Dr Rita Rakus

Beauty director Jo Glanville-Blackburn asks w&h columnist and The Apprentice judge Karren Brady to road-test transformational face and body treatments. Book us in now!

THE UPLIFT

Ultherapy® is a non-surgical treatment for the face and neck.

Ultrasound helps to tighten and lift sagging skin.

TREATMENT TIME 30 to 60 minutes.

THEY SAY

The first and only cosmetic procedure to use ultrasound imaging, which allows practitioners to see the layers of tissue targeted during treatment and ensure that the energy is delivered to where it will be most productive. Ultherapy lifts and firms, and helps create new collagen, which helps skin maintain its youthfulness. The majority of patients only need one treatment, as the benefits last for two years. While some see an immediate effect following the procedure, the ultimate lifting takes two to three months.

“I have to tell you this is beyond fabulous. I have a fat face. This is a fact. I know that I’ll never have cheekbones. Even when I was eight stone (many years ago), I still had a big bottom and a fat face. The salon and Dr Rita Rakus, who administered the treatment, were fantastic. She explained exactly what she would be doing, how it would work, and what results I could expect. Her salon is like a wonderful home in Knightsbridge.Lots of flowers and open fires. I felt really good just walking in the door.

But be aware that this is not an easy treatment. You sit for around an hour or so with a skin-numbing cream on, and while this helps with the impact of the laser, it’s still not pain free. My advice is: keep the skin-numbing cream on for as long as possible and take a couple of painkillers before you go!

The results were instantaneous! Half of my face fat had disappeared. I swear to you, I actually had cheekbones. It is the most amazing treatment I have ever come across. Because of the pain, choose a doctor to do it carefully, and only go to a great place to have it administered. I had a few bruise-like sensations on my face for about three days, but that didn’t stop me smiling!”

When I went out the night after I had it done, a friend told me I didn’t have a wrinkle on my face - which pleased me no end!

THE POWER LIFT

Thermage, a non-invasive radio frequency therapy that is customised for you.

Great for sleeker, smoother and younger looking skin, when you don’t want anyone to know you’ve had something “done”.

TREATMENT TIME From 45 minutes for the face to 90 minutes for the body. Only one treatment required.

THEY SAY Thermage is a proven radio frequency treatment that transforms skin by working below the surface. It addresses a wide range of surface imperfections and is effective on the eyes (hooding, fine lines and a drooping brow line); the face (loose jowls, sagging skin and a tauter jawline, and the body (unwanted bulges, cellulite and sagging skin). Thermage works with your body, using energy to kick-start the body’s natural renewal process, remodelling its collagen to help your skin get a smoother feel and more youthful look. It treats targeted problem areas, so the results are focused and effective. The latest evolution of Thermage includes patented Comfort Pulse Technology (CPT) - where gentle vibrations and interspersed cooling make your Thermage treatment even more comfortable.

KARREN SAYS “I’d heard a lot about this treatment, and know friends who have had it done with remarkable results. As I was so impressed with Dr Rita Rakus and her salon, I decided to go back to her and give this a go around my eye area.

Firstly, this is totally painless. It’s not unpleasant at all and there is also no downtime. Secondly, when I went out the night after I had it done, a friend told me I didn’t have a wrinkle on my face, which pleased me no end!

They say the treatment doesn’t have an instant effect but works over a matter of months, and I have found this to be the case. I have always had quite puffy eyes, and this treatment certainly had a positive effect on this. My eyes felt fresher and less hooded. I found that the skin around my eye area is tighter and my wrinkles less obvious, particularly the small lines around the eyes. This is a great, pain-free treatment that works, and the good news is, it keeps working. I’d definitely recommend this.”