Non-surgical rhinoplasty is a medical procedure in which injectable fillers, most commonly hyaluronic acid, are used to alter and shape a person’s nose without invasive surgery. It is a safe, non-invasive alternative to the traditional rhinoplasty and is sometimes referred to as the ‘3o minute nose job’.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic facial procedures, but many patients are worried about they may look after surgery. As a new alternative to nose reshaping surgery (rhinoplasty), small amounts of hyaluronic acid filler is injected into the nose to straighten and soften sharp angles, fill depressions, or change the shape of the tip of the nose to give it a lifted appearance. This quick technique results in better symmetry and more defined nose contours.

If it is the shape of your nose, rather than its size, that is causing concern then a non-surgical rhinoplasty is an excellent, affordable option for those who want to change the shape of their nose without invasive surgery, as there is no excessive downtime, no general anaesthetic and no prolonged healing. The patient retains complete control over the procedure, as they are able to see the results unfold as the injections are administered.

This procedure is less expensive than a surgical nose job (rhinoplasty) and can be reversed via hyalase injections should the result not be in line with expectations. Unlike a surgical rhinoplasty, the non-surgical results are immediate and can last up to a year.

The following conditions are easily treated with a non-surgical rhinoplasty:

• Bumps or deformities on the bridge of the nose
• A nose that is not symmetrical.
• A nose bends to one side or is out of shape.
• A flat nose with no shape.

It is normal practice to do the treatment over 2-3 sessions, to gradually add the filler, so as not to cause build up of excessive pressure. The procedure is extremely safe but you may experience a small amount of bruising or swelling, and some redness at the needle entry points.

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With a Dermatology Nurse Consultant you know your face is in a safe pair of hands.

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Worry not, for most you will find that these skin issues resolve themselves following the birth of your baby.  Here are some of the most common skin problems women encounter during pregnancy—and what you can do about them.

Pregnancy should be a time of excitement

Skin Sensitivity

Go easier on your skin now that you’re pregnant. You might get red more easily if you use a facial scrub, your normal facial might verge on painful, and the perfumed lotion you wear might irritate your skin (and make you nauseated, but that’s a different story). That’s why many mums-to-be switch to unscented products and start choosing products that do not contain harsh chemicals, preservatives and fragrances. “You certainly don’t want anything causing micro-tears on your skin,” says Sue Ibrahim, our dermatology nurse consultant.  “The more cuts and wounds on your skin, the easier it is for chemicals to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Ingredients to stay away from in soaps and body washes include sodium laureth sulphate, parabens and fragrance.” These ingredients aren’t just potential irritants—some say they could pose health risks to baby. We say believe it, because (not surprisingly) a lot of products aren’t tested directly on pregnant women. If you are using prescription topicals on your face you need to tell your doctor that you are pregnant as most prescription creams are not licensed for use during pregnancy either. At Elan Medical Skin Clinic we advise our patients to use our Elan Medical DermaCalm range during pregnancy, because they are free from fragrances and preservatives. They also contain mild anti-inflammatory ingredients that can soothe irritated skin.

Acne breakouts during pregnancy

During pregnancy your hormones are all over the place, and that might mean pimples like you had when you were a teenager. The cruel joke, of course, is that many of the treatments that are prescribed for acne cannot be used during pregnancy. Prescription medications like Tetracyclines, Isotretinoin (Roacutane(R)) and the anti-androgen hormone therapies are definite no-nos. And the jury’s out on over-the-counter creams, since they haven’t been tested specifically on pregnant women (yup, you find that a lot with products). Ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can be absorbed into the bloodstream, so they’re not worth the risk either. “You can safely use lactic acid and biosulfur to treat acne,” Sue Ibrahim says. Don’t touch, pick or squeeze pimples— just wash with a mild cleanser twice a day. “A lot of women find Acne Phototherapy beneficial during pregnancy and it is perfectly safe for both you and the baby.

