Mapperley Park Clinic

ePrime is the latest and most effective way to date of tightening up jowls and refining jaw lines through targeted collagen remodelling - without surgery.

Click here to see Jo Martin (our Clinical Director)'s very own case study with pictures.

Technically ePrime is a new fractional radio-frequency device delivering collagen tightening energy to the dermis through controlled needle-electrodes.

ePrime is the half-way house between face -lift surgery and minimally invasive techniques, such as trans-dermal radio-frequencing. It is not a replacement for surgery - but it might put off the day or act as an alternative.

ePrime treatments smooth and tighten the skin over a period of weeks and months - rather than the dramatic effects that a face-lift can deliver - giving a gradual, more natural improvement.

Best of all, downtime is limited when compared to surgery; the treatment is fast, painless, carried out under local anaesthetic and with little or no downtime.

ePrime is particularly designed to treat skin on the lower face and can:

• Tighten sagging skin and reduce jowling
• Improve definition around the chin and jawline
• Reduce wrinkles around the mouth, chin and jawline areas
• Increase firmness and thickness of lower face skin

How does ePrime work?

By delivering carefully calibrated doses of energy at a precise depth to maximise collagen tightening and new collagen production.

At Mapperley Park, we have been using electromagnetic radiation (as light and radio frequency) for nearly 20 years. We are pioneers in the use of lasers, having introduced one of the very first commercial lasers into the UK and we have used radio frequencies (RF) for many years to target blood vessels in varicose vein surgery but also to target collagen in skin by sending RF energy to the dermis, where collagen is produced. The problem here is that energy is ‘wasted' as it makes its way to the target - and this waste energy is expressed as heat. It is very difficult to deliver precise doses of energy to the collagen target when all we can measure is the temperature at the surface. So, although we know that RF works to tighten and promote new collagen, it is very difficult to deliver the correct dose - because the rest of the skin tends to get in the way.

ePrime works differently; a set of micro-needles are injected just 2mm into the skin and a controlled dose of RF energy is then delivered directly to the target structures - that is the collagen fibres in the dermis . Because the micro-needles also measure the amount of RF energy delivered and the heat generated, precisely the right amount of energy can be delivered without wasting that energy elsewhere. This means that lower doses of energy can be delivered and crucially, there is no epidermal heating - a constant problem with traditional RF devices.

What happens before and during an ePrime treatment?

First, you will come and talk to Jo Martin, our Clinical Director. Jo is unique in this field, having worked with lasers and RF devices since founding the clinic in 1993. Jo has also had the treatment herself (Jo's own case study is available here) and she is one of only 3 practitioners currently trained to deliver ePrime treatments in the UK.

First, Jo will discuss your aims with you and assess whether you are suitable for treatment. Suitability will depend on the degree of skin laxity present and your own expectations; this is not a face-lift and will generate gradual and natural looking improvements rather than a dramatic response so, it is important that expectations are realistic.

The treatment itself is straight-forward and involves the injection of a local anaesthetic prior to the delivery of the RF, with the whole procedure taking no more than two hours with the treatment itself taking up to an hour. Because the skin is anaesthetised, the treatment itself is painless; all our clients so far have rated the pain-score as 1 out of 10 for the injections and 0 out of 10 for the treatment. The treatment head containing the needles is passed over the lower face and upper neck and each shot involves the insertion of the needles and the passing of an RF pulse for 4 seconds, which is where most of the time is consumed.

What can I expect after treatment?

In the short term, there will be swelling, as we inject fluid into the skin in the form of anaesthetic and this can take a few days to completely reabsorb. Bruising and needle marks in the treatment area are possible but these are minimised by the use of a professional Vitamin K product, starting immediately after treatment. Also, Jo will also use a pulsed-dye ‘healing' laser to improve recovery times and although responses will vary, the swelling and redness will usually settle within a few days. Mineral make-up can be worn from the following day. It would be best to have the treatment before a weekend and we will be keeping Fridays free for Jo to treat from this time.

How safe is the treatment?

Although this is a new treatment, Candela Corporation of America have been developing and testing ePrime for more than 8 years, with the product launch in USA taking place in January 2011.

What results can I expect?

Clinical studies by Candela have shown that ePrime can significantly improve skin laxity to the face with a single treatment. Optimal results appear between 3 and 6 months after treatment and last for at least 18 months after treatment, depending on your age, general health and following of post treatment advice.

The treatment works on collagen in 2 ways - immediate post treatment tightening, relating to the shrinkage of collagen molecules when subjected to heat - long term improvement in collagen quality through the stimulation of new collagen (collagenesis).

Results are not as dramatic as surgical face-lifts however, the results are more progressive and natural, require significantly less down-time and carry minimal procedural risks.

The before and after images in this article are courtesy of Candela.    

Why come to Mapperley Park Clinic?

Jo has been carrying out light and RF treatments since 1993 and the Clinic has delivered over 170,000 treatments to more than 15,000 individuals in this time.

The clinic is registered for the delivery of minor surgery with the Care Quality Commission and we are members of numerous professional organisations, details of which you can see at the foot of the homepage.

We employ Surgeons, Doctors and nurses to deliver the range of treatments available, details can be found on our ‘meet the team' page.

Mapperley Park is also an internationally recognised training provider, delivering the only UK qualifications in lasers, light and RF as the BTEC Level 4 Advanced Awards through Edexel.

In short, we are experts at what we do and carry over 150 years of collective experience within the various Mapperley Park teams. Jo Martin, who leads the clinic team is one of the UK's very first laser practitioners and one of the most experienced.

How much does it cost - what do I do next?

The cost is £1950. However, as we build up our process and gather images, case studies and testimonials, we are offering the treatment at £1500 for a limited time only. These patients will need to consent to have anonymised before and after photos taken and used in training and promotion to attract this discount.

If you want to know more; or if you want to book in to see Jo to discuss your suitability, just call us on 0115 969 2323. In order to protect our diary from those failing to show, we do make a booking charge of £30 for a consultation appointment but this fee will be returned for day-time appointments or those going ahead with treatment.