Contemplating bigger lips? Before committing, see what our SKINtellectuals say is brand new and what will be trending in aesthetics in 2018.

Before you settle down on your doctor’s couch for 2 mls of lip filler, you might want to think about whether you’re presumptuous pout will make you look passé.

According to Dr Shirin Lakhani, founder of Elite Aesthetics in Kent, fashions change fast and those big Kylie Jenner lips have had their day. Mirroring the trends in cosmetic surgery she says people are opting  for a ‘less over done’  and more natural look.

1. A refreshing change

She believes 2018 will be the year of ‘wellness’ and looking refreshed.

“It’s more about looking well rather than looking younger. People want to look a good 50, not 20 years younger. They want to look well and refreshed.”

She says this is part of an overall trend toward “wellness and a whole-self approach.” Rather than relying on botox and fillers perk them up people requesting IV vitamin drips to boost their health and energy levels as well as their skin health.

And it’s not just the fairer sex. She’s also seeing more men coming in for treatments and, like the women, they’re interested in overall skin care and skin health as a way to prevent aging.

2. What – no Botox? Natural rejuvenation with Skin lifting rather than face lifting

According to Dr Leah Totton, winner of the 2013 BBC Apprentice series, things are chaing fast when it comes to fixing sagging jawlines and wrinkly skin.

She predicts that the next trend will be treatments which use skin lifting technologies and non-surgical techniques to offer a scalpel free, Botox-free, filler-free face lift.

“I have developed a lift which involves a combination of treatments which tackle the signs of ageing by stimulating the body’s own natural collagen production to address sagging of the skin of the face, jowls and neck.  This approach offers an alternative muscle freezing and filling and instead reboots the body’s ability to produce collagen, laying it down where nature intended.  It is very much the future face of cosmetic medicine.

“I use a combination of Silhouette Soft threads and ultrasound, combined with other bespoke elements to bring about a natural rejuvenation,” she says.

3. Contouring – for men and women

But that doesn’t mean the days of fillers and Botox are done – instead, their being used differently. Dr Leah says over plumped cheeks are out and clients are requesting a more contoured and defined look. By enhancing facial features with the judicious placement of dermal fillers and Botox she can define, enhance and sculpt the face.

Those undergoing this facial sculpting treatment can have Botox applied to the masseter muscle (the muscle that controls the jaw movement) to reshape a heavy or square jaw into a more heart-like shape. Cheek filler can lift and define the cheekbones and chin filler can be used to achieve the correct size and shape to balance and complement other facial features, such as the nose and lips.

Again it is not just women who are asking for facial contouring, 30% of her patients are male. Dr Leah is also being asked to redefine their jaws and cheekbones to give them a more chiseled appearance.

4. Preventative health down below- anti-aging gynaecology

It’s not just faces that are getting a makeover. Dr Shirin says the other area of rapid growth she’s noted is in aesthetic gynaecology, but this isn’t just about the way things look – it’s anti-aging gynaecology.

Just as our face ages, so do the other parts of our body, including the vaginal walls. This aging see’s them thinning and can lead to a dry vagina, painful sex and stress incontinence as the vagina no longer gives the urethra in front of it as much support as it did in years gone by.

There are various treatments for this these days ranging from radio-frequency, ultrasound, and platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatments, and even fillers with hyaluronic acid,  that can help rejuvenate the vaginal walls and promote collagen production.

“As people have become more aware of what’s out there in terms of treatments they’re doing it as a preventative measure – to keep things in order as they age.”

4. The M-word: It’s all about the Hormones

The other area where Dr Shirin has seen growth is in requests for help dealing with menopause symptoms.

“I’m seeing an increase in people asking for treatments to help with their menopause symptoms. In addition to local therapies to improve vaginal symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and bio-identical hormones are really taking off and people are turning to aesthetic practitioners  for answers. Especially as they feel they are not getting the support from the NHS.”

And what’s new? 

1. J-Plasma: resufacing and skin tighening

Dr Ruhul Amin, Medical Director of the Rejuvence Clinic in East London says one new technology to look out for when it comes to skin tightening and resurfacing is J-Plasma. It’s a new technology from the US that is making its way across the pond.

“This is a new & potentially revolutionary advanced energy device that uses the unique properties of cold helium plasma with radiofrequency energy to tighten and resurface the skin.”

And while that sounds technical, Dr Amin says the results he’s seen from it are phenomenal. It works be heating the skin, but to much lower temperatures than other plasma-style treatments that can leave a crusting on the skin’s surface.

“This drastically reduces the potential for complications. The procedure removes the epidermis on the first pass. It then tightens the dermis on the next pass, thus shrinking and eliminating visible lines and folds. It can, without exaggeration, make someone look 10-20 years younger,” he claims.

“The whole face, including around the eyes, the mouth, the chin, and the neck are treatable with J-Plasma skin resurfacing.  The device can also be used sub-dermally to tighten skin from within and is particularly effective for neck, arms, abdomen & legs.”

2. Belkyra (KYBELLA^®) – dissolving double chins

Another new thing that’s got lots of Harley Street Emporium doctor’s excited it Belkyra (Kybella). This is a a fat-dissolving injectable that can be used in certain areas to dissolve fat cells.

It is being launched in the UK in 2018 by Allergan. Consultant Plastic surgeon, Mr Reza Nassab explains it’s “the fat dissolving drug that’s been approved in the UK for double chins. It’s pricey, but it’s had some good reviews, but it’s only been licensed for the chin area.”

According to Allergan: “The active ingredient in KYBELLA^® is synthetic deoxycholic acid. Deoxycholic acid is a molecule that occurs naturally in the body that aids in the breakdown and absorption of dietary fat. When injected into the fat beneath the chin, KYBELLA^® destroys fat cells, resulting in a noticeable reduction in fullness under the chin. Once destroyed, these cells can no longer store or accumulate fat, so further treatment is not expected once you reach your desired aesthetic goal.”

So, there you have it! Deflate those big lips and get sculpted, smoothed and tightened instead. But as always, make sure your doctor is on the GMC register, or if it’s a dentist that they are on the General Dental Council. In either case make sure they have completed courses and are qualified to perform the procedures you are interested in.