Interview with Dr Ghislaine BEILIN – Interviewed by Annabel MACGOWAN
There is a very specific profile of patients who seek facial rejuvenation treatments that do not involve fillers or threads. These men and women prefer to opt for effective and safe technologies that act deep within the skin to improve its quality and firmness, with a long-lasting effect over time.
A pioneering rejuvenation treatment
With more than fifteen years’ experience using energy-based medical devices and having treated hundreds of men and women, I have acquired a certain amount of experience in the field of skin rejuvenation. This is why I recommend Thermage® from Solta Medical®, a monopolar radiofrequency medical device designed to smooth wrinkles and treat the skin in depth in order to achieve a visible lifting effect in just one session.
The treatment zones have evolved over the years and as the devices have been developed. Today, Thermage® is used on the oval and the neck, on the area around the eyes and mouth, on the hands, and also on the abdomen, arms or above the knees. Thermage® treatment was launched in the United States in 2002 and its innovative technology has been constantly developed over the years to improve its effi cacy and comfort.
With more than 2.5 million treatments carried out worldwide, 50 clinical studies and 73 patents, this device is one of the safest and most effective rejuvenation devices available and boasts a patient satisfaction rate of over 90%. Today, the fourth generation of the Thermage system, called Thermage FLX, allows us to reduce the treatment time by 25% and to target any fragile areas – such as crow’s feet wrinkles and eyelids – with even more precision.
Monopolar radiofrequency is a technology that allows us to heat up the skin’s deep layers. In reaction to this heat, the collagen fi bres contract, providing an instant toning and densifying effect. In order to offer optimum comfort and protection during the procedure, while the target area is being heated in depth, the device’s head cools the skin’s surface as well as vibrating in order to send soothing signals to the brain and thus “distract” it from the pulses of heat.
The tightening effect occurs in two stages. Under the effect of heat, a first tightening effect is observed at the end of the session, following the contraction of existing collagen fibers. Then a second redensifying effect appears gradually over the next 4 to 6 months, following the stimula-tion of collagen production, giving rise to new collagen fibers, and elastin fibers.
The single session lasts between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the areas treated. The results last for years since the collagen regeneration is carried out deep within the skin.
Firming, smoothing, densifying, brightening the expression
Specific applicators have been developed for each zone, allowing for optimum safety and efficacity. Although the results on the abdomen, knees and arms are very good, most of my patients want to treat their face, neck and eye contour. After cleansing the skin, a grid pattern is traced onto the face. This allows us to see exactly where we should send the radiofrequency impulses, which are emitted in sequences, in a pre-defined order and following a precise pattern. Depending on the area and the severity of the wrinkles and skin laxity, the device is passed over each area a number of times.
For patients who want to avoid or delay a blepharoplasty, I find that Thermage® provides highly satisfactory results. It allows me to lift heavy or drooping eyelids, smooth crow’s feet wrinkles and tighten up saggy lower eyelids. The eye contour treatment is often requested by forty-somethings who want to open up their expression without freezing it.
On a creped, wrinkled neck with sagging skin, but whose platysma bands are not too prominent, we can achieve outstanding results. My favourite zone to treat is the oval because we can achieve fantastic results, both on men and women. The ideal candidates are women aged 60 whose oval has started to visibly sag but who want to delay having surgery.
By working on the lower third of the face, I can tighten up the cheeks and the oval, with a secondary effect being a clear improvement in skin density and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles on the cheeks, as well as any barcode lines around the mouth, which also respond well to treatment.
The highly satisfactory results of Thermage®, both right after the session and over the long term, without any downtime, make it a popular procedure with our patients. The procedure is not cheap, but it offers great results. A few side effects may appear, so it is important to mention them. You may experience tingling, redness and/or a numb sensation for a few days. The procedure is not suitable for anyone with a pacemaker.
Dr Ghislaine Beilin: Aesthetic and anti-aging doctor in Paris with 39 years of experience. Vice-president of the SNME (French National Union of Aesthetic Doctors). Honorary member of the European Society of Preventative, Regenerative and Anti-Aging Medicine. Expert and speaker at aesthetic medicine congresses in France and abroad.
More informations: drbeilin.fr
