FACE VALUES

Has facial fat become the latest victim of our culture’s toxic obsession with downsizing? Today we’re tackling a somewhat unappetising new phenomenon – the rise of weight loss ‘miracle’ drug Ozempic, and the subsequent fall of our youth-preserving facial fat.  

With hollowed-out temples and gaunt, sunken structures, it seems the recreational use of diet drugs may, in fact, be creating BOBFOCs (Bodies Off Baywatch, Faces Off Crime Watch). Fillers can only go so far, so if you are thinking of going down the Ozempic route, we have some advice you need to hear – even if it’s hard to swallow.  

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Why should your fertility journey mean your skin health falls off the map? It was this very question Dr. Jo Mennie felt passionate (and ragey) about during her own fertility experience - how labour intensive it was to find accessible, expert advice on looking after your skin at each turbulent stage, from pre-pregnancy to conception, trimesters and the post-partum journey. 

Now a leading aesthetic doctor specialising in women’s health, Dr. Jo is here with me today to clear up the murky waters of pregnancy skincare - the ingredients do’s and don’ts, some age-optimising alternatives and the most advanced body treatments that can tighten tummies and smooth saddlebags, repairing post partum skin damage, without going under the knife. It’s all straight talking today - no baby talk we promise.

About our guest: Dr. Jo Mennie is a leading Aesthetic Doctor with over 12 years of experience working in plastic surgery in the NHS. She has completed a PhD in Women’s Health, for which she received a research fellowship award from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS).

Dr. Jo practices at the Dr. David Jack clinics and is also the co-founder of @louco, fuelling and future-proofing women’s help through plant based protein for women

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Since Kylie Jenner pouted her way into our beauty consciousness, dermal fillers have been hugely on the rise, and there have arguably been more filler faux pas than with any other aesthetic treatments. So, it's little wonder that Salima (joining me again today) goes a bit green around the gills at the thought of ending up with a puffer fish face. 

Think of this episode as your filler fact files: everything you need to know about these rejuvenation injectables, from the art of application, to how long they last, their side effects, and why trying to look like J Lo will almost certainly blow up for you.  

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Joining us today is the esteemed Dr. Charlotte Gribbin, to tackle a subject that may leave you feeling flushed. We’re diving into the hormonal rollercoaster which many women ride for years – Menopause - or as Dr. Charlotte describes it, ‘puberty in reverse’. 

When it comes to this universal female experience, the silence can still feel deafening, but not for the next half an hour or so. We’re delving into the science behind the symptoms; why your tried and tested skincare may suddenly seem to work against you, why your jawline has flatlined and why your drop in confidence might be linked to your drop in collagen, and the best, science-led ways to approach this time of change to get you feeling (and looking) like yourself. 

HRT misinformation, testosterone and hairloss and whether collagen supplements are a waste of money, this is your guide to age-optimising solutions during this time of change. Period. 

About our guest: Dr. Charlotte Gribbin is an award-winning clinical and academic Aesthetic Physician, with a Master Degree in Aesthetic Medicine from Queen Mary University of London.

She is particularly passionate about helping women in mid-life regain confidence through subtle, individual, aesthetic treatments and targeted skin-care. Dr. Charlotte is currently a visiting Assistant Professor in Aesthetic Medicine at Ulster University’s Facial Aesthetics MSc programme. Dr. Charlotte is a leading practitioner at the Dr. David Jack Belgravia clinic.

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Today we're sifting through the bizarre bazaar of the Aesthetics Industry. Salima wants bang for her beauty buck but is fearful of those over-filled faces we see even with those who have unlimited budgets. This episode is a guide to navigating the complex (and unregulated) world of cosmetic procedures. Where to start? Who to choose? How to spend?

From toxins alleviating depression, to hyperpigmentation treatments that make you feel as good as a facelift and valuing facials like you do hygienist appointments, tune in for where you should spend, when to run away, and for some insight into the latest treatments that get your skin functions to reverse its own damage.

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Do you feel you're losing it? I certainly did, and it turns out we're in good company - in fact, half of the male population has started to lose it by the time they hit 50. Hair, that is. Today, we're baring all on baldness, thanks to our guest Mr. Chris D'Souza, a master in