The Apprentice winner Dr Leah on the best ways to reinvent your body and skin complexion for 2017

Dr Leah on why both quick fixes and patience are key to successful transformations
Dr. Leah5 January 2017

New Year is always earmarked as the time when we review our health and beauty routines, but research shows that whilst 40 per cent of us make New Year's Resolutions, 80 per cent of these will be abandoned by mid-February

I am sure that this is because we set ourselves unreachable targets which are all about stopping (over eating or smoking), or starting (an exercise regime). And trying to do all these at the same time, in the darkest/bleakest time of the year.

However, the resolutions which are most readily adhered to are the ones which require minimal effort or minimal sacrifice or which can be easily segued into our daily lives.

I also think it is preferable to set January as a time for reinventing yourself. This has positive psychological connotations and it not about deprivation, or draconian regimes. It is a time to reflect on the year gone by and put right those things which we can do, one thing at a time.

This also means that one is not left with a profound sense of failure in February, which is likely to trigger the resumption of habits you are trying to kick.

Dr Leah Clinic is awarded the Best Cosmetic Clinic in London

Make incremental changes, one thing at a time

I advise my patients to prioritise and let me tackle one issue at a time – and I would suggest that this is an approach which would suit those trying to kick bad habits for 2017. Most treatments are performed in a domino or cascade formation as the body needs time to modify, heal or adjust before embarking on the next stage.

For example many of the newest treatments I carry out stimulate the body to regenerate its own lost collagen. This can take several weeks after treatment and it would be foolhardy and unnecessary to carry out additional filling (for example) until the full effects of the body’s own handiwork can be appreciated.

This is also the ethos of my newest treatment, the Dr Leah Lift which I will be announcing in February. It does away with the need for facial freezing and dermal fillers and takes a staged approach which is carried out over three to four appointments several weeks apart.

Whatever the change you're trying to make, be sure to make it doable and only alter one bad habit at a time.

Good things come to those who wait

Whether a treatment requires a number of appointments or time to appreciate results, making changes oftn requires patience.

Tattoo removal is one area which requires time to achieve maximum results. I utilise an award winning medical grade, FDA approved, laser which can be used to successfully remove tattoos.

The way I perform laser hair removal similarly requires a series of sessions, but treatment is comfortable and the effects are permanent so it is worth the wait.

Body toning also takes time to be fully appreciated. I use a powerful and revolutionary device which is bespoke to my Dr Leah Clinics. Uniquely thanks to this technology, all the individual treatments can be combined to achieve maximum results. However the visible results take around 8 -12 weeks to take effect, so whilst there is minimal effort involved, the outcome requires time to appreciate.

Quick wins are important too

Psychologically a few quick wins are also important. We need to see something taking effect sooner rather than later to keep ourselves satiated while waiting for the deep seated issues to be resolved. For this reason I suggest treating yourself to at least one quick fix early in January.

In as little as twenty minutes it is possible to diminish one of the biggest give-away signs of aging - wrinkled hands – which can be plumped up using dermal filler injections. The treatment will also disguise veins, making the hands look instantly younger. You could also opt for subtle ‘sprinkles’ or microinjections of Botulinum toxin will revive areas of the face which divulge your age, with results showing in two to three days.

In forty minutes you can also declog and revive your complexion. London pollution and central heating wreak havoc on the skin, so in January I always recommend an exfoliating facial treatment which involves a deep-cleansing facial, followed by microdermabrasion. By using the best products and the most advanced techniques, this treatment offers deep exfoliation which is also particularly effective for blackhead removal.

By following these steps you should be set to face the short and longer term future with renewed optimism.

For more information about all the treatments mentioned please visit drleah.co.uk

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