Facial line Smoothing and
Facial Contouring
Dental Surgeons are experts in facial anatomy, and some of our patients ask us if we can provide subtle refinements to the ageing face to smooth lines and wrinkles and improve facial definition and contour. Several clinicians work under the AesthetiX brand, which is the facial aesthetics arm of Antwerp Dental Group.
As dental surgeons, we do not subscribe to providing outrageous changes to the face, lips and cheeks, and we do not purport to be plastic surgeons. Our aim is to provide subtle enhancements to the ageing face to provide some element of rejuvenation with the sole purpose of restoring self esteem, in much the same way that improvement in dental alignment. As such, we regard facial aesthetics as an extension to cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics.
Some of our services are referred to a sister practice as our dental surgeons have expertise in different areas of facial aesthetic practice.
There are several general facial services used below under different circumstances :
- Botulinum Toxin injections
- Facial fillers
- Platelet rich growth factor injections
- PDO facial threads
- Facial radio-frequency
- Microderm-abrasion
For more detailed information about these products and services, please ask to speak to one of our Treatment Co-ordinators, or, please visit our bespoke facial aesthetic site :
Summary of the products:
Our dental surgeons insert very tiny injections containing a few drops of botulinum toxin to selective muscles to achieve the following :
- smoothe forehead frown lines
- raising of the brows, and reduced “hooding” of the outer eye lid
- reduced fine lines around the eyes
- reduction in fine lines around the lips
- reduction of “sadness” lines
Fillers are typically presented as varying thicknesses of hyaluronic acid which are a component of natural connective tissues of the face. We do not use collagen based fillers due to the increased risk and reports of hypersensitivity reactions.
Fillers are delivered via a fine cannula to the following selective typical areas :
- fine superficial lines of the face which are not correctable by botulinum toxin injections
- lips
- naso-labial lines (lines between the lateral border of the nose and the cheek)
- marionette lines (lines below the lower border of the lip)
Platelets are disc-shaped fragments of cells which are involved in clotting. When platelets are “activated” during clotting, they release a growth factor known as “platelet-derived-growth-factor”. These growth factors massively up regulate healing responses and have recently been used in “facial rejuvenation” procedures.
A fragment of blood is acquired via a gentle venepuncture. This fragment is spun in a special centrifuge and the blood fragments are separated. The platelet fraction is separated and subsequently injected into the skin using a “micro-needling” procedure where a small injection is used to puncture the upper layers of skin to improve texture, tone and appearance.
Due to the use of the platelet blood fragment, this procedure has been affectionately termed a “vampire facelift”. Despite the unfortunately terminology we endorse the healing and reparative benefits of growth factors in medicine.
Below is a pictorial summary of the areas of the face that can be rejuvenated.
PDO threads, or poly-dioxanone threads , originally used as suture materials have been used in a medical facial aesthetic procedure to “lift” areas of the skin to smoothe fine lines and wrinkles. This product can be used as an alternative procedure to botulinum neurotoxin for patient’s who seek improvement in facial lines and contour.
Whereas with botox, the “sculpting” of the face is dependent on the selective intentional paralysis of muscles and the treatment effect is the net result of the interplay between activity and flaccidity of muscles, with PDO threads, the treatment effect is dependent on the location of insertion the thread and direction of pull by a direct mechanical effect on facial tissues, and the impact of this lift on stimulating the formation of neo-collagen in the superficial tissues of the face.
Use of PDO threads can be used in a mild non-surgical face lift procedure.
Use of radio frequency is a technology based treatment, using a machine that delivers radio-frequency energy through a hand-piece to the facial tissues. The treatment isn painless, and there is no down-time.
The electrical resistance in the tissues results in heating and this stimulates growth of collagen and elastin. This results in tightening of loose skin and reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Although an immediate treatment result is seen, several weekly treatments are needed to ensure a longer term result. After approximately 6 weekly sessions of radio frequency application to the facial tissues, this treatment should be repeated every 2 months to maintain the rejuvenating effect on the face. The treatment must be used in combination with a facial maintenance and hydration plan to maintain suppleness of the skin.
This treatment is good treatment to be used in combination with PRGF treatments.
Microderm-abrasion is a technology based treatment using a fine abrasive powder on the face to exfoliate superficial cells and even the texture of the skin. The very slight micro-trauma stimulates the skin, and stimulates the production of new superficial dermal cells. This treatment is used in combination with products to improve the suppleness and hydration of the skin. Typically a course of 4 weekly Microderm abrasion treatments are undertaken.
This treatment is used well in combination with other treatments, such as radio frequency and wrinkle smoothening injections, particularly to aid the removal of superficial pigments that are hidden in tissue folds.
Lasers have many uses in medicine, and are known for their selective absorption in different types of tissue resulting in targeted ablation. In facial aesthetics procedures, a KTP laser is used to ablate superficial hyper-pigmented areas of the skin, sometimes known as “solar lentigines”.
A laser test patch is applied to the skin, and after re-evaluation the laser is used to ablate the pigmented tissue over 3-4 two weekly sessions until the pigment is visibly removed. This is a permanent removal of pigment until ageing or the effect of the sun recreates the pigments over many months and years.
