I’ll be honest – the lines around my eyes have started to bother me. Sure, I know they represent happy memories formed from a lifetime of smiles, surprise and delight, but when I see them, I feel old — or older, at least. Wanting to see what could be done, I decided to consult the experts, and found myself at The Face Place in Takapuna, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland for a consultation. After meeting with a senior cosmedicine nurse she recommended the clinic’s Bright Eyes package ($3290), a series of three platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments designed to thicken and improve the skin around the eyes, plus a dermal filler treatment to reduce under-eye hollows. PRP first became famous as the ‘vampire facial’ Kim Kardashian tried out. It’s all intended to make the area look brighter and, as my nurse said, “more rested”.
Part one: receiving the PRP (vampire facial)
After applying a topical anaesthetic to my face, my nurse took blood from my arm and placed it in a centrifuge machine to remove the red blood cells and concentrate the platelets. What remained was the platelet-filled plasma, dubbed “liquid gold” because of its yellow hue.
Next, she injected the plasma into several sites under my eyes, most of which were relatively painless (some pinched a bit). That done, the remaining PRP was injected into other areas of my face, including the lines on my forehead and around my mouth. The session took about 30 minutes, and afterwards my face was a bit red but I could go about my day without any downtime.
My nurse was so gentle that I had only one small bruise on my forehead that was barely visible. PRP stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, and after my three treatments six weeks apart, people started to ask if I’d been getting more sleep, which I took as an initial win.
Part two: receiving the dermal filler
I was nervous about the second part of the process. For me, the decision to have dermal filler required deeper thinking, as it stays in your body for longer. How long? “A little over a year,” said my nurse. “Of course, in a year’s time, your skin won’t look as plump, but it also won’t be as hollow as it was to begin with.” Instead of multiple injections as with PRP, only a few were required for my dermal filler. A canula was then used to move it to the optimal locations. After one eye was finished, she handed me a mirror so I could compare it with the other — and the results were instant. I did look more rested and was eager to have the second eye treated to match.
The results…
My under-eye area looks lighter and less lined, and the hollows are less hollow. It’s a subtle change, so I can’t be sure that my husband’s even noticed, but I’ve had comments from friends who’ve asked what I’ve been doing to my skin, and all in all, I’m very pleased I didn’t chicken out of this one.
Words: Sarah Murray
Images: Supplied
