Health & Beauty: Star treatments

Published on Sunday 27 December 2009 10:46

Once the preserve of the rich and famous, Hollywood beauty procedures are making their mark over here

THERE was a time we might have gazed upon the pages of Heat and Hello! in envy, wishing we could have wrinkle-free skin like A-list celebrities. Now, of course, we know their perfection is probably the result of a helping hand from a celebrity's two best friends: Photoshop and their cosmetic surgeon.

And though we might not all have the benefits of a picture editor at FHM to shave off the excess fat from our thighs, we now have access to the latest cosmetic treatments that were once Hollywood's best-kept secret. So bring on the Botox, roll out the Restylane and get ready for the fat graft. Because treatments that were once the preserve of the rich and famous are on our doorstep.

Consider Macrolane. These injections of hyaluronic acid are increasingly seen as a valid, non-surgical alternative to implants. The treatment, which could almost be done in your lunch hour, can increase your breasts by at least a cup size and lasts up to 18 months. But the best part is that it has none of the risks or down time associated with a traditional boob job.

Meanwhile, Madonna is said to have plumped up her hollow cheeks with the help of fillers – and you could do the same with Restylane or Juvderm.

Now surgeons are even working on a method that will enable them to transfer unwanted fat from a patient's thighs to their breasts, effectively allowing us to sculpt our bodies like Play-Doh. "Fat-grafting to the face has been in vogue to restore youthful contours in a meaningful, long-term way," says Washington-based cosmetic surgeon Dr Barry Cohen, who established the exclusive Beyond Medispa clinic at Harvey Nichols, first in London and then Edinburgh. His clients include top-flight politicians, lobbyists and media personalities. "And experimentation with fat grafts to breasts are increasingly common, but not well worked out as of yet."

However, it is in the non-surgical field that advances are really being made. "Non-invasive procedures are still growing at a greater rate than invasive surgery," he says. "This is, in part, due to the weak economy, but also due to improvements in the medical spa-type procedures that have become available in the last decade."

The stars' favourite pre-red-carpet treat continues to be Botox and fillers, but the traditional "Hollywood face" – the bunny in the headlights look – is off the menu. "Natural is considered better," says Cohen. "Hollywood plastic surgery is viewed as too extreme by most people. And rather than talk about who they would like to look like, in the US people largely talk about which stars they do not wish to look like, for example Joan Rivers or Michael Jackson."

His observations are echoed on this side of the pond by Dr Alan Macpherson, of Medicalternative in Edinburgh. "Botox is still the number one procedure people ask for. Fillers are number two, followed by a wide-ranging mixture of IPL for hair removal and skin rejuvenation, then skin peels and microdermabrasion."

And while there may be something of a Botox backlash among certain celebrities, he says there is also a lot of misinformation surrounding the treatment. "People sometimes mention they don't want the frightened rabbit look, but in fact most of those looks are probably more due to over-zealous facelifts and inappropriate fillers.

"Technically, Botox is one of the simplest procedures to perform, without any significant complications. It's very straightforward and very effective."

"I've tried Botox, I've tried them all," Kylie Minogue frankly admitted in the May 2009 edition of Elle magazine. "I'm definitely not one of those people who says, 'You shouldn't do this.' Everyone can individually do what they want."

One of the latest treatments to cross the Atlantic is laser lipolysis, better known as smart lipo. It involves the insertion of a laser into the layer of unwanted fat – whether that be in the tummy, thighs, chin or even cankles. "It is the new, advanced generation of fat-removal treatments carried out under plenty of local anaesthetic," says Dr Victoria Dobbie, of Edinburgh's Face and Body cosmetic clinic. "The laser probe is little bigger than a needle and is inserted into the fat layer via a tiny incision as small as a rice grain. The laser warms the fat and makes it liquefy. Then the laser is exchanged for a probe that is used to suck away the softened fat. Having left your fat in the jar, the laser is reintroduced and tightens your skin."

It's not cheap – the procedure costs from 2,500 – but clients are reporting astonishing results. "I saw my stomach shrink before my eyes," says Mrs P, from Peebles. "It's quite exhilarating to leave an unwanted part of you behind in a jar. I have had a flabby belly since I had the children, and I can't quite get use to the fact that it has gone."

