From the ‘new Botox’ to collagen-banking jabs, these are the new tweakments that experts rate

The face of beauty is, quite, literally changing – because tweakments are no longer taboo. Not long ago, having ‘work’ was a shameful secret to be passed off as good genes. Today, everything from fillers and lasers to no-lipo fat removal are out in the open, enjoying a fresh new image to match the women who emerge reinvented from the clinic.

This transparency is driving a boom in non-invasive aesthetics treatments, with myriad ways to tighten, tweak and tone without surgery. Whether you’re already a veteran, a curious ‘maybe’ or a hard pass, it’s an undeniably fascinating area, and one worth staying abreast of, whatever your personal stance.

Even if you’re not considering tweakments, it’s likely that friends or family are, so it’s useful to know that the aesthetics industry in the UK still isn’t strongly regulated.

As Dr Sophie Shotter, president of The British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) explains: ‘The Government will be introducing a national licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, which will restrict who can carry out high-risk treatments and set minimum training and safety standards. It’s expected to roll out over the coming years, but for now the system still relies heavily on voluntary regulation.’

Bottom line: patients need to do their research when choosing treatments and providers.

Use a trusted resource like the BCAM website to find qualified medical practitioners, and take care to look beyond glossy celebrity before and afters. ‘These often neglect the “during” – the downtime, discomfort or complications that ordinary patients may face,’ says Dr Shotter. ‘And while there’s a lot of innovation, it’s important to remember that new doesn’t always mean better.’

To find out more, we asked leading experts to pick out the tweakment arrivals they’re impressed by.

Longevity is the word on everyone’s lips, and nothing is sparking more interest than Rexonage3. ‘Other skin devices work by creating a “controlled injury” that the body then heals, but Rexonage3 causes no damage whatsoever,’ says longevity specialist Viviana Botoaca, founder of the Geneviv Clinic. ‘It regenerates tissue on a completely different level and actually creates young, healthy cells.’

It’s all down to a cutting-edge technology called quantum molecular resonance (QMR). ‘This works deep inside your cells, where it stimulates the tiny bonds that hold your tissues together,’ explains Viviana. 'By energising these molecular connections, it encourages your skin and tissues to naturally regenerate into a healthy identical tissue, treating root cause not only symptoms.’

'Think of it as tuning guitar strings at the most microscopic level of your body, so your tissue’s molecular bonds resonate in harmony.’

If this all sounds a little woo-woo, rest assured: ‘QMR is being applied medically for everything from post-operative healing to brain cancer and osteoarthritis,’ adds Viviana.

In terms of skin longevity, Rexonage3 uses QMR’s regenerative, anti-inflammatory properties to tackle wrinkles, pigmentation, laxity, dullness and rosacea, and more – all in a treatment that feels like a facial massage.

Botox is the best-known wrinkle-smoothing jab in the world, but it’s not the only botulinum toxin brand on the market and there’s a new arrival, Relfydess, snapping at its heels.

‘Clinical trials of Relfydess have shown that up to 39% of patients will see results in 24 hours and then 75% of patients will have results that last around six months,’ says GP and aesthetic specialist Dr Ahmed El Muntasar. ‘It has very high patient satisfaction, and personally, I think it’s fantastic.’

Across all neurotoxin brands, there’s a shift towards a subtle, skilled ‘microdosing’ approach that preserves enough facial movement to not give your secret away.

It’s vital to know that all neurotoxins are licensed medical products that can only legally be prescribed by registered and qualified medical practitioners. There are also dangerous counterfeits out there, so never, ever skimp on safety.

You’ve probably heard of the ‘vampire facelift’, in which platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is extracted from your own blood, then injected back into the skin to kick-start regeneration. Now, though, a new technology called Meta Cell Therapy (MCT) is taking this holistic healing to another level.

‘PRP is put through a machine that exposes it to different light and heat conditions, supercharging it to produce triple the growth factors,’ says Dr Shotter. ‘Billions of your own exosomes [messenger cells] are also created in the blood sample. For the first time ever, we can improve the quality of your own blood, then use it to regenerate the face, under-eyes, hands, even scalp for hair growth.’

It’s also being used to 'supercharge' other treatments. Leading oculoplastic surgeon and aesthetic doctor Dr Maryam Zamani has incorporated it in her new LumiEye protocol, where it’s used for revolumising undereye injections, which are then followed by Erbium Laser to tighten and brighten.

Cryoliposis is a long-established tech for melting stubborn fat, but Cristal Pro is the new favourite for body-sculpting specialist Dr Galyna Selezneva. ‘A single procedure can reduce 20-25% of fat in the area treated, and up to four zones can be tackled at once,’ she says. ‘The treatment is swifter and there’s a choice of different-shaped applicators, which lets us treat pretty much every body area and minimises the risk of the indentations that were more common from early devices – although of course you still need to see a skilled practitioner.’

