How to stay safe in the Summer sun

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The majority of the clients that visit our clinic are looking for anti-ageing treatments, and sun damage is the most common cause of premature ageing. We want to share our 4 top tips to help you look after your skin in the sun so that you can stay looking youthful for longer.

1. Use sun cream everyday

UV is present whatever the weather so sun cream should be worn on the face and other exposed areas daily throughout the year.

It is important to know that not all sun creams are created equal, so be careful in your selection:

  • Make sure it’s a broad spectrum cream carrying a UVA and UVB symbol
  • If it has a star rating, use a minimum 4 star
  • Make sure it has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or above
  • Don’t forget to protect your lips with an SPF 30+ lip balm

Storing and applying sun cream:

  • Store in cool place
  • Keep an eye on the expiry date, and replace once out of date
  • Apply generously 20 minutes before sun exposure
  • Reapply every 2 hours (more frequently if perspiring or after swimming)

2. Cover up with clothing

This is a super simple one – covering your skin with the right clothing can be one of the most effective ways to protect your skin from the sun.

  • Cover any skin that is exposed and not protected with sun cream, especially areas that can easily burn such as neck and shoulders
  • Clothing with a closer weave will provide more even protection
  • Wearing a hat with a wide brim is a great way to protect the face, neck and ears
  • Be careful with sports caps – they do protect the face, but they leave the neck and ears exposed

3. Stop the squint with sunglasses

The way that we move our facial muscles creases the surface of the skin, which overtime creates wrinkles. Squinting in the sun is one of the big culprits contributing to accentuating smile and frown lines – put a stop to this with sunglasses.

  • Look for glasses carrying the European Standard ‘CE’ Mark, UV 400 or British Standard Mark as this ensures the sunglasses offer a safe level of UV protection.
  • Look for a close fit to the face, any large gaps between your eyes and the lenses will reduce your protection by allowing UV rays to reach your eyes.

4. Stay in the shade

Shade can provide excellent sun protection and should be used to keep your skin safe:

  • Seek shade when possible, especially during the hottest hours of the day between 10am and 4pm when UV penetration is strongest
  • Never rely on shade alone, always combine with the protective measure listed above

If you’d like to talk to one of the team about our skin care products or treatment options please give us a call on 01225 700072.

How is HIFU revolutionising facial rejuvenation treatment?

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HIFU stands for High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound, the way that this ground breaking treatment works is through a specially designed hand-piece that delivers thermal energy in the form of multiple beams of ultrasound to stimulate collagen. It is the collagen within the skin that gives us a more youthful appearance and HIFU works to activate this, helping to contract and tighten the surface of the skin. HIFU is specially designed to penetrate the layer of the skin which is tightened during traditional facelift surgery, however, as HIFU is non-invasive the downtime is significantly reduced and the cost of treatment is much lower.

What issues can HIFU be used to treat?

  • Fine lines and wrinkles on the face
  • Frown lines
  • Crow’s feet and smile lines
  • Double chins
  • Neck and jowl area

Treatment Duration: HIFU treatment takes 30-90 minutes depending on individual requirements

Sensation during treatment: It is common to experience some discomfort and a tingling sensation depending on the intensity.

Number of treatments required: Most commonly only one to two sessions are required. Maintenance required every 6 months.

Sensitivity period: Immediately after treatment, the skin is likely to appear red for a few hours, some clients experience slight swelling and tenderness for up to a week after treatment. The areas can be calmed with ice packs if required, further advice will be given during the consultation and in the aftercare paperwork.

Visibility of results: Normally some improvement can be seen within 3 to 4 weeks following treatment, with further improvements developing for up to six months. Results ordinarily last for 6 months or more.

For more information or to book a consultation please give us a call on 01225 700072.

What can we do about unwanted veins?

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Here at Snowberry Lane Clinic we offer two main treatments to help with unwanted veins such as broken, thread or spider veins. These veins can appear anywhere on the body, most commonly the face and legs. In appearance they are very thin, and sit just below the surface of the skin, they are often red, blue or purplish in colour.

Treatment option 1 – Laser Vein Treatment:

Laser vein therapy works by targeting the treatment area with a focused beam of heat energy, this heat causes the vein to coagulate and seal. The vessel is then broken down and is able to be reabsorbed by the body over the next 4-6 weeks.

Best for treating:

  • Thread veins
  • Spider veins
  • Facial veins
  • Thin leg veins

Number of treatments: 2 minimum

Treatment Duration: 30-60 minutes

Anaesthetic: Topical anaesthetic cream

Sensitivity Period: Some discomfort during and straight after treatment

Back to work: Straight away

Duration of results: Top up treatments required as veins reoccur. This is usually annually or less

Treatment option 2 – Microscleratherapy

Microscleratherapy uses a specially designed solution that is injected into the target veins, it works by restricting blood flow to the vein and causing it to fade and in some cases disappear. This treatment is designed to activate the bodies natural repair process, which is why some clients can experience light bruising in the treatment areas. Within a few days this dies down and after a few weeks patients are left with uniform colouring around the skin.

