The world may be rising from its pandemic-induced slumber, but there’s a rude awakening ahead: many people are taking a closer look at their mask-less faces – and plenty don’t like what they see.
As Medical Director of the New York Dermatology Group at the Harrods Wellness Clinic in London, Dr Costas Papageorgiou has become familiar with this particular side effect of the pandemic over the past two years, observing a host of skin-related troubles among his well-heeled clients. “I’ve noticed a lot of inflammation, redness and dryness due to stress, altered metabolic activities and nutritional habits,” says the aesthetic expert. “Also, people have been spending prolonged periods of time indoors where the atmosphere tends to be dry. This, combined with a lack of sun exposure and consequent vitamin D absorption, is a recipe for disaster.”
The good news is that these issues, along with a number of other common cosmetic complaints, can easily be resolved without seeing the inside of an operating room. Though Dr Papageorgiou is a trained oculofacial plastic surgeon with extensive certifications in America, Europe and the UK, he often eschews surgical procedures in favour of minimally invasive treatments, or ‘tweakments’, especially for his male clients.
“Men shouldn’t rush into surgical interventions,” he says. “There is a very fine line to how you can achieve ‘noticeable-yet-not-noticeable’ results. The challenge is in defining and defending this line at all times.”
Having honed his skills in the best private practices in Beverly Hills, Dr Papageorgiou is adept at walking that line. He applies only the latest cutting-edge aesthetic techniques and treatments at the NYDG clinic in central London, many of which can be completed in the space of a lunch hour – with the client back in the boardroom directly after, his colleagues none the wiser.
Below, Dr Papageorgiou walks us through some of the most highly effective treatments for prevalent cosmetic issues, to get those coveted “did he or didn’t he?” results.
Dr. Costas Papageorgiou
“A masculine and well-defined jawline is one of the most attractive male facial features. If yours is looking a little saggy, baggy and bloated, a tighter look can be achieved in less than 10 mins with hyaluronic gel fillers, which strategically sculpt the lower third of the face. This ‘Tie Tuck’ treatment, which is both subtle and effective, will camouflage submental laxity and the appearance of a double chin.”
“For skin tone improvement, I would recommend the NYDG Illumino facial: a combination of light energy waves and laser waves, which can improve pigmentation, redness and sun damage, smoothing the pores and refining complexion with zero downtime.”
“As well as reshaping the nose directly with hyaluronic acid gel, which can easily be reversed and naturally dissolves over time, the same technique can be used indirectly, elsewhere on the face. For example, treating shadowing – an effect of ageing that can make eyes look ‘hollow’ – helps the nose to blend better without drawing attention.”
“A light dose of anti-wrinkle injections (botulinum toxin) between the brows and side smile lines will create a relaxed appearance and improve the light reflection. Avoiding the forehead is the game-changer, as we can raise the heavy eyebrows yet maintain expression and dynamic lines on the forehead, so no one can suspect any signs of intervention. This form of so-called ‘camouflage botox’ will also diminish the risk of you coming out of the surgery with a totally immobile face.”
“I recommend re-boosting your skin cell metabolism with laser energy-based facials, such as our ‘HydraGenesis’ and ‘OxyGenesis’ procedures. Treatments that incorporate Intense Pulse Light platforms also really help to moderate inflammation and redness in the skin.
“Alternatively, aquagold mesotherapy would be a great option if you had to choose one treatment for an instant refresh. Through microscopic gold-plated channels, fortified solutions of antioxidants, vitamins, hydrating molecules and growth factors are directly delivered into the skin. It doesn’t require anaesthesia, and the face has a healthy glow immediately following the treatment. Highly recommended.”
“It’s never too late to start to delay the ageing cascade, as regular sessions of energy-based treatments, such as ultrasound or infrared treatments, will improve skin laxity and tone the muscle beneath the skin. My favourites are Ultherapy, Titan and Laser Genesis. Another trick to keep a youthful appearance is with volumising agents – fillers such as Allergan. In the right hands, an aesthetician will have the expertise to achieve the ‘unnoticeable’ change.
“Many men start to battle with rosacea and solar elastosis when they pass middle age, due to not following a healthy sun care regime. People generally fixate on how to reverse the impact of time, but it is equally as important to delay it. This is why I believe the anti-ageing approach should start in the early 30s and rely heavily on technological innovations and a good skincare regime to increase skin resilience and slow down the pace of time. Nutritional anti-aging is equally important, and I always try to bring the focus of my clients to a 360° wellness lifestyle. This combination can pause the ageing process.”
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