Sun Sensitivity

Sorry, mums-to-be, but “pregnancy glow” does not refer to a bronzed, sun-kissed complexion. You should actually try to stay out of the sun as much as you can while you’re pregnant. That’s because your surging hormones make you susceptible to dark patches on your skin—known as melasma, or the ‘mask of pregnancy’, which is triggered by sun exposure. So pull out the big floppy hat, find a beach umbrella and be diligent about wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. If you are unlucky and do get Melasma during pregnancy it may resolve on its own following the birth of your baby, if not then you will need the help of a dermatologist I’m afraid.

Stretch marks

Now you’ve got another big skin concern: stretch marks. Anytime someone’s body grows quickly, they’re at risk for stretch marks, so the fact that baby is growing exponentially in there puts you right in the high-risk zone. Of course, not every mum-to-be gets stretch marks. “For most people, whether or not they get stretch marks has to do with genetic predisposition,” says Sue Ibrahim. But you can do your best to head them off by gently exfoliating and thoroughly moisturising your belly, boobs, stomach, hips and thighs as much as you can. As for what moisturizer to use, it’s hard to make a recommendation. “A lot of products make claims,” Sue Ibrahim says. “Some may help but aren’t really proven to prevent stretch marks.” If you are left with troublesome stretch marks following the birth of you baby, it is worth looking into the skin tightening treatments we offer at Elan Medical Skin Clinic.

Skin rashes during pregnancy

If you’ve got red, itchy skin, it’s important not to ignore it. Itchy feet and hands could be a sign of cholestasis of pregnancy, a scary complication that can cause liver problems for baby. Your doctor can do a simple blood test to make sure that’s not causing your rash. Another common pregnancy rash is PUPPP (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy), which often starts in the abdomen and spreads from there. PUPPP is actually harmless to baby, but it will be completely aggravating for you. Book in for a Dermatology Consultation if you are concerned.

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Let’s understand what causes ageing skin

Many things cause our skin to age. Some things we cannot do anything about; others we can influence. One thing that we cannot change is the natural ageing process. It plays a key role. With time, we all get visible lines on our face. It is natural for our face to lose some of its youthful fullness. We notice our skin becoming thinner and drier. Our genes largely control when these changes occur. The medical term for this type of ageing is “intrinsic ageing.”

Let’s look good for our age

We can influence another type of ageing that affects our skin. Our environment and lifestyle choices can cause our skin to age prematurely. The medical term for this type of ageing is “extrinsic ageing.”

• The sun – UVA and UVB rays are present 365 days per year. USA rays can penetrate through four inches of glass. So think about this when you are sitting next to a window in the office or driving in your car.
• Smoking –  I know, we are all told how smoking is bad for your health but smoking greatly speeds up how quickly skin ages. It causes wrinkles and a dull, sallow complexion. Why, because the toxins in cigarette smoke replace the oxygen content of your blood.
• Alcohol – Alcohol is rough on the skin. It dehydrates the skin, and in time, damages the skin. This can make us look older. So drink alcohol in moderation and for every alcoholic drink, drink two glasses of water. This will help to re-hydrate you.
• Unhealthy diet – Findings from a few studies suggest that eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent damage that leads to premature skin ageing. Findings from research studies also suggest that a diet containing lots of sugar or other refined carbohydrates can accelerate ageing.
• Lack of exercise – Findings from a few studies suggest that moderate exercise can improve circulation and boost the immune system. This, in turn, may give the skin a more-youthful appearance.
• Over Moisturising – Believe it or not, over moisturising the skin will send your skin cells to sleep. When your skin is slightly dry, your skin cells react by producing more collagen. If you over moisturise the skin, you will be inhibiting your own collagen production. Use a sunscreen in the morning instead! Mind you, it needs to be a UVB and UVA Sunscreen of at least factor 30 for it to really protect your skin.
• Skin Scrubs –  Scrubbing your skin clean can irritate your skin. Irritating your skin accelerates skin ageing process. Gentle washing helps to remove pollution, makeup, and other substances without irritating your skin. Some anti-ageing products prescribed by a dermatologist may burn or sting. When using a prescription anti-ageing product, this can be okay.

