As you will recall from previous features, I’ve been covering in detail what it’s like to undergo the various treatments on offer by Gillian Huntley at appearances aesthetics. I always say, the best way to write about things is to actually experience it so that is what I have been doing in order to give you a real insight into what it’s like to be in Gillian’s hands.
Gillian is an experienced Aesthetic Therapist (I wouldn’t let just anyone carry out these procedures on me) who has been working in the industry for over 30 years, specialising in Advanced Aesthetics for more than 15 of those. She doesn’t just come highly recommended by her clients but also works closely with Cosmetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgeons, nurses, technicians and consultants as well as many salons and clinics in the South East, including London Harley Street.
Her main place of work is at her home clinic in Chislehurst but she holds regular clinics at Options Beauty Salon in nearby Edenbridge as well.
Gillian is quite a miracle worker and she can do a lot for her clients to transform their lives and boost their confidence: skin peels, scar relaxation, specialist waxing, thread vein/pigmentation/skin tag removals, semi-permanent make-up and medical tattooing.
So far to date I have received the following treatments: semi-permanent eye-liner and eye brows, mole removal, millia removal and skin tag removal, all on my face. What more could I possibly have done? Well, this time I will be focusing on scar removal as over the years I have developed small scars as a result of not leaving my spots alone and more recently a few of these have become really pitted making me feeling rather conscious about them. Can Gillian really make 
these disappear? While she was examining my scars she also told me she can also iron out the heavier wrinkles that were starting to appear across my forehead…
Prior to starting the procedure, Gillian applied her miracle numbing cream to the areas to be treated and it really does work. As with all treatments, Gillian will go over the process in detail with her clients so there are no surprises when the treatment is in progress, using her ‘probe’ to treat the affected areas. Each individual probe used is brand new and she will show you the sealed packaging before removing it for use.
The process for this treatment is “Multitrepannic Collagen Actuation” which encourages the body’s own cells to regenerate resulting in wrinkles looking smoother and pitted scars effectively filling in and looking flatter. The same process can also be used for treating stretch-marks. This involved “Dry Needling” with a saline solution on the affected areas to abrade the skin. The probe tears and scratches the skin to encourage rejuvenation.
A similar process is used for relaxing scars – “Mesotherapy” – another non-surgical cosmetic treatment involving multiple injections into the skin which breaks down elastin and collagen to encourage regeneration of the skin. Scars which are tight and restrictive are so because the skin has become knotted and doubled over inside. Some of the clients Gillian has treated over the years have had scarring following a hysterectomy or having lymph nodes removed, both resulting in tight scars which give restricted movement.
So, what does the treatment feel like? I will admit that I didn’t feel a thing – the numbing cream really works well so there is nothing to worry about. It was only until I took some pictures half way through the treatment that I could see the trauma caused to my skin. It has to go through this process in order for it to heal effectively. I will admit that in the picture it does look harsh and you certainly wouldn’t want to be going out the same day or even a couple of days afterwards as it takes this long for the skin to start healing.
Throughout the procedure Gillian completely put me at ease with her friendly and chatty personality, talking 
through all the things she was doing to me so I didn’t have a thing to worry about.
At the end of the session Gillian applied the repair cream and took me through the aftercare instructions which are very straightforward to follow. Every client leaves with a goodie bag of anti-bacterial hand gel, vitamin A + D cream to help with the healing process, witch hazel gel and anything else that your treatment requires.
You can see why the aftercare is so important as the trauma my skin underwent is highly visible in the pictures at the end of this article. I didn’t leave the house for a couple of days but now my skin is certainly appearing less pitted and scarred.
The average number of treatments range from 6 to 10 depending on your skin and Gillian will be able to work this out during your initial consultation.
To find out more about this or any of the other treatments you have read about in the magazine, contact Gillian on 07711 067 789, email gillian@appearancesaesthetics.co.uk or visit her website www.appearancesaesthetics.co.uk. You can also find appearances aesthetics on social media.
Featured in: Issue 70 – November/December 2016
