How Does it Work

​The Plasma method has many advantages over cosmetic surgery,

which makes it increasingly popular. There is no cutting of the skin,

which means that there are no stitches required and most people

can return to work after a few days. It is much quicker than surgery

, as no injectable anaesthetic is required.

 

The extremely accurate instrument works by ionising the gas

particles in the air between its tip and the skin, to form plasma. An electrical arc is created, which results in sublimation i.e. turns a solid straight into gas. Therefore, the results are instant, but also no heat is transferred to the surrounding area. The resultant tissue retraction and tightening (as opposed to removal) gives results that are comparable to the ones seen with invasive surgery.

 

What is it Used to Treat

Plasma has a wide range of therapeutic uses, being able to treat a number of imperfections without any actual cutting of the skin. It can be used for:

-Eyelid reconstruction (non-surgical blepharoplasty), including resolving baggy lower eyelids and excess upper eyelid skin.

-Skin imperfections and benign lesions, including warts, fibromas, pigmentation and sun spots.

-Improvement in the appearance of scarring, including post-surgery scars, acne scars and stretch marks.

-Lines and wrinkles around the mouth.

-Turkey neck.

-Active acne.

 

How Long Do The Results Last

As plasma treatment is more than a simple tightening treatment, skin is actually removed, so the effects should last as long as they would with invasive surgery.

 

Like all surgical and cosmetic procedures, the effects of Plasma treatment are not entirely permanent as it does not halt any further ageing. But, the positive results should last you years as opposed to months. Additionally, there are lifestyle factors that can prevent the result from lasting as long as they can, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and prolonged sun exposure. Those planning on treatment should also be aware that their race and genetics can also have an effect of the length of beneficial effects. Your consultation should be able to provide more information.

 

Side Effects and Risks

Plasma treatment has been shown to be a safe treatment due to its non-invasive nature. Still the majority of patients are likely to experience some minor side effects in the 7 days following treatment. There will be some brown marks that have the appearance of minor scabbing, which are carbon crusts, but after around 5-7 days, these will fall off, revealing new pink skin beneath. Some swelling will be seen (especially in cases of eyelid treatment), it can last up to 10 days. 

 

Contraindications

As with the majority of cosmetic procedures, Plasma treatment  should not be used on women who are pregnant or breast feeding. Although some darker skin types are suitable for the procedure, it is not advised for those with very dark skin. This is because there is a higher risk of hyperpigmentation (dark spots) or hypopigmentation (light spots) following treatment, particularly if the carbon crust are disturbed by scratching, scrubbing or picking.

 

Treatment Regime

On the treatment day it is recommended that no make-up is worn on the treatment area, The area is cleaned and anaesthetic cream is applied. When the treatment area is sufficiently numb the session begins with multiple shots of the plasma tip, spaced closely together. You may feel some heat in the treatment area, which may be uncomfortable and slightly stingy. Treatment time is usually between 10-30 minutes, depending on the size of the area.

 

After the treatment, you may experience a slight stinging sensation, your practitioner will apply a cooling gel to the treated area. Following treatment your practitioner will give you thorough aftercare instructions to ensure that you see the best results. In the week following treatment (or until the treatment area has fully healed) an exfoliating wash or cleanser should not be used. 

 

The majority of people are safe to drive following their procedure, but if the treatment area is around the eye, it is advised to avoid driving, due to potential irritation or swelling. Contact lenses must be removed when treating around the eye. 

 

Cost of Treatment

Plasma treatment is certainly more affordable than cosmetic surgery you can expect to pay around £450 for complete eyelid treatment (2 sessions) See price list for specific area cost.

 

Clinical Results

The positive effects of treatment will be evident immediately after the first treatment, but the best results will be seen after three weeks. For heavy eye skin 2 treatments are usually required at 8 week intervals.