Cosmetic Facial Clinic
The Cosmetic Facial Clinic was established by Paul Kirkland, FRCS, a leading facial plastic surgeon who specialises in reconstructive and aesthetic facial surgery and minimally invasive non-surgical cosmetic treatments. The clinic provides high quality care to clients in Kent and Sussex.
The Cosmetic Facial Clinic's primary aim is to provide you with the reassurance that your treatment will be carried out by a highly trained surgeon with expertise in facial cosmetic procedures.
Paul Kirkland personally sees all clients from the initial consultation through to the post operative period. He will ensure that you are fully informed at all stages and that you are given realistic expectations of the results that can be achieved.
The following treatments are carried out at StoneRock Dental Care:
Facial Skin Lesions
What are facial skin lesions?
Facial skin lesions can include moles, skin tags, cysts, fatty lumps (lipoma) and skin tumours.
A local anaesthetic is injected, before the skin lesion removal.
The procedure takes on average 10 minutes and stitches are usually used at the end of the operation.
All lesions are sent for histological analysis to confirm the diagnosis.
Preparing for your procedure
At your initial consultation Paul Kirkland will take a full medical history and will advise you whether any medication needs to be discontinued prior to the operation.
It is advisable to avoid aspirin and anti inflammatory drugs eg ibuprofen for 1 week prior to the operation.
You are advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the procedure.
There is good evidence to show that stopping smoking several weeks prior to an operation improves wound healing and reduces post-operative complications.
What are the risks and side effects?
All surgical procedures carry risks and side effects which will be explained fully to you at your initial consultation. It is important to note that Paul Kirkland will not perform a cosmetic procedure unless he feels the benefits greatly outweigh the risks and that your expectations are realistic.
There is a small risk of bleeding after the removal of a facial skin lesion.
Aftercare
Topical antibiotic ointment may be prescribed to rub into the wound twice a day for 2 weeks after the procedure.
Painkillers are usually not required after this operation but if discomfort is experienced then paracetamol is recommended.
Stitches are usually removed 5-7 days after the procedure.
A follow up appointment is arranged with Paul Kirkland so that he may review the wound and the result of the biopsy.
Prices from £300
Botox
What is Botox?
Botox is derived from Botulinium toxin which is used to relax muscles and reduce lines and wrinkles. It works by preventing the release of a chemical between the nerve ending and muscle thereby reducing muscle contraction.
Am I suitable for Botox?
Not everyone is suitable for Botox. You should avoid Botox if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a history of neuromuscular disorders eg Myasthenia gravis.
At your consultation Paul Kirkland will take a full medical history and advise you which treatment he feels would be best to address the concerns that you have.
He will also discuss with you the risks and benefits associated with any treatment. It is important to note that Paul Kirkland will not perform cosmetic procedure unless he feels the benefits greatly outweigh any risks and that your expectations are realistic.
Is Botox safe?
Botox has been used extensively for both medical and cosmetic procedures for over 30 years.
What areas of the face can be treated with Botox?
The commonest areas which are treated with botox are the forehead and around the eyes. These include frown lines and crows feet.
Botox can also be used to reverse downturning of the corners of the mouth and webbing of the neck (platysmal glands).
How should I prepare for my Botox treatment?
It is advisable to avoid aspirin and anti inflammatory drugs eg ibuprofen for 1 week prior to the procedure.
You are advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the procedure.
What can I expect at my Botox treatment?
You will be asked to make specific facial expressions, so that the muscles to be treated can be identified.
Your skin will be cleaned and using a small needle, Botox will be injected directly into the muscles.
The treatment usually takes 5-10 minutes, depending on the number of areas treated. This is not a painful procedure and is very similar to having acupuncture. Therefore, local anaesthetic is not usually required.
How quickly does it take effect and how long do the effects last?
The Botox can start to work after 2 days and the full effect can be seen after 14 days.
In most individuals, the effects typically last 3-4 months. After several courses of Botox the duration between treatments tends to increase.
What are the risks and side effects?
The risks are very uncommon with Botox and most clients can return to work immediately after the treatment.
Mild redness, swelling and bruising may occur, but usually only lasts a few days. If this occurs it can be concealed with make-up and treated with ice and/or arnica cream.
If you experience a headache or discomfort after the procedure, we would recommend that you take paracetamol (but avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs eg ibuprofen).
Prices from £250
Dermal Fillers
What are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal Fillers are used to smooth away lines and replace volume loss. At the Cosmetic Facial Clinic we use Restylane (produced by QMED) and Juviderm Ultra (produced by Allergan). Both are made of hyaluronic acid (HA) a natural substance found in the skin and body which diminishes as part of the natural ageing process, causing dry, loose skin and reduced fullness of the face.
