Medical Pedicure- I'd never heard of it before but it was brilliant

My friend Christine had treated me to a pedicure for my birthday which was very kind.  I had the appointment booked for the Thursday of this week at a local beauty salon and so after returning from my holiday I’d let my feet go without any attention, they looked terrible. I had hard skin and the toenails had the residue of varnish repeatedly painted on top of each other, yuck! When I arrived at the Skin Clinic Natasha was one of the therapists in the room whilst I was having my T3 Fotona Rejuvenation laser treatment.  I think she had spotted my toes peeping out from my sandals because when I finished my laser treatment she suggested I should have a Medical Pedicure.  I was a bit embarrassed because I think my toes and feet did seem the worst for wear big time.  In the past I have had five operations on my feet and toes and so they are not the prettiest things I have on my body!

I wasn’t sure as my pedicure was booked for two days time and it had been a gift but I was quite ashamed of walking around with feet that needed a complete overhaul.  I also had what felt like an in growing toenail so that needed to be seen to as well. After the initial embarrassment at how bad they were I said to Natasha that I would go ahead.  Bemused too I had never heard of a medical pedicure before, so what was in store for my disgraced feet?  My normal pedicure I cancelled and chose a back massage instead.

Firstly it does not involve water, your feet are sprayed with antibacterial foot spray and all the utensils used for the Medical Pedicure are all sterilised and then placed under a UV light for complete bacterial free tools to start the pedicure.  Glancing at my toes they were quite awful, like little fat sausages and tired nails one of which was split.  Natasha discussed my feet and told me she felt I had vitamin D Deficiency and I did have an in grown toenail and it was painful to the touch.  Natasha explained that the pedicure was a very deep treatment and that she was able to remove the dead skin without cutting and the ingrown toenail would be removed during the process of the treatment.

Natasha started by using a small tool with a round tip that she used to grind down the length of the nail and go over the nail cleaning any stains made by the varnish and environment.  Afterwards another tool was used and this was a smaller nozzle and this was inserted around the whole toe removing skin and some of the large cuticle which had been given a chance to grow. Already my toes were looking so much better, the varnish had gone and also some residue of glitter that I’d jazzed my toes up with.  They were a real after holiday disaster.  Natasha then used another fitting of which was thicker again and she ran this over the toes, along the top of the nail and removed more hard skin.  I have such tiny nails on my smallest toes that it was amazing when she had removed some hard skin I could actually see the nail which had been covered for years and years, WOW! I had nails there!!

Placing a small implement all along the nails and removing even more residue of skin and presumably ingrained dirt Natasha was deeply engrossed in concentration.  I was sitting on a chair with one leg up in a stirrup type of leg support, feeling a little uncomfortable at one point Natasha asked if I would like a break but a little wiggle and jiggle in the seat and I was fine for her to carry on.  After really getting in every nook and cranny down the side of my toes, Natasha trimmed and used the tiniest of file and filed down the side of the nails after removing my in grown toenail, she filed up and down gently making sure the nail was not embedding anywhere on all my toes.  I found it all quite fascinating as my feet seriously were being transformed before my eyes. She continually used a disinfectant to make sure everything was kept scrupulously clean.  It was like a little operating room and Natasha wore a mask all the way through.  (It was OK not for the smell my feet were like roses they just had an awful appearance).

From horrendous to happy, my feet seemed pretty good.  A small whizzing sound and Natasha began to file down gently my hard skin, the tool she was using was a round shaped file and it rotated over the skin softening and removing the evidence of feet that had been working very hard for their owner.  Despite the scars I have on my feet (4 altogether) Natasha handled my feet in a caring way.  The second round file she attached buffed and polished the skin smoothing it down.  Finishing with a luxurious foot cream massaged in, it was divine.  We took some photos during the pedicure (I asked Natasha if they had a camera as I was amazed at the transformation when I peeped at the first foot after the treatment and looked at the foot before and compared them, we were both laughing).