This is a lovely aesthetic procedure which can be used in combination with other treatments to rejuvenate the face.
We perform a simple combination procedure of several of the above elements to achieve a non-surgical mild face lift as a rejuvenation procedure. The facelift is achieved by a few ‘preparation visits’ followed by a thread lift. the sequence is as follows :
- 6 weekly sessions of radio frequency treatments to the face to smoothe and even fat deposits of the face
- PDO thread lift procedure to lift sagging soft tissues
- 4 weekly sessions of Microderm-abrasion to remove surface pigment, and stimulate growth of new layers of superficial skin
- An optional PRGF micro needling procedure to improve vitality, polish and youthfulness of the skin
The above treatment sequence is carried out over 2 months to enhance and rejuvenate the ageing face.
The Ageing Face
Over time, the natural components and thickness/texture of the skin changes, and this results in visual signs of ageing:
- Loss of collagen, the natural plumping agent of the skin
- Loss of elastin, the natural component holding the suppleness and bounce of the skin
- Thinning of the outer layers of the skin resulting in crepe texture
- Loss and migration of subdermal fat pads, resulting in loss of facial contour
- Atrophy of facial muscles, resulting in further loss of contour and facial definition
Pricing
Pricing is based on thirds of the face
Upper 1/3rd – £275.00
Upper 2/3rds – £650.00
Whole face – £800.00
Pricing is based on number of syringes used.
One syringe – £295.00
One syringe will typically fill both naso-labial crease lines, or a multitude of fine lines around the face.
Price for one session of PRGF facial injections :
£650.00
It is recommended that you receive three monthly sessions for the full treatment effect, and to allow healing following infusion of growth factors.
A small discount is applied for block booking for 3 sessions :
£1500.00
PDO threads, or poly-dioxanone threads , originally used as suture materials have been used in a medical facial aesthetic procedure to “lift” areas of the skin to smoothe fine lines and wrinkles. This product can be used as an alternative procedure to botulinum neurotoxin for patient’s who seek improvement in facial lines and contour.
Whereas with botox, the “sculpting” of the face is dependent on the selective intentional paralysis of muscles and the treatment effect is the net result of the interplay between activity and flaccidity of muscles, with PDO threads, the treatment effect is dependent on the location of insertion the thread and direction of pull by a direct mechanical effect on facial tissues, and the impact of this lift on stimulating the formation of neo-collagen in the superficial tissues of the face.
Use of PDO threads can be used in a mild non-surgical face lift procedure.
Use of radio frequency is a technology based treatment, using a machine that delivers radio-frequency energy through a hand-piece to the facial tissues. The treatment isn painless, and there is no down-time.
The electrical resistance in the tissues results in heating and this stimulates growth of collagen and elastin. This results in tightening of loose skin and reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Although an immediate treatment result is seen, several weekly treatments are needed to ensure a longer term result. After approximately 6 weekly sessions of radio frequency application to the facial tissues, this treatment should be repeated every 2 months to maintain the rejuvenating effect on the face. The treatment must be used in combination with a facial maintenance and hydration plan to maintain suppleness of the skin.
This treatment is good treatment to be used in combination with PRGF treatments.
Microderm-abrasion is a technology based treatment using a fine abrasive powder on the face to exfoliate superficial cells and even the texture of the skin. The very slight micro-trauma stimulates the skin, and stimulates the production of new superficial dermal cells. This treatment is used in combination with products to improve the suppleness and hydration of the skin. Typically a course of 4 weekly Microderm abrasion treatments are undertaken.
This treatment is used well in combination with other treatments, such as radio frequency and wrinkle smoothening injections, particularly to aid the removal of superficial pigments that are hidden in tissue folds.
Lasers have many uses in medicine, and are known for their selective absorption in different types of tissue resulting in targeted ablation. In facial aesthetics procedures, a KTP laser is used to ablate superficial hyper-pigmented areas of the skin, sometimes known as “solar lentigines”.
A laser test patch is applied to the skin, and after re-evaluation the laser is used to ablate the pigmented tissue over 3-4 two weekly sessions until the pigment is visibly removed. This is a permanent removal of pigment until ageing or the effect of the sun recreates the pigments over many months and years.
This is a lovely aesthetic procedure which can be used in combination with other treatments to rejuvenate the face.
We perform a simple combination procedure of several of the above elements to achieve a non-surgical mild face lift as a rejuvenation procedure. The facelift is achieved by a few ‘preparation visits’ followed by a thread lift. the sequence is as follows :
- 6 weekly sessions of radio frequency treatments to the face to smoothe and even fat deposits of the face
- PDO thread lift procedure to lift sagging soft tissues
- 4 weekly sessions of Microderm-abrasion to remove surface pigment, and stimulate growth of new layers of superficial skin
- An optional PRGF micro needling procedure to improve vitality, polish and youthfulness of the skin
The above treatment sequence is carried out over 2 months to enhance and rejuvenate the ageing face.
