Here’s how to up your skin’s ante
Here at Victor & Garth, lots of our patients ask us about taking collagen supplements and if we think that they’re worth it?
Luckily, with Dr Lauren’s cosmetic know-how, combined with Dr Miriam’s extensive background in metabolic surgery, understanding the importance of looking after both the aesthetic and nutritional needs of our patient’s skin is at the forefront of our offering at Victor & Garth.
Here’s our take on the complexities of collagen and how we can best support you in achieving your most healthy skin.
What is collagen, and why do I need it?
“Collagen is an important building block when it comes to the formation and maintenance of skin health. It plays a major role in the quality of our skin but sadly, our collagen production begins to decline at a rate of 1% per year from our mid-twenties so over time, our skin loses its natural ability to bounce back like it used to. To maintain levels and keep skin hydrated, supple, and smooth, it’s important to support the production of this all-important protein.”
Should I be taking a collagen supplement?
“In short – no. While collagen supplements can help to plump up the skin, they need to be in a formulation that’s appropriately encapsulated and can be efficiently metabolised and distributed throughout the body. Otherwise, the ingredients won’t be efficacious enough once they reach your bloodstream. Plus, supplements can’t specifically target the areas that you want results, such as the skin on the face.
It’s also worth noting that while there are studies into the efficacy of collagen supplements, there’s no industry standardisation within the studies themselves, meaning that it’s hard to compare the research and determine if they’re really worth the money.
Luckily, there are other ways that can help to boost the skin’s natural production of collagen, and at Victor & Garth we offer a variety of options to suit our patients.”
Dr Lauren Hamilton and Dr Miriam Adebibe, co-founders of Victor & Gart
MORPHEUS 8
One of our newer technologies at Victor & Garth, Morpheus 8 uses micro-needling coupled with pulses of radiofrequency to help remodel and tighten the tissues below the skin, as well as the skin itself. This special combination of treatments, works in tandem to trigger a healing response in the skin which stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, essentially providing two high-tech treatments in one.
Rather than papering over the cracks, Morpheus 8 gets to the root cause of lacklustre, dehydrated skin, plus it requires zero downtime and can be used on all skin types, including darker skin tones with little risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
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INJECTABLE BOOSTERS
Unlike fillers and Botox which can noticeably change your facial appearance or expression, injectable boosters (such as Profhilo) specifically improve the quality of your skin through hydration.
Think of them as injectable moisturisers (with guaranteed results) that use stabilised hyaluronic acid (HA) to stimulate your skin’s natural ability to produce collagen and elastin. Plus, they can also be used in conjunction with anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers to increase the longevity of results from any past treatments so fewer tweaks may be required. The effects reach beyond the face too, as the décolletage, chest, stomach, inner arms, hands, and knees also respond well.
TOPICAL SKINCARE
From cleansers to exfoliators, to antioxidants, topical skincare can be effective when it comes to boosting collagen production in the skin.
Skincare isn’t a one-size-fits all, so to ensure that we have something to suit all skin tones, types, and requirements, we provide face-to-face and digital skin consultations to discuss your skin goals. We only work with the brands that we believe to deliver results including ZO Skin Health, Epionce, Environ, Medik8, Obagi and Neostrata, and armed with the belief that we want you to be the most confident version of yourself, we work with our patients to decide on a skincare journey that best supports their individual needs.
ADVANCED NUTRITION PROGRAM
Diet and nutrition are also important when it comes to supporting skin health – to have beautiful skin on the outside, you need to feed it from the inside with the right nutrients. When skin cells are damaged, nutrition is fundamental in maintaining skin integrity and the healing process.
Our Advanced Nutrition Program helps to determine what clients might need in terms of supplementation – be it for issues with acne, dry skin, or an imbalance of hormones. With With an exThrough a consultation, together we can work out the optimum balance of vitamins, minerals, and omegas to best support the production of collagen and ensure that your skin is kept in the best condition for the long term.