Mapperley Park Clinic has had a radio in reception for a long time. But lately, we’ve been getting bored of the same old playlists on repeat, day in and day out. Not to mention the adverts…!

So we put our heads together and thought about how we could improve the situation.

Then Jo, Clinical Director, had a brain-wave. Why not create a playlist made up entirely of local music? So that’s what we did. Now, whenever you are sitting in the waiting room at Mapperley Park Clinic, all you are hearing is pure, organic, 100% Nottingham talent.

Nottingham’s music scene is thriving. There are a huge variety of different types of music on offer, from Django Reinhardt style Gypsy Swing (Maniere Des Bohemiens), to beautiful folk (Gallery 47), to fantastic pop (Nina Smith). Then of course there’s lovely gruff-voiced folksters like Will Jeffery, huge-voiced soul singers like Liam Bailey and many, many more.

And of course, there’s Mapperley Park’s very own Emily, whose band, We Are Avengers are serving up a unique blend of Soul, Dub and Trip-hop.

So we’re proud to be supporting our local music scene. And there’s always room for more. If you’d like your music included on a playlist that gets listened to by at least 30 people every day, email emilymartin@mapperleypark.co.uk with details of where to find your music.

Happy listening!

Mapperley Park Clinic have signed up to the St John’s Gardens Project.

Spring Crocuses at St John's Carrington

St John’s is the church next to The Mapperley Park Clinic. It has a lovely graveyard/garden area that the vicar and group running the project are keen to revamp into an area which can be used by everyone in the community, not just the churchgoers.

This means that we will sit on the committee and help to put their plans concerning the gardens into action. We are very keen to improve our local environment (we live in the area as well) and also have eco-improvements in the pipeline at the clinic – some of these being a ‘green-roof’ and water harvesting scheme in readiness for work this summer.

Paul is also particularly interested in improving bird habitats in the area, for birds everywhere are under pressure and we could be doing a lot more for both residents and migrants in these harsh winter months.

Click on the link above for more information on the project and how you can get involved if you wish to, and there are some lovely photographs of the crocus carpet, which is just coming into full bloom.

Our lovelty vascular surgeon, Mr. Bruce Braithwaite has been working with the clinic for a number of years now, providing a wide range of solutions to that age old problem, Varicose Veins.

His expertise is of great value, both to us and to his many satisfied clients.

But he is also in demand elsewhere, as his knowledge on the subject of Vascular problems is second to none. Consequently, he has even advised the BBC for their own health pages. You can view the article here.

If you would like to book an appointment to see Mr. Braithwaite, simply call the clinic on 0115 9692323, where one of our friendly team will be more than happy to assist you.

You may recall that a few months ago we posted about a Scotland-based company who had been ordered by the ASA to take down unsubstatiated claims about their product. The product in question is a tattoo removal cream which claims to break down tattoo pigment slowly.

Their claims that the cream  ’is the simplest, most affordable and convenient of any tattoo removal method available in the world’ were deemed inappropriate and misleading, and they were ordered to remove them, pending providing the ASA with clinical trials proving their claims. They subsequently reworded, but have been ordered once again to remove the remarks in question.

Read more on this and other tattoo-related stories on the laserase blog.

It’s an all-too-familiar sight isn’t it? Teenage celebrities who have already amassed more of a tattoo collection than many self-professed tattoo fanatics… Collecting 12 tattoos before you turn 20 is a sure-fire path to tattoo regret.

We’ve previously blogged about Peaches Geldof expressing her regret that her father had allowed her to keep getting tattooed so young and, sure enough, Miley Cyrus is now reportedly discussing her options with regards to tattoo removal. It is not clear which of her 12 designs she is having removed, and indeed she has only just had another one on the inside of her upper arm which reads: ‘love never dies’ – but one thing is certain, she is very young to already have so many inkings.

Of course, we are not anti tattoo (I myself have two, which I love) – but our advice to these young’uns would be to slow down. There’s no harm in waiting a while before getting your next design. After all, although Miley’s 12 tattoos are all very small, she only has so much skin!

