Treatments at Bangor Medical Aesthetics

We offer a varied range of fillers and antiwrinkle injections from our location at Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.

Experience Expert Care with Joint and Periarticular Joint Injections

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease with a tendency to worsen over time, characterized by articular cartilage degradation, subchondral damage and bone remodelling, most commonly affecting weight-bearing joints such as the knee and hip. The aim of OA treatment is to control symptoms until the severity of the condition mandates surgical intervention; an early therapy may be a vital step for delaying the progression to end-stage disease. 

Joint injections can help reduce joint pains particularly when pain due to osteoarthritis.In our doctor-led clinic, we specialize in providing advanced joint and periarticular joint injections, providing personalised treatment plans and compassionate care, to help you regain mobility and relieve the pain.

Benefits
• Physician-led clinic for superior care
• Tailored treatment plans for your unique needs
• Proven results in pain relief and mobility improvement
• Patient-centred approach for your comfort and satisfaction,
• Each patient has a comprehensive clinical assessment prior the procedure

Types of injection offered

1. Corticosteroid injections

2. Polyribodeoxynucleotide (PDRN) injections

Corticosteroid injections:
Intra-articular injection of corticosteroids is the most common conservative approach in the treatment of ostearthitis. The rationale behind its use relies on its immunosuppressive activity in the knee joint and anti-inflammatory activity. However, it is important to note that repeated injections of intra-articular glucocorticoids over a long period of time can lead to cartilage loss. There is an increased risk of complications if surgery is needed after steroid injections .
Their use is suggested for short-term pain relief.

Hyaluronic injections:
Intra-articular short linked Hyaluronic acid, which is used for visco-supplementation in the synovial joint, is commonly used for long-term treatments as it is associated with symptom improvement beyond 12 weeks.
The downside is the need for repeated injections as the effects are short lived, however it demonstrated a more favourable safety profile than repeated corticosteroids
Crosslinked Hyaluronic acid has longer effects, however it is associated with pseudo-septic reactions and an increased risk of local adverse reactions (painful swelling and redness)

Polyribodeoxynucleotide (PDRN) injections:
Intra-articular polyribodeoxynucleotide (PDRN) injections are employed as an alternative of intra-articular administration of visco-supplementation over the past decade. These products have a long safety record and were approved in Europe since 2010.
PDRN is composed by polymers of various chain lengths capable of binding large amounts of water molecules, and induce a physiologic change by binding to water, forming a 3D gel, and releasing oligonucleotides when naturally degraded.

Being highly viscoelastic due to its large molecular weight and water-binding capacity, PDRN functions through both non-pharmacological and pharmacological mechanisms, including collagen production, tissue regeneration and inflammation reduction via adenosine A (2A) receptor stimulation.

PRDN also offers mechanical protection towards the damaged cartilage, replacing the synovial fluid and restoring an ideal microenvironment for matrix production, ultimately producing faster improvement of daily living activities compared to Hyaluronic acid.

It makes it an ideal treatment for relieving pain and inflammation, and it may it help in the long term with cartilage and joint repair.

We offer the following injections:

Knee and shoulder injections
Trochanteric bursa injections
Sacroliac joint injections
Carpal tunnel
De Quervain tendinitis
Trigger finger
Tennis and Golfer’s elbow
Plantar fasciitis

Initial assessment £100
Steroid injection £250
PDRN injection £300

New treatment for Rosacea: micro Botox

The anti-wrinkle jab Botox may help treat rosacea, the chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects one in ten people at some point. Rosacea causes facial redness mainly in the forehead, cheeks, chin and nose.

The toxin may stop blood vessels dilating, and thus reduce the characteristic red, flushed skin, a Rosacea occurs when tiny blood vessels in the skin of the face dilate and become visible — known as telangiectasia; in severe cases, skin can thicken and swell, usually around the nose.

