By Rosie Wilson
With Christmas just around the corner, you might be feeling the pressure to squeeze into that LBD, get that mistletoe kiss locked down, or even just do a bit of damage control before it’s Baileys and mince pies all round. There are lots of ways you can make sure you’re looking your best this Christmas, but even more importantly, you should feel your best. ‘Tis the season, after all!
Of course, you can try all the usual things. A no-carb diet, layering on piles of anti-wrinkle moisturiser or plucking your eyebrows to within an inch of their life then rushing to the nearest brow bar. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. But these methods inevitably leave you stressed, tired and looking more or less the same as you did before.
MediSpas and non-surgical cosmetic treatments are all the rage at the moment, and with good reason. They’re easily the most effective way for you to look your absolute best, with no major side-effects, no recovery time and no need to go under the knife. Rather than a surgical procedure, these new centres focus on wellness from the inside out.
Dr. Sarah Tonks is a holistic aesthetic doctor, working from Omniya, Knightsbridge. She recommends that, if you’re going to do something for how you look on the outside, you should make sure you’re looking after the inside, too. “I offer therapies and treatments that work well in conjunction or alone. It is so important to consider the holistic side to getting yourself ready for Christmas. If it’s all about diets, preening and worrying about your looks, you’ll be miserable. Christmas is a stressful enough time already,” she explains.
“Instead, consider a treatment that will fill your body and skin with vitamins and leave you glowing, whether it’s a Perfect Peel for your open pores or a superfical Obagi peel, a treatment that will make your skin look brand new.”
Treatments such as PRP therapy, or the Vampire facial, are a good bet around this time of year, too. Because they only use natural ingredients already found in the body, there’s no chance of an infection or a bad reaction. No puffy face on the photos for us, thanks! And if it’s good enough for Kim Kardashian and Anna Friel, it’s good enough for us.
And even if you’re just looking for a quick, simple fix for a special night, a trip to the nearest clinic could help with that, too. “If you’re a commitment-phobe, wanting to look better for your Christmas party but worrying about the financial and long-term implications of a treatment, we offer so many little pick-me-ups that are perfect for this time of year. There’s so much you can do to look your best – from 24 hour lip augmentation to injectable moisturisers that hydrate your skin and give you a glow.”
Another darling of many celebrities, including Rihanna, is Vitamin infused injection treatment. These versatile super treatments can work in your favour for anything – if you’re overworked and tired, if your skin is dull and tired-looking, or even if you’re feeling unwell due to a food intolerance or allergy. Steering clear of certain foods – something many people do in the run up to Christmas – can deprive our bodies of all the nutrients they need to look and feel great. With a vitamin injection (administered either by a drip or through an injection), it’s a way of making sure you’ve got everything you need. And if you’ve had a few too many Christmas tipples, Vitamin Injections could be your saving grace – they work especially well at getting rid of hangovers. Dr Tonks advocates blood testing prior to any vitamin or mineral infusion so you have a clearer picture of any deficiencies which might be present and so you can receive the correct treatment as a result.
In short, there are plenty of ways to get you looking and feeling fabulous in time for the festive season, without the need for any extreme measures. “If you’re in two minds about a more intensive procedure this side of Christmas, I’d advise you to wait until the New Year,” said Dr. Tonks. “Undergoing a surgical cosmetic procedure is a decision to be make carefully and responsibly, and you shouldn’t rush into it. There are plenty of non-surgical treatments that will give you excellent results and have you looking and feeling fabulous – plus, they might save you a few pennies, which is important around this time of year!”
For more information about all the services offered by Dr. Sarah Tonks, visit her website www.drsarahtonks.co.uk