Fillers and Botox have been on the rise and rise for years now, they are almost socially acceptable these days and they are certainly more heard of than ever before. They aren’t just for the rich and famous anymore either, I’d imagine almost everyone knows someone who’s had something ‘done’ (whether we notice it or not) but I also feel we are on the verge of a backlash; obvious, ott work and frozen foreheads are putting us off- we’ve realised no work looks better than bad work and as always the celebs are heading the trend favouring a much more natural look than in recent years.
Let’s not be fooled though, (some) celebs are definitely still having work done but the approach is so much more conservative now. Products are advancing all the time and used in the right hands, the results can be incredible.
Dr Tatiana Lapa of Harley Street has such hands! She certainly has a circumspect approach to her work, choosing to build slowly and plan ahead. With lip filler for example, Dr Lapa would much rather enhance the fullness of the lips over time rather than in one fell swoop. This way, she says it allows the skin to adjust accordingly and the limited swelling makes the shape more easily visible to perfect. The sore-looking, oversized lips that are becoming oh so familiar are almost always a result of too much filler injected in one go.
Dr Lapa says it is the placement of the filler that makes all the difference too- quite obvious you might think- but Dr Lapa would not treat nasal labial lines (nose to mouth lines) by injecting filler into them as this wouldn’t allow the actual line to soften, instead she would fill at the cheek bone to lift the cheek as a whole and therefore smooth the nose-mouth line out. It’s all very clever!
In fact, it’s a science! For Dr Lapa’s signature Facial Sculpting treatment, she follows the golden ratio of Phi, to make the most aesthetically pleasing appearance. It’s like a beauty mask of proportions, creating symmetry and fullness with filler to balance the face. Photographers and artists often use Phi in their work- it’s even said that big companies like Apple and Twitter have used it to make their products more appealing! I was unsure at first but the before and after pictures she showed me speak for themselves; it’s so subtle, you can’t quite put your finger on what the changes are but whatever they are, the results are the difference between a good face and a stunning face.
Dr Lapa’s treatment list also includes mesotherapy (vitamin cocktail injections), the PRP facial- also known as the vampire facial due to the injection of your own blood platelets, and Botox (of which I think she is a true artist- such a soft, subtle approach with maximum results). It is actually somewhat of a shame that injectables have earned a bad rep because in truth, for those of us wanting to hold back the years a little bit, it’s actually a really exciting time in this arena.
I think the reason injectables have gained the fear-factor is down to the lack of regulation. The products are too easily available and aren’t given the regard they deserve- practically anyone can buy filler! Even Botox is fairly easy to buy if you know where to look and that is a scary thought.
Dr Lapa is in huge favour of regulation, her advice is to look for a practitioner registered with Save Face, a patient charter that practitioners can voluntarily register with. Save Face then visit and assess each practitioner, checking their qualifications, hygiene standards, insurance and products to ensure they come from legitimate suppliers. It’s a no brainer really and the fact that it’s voluntary speaks volumes about the practitioners registered, and true to her word- Dr Lapa is one of them.
Dr Tatiana Lapa www.studioclinic.co.uk www.saveface.co.uk