The cause is not fully understood. Treatments that can help minimise the symptoms include antibiotic tablets or gels and creams that have anti-inflammatory effects. But these do not work for all patients.
New studies show that botulinum toxin, which is widely used in cosmetic procedures and to treat an increasing number of medical conditions, including chronic migraines, can be effective in rosacea, too. s well as tackling inflammation.One theory is that with rosacea it targets compounds in the skin, which in turn stops blood vessels dilating. It may also block immune cells that are involved in the inflammatory response that worsens the condition.

At Bangor medical aesthetics we offer microbotox as mesotherapy or injections ( also together with hyaluronic acid ) for facial rejuvenation and for rosacea treatment.

Obesity and weight reduction therapy

Obesity is simply defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index) over 30.

However the medical research has shown that this is much more complex with distribution of fat and different functions of different, kinds of fat, being much more important than the simple weight measurement.

While the main reason people ask for help with weight reduction is aesthetic, being overweight is associated with significant increase of risks for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease as well as inflammation induces diseases as cancer and dementia and of course ageing.

At Bangor medical aesthetics we offer a complete analysis of the causes of the overweight and individual risk assessment using a scientific approach.

Further we are using personal adapted life style modification and diet advice to help with achieving a healthy weight.

If necessary we prescribe recognised approved medication. We are aware that such medication can now be obtained over internet without proper medical assessment and follow up (so called Skinning jabs) however this can put a significant risks for your health. If you need such medication we will provide the right medication at the right amount. Proper assessment advice and follow will be provided to assure that it is effective and without significant side effects.

First consultation can be provided by video!

Thread Lift (PDO Lift) Face, neck, jaw line

PDO Treads Lift

Until recently, the only way to address problems caused by facial skin laxity-such as jowls and drooping cheeks-was facelift surgery. After all, while skin resurfacing treatments can help to restore some degree of firmness, once loose skin is present, only a scalpel can truly remove it.

Actually the approach is on relying on injectable compounds and skin resurfacing until facelift surgery becomes absolutely necessary.

However not everyone needs or is willing or able to have surgery. If you're in this group, you'll be happy to know that a new type of procedure has been developed to fill in the gap between noninvasive facial rejuvenation and facelift surgery: The "thread lift

What is a PDO thread lift?

A thread lift is a type of procedure wherein temporary sutures are used to produce a subtle but visible "lift" in the skin. Instead of removing the patient's loose facial skin surgically, the cosmetic surgeon simply suspends it by stitching up portions of it. This has the effect of pulling the skin back slightly and therefore lifting and tightening the face. In addition to being ideal for lifting the skin, threads combat aging in another way: by provoking the body's "healing response" and causing the body to direct large surges of collagen to treated areas. This is important because of the vital role collagen plays in the aging process.

Collagen helps support "growth factors" that greatly influences the condition of our skin. In addition to being used for wound healing, collagen helps to keep our skin strong, voluminous and supple. As we get older, our bodies gradually produce less and less collagen, which leads to an 80% reduction in skin thickness by about age 70. This loss of volume and strength is a large factor in the creation of excess skin and wrinkles. As the skin grows weaker, it's no longer able to support the tissues beneath it adequately, meaning that gravity pulls it downwards and stretches it. Infusing the skin of the face with fresh collagen when the signs of skin laxity are still mild can help to both reduce looseness (by thickening and hydrating the skin) and prevent it from getting worse (by strengthening the skin).

In other words, this process provides ongoing and progressive rejuvenation for the facial tissues. Patients who have a thread lift for the purpose of stimulating collagen will notice a gradual improvement in their skin's tone and firmness. While their threads are in place, the body's healing response will be constantly activated because the body will want to "heal" the sutured areas and expel the sutures. The body is biologically programmed to react this way when it senses any foreign object present within the dermis. Fortunately, because the threads placed under the skin during a thread lift are so small, the patient will not feel any of this happening. Most people cannot feel their sutures at all once the skin has healed around them.

Why having a thread lift instead of surgery?

For many patients, the biggest advantage of having a thread lift rather than a facelift is the greatly reduced recovery time associated with thread lifts.