You can read more about this and more at the laserase blog.

Tuesday Day 1 –day of procedure

Everybody keeps asking me if I am nervous but I am not in the least bit apprehensive. I have worked with Mr Haseeb for some years now and I know him well, he did my Laser Lipo some years ago. So I know that if, at any point in the procedure, I feel any pain or get nervous he will stop and sort everything out. Prior to the procedure I have my neck resurfaced with a CO2 laser as one of my colleagues wants to perfect a new technique. I am nothing if not a glutton for punishment.

The procedure starts with nerve blocks. This involves injections either side of my nose, which are quite uncomfortable but not actually painful. Mr Haseeb then “infiltrates” the outer edges of my eyes with local anaesthetic. This is a bit weird but not painful. Within minutes I am numb down the whole centre of my face ( my top lip didn’t go back to normal until about 7 hours later-now that is what I call numb!)

Mr Haseeb then makes an incision under my right eye, following the line of my lower lashes. I can feel a slight tugging sensation but no pain or discomfort. He then separates the skin and works on the fat under my eyes. Eye bags can be caused by a number of different things, one of which is a movement, or herniation, of fat pads from their original position under the eyes. This fat is not removed as this would cause a hollow effect. Instead Mr Haseeb tightens it up using a diathermy instrument-it’s a bit like a Barbecue effect but I try not to think about that now. I have a small bleeding vessel on the inner part of my eye which slows things down a bit. As all of you who know me will contest, I am a real bleeder! Once this is dealt with by a mixture of pressure and diathermy the skin is closed and that eye is done.

The other side takes only minutes as there are no problems and the procedure is complete. Mr Haseeb uses a dissolving stitch under the skin so that there is no need for removal and they are invisible at the skin surface. The wounds are covered with a thin line of glue and left to settle.

Once back home, I rest, feel sorry for myself, ( an important part of the healing phase in my opinion), keep cool packs on my eyes for about 4 hours and-oh yes- eat chocolates ( another vital part of the process) I sleep virtually sitting up in bed. I repeatedly apply Vitamin K cream to both eyes.

Wednesday Day 2-the following Day

Didn’t sleep all that well, due to position rather than anything else. The most obvious sensation during the night is as the nerve blocks are wearing off- I have discomfort down the whole centre of my face, from top lip up to my eyebrows but it is nothing too unpleasant and doesn’t keep me awake.

When I get up the centre of my face across my upper cheeks and lower eyelids is swollen and I have dark purple bruising, more under the right eye where I had the bleeding during the procedure.

I spend the morning taking it easy and using ice packs and Vit K cream to reduce swelling and bruising. My eyes feel really tight- and even blinking was noticeable in a most unusual way. Strangely, although I look as though I have done ten rounds with Mike Tyson, I am not in pain but I am aware of the pressure sensation caused by the swelling and relieve this with the cool packs.

In the afternoon I go to work at the clinic to see two clients having Carbon Dioxide laser. Working the day after plastic surgery is NOT really recommended as it tends to scare people but these clients have been warned and one actually said “oh I can’t wait to see you looking horrendous- does that make me really mean?” I explained that it actually put her in the same category as most of my clients, one of whom insists that I take photographs of any outbreaks, blemishes or lesions I may get in case she misses them due to appointment times.

Thursday Day Three- two days after the procedure

 Still swollen and bruised and conscious of the swelling and pressure sensation, however I have had plenty of laser treatments which have caused every bit as much swelling as this.. My eyes still feel tight, partly because of the glue covering the scars. I spend the day taking it easy except for a dental appointment where both the dentist and receptionist were fascinated. I use some oil to start to soften the glue but, once it spreads into my eyes it is like looking at the world through a soft focus lens (I might do it more often as I looked OK in the mirror) I still use cool packs and Vit K intermittently.

I have a warm bath in the evening and catch sight of myself in the mirror- swollen purple eyes, a bright red neck and a red stripe down my abdomen from a test patch of deep laser for skin tightening- I look truly delightful!

