[unpaid/treatmentgratis] I’m not much of a fan of a facial – I can go one year to another without having one – but I am very much a fan of John Tsgaris whose new facial treatment, Acuskinlift, is something to behold. It’s several years since I’ve seen John so I wanted to go and have a catch up with him as well as try the treatment – both a delight. John has made his name through acupuncture which he is using in a very modern way with Acuskinlift.

(midway)

Despite acupuncture being an age-old art used for everything from fertility to stress relief, John’s particular form of acupuncture is more needle work architecture than facial. We start with a quick cleanse before John gets to work on my face, using a syringe full of NCTF 135HA (a hyaluronic liquid for intense revitalisation and hydration) to stimulate and repair ageing skin to create tiny, near painless punctures in my skin which are simultaneously being filled with the fluid. He then goes over my neck and my hands, putting the latter into some gloves filled with moisturizer. We realise at more or less the same time that any further photography is going to be difficult! He massaged the liquid into my skin using a red light device – he later uses blue light.

So far, so good. Now come the more serious needles. John describes it as a fascia-mapped, collagen-remodelling method that restructures the skin’s structure. What that means is that by being so advanced in his use of needles that he is able to coil strands of collagen by twisting the points as they enter your skin forming an internal thread. Once all the needles are in, it’s a chain effect – all in perfect formation creating repair and visible firmness as the skin reorganises its own structure.

(before and after)

You can see that there is a clear difference around my jaw and in cheek definition. Now, is it fun to have done? I’d say not but I have a particularly sensitive face, mentioned many times before by other practitioners and my dentist. I have no idea why. John was surprised too as mostly his clients nod off to sleep. If you have any fear of needles, it’s obviously not for you, but for those that don’t, when I tell you about the post treatment glow – oh, my – you won’t think twice about a little discomfort. Speaking of the glow, albeit temporary, after the needles are taken out of the skin, more of the wonder liquid that is 135HA  is applied and massaged in (I started laughing when he smooshed my face).

(five days later)

If I tell you my jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw the results in the mirror I am not lying. I was open-mouthed at the way my jaw was tightened and my cheeks all perky. Even if you aren’t prepared to go regularly (to his new London clinic) the Acuskinlift is wonderful pre-prep for special events – weddings, parties and so on.

I left the clinic without a single mark on my face – my skin wasn’t reddened or in any discomfort, just glowing hard and strong although one of my hands showed some little red dots. John asked me how my skin felt and I said, ‘firm’, because that’s exactly how it feels – taut, strong and firm. Of course, this is a pricy treatment – you’re looking at £450 or so (depending on many factors – boosters, hands etc) and you can find out more HERE.