So a medical pedicure is definitely more controlled with regard to infection, the session gives advice and certainly gets really deep down the side of each nail.  My toes did feel a little tender on leaving and the next day but my feet had never looked so good.  I just come back from my back massage in Heathfield (ouch it hurt) and today my feet appear brilliant and feel so clean and I bought myself some vitamin D supplements  and vitamin E oil to rub into my nails on the advice given from Natalie.

I didn’t leave with painted toe nails because I was short of time but Natasha certainly knows her stuff and told me she was trained with precision and I can see that.  I can walk now without wincing as my in grown toenail was painful but I am pain free now (Whoopee!) and I can honestly say my feet and toes have seriously never felt so good, in fact that night I got home I asked my husband to tickle them for me and I was quite proud of them as I wiggled them for his approval.

After my treatment on left foot

Before my treatment on right foot Oh dear hide!!!

                                            Natasha concentrating and working wonders!!

Fotona Fractional T3 Photo Rejuvenation Treatment: Skin and Laser Clinic Tunbridge Wells- Ugly duckling to beautiful swan

Congratulating myself this week on a new job, helping people with alcohol addiction, I decided that before the hard work begins in two weeks time, I was again to drive the 40 mile round trip to Tunbridge Wells to the Skin and Laser Clinic for a treat especially for me.  To say I am a fan of their treatments would be an understatement.  I love it there, it makes you feel so good after a session of pampering.  Plus they have treatments which I have never heard of before but we will come to that later. You can look on their website http://www.skinlc.co.uk/

I had arranged for the T3 photo rejuvenation treatment, which is a laser and I was more than a little nervous.  Before I came to the appointment I kept on thinking, "How does it not form big lumps under the skin?" "Will it be painful?" "How does it not burn your skin?" "Oh dear, the drama queen part of me was doing it's best to wreck the relaxations side of this treatment", I thought out loud, "Pull yourself together Dawn, ask more questions if you're unsure when you get there!"

So on arrival I was met and welcomed by Toni the Assistant Manager, I enjoyed a large chiiled glass of water and then met my therapist/nurse for the laser treatment , her name was Aksana, what a pretty name.  Aksana explained that the treatment would be carried out in two seperate rooms, the first to cleanse and exfoliate my skin and then to move to the room with the laser.  Poor Aksana, within seconds of getting through the door I was babbling loads of questions that I needed to ask and get some answers to.  Aksana explained that the procedure was very safe, it works on the layer under the skin it would "Do the three T's, Tone, Tighten and improve the Texture." Laying my fears to rest she thoroughly went through exactly what she was going to do.  Lumps in my face (drama queen) were not an option either, this just wouldn't happen, it stimulates the growth of  new collagen production by producing localized thermal injury to the dermis that initiates a wound-healing response and the improvements take place over a period of time.  If anything Aksana comfortingly reassured me that my skin will feel smoother, pores would present as smaller and tighter skin would be evident.  Aksana asked if I minded if another member of the nursing staff was present during the treatment, the more the merrier I thought, hoping more people to help if I really let my nerves get the better of me.

Lying down in the laser room, I had been cleansed and exfoliated and then Aksana described what was going to happen next.  All members of the team had to wear protective glasses and I would also need to wear them too, only mine were slightly different.  Their glasses were more like small skiing goggles but mine were silver and like large ants eyes, they covered my eyes with muslin/cotton wool underneath for extra comfort and protection.  Running verbally through how the laser was going to be passed over my skin in three different directions all over my face, upper lip and my neck but not decolletage, as I was not having that area treated. Aksana discussed that once this had happened she was going to then change the nozzle on the laser and then the second pass would be hotter than the first pass.  I have to admit I was very very nervous, despite the fact that we had spent ages chatting through the procedure, risks e.t.c I was still apprehensive and unsure but determined all would be fine because I have nothing but respect for the way the clinic treat their clients and it always seems so clean and professional.  So here we go!!!  I could feel me clenching my hands together in anticipation and specualtion of what it was going to really be like experiencing the laser and what the results would show at the end of the day and the next day to.