What areas of the face can be treated?
The commonest area is the nose to mouth lines (nasolabial folds).
Fillers can also treat lines around the mouth including the upper lip.
They can also be used to enhance/augment the lips (lip enhancement) and also sculpt the cheeks (cheek sculpting) and reduce the bags under eyes (tear trough).
How should I prepare?
It is advisable to avoid aspirin and anti inflammatory drugs eg ibuprofen for 1 week prior to the procedure.
You are advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the procedure.
What can I expect at my treatment?
Most dermal fillers contain a local anaesthetic, which is injected at the same time as the dermal filler. However, sometimes a separate local anaesthetic cream or injection is required.
Your skin will be cleaned and the dermal filler is injected into the skin. The average treatment time is 15 minutes but it does depend on the size and number of areas you are having treated.
How quickly does it take effect and how long do the effects last?
The effects are immediate and usually last 6-12 months.
What are the risks and side effects?
The risks are very uncommon with dermal fillers and most clients can return to work immediately after the treatment.
Mild redness, swelling and bruising may occur, but usually only lasts a few days. If this occurs it can be concealed with make-up and treated with arnica cream.
If you experience any discomfort we would recommend that you take paracetamol (but avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs eg ibuprofen).
Prices from £300
Lip Enhancement
As part of the natural ageing process we tend to lose volume in the lips, particularly the upper lip. Fullness of the upper lips is considered to be sensuous. Lip enhancement with dermal fillers is used to increase the volume and fullness of thin-looking lips and to reduce the fine lines.
An anaesthetic injection or cream is used to numb the lips prior to the procedure.
If you are prone to cold sores around the mouth, please ask your GP to prescribe zovirax tablets to be taken just before and for a few days after this procedure.
Due to the anatomy of the lip, swelling following lip treatment can sometimes be significant and take up to 14 days to settle. During this time the lips may appear to be slightly uneven. The result directly following the treatment should not be seen as the final result and two weeks should be left to judge this.
After the treatment a cool pack can be applied to soothe the lips and help reduce swelling.
For more information on lip treatment please refer to the Dermal Fillers section.
Prices from £385
Cheek Sculpting
Cheek sculpting is used to create high cheek bones in patients who may have lost volume as part of the ageing process or who wish to have better defined and fuller cheeks.
At the Cosmetic Facial Clinic cheek sculpting involves the injection of the dermal filler Sub Q into the cheek region.
Local anaesthesia can be achieved with either an injection or cream.
For more information on Cheek Sculpting please refer to the Dermal Fillers section.
Prices from £550
Tear Trough - Eye Bag Reduction
One tell-tale sign of ageing is dark hollows under the eyes. Called 'tear troughs', they result in a tired appearance which can make you look older than you feel.
By injecting a dermal filler using a local anaesthetic cream, these depressions can be significantly reduced.
For more information on Tear Trough please refer to the Dermal Fillers section.
Prices from £550
Please print out and fill in the appropriate forms to bring to your initial appointment
Surgical Procedures
Initial Consultation will be at StoneRock Dental Care, the operation will be performed at the Spire Tunbridge Wells or Spire Sussex Hospitals.
Blepharoplasty - Eyelid correction
What is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct droopy eyelids and puffy bags under the eyes.
An incision is made in the upper and/or lower eyelid and excess skin and fat is removed. This procedure is usually performed as a day case under local anaesthetic.
An upper blepharoplasty usually takes around 45 minutes.
A combined upper and lower blepharoplasty will take approximately 1.5 hours.
One continuous running stitch under the skin is inserted.
Preparing for your procedure
At your initial consultation Paul Kirkland will take a full medical history and advise you whether any medication needs to be discontinued prior to the operation.
It is advisable to avoid aspirin anti inflammatory drugs eg ibuprofen for 1 week prior to the operation.
You are advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the procedure.
There is good evidence to show that stopping smoking several weeks prior to an operation improves wound healing and reduces post-operative complications.
What are the risks and side effects?
All surgical procedures carry risks and side effects which will be explained fully to you at your initial consultation. It is important to note that Paul Kirkland will not perform a cosmetic procedure unless he feels the benefits greatly outweigh the risks and that your expectations are realistic.
There may be some mild bruising or swelling of the eyelids after surgery which may last for up to 2 weeks.
Aftercare
Painkillers are usually not required after this operation but if discomfort is experienced then paracetamol is recommended.
Paul Kirkland will see you for a follow-up consultation after 1 week in the clinic. At this time the stitches will be removed.
