life
EQUESTRIAN
Orchard Cosmetic Skin Care Centre
Photo: Dr Maire Rhatigan - Orchard Cosmetic Skin Centre at St James Clinic
The light fantastic
Why not take advantage
of our free consultation
and test patch for
permanent reduction
of unwanted hair
with IPL and laser.
It's written all
over your face
Orchard Cosmetic Skin Centre at St James Clinic,
68a Upper St James’s Street, Newport
Tel: 01983 822220 www.orchardcosmetic.co.uk
Botox? Filler? For other people, surely. But Roz Whistance finds
herself considering the possibilities, with a facial consultation
at the Orchard Cosmetic Centre
AS I went off to the Orchard Cosmetic Skin
Centre to see Dr Maire Rhatigan my husband
said: “Don’t let her touch you, you’re perfect
as you are.”
Which is clearly not true. I am 47, and if
I couldn’t do the maths my face would say
to me “three years off 50.” I am the sort of
“wash ‘n’ go” person who has never spent
much time trying to create facial perfection:
leave that for those with a better basis to
start from. But I’m sure I’m not alone in
finding that hitting my mid-40s has made
me think the hitherto unthinkable: what
about a bit of Botox?
Any feelings of apprehension are smoothed
away with the friendly welcome at the
Orchard: indeed, the whole consultation
feels as relaxed as talking with a good,
honest, friend. Dr Rhatigan gives me a
hand mirror and asks me to describe what
I don’t like about my face. What I see are
spots and wrinkles (which seems an unfair
combination). The laughter-lines around
my eyes are ever more marked, and, worse,
the skin above the eyes looks a little papery.
Deep lines round my mouth make me look
gloomy when I’m not actually smiling.
Dr Rhatigan comments on my observations.
Contrary to my husband’s fears, her first
thought was not to whip out the needles,
but to discuss my skin care regime.
Discovering my cleansing and moisturising
routine is a bit haphazard – using the
chemical cleansers intended for teenage
acne – she explains that the texture and
88
Article by Roz Whistance
quality of my skin could certainly be
improved by following her anti-ageing
home care programme. She stocks a limited
selection of products – itself a welcome relief
from the mystifying variety available in s hops
– all based on sound medical research. The
cleanser contains glycolic acid which helps to
remove dead skin cells (Dr Rhatigan doesn’t
believe in harsh exfoliation). Once they are
gone, she suggests a repair lotion (she shows
me ‘before and after’ photographs showing
their effectiveness) and a moisturiser
containing Vitamin A.
So now it’s time to discuss those wrinkles.
Dr Rhatigan assesses my face in three
We realise this problem
is a cause of huge
distress for a great
many women therefore
we are continuing our
free consultation and
test patch at the clinic
indefinitely. So do
come in and talk to us
about your problem,
we will help you.”
parts: forehead, eye area and mouth area,
and gives me marks out of 10 for each. My
smiley eyes and lined mouth fared less well
than the forehead, which is only starting
to show significant frown lines. But . . . if I
were to have a little Botox in my forehead
to reduce the frown, my eye area would be
lifted and the papery lines reduced.
I find it reassuring that she talks of “teeny
weeny blobs” of Botox. “All the muscles
work in harmony, and we don’t want to
create any effects you don’t like,” she says.
My laughter lines could be improved with
Botox. She gives me out six of ten for my eye
area.
The fine lines that show when I purse my
lips could be improved with filler, as could
those deep trenches (my words not hers)
round my mouth. (Six out of ten for the
mouth area.)
It is a lot to think about. Initally Botox
needs to be renewed three times a year,
but over time it has a cumulative affect and
some people only return once a year. If seen
as part of the way you look after yourself –
like clothes and hair – it puts the cost into
perspective.
I’ll try not to agonise too much in case I get
more worry lines.
The Orchard Cosmetic Skin Centre, St
James’s Street, Newport
Tel: 01983 822220 www.orchardcosmetic.
co.uk
The Island's most loved magazine