Eyes shut and covered, my hands clenched tight and occssionally writhing around my nuckles, Aksana told me she would talk to me all the way through, so I knew exactly what she was going to do next.  She was brilliant, as the laser was passed over my cheeks it made a clicking beep sound and with every click it felt a little warmer, it wasn't too hot and quite bearable.  Click/beep, click/beep, click/beep, click/beep, click/beep done and then she moved onto the next area, the warmth subsides quickly.  After the three directional passes, I could feel my cheeks flushing, not burning but just like you'd danced with gusto, passion and then sat down. When Aksana run the laser overy my forehead that appeared very sensitive and hotter and she used a cooler onto the skin to help.  Blasts of cool air hit my forehead and it felt wonderfully chilled.  At one point it felt like my skin felt tighter already, I commented on this during the laser treatment. Three passes had been completed over both cheeks, forehead, under my eyes but not to near them, on my chin and under my neck ( I hate my neck, turkey gobbler on the way, been exercising and trying to loose weight to reduce it). 


Aksana spent some more time reassuring me about the next part of the treatment.  "I am going to pass the laser across the skin again but this time it will get hotter.  When you feel it is hot enough for you please tell me and I will move onto the next part to treat".  "Ok, I will let you know", I experienced more nerves at this point "How much hotter will it get?" "Am I going to burn myself if I don't say stop if it gets too hot?"  Again my drama queen head was wrong, as the laser passed over my skin as it got hotter I just said "yes" and  Aksana moved on, it was definately hotter than the first passes but I think through nerves and the unknown I was quite conservative with my "Yes's" "Yes," Yes, " Yes" but she always stopped as soon as I said yes so I felt in control.  We chatted after the treatment finished and I was shown my face in the mirror, I was laying down and looked a little puffy in the face but I think that's because I was horizontal, I didn't look puffy when I looked in the mirror at home.  Today is the next day after the T3 and I can see my neck is not so wrinkly than yesterday, I am begining to see a difference in my face already, the skin feels tighter.  I saw my reflection today and my neck is improved.

The clinic reccomends 3 treatments, I have another one booked for about 4 weeks time and I am going to their Juvederm open evening on Thursday 7th October and I believe you can just ring up and book a place, I saw a poster in the clinic for the evening but places are limited so get ringing the number is 01892 535577.  If you can go come and find me so we can have a chat if you've read my blog, ask me questions about my treatments I am more than happy to give you my opinion and truthful answers.  Getting back to vast array of treatments listed, whislt I was there I was offered a medical pedicure instead of the the traditional pedicure.  I had never heard of a medical pedicure so I decided to give it a go, they had to be very brave to face my feet but that's my next blog.  Happy days, just off to look at my face again and see how I am turning from an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan :-) Changes are supposed to take place over the next few months on my skin as the collagen renews itself and because I have another appointment booked in four weeks I will keep you updated on the progress the treatment has on my skins tone texture and tightness of the skin.


          

Skin Master rejuventation System at Med Spa Royal Tunbridge Wells Skin and Laser Clinic

Just got back from Corfu where I celebrated my 48th birthday at an all inclusive hotel, (too much vino and food). Lazing back in the sun, factor 50 applied to my face I often looked like Casper the ghost but relaxing back I dreamt of being a Six Million Dollar woman and if you are about or near my age, you'll remember there was once a six million dollar man who had been rebuilt!! So on my return to the UK, I decided I have to loose weight, get fitter and keep up my beauty treatments, boy do I feel I need them at the moment.

I booked a Skin Master Skin Rejuvenation System at the Med Spa Royal Tunbridge Wells, after my facial treatment for my pigmentation on my forehead was so successfully removed.  I felt dehydrated, the wine and whisky on holiday had dehydrated me and I generally felt a little washed out after swimming in the sea everyday.  So I needed a kick start to get me going, let's just say in many ways.

