Tweakments and How to Age Gracefully

Tweakments are little ‘tweaks’

There’s a false belief that it is immediately noticeable if someone has had non-surgical treatments or small surgeries, and some people believe there will be a drastic difference between the before and after. Although some major procedures will give an immediate and obvious result, many smaller treatments, or ‘tweakments’ are designed to refresh and enhance your natural features to maintain a youthful and fresh appearance.

Let’s take a look at what tweakments are, how they evolved and why they may be the right option for you.

The post-pandemic ‘Zoom Boom’

During the pandemic, we experienced a universal rise in video calls with meetings, appointments and even social gatherings moving online. This left many of us staring at our faces, day in, day out and becoming more aware of those little creases and wrinkles which we otherwise may not have noticed.

Online searches for skincare increased 100% during the first lockdown, and with people having more disposable income from not going on holiday or having nights out, many people booked appointments with clinics as soon as they were able to. 

Tweakments for brighter eyes

One of the first areas people have concerns about are their eyes. The skin around the eyes is thinner and more fragile, showing signs of aging such as wrinkles and sagging earlier than other parts of the face.

If you are concerned about your brows dropping, creating a heavy look around the eyes, consider a non-surgical brow lift. By using Botox and dermal fillers, your surgeon can lift and tone the skin, refreshing the brow contour and making your eyes look more open and youthful. This treatment lasts around 3-6 months depending on the exact methods used.

Hollowing under the eyes is a common aging concern for many, caused by the fat pads under the eyes breaking down and the cheekbones beginning to recede. Under eye filler (also known as tear through filler) helps to restore this volume and gives a smooth youthful appearance under the eyes. Filler lasts between 6 and 18 months, depending on the type of filler used and how quickly your body naturally breaks it down.

Losing the volume around your temples can have a very aging effect on the face and is a concern many people have. Dermal filler can be injected into this area to restore this lost volume, and recontour the upper area of the face, giving a lifted and refreshed look. Again, you can expect filler to last in this area for between 6-18 months, depending on the type of filler used.

Tweakments for refreshed skin

Dull, tired skin is immediately aging, and sometimes skincare alone won’t cut it. If you are looking for fresher, brighter skin, consider any of the following treatments.

Profhilo is a very thin filler, designed to hydrate and plump the skin, leaving a very natural glowy appearance. If you are concerned about dull skin, dryness, fine lines or the early signs of sagging, Profhilo is a great option. Initially, you will need two treatments, spaced 4 weeks apart, and follow up treatments every 6-12 months to maintain the results.

If you feel you have lost volume in your cheeks and the midsection of your face, your surgeon can inject filler to recontour volumise this area. This will have an instantly rejuvenating effect, with full results being visible after around 2 weeks. This treatment will last 6-18 months depending on the type of filler used and you can expect to have maintenance treatments once or twice a year.

Concern about general lack of tone, and sagging skin can be targeted with Sculptra. This is a type of filler based on lactic acid, which naturally stimulates collagen production in your skin giving you natural volume and glow. Initially, you will need 2-3 treatments each spaced 2-4 weeks apart. To maintain your results, you will need to return to your surgeon every 2 years.

Tweakments for fine lines

The most common treatment for fine lines and wrinkles is Botox. This injectable treatment relaxes the muscles in the face to prevent the movement which creates expression lines. The most mobile areas of the face can be treated, including the forehead, between the eyebrows, the outer edges of the eyes (crow’s feet) and the mouth area. The effects of Botox vary for everyone but most people will find the treatment last around 3-6 months.

How to age gracefully (without surgery)

Surgery doesn’t appeal to everyone for a variety of reasons, and fortunately it is not essential to undergo surgery if you are looking to ward off those common signs of aging. Some people also want to embrace certain natural elements of the aging process, while treating and preventing others - tweakments are a great way of doing this.

Some people find that certain traits of aging such as drooping eyebrows, hollowed eyes or wrinkles around their lips make them look permanently sad, or unapproachable. By softening these undesirable features, refreshes your appearance without drastically changing your facial structure or looking like you’ve had obvious work done.

What growing old gracefully means to different people

The aging process and how you want to approach aging is individual for everyone and the best aesthetic doctors will take your concerns and desires into account during your bespoke consultation.

Many celebrities embrace a more natural approach to aging but maintain a fresh appearance. Penelope Cruz, Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston, Christy Turlington, Kate Winslet, Rachel Weisz, and Helen Mirren all show natural signs of aging whilst still looking refreshed and not ‘done’.

It is important to remember that ‘you don’t look your age’ isn’t necessarily a compliment and beauty is valid at every age. However you choose to celebrate your age and your appearance is entirely up to you and you shouldn’t feel pressured into trying to turn back the clock or purely retain how you looked when you were younger.

How to age gracefully with preventative measures

As well as certain tweakments, there are lifestyle choices you can embrace from any age, to keep your skin strong and help to prevent signs of aging. Protecting your skin, by wearing sunscreen every day, and avoiding sun exposure for long periods of time, is one of the best ways to prevent fine lines and maintain high quality skin. Establishing a skincare routine including topical exfoliants such as lactic or glycolic acid, retinoids and hyaluronic acid will also help to strengthen your skin and prevent aging. Sun protection and skincare, also have the added benefit of helping the effects of any tweakments you do choose to get to last longer.

Lifestyle factors such as a healthy, varied diet and not smoking will also ensure your skin health is maintained for longer by preventing the collagen and elastin in your skin from breaking down.

Do men get tweakments?

Absolutely! Although it isn’t discussed openly very often, plenty of men choose to get tweakments for many of the same reasons as women. Wanting a refreshed, more youthful look isn’t just for the ladies.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and age is a gift

Mark Twain once wrote, ‘Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many.’ However you choose to approach aging is entirely up to you, and there is no shame, whatever route you choose. Tweakments are a great option for helping to target certain areas of the face that you aren’t 100% happy with whilst still allowing your natural beauty to shine through.

If you'd like to find out about how to improve the quality of your skin or to soften fine lines when ageing gracefully and naturally, book a consultation with Cadogan Clinic in Chelsea, London.