Learn more about submental fat treatments at AM Live

As a surgeon, have you seen a rise in demand for non-surgical options in your clinic?

Since retiring two years ago and focussing on Botox and fillers and other non- surgical interventions, I have noted that my clinic numbers have not noticeably decreased. In other words, I hold the same clinics that I used to and there are enough patients to sustain non-surgical procedures. So, in the last two years, I would suggest non-surgical procedures are now preferred to surgical ones, except when patients want a significant improvement. The trend is to have smaller operative procedures more frequently, combining non-surgical procedures with skincare, rather than the big face, forehead and eyelid lift.

What indications have you found non-surgical options to be particularly useful in treating?

For me, the best non-surgical options are for localised fat removal. Conventional liposuction is excellent, but it can leave ripples in the skin and irregularities, especially on the abdomen. It also is not particularly beneficial for skin tightening in an older patient. Non-surgical fat removal with fat freezing, radiofrequency, ultrasound, and lasers are preferable for stubborn areas and do usually aid skin retraction and tightening.

The non-surgical treatment options that we promote at Purity Bridge are Botox, fillers, skincare and facial peels. We also promote a very strong Pearl fractional laser, which smooths out seriously sun damaged skin wrinkles. To combat double chins and facial jowls and for non-surgical facial contouring, we offer the Strawberry Lift treatment.

What made you choose Strawberry Lift?

I favour Strawberry Lift for the right person with elastic skin and an obvious chubby neck because there is no downtime and, apart from some redness for a few minutes, no specific complications. Freezing options could lead to a skin burn as can radiofrequency, so I always recommend Strawberry Lift as an alternative to fat freezing.

How does it work?

Ultrasound alone has some benefits, but most of the machines are very cumbersome. Strawberry Lift’s laser combines laser destruction of the fat cells and is used in conjunction with high energy focused ultrasound. The laser and ultrasound disrupt the cell membranes of the fatty cells and the fatty contents are cleared up by the lymphatic system.

What kind of results have you seen?

The best results are in young people with a heavy chin, but it does work for people who do not have much skin laxity. Almost everyone who has a treatment will see some degree of improvement, including myself! The before and after photographs are standardised as much as possible and will show very reasonable results.

My patients like this treatment because it is easy to undergo – you just sit in the chair for half an hour although the whole treatment takes one hour. There is no downtime and you can feel the tightening straight away. Strawberry Lift appeals to my patients who want something that is pain-free and non-invasive, but still shows instant results!

Mr Brent Tanner will be speaking in more detail about the Strawberry Lift treatment on the Live Stage on Saturday 23 March at Aesthetic Medicine Live. You can also find out more at the Strawberry Lift stand J6. To register for your FREE entrance ticket to the show simply click here.