JUST HIT refresh!

TOO NERVOUS TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE? AS I DISCOVERED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LESS DRASTIC THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET YOUR SKIN LOOKING SMOOTHER, FIRMER AND MORE REFRESHED.

- CATHI TREVOR

The taboo around plastic surgery has decreased significantly in recent years, but there are many of us who are still too nervous to go under the knife. Luckily, there's a plethora of non-surgical options to choose from if you want to refresh your look. But with so many choices out there, how do you know where to spend your money?

I'm in my mid-50s. I eat relatively healthily and exercise on a regular basis, but lately I've been feeling (and looking!) worn-out and haggard. There's only so much a night cream and jade roller can do, so when Cape Town doctor Jan Nel reached out to me to talk skin, the timing was perfect. He offers a comprehensive solution to anyone looking to rejuvenate their skin without going in for surgery.

I met Dr Nel at his sunny seaview rooms at the Waterfront to discuss my skin concerns and get his professional opinion. 'When consulting with a new patient it's important to understand the reason for them visiting the practice while giving me time to observe their facial features,' he says.

A thorough evaluation helps Dr Nel understand the anatomical structure and form of your face. He also discusses the importance of living a balanced lifestyle: exercising, using a good SPF and eating healthily, and how these are used to strengthen and support the treatments he uses. 'I like to create harmony with the face, mind and body,' he says.

I told Dr Nel that my aim was to have a relaxed and refreshed face, and not to look too 'done'.

He suggested a combination of treatments: hyaluronic acid fillers, Profhilo injections, Sculptra injections, Botox injections and a thread lift.

With my magazine deadline looming, I had to have all my procedures done in one sitting (which was a bit daunting), but I knew I was in capable hands.

PROCEDURES

INJECTABLES