Best for treating: Thread and spider veins on the legs

Number of treatments: 1-2

Treatment Duration: 30 minutes

Anaesthetic: Topical anaesthetic cream if requested

Sensitivity Period: Some slight discomfort during treatment and possibility of bruising

Back to work: Next day

Duration of results: Can be permanent but it depends on the individual as veins can reoccur

If you would like to know more about our treatments for unwanted veins then please get in touch by calling us on 01225 700072.

Introducing our newest treatment: Semi Permanent Make-up for Brows

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Semi Permanent Make-up or SPMU, allows us to enhance the appearance of your eyebrows by creating the impression of hairs using a specialist facial tattoo machine. The reason that the treatment is not permanent is that the depth that the pigment is placed under the skin is much shallower than in traditional tattooing, meaning that over time, as your skin cells renew, the pigment will naturally come away after (around 12-18 months after treatment).

People who are interested in this treatment include anyone who would like to achieve a natural enhancement to their eyebrows. Examples range from someone who is athletic and requires a make-up solution that withstands sporting activities, someone wishing to reduce the amount of time they need to spend on their daily make-up routine, through to someone suffering from partial to full hair loss due to long-term conditions such as Alopecia or Cancer.

The treatment itself takes 90 minutes, depending on the individual client’s requirements. Following treatment, clients may experience some redness and irritation, scabbing and light to moderate swelling in the area. After the first week, the skin in the treated area will begin to gently come away and the pigment will lighten. After 6-10 weeks it is possible that you might want to come back for a top-up treatment to fill in any areas affected by the healing process.

We now offer two main treatments, Ombre and Hair Stroke.

Ombre brows are created by varying the density of the pigment from more concentrated to faded, creating a more delicate effect like that of a softer pencil brow. This option is a good choice for clients who have little to no eyebrow hair.

Hair stroke creates the appearance of individual hairs that are built up to give the effect of a fuller natural looking brow. This is the perfect choice if your eyebrows are thin or sparse and you’d like them to look fuller.

For more information or to book a consultation, please give us a call on 01225 700072.

What is Radio Surgery and what is it used for?

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Radio Surgery is a specialist treatment that uses a hand-piece housing a very thin wire loop, carrying radio-waves. These radio-waves heat the wire, which helps to seal the blood vessels while the skin is being cut, this increases the cleanliness and efficiency of the treatment versus just using a scalpel.

Radio Surgery is used primarily for removing unwanted lumps and bumps from the skin, including:

  • Moles (both raised and flat)
  • Cysts
  • Lipoma
  • Skin Tags

However it can also be used to help repair torn or over-stretched earlobes by removing excess skin.

Treatment Summary:

Number of treatments required: 1

Treatment time: 30-60 minutes

Anaesthetic: Local anaesthetic injection

Sensitivity period: Some discomfort during and straight after treatment depending on the procedure.

Back to work: Straight away or the following day depending on the procedure.

Duration of results: Permanent, although some issues can reoccur.

The all-important question: Will it leave a scar?

When a legion is removed from the skin, it is impossible for the skin beneath to match the skin around it exactly, as the newly exposed skin has not been exposed to the same conditions as the surface skin that has been exposed.

When a raised mole is removed, the skin beneath behaves like a small graze on the surface of the skin. After 4-6 weeks there will commonly be a slight pink blemish or lighter area of skin that will take time to adjust and change, but is normally not too noticeable. Over time this area of skin will become less and less noticeable.

When a flat mole or cyst is removed, a slightly larger incision is often needed, and commonly stitches are required. If this is the case the stitches will be as small and neat as possible, once the stitches have been removed the scar will commonly be slightly pink in colour and should change over time to appear closer to your normal skin tone.

To find out more about the treatments, or to talk to a specialist at the Clinic, you can get in touch today by calling 01225 700072.

Introducing Our New Team Member: Dr Ian Strawford

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Dr Strawford will be carrying out some of our existing surgical procedures such as the Laser Liposuction treatments, as well as bringing some brand new specialist treatments to the clinic – so watch this space!

Dr Strawford is a member of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine and a member of The Association of Surgeons and Primary Care. He has many years experience as a GP and as a Cosmetic Practitioner and is an International Trainer.

The reason that Dr Strawford is a great fit for Snowberry Lane Clinic is that he shares our commitment to the provision of high quality, safe and meticulous care, to help enable our clients to look and feel their best with treatments that provide natural looking results.

Dr Strawford is dedicated to keeping his knowledge and skills up-to-date so that he can remain at the forefront of the industry. He is regularly invited to speak and train at cosmetic conferences both in the UK and internationally.

Getting Ready for Wedding Season

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Newly married couple.

In the UK the Wedding Season runs from May to September, it is no coincidence that this coincides with our busiest months at the clinic. We want to tell you about some of the most popular treatments during this period and how to time them perfectly.