Thread lifts can be performed under local, rather than general anesthesia, meaning that thread lift patients can drive themselves home and look after themselves immediately after having their procedure. While some patients will experience a little bit of soreness, redness and swelling after having a thread lift and therefore wish to take the rest of the day off, most can return to work immediately. Strong pain medication is seldom needed after having a thread lift, making it easier for patients to return to their normal routine.

While thread lift recovery is not particularly intensive, patients will still have to take a few minor precautions while healing. It's important to make sure that you don't rub your face vigorously while cleansing it or applying moisturizer for at least a week after having threads placed. You should also try to prop your head up slightly so that you don't roll over directly onto your face while sleeping.

Thread lifts are low risk, thanks to how noninvasive they are. There is virtually no risk of scarring, severe bruising, bleeding or other complications after having a thread lift. In rare cases, patients may experience irritation, infection or their sutures becoming visible under their skin. If this occurs, however, the sutures can simply be removed and the patient's face will return to its prior state.

Finally, because thread lifts are much easier to perform than facelift surgery, they are much more affordable.

Advantageous though thread lifts are, it's important for patients to maintain realistic expectations for this procedure. While thread lifts certainly produce visible changes, they will generally only lift the face by a few Millimeters up to 1-2cm. As such, they create a more subtle and natural looking end result than facelift surgery. Thread lifts are therefore best suited to patients who are dealing with mild to moderate, rather than severe, signs of skin laxity.

The ideal thread lift candidate is usually in his or her late thirties to early fifties, whereas most patients over the age of about 55 will benefit more profoundly from facelift surgery. Thread lifts can, however, provide a facelift alternative for older patients who are unable to have surgery for medical reasons. Because thread lifts can be performed under local anesthesia, many people who have age-related conditions that make them ineligible for surgery (like high blood pressure, type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease) can safely have this treatment. If you have any outstanding health conditions, make sure to talk to your doctor about whether or not a thread lift might be right for you.

It's important to understand that while no lifting technique can produce permanent results, thread lift will generally last from one to three years. However, because the thread lift procedure is so low-risk, patients who like the results of their thread lift can usually opt to have a fresh set of temporary sutures placed once their old sutures are absorbed by the body.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is a technique that uses injections of vitamins, enzymes, hormones, and HA to rejuvenate and tighten skin.
Michel Pistor, a doctor in France, developed the technique in 1952. It was originally used to relieve pain. In the years since, it has gained popularity in the United States and other parts of the world.

Today, mesotherapy is used to:

• Fade wrinkles and lines
• Tighten loose skin
• Rejuvenate face, neck and décolleté
• Recontour the body
• Lighten pigmented skin
• Treat alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss

The technique uses very fine needles to deliver a series of injections into the middle layer (mesoderm) of skin. The idea behind mesotherapy is that it corrects underlying issues like poor circulation and inflammation that cause skin damage and induce collagen formation.

There isn’t a standard formula for the substances injected in mesotherapy. Doctors use many different solutions, including:

• Peptides
• Enzymes
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Vitamins and minerals

Lipolysis

Injection lipolysis is an EU-approved, revolutionary product that helps to dissolve local fat. It may remove unflattering and stubborn areas of fat without the need for liposuction or surgery. Injection lipolysis works by hydrolysing the wall of the fat cell and therefore making it releases it’s lipid content within. The fatty byproduct is then removed from the body via natural processes. This treatment can be used almost anywhere in the body and is particularly popular in reducing the fatty deposits in local areas such as:

• Double chin
• Upper arms
• Buffalo humps
• Chest fat (in men)

Studies have proven that injection lipolysis, such as Aqualyx® causes splitting of fat cells which subsequently leads to natural clearance of fat via the normal system in the liver. The treatments are done every 3-4 weeks until desired result is achieved. On average 3-5 sessions are required depending on the volume of the fat deposit.

Dermal fillers

Dermal fillers are clear, smooth gels which contain hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the dermis layer of the skin. It is essential for the volume and elasticity of the skin. As we age, the natural hyaluronic acid content of our skin decreases.

