Plasma, the buzz word in the aesthetics industry. In fact, it is nothing new, the technology has just vastly improved. This coupled with more and more people looking non-surgical fixes means the latest in plasma treatments has really taken off!
So, what is Plasma?
Dr. Sabrina Shah-Desai, leading UK accredited Consultant Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstructive surgeon tells me it is the 4th state of matter…. Now I am confused, how does it help me look younger?
Plasma is created when gases in the air are ionised using a special device, in this case the Fusion GT Nano Plasma machine, which creates a small electrical arc that treats problem areas without spreading unwanted heat to the surrounding skin. By problem areas we are referring to saggy skin, excess upper eyelid skin, baggy lower eyelids, skin lesions and lines and wrinkles. It can even go so far as to fix lax skin on the stomach post pregnancy and weight loss.
It is all done from the clinic chair and in no time at all using a hand-held device. The system uses a pen that has a fine needle. This tiny needle delivers heat to the skin to tighten and firm it in a specific area and does not harm surrounding skin because of the precision of the device. The application is more advanced then skin laser resurfacing and works to regenerate the skin. The results can last up to ten years!
This kind of eyelid procedure is known as ‘soft’ surgery, but I warn you now there is nothing soft about the process. Dr Shah-Desai is an expert in facial rejuvenation and is the only oculoplastic surgeon practising non-surgical blepharoplasty in the UK. I am told it should be mildly uncomfortable, but, unashamedly, I have the world’s lowest pain threshol
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic cream and then disinfected. At first when the treatment begins it feels like mild scratching and you can feel mild heat on the skin. This increases and in fact I had to stop mid treatment because I started to feel woozy. All very embarrassing!
The procedure is completed across one eyelid at a time in a grid like format. The process has a weird smell and a tube is used to defuse this as it can be off putting. The smell is literally the smell of your skin being made into gas! The machine turns the solid matter into a gas form literally vaporising excess skin and tightening what remains.
At the end of the session, there will be small black/brown combustion points in the treated area. This is where the skin contracts and skin corneocytes combust. It is nothing my sunglasses could not disguise.
After the treatment my eyelids display a snazzy pattern, but I can immediately see some lift to the eyelid. Although I look a little odd I venture out of the clinic in my shades and enjoy the cool air on my warm eyelids.
Later on, I took some pain killers and later anti-inflammatory tablets to assist in controlling the swelling.
When I woke the next morning, my eyes felt very dye and I had to resist splashing them with water. You cannot wear make up on the area immediately nor pick or scratch the carbon crust. Instead over the course of the next 72 hours my eyes looked pretty puffy and so I continue with the tablets and applied some dry eye drops.
It is not long before the scabs start to fall off, which is good because they start to look at bit unsightly. At first people thought I had been adventurous with my make up! They reveal a pinkish skin tone underneath which I was worried would persist, but it slowly fades to your skin tone. Over the course of the coming 6-8 weeks my eye lids heal rather quickly. Immediately after the crust falls away the skin felt dry and rough, but application of the recovery serum and daily application of sun cream assisted in the healing and in no time my eyelids where smooth and soft again. It did not feel tight or itchy, but the skin did feel delicate, so I was careful not to use harsh products on my face or heavy makeup.
The redness only appears when in hot atmospheres like when I get out the shower and even then, it soon fades. The key is to keep your eyes protect from the sun’s harmful rays and be careful not to use any harsh products like eye makeup removers, toners or creams that can harm the new and delicate skin.
Immediately after the crust fell away I felt a little deflated about my treatment. However, I didn’t need to be, it was just a post treatment wobble I always have. I was reassured that the body needs time to heal and over the course of the next two weeks by eyelids regained their smooth appearance and the lift was visible.
I am due for my next treatment which Dr Shah-Desai tells me I should have every 8 weeks, after healing and can have up to 4 treatments in total. For a 30-minute treatment ,2-4 times over the course of a few months this is well worth it over surgical eye lid surgery. It is suitable for those with more excess skin and hooded eyes and I have seen fantastic results on other areas of the body such as the neck and stomach.
Follow my results in these photos and further treatment at the Perfect Eyes clinic on Harley Street where Dr Shah-Desai performs the treatment with her own expert hands. The treatment itself is from Fusion GT.
www.fusiongt.co.uk