Friday Day Four- three days after the procedure

I am less swollen and the area immediately under my eyes is clearing of bruising. The scars are so fine and thin and already not very noticeable, quite remarkable really.  As the lines of glue have lifted there is a small area obvious on the right eye where the skin does not look knitted together so well. I email Mr Haseeb to ask if there is anything I should/could be doing to help and he replies that it is too early to see anything yet and not to worry. It’s a good job that he knows me as he recognises that patience has never been a strongpoint of mine.

I go to work at the clinic to see three clients who are all very interested in my current facial status.  Because I am not allowed to do any vigorous exercise for 2 weeks I  simply spend the evening with the television, relaxing.

Saturday Day Five- four days after the procedure

It’s Blue Festoon Day!  However, I am much less swollen this morning and cool packs reduce it in a few minutes. The bruising is tracking down my cheeks (isn’t gravity a wonderful thing?) and changing colour. I will go over to the clinic later and get one of the girls to Vbeam laser me on a bruise blasting setting.

I go out and about and do my shopping as usual. I look a bit like a battered wife but nobody seems to notice or, if they do they don’t make it obvious.

The only odd sensation now is a general tightness of the area (which is the whole point of the procedure when you come to think about it) and a pulling feeling at the outer edges of my eyes if I close my eyes tightly. This is due to the separate holding stitches which Mr Haseeb has explained will take about 6 months to dissolve. They help to hold the outer edges in place but they will not feel as tight as this for the whole time.

Tonight is Latoyah’s birthday bash and I am not missing out on that so I put on the old mineral make-up and go. This is strictly NOT ALLOWED for the first week so I am breaking all the rules. Nobody outside out party seems to notice which is fine, and the only reason anyone in the party really notices is because I tell them all!

Sunday Day 6-five days after the procedure

My bruises are coming on a treat, so to speak. They are changing colour and tracking down my cheeks in rainbow colours. They virtually cover with mineral make-up and I can avoid the wounds with it as the bruises are not close to them now. The swelling is going down on a daily basis but I can still feel the pressure across the centre of my face.

I do some light exercise but otherwise spend the day taking it easy. I no longer need cool packs or Vitamin K cream through the day as there has been no actual bleeding or bruising for some days now.

Monday Day 7-six days after the procedure

Only very slight, localised swelling is visible this morning which reduces in minutes with cool packs. I use mineral make-up to cover again and it is very successful.

I have a dental appointment first thing and the dentist and receptionist are both intrigued with my progress. Because my dentist does Botox and fillers she is fascinated to see the results of laser and surgical rejuvenation treatments.

I see Mr Haseeb at the clinic and he is very pleased with my progress. He reassures me that the pulling sensation at the outer corners of my eyes is due to a combination of swelling and stitches and will not last. I can begin to exercise again in one week from now.

I update my blog and then make a start on my pre/post instructions for this procedure and I am so glad that I have had it done myself before doing this as there really is nothing like speaking from first experience.

Tuesday Day 8 One week after the procedure

Bruising and swelling still reducing- I didn’t need cool packs at all this morning.

The bruises are tracking down my cheeks and fading slowly. The tight sensation is also reducing as the deep swelling reduces. The skin feels slightly tender while I am applying cream etc but otherwise I am not aware of it now.

Wednesday Day 9 Eight days after the procedure

My left under-eye is very slightly swollen and red this morning so I apply antibacterial cream but do not need cool packs. My bruises have now tracked further down my cheeks and are visible beneath my glasses so several clients ask me what I have been doing to myself. The interesting thing is that, although they notice the bruises, they are most surprised when I explain and peer closely at me to check out the scars. As usual there are lots of clients waiting to see the results, with a view to possibly booking in themselves.

After work, Karen treated me again with the Vbeam laser. We did a healing treatment.  

I may even go down to only 2 pillows tonight, who knows how exciting that will be!

Thursday Day 10 Nine days after the procedure

 This morning I have 2 yellow headed spots under my left eye, looking rather like a stye, and it is tender to the touch. I cleanse carefully and photograph it.

