The menopause, collagen and aesthetic enhancements

The menopause is a time of many changes for women. Hot flushes, mood swings and difficulty sleeping can be a lot to contend with. But whilst many women have great success keeping these common symptoms under control with treatments such as HRT, there is another symptom of the menopause that some women still feel troubled by, and that’s the effect of dropping hormones on their appearance. Here the aesthetic experts at YourGP explain a bit more about what’s happening under the skin during the menopause years.

Beneath the surface

During the menopause, your ovaries will stop producing oestrogen, causing these levels to drop. This in turn causes the body to produce less collagen, a protein that helps to give your skin structure, keeping it plump and firm. Depleting levels of collagen can be reflected in a person’s appearance in a variety of ways:

• Loss of volume, particularly around the cheek area
• Sagging, drooping skin, resulting in jowling and lack of definition along the jawline
• Skin that feels thin and crepey
• More visible lines and wrinkles
• Dark circles and bags under the eyes, resulting in a tired look

Regaining control

For many women, the signs of ageing listed above are just part and parcel of life. However, for some women these visible signs of ageing can have a big impact on how they feel about themselves. At a time when their bodies are going through so many changes that are outwith their control, having a few simple aesthetic enhancements to help counter these visible signs of ageing can do wonders in terms of helping them feel like they are regaining control over their bodies.

Here at YourGP, we offer two simple aesthetic treatments – dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections. The results are subtle, but they can make a huge difference to the way you look and feel about yourself.

Dermal fillers at YourGP

By injecting a natural, biodegradable gel under the skin, we can effectively replace lost facial volume and target problem areas. It is great for filling out lines and wrinkles, adding fullness back to the cheeks and helping to create more definition in the jawline, as well as improving the overall quality and integrity of your skin.

Dermal fillers are injected using a very fine needle and they contain a numbing agent called lidocaine for your comfort. The treatment takes an average of 30 minutes and the effects can last for up to 18 months.

Anti-wrinkle injections at YourGP

Deep creases between the eyebrows, frown lines on the forehead and crow’s feet around the eyes are some of the most common problem areas that our patients want to address. The treatment works by making the targeted muscles relax, which causes the overlying skin to become smooth, resulting in a more naturally youthful appearance.

The effects usually last 3-6 months, depending on the depth of your lines and wrinkles and whether you have previously had any treatment to the area. To ensure you get the very best results, we’ll advise you to make a follow-up appointment two weeks after your treatment to enable us to assess the results and top up if required.

Not sure which treatment is right for you?

If you’re unsure whether dermal fillers, anti-wrinkle injections or a combination of the two is right for you, book your free consultation at YourGP today. Here, you can have an in-depth chat with the doctor who will explain how each treatment works, assess your suitability, and answer any questions you might have. Remember, all aesthetic treatments at YourGP are administered by highly qualified doctors, regulated by the GMC, making us the safest choice.

If you’d like to book a consultation, you can choose a date and time that suits you via our simple online booking system, or you can email reception@your.gp. Alternatively, you call us on 0131 225 5656 or arrange a call back via our website.