Dermal fillers are injected into the dermis of our skin to replace the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid. These injections introduce volume to areas where it has been lost and smooth the unwanted lines and wrinkles, lift the tissues giving a natural rejuvenating effect. As a result the skin texture and hydration is improved.

Repeat injections after several months improves appearance and duration of the results ( touch up ).

We use fillers for :

"8 point nonsurgical face lift"
This involves injecting fillers into strategic points,restoring the volume and correcting the wrinkles in the same time.
The results are comparable but more subtle than a surgical lift.
The area and amount of filler and number of sessions will be tailored to the individual needs

Replacing volume loss and correcting deep wrinkles
Nasolabial folds
Marionette lines
Peri oral (smoker’s lines)

Adding volume and shape
Cheek, lips, chin and jaw, hands reshaping and enhancement

TREATMENT SUMMARY

Treatment time	30 minutes
Return to work	Immediate / up to 24 hours depending on treatment
Results	Immediate ( up to 10 days to fully asses the results )
Duration of results	6—18 months depends on the area treated
Possible side effects	Bruising, swelling, very rare infection

Nose fillers

Non surgical "Nose Job".

Mesotherapy injections of HA for skin rejuvenation:

• Face
• Neck
• Hands

Anti wrinkle injections

Anti wrinkle injections, more commonly known as ‘Botox injections’, work by relaxing facial muscles to help reduce and prevent unwanted lines and wrinkles.

When injected into muscles, they work by temporarily relaxing facial muscles to smooth out lines and wrinkles whilst still maintaining the natural expression of your face.

These injections can be used correct existing or static lines facial lines and wrinkles.

Or as an anti–ageing treatment to help prevent lines and wrinkles developing as we age.

We use the same injections in different areas to improve and correct :

Frown lines
Forehead lines
Bunny lines
Crow’s feet
Gummy smile
Smokers (peri oral lines)
Eyebrow lift
Chin lines
Sagging neck skin
Excessive sweating

TREATMENT SUMMARY

Treatment time	20-30 minutes
Return to work	Immediate
Results	Develop between 3—14 days
Duration of results	3—4 months
Possible side effects	Bruising, swelling, very rare infection, very rarely temporary and time reversible eyebrow droop

HIFU non surgical face and neck lift and rejuvenation

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a relatively new cosmetic treatment for skin tightening that some consider a noninvasive and painless replacement for face lifts. It uses ultrasound energy to encourage the production of collagen, which results in firmer skin. This will improve the results of Botox and Fillers.

Areas treated:

Face

As we age our skin loses volume and elasticity which leads to the formation of lines and wrinkles. The collagen production in the skin slows down, oil production reduces and the skin becomes more dehydrated.

We use a combination of fillers and antiwrinkle injections that can effectively prevent and correct the formation of lines and ultimately improve appearance.

Neck

As well as the face, the neck is affected in the ageing process, with loss of fat and reduced water content which leads to loss of volume. Combined with the effects of gravity this problem is most frequently noticed in the lower face, neck and decolletage.

The skin on our neck and décolletage ages equally to the skin on our face. All too often we forget our neck and chest when it comes to anti ageing and concentrate on the face. To avoid disharmony between a youthful face and an aged neck and décolletage, there are many simple and effective treatments to consider. Advanced techniques using botulinum injections and dermal fillers either alone or in combination, give great results.

Axilla

Perspiration is a normal function of the body, however when it is excessive it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Excessive sweating, hyperhidrosis, can be improved with botulinum injected into the underarm area to help reduce excess sweating with good results.

Hands

The skin on our hands age at the same rate as the skin on our face, but like our neck and décolletage, they are often forgotten when it comes to anti ageing.

Although our faces may look youthful our hands can often give our age away.

With age, the skin on our hands loses volume which makes tendons, veins and bones look more prominent.

Treatment with a hydrating dermal filler treatment can help restore volume and youthfulness to the hands.