We tried 4 ‘no-knife’ tweakments to banish double chins, eye bags and wrinkly hands – here’s if they’re REALLY worth it
THE days of painful and invasive procedures that will keep you housebound for weeks are well behind us.
Subtle, no-knife “tweakments” are becoming popular and increasingly accessible. But do they actually give you bang for your buck? Team Fabulous finds out…
The Chin Up
Combining microneedling and radio frequency, the Morpheus8 treatment rejuvenates skin by stimulating the production of collagen. Promising zero downtime, it tightens, minimises wrinkles and enhances the skin’s natural glow – and can work on almost any part of the body.
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Sinead McIntyre, 51, Editor in Chief, says:
“Despite being a dress size 8, I’ve had a double chin for as long as I can remember. It’s always made me self-conscious, so I went for the recommended three sessions of Morpheus8, from £300 per session at the Pulse Light Clinic. In 2020, Judy Murray credited Morpheus8 for taking 10 years off her face, and it's also a favourite of Victoria Beckham.
Each session involves having two layers of numbing cream applied to your face, before 24 needles (4mm in length) are inserted into your skin with a device that resembles a staple gun. The procedure only takes 20 minutes, but it does hurt – no wonder this has been called ‘the most painful non-invasive procedure in the world’.
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While my first session wasn’t too bad, during my third and final session, I shed a few tears from the pain. Straight afterwards, my face looked bright red, but it calmed down after a couple of hours and, by the next morning, my skin had returned to normal. In the days and weeks that followed, my skin looked plumper, fresher and visibly younger, and that should continue over the next few months.
As for my double chin, it hasn’t miraculously vanished, but it definitely looks tighter than before. I’d recommend this procedure to anyone over 40 who’s worried about ageing. Yes, it’s painful, but no pain, no gain!”
- Morpheus8 is available from £300 per session at the Pulse Light Clinic
The Injectable Concealer
Dark circles and sunken eyes affect many of us, and it’s often hereditary. When creams or concealers don’t do the trick, Nucleofill Soft Eyes can offer long-term results against discolouration, fine lines and lacklustre skin.
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Leanne Hall, 28, Reporter, says:
“I’ve always been self-conscious of my deep-set eyes. And my dark circles have become worse with age, making me look constantly tired and a bit ill, but none of the eye creams I’ve tried have helped. After researching Nucleofill Soft Eyes, from £875 per syringe with Dr Maryam Zamani, I had high hopes for more fullness under my eyes, with the result of making me look less fatigued.
The procedure was fairly straightforward and involved injecting Hydrafill, a skin hydrator made of hyaluronic acid, next to my cheekbones and above the apple of my cheeks. I could feel the needles pinch my skin, but it was no worse than a vaccination or blood test, to be honest.
I had the recommended three sessions, which I did over eight months – two with a two-week gap, followed by a top-up six months later – and the procedure took just 10 minutes, meaning I could fit it into my lunch break.
Afterwards, I noticed slight swelling in the first 48 hours, and following my third appointment, I experienced bruising, which took five days to disappear, alongside slight redness below my eyes that faded after a couple of days.
The overall result has been amazing – I look much more awake and fresh-faced, even without using my regular eye creams or concealer.”
Nucleofill Soft Eyes procedure is available from £875 per syringe with Dr Maryam Zamani
The Hand Hydrator
Banish dark spots, fine lines and dehydration with Profhilo, which promises to take years off your hands. Hyaluronic acid is injected to hydrate the skin, leaving it supple and replenished.
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Nina McCue, 32, Executive Assistant, says:
“As my wedding was approaching, I wanted every part of me looking great – including my hands. I’m a sunbed user and doesn’t usually wear suncream, so ensuring my hands looked smooth and youthful was a job for the pros. Profhilo, from £375 per treatment with Dr Shirin Lakhani at Elite Aesthetics, involves two sessions, six months apart.
Water cleanser was applied to the back of my hands, followed by nine injections on the top of each, then a cooling gel. The 20-minute procedure isn’t painful – I felt a sharp scratch that disappeared once the needle is removed – but I did opt for numbing cream. I noticed small bumps that lasted for an hour and I had to avoid the gym for three days, but otherwise I experienced no negative effects.
To maximise the longevity of my results, the clinic recommended HydraGlow, from £225 per session. This involved cleansing the backs of my hands, sucking out impurities with an exfoliating tip and finishing with a pain-free laser.
It’s not a must, but it was a great add-on and my hands looked plump and refreshed. On my wedding day, I felt so confident when the photographer zoomed in on my ring.”
- Profhilo is available from £375 per treatment and HydraGlow from £225 per session with Dr Shirin Lakhani at Elite Aesthetics
The No-Knife Nose Job
Rhinoplasty - AKA a nose job - is one of the most invasive forms of cosmetic surgery, often leaving patients with swollen eyes and short-term breathing difficulties. So it’s no wonder the non-surgical nose job is becoming popular. This semi-permanent procedure involves injecting fillers into the nose to achieve the desired shape, at a fraction of the cost of rhinoplasty.
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Abby McHale, 29, Deputy Fashion Editor, says:
“I’ve always had a bump in my nose, and while it’s never bothered me enough to pay thousands for rhinoplasty, a non-surgical nose job sounded intriguing – it’s available from £750 per session with Dr Ayad Harb at Omniya Clinic.
During the appointment, which took 20 minutes, the surgeon injected filler into parts of my nose, then used his fingers to shape it. The injections twinged, but it wasn’t painful – nothing like the Botox I’ve previously had.
The procedure left my nose a little red, and I wasn’t allowed to apply any product to it or touch it for 24 hours, but otherwise there was no downtime. I could see the difference straightaway, and once the swelling reduced after a couple of days, the results were even better.
However, two months later I went to Glastonbury festival, and when I took my sunglasses off I noticed a dent in my nose – the filler had melted in the heat!
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The dent had disappeared the next day, but it was quite concerning, as I was told results would last up to a year before the filler is naturally broken down in the body. Now, six months later, the bump in my nose has started to reappear. Overall, it’s a good option, but it requires top-ups.”
- Non-surgical nose job is available from £750 per session with Dr Ayad Harb at Omniya Clinic