Shape & Sculpt – Dr Sophie’s treatment of choice for the lower face.

As patient demand for high quality aesthetic treatments has grown dramatically over recent years, so too have the number of treatment options available and the innovation by skincare and aesthetics companies in developing new products to meet the needs of doctors and aestheticians. This in turn gives us the opportunity to develop new and innovative treatment combinations that can often deliver results way above and beyond those that an individual treatment can provide, and this is an area of my work that I am particularly passionate about.

At Illuminate we have recently introduced several such combinations, for example, Ultimate Glow, a range of premium skin hydration treatments, with different combinations to meet different patient desires and outcomes. But perhaps my treatment of choice, both in terms of product innovation and effectiveness of results, is Shape & Sculpt. Launched this year, this dual treatment is designed to reduce or eliminate a double chin, jowls or sagging skin on the lower face and then to re-contour the chin and jawline to restore the shape, volume and definition that it often loses with age.

The lower third of the face is key to maintaining overall symmetry and proportion for the face as a whole, and is particularly prone to the effects of ageing, as we lose bone density and our facial structure changes. It is also prone to the effects of gravity as we age and our skin loses its elasticity and firmness and starts to sag. Shape & Sculpt offers a highly effective and non-invasive alternative to surgery for this area.

So what is Shape & Sculpt and how does it work?

Shape & Sculpt combines ‘Cool Mini’ fat-freezing with the use of Juvederm Volux dermal fillers to provide a mini face-lift for the lower face.

Firstly we use ‘CoolMini’ to freeze away unwanted, submental fat on the chin and jawline, which may have formed due to genetics, weight-gain or ageing, resulting in either a build up of fat or in more severe cases, a double chin. ‘CoolMini’ is a highly effective, FDA-approved Coolsculpting technology, developed especially to freeze away small areas of stubborn, difficult to remove fat and is able to target fat cells specifically, without damaging the surrounding tissue. The freezing process breaks down the fat cells, which are then disposed of naturally by the body.

The second part of Shape & Sculpt uses Volux dermal fillers to restore the volume and definition in the lower face that may have been lost with age. Volux is an innovative, premium quality dermal filler that has been specially formulated for treatment of the chin and jawline areas. It enables us to carefully mould and sculpt and enhance facial symmetry and proportion in the lower face in line with each patient’s treatment plan and objectives. Made by aesthetic pioneers Allergan, who also make Botox, Volux contains high levels of hyaluronic acid and uses patented and clinically proven VYCROSS technology to help give it greater density than other premium fillers.

This offers the doctor significantly higher degrees of ‘sculptability’ than other dermal fillers, which is essential for improving the subtle definition often needed in the lower face and for restoring the structural support that has been lost with time. Volux has the added benefit of deeply hydrating the skin, helping to rejuvenate its tone and texture and increase its elasticity and firmness.

The combination of these treatments offers enormous benefits over other treatment options, both surgical and non-invasive. Average treatment times are between only 90-120 minutes with just 1 CoolMini and 1 Volux treatment usually required. Shape & Sculpt also offers excellent longevity of results, which can last for up to 2 years, depending on the patient’s condition. Downtime is minimal, with mild bruising from dermal filler injections usually the only side effect likely to be experienced.

When compared to surgery, Shape & Sculpt also offers a really comfortable treatment experience, with no pain, just some possible numbness during the CoolMini fat freezing process. The patient is lying down during both parts of the treatment, and during CoolMini, can read or even watch TV while the treatment takes place!

Here is what Illuminate patient Faye, had to say about her Shape & Sculpt treatment.

“I felt okay before the treatment because I trusted Dr Sophie and the team because of how they’d made me all feel at ease. It was a little painful during and afterwards but was well worth it for the results, I am delighted.” Faye revealed.

“My only regret now is that I had left it so long before taking the plunge and having the Shape and Sculpt, it has been amazing for me. I will always come back to Illuminate now.”

Of course this treatment will not be suitable for everyone, and a detailed initial consultation to review and fully understand each patient’s facial structure, the surface and sub-surface condition of their skin and any underlying issues or problems, as well as their desires and treatment objectives, is always essential to ensure that the most effective treatment recommendations are agreed and actioned.

GET IN TOUCH

If you would like to book an appointment to discuss treatment options for the lower face, chin or jawline, please call us on 0330 1331 272 Quick Enquiry for an initial consultation with Dr Sophie Shotter.