Tempted to try out the latest beauty tweakments before your wedding? Sophie Lambert gets the lowdown on five popular non-surgical procedures from Scottish cosmetic and aesthetic clinics
With your wedding on the horizon, your thoughts may be turning to the multitude of ways you’re going to pamper yourself ahead of the big day. Lash extensions, brow lamination and a fabulous manicure are high on many brides’ beauty lists. If you’re looking for a treatment to give you an extra surge of confidence when all eyes are upon you, you might be considering a non-surgical procedure, better known as a ‘tweakment’.
Aesthetic treatments have come a long way in recent years, especially in the hands of highly skilled practitioners using state-of-the-art technology. There are treatments out there to address almost every beauty conundrum you can think of, so whether you’d love a skin hydration boost to give you an enviable glow, or you’re interested in exploring the world of injectables, you should find it’s possible to achieve incredible results without going under the surgeon’s knife.
We caught up with some of Scotland’s leading aesthetic clinics to hear about their top bridal tweakments and to discover how they could help you feel your absolute best as you slip into your dream dress.
CoolSculpting at Cavendish Clinic, Glasgow and Edinburgh
What does it do? This non-surgical treatment reduces fat cells through a cooling process to enhance your natural body shape. CoolSculpting can be carried out on a number of different areas of the body to eliminate stubborn fat, such as the chin, abdomen, back, thighs, knees and calves.
What happens during the treatment? After a thorough consultation, a treatment plan will be created for you to help you achieve your goals. The targeted fat cells are cooled using CoolSculpting’s patented technology and then naturally processed by your body to reveal a more sculpted shape. During the procedure, an applicator is used to chill the targeted area and you may feel some initial cold and then a pulling or tugging sensation.
Is there any downtime? There is no downtime associated with this treatment, although the area affected may remain numb for up to two weeks.
When will I see results? Your body will naturally metabolise the frozen fat cells and you’ll begin to notice a difference from four weeks after your first treatment. The results will continue to develop over the following 12 weeks, when your practitioner will review your progress.
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty at LG Medical Aesthetics, Stirling
What does it do? Non-surgical rhinoplasty can reshape your nose without the need to go under the knife. The procedure uses filler to smooth bumps and dips or change the angle of your nose to improve your overall profile.
What happens during the treatment? Following a consultation, your qualified and highly trained practitioner will place filler around the bridge of your nose using a needle in order to achieve the desired shape and smooth any bumps or ridges.
Is there any downtime? There is no downtime associated with this procedure but you won’t be able to wear glasses for a few days after the treatment. Some people may experience minor bruising.
When will I see results? The results of non-surgical rhinoplasty are instant and will last for between 12 and 18 months.
The Aqua3 Hydro Facial at Desired Aesthetics Beauty Lounge, Falkirk
What does it do? This high-impact facial treatment uses the cutting-edge Aqua3 device to leave your skin deeply cleansed, exfoliated, rebalanced and super-hydrated – perfect for enhancing that bridal glow.
What happens during the treatment? This 90-minute facial begins with a water-based peel using mandelic, salicylic and glycolic acids to remove dead skin and exfoliate deeply. This is followed by a tailored chemical peel to treat your specific skin concerns, and diamond dermabrasion to improve the skin’s texture. Your face is then treated with a serum that is delivered using gentle electrical impulses. Photo stimulation is used to speed up cell turnover and an oxygen mask is applied to restore that youthful glow. Finally, a face and neck LED is used to help prolong the results.
Is there any downtime? Although this treatment can deliver serious results, it’s gentle and non-invasive, meaning there’s no need for downtime.
When will I see results? The facial is designed to leave you with brighter, more hydrated skin instantly.
‘Facial Freeze’ Anti-Wrinkle Injections at Desired Aesthetics Beauty Lounge, Falkirk
What does it do? Anti-wrinkle injections stop targeted muscles from contracting, causing any wrinkles in this area to relax and soften so the skin appears smoother and more youthful.
What happens during the treatment? This treatment is carefully tailored to suit your needs and focuses on the three main areas of wrinkling in the face: the forehead, frown lines and the outer corners of the eyes (crow’s feet). A needle is used to carefully place the product in these key areas to prevent the muscles from contracting.
Is there any downtime? The side effects are minimal. Some people will experience slight swelling.
When will I see results? You will get visible results from around 14 days post-treatment, which is when you will meet with your practitioner for a review.
PDO Threads at Smooth Dimensions, Edinburgh
What does it do? This non-surgical facelift tightens, refreshes and improves the skin’s texture to create a more youthful appearance. The treatment can be used on different areas of the face and neck, depending on the result you want to achieve.
What happens during the treatment? Following your consultation, small needles loaded with super-fine PDO (polydioxanone) threads are inserted into the skin. The needles are removed while the threads remain in the skin where they cannot be seen or felt. The threads lift the skin and stimulate the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin to improve the appearance of lines and folds. PDO threads also improve the circulation to the treated area which, in turn, enhances the skin’s texture.
Is there any downtime? While you may not need to take any downtime following this procedure, it is advisable to avoid exercise for 48 hours afterwards. You may also feel some tenderness and experience some swelling, which will ease within three to seven days.
When will I see results? You will begin to see some improvements to the skin immediately after the treatment, with these continuing to develop over the next four to six months. The results should last from 12 to 18 months.
Disclaimer: All treatments must be carried out by a qualified practitioner, who will conduct a full consultation to assess your suitability for each procedure