3 Pre-Party-Season Face And Body Treatments That Actually Work

What it does: It’s a beauty dream – an ultrasound machine that boosts collagen to fill out wrinkles, firm up the jawline and lift drooping brows. And, more importantly, it’s FDA-approved. Plus, it’s quick (45 minutes), relatively painless (more on that later) and requires zero downtime – meaning you can be treated in the morning and still go out for dinner that night.

As the latest in a longish line of non-invasive face-firming ultrasound machines, Sofwave delivers more (up to six times more energy than other similar devices), but with less pain or discomfort. Working over the skin, the hand-held device targets the collagen at a precise depth, while not affecting the skin’s surface. Using heat to create a controlled damage that triggers the skin’s healing process, the result is skin-plumping collagen and a fresher, firmer, smoother-looking face.

“It takes about three to four months for the full effects to show, but what we’ve seen with our patients is that their skin is firmer and its quality is improved, plus lines and wrinkles are softened,” says London-based Dr. Sophie Shotter, one of the first doctors to use Sofwave. “For me, the standout areas are the brow, jawline and neck, but particularly the brow area, as we can achieve an average 3-4mm lift – more than other non-surgical treatments we can offer.”

What’s more, when paired with a new three-step exosome treatment, called EXOIE (one cream to prep skin in the days before; another applied pre-treatment; and the last one after treatment), you’ll see even better results – faster. “The products applied on the day contain a high number of plant exosomes, which help improve how cells signal to one another – which in turn helps to increase expression of collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin, amplifying the results of Sofwave even more,” says Dr. Shotter.

What to expect: Arrive an hour early to enjoy the full benefits of the numbing cream offered. That said, compared to other ultrasound treatments I’ve had, Sofwave verges on discomfort rather than deep pain. Other patients I have spoken to agree it’s bearable, and while bony areas hurt more, it’s over before it all gets too much.

Afterwards, skin can sometimes look a bit red for a couple of hours, but it’s nothing that foundation won’t cover. Then, it’s just a case of waiting for a couple of months until the collagen grows and your friends start complimenting you on how fresh you are looking. “Patients tell me their skin feels less ‘grabbable’ with the improved firmness,” says Dr. Shotter. “But the most common comment our patients get is, ‘Your skin is looking amazing.’”

What it does: The shiny new version of the globally successful Emsculpt machine now adds fat melting to an already impressive treatment. The FDA-cleared Emsculpt Neo uses electromagnetic muscle stimulation transmitted via a pad that’s strapped to your belly, buttocks, arms or thighs to work the muscles at a level not humanly possible

The result, after a course of four weekly sessions, is the sort of muscle tone and definition you could expect from six weeks with a personal trainer who also happens to be an ex-Navy Seal. For extra body shaping, the Neo reduces fat in the treated area by up to 25% – but, in keeping with current aesthetic trends, the buttocks are not treated with fat burning, just toning.

Even newer is the dedicated face-sculpting version, Emface, which combines high-intensity facial electrical stimulation and radiofrequency technology, to contract muscles and build collagen at the same time. Essentially it lifts, tightens and contours with zero pain and downtime – and only a little warming heat as the treatment gets under way. Lifted brows and visibly sculpted cheekbones are the most dramatic results of this treatment, but you’ll also be left with fewer lines and wrinkles, thanks to tighter, tauter muscle tone all around.

What to expect: Fast and furious perhaps best sums up a 30-minute stint for the body (while a 20-minute Emface treatment occurs at a much gentler pace). While your initial session may start low, the higher the level goes, the harder the muscles are worked, and once you get used to the odd but not unpleasant feeling – rather like being clenched by the strong hand of a Transformers hero – it’s perfectly bearable. The stomach is usually the most sensitive area to treat, but as you get into the rhythm of contract, hold and relax, it’s not bad at all. And the results are truly impressive: by the third session, my stomach had become newly defined and toned and, a few months on, the effects are still evident.

What it does: Stacking (aka combining) minimally invasive treatments is an A-lister secret for delivering supercharged results (Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan of the technique). Top London-based aesthetics doctor Dr. Maryam Zamani says it’s her favorite non-surgical procedure to rejuvenate both the face and body. Her approach takes the best of light and laser energy-based treatments and bundles them together in one appointment over a few sessions. “By combining multiple customizable laser treatments, you can target a variety of concerns at the same time – from pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles to acne, scarring and skin laxity,” she says.

What to expect: You get the benefits that multiple types of lasers and lights offer to address the whole gamut of skin concerns – from pigmentation to texture, scars and collagen-boosting. But, because you’re having a mix of treatments in a relatively short time span (about 30-60 minutes for each session), your results are boosted; you’ll see a much more balanced and totally refreshed complexion.

It’s not as intense as it sounds – the pain level and any downtime does not increase when stacking treatments. Depending on your skin’s needs, Dr. Zamani typically combines BBL (broadband light), for redness and pigmentation, with Moxi laser, to smooth skin’s texture, refine pores and work on pigmentation near the surface of the skin. And, if needed, she tops it off with a Halo treatment – a more intense fractional laser that targets pigmentation in the deeper layers of the skin and stimulates collagen and elastin too, delivering better skin tone over time. All three treatments work for all skin types and can be taken down the neck and used on areas of concern on the body, too.

Three- to four-week intervals are usually needed between appointments for BBL treatments (which, because it’s light not laser, can feel just a little warm on the skin); and there’s minimal downtime – you might just look a little flushed straight after your treatment. Both Moxi and Halo are laser treatments – and you can expect about two weeks of redness and slightly rough-textured skin after having Halo, but the downtime is totally worth it. As someone with extremely sensitive, irritation-prone skin, I saw an immediate change in how red my skin tone was after only two BBL sessions alone.

The at-home tool: Whether you want to maintain in-salon treatment results or are starting from scratch, the Lyma laser device lives up to the hype when it comes to results – Carey Mulligan even bought herself one as a prize after winning an Oscar. The handheld, at-home device is comparable to the medical-grade laser technology you’d find in a dermatologist’s office, and is FDA-cleared to work deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen, minimize pigmentation, and even treat thread veins. It’s a cold laser, so you won’t feel any warmth on the skin (or anything at all for that matter), but if you’re consistent – daily use for at least 15 minutes – you’ll truly see the difference.

Short on time? Keep it by your bed for early morning multitasking or book in for The Evolution of the Face Lift Blow Dry, powered by Lyma, at London’s Neville Hair and Beauty. It’s a 30-minute facial treatment using the Lyma laser while you’re having your hair blow-dried and styled.

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