Always a friendly warm smile greets me when I go the Med Spa Clinic and was asked to go upstairs to one of the treatment rooms.  Laying down and swathed in a warm towel I was pleased to relax and lay back.  Natasha the therapist explained about the SkinMaster Rejuvenation System and how it would be carried out, I was completely new to this treatment so was really interested and of course most of all what it was going to do for me? It sounded exciting, intriguing and somewhat mesmerising.  I'd never seen a machine or the attachments that were on it before, they were certainly different. 

So here goes, soft warm bubbles engulfed my skin as my face was cleansed, soothing sponges removed the bubbles and then my face was gently exfoliated, a beautiful aroma filled the room when a peel mask was applied.  Cooling, chill out time as I laid quietly whilst it was left to work.  It wasn't on for too long and once removed Natasha started up the SkinMaster machine and it's difficult to describe but the hand held tool was like a small scraper you would use to remove wallpaper, (trust me I have a great imagination, don't panic, it felt great)  It was gently moved over the whole of my face, it felt wonderful like it was removing the top layer and getting rid of all the unwanted dead skin cells.  It didn't hurt but tingled as it slid along the sensation was unusual but pleasant.  I can honestly say my skin felt brilliant! Afterwards my skin did feel like it was glowing and then I thought "Oh dear I am going to look like a red beetroot when I leave!" but no sooner as those thoughts had come Natasha was applying a cooling oxygen face mask.  "ohh, it was so lovely, incredibly cooling, I thought boy I have gone to heaven". 

Chilled to the brim, I had been cleansed, exfoliated, purified, toned and thoroughly spoilt where facails go but this was not the end of it. Whilst the mask dried Natasha massaged my arms, a deep massage, I was thinking "ohh, Ahh", but I needed a real good destress and that's exactly what I was getting. I thought, please don't let me snore if I fall asleep, that would be terrible but I managed to stay awake (only just).  A tightening effect of the mask left me thinking in anticipation, what's going to happen next?

After the oxygene mask was removed a muslin enzyme mask was laid over my whole face apart from a breathe hole for my mouth and some peeky bits for my eyes. Another nozzle was put on the machine and this seemed to be pulsating and purifying  at the same time, pushing antioxidants deep into my skin, (only know this because I asked Natasha), it puffed and seemed warm but not hot.  My muscles were then toned and Natasha fisinished off with a fabulous neck and face massage.  It was devine, she then put on some vitamin c cream and a suncream and final moisturiser.

"Wow, Wow, Wow!" I absolutely loved it and my fears over a beetroot face were unfounded.  I was glowing but in a way I have never felt before, I've had lots of facials in the past at other places but this had to be the top champagne version. I used to do alot of TV work so looking good was important to me but having said that I turned up one day to film on Midsomer Murders and they blackened my teeth and put me in old clothes and back combed my hair and blackened my face, I was livid as the filming was at a mansion and I thought I would be glammed up!!!

So I am a bit of a cosmetic proceedure fan, I have had my upper eyelids done and a tummy tuck too. So my continued quest for getting fit and loosing some weight goes on and so does my quest for my beauty treatments.  I need to do something about my wobbly neck? Not sure what yet? Anyone any ideas? Best ask the clinic, they really do give honest answers.  I have had several of my friends go to the clinic now since I reccommended them and I will say they do not take money or give treatments just to make money.  My friend had gone this week just before me and she had said what excellent service she recieved and how honest they seemed and I really do agree. Well Since my treatment my skin really has felt so hydrated, fresh and toned, I am really really pleased with the results, something new to me and I will definately reccomend it for a facial rejuvenation System, the SkinMaster was fab, I've been texting my friends back and I just put love from young and gorgeous :-) that's how it made me feel.

