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How to boost natural collagen production and scarless healing on your skin

Have you heard of a Dermapen Procedure before?

Renee Rouleau once said: “Be good to your skin. You’ll wear it every day for the rest of your life”

We know that we need to follow a good home care skin regime, wear sunblock every day, and eat a healthy diet to ensure our skin health is maintained, but what can we do if our skin is already a bit damaged or the dreaded effects of ageing have started to show? 

Let’s take a look at a non-surgical procedure that is ultimately a game-changer!

Dermapen Medical Microneedling vs Cosmetic Microneedling:

You might be familiar with the term Microneedling – a non-surgical procedure that induces cell proliferation by making tiny hair-sized injuries to the skin using a derma roller. When the skin is microscopically injured, new cells develop that establish new tissue of collagen and elastin. In turn, this reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, pigmentation, other skin abnormalities, and improves overall skin texture. 

Microneedling can be achieved by using a microneedling device. There are two types of microneedling devices; medical microneedling that can penetrate 2.5 – 3mm deep, namely the Dermapen, or a salon quality device that can only penetrate 0.5 – 1mm deep. A dermaroller is also often used in beauty salons, but they have limited range as they cannot access hard to reach places. 

The medical Dermapen can only be obtained by a doctor and is more advantageous, offering more advanced, effective, and faster results than the traditional derma roller. The Dermapen can reach the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin by adjusting the needle depth. As a result, the Dermapen is 104% faster and ideal for use on scarring where one would need to reach deeper layers. 

Because the Dermapen is modern and more precise in consideration, it can treat the more sensitive and harder to reach places such as the eyelids, around the eyes, nose, lips, décolletage, and more. The Dermapen is also safe to use and minimizes the risk of injury and side effects. 

Benefits of using the Dermapen:

According to Skindeep Cosmetic Laser Clinic, New Zealand, the Dermapen works well for removing mild to moderate scarring, decreases enlarged pores, removes fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, age spots, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, acne scarring and stretch marks. 

Microneedling via the Dermapen occurs vertically, reducing the chances of injury and side effects because it does not tear the skin surface. 

Microneedling promotes scarless healing and natural collagen reproduction, similar to fractional laser treatments, IPL, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels, but without the side effects and downtime. 

The 3 Phases of Microneedling: 

The Dermapen is most superior and with its controlled precisions, it allows 3 phases of new collagen growth to occur. Lavida Med Spa has conveniently summarized these 3 phases: 

Phase 1 – this phase begins with releasing the body’s growth factors and new epidermal growth, fibroblast chemotaxis, fibroblast proliferation, and matrix production. 

Phase 2 – the proliferation of the body’s tissue continues to release growth factors from fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and monocytes. Collagen III, IV, and I, elastin proteoglycans, GAG’s and angiogenesis occur here. 

Phase 3 – during this phase, remodelling of the tissue occurs where the skin’s vascular matrix matures, and skin tightening and new collagen can be seen. The skin can quickly heal because it is non-invasive, and does not use heat or chemicals or any unnecessary trauma. 

Dermapen for Scar Lightening & Rejuvenation: 

The Dermapen has also become the go-to procedure for scar lightening and skin rejuvenation! 

According to Helen Adous – Artistic and Medical Tattoo, when this technique is used to reduce the appearance of scars, collagen, melanin, and elastin will be produced, leading to new tissue growth and gentle healing. You will also notice that bumpy and knotted scars start to become smoother, discoloured scars naturally start to re-pigment and blend into the surrounding skin, and tight and restrictive scars start to relax. 

Microneedling can help with a variety of different scarring, including the following: 

– Scar revision after breast augmentation or reduction

– Revision or camouflage of scars around the areola after breast surgery

– Helping white scars to re-pigment naturally

– Relaxing burn scars so that the skin is less distorted and more comfortable

– Helping indented scars to fill in and become smoother

– Blending the appearance of scars into the surrounding skin

– Preparing a scar to receive a decorative cover-up tattoo safely

Ideal Candidates for Dermapen Microneedling:

Dermapen Microneedling is ideal for all skin types and is suited for anyone who wants to reduce and remove the appearance of blemishes, acne, stretch marks, wrinkles, and scars. 

There are no contradictions, but if you have been using Accutane in the last six months, have a history of keloids or abnormal scarring, or a history of infections, you must inform your doctor before the procedure. 

How often should Microneedling be done?

Microneedling usually consists of 4 – 6 treatments performed every 4-6 weeks. This is to achieve the best clinical effectiveness. Hereafter, it is recommended that patients repeat microneedling every 3 – 4 months. 

Improvements such as glowing and refreshed skin are usually noticeable after 1 week. After 3 treatments, the collagen stimulation takes a major effect and greater improvements are noticeable.

Risks of Microneedling:

Microneedling is considered safe and effective within the medical community, with little to zero downtime for patients. However, as with any treatment, there are always some reactions or risks involved. Possible side effects could include:

  • swelling
  • discomfort at the site
  • redness
  • bruising
  • dryness
  • flaking of the skin

To take away:

Microneedling with a Dermapen is advantageous and you can easily and non-invasively repair and boost your skin’s appearance. So “Yes!” to a new and healthy skin for life and contact The Renewal Clinic today to book an appointment.

