The demand for medical aesthetic procedures continues, with the most in-demand treatments such as the IV Vitamin Therapy, Vampire Facials, Thread Lifts and Fat Grafting - to name a few.
For the second instalment of the GLAMOUR Women In Charge series, we feature Durban-born Dr S'lindile Ndwalane or Dr Sli. A specialist dermatologist who heads up the SCIN Hyde Park practice. Her key areas of interest include the use of stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in anti-aging and cosmetic procedures as well as the use of lasers in aesthetic medicine. She talks to GLAMOUR about what drew her to become a dermatologist, the latest trends in medical aesthetic procedures and why aesthetics is drawing more young black people.
GLAMOUR: What attracted you to Dermatology?
Dr Sli: Dermatology is a very underrated speciality, and often having a skin condition is not considered a serious illness...I developed an interest in dermatology because I wanted to understand more the psychological impact that skin has on our general and mental wellbeing.
GLAMOUR: What do you enjoy the most about your job?
Dr Sli: Your whole body is covered in skin. It’s the first thing you see when you look into the mirror and it’s the first thing people see when they look at you. Your skin affects who you are, how you perceive yourself and how you feel about yourself. And also and often, your skin can be a window of what is going on internally. A lot of internal medical conditions manifest in skin conditions or problems.
I felt like in the medical fraternity, skin is often neglected, however, it has a huge role to play in detecting or giving clues in what could be going on inside of you and also for mental health.
There is nothing more fulfilling for me than to see a patient who walks into my practice covered up and ashamed to wear their bare face to the world. And after they are treated, they feel good about themselves...and just light up with confidence.
GLAMOUR: Your noticeable trends in trends in non-invasive medical beauty procedures?
Dr Sli: More and more black people are learning about Botox and they are opting for it. There has always been this popular opinion of “Black don’t Crack” however, black does rack eventually, infact, black skin now ages even more because of the toxics in the environment such as the damage from the sun...no one is immune from sun damage. We get wrinkles and lines too. Because of easy access to information and social media, black people are becoming more informed about non-invasive medical beauty procedures and are seeking treatments such as Botox and fillers.
Dr Sli together with plastic surgeon and founder of the Specialist Laser and Cosmetic Institute (SCIN) Dr Kamlen Pillay shares the top 2021 trends in non-invasive medical beauty procedures.
IV Vitamin Therapy
Healthier skin? Check. Boosting your immune system? Check. Curing that hangover? Check. These are just a few of the health issues IV vitamin therapy promises to solve.
Vampire Facial
According to Dr Sli, another firm favourite that will continue to be in demand in 2021 is PRP skin regeneration therapy, also known as the vampire facial.
“A vampire facial or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) treatment is a procedure that aims to use a patient’s own blood to trick the body into healing and repair. The blood is extracted and undergoes a spinning process to separate the plasma, which is injected back by puncturing the skin using a dermapen or injections.”
“I recommend this procedure for clients requiring collagen induction to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. PRP will also assist with the firming and tightening of the skin and improves moisture retention.”
A Stitch In Time – Thread Lift
A thread lift is a non-surgical procedure where temporary sutures are used to produce a "lift" in the skin. The thread lift is a minimally invasive treatment performed at the clinic with minimal downtime and recovery.
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