Mar 23 Ballito Umhl

Text: Leah Shone
Aesthetic medicine expert Dr Michelle Blom
and therapist Tammy Stanhopes
Hydration
&glow
It’s always good to start the year off with a bit of ‘skin
love’. We did just that on our recent visit to the beautiful
new premises of The Good Skin Co. at La Lucia Mall.
The harsh summer months can be
quite taxing on your skin. With all that
sunshine, sweat and air-conditioning,
a big dose of hydration should
definitely be on your to-do list.
After my initial consultation at the
stunning new Good Skin Co. rooms
at La Lucia Mall, an intense hydration
treatment was, quite literally, the
'doctor's orders' for me.
The doctor in question is, of course,
well-known aesthetic medicine expert,
Dr Michelle Blom, who heads up the La
Lucia aesthetic clinic together with her
therapist, Tammy Stanhopes.
Having recently relocated to their new
premises, Dr Michelle and Tammy
invited me to come and see the new
rooms and experience what they
have to offer.
During the initial consult, Dr Michelle
asked me some questions before
suggesting a basic skincare plan for
the next couple of months. Summer is
not the time to be doing any extreme
or intense treatments or peels, she
explained, so we decided to start off
with something gentle and super
hydrating, with the possibility of some
more intense treatments during the
cooler months.
After getting settled in the treatment
room, Tammy talked me through
what she would be doing for me that
day. She explained that I would have
a lactic peel using lactic acid with an
alpha hydroxyl acid (fruit acid derived
from milk), which removes old cells on
the skin's surface to make space for
new cell growth.
The peel also has a 'plumping’ action,
which is great for hydration and glow.
The second part of the treatment
included the Laser Genesis machine,
which is basically a non-invasive laser
that penetrates the dermis of the
skin to boost collagen. It helps with
signs of ageing (yay!), sun damage,
excessive redness, large pores, uneven
texture and acne scars.
The last part was the Photodynamic
Therapy (PDT), which is basically
a combination of selected
wavelengths of light that target
specific cells for various skin
conditions. In my case, it was used in
combination with a hyaluronic mask
(for even more hydration).
Tammy was incredibly professional
and kind and talked me through
each step of the very relaxing
treatments. Nothing was painful or
even uncomfortable, and she carefully
explained what each stage would feel
like before she began. The very last
thing she did was to apply a layer of
tinted SPF to my skin, something she
says should never be forgotten!
Probably the best part (for me as a
busy, working mom) was how quick
and easy the whole process was. I was
in and out in less than an hour and,
because the treatments I had required
no down-time, I could confidently
head straight to my next meeting
without feeling I had to hide behind a
pair of dark glasses!
The next day (which happened to
be my birthday), I felt all the glowy
hydration that was promised and am
certainly looking forward to tackling
some more intense treatments when
the winter months arrive.
The Good Skin Co.
Passionate about aesthetic medicine,
both Dr Michelle and Tammy are
highly qualified and experienced
in their field. Dr Michelle graduated
from UFS with an MBChB and worked
in various sectors in the medical
field before finding her niche in the
medical aesthetics world in 2016.
Aesthetic medicine has been her sole
focus for the past seven years and
she is driven by her desire to see her
patients achieve their anti-aging goals
and feel good about themselves.
Tammy studied somatology and has
been in the skincare industry for 15
years. Her passion is medical skin care
though and she loves helping people
meet their skin goals.
Details: The Good Skin Co, Shop 303A La
Lucia Mall, 066 479 8565,
@thegoodskinco.za
March 2023 Get It • Ballito • Umdloti • Umhlanga 19