Share

Vampire hair restoration, fat dissolving injections and lunch break body contouring - fast food beauty is here

accreditation
Woman walking in busy city.
Woman walking in busy city.

2016 was the year of lip fillers. (I blame Kylie Jenner)

Image: Giphy

And last year online searches for ‘micro needling’ went up with 85% according to Harper's Bazaar. Non-surgical nose jobs came in at a close second. 

Sue Vaz, owner of Aesthetics 11 Skin & Body Clinic attests to this, saying “Currently the most popular skin treatments are Dermapen (micro needling) and chemical peels, while the most frequently requested medical aesthetic treatments, performed by our doctors, include anti-wrinkle injections (i.e. Botox) and lip fillers. When it comes to body treatments, Venus body contouring, cellulite reduction, skin tightening treatments and laser hair removal are our top sellers.”

READ MORE: Heard about Instaglam Express, the new 'Uber of beauty'?

However, she also notes that women are still more concerned with ageing, or 'correcting' specific skin concerns like pigmentation and acne scarring. New treatments like medical aesthetic treatments offered by doctors are more niche, yet are becoming more accessible because of cost, and desirable because of the limited post-treatment downtime. 

According to Venus Concept, more and more people are opting for convenient options of non-invasive treatment to ‘fix’ areas they are unhappy with, instead of invasive cosmetic procedures, like a face lift or lipo. People want less discomfort and time away from work, with similar results. 

Which, honestly, just sounds like a given. If one had the choice, why not go for the fast food version of beauty? 

New technologies in non-invasive treatments: 

Vampire procedures

We’ve all heard about the Vampire facial, popularised by Kim K a few years back. But now we have the Vampire breast lift, hair restoration and stretch marks therapies to consider. 

Tonight on Kourtney & Kim Take Miami!!! #VampireFacial #kktm

A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on

Vaz says “Vampire or Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) procedures are advanced skin rejuvenation treatments that use stem cell science. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), rich in growth factors, is derived from your own blood and injected back into the skin in order to ‘supercharge’ healing”. The body’s stem cells are activated to grow healthy, new tissue - including new collagen (for firmness), new fatty tissue (for volume and smoothness), and new blood vessels (for a healthy glow). Treatments available include the Vampire facial, Vampire facelift (which combines PRP with fillers), Vampire stretch mark/scar repair treatments and Vampire hair restoration treatments.” 

NOTE: Interestingly, hair fillers are also now a thing. This treatment stimulates hair or even eye brow growth. (Um, hello bold brows!) 

READ MORE: Brows so great we've considered sticking caterpillars on our faces to match theirs

Fat-busting treatments

The Cecceralli fat dissolving injections are also becoming increasingly popular with South Africans.

It’s a specialised lipolytic solution, made up of vitamin C and iron that dissolves small, localised, pockets of fat that are resistant to diet or exercise e.g. double chin, fatty jowls or jawline, nasolabial bulges and under eye fat pads. When injected, the Ceccarelli solution, acts on the fat cells, causing a process of natural fat cell death or destruction, to reduce unwanted, localised fat bulges and resculpt facial contours.  

READ MORE: I got the orgasm shot and this is what happened

Vaginal rejuvenation

As we’ve reported before, vaginal rejuvenation is also having a moment. Dr. Natalia Novikova in Cape Town, the only certified aesthetic gynaecologist in South Africa, says she's on a mission to empower women to embrace their sexuality and live happier, healthier lives, free of unnecessary discomfort. Between 80% and 90% of her patients have some kind of issue with vaginal dryness, loss of laxity due to giving birth, loss of sexual pleasure or vaginal lips they feel self-conscious about, that interfere with sex and certain activities like horse-riding. 

READ MORE: Labiaplasty: much more than seeking porn star 'perfection' 

Stigma

I asked Dr. Elfrieda Fourie and Dr. Mia of Anti-Aging Art in Jo’burg about the stigma surrounding these types of treatments. Are people more open about getting 'work done' than in the past? 

“The best treatment results are not really visible as ‘work’, we aim for our patients to look like themselves, but happy, healthy, refreshed and rested versions of themselves. If patients walk around looking done and people can clearly see what work they have had done, then this is considered a fail for us. Patients should not be forced into admitting that they have had work but more and more we are finding that when patients are happy with their treatments then they are volunteering information to their friends and family. Increasingly the patients we see are happy to talk about what they have had done, even on social media. Aesthetics has unfortunately been tainted by poorly performed filler and botulinum toxin work which leaves patients looking artificial and ugly. This is as a result of poor technique and should not be seen as representative of aesthetic medicine.”

And when it comes to treatments like vaginal rejuvenation? "

 

"These procedures are very simple to perform and although patients are more shy to seek out these procedures then they are to seek out facial work, they are growing in popularity. We currently are getting a lot of inquiries about these procedures, we hope to combine them with new innovative technologies that we are currently investigating. As with all aesthetic procedures and with all of our approaches at Anti-aging Art, our focus is on holistic wellness, improved quality of life, combination therapy and broad approaches to our patients problems,"says Dr. Elfrieda Fourie and Dr. Mia. 

Cost?

If we look at a treatment like Ceccarelli Fat Reduction Injections, at R2500 a pop, three are needed for desired results. Same with a standard Vampire hair restoration course. Procedures like liposuction can be very costly as a consultation fee, procedural fee and theatre fee are often included. 

Cecceralli fat dissolving injections: R3000-R5000 per treatment depending on the size of the area treated

O-Shot : R5000 - R7000 depending on whether the injections are done in conjunction with a full sexual health assessment or not

Dermapen:  This varies according to whether it is a beauty treatment or medical dermapen treatment as well as the products used during the treatment.  Starting from R1500 for beauty treatments.  Medical dermapen, which yields very targeted results is R2500 - R3000.

Vampire Hair restoration : Around R4500.  Some charge R2500, again, depending on the method used to prepare PRP, prices vary and so do results.



Sign up to W24’s newsletters so you don't miss out on any of our hot stories and giveaways.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE