Cosmetic surgery is a multi-million
dollar business: by the end of 2004, the
market for cosmetic procedures had reached £256 million.
Having a qualified surgeon alter your face can cost you
an arm and a leg, but youth
and beauty do not have to be solely the province of the
rich and famous.
So
for those of us who can't just book a bank-breaking appointment
with Dr. Collagen the next time we feel the need for a
boost, there are plenty of ways of lifting the face without
going under the knife. Harprit
Thacker, Lecturer and Coordinator in Beauty Therapy at
Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies,
recommends a few:
1) If you
want a real buzz, there are various micro-electric
current treatments available. These work
by passing a low frequency electrical current through
the skin, which stimulates the facial tissue. It's a very
effective treatment with excellent results: it tones sagging
muscles and improves the appearance of the upper layers
of the skin, smoothing away fine lines and wrinkles.
2) Facial
faradic treatment works along similar
lines, with electric currents stimulating facial muscle
groups. This is different from other micro-currents as
it works mainly on the underlying
muscle groups and has less impact on the
appearance of the skin. This treatment is particularly
suited to mature skins.
3) Micro-electric
treatments are often used in conjunction
with nutrients such as collagen or elastin ampoules that
can be rollered onto the face.
Collagen and elastin ampoules hydrate and build
up the elastic fibres in the skin, which
plump it out, reducing fine lines. Ampoules can be applied
manually, but using them after micro-electric treatment
encourages deeper penetration into the facial tissue.
4)
If you would rather stick your hand in an open plug socket
than have electricity passed through your face then there
are other, less mechanised boosters, such as the straightforward
facial. "A good, professional
facial will have a direct effect on the upper layers of
your skin. I would recommend having one a month,"
advises Harprit. "You will see a difference in the
health and appearance of your skin after six months."
They needn't be expensive, either: "If forking out
for a facial once a month puts a strain on your bank balance,
try colleges or training
schools with a beauty department; they
are a great place to go for affordable facials."
5)
Another more relaxing pick-me-up is massage. Lymphatic
drainage massage reduces puffiness around
the eyes and neck whilst increasing blood supply that
brings fresh vitamins and nutrients to the skin. Massage
also works by loosening
up the facial muscles and in the connective
tissue, encouraging smoother muscle tone and elasticity.
"Massage is also the kind of thing you can do at
home," suggests Harprit. "Just get a base oil
and, starting at the neck, massage your face with upward,
gentle rolling movements. There
are plenty of books around on facial massage technique."
6)
We all know the benefits of a good gym session in terms
of rejuvenating the body, but the face - which contains
53 different muscles - can also benefit from particular
exercises. As with other forms of workout,
facial exercises improve
muscle tone and stimulate circulation.
Again, this can be done at home, and again there are plenty
of books that can help you build up a facial routine.
Pulling weird faces at yourself in a mirror might look
funny, but don't worry; smiling and laughing make for
an excellent natural workout for your face.
7)
Another inexpensive and instantaneous way of lifting the
face is to exfoliate the
skin. "A sagging, dull complexion
is often caused simply by the build-up of layers of dead
skin cells that light cannot bounce off," explains
Harprit. "Exfoliation
reveals the younger, healthier skin underneath
and if you do it before moisturising or working other
facial creams into the skin it can aid absorption of the
nutrients into the skin." It also helps stimulate
blood flow to the face, bringing more
nutrients to the tissues and increasing the drainage of
lymph, similar to massage.
So,
if the thought of knives and needles leaves you quaking
in your boots - and your bank manager tearing out his
hair - then rest assured; there are plenty of non-invasive
options available for mere mortals in the eternal quest
to regain lost youth.