IPL Treatment at Tunbridge Wells Laser and Skin clinic

Working in high crisis settings such as an Addictions Counsellor and as a Domestic Violence Outreach worker, over the years it had taken its toll. Two grown up sons, who have been hard work but wonderful, a busy travelling husband, a more than crazy work schedule, I was often frazzled, mentally, physically and my reflection said “ worn out”, the mirror said ‘fossil face’, OK, I know that’s really ridiculous and extreme but I love drama. Last year I had appeared 15 times on This Morning programme with Philip and Fern representing women in their forties, I had been rigorously testing beauty products. Once I was covered in mud and seaweed, laying under hot studio lights and told Philip Schofield “I smell like an out of date prawn! Yukk!” Now why did he find that funny?



So my 48th birthday is looming and I have been thinking hard and long about “Me”, yes I have decided to try to care for myself for a change and I have planned to have a few facial treatments to rejuvenate the Dawn that’s hibernated. Amazingly I have decided I am going to emerge from my somewhat bettered shell but for myself.

I had become increasingly aware that the brown pigmentation marks on my forehead, had started to really bother me. Firstly they looked ageing and unsightly and you hear so much about the skin cancer, I was determined to find a treatment that was safe and worked.

Trawling the Internet, I searched excitedly for treatment and then came across the Royal Tunbridge Wells Skin and Laser Clinic. Nervously I dialled the number and made an appointment for a free consultation. Seven days later I entered the clinic, very apprehensive but as soon as I arrived two very reassuring warm smiling faces greeted me. Shown to a big comfy sofa and made offered tea or coffee was perfect after my long drive. Everyone had an air of confidence and this made me feel at ease.

During my consultation, all aspects of my treatment were explained clearly to me. Engaging well in conversation with me the doctor explained the procedure, she used the computer to show me images and I was given leaflets and an opportunity to ask questions. I was asked if it was alright to carry out a patch test before the treatment, which I thought was great and again there was no charge for the patch test. I never felt pressurised into agreeing to my treatment and was encouraged to wait if I was going on holiday.



Over the following week the patch test was fine and no problems occurred.

Several weeks later I returned to the clinic for my treatment. I had opted for IPL on the doctor’s advice. A scrupulously clean room awaited me and the doctor checked I was healthy and the patch test was OK.

Laying down looking up my IPL treatment began. It wasn’t painful, just a flicking feeling against the skin. I had to wear goggles and gel was placed on my forehead. During my care, I was treated with great respect, the doctor checking I was alright all the way through the procedure. I felt calm and the doctor talked to me about my beauty routine and how I can protect my skin from further damage.

The pigmentation was expected to go darker after the treatment and then form a scab and come away. In my mind, I thought that sounded horrible but it really wasn’t anything like it sounded. As the pigmentation darkened it seemed to come away like tiny small flecks like a minute splinter. It’s incredibly funny how we build up pictures in our minds about how something will be and then when it happens it’s completely different. I was told the pigmentation would take 7-10 days to disappear and true to the doctors word after about 8 days my forehead looked fantastic, clear and rejuvenated, it was wonderful. After 7 days I had treated myself to a peel off face mask and this helped the treated pigmentation come away. My skin looks brilliant, I am now free from those brown marks which annoyed and at times worried me so much each time I looked in the mirror.

On the Clinic’s advice I am wearing factor 50 sun cream every day now without fail. Completely satisfied 100%, I have now started to have some more facial treatments. I booked an appointment and had my red thread veins removed from my nose. The Skin and Laser Clinic’s doctors have done a great job and I took four of my friends along last week for consultations after they have seen the results of my treatments. Next I am having some filler and also a rejuvenation treatment for my face. So from ‘fossil face’ to ‘beautiful face’.

I believe it doesn’t matter what age we are, we all want to look good, my husband raises his eyebrows when I say I am having something else done but I don’t care what he thinks, he may raise his eyebrows but as it raises my self-esteem and makes me feel on top of the world.



Dawn Gregory