Sisters in the Hood: Talking Juvelook, Lenisna and Collagen Stimulation
Look who popped into the Balham clinic over the summer!
My sister, Dr Rowena, and my niece Rebecca came to visit me at Chiropractor by Hand in Balham.
Rowena runs Blush Clinic, a private medical and aesthetics clinic in our hometown of Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland, alongside her daughter Rebecca. As you can imagine, when you get three members of the same family together who work in aesthetics, there is quite a lot to talk about.
And very quickly the conversation turned to one of my favourite newer treatments: collagen biostimulation.
Top of our list was Juvelook, one of the newer generation of Korean injectable treatments that I now offer at the clinic. And, of course, it would have been rude to spend all afternoon talking about it without letting Rowena try it…
So here she is having her first Juvelook under-eye treatment.
What is Juvelook?
Juvelook is an injectable collagen biostimulator which combines PDLLA (poly-D,L-lactic acid) with hyaluronic acid.
Rather than simply adding volume in the way that a traditional dermal filler does, Juvelook is designed to encourage your skin to produce more of its own collagen and elastin.
There is an initial hydrating effect from the hyaluronic acid, but the really interesting part of the treatment happens gradually. As collagen production increases over the following weeks and months, we are looking for progressive improvements in the strength, texture, firmness and overall quality of the skin.
This is one of the reasons I like biostimulator treatments. The aim isn't to suddenly make you look different. It is to gradually encourage healthier, stronger and better-quality skin.
Why do I particularly like Juvelook for the under-eye area?
The skin around our eyes is some of the thinnest skin on the face and is often one of the first areas where we start to notice ageing.
Juvelook can be a particularly useful treatment where the main concerns are:
Fine lines and crepey under-eye skin
Loss of elasticity
Thin or poor-quality skin
Early under-eye hollowing
A tired appearance around the eyes
Some types of under-eye darkness where thin skin and loss of tissue quality are contributing factors
Juvelook isn't a one-off treatment
Collagen stimulation takes time.
For most patients I recommend a course of three Juvelook treatments, usually spaced around six weeks apart.
Each session builds on the previous one as the skin gradually remodels and produces new collagen. You shouldn't expect to walk out after the first appointment with your final result.
Instead, improvements develop progressively over the following weeks and months.
Once the initial course is complete, I generally recommend a maintenance or booster treatment at around 12-18 months, depending on your skin, age and how you have responded to the initial course.
Think of it as investing in the long term quality of the skin rather than having a treatment which simply wears off after some months.
What about Lenisna?
The other treatment you will increasingly hear me talking about is Lenisna.
Juvelook and Lenisna are related treatments, but I don't use them interchangeably.
Juvelook is the more delicate treatment for the under-eye area, whereas Lenisna is designed for the face and neck and addresses:
Skin laxity
Loss of firmness
Sagging
Facial volume loss
Deeper lines and wrinkles
Loss of facial definition and support
The objective is a natural result. We are stimulating the body's own collagen-producing processes rather than simply trying to replace every sign of ageing with filler.
Does Juvelook hurt?
Treatment takes around 30 minutes and most of my patients find it very manageable.
The product is placed using a canula. As with any injectable treatment, you can experience a little tenderness, bruising or swelling afterwards.
The most important bit of practical advice with under-eye Juvelook is this:
Don't book it the day before an important event.
The under-eye area can look quite puffy for around three days following treatment. This is normal and settles as the product and associated swelling disperse.
Some people swell more than others, and occasionally it can take a little longer to settle. If you have something important in the diary, I would allow yourself a few clear days afterwards.
Having said all that, my sister Rowena turned out to be lucky.
Virtually no swelling.
In fact, she was swaning around The Ivy on Northcote Road later that evening.
Legend!
The move towards regenerative aesthetics
One of the things Rowena, Rebecca and I kept coming back to during our afternoon together was how much aesthetics has changed.
There will always be a place for treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections and carefully placed dermal filler. But increasingly we are thinking about skin health, collagen, tissue quality and regeneration rather than simply treating individual lines.
That philosophy fits very closely with the way I like to practise.
I want my patients to look rested, refreshed and like themselves. Strengthening and improving the skin over time can be an important part of achieving that.
Treatments such as Juvelook and Lenisna are an exciting addition to the options we now have available.
Interested in Juvelook or Lenisna?
If you are concerned about under-eye ageing, fine lines, skin laxity or loss of firmness but aren't sure which treatment would suit you, we can discuss this at consultation.
I will assess your skin, facial anatomy and what you would actually like to improve before recommending whether Juvelook, Lenisna or another skin rejuvenation treatment is the most appropriate option for you.
Juvelook and Lenisna treatments are available with Dr Sarah Hughes in Balham, Anerley and Old Street.
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