrophy. Only very modest amelioration of wrinkles can be expected but the results are non-permanent and the procedure has to be repeated every 6-month. Back-up RF is needed still. The price varies from salon to salon, but usually is in the range of R4000-6000. Commercial products available include REGENLAB-PRP™, MyCells™, and Plateltex™. A medical practitioner trained in the art of mesotherapy , must give the tiny injections.
De Boulle ( 2004: see ref 6) classifies fillers as follows:
- Non-permanent and biodegradable
- Semi-permanent and biodegradable
- Permanent and reversible
- Permanent and non-reversible
Complications and adverse effects that occur with fillers are strongly associated with insufficient clinical experience poor technique ( De Boulle 2004: ref 6)
Complications of fillers include: after De Boulle 2004.
- Haematomas (small blood-collection under the skin and near the puncture-site)
- Ecchymoses ( reversible blood staining mark related to the injections: mild)
- Infections ( cellulites: rare)
- Papulo-pustular or acneiform flare-ups and eruptions
- Allergy, swelling and oedema, skin-necrosis ( rare)
- Pigmentation changes, skin-induration, local granuloma-formation ( mobile and migratory)
- Formation of hard-lumps under the skin that can shift around after 10-years (Implant migration and lipo-atrophy: De Boulle 2004).
- Activate herpetic lesions, exacerbate headaches, and “ delayed onset of angry-bumps” ( Narins et al 2006)
CHALLENGES FACING SALONS AND NON-INVASIVE OR NON-SURGICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS:
- Non-permanence of results and need for over-servicing up to 10 times (i.e. RF)
- Only very modest, transient or minimal results are often visible after most treatments compared to mini-face-lift
- No treatment is durable: sometimes no results. No permanent elixir for youth. No instant results and magic bullet.
- Very poor and unpredictable results for the treatment of hyper-pigmentation: and costly
- Inducing flare-ups of acne and herpes virus after treatment
- Variable results after the treatment of cellulite and need for over-servicing with machines, requiring add-ons
- Inconsistent results after plasma-resurfacing (PRP or platelet-rich plasma)
- The results of most treatments only last 6-months and need follow-up treatment sessions
- Lasers cause scarring and hyper-pigmentation
- Botox™ only lasts for 3-4 months and fillers for 6-months
- Acne-pitting and hyper-pigmentation is difficult to treat
- Surgery or fillers.? A mini-face lift costing R7500 gives a good lasting result in a client older than 50-years and clears up gravitational neck and facial sagging. Especially lower-face and upper neck. Naso-labial folds respond very well to fillers which are non-invasive.
- Surgery or peels? Peels and LED render good results and would be offered first in younger clients resulting in favourable rejuvenation.
- Surgery or RF? In a client over 50-years, a mini-facelift gives an excellent result and far superior than RF. Gone are wrinkles, sagging neck and the jaw-line profile is restored.
- Surgery or Botox? Botox first and especially in younger clients. Most effective above the nose, for frown-lines and crow-feet
- Surgery or IPL? Both have their place.
- Liposuction or ultrasound? Liposuction renders superior results. A tummy-tuck or abdominoplasty renders the flattest stomach of all treatments and the results are good. Ultrasound requires multiple treatment sessions over 6-months and add-on-treatments such as Power Plate™, Endermologie™, RF and Ultracontour™ are needed. Life-style changes, an exercise program and diet are needed together with wraps and mechanical massage.
- Carboxy-therapy is now available and results are eagerly awaited.
- Botox™ or fillers? Botox™ is the treatment of choice for frown-lines and crow-feet, whilst fillers such as Juvederm ™are excellent for amelioration of naso-labial folds. For the Medical Facelift or Liquid Face, both Botox™ and Juvederm™ are used at the same injection setting.
- Mesotherapy has a small definitive market but results are variable and inconsistent
SALON SERVICE-DELIVERY AND PRACTICE PROFILE DETERMINES FINANCIAL RETURNS AND OUTCOME:
To succeed in this highly competitive cosmetic and beauty market one has to think big ( see Donald Trump 2007). This will test your skills, capability, marketing ability, planning and financial reserves. Don’t give up, work on your skills and resources. You will constantly have to adjust, renew, and reassess your markets and services, because the most constant thing in life is change. But don’t forget the most important single facet of the beauty and cosmetic industry......secrecacy!!! That applies to commerce and business. By working at it pro-actively, you can re-position yourself. Don’t forget what Donald Trump said, “Hire the best but do not trust then”. The following profiles will help you when you set up shop and at what level you will be pitching your salon-services.
SALON OPTIONS: Minimum requirements, anti-aging technologies and capabilities .
Your clients will expect these options, because they have usually been at many other salons in the past and are looking for a quick fix and the elixir of youth. So walk them through your services and be knowledgeable ( Donald Trump...Think Big, Collins Business 2007).
- Therapist driven: skin profiling and assessment, RF, +MDA, +Peels, +LED, +Botox, +Fillers ( entry level)
- Therapist driven: Skin assessment+ RF+ Peels+ LED, +MDA+ Fillers+ Botox+ Mesotherapy+ Hair removal + cellulite ( upgrade).The cellulite treatment is the most frustrating for you because the reporting is often false and often you cannot move 1 mm of fat!!
- Therapist driven: Skin assessment+ RF ( fractionated)+ Peels+ LED, +MDA +Fillers+ Botox+ Laser hair removal+ Laser rejuvenation ( fractionated or mosaic)+ Cellulite treatment devices + platelet-rich plasma mesotherapy (PRP)+ SPA facilities i.e. aromatherapy and reflexology ( sophisticated)
- For the above options a resident knowledge medical doctor, such as at BOLAND CELL, is a prerequisite to ensure safety and comfort of the patient and practice and because some clients have underlying medical disorders.
REFERENCES:
- Narins RS et al. A randomized, double-blind, multicenter comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of Restylane versus Zyplast for the correction of nasolabial folds. Dermatol Surgery 2003: 29;558-95
- Carruthers A et al. Randomized, double-blind comparison of the efficacy of two hyaluronic agents 129-33. Dermatol Surg 2005: 31(11) Part 2: 1591-1598.
- Bosniak S et al. Restylane and Perlane: A six-year clinical experience. Operative techniques in oculoplastic, orbital and reconstructive surgery 2003: 4: 89-93.
- Kornstein AW. Soft-tissue reconstruction of the brow with Restylane. Plastic and reconstructive surgery 2005: 116: 2017-2019.
- Kerscher M et al. Study of the effects of stabilized non-animal hyaluronic acid on the biophysical properties of the skin. Poster presentation 2007: American Academy of Dermatology.
- De Boulle K. Management of complications after implantation of fillers. J of Cosmetic Dermatology 2004:3;2-15.
- Klein AW et al. The history of substances for soft-tissue augmentation. Dermatol Surg 2000: 26: 1096-1105.
- Narins RS et al. Injectable skin-fillers. Clin Plastic Surg 2005:32: 151-162.
- Klein AW. Soft-tissue augmentation 2006: filler fantasy. Dermatol Ther 2006: 19: 129-33.
Date of Posting: 2 June 2009
DISCLAIMER: Terms and conditions apply. BOLAND CELL does not supply advice, and cosmetic clients should consult with a plastic surgeon, aesthetic doctor or dermatologist. Pricing of services vary from SPA to SPA.
 
|
|
