McKeown Medical
167 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4SQ
Date posted — 13.08.24
Sun damage is, as the name suggests, changes to the skin due to long term exposure to the sun’s UV radiation.
And as the word ‘damage’ suggests, these are not positive changes.
These are changes to the structure and function of the skin that are initially visible in the way the skin looks and can eventually become severe enough that cancer cells start to develop.
So sun damage is a real problem, and something we should all take seriously.
If you think about the skin on a baby or a toddler and what it looks like, it’s usually quite pale, even in colour and smooth in texture.
Of course, this starts to change through the teenage years and the onset of puberty when the skin can become thicker with more sebaceous glands making the skin more oily.
But in general the skin remains relatively light in colour and smooth in texture.
The skin on the face doesn’t tend to stay that youthful dewy way for long.
By the time most people are in their 30s and 40s you can see visible changes have happened to the skin that continue to get worse into the 50s and 60s and beyond.
Almost all the changes we see to our skin as we age are the result of exposure to our environment and by far and away the biggest exposure is to the sun.
The next biggest environmental exposure is nicotine, although thankfully that is something we are seeing less and less of now.
To a much lesser extent, the changes to the skin we see are the result of environmental pollution and sugar (yes, too much sugar makes the skin look older too).
The first change that we see from sun damage is usually to the pigmentation of the skin.
The production of pigment – melanin – is the skin’s natural defence to protect our DNA from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV radiation.
This is the pigment we see when our skin looks tanned.
When we are young, most of us think a tan looks nice, which is why so many of us tan and don’t think about future consequences.
But years of over-production of melanin in our skin makes the mechanism by which we produce it become less well regulated, and so we develop patches of irregular pigmentation – often referred to as age spots, or hyperpigmentation.
The next change that you can see from chronic sun damage is to the vascular system on the face.
When the skin is exposed to the sun, blood is diverted to the skin to help defend it and restore normal function.
In the short term we see this as redness, often referred to as sunburn.
Due to chronic exposure, we eventually develop disregulated blood vessels on the face which cause patches of redness and visible dilated blood vessels, even when the acute effects of the sun have worn off.
This causes redness and thread veins.
The chronic inflammation caused by sun exposure also causes disruption to the collagen and elastin fibres in the deeper layer of the skin – the dermis – which is responsible for giving the skin its physical structure.
Healthy skin has well-organised patterns of collagen and elastin but with chronic sun exposure this becomes more hectic and chaotic.
The disruption of these structural molecules leads to changes to the texture of the skin – roughness, fine lines (rhytids) when the face moves and eventually even when the skin is at rest (static rhytids).
Over time, the elastin fibres can become so disorganised that they form visible little bumps on the skin referred to as ‘elastosis’ or ‘solar elastosis’ to indicate that it is caused by sun exposure.
Eventually the disregulation to the structure and function of the skin leads also to the formation of growths on the skin.
Sometimes these growths can be harmless, but sometimes the growths can become cancerous.
The effects of sun damage on the skin are cumulative – which means that they get worse over time.
I often hear patients tell me that they can’t have sun damage because they wear SPF every day and yet when I look at their skin they have plenty of signs of sun damage.
That’s because they may well take care of their skin now, but they didn’t when they were younger and it’s catching up with them now!
Loose Skin After Weight Loss or GLP-1 Injections: Why the Right Treatment Varies So Much From Person to Person and...
How Quantum RF Can Help Tighten Loose Arm Skin After GLP-1 Weight Loss
Discover how biostimulators such as Sculptra and Julaine stimulate collagen production to restore firmer, more natural-looking facial support over time.
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Loose Skin After Weight Loss or GLP-1 Injections: Why the Right Treatment Varies So Much From Person to Person and...
How Quantum RF Can Help Tighten Loose Arm Skin After GLP-1 Weight Loss
Discover how biostimulators such as Sculptra and Julaine stimulate collagen production to restore firmer, more natural-looking facial support over time.
...
There is no single "best" facial rejuvenation treatment - only the treatment that`s right for the individual patient.
For patients with more advanced facial ageing, significant jowls and loose skin of the neck, a deep plane facelift remains the gold standard. In the right hands, it can achieve results that more significant than what we can do with less invasive treatments.
This is one of our recent patients following deep plane face and neck lift surgery, performed by the incredibly talented @bramhallplasticsurgery. It`s always a privilege to work alongside Russell and see the exceptional results he consistently achieves.
One of the things I`m most proud of at McKeown Medical is that we`re a genuinely multidisciplinary team. We don`t believe every patient needs fillers. We don`t believe every patient needs surgery either. We offer injectables, lasers, minimally invasive procedures like the Quantum Lift, and facelift surgery because different patients, at different stages of the ageing process, need different solutions.
Our job isn`t to sell you a procedure - its to help you choose the right one.
If you want to have a conversation about which option is right for you, you can send us some pics by PM.
#DeepPlaneFacelift #Facelift #NeckLift #FacialRejuvenation #PlasticSurgery #AestheticMedicine #NaturalResults #McKeownMedical #Glasgow #PlasticSurgeon
I genuinely think the Quantum Lift is changing what is possible for patients who want to improve their jawline and neck, but do not want to undergo facelift surgery.
I have used earlier generations of skin-tightening technology and, honestly, I was often underwhelmed by the results. This is different.
By combining precise power-assisted liposuction, targeted treatment of the neck muscle where needed, and QuantumRF skin tightening, we can address the three things that most commonly age the lower face and neck: muscle, fat and skin.
