Visiting the Medical Spa
JetPeel
That's it: From very fine nozzles, a saline solution is sprayed onto the skin at high speed. As a result, the skin is easily mechanically peeled, massaged and blood circulation stimulated. It is possible to add active ingredients such as vitamins or hyaluronic acid to the water. That should bring it: Due to the blood circulation, the face appears fresher and smoother after the treatment. Afterwards, the skin should be especially receptive for further cosmetic treatments. So long does the effect last: only for a few hours. With regular use, the skin should also benefit in the longer term and appear "rejuvenated", but wrinkles will not get rid of it. It is a cosmetic well-being treatment. Side effects: none. It costs: about 90 to 150 euros.
Botox
That's it: The neurotoxin botulinum toxin is injected in extreme dilution into various facial muscles. This causes a relaxation of the muscles, for example, the forehead can not be wrinkled so much. Botox can also be used to prevent excessive sweating under the armpits. That should bring it: Since the muscles are no longer moved so much, the overlying facial lines smooth. Especially effective on glabella (wrinkle) wrinkles, frown lines, crow's feet. It takes about three days for the muscle-relaxing effect to begin completely. So long does the effect last: usually three to six months. Side effects: at incorrectly selected dosages or injection points z. For example, an unnatural hardening of the facial expressions, hangers (after the treatment of crow's feet), unnatural eyebrow position after the treatment of forehead wrinkles ("Mr. Spock" brewing). For safety reasons, Botox is used mainly for the upper half of the face, as treatments near the mouth z. For example, laughing, eating, drinking, and kissing, and causing changes in pronunciation. You have to know that: Botulinum toxin is a drug that has been approved for many years, so far there is no known risk of long-term health damage. Possible side effects are mainly due to lack of skill or lack of experience of the doctor. Costs: depending on the amount from about 300 euros.
Wrinkle injections and liquid lifting
What doctors offer in the "Medical Spa" - and what they really need to keep in mind: the methods, their benefits and the risks at a glance
That's it: A filler ("filler") is injected under the skin, which raises the fold from the inside out and lets it disappear immediately. There are fillers that occur in a similar form in the skin and decompose on the metabolism (hyaluronic acid, collagen), fillers from skin-foreign material that degrade with time delay (polylactic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite), as well as fillers that contain plastic and even do not dismantle (permanent filler). "Liquid Lifting" means that not only the wrinkle, but entire parts of the face are injected over a large area and deep to compensate for the age-related decrease in connective and fatty tissue. That should bring it: Fine and deep (eg in the nasolabial area) wrinkles disappear immediately. When Liquid Lifting the face should get youthful contours again, sunken cheeks should be filled. So long does the effect last: depends on the filling material - hyaluronic acid six to twelve months, polylactic acid up to two years. Permanent fillers last for life, which is often a curse (see side effects). Side effects: It is possible that the filler is translucent, visible and / or palpable. All fillers have the risk that nodules may form. With permanent fillers, the risk is particularly high and can still occur years after the treatment, but the filler is then hardly remove. It is possible that the body is allergic to filler ingredients. You have to know that: Most doctors advise against permanent fillers because of the possible complications! Hyaluronic acid is considered to be the most tolerable, and there is only one antidote (hyaluronidase) available here, which can dissolve the filler immediately if something goes wrong. But always ask the doctor for the name and the manufacturer of the filler, and beware of cheap imported goods. Costs: very much dependent on the amount of filling material, a single fold from about 250 euros.
Fat away injection
That's it: The syringe contains u. a. a soybean (phosphatidylcholine) active ingredient that decomposes and dissolves fat cell constituents, which are then broken down by the liver. Injected into small fat pads, z. B. a double chin. That should bring it: Within several weeks, small flabbets should disappear.It usually takes several treatments at intervals of six to eight weeks to see an effect. So long does the effect last: not unique. Side effects: The tissue swells for days and hurts, itches and burns. It is possible that painful hardenings may form. Some people dissolve less fat than expected. You have to know that: The method is controversial among physicians, since the agent used is only for the treatment of fat embolisms (fat droplets in the bloodstream) is approved, not as a fat-away injection syringe for injection into the tissue. Therefore, there is a lack of comprehensive scientific studies on possible long-term side effects in this application. For soy allergies, liver diseases and severe kidney disease, the drug should not be given. It costs: from about 300 euros depending on the size of the treated areas.
Radiofrequency Therapy (Thermage)
Diana Zahn, 23, is a student from Munich and prefers to keep her body in shape with jogging
That's it: With radio waves, the skin in the deeper layers is heated while the epidermis is cooled. As a result, connective tissue strands and shrink. Fat deposits are so tightly enclosed, moreover, the skin forms as a result of the triggered inflammatory reaction increased collagen. That should bring it: The skin should be tighter overall. As a result, wrinkles or hamster cheeks should also be alleviated in the face. B. used for cellulite treatment. So long does the effect last: The result can only be seen weeks to months after the treatment and should last at best up to three years. However, it is possible that no benefit is evident, according to individual publications from the US, this should even apply to almost half of the patients. In general, the effect is more visible in younger people than in older people, as young skin regenerates better. Side effects: possibly swelling, redness, bumps and blisters on the treated areas, which usually disappear after a few days. It is possible that, contrary to expectations, the effect will be too strong and the tissue will shrink scarred. Costs: depending on the size of the area to be treated from about 1500 euros.
Cryolipolysis
That's it: a process designed to destroy fat cells by hypothermia. Adipose tissue (eg on the hips) is sucked in and cooled through the skin for about one to three hours. That should bring it: Within two to four months, the fat cells - which are more sensitive to cold than other tissue - die and so small fat pads are reduced. The method is only for local fat accumulation, z. B. on the hips, otherwise normal-weight people thought. On average, according to the manufacturer, the fat layer should be reduced by 20 percent, but it can also be far less (or more) in the individual patient. So long does the effect last: not clear, because long-term experiences are missing. Side effects: a bruise due to aspiration, possibly a reduced sense of feeling at the treated site for several weeks. In some cases, the transition between treated and untreated tissue is recognizable. Costs: from about 750 euros.
Soft lifting threads
That's it: Method for tightening the face, in which polypropylene threads (aptos threads) are pushed under the skin using a hollow needle. In the threads small barbs are incorporated, which anchor themselves in the tissue, when pulling up into the temporal area, the tissue is tightened. That's the effect: Hanging face parts should be raised again, z. As the cheeks or hanging corners of the mouth. So long does the effect last: in the best case, up to five years, but often only a few months. Side effects: temporarily mild pain, bruising and swelling. A few days later you have to avoid violent facial movements. With thin subcutaneous fatty tissue, the threads may be palpable or shine through. Threads can come loose. It is possible that the face appears asymmetrical. The biggest danger is that germs get under the skin and trigger infections. You have to know that: The method is very controversial with doctors. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew the approval in 2007 after a number of reports of side effects of a specific variant of the thread lift. A US study published in a major US medical journal in 2009 concluded that the method should be rejected because of the often poor benefits associated with sometimes severe side effects. cost: from 1500 to 4000 euros.
BOOK TIP: Hans Weiss, Ingeborg Lackinger Karger: "Beauty - the promises of the beauty industry - benefits, risks, costs". Here you will find extensively researched, detailed information on many common beauty surgeries and minimally invasive procedures (320 pages, € 17.90, publisher Zsolnay & Deuticke)
