The Professional Approach to Slowing the Ageing Process

In an industry saturated with skincare promises, it’s essential to understand that only clinically proven active ingredients—used at the right concentrations and in the correct formulations—can actually create meaningful changes within the skin.

As medical aesthetic practitioners, we often explain to patients that visible skin improvement doesn’t come from moisturisers alone. True transformation happens at the cellular level. And that’s where medical-grade skincare makes all the difference.

Here’s how key active ingredients work to optimise skin health, boost cellular performance, and slow the ageing process—and why over-the-counter products often fall short.

In the world of aesthetic treatments, we’re surrounded by perfect before-and-afters, social media filters, and celebrities who seem to defy ageing. But the truth is—aesthetic medicine is not a magic wand. It’s a collaborative process between your body and your injector, and outcomes will always vary from person to person.

At Fresh Aesthetics in Portadown, Northern Ireland, we believe in honest, transparent conversations. If you're considering dermal fillers, wrinkle treatments, or any skin rejuvenation procedure, it’s vital to understand what’s possible—and what’s not.

At Fresh Aesthetics, we believe in enhancing your natural beauty—not changing it. One of the most powerful tools in modern aesthetic medicine is dermal filler, and when expertly placed, the results are soft, subtle, and beautifully undetectable.

Whether you're noticing a bit of facial volume loss, fine lines, or want to restore youthful contours, dermal filler is an fantastic solution —when done with an eye for detail.

Let us explain what dermal filler really is, what it's made of, where it can be used, and most importantly—how we ensure the results always look natural.

If you’ve noticed deep wrinkles, thickened skin, or a yellow, leathery texture forming over time, this is likely to be solar elastosis—a common skin condition caused by long-term sun exposure. This type of sun damage affects the essential proteins in your skin, leading to premature aging and an uneven skin texture.

Solar elastosis is the breakdown and degeneration of elastin fibers in the skin due to prolonged UV exposure. Elastin is a crucial protein that gives skin its ability to stretch and bounce back. When UV rays penetrate the skin, they trigger a process that damages elastin and collagen, causing the skin to lose its firmness, strength, and flexibility.

Botox (Botulinum Toxin) is a neurotoxin that temporarily relaxes muscles by blocking nerve signals. When injected into specific facial muscles, it reduces their ability to contract, preventing the formation of dynamic wrinkles—those that appear when you make facial expressions. However, it’s important to note that Botox does not treat the skin itself; it only affects the underlying muscle. If someone has deep, static lines (wrinkles that are visible even when the face is at rest), these will not disappear completely with Botox alone.

How to Treat Ageing of the Eye Area

The eyes are often the first area to show signs of ageing, making them a key focus for many seeking rejuvenation. As we age, multiple anatomical changes occur that contribute to a tired or aged appearance. Understanding these changes is essential in selecting the right treatments to restore a refreshed and youthful look.

Tear trough filler is a popular treatment aimed at improving the appearance of dark circles, hollowness, and under-eye shadows. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, very few people are actually suitable candidates for this treatment. In this blog, we’ll explore how tear trough filler works, who can benefit from it, and the best alternatives for those who aren’t suitable.

If you’re looking for a subtle way to enhance your lips without adding volume, you may have heard of the lip flip. This quick, non-surgical procedure has gained popularity for its ability to create a fuller-looking top lip using Botox, but how does it work, and is it the right option for you?

The lip flip involves injecting small amounts of Botox into the muscle which encircles the mouth. Specifically, the injections are placed near the vermilion border (the lip line), targeting the part of the muscle responsible for pulling the top lip inward when you smile. By relaxing this section of the muscle, the lip is able to slightly roll outward, making it appear fuller without actually increasing volume.

Your skin barrier is your skin’s first line of defense—think of it as a protective shield that locks in moisture and keeps out irritants, bacteria, and pollutants. When it’s healthy, your skin looks smooth, hydrated, and glowing. But when it’s damaged? That’s when problems start.

What Is the Skin Barrier?

The skin barrier (also known as the moisture barrier or lipid barrier) is the outermost layer of your skin. It consists of skin cells held together by lipids (fats), forming a protective wall that prevents water loss and shields against environmental damage.

If you’ve had Botox for crow’s feet but still notice some lines appearing when you smile, this may be due to ‘skin bunching’. This is a common occurrence and is not due to the fact the Botox ‘didn’t work’, it happens because Botox only targets the muscles around the eyes, not the ones in the cheeks.

Skin bunching refers to the small folds or creases in the skin that appear when we smile, especially along the cheekbones and the sides of the face. It’s different from dynamic Crows feet wrinkles (which are caused by the eye muscle contracting), instead it happens due to skin thinning, laxity and loss of volume.

When it comes to achieving your best skin, the right diagnosis is everything. That’s why we’re thrilled to offer 3D Digital Skin Analysis at our skin clinic in Portadown, Northern Ireland . This cutting-edge technology allows us to assess your skin in incredible detail, looking not just at the surface but deep into the underlying layers. With this knowledge, we can create a truly bespoke skincare plan tailored specifically to your skin’s unique needs.

When it comes to achieving a subtle, natural-looking brow lift, and opening up the eye area, Botox can be a highly effective treatment. However, understanding how Botox works on different facial muscles is key to ensuring the best results. If you've ever felt like your brows drop or feel heavy after Botox, this blog will explain why—and how to achieve a lifted look instead.

Using Filler to Redefine the Jawline and Disguise Jowls

One of the commonest concerns we hear from our patients is about sagging jowls and a loss of definition in the jawline. A lot of patients pull back the excess skin to show the lift and definition they would like to regain in their lower face.

While dermal filler can work wonders in refining and restoring structure to the lower face, it's important to understand what it can and can’t do. Despite what some may claim, filler doesn’t ‘lift’ jowls in the way a surgical facelift would—but what it can do is blend them in beautifully, creating a smoother, more youthful contour.

At Fresh Aesthetics & Skin, we’re dedicated to helping you achieve the very best results. possible. But no matter how effective our in-clinic treatments are, we can’t do it without you! Your home skincare routine is the most important factor in achieving and maintaining healthy, glowing skin.

Think of it like this: when you visit the hygienist, they professionally clean your teeth, but if you don’t brush and floss daily at home, your mouth still won’t be healthy. The same principle applies to skincare—our treatments give your skin a boost, but your daily routine is what determines long-term results.

When it comes to achieving fresh, youthful skin, injectables like Botox and dermal fillers work wonders. But did you know you can take your results to the next level by adding an Express Peel to your appointment? At our clinic, we offer BioRePeel, a powerful yet gentle peel that enhances your skin’s radiance in just five minutes—with zero downtime. It’s the perfect way to refresh your skin while you’re already in for your injectable treatment. Best of all, it can be added to any other appointment ie Botox, fillers, Profhilo, Polynucleotides, Skinboosters, Microneedling, to give you even better results!

Pigmentation issues are a common skin concern, affecting people of all skin types and ages. While pigmentation can be effectively managed, it cannot be permanently cured. Understanding the different types of pigmentation, their causes, and the most effective treatments can help you achieve a more even complexion. Let’s explore the different types of pigmentation and discuss the best treatments available.

When we think about wrinkles, we often focus on those caused by facial expressions—frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines. However, there’s another type of wrinkle that can be just as frustrating: sleep lines. Unlike dynamic wrinkles that form due to muscle movement, sleep lines are static lines caused by the repeated pressure of side sleeping. These lines can become more noticeable over time and are often mistaken for Botox-related issues when they emerge after treatment. Let’s explore what sleep lines are, why they appear, and how to effectively address them.

Your wedding day is one of the most photographed days of your life, and naturally, you’ll want to look and feel your absolute best. The secret to radiant, healthy skin on your wedding day? Starting early! For brides, bridesmaids and mothers of the bride/groom, the best results come from a carefully planned skincare and treatment journey that begins at least one year in advance.

As women approach menopause and perimenopause, a dramatic shift occurs in the skin due to declining oestrogen levels. One of the most significant changes is the sharp drop in collagen production, leading to thinner, drier, and more fragile skin. If you're experiencing these changes, you’re not alone. Fortunately, a range of advanced skincare treatments can help rebuild lost collagen and restore youthful skin resilience.

Profhilo is a unique injectable treatment is known for its ability to deeply hydrate, improve skin elasticity, and restore a youthful glow. Unlike traditional dermal fillers, Profhilo works by stimulating collagen and elastin production, making it a game-changer in skin health and anti-aging.

If you're looking for glowing skin ahead of a big event, or simply want to improve your skin’s hydration and firmness, Profhilo could be the perfect solution.