TO TWEAK OR NOT TO TWEAK? HERE IS OUR TAKE ON WHAT’S AVAILABLE – AND WHAT’S WORTH IT
DEVOTED, INTERESTED OR APPALLED: WE all have our own response to the idea of opting for non-surgical aesthetic treatments (or ‘tweakments’ as they’re often called). To some, it’s no different to getting your highlights done; a little light refresh of what nature gave you. To others, it’s a capitulation to the patriarchy and its horror of female aging.
Either way, they’re not going away: the industry is worth over £3bn, with the lockdown years (or, let’s be honest, Zoom face) fuelling an increasing interest in treatments.
At ELLE, some of us do it, regularly, while others never would. Some of us used to and now don’t; some of us are leaving it for the time being. But one thing we do have is information. The industry is huge, growing and everevolving: our inboxes are filled daily with news of novel treatments and innovations. We’ve seen the popularity of drastic face alterations diminish and witnessed a return in focus to improving the look and texture of the skin itself for more natural results. We’ve come to understand that the best of modern tweakments are subtle; the top practitioners have an intelligent and sensitive approach.
But how do you find them? The industry is not easy to navigate and it’s not tightly regulated, so it’s down to the prospective patient to do their research – which is where we come in.
The decision to tweak now, next year or never is entirely up to you. To help, here’s pretty much everything we know about what’s available, with some of our recommendations (and advice about what to avoid) thrown in.
Anti-wrinkle injections
Injected wrinkle-relaxers (Botox, a brand produced by Allergan Pharma, has become synonymous with the treatment) is often the first procedure people consider, perhaps due to its time-proven results (it has been around for over 30 years now). It’s also popular because, when used well and delicately, it can diminish wrinkles after a five-minute session that even the most potent of face creams would struggle to iron out.
The injections contain the botulinum toxin and work by blocking chemical signals that cause muscles to contract. When injected into the forehead or around the eyes, movement is restricted, meaning your skin wrinkles less and fewer lines will form. They can also help to gently lift the eyebrows or around the mouth – including those vertical ‘marionette’ lines between your nose and mouth – by freezing lazy muscles that have started to succumb to gravity. But they can’t get rid of deep, static grooves that have bedded in, hence the popularity of ‘preventative Botox’, starting at a younger age (usually late twenties) than would generally be appropriate for other cosmetic procedures.
The treatment c
