BUSTING INJECTABLE MYTHS WITH CLINIC 42’s DR. ELLEN SELKON
When it comes to injectables and more serious approaches to lessening the signs of premature aging, I call on the advice of doctors every time. One of those is the always-inspiring, infinitely chic Dr. Ellen Selkon, a highly experienced cosmetic doctor and partner at Auckland’s Clinic42. With over 18 years of expertise in cosmetic medicine and the Treasurer of the NZ Society of Cosmetic Medicine, she is one of only two national Galderma trainers in New Zealand and serves as a key opinion leader for Profhilo, as well as regularly presenting at national and international conferences on the latest innovations in the ever-evolving industry. She is also someone I have personally seen over the years, and I have recommended her expert’s touch to others curious about injectables and cosmetic medicine, and what they can achieve at any age.
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| Dr. Ellen Selkon |
With all of this in mind, I sat down with Dr. Ellen recently to chat about where the likes of fillers and Botulinum toxin (AKA Botox) sit in the appearance medicine landscape right now, and what new and exciting innovations are on the horizon.
First up: yes, you still need to do your research (and then more research)
This is for injectable newbies, or those have dabbled in the past but never quite achieved what they hoped for: before even making an appointment, take time to do a deep dive. Spend time researching who is out there that you like the sound of, then narrow down your choices in terms of the right injector for you by checking their accreditation, experience, and their work. Dr Ellen says, “The first thing that you should ask is what their experience is in cosmetic medicine. How long have they been doing it and what their training is. Doctors who have the diploma in Cosmetic Medicine have done over 500 hours’ worth of training, compared to some people who just do a weekend course. I would also want to know that if they encountered a potential complication that they were equipped to handle it.”
Pre-tox or fillers, a consult us essential
Dr. Ellen cannot emphasise enough that a consultation is essential before any treatment. "At Clinic 42 we conduct a full facial assessment, take a medical history, and provide detailed information on expected results and potential risks,” she says. “Only after you’ve received all the necessary information should you decide whether to proceed with the treatment."
Can a good injector stop you from bruising?
While it’s impossible to guarantee zero bruising, even with the best injector, bruising largely comes down to luck. "There are hundreds of thousands of small blood vessels under the skin that are impossible to see with the naked eye or an ultrasound," explains Dr. Ellen. "It’s simply a matter of chance whether these vessels are affected during the procedure."
First up: yes, you still need to do your research (and then more research)
This is for injectable newbies, or those have dabbled in the past but never quite achieved what they hoped for: before even making an appointment, take time to do a deep dive. Spend time researching who is out there that you like the sound of, then narrow down your choices in terms of the right injector for you by checking their accreditation, experience, and their work. Dr Ellen says, “The first thing that you should ask is what their experience is in cosmetic medicine. How long have they been doing it and what their training is. Doctors who have the diploma in Cosmetic Medicine have done over 500 hours’ worth of training, compared to some people who just do a weekend course. I would also want to know that if they encountered a potential complication that they were equipped to handle it.”
Pre-tox or fillers, a consult us essential
Dr. Ellen cannot emphasise enough that a consultation is essential before any treatment. "At Clinic 42 we conduct a full facial assessment, take a medical history, and provide detailed information on expected results and potential risks,” she says. “Only after you’ve received all the necessary information should you decide whether to proceed with the treatment."
Can a good injector stop you from bruising?
While it’s impossible to guarantee zero bruising, even with the best injector, bruising largely comes down to luck. "There are hundreds of thousands of small blood vessels under the skin that are impossible to see with the naked eye or an ultrasound," explains Dr. Ellen. "It’s simply a matter of chance whether these vessels are affected during the procedure."
I personally take high dose fish oils every day, but always stop these a few days before and after injectables as they can have a blood thinning effect and make bruising even more likely to happen.
When it comes to serious structure that lasts, injectable filler is still king
Despite the reaction against the procedure that seems to have proliferated on TikTok of late, Ellen agrees with me that there is definitely still a place for filler, saying – “one hundred percent… unfortunately too many people have been using it for the wrong things and in the wrong way, and for too long”.
She goes on to explain that the face is made up of different layers – bone, fat, muscle, superficial fat and then skin – and that poorly trained and inexperienced injectors have been putting perfectly good filler into the superficial fat rather than on a deeper level, “which is where you get that horrible, puffed up look. Deep filler on the bone will give you structure, which is so needed as we age – and nothing has superseded that.” And yes, everything in moderation. “Using small amounts, in the right layer of the face, will always give a beautiful result.”