During the day it feels like occasional pinpricks under my eye and at 1pm I feel a sudden marked pin prick and have a sensation of liquid trickling down my cheek but when I look in the mirror there is nothing to see. However, the yellow spot in the centre is much reduced in size and the pressure sensation is gone. I presume that it has popped internally.

We decide that it would be useful to take some antibiotics as Mr Haseeb feels that I may have some small “stitch infections”. I start on them in the evening. This is almost certainly because I applied make-up too soon but Mr Haseeb is remarkably forgiving about me potentially messing up his fine work.

Friday Day 11 Ten days after the procedure

Already my eye is much less tender and there are no more yellow spots.  There is still some general swelling but it is not very noticeable. The bruises are still tracking down and fading every day.

The tight sensation is slowly reducing and I am no longer aware of the outer edges of my eyes all the time.

Saturday Day 12 Eleven days after the procedure

Hardly any visible swelling this morning and the bruises are much lighter. There is no tenderness under either eye now and the stitch infections are settling well.

I am out tonight at one of Emily’s gigs so I am grateful not to be looking quite so much of a freak as last week in town!

I am still taking the antibiotics and will do so for another few days but that is no problem at all. I can’t actually remember the last time I took them for anything but they do not affect me so all is well.

I can use much lighter make-up as the bruises are so pale. I am sure that, if I wasn’t such a bleeder, they would be gone by now but never mind.

Sunday Day 13 Twelve days after the procedure

I am sleeping on just two pillows now and the swelling is no longer a problem The bruises are still fading and the stitch infections are getting smaller and reducing each day so all is well.

I don’t bother with make-up today as I am not going anywhere so I will give my skin a rest.

Monday Day 14 Thirteen days after the procedure

No real visible swelling this morning and the bruising is almost gone. There is just some yellowing on the mid/lower cheeks and two small crescents of reddish blue colour below my eyes, which cover pretty easily with cover cream and make-up.

Tomorrow it will be two weeks since my procedure and I can begin exercising again which will be good. 

There is no tenderness at all now and, even when I blink my eyes tightly, the tight sensation is reduced significantly. The stitch infections are very small now and hardly noticeable at all under make-up. I am still taking the antibiotics until Wednesday so all is well.

The scars under my eyes are fading at a most amazing rate and already they are quite difficult to see. The scars at the outer edges are still slightly raised but settling virtually by the day. None of the scars are very red and I am very happy with the progress.

Tuesday Day 15 Fourteen days after the procedure

Started exercising again today which is a good thing. My eyes are settling by the day and the bruising is almost clear on the left. The little bumps under my left eye are shrinking nicely. Even the tight sensation at the outer corners of my eyes when I blink hard is virtually gone so everything is really comfortable now.

With make-up on the bruising is pretty well invisible now.

Wednesday Day 16 Fifteen days after the procedure

Much the same as yesterday really and I am just waiting for the last of the bruises to fade. I think it will be clear by the weekend. The under eye scars are fading fast and the ones at the outer eye edges are flattening and settling nicely.

Thursday Day 17 Sixteen days after the procedure

I am at the stage now when there is little visible change from one day to the next so I am going to write periodically from now on.

Tuesday Three weeks since the procedure

I now have tiny pink spots on the apples of my cheeks as the only remnants of the bruises. The dissolving stitches have obviously gone now, as the tiny end thread protruding from the skin wiped away with a cotton bud as I cleansed at the weekend.

The slightly lumpy appearance is now virtually gone as well and the skin is looking good. I will be able to massage the area from next week.

From here it is just a waiting game.

Four weeks since the procedure

Mr Haseeb is very pleased with the results so far- and so am I! I can start to massage the skin now. Upward sweeps from the inner to the outer edge of the eye with emphasis on the sides. The outer scars are still a tiny bit lumpy but this will settle with massage over the next few weeks.

When I put make-up on now it is genuinely hard to tell that anything has been done, and it is set to improve from here onwards – brilliant.