And the cost doesn't seem to be putting people off. "There are plenty of people on an average wage who will save up and, rather than spending it on cigarettes or alcohol, will spend it on beauty products or treatments," says Macpherson. "People recognise the benefits of non-invasive procedures. We're seeing more coming in for that than for surgical procedures these days."

The latest generation of fillers are from Juvderm and can plump up the cheeks. "I call it the instant mid-face lift because it lifts the cheeks back up into a more youthful position," says Dobbie. "As you age the mid-face loses firmness and tone, the cheeks flatten and you develop hollows around the eyes. Also, lax skin gathers along the jawline, creating jowls.

"I am achieving similar results to a facelift for clients that don't have excessive amounts of skin." The results last up to 18 months and prices start at 500.

And if you want to get rid of that permanently tired, hollow-eyed look, there's no need to resort to surgery. Instead, a filler can be injected in small amounts into the hollow over the course of two appointments. "It lasts up to 12 months," says Dobbie, "and can take years off you." The price tag is 300.

But as technology improves, the next decade will bring increasingly sophisticated procedures within our reach. "The major research in aesthetic plastic surgery is in the realm of stem cells," says Cohen, "and I think we will see gene therapy and stem cells move us closer to the fountain of youth.

"Cryotherapy (cooling fat tissue to break it down] for non-invasive body-contouring holds great promise. And intense-pulse light therapies as well as radio frequency and lasers are becoming increasingly specific and sensitive. Their efficacy for treatment of sagging skin, and browns and reds in the skin, is terrific. Cellulite," he adds, "is also nearly able to be conquered."

The trend is likely to move increasingly towards less invasive treatments that carry fewer risks than surgery. "I've listened to plastic surgeons speaking at meetings, and many of them, despite the fact that surgery is their bread and butter, have talked about the risks involved in operative surgery and anaesthetics," says Macpherson. "Many plastic and cosmetic surgeons are looking more to non-invasive treatments, although there is always going to be a market for larger procedures; for people who have lost huge amounts of weight, there is no other way of getting rid of the layers of skin and residual tissue than surgery."

Facelifts, too, remain as popular as ever. "They're still all the rage," says Cohen breezily. "I do eight a week."

Beyond Medispa, Harvey Nichols, Edinburgh (0131-524 8332, www.beyondmedispa.co.uk); Medicalternative, 19 Hawthornbank Lane, Edinburgh (0131-225 5656, www.medicalternative.com); Face and Body Medical Cosmetic Clinic, 32 Alva Street, Edinburgh (0845 070 5538, www.faceandbody.co.uk)

PROCEed WITH CAUTION

Some of the treatments that are less likely to catch on ...

Placenta facials This is a 300-a-pop procedure. The theory goes that, since the placenta nourishes a baby in the womb, it will work wonders on your face.

Gold-leaf body wraps After being melted, 24-carat gold is spread on the face and left to harden. As it is peeled off, it is claimed to take all the impurities away with it, leaving just a subtle golden glow.

Bird-dropping facial Billed as the geisha facial, this is alleged to be a favourite of Victoria Beckham. It uses uguisu no fun (otherwise known as powdered nightingale droppings) to soften and brighten the complexion.

Snake-venom facial This anti-wrinkle cream is meant to work like Botox and freeze the skin. Current users are said to include Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Kingsley and Drew Barrymore.

Leech therapy Demi Moore has talked about her experience at a detox retreat where leeches got drunk on her blood. "Generally you bleed for quite a bit and your health is optimised," she said. "I'm feeling very detoxified right now."

Cupping Gwyneth Paltrow has had cupping acupuncture. This ancient Asian practice is believed to stimulate circulation. Glass cups are placed against the skin, then heated with a flame. This creates a powerful suction, which leaves a series of circular welts on the spine.

Caviar facials The treatment can last up to three hours. The actress is wrapped up in tight bandages so that her body sweats out toxins before a youth-restoring body cream is applied. The high protein and oil content of the caviar is believed to do the trick.

Beer baths Catherine Zeta-Jones apparently has beer baths to give her shinier tresses. The B vitamins, biotin and protein compounds in the drink are thought to cleanse and nourish.

Urine Ugly Betty actress Vanessa Williams admits to treating her acne and facial problems by putting morning urine on her skin.

A version of this article first appeared in Scotland on Sunday on December 27