Restylane is her filler of choice for making a real difference
Ellen’s brand of choice is Restylane when it comes to fillers, with Restylane Lyft her top pick for addressing a loss of structure as we age. “I always joke that if I had to go on a desert island and could only take one filler, it would be Restylane Lyft,” she laughs. “You can do so much with it, from lifting the nasolabial fold area to structuring the jawline and addressing sag, it’s amazing.”
She adds that Restylane is a brand that has been around for 25 years too, “so we know by now exactly what their fillers can do. And if you run into trouble and need to hyalase an area, they are the easiest to dissolve as well”.
Is lip filler still a popular procedure?
Absolutely, but again, the extreme look we see on a lot of reality TV shows is most definitely on the wane. “Now the look we are wanting to achieve is soft and more subtle, adding definition and softening the appearance of lines,” says Ellen, adding that “lips are definitely not out of vogue, but they are not as in vogue as they used to be.”
Key trend going forward: it’s all about skin
Coming off the back of several trips to international conferences, Ellen says that the biggest trend going forward is simply beautiful skin. “We are definitely leaning towards the Korean-influenced all over skin glow, and a lot of the big appearance medicine companies are talking about bio-revitalisation using the body’s own mechanisms to achieve exactly that.” She adds that the science is still a little shaky on many of the products coming out promising to help stimulate your own collagen and elastin, “but I think that with more research done we’ll see some clearer guidelines arriving over the next year or so, and some exciting new approaches”.
Regular skin treatments are still an essential
When asked if the likes of high performance facials and microneedling are still essential to achieving that all over skin glow, Ellen is one hundred percent in agreement. “I would say to everybody to go for a Dermapen session at least three times a year, it’s a trusted treatment that everyone can benefit from and it does zero harm.” She is also a big fan of peels and infusions, in particular using growth factors.
For more information on Botulinum toxin, fillers, and other cosmetic treatments at Clinic42, visit clinic42.co.nz or contact Clinic42 reception on (09) 638 4242.
Main Photo by Fleur Kaan on Unsplash
When it comes to serious structure that lasts, injectable filler is still king
Despite the reaction against the procedure that seems to have proliferated on TikTok of late, Ellen agrees with me that there is definitely still a place for filler, saying – “one hundred percent… unfortunately too many people have been using it for the wrong things and in the wrong way, and for too long”.
She goes on to explain that the face is made up of different layers – bone, fat, muscle, superficial fat and then skin – and that poorly trained and inexperienced injectors have been putting perfectly good filler into the superficial fat rather than on a deeper level, “which is where you get that horrible, puffed up look. Deep filler on the bone will give you structure, which is so needed as we age – and nothing has superseded that.” And yes, everything in moderation. “Using small amounts, in the right layer of the face, will always give a beautiful result.”
Restylane is her filler of choice for making a real difference
Ellen’s brand of choice is Restylane when it comes to fillers, with Restylane Lyft her top pick for addressing a loss of structure as we age. “I always joke that if I had to go on a desert island and could only take one filler, it would be Restylane Lyft,” she laughs. “You can do so much with it, from lifting the nasolabial fold area to structuring the jawline and addressing sag, it’s amazing.”
She adds that Restylane is a brand that has been around for 25 years too, “so we know by now exactly what their fillers can do. And if you run into trouble and need to hyalase an area, they are the easiest to dissolve as well”.
Is lip filler still a popular procedure?
Absolutely, but again, the extreme look we see on a lot of reality TV shows is most definitely on the wane. “Now the look we are wanting to achieve is soft and more subtle, adding definition and softening the appearance of lines,” says Ellen, adding that “lips are definitely not out of vogue, but they are not as in vogue as they used to be.”
Key trend going forward: it’s all about skin
Coming off the back of several trips to international conferences, Ellen says that the biggest trend going forward is simply beautiful skin. “We are definitely leaning towards the Korean-influenced all over skin glow, and a lot of the big appearance medicine companies are talking about bio-revitalisation using the body’s own mechanisms to achieve exactly that.” She adds that the science is still a little shaky on many of the products coming out promising to help stimulate your own collagen and elastin, “but I think that with more research done we’ll see some clearer guidelines arriving over the next year or so, and some exciting new approaches”.
Regular skin treatments are still an essential
When asked if the likes of high performance facials and microneedling are still essential to achieving that all over skin glow, Ellen is one hundred percent in agreement. “I would say to everybody to go for a Dermapen session at least three times a year, it’s a trusted treatment that everyone can benefit from and it does zero harm.” She is also a big fan of peels and infusions, in particular using growth factors.
For more information on Botulinum toxin, fillers, and other cosmetic treatments at Clinic42, visit clinic42.co.nz or contact Clinic42 reception on (09) 638 4242.
Main Photo by Fleur Kaan on Unsplash
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