This patient is shown just 24 hours after treatment. There is still swelling to settle, but the early change in her jawline and neck contour is already clear.
I have also included clips from the procedure for anyone who likes seeing the technical side of what we do.
Would you consider a minimally invasive alternative to facelift surgery for your jawline or neck, or would you rather go straight to surgery?
And this is why we LOVE combination treatments in the clinic!
Different parts of the face age in different ways. And even different layers of the same part sometimes age differently, which is why we often need to combine treatments to achieve the best overall effect for each patient.
This lovely patient first underwent some laser resurfacing to her eyelid area to take away the lines and wrinkles and tighten the skin. Then we used some HA to blend the contour below the eye and cheek. Finally, we addressed the lower part of the face and neck with some Sofwave to tighten the skin and Sculptra to give her more connective tissue support.
She is over the moon with her improvement. What do you think?
The biggest mistake I see after weight loss? People choose a treatment before understanding what`s actually causing their loose skin.
Not all "loose skin" is the same, which is why the right treatment for one person can be completely wrong for another.
If you`ve lost weight and aren`t sure which option is right for you, the first step isn`t choosing a device. It`s getting the right diagnosis.
Looking for some advice? Send us a DM to get started.
The Quantum Lift!
We introduced this new technique only a few weeks ago and, well, it’s going even better than expected. This is one of our patients before and immediately after. I always warn my patients that I cannot give them a surgical facelift result with a procedure that doesn’t involve cutting but honestly, in this case, I think we got pretty close to a facelift result and closer than I was expecting.
First we remove some fat from under the chin and jawline before the quantum goes in to tighten the skin. I have included a picture of the neck after the we had removed fat from both sides, but only applied the quantum to her right side. You can see how much difference there is when I try to pinch the skin. In the non-treated skin I skin still pinch an inch (or two) but on the treated side there is very little to pinch, because the tissues have shrunk down so much.
The patient tolerated the procedure very well under simple local anaesthetic without sedation and we had a nice chat throughout. Afterwards she had a cup of tea and then went home with her husband half an hour later.
I have been very excited about The Quantum Lift for a while, but I’m only getting more excited the more I do. I really believe this is a massive step towards an effective way to rejuvenate the lower face and neck whilst avoiding traditional facelift scars.
Everyone knows we do lots of sophisticated facial work in the clinic. But did you know we also now do a lot of breast work too?
This is one of our patients who wanted breast augmentation. She specifically wanted more upper pole fullness so Kavita selected a 325cc high profile implant from Mentor, but placed them under the muscle to give a more natural take off. Mentor are considered the gold standard for breast implant quality and we only use their implants in the clinic.
The patient is just a few weeks post-op, so there is still a little bit of settling to go but she is already delighted with the shape and size. The key to breast surgery is listening to the patients concerns and then tailoring the procedure to get them the result they want - which is something the very fabulous Miss Kavita excels at.
What do you think?
The SMAS Facelift is back at McKeown Medical!�
Patients tell us all the time that they want to get rid of their jowls and facial sagging, but are hesitant about a lengthy surgical procedure or taking several weeks away from work and social commitments. The SMAS Facelift is an excellent alternative for patients who want meaningful improvement without the bigger commitment. �
It`s a technique that lifts and repositions the deeper tissues of the face while removing excess skin. Until Deep Plane became more popular in the last 10 years, SMAS was the gold standard. Compared with Deep Plane, it takes about 3 hours instead of 6-8, can be done under local anaesthetic, has a shorter recovery, and lower risk of nerve injury. For many patients with moderate facial ageing, it produces excellent, long-lasting results at £12,000, all performed by the phenomenal @bramhallplasticsurgery.�
This is one of our patients who had a SMAS Facelift with eyelid surgery five years ago. She`s maintained her results with HA fillers, like many of our surgical patients do, but otherwise her results are still going strong. That`s what SMAS can give you.
Every face ages differently and every patient has different circumstances. Some need the extensive correction of Deep Plane, especially if they have a heavy neck. Others are better suited to SMAS, particularly if you want a less invasive option with quicker recovery.
The right choice depends on your anatomy, your concerns, and your lifestyle. If you’d like to know more about the SMAS facelift, drop your questions in the comments or send us a DM!
So here she is! The one we’ve all been waiting for 😍 This is Lorraine 5 days after her Quantum lift. She’s still at home recovering because she had her body done too (more on that soon), so she’s not been back in the clinic for proper after photos yet. But she’s already delighted and sending the dreamteam these selfies from home. She’s obviously still very early and a bit swollen, but I think we can all see where this is heading already! I’m very excited for Lorraine… and for all of our lovely patients who are already booked for Quantum. This is a game changer for loose skin!
Thank you to this lovely patient for allowing us to share her upper blepharoplasty results, by the phenomenal @bramhallplasticsurgery .
This patient is 62 and came to us feeling self-conscious about the heaviness and puffiness of her upper eyelids. She`d found herself regularly raising her eyebrows just to lift the skin away from her eyes and had noticed a shadow appearing when she looked upwards and outwards, which was beginning to affect her peripheral vision.
Heavy upper eyelids can really knock people`s confidence, especially in social situations and in photos, and yet it`s one of the most straightforward areas to address.
The procedure itself takes around 45–60 minutes and is carried out while patients are awake under local anaesthetic. The scars sit within the natural crease of the eyelid, making them almost impossible to spot once healed
This is just 2.5 months post-surgery, and her scars are already settling beautifully. They`ll continue to fade over the next 12 months.
What do you think?