Even people who already have signs of premature skin ageing can benefit from making lifestyle changes. By protecting your skin from the sun, you give it a chance to repair some of the damage. Smokers who stop often notice that their skin looks healthier. By taking some preventive actions, we can slow the effects that this type of ageing has on our skin.

There is so much conflicting advice out there

If signs of ageing skin bother you, you may ask a beauty therapist for advice. However, this may result in you spending a lot of money on treatments and cosmetic creams that make no difference to your skin at all.  Why not consult a dermatologist instead? Yes, you will have to pay for a consultation, but you may end up spending a lot less money in the long run. Why? Because prescription skincare contains the right amount of active ingredients that are designed to penetrate deeper into the skin. New treatments and less-invasive procedures for smoothing wrinkles, tightening skin, and improving one’s complexion are giving many people younger-looking skin.

Treated by Sue Ibrahim, these photographs were taken four weeks apart.

If you are worried about the effects the ageing process is having on your skin, then why not book in to see Sue Ibrahim. With over thirty years working within the medical and cosmetic dermatology sector, Sue has helped thousands of women and men improve the texture and appearance of their skin. Her professional but friendly approach is well known throughout the industry. Sue will never sell you any treatment that you do not need. As a Nurse Consultant in Dermatology she has won a number of industry awards and constantly receives a string of positive reviews about the treatment and service she provides.

Book your consultation today!

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Sound familiar?

Well, fear not, because we’ve collected a list of the top tips to keen your skin in tip top condition this winter.

All I want for Christmas is great skin!

As told by UK’s leading skin guru – Sue Ibrahim – who has worked with many celebrity faces.

Sue promises to keep your skin looking as good as the A-listers’ over the Christmas period.

Here are her 8 steps to party proof skin:

1. According to Sue Ibrahim the most crucial thing you must do is simply wash your face

He says: “First and foremost if you are going out at night you need to have a good face wash. When you wash your face the most important thing is getting rid of the dead skin cells as well as the pollution.

“The product needs to suit your skin type; so if you have oily skin then make sure you have a product that is for oily skin. It is simple things like this that we’re getting wrong when buying our skin care products.”

2. Swap the Baileys for a glass of water once in a while – hard we know!

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Rejuvenate your eyes at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Essex

Our eyes say so much about us. They reveal our happiness, sorrow, physical wellbeing and sometimes our age. How many times has the morning after a boozy night been given away by our puffy, red eyes?! And where do we concentrate most of our make-up techniques and beauty products?

Get a helping hand to ensure your eyes look radiant and rejuvenated from Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Essex. Our resident skin expert, Sue Ibrahim has more than 30 years’ experience in dermatology and more than 20 in wrinkle reducing injections and dermal fillers.

Smooth laughter lines

Lines and wrinkles around our eyes can make us look tired, stressed and less youthful. Wrinkle reducing injections can radically reduce the appearance of fine lines, frown and laughter lines and wrinkles, as well as widening the eyes for a more youthful, fresher, revitalised appearance.

Elan DermaActives

Rejuvenate your eyes with the Elan DermaActives EyeRenew Serum, which, in clinical studies, found the skin became firmer and more elastic in appearance in as little as 8 weeks.

This highly concentrated treatment is a botanical remedy that targets concerns typically associated with ageing. Rich in saponosides and flavonoids, this serum strengthens capillaries and reactivates microcirculation in and around the eye area. Skin complexion becomes more even resulting in a younger and a more vibrant appearance.

Eye rejuvenation

Elan Medical Skin Clinic is dedicated to providing the safest, most effective cosmetic treatments on the market, which is why we use the EndyMed 3Deep Intensif Fractional Microneedle Skin Remodelling System.