It is recommended that you take at least 1 week off work after the operation.
You should avoid strenuous exercise for 2 weeks and all contact sports for at least 6 weeks.
Results
The benefits of the operation should be apparent once the bruising and swelling has subsided.
Otoplasty
What is Otoplasty?
Otoplasty is a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the ears.
In children this procedure is performed under general anaesthetic and is most commonly used to correct protruding ears. We recommend that this is performed on children at 4-5 years of age before they risk being teased and bullied at school.In adults, the procedure is usually performed under local anaesthetic.
The operation takes approximately 1.5 hours.
A small incision is made behind the ear which conceals the scar.
At the end of the operation a bandage is applied over the ears and around the head and is removed within 24 hours.
In both children and adults, this procedure is usually performed as a day case.
Preparing for your procedure
At your initial consultation Paul Kirkland will take a full medical history and advise you whether any of your medication needs to be discontinued prior to the operation.
It is advisable to avoid aspirin and anti inflammatory drugs eg ibuprofen for one week prior to the operation.
You are advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the procedure.
There is good evidence to show that stopping smoking several weeks prior to an operation improves wound healing and reduces post-operative complications.
What are the risks and side effects?
All surgical procedures carry risks and side effects which will be explained fully to you at your initial consultation. It is important to note that Paul Kirkland will not perform a cosmetic procedure unless he feels the benefits greatly outweigh the risks and that your expectations are realistic.
Bruising and swelling of the ears is common afterwards and usually settles within 2 weeks.
There is a small risk of bleeding which can cause a blood clot around the ears leading to increased pain. You should contact the Cosmetic Facial Clinic immediately if this occurs.
Aftercare
Painkillers are usually not required after this operation but if discomfort is experienced then paracetamol is recommended.
Paul Kirkland will see you for a follow-up consultation after 2 weeks in the clinic. For young children dissolvable stitches are used which do not need to be removed. In older children and adults the stitches will be removed at the follow-up consultation.
It is recommended that a headband is worn at night time for 4 weeks after the operation to prevent the ears returning to their original position.
Children need to take 2 weeks off school and adults may return to work after 1 week. You should avoid strenuous exercise for two weeks and all contact sports for at least 6 weeks afterwards.
Results
The benefits of the operation should be apparent once the bruising and swelling has subsided.
Rhinoplasty
What is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty is the surgical correction of the appearance of the nose. The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic, usually as a day case.
There are two different types of rhinoplasty.
The commonest, closed rhinoplasty, is performed by small incisions inside the nostrils. The procedure on average takes 1 hour.
An open rhinoplasty is reserved for more complex nasal deformities and is performed via an incision through the skin underneath the nose. This procedure takes approximately 2 hours.
Some people who also have nasal blockage require an operation to straighten the nasal partition (septum) at the same time. This procedure is known as a Septo-Rhinoplasty.
At the end of the operation small nasal dressings are inserted into the nose to reduce bleeding. These are usually removed within 2 hours of the operation with minimal discomfort. A nasal splint is usually applied to the outside of the nose at the end of the operation.
Preparing for your procedure
At your initial consultation Paul Kirkland will take a full medical history and advise you whether any of your medication needs to be discontinued prior to the operation.
It is advisable to avoid aspirin and anti inflammatory drugs eg ibuprofen for 1 week prior to the operation.
You are advised to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before the procedure.
There is good evidence to show that stopping smoking several weeks prior to an operation improves wound healing and reduces post operative complications.
What are the risks and side effects?
All surgical procedures carry risks and side effects, which will be explained fully to you at your initial consultation. It is important to note that Paul Kirkland will not perform cosmetic procedure unless he feels the benefits greatly outweigh the risks and that your expectations are realistic.
There is usually some mild bruising and swelling around the nose which can last up to 2 weeks.
It is normal to experience a blocked nose for approximately 2 weeks after the operation.
There is a small risk of bleeding from the nose during the first 2 weeks after the operation and it is common to experience blood stained discharge for a few days afterwards.
Aftercare
Painkillers are usually not required after this operation but if discomfort is experienced then paracetamol is recommended.
Paul Kirkland will see you for a follow-up consultation after 1 week in the clinic. At this time the nasal splint and any stitches will be removed.
You will need to take 2 weeks off work following the operation and avoid strenuous exercise during this time to reduce the risk of a nose bleed.
You should avoid all contact sports for at least 6 weeks afterwards.
Results
The benefits of the operation should be apparent once the nasal splint has been removed and any swelling has subsided. However, there are subtle changes of the skin and underlying structures over the following 12 months. Therefore the final result cannot be judged until this stage.