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Vampire Facial – The diary entry you are looking forward to!

Vampire Facial – The diary entry you are looking forward to!

If someone had to get hold of my diary and see I have a Vampire Facial booked, they would probably slam it shut, make an excuse to leave, and abandon their cup of coffee before jolting out the door.

And I would just chuckle to myself. Because this is one of my secrets to great looking skin! 

What is a Vampire Facial?

Have you ever noticed an Instagram celebrity’s face covered in blood, checked the calendar, and realized it is not Halloween? A little bit freaky, I must admit, but this is what a Vampire Facial looks like. And people are doing it to reduce scars, boost collagen production and enhance their overall skin health.

According to Beverly Hills-based dermatologist Ava Shamban, “this is a combination of mesotherapy and microneedling, with the application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP).” She jokes by saying, “(and) it’s usually done in the full light of day.”

Plasma contains high levels of platelets with seven growth factors and hundreds of proteins. So, when you apply it to the skin, it stimulates cell turnover.

In short, Joshua Zeichner, the director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital In New York City, states that it is a facial that uses “your own blood to help promote the healthy activity of your skin cells.” This facial tricks the body into a healing and repair process.

The benefits of this facial help the skin function optimally, increasing collagen and elastin and activating antioxidants and hydrating properties.

How is the facial performed?

A doctor draws a sample of your blood and runs it through a centrifuge to isolate the platelets by spinning it until the plasma separates from the blood. Once completed and after the skin has been numbed with a local anaesthetic, mesotherapy and then microneedling will be performed with the PRP serum. This will ensure that the PRP serum seeps into the lightly penetrated skin. Shamban says, “It sounds gory and mysterious, but in fact, it is central to our evolving understanding of the physiology of the skin and advanced techniques with which to improve the quality of the skin.”

What are the benefits of the Vampire Facial?

A normal blood sample contains 6% platelets, however, in the PRP process, there is a concentration of 94% platelets. This results in a powerful growth factor serum that consists of a variety of growth factors and cytokines. When applied via microneedling or mesotherapy, it stimulates cellular tissue regeneration to dramatically accelerate healing.

The PRP procedure helps restore and enhance skin regions that require volume and improves the skin’s texture and tone. And so, this facial is successful in treating the signs of ageing, assisting hair regeneration, muscle and joint regeneration and overall youthful-looking skin by reducing wrinkles and fine lines.

And best of all, these benefits are achieved naturally, without the use of fillers or botulinum!

 What is the recovery time?

After the facial, you can expect a recovery time of a day or two, depending on how aggressive the microneedling was on your skin. Your skin will be red and sensitive for a day or two, so you have to wear sunblock and avoid wearing makeup.

Who is a candidate for a Vampire Facial?

Almost everyone can enjoy the benefits of this facial but if you have a history of blood diseases, including clotting or bleeding disorders, then you should not seek PRP treatment.

People who suffer from acne scars, general scarrings such as stretch marks or surgical scars, hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and dry skin are perfect candidates for this treatment. It usually takes 3 sessions, spaced one month apart, to notice significant results.

What are the risks involved?

Although it sounds like the process is complicated, it is not. There are minimal risks involved in this facial, except for a bit of bruising at the site where your blood is drawn, or some slight discomfort of the microneedling. Joshua Zeichner says that a vampire facial is “extremely safe, as it is your body’s blood being recycled.”

The Vampire Facial is far safer than other surgical and non-surgical procedures.

So, the next time you see my diary entry “Vampire Facial”, don’t go running for the door, but rather enquire for your own booking and enjoy the long-lasting benefits of this natural treatment.

Book your appointment at Renewal Clinic today for younger looking skin!

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What is the new customer process when visiting The Renewal Clinic

The Consultation

A quick glimpse into my life: I’m a mom of two very busy and demanding boys, aged 2 and 4. I am a full-time working mom, a wife, and a freelance designer, writer, and artist. I sleep little, drink tons of coffee, and sometimes I have a little cry in the bathroom (when the boys allow this). At 33, my skin is dry, yet oily. I look tired. Wrinkles burrowed in overnight. And I just look dull. 

I decided to treat myself to some aesthetic treatment, expecting to get a bit of filler or botulinum here and there. Now, you must note that I wear minimal make-up; some eye shadow, and mascara, and maybe some anamorphic cream. And I have never considered aesthetic treatment before. But I was desperate! 

So, I Facebook searched The Renewal Clinic and contacted them over Whatsapp for an appointment – how cool is that! And with a quick response, my appointment was booked and my journey to a more youthful-looking me began. 

On the day of my appointment, I made sure I wasn’t wearing any makeup and tried to dodge the passerby’s “hello’s” – I mean, I looked terrible. 

I was met by Dr. Cartsens and was whisked away into her comfy, neat, and beautifully designed office lined with only the best medical skincare treatments. I felt right at home. 

