The extreme beauty bizz is flourishing. Nowadays, there's no stigma or taboo attached, and you may be surprised how many peeps you know that pop off for a quick dose of forehead-filling and dermatological refreshment during their lunch break. Until recently, my knowledge of the subject was strictly confined to Patsy's obsession with Paralox in an episode of Ab Fab, and an unexplained fascination with Marcia Cross' forehead, but turns out – it's not all scarily blank expressions and freakishly unlined faces, and with more and more young people flocking for fillers, the Botox buzz looks set to stick around for years to come.
Wrinkle woes 
Some people see their wrinkles as the bane of their existence. Our culture and society is so youth-oriented that you could say wrinkles, especially on women, have become totally undesirable, with fewer and fewer ladies wearing them proudly as a symbol of great age and wisdom.
Why do we get wrinkles? Well, they're mostly associated with ageing. As we get older, the cells in our skin become thinner and lose elasticity due to the ever-decreasing level of collagen – a natural protein that provides strength, resilience, and support to the skin – production in our bods. These cells also divide more slowly, delaying skin repair and renewal, and the fat cells just under the outer layer of our skin, which make skin plump and supple, get smaller and stop filling any gaps created with ageing.
And so, our skin sags, dries, and becomes wrinkled. Oh, the joys of ageing!
As well as this natural process, which can sometimes occur as early as in our twenties, our complexions also have to cope with everyday skin-nasties like sun exposure, free radicals such as pollution and cigarette smoke, and even gravity – all of which can contribute to the loss of a line-free face.
Day to day life can become a daily endurance test for skin, so it's not surprising so many peeps now opt for cosmetic surgery when it comes to prolonging a little slice of youth. If you'd like to banish the unwelcome signs of ageing and are as clueless as I was on the 'what, whys and hows', read on for a beginner's lowdown on filler facts…
BOTOX
What? Botox is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and is probably the most popular of the non-surgical injections available.
Why? It temporarily reduces or eliminates frown lines, forehead creases, crow's feet near the eyes and thick bands in the neck.
How? Botox works by blocking signals from the nerves to the facial muscles, therefore relaxing the muscles that contract and cause wrinkles.
Face facts: Botox injections take just a few minutes and no anaesthetic is required. During your visit, expect to be asked to contract the facial muscles – by frowning or squinting – that affect the area to be treated, this is to help your surgeon determine the best location for the injection. The Botox is normally injected directly into the muscle with a teeny-tiny needle. Any discomfort is typically minimal and brief.
There is generally no recovery period. You can go directly back to your normal activities, be it back to work or straight out on the town to showcase your smoothness (although it can take up to three days for the full effect to take hold).
Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. Some people can get headaches, which disappear within 24-48 hours, but this is rare. A small percentage of patients may develop eyelid drooping, but this usually resolves itself within three weeks. Some people have reported flu-like symptoms and nausea, again rare.
Effects can last up to 4 months, although results do vary. You can have Botox injections once every 4 months.
Cost? Can be between £175-£350 per area treated.
DERMAL FILLERS
What? Dermal fillers are injectable, natural substances found in the body, either collagen or hyaluronic acid. They're used to fill out lines and wrinkles, sunken cheeks, weak chins – they can even be used to fill acne scars and reshape noses and lips.
Why? Injecting dermal fillers into aged skin plumps it up, makes it firmer and smoothes out any unwelcome lines and wrinkles.
How? 'Does exactly what it says on the tin' by filling anywhere that needs filling with Collagen or hyaluronic acid, which keep skin looking smooth and supple. Collagen is a protein that provides your skin with structural support, whilst hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar found in all living cells that act like a magnet for water, keeping the skin hydrated and plump.
Hyaluronic acid-based fillers, like Restylane (one of the first and most popular), are proven to give longer-lasting results than that of collagen fillers. Collagen is derived from cows' skin, so an allergy test is required before treatment. As hyaluronic acid fillers are non-animal-based, no tests are needed.
Face facts: Your face may be numbed with a local anaesthetic cream or injection, then the fillers are injected under the skin – this can be a bit uncomfortable, with injections close to the lip or nose likely to be the most painful, although this does depend on the person.
Dermal fillers can take up to an hour and, again, many people can go straight back to their daily activities without worry, although this depends on the size of the area treated – f you've had a lot of fillers, you might want a couple of hours to recoup. There might be mild bruising or redness, but this will disappear in a few days. Patients who have had cold sores in the past can suffer an outbreak and, very rarely, red lumps can appear under the skin some months after treatment.
Repeat treatments are needed every six to nine months to maintain the appearance.
Cost? Can be between £150-£750, depending on type of filler used and number of injections.
REMEMBER
Always consult a qualified practitioner before going ahead. No A-list face ever graced a backstreet clinic!
ALTERNATIVES TO TREATMENT
Growing old gracefully is nothing to be ashamed of, and a few wrinkles doesn't mean you have to hotfoot it to your nearest needle-wielder – just look to fabulous aged starlets Helen Mirren, Sigourney Weaver and Susan Sarandon for inspiration!
But if your wrinkles are getting you down, there are other ways to improve the signs of ageing without resorting to cosmetic treatment. As well as our favourite anti-ageing lotions and potions, you could try facial exercises, which can improve muscle tone and circulation, and wearing a sunscreen on your face – even when the skies are grey – will protect your complexion from the harmful effects of the sun. Most importantly, quit smoking! Cigarette smoke causes premature ageing, fact.