Throughout the course of the Intensif treatment and for 3-5 months afterwards, the treated skin around your eyes will be replaced by new, healthy and younger looking skin.

The treated skin will become smoother, tighter and more vital. As most of the energy is delivered directly into the inner layer of the skin, you will experience minimal downtime and may resume normal activities immediately after treatment – a considerable advantage over surgical interventions.

Plasma Soft Surgery Blepharoplasty

We are delighted to offer plasma surgery to help dramatically reduce hooded eyelids and bags under the eyes. This revolutionary cosmetic procedure is ideal for eyelid rejuvenation and improves baggy lower and upper eyelids, and treats fine lines.

The visible results are similar to those seen with eyelid surgery but without the need for a single cut or stitch. And unlike traditional blepharoplasty surgery, recovery time is usually between 2-4 weeks. Plasma Soft Surgery at Elan Medical Skin Clinic is performed under an anaesthetic cream or a local anaesthetic injection to ensure our clients’ comfort.

Visit us

Our central London medical skin clinic is just five minutes from Barbican and Old Street tube stations and a 15-minute walk from Liverpool Street Station. We are situated almost on the corner of Old Street and Whitecross Street, an area famous for its lively food stalls – in fact a lot of our clients work in Clerkenwell and Moorgate and spend their lunch hour visiting the food market in Whitecross Street.

And our Essex clinic is situated in Rayleigh, a lovely a market town about 32 miles east of central London, located between Chelmsford, Hockley, Canvey, Rochford and Southend. Elan Medical Skin Clinic can be found on the High Street and if you’re looking for parking, the nearest car parks are in Bellingham Lane, the Market car park in Hockley Road, Websters Way and Castle Road.

So, if you’re nearby, pop in and meet our welcoming team and find out how you can rejuvenate your eyes.

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Mole checking is essential says Sue Ibrahim the nurse consultant in dermatology from Elan Medical Clinics in central London and Essex

Moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are usually harmless, but not always. If you have a certain type or large number of moles (more than 100), you are at greater risk of developing skin cancer.

The ABCDE method for checking moles is very useful but if in doubt, getting them professionally assessed is vital, says Sue Ibrahim. Sue, the nurse consultant in dermatology at Elan Medical Skin Clinics, has more than 30 years’ experience of assessing and removing moles using the latest advanced radio-wave technology. Click here to read reviews from her clients.

Asymmetry

If you draw a line through the middle of a mole, the two sides will match, meaning it is symmetrical. Anything asymmetrical is a warning sign for melanoma.

Border

A benign mole has smooth, even borders, unlike melanomas. The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven and the edges may be scalloped or notched.

Colour

Most benign moles are all one colour — often a single shade of brown. Having a variety of colours is another warning signal. A number of different shades of brown, tan or black could appear. A melanoma may also become red, white or blue.

Diameter

Melanomas are usually larger in diameter than the eraser on your pencil tip (¼ inch or 6mm), but they may sometimes be smaller when first detected. If you are concerned, seek professional help.

Evolving

Common, benign moles look the same over time. Be on the alert when a mole starts to evolve or change in any way. Any change in size, shape, colour, elevation, or any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting points to danger.

Help is at hand

Moles can be removed quickly and painlessly at one of our daily minor surgery clinics in Rayleigh, Essex and central London and we can also biopsy any suspicious skin lesions. If you have any concerns, book a dermatology consultation with Sue now.

Remember to use a broad spectrum sunscreen

Essex skin expert, Sue Ibrahim at Elan Medical Skin Clinic says the best way to enjoy the sunshine safely is to use a daily, broad spectrum sunscreen of factor 30 + and remember to apply it frequently and liberally thoroughly the day. The term broad spectrum means that the skin is equally protected against both UVA and UVB sunrays.