RADIOSURGERY

This treatment is designed for the removal of moles, lumps and bumps. It allows for precision cutting of the skin using a very thin wire, the wire is heated with radiowaves which means the blood vessels are sealed as it cuts making for a clean and efficient removal.

Number of treatments required: 1, results are permanent, although some legions can reoccur.

Treatment time: 30-60 minutes.

Sensitivity period: Some discomfort during and straight after treatment, which can last for a few days depending on the procedure.

Results visible: Immediately, if it is a raised legion shaved to skin level then appearance will be comparable to a graze so it will take approximately a few weeks to a month to heal to a point where it is less noticeable, depending on your skin type. If suturing is required then healing will take longer.

Time it right: The area can be covered by make-up after 2 weeks. Ideal healing time before event 8-12 weeks.

BOTOX

Botox prevents small selected muscles from contracting to help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Number of treatments required: 1, results last 3-6 months, regular top-ups needed.

Sensitivity period: Some slight discomfort during treatment and possibility of bruising.

Results visible: Commonly results are visible after 2-4 days with end result being visible after 2 weeks, at this point Botox can be topped-up if required.

Time it right: Allow for 6 weeks before event, this gives time for area to settle and be topped-up and full results to be visible.

FILLERS

Dermal fillers consist of an injectable gel substance that is medically designed to imitate hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that helps to keep skin stable, locks in moisture and also helps with renewing and healing skin. They are most commonly used to increase volume to targeted areas of the face.

Number of treatments required: 1, results last 6-18 months, regular top-ups needed.

Sensitivity period: Some slight discomfort during treatment and possibility of bruising

Results visible: Some clients see immediate results, with improvements continuing for up to a month depending on the type of filler and the area being treated.

Time it right: Allow 6-8 weeks before event for best results.

For more information or to make an appointment, please give us a call on 01225 700072.

Why choose Snowberry Lane?

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We’re seeing lots of reports about the dangers of the lack of regulations within the UK Cosmetic Industry, with injectable procedures such as Botox and Dermal Fillers being carried out by people with no medical training at all:

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-02-12/dermal-fillers-regulation-alberto-costa-rachael-knappier/

We understand why it’s so important to carefully select your Cosmetic Clinic and Practitioner to ensure you get the best treatment possible and that you are in a safe and professional environment. Below we’ll explain what we do here at Snowberry Lane Clinic do to keep our clients safe.

Staff:

  • All of our invasive procedures are carried about by trained and experienced medical professionals, you will be seen by a Doctor or a Nurse.

Clinic

  • We are registered with the Care Quality Commission: https://www.cqc.org.uk/ an independent regulator who ensure we provide our clients with safe, effective, compassionate care.
  • The clinic is in its 16th year of practice, we have seen thousands of clients so have a fantastic level of experience that enables us to offer the most effective treatments for each individual.

If you have any questions about the qualifications of our staff or the way we are regulated please give us a call on 01225 700072. We hope to be able to show you why we are a good choice for you if you are seeking a cosmetic treatment.

Safeguarding clients of cosmetic treatments

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https://news.sky.com/story/superdrug-botox-customers-face-tougher-mental-health-checks-11611479

You may have heard or seen in the news in the past couple of days the discussion around the safety of high street cosmetic treatments. Now that Botox and Fillers are becoming more readily available, healthcare professionals are calling for more stringent checks to ensure the safety of potential clients, read the original article here.

Safeguarding our clients is at the heart of what we do at Snowberry Lane Clinic, which is why we are registered with the Care Quality Commission an independent governing body who set standards of care that protect clients of medical cosmetic treatments. We are proud to work with this organisation to make sure the level of care we deliver ensures that everyone who visits Snowberry Lane is treated with dignity and respect, not pressured into any treatments, and are given the quality of care that every person deserves.

It is vital that when you seek cosmetic treatment that you ensure you are in safe hands. So we want to give you some top tips to help you choose the right cosmetic practice for you:

  1. Using the Care Quality Commision to check establishments credentials is a great place to start: https://www.cqc.org.uk. Practices that are registered with the CQC have to meet certain standards of care, which is very reassuring to clients.
  2. Enquire about the background of the practitioners. All of the practitioners at Snowberry Lane Clinic who carry out Botox and Filler procedures are registered medical professionals – experienced Doctors and Nurses.
  3. Find out about the level of experience of the practitioner, Snowberry Lane Clinic is in it’s sixteenth year of practice, our Directors Ann and Rupert have the highest level of experience, they have selected and trained a team of like-minded professionals, whom they trust to deliver the same standard of treatment as themselves.
  4. Look into whether the practice has good mental health safeguards in place. We have an established relationship with an experienced Psychotherapist, who we refer clients to when we feel that it is in the best interests of the client.

For any further information about Snowberry Lane Clinic, please give us a call on 01225 700072 or e-mail us at enquiries@snowberrylane.co.uk