While botox and invasive facial surgery is undeniably popular nowadays its actually the non-invasive treatments that are on the rise, accounting for 75% of all cosmetic procedures done in 2014. More people are striving to look their best without pain and recovery time. Sounds good to us.
Marbella Rocks has rounded up and tried and tested the best noninvasive cosmetic procedures on the Costa del Sol to give you an idea of what to expect from these increasingly popular treatments.
QMAX Laser
QMax Marbella’s laser has a fourpronged approach: helping to rejuvenate, clear uneven skin tone, remove pigmentation marks whilst even giving light hair removal.
“It helps to rejuvenate the skin by attacking collagen, once the collagen is attacked the body defends itself by producing more,” explains QMax Marbella director Sara Sadie. “The laser bypasses the skin so no surface damage is done but more collagen is produced making your skin look bright, fresh and rejuvenated.”
Many potential clients could be put off by the mere mention of the word laser but there is no damage to the skin with this treatment, only a slight redness in some patients, which wears off quickly. It is also not a painful procedure, you feel like your face is being pinged with tiny, hot elastic bands. Some patients may find it uncomfortable but after the 30-minute zapping my skin looked brighter, fresher and dare I say younger.
Sara recommends a course of treatments, once every three weeks but suggests it is good to give your skin a break in the hotter summer months when the sun damage to recently lasered skin is not generally advised.
Not only does the laser rejuvenate but QMax claims to clear pigmentation and sun damage because it has highenergy single pulse technology which is vastly more efficient at removing pigmentation marks than multipurpose
lasers.
However because of the hotter Marbella climate, the laser Sara uses is not as strong as some of the more damaging lasers on the market these days, which leave patients unable to leave home for several days due to recovery and downtime.
The hair removal side of the treatment is mild but does work for patients that have excess hair problems. “No two patient is the same so it totally depends on the individual but the laser has proven to help remove unwanted hair in the majority of users,” Sara adds.
The QMax laser procedure is ideal for women and men (lets not be sexist here!) aged 25-60 as apparently the skin’s natural collagen rebuilding process starts to breakdown at 25.
Contact: Sara at QMax Laser
+34 628 936 396
Intraceuticals Oxygen Facial
This is not just a mere facial. The combination of pressurised oxygen and a special form of hyaluronic acid creates a visible plumped up result you can instantly see and feel.
Favoured by Hollywood A-listers Jessica Biel, Kim Kardashian and reportedly all the Victoria Secret Models (an Oxygen facial team are on hand at all their major catwalk shows). Madonna has even bought the $10,000 system for her home.
The procedure begins with a full analysis by Sofia at the Pure Skin Beauty Rooms. She cleanses, tones and massages the skin before doing a 10-minute steam so a completely fresh face is ready for the treatment. A special serum is put into the Intraceuticals gun and sprayed or ‘infused’ onto the skin. The treatment feels cool and refreshing, almost like a fine mist being sprayed onto your face.
I have to say this treatment feels fresh and results are noticeable after just one blast of the Intraceuticals special infusion gun. I went out that evening and got complemented on my fresh face. Job done, I think i’m a convert.
Sofia recommends a course of six, preferably once a week for six weeks as she calls it a “cure” for the skin. As well as the key plumping ingredient Hyaluronic acid, the serum contains Vitamin A, C, E, antioxidents, aloe vera and green tea which is great for pigmented skins. There are also six different types of serum on the market, for different skin types in various prices.
The reason why these procedures are on the rise can be attributed to the backlash against the plumped up look of fillers and sagging eyes caused by botox. Added to this the PIP breast implant scare of 2012 has caused many women to start looking at procedures that make you naturally taut and glowing. The defined cheekbones of Yasmin Le Bon and Gwyneth Paltrow are the order of the day not the puffy faced look of yesteryear. Plus Sadie From QMax, who has been in the beauty business for 30 years reveals that even botox fans are questioning the longevity of the needle. “Botox is a quick fix, you start to pay the price after 15 years,” she warns.
Oxygen facials have the most noticeable results on those in their thirties and forties, although the treatment is recommended for 25 to 60 year olds. This is also a great treatment to have before any sort of laser treatment as it soothes the skin and reduces any potential redness caused by the heat from the laser.
Contact: Sofia at Pure Skin
+34 951 134 983
CACI Treatment
Favoured by celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Lisa Snowden and Martine McCutcheon, this revolutionary treatment was first used 20 years ago to treat stressrelated patients as the machine’s tiny micro-currents lifted and toned sagging facial muscles. After continued use doctors realised that the CACI system also softened fine lines and wrinkles.
Fast-forward to 2014 and the system has been updated to repair the skin using red and blue light resulting in the skin’s collagen plumped so the depth of wrinkles is reduced. While so many women are opting for more drastic invasive surgery like botox, fillers and facelifts, CACI promises to deliver ‘a non-surgical facelift’.
The new CACI Ultimate treatment also incorporates a microdermabrasion element to smooth and revitalise the texture of your skin and pigmentation marks are also dramatically reduced. When it came to treatment day I have to admit I was a little bit nervous about the electrical pulses. But Katie was completely professional and reassured she would use a low setting. Using what looked like two metal rods, Katie worked around the eye area first, holding and lifting each area. It felt strange but not uncomfortable.
Lastly I loved the mask. It was full of hyaluronic acid and collagen and intensively moisturises and calms the skin. Katie then used a roller like motion to massage in the moisture.
The system does come with a hefty price tag though. Beauty specialists recommend a course of 10 treatments which comes in just under €500.
Plus, CACI have recently launched a 20-minute ‘Ultimate Lip Plump’ treatment to combat the Pack a Day Pout, the telltale signs smokers suffer from continued pursing of the lips from inhaling cigarettes. The new €25 treatment claims to work by resurfacing the damaged lip area and using a patented wrinkle comb technology
Contact: Katie Lee on
+34 660 444 005
