Despite having been tempted to try the increasingly weird and wonderful in my quest for eternal youth – salmon sperm and bee stings, anyone? – I’ve always been absolutely terrified at the mention of Botox, fearful of being left with a swollen-looking, expressionless face. Indeed, I will only countenance its use when it is suggested by superfacialist Vaishaly – not simply because I trust her implicitly when it comes to matters of the skin, but also because she is proposing to use it in a very different way. Vaishaly now applies the Botox superficially into the skin’s surface, not the muscle, in microscopic quantities, as part of her Mesotherapy treatment. This I have tried, and loved, and Vaishaly promises that with this new secret ingredient, the results will be even better – the ultimate tightening and rejuvenating treatment, clients have dubbed Mesotox the Porcelain Facial because it leaves skin looking so utterly radiant and smooth.
Clients have dubbed Mesotox the Porcelain Facial because it leaves skin looking so radiant
I’m told that when applied in this way, Botox not only has a tightening effect, eliminating fine lines and lifting, but it also closes open pores, preventing the skin from becoming oily and congested (bye, bye breakouts). And in doing so, it can even prevent facial sweating; saying goodbye to the perimenopausal summer face sheen is a clincher for me. I’m in.
Developed in the 1960s by Michel Pistor, a French doctor, Mesotherapy was originally used to relieve pain. Now one of the most popular natural, non-surgical anti-ageing treatments, the procedure enables a bespoke combination of powerful vitamins, minerals, amino acids and hyaluronic acid to be administered to the lower layers of the skin, immediately delivering hydration, while toning and smoothing the surface of skin. I fi rst tried it in Vaishaly’s gorgeous Marylebone clinic a few years ago and was wowed by the results: my skin was left looking smooth and glowing. And, remarkably, the effects got better over the coming weeks, lasting for months. The idea that the results could be even better is certainly compelling. The best bit? No injections. Vaishaly uses a process called ‘nappage’ to tap across the surface of the skin on the face, neck and under the eyes with a micro-needle which barely penetrates the surface. From past experience I know that application feels like a series of tiny scratches and is totally bearable, though does make me squirm in more delicate areas, particularly around the eyes.
I hop on the bed in the treatment room and Vaishaly makes a thorough assessment of my skin before going to mix up a bespoke cocktail of goodies to target its specifi c needs today. She then cleanses my skin and performs a superficial glycolic peel – explaining that exfoliating dead skin cells and unclogging pores allows for improved penetration of the magical Mesotherapy ingredients. The actual treatment is quick and totally painless, as I remembered it. After a fi rst thorough application, Vaishaly scans the skin for imperfections, before going back over those areas again, taking the results to a whole new level.
The results are immediate – I look well rested and my complexion is glowing. And the effects become more exaggerated over time; fi ne lines disappear, including, most impressively, a seemingly permanent sleep crease on my forehead that has been bothering me for some time. And my lower jawline looks tighter. I am converted, and will definitely be back for more.