Like all cryoliposis technologies, Cristal Pro destroys fat cells by freezing them in a controlled way. ‘However, it’s the only one with inbuilt ultrasound technology, which lets us target fat with more precision,’ says Dr Selezneva. ‘It’s also a more comfortable treatment, in my opinion. My patients report very little discomfort or swelling. Unlike earlier devices, I haven’t had a single phone call from patients concerned about pain afterwards.’

Jennifer Aniston caused a sensation when she discussed having a ‘salmon sperm facial’, aka injections of polynucleotides. They’re the basic building blocks of DNA and, yes, the ones used in aesthetics really are derived from purified salmon sperm, a source picked for its close match to human DNA.

However, jabs aren’t to everyone’s taste, and there’s a new alternative method that’s a favourite of A-list facialist Keren Bartov. ‘Rather than using injections, we apply salmon sperm-derived PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide) topically to the skin in combination with treatments like microneedling or Tixel,’ she explains. ‘PDRN accelerates skin regeneration, reduces inflammation and improves elasticity and texture. Most patients see results within 2–3 weeks. Topical application of PDRN is a great option for clients who come for device-led treatments without injectables. It’s our most requested treatment right now.’

And if microneedling still sounds a bit spicy? You can get your fishy fix with PDNR skincare. Keren is developing her own range, and you’ll also find it in K-beauty formulas such as ANUA PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum.

Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum 30ml

£20 at LookFantastic

£20 at ASOS£20 at Cult Beauty

Injectables that plump skin by flipping on its own collagen production are another hot topic. ‘Julaine is the latest generation of these collagen bio-stimulators,’ says Dr El Muntasar. ‘It’s made from PLLA (polylactic acid) and when injected into the skin, your body surrounds these microscopic particles with freshly produced sheets of collagen. The product only stays in place for about 12 weeks, but the collagen it stimulates lasts for roughly two years, and the results look incredibly natural. It improves texture and firmness, leaving your skin looking like itself, just refreshed.’

Fellow aesthetician Dr Sarah Tonks is a fan, too. ‘The really interesting thing about Julaine is that you can use it either to give volume or as a skin-quality improver, depending on the dilution. I find it more effective than anything else. Nothing else will give the same skin luminosity, nothing else gives the same firmness to flaccid skin. And you can use it off-label pretty much anywhere on the face, including in the hairline, beneath the eyes and on vertical lip lines.’

When you think of resurfacing lasers, you think of skin that’s red-raw for weeks until the regenerative healing completes. UltraClear is the first-ever ‘cold fibre’ ablative laser – one that promises to resurface skin with far less downtime but comparable anti-ageing effects.

‘Traditional fully ablative lasers remove the entire surface layer of skin to tighten and lift,’ says skin expert Dr David Jack. ‘UltraClear removes skin in fractional microchannels, which reduces pain, spares collateral damage to the surrounding tissue and speeds healing. This means results approaching those of a full resurfacing treatment, but with markedly less downtime and risk. Skin is typically healed after seven days. Slight redness can persist longer in fairer skin, but can be covered with makeup. Fully ablative laser takes 3-4 weeks to reach that same point.’

Love the sound of a laser collagen boost, less keen on a week hiding away? ‘UltraClear can also be used on a lighter setting for a skin refresh with zero downtime,’ he adds.

Profhilo is one of the world's best-known skin boosters (aka injectable moisturisers that flood skin with hyaluronic acid) and now it has a new sister treatment that regrows your own facial fat. The result? Saggy cheeks can be replumped without fillers.

‘Facial fat pads are the key to youthful plumpness in the mid-face,’ explains Dr Shotter. ‘Over time we begin to lose fullness in the cheeks and the face becomes squarer. Profhilo Structura is injected directly into the fat pads in the cheeks, which activates youthful behaviour in these cells. In essence, this regenerates lost cheek fat, restoring fullness and firmness to the mid-face in a very natural-looking way.’

There’s a lot of buzz about skin-tightening device Sylfirm, which promises to be far more comfortable than traditional radiofrequency microneedling – a claim that Dr Selezneva is fully on board with. ‘The heat is dispersed evenly through very tiny needles, so I can achieve fantastic results on crepey skin with very little pain or downtime,’ she says. ‘I call it “microdosing” to stimulate collagen and elastin. It’s excellent for laxity on the face and neck.’

Skin-booster jabs work as ‘injectable moisturisers’ to leave skin soft and dewy on the surface and also stimulate collagen deeper down. Like traditional fillers, they’re made from hyaluronic acid, but skin booster molecules disperse under the skin to add hydration rather than volume, so they won’t change the shape of your face.

SuneKOS is a new name that’s impressed Dr Shotter, who tells us: ‘Other skin boosters on the market activate collagen types I and III, but SuneKOS activates types IV and VII as well, which help to anchor the skin and keep its integrity better. It also activates production of elastin, responsible for “bounce” in the skin.’