Elan Medical Skin Clinic stocks a number of broad spectrum sunscreens at an SPF 30 and 50 that are light, easy to apply and feel more like a BB cream than a sunscreen. Some are fragrance free, paraben free and oil free so they can be used on the most sensitive of skins. Some are even suitable for acne prone skins. We also stock sunscreens that are slightly tinted, leaving your skin with a natural sun kissed glow. And with prices from £14.50 it is not expensive to protect your skin.

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So how should you deal with sunburn if you have been burnt over the weekend? Our Dermatology Nurse Consultant, Sue Ibrahim, explains the immediate first aid steps you need to take….

Sunburn increases risks of skin cancer in later life

1. Act quickly and get out of the sun

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Elan Medical DermaActives has recently launched DermaRecovery Stem Cell Cream, a brand new powerful skin rejuvenating aftercare cream that revitalises and nourishes ageing and traumatised skin.

Having a new skin treatment is very exciting – but please don’t forget your aftercare warns Sue Ibrahim, the skin expert at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Rayleigh Essex.

Following skin treatments such as veinwave, chemical peels, laser treatment, fractional skin resurfacing, plasma soft surgery, dermal fillers and wrinkle reduction our skin can become highly sensitive. This means that it is more prone to infection, which can lead to scaring. The solution? Ensure you use aftercare products that are:

• Fragrance free
• Preservative free
• Sodium laureth sulphate free

Skincare products that contain fragrances and preservatives commonly cause skin sensitivity, which is why Sue Ibrahim has developed her own range of non-prescription cosmeceuticals that contain clinically proven ingredients.

Elan Medical DermaActives contain the latest advancements in stem cell regeneration, growth factors and oligopeptides that are designed to strengthen the resilience of the skin and protect it from environmental damage.

None of our DermaActive skin products have been tested on animals and each active ingredient has been selected to produce results.

New product launched

Sue has developed a brand new powerful skin rejuvenating cream that revitalises and nourishes ageing and traumatised skin. DermaRecovery Stem Cell Cream contains a synergistic blend of peptides, bio-source epidermal growth factors, plant-derived stem cells and a pro-vitamin complex making it ideal for using after skin treatments.

Ms M. Nightingale, an Elan Medical Skin Clinic client, said: “I was given this cream as part of my aftercare following a procedure at the clinic. It certainly helped reduce the downtime following the procedure. I was told to expect around 14 days downtime and my skin healed within 7 days! I have purchased another pot on behalf of a friend. I will certainly carry on using my cream for the full 6 weeks as it is very light and soothing.”

Also recommended is the DermaRecovery Serum, which boosts skin density, texture and firmness and has been found to be more effective than vitamin C in clinical studies.

Linda Webster said: “It is now 4 weeks post surgery and you cannot even tell where the moles ever were! I was doubtful at first when Sue recommended the DermaRecovery serum, but I applied it twice a day as she recommended and I now have only very, very faint pink scars, which will fade in time. I am so pleased with the results and would definitely go back for more procedures and I have now started to use this serum over my whole face. Thank you to Sue who has changed my life and my only regret is not having it done sooner! Highly recommend this clinic and this product to anybody.”

Please feel free to contact us if you require any support or guidance about these products, which are available to buy online.

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It’s time to prepare your skin for the summer .

We have just passed the Spring Equinox, the clocks are about to change and now that the days are slowly starting to get longer and our mornings are brighter and warmer, there’s a real spring in the air.

In fact, as if from nowhere, spring has sprung. Everywhere you look, there are signs of new life – buds of colour bursting from the earth, baby animals prancing around the fields, and leaves and flowers blossoming from the trees.

Spring is in the air!

As we start to move into a new season, it’s the perfect time for giving your skin a boost and at Elan Medical Skin Clinic we would like to offer you £20 to use against either a DermaBright skin peel, LED Phototherapy or a Endymed 3 Deep treatment.

Why not book a course of LED Phototherapy sessions? A course of 6 weekly treatments is normally £320 but with your £20 discount it will only cost you £300! Want to try one session first? No problem, you can use your £20 against one session. This will mean one £59 session will only cost you £39.

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