And so our 20-minute consultation began. Dr. Carstens asked me about my medical history, specifically related to my skin, and jotted that all down. She also asked me about my daily skincare regime, to which I shamefully answered, “soap and water and maybe some moisturizer when I felt dry.” And then Dr. Carstens asked me what I considered to be problematic about my skin. I pointed out the saggy-ness I felt here and there, the wrinkles, oh the wrinkles, and some blackhead problems. 

In a swift movement, the blinds were drawn and the lights turned off. And out comes a weird sci-fi-looking gadget. I later found out this gadget is called a Woods Lamp. Still strange, but hey. 

Dr. Carstens spent a few minutes analyzing my skin using the Woods Lamp. I must admit, I did not expect that this is how the treatment is determined. She showed me the results and it was really cool. The contrast blue image showed little white dots, beneath the skin breakouts, and also determined how deep my pigmentation was. The coolest thing about the image was my lips. They were angelic white! But that meant they were dry! 

So, if you have read Read My Lips – 8 Facts about lips I didn’t know.  you can imagine how we’ll I’m moisturizing my lips now. 

Anyway, Dr. Carstens determined my skincare treatment and home care regime. My skin is not problematic, but I have combination skin, I have some pigmentation and some fine line wrinkles. 

And so I thought I would still be receiving filler and a moisturizer. But to my surprise, Dr. Carstens recommended a soft and no-downtime Neostrata chemical peel to address all of my concerns. Read more about this chemical peel here. I was amazed that I didn’t need filler to refine my skin, reduce my wrinkles and give me my glow back. 

Dr. Carstens explained that she first treats the skin to improve overall skin health, and then with aesthetic intervention if needed because healthy skin will naturally improve your aesthetic appearance. 

I was also advised to always, always, always wear sunblock because of the danger of UVA and UVB rays, which all contribute to skin aging, even if you work indoors. (Read Blog here). She gave me a Lamelle face wash and told me to continue using my moisturizer daily. So basically, I only needed to follow three steps (wash, moisturize and apply sunblock) daily and return for one chemical peel. That was it!

As I left, she joked and said, “Next time, you can come with your makeup on”. ☺️

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What is IS Clinical® Fire and Ice treatment?

What is IS Clinical®  Fire and Ice clinical treatment? 

“If the world is cold, make it your business to build fires” – Horace Traubel

And it probably won’t hurt looking smoking hot too! With the world of aesthetics changing daily, your choices of treatments are unlimited. But you don’t need to look any further, because Beverly Hills has brought their pioneering beautifying skin treatment to our shores.

Known as the “Red Carpet Facial”, this multi-step clinical treatment will brighten, smooth, tighten, and rejuvenate your skin.

It is a bridge between a mild facial and an invasive peel, but the perk is that it has no downtime, making you ready for that red carpet event, or boosting your confidence to conquer the world.

 A-listers such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Jessica Alba, and Michelle Keegan follow this treatment and it has been the top-selling treatment each year for the past 23 years at the Four Seasons, Beverly Hills.

 Let’s take a closer look at how the Fire and Ice treatment works and how your skin can benefit from it.

 How does the Fire and Ice Treatment Work?

 The leading brand in cosmeceutical skincare is Is Clinical® Fire & Ice Treatment. This is a result-driven treatment to cleanse and treat problematic skin, blemishes, acne, scarring, reduce fine lines, help treat hyperpigmentation and rosacea, and encourage cellular renewal. 

The Fire and Ice Treatment, with the emphasis being on the word treatment, differs from a facial because it has a deeper reach, allowing for deep change to occur with long-lasting results, but without any downtime.

The Fire & Ice treatment uses a combination of hot and cold techniques to increase blood flow and circulation.

The treatment consists of two masques; Fire & Ice, serums, and moisturizers. The Fire masque aims to smooth out and resurface your skin through heat application. The Ice masque cools and soothes your skin, leaving it hydrated and nourished. The combined treatment results in glowing and refreshed skin. The treatment can be used on the face, neck, and décolleté.

 The Fire masque is a controlled clinical exfoliating process and contains ingredients such as vitamin B3, retinol, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, unbuffered glycolic acid, and potent antioxidants, including green tea extracts. The Ice masque is the cool, rejuvenating, soothing, and intensively hydrating component. It contains hyaluronic acid, Aloe Vera gel, Japanese green tea extracts, licorice, grape seed, and rosemary extracts. This pampering part of the facial cools the initial peel and leaves the skin glowing. It even sounds glamourous, doesn’t it?

While this treatment is being performed, its warm and cooling action will activate your senses and evoke aromas of warm cinnamon and brisk cool peppermint. During the fire masque application, it is common for you to feel a slight tingling or burning sensation. The ice masque will neutralize the burning sensation and your skin will be completely rejuvenated and soothed.

 The treatment is of such a gentle nature that it is suited for any skin type, including women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, and undergoing cancer treatment.

 With the Fire & Ice Treatment, you will immediately feel dramatically refined skin, with no negative effects like inflammation, irritation, prolonged redness, or shedding. This means you can even have the treatment done during your lunch hour!

Contact us at The Renewal Clinic for an appointment.