The Menopause – Embrace It, Don’t Fear It!

For some reason, many of us have a deep and abiding fear of menopause and the very thought of it brings us out in a hot sweat.

We see menopause portrayed in the media as a time of physical and emotional distress, filled with crying fits, unreasonable anger, inability to control what your body does.

Now there’s no question that during the menopause things can feel a little difficult with hot flushes, difficulty sleeping and sometimes a reduced libido, but if we told you that we can treat these symptoms safely and effectively, you’d see that the menopause can be one of the best times of our lives.

With us living longer, healthier lives, we can spend up to one third of our lives post-menopausal – so let’s make it the best third. Let’s all start looking on the bright side of the ‘change of life’ and stop approaching the menopause with trepidation.

What is the menopause?

We all go through the menopause at some stage in our lives and for most of us, it occurs between the age of 45-55.

Our ovaries stop producing eggs and as a result the levels of hormones called oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone fall. This can result in hot flushes, insomnia, ageing skin, decreased libido, vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence.

At Elite Aesthetics, we have a range of innovative treatments which have already helped hundreds of women to regain their confidence, take back control and enjoy the menopause.

Hormones

Many changes during the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause) are brought on by changing levels of hormones produced by the ovaries, mainly oestrogen.

‘Bio-Identical hormone replacement therapy is a very popular alternative to HRT and we’ve already helped a huge number of patients to rebalance their hormones and regain control’ explains Dr Shirin.

‘Bio-identical hormones are manmade hormones derived from plant oestrogens and are chemically identical to our own naturally produced hormones. Therefore, the benefits are similar to what we would expect from our hormones before the menopause.

‘A major benefit of BHRT is that the hormones are specifically tailored to the individual, so many of the side effects associated with a one size fits all approach of conventional HRT, can be eliminated.’

The O-Shot®

For many of us a decreased libido, painful sex and vaginal dryness are menopausal side effects. The O-Shot® offers a treatment which treat these symptoms.

‘The O-Shot® works by taking a small amount of your own blood from your arm’ explains Dr Shirin. ‘We then spin this blood in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets and create the concentrate, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

‘This PRP is rich in growth factors which are naturally occurring substances that stimulate cell growth and tissue regeneration. This is then injected back into the walls of your vagina in a pain-free and quick procedure’.

In conjunction with improving libido and vaginal dryness the O-Shot treatment can also be used to Urinary incontinence.

The Ultra Femme 360

The lack of oestrogen that follows the menopause can cause our pelvic muscles to weaken meaning that they may not be able to control our bladder as they once did when we laugh, sneeze or exercise. This can result in small leakage which can in turn impact our confidence and self-esteem.

Using radiofrequency waves, the Ultra Femme 360 is a completely non-invasive and painless solution for incontinence which takes just 8 minutes offers results from the very first treatment.

Skin

In addition to its gynaecological effects, the menopause can wreak havoc with our skin and hair.

Less oestrogen makes you prone to thinning, sagging, and wrinkling. Menopause causes many changes to our skin. Our bodies stops making as much collagen. We lose some fat under our skin and our skin’s elasticity drops. That, combined with dryness caused by hormonal changes, can cause sagging — especially around the neck, jawline, and cheeks — and fine lines and wrinkles. As we get older and our skin gets drier. Age spots on the face, hands, and chest can look more obvious around menopause. 

‘At Elite Aesthetics we have many treatments that can help combat the visible signs of ageing. Our ever popular Hydrafacial® is a fantastic non-invasive way of providing the skin with intense hydration and antioxidants.

‘Dermal fillers can be very useful when it comes to revitalising and adding lost volume back into the face,’ advises Dr Shirin. ‘They can be used to smooth away facial lines and wrinkles and instantly give a natural looking result.’ A single treatment can last for around 6 to 18 months.

‘Thread lifts are also extremely popular,’ continues Dr Shirin. Known as a non-surgical face lift, threads are gently inserted into the face, resulting in a fresher, more youthful appearance.

Another effective treatment for sagging skin is the Exilis Ultra 360 radiofrequency skin tightening, which can be used for both the face and the body.

Each procedure can be applied individually, and sometimes a combination is the right course. To find out more about these and other treatments available, call 01322 381205 or email info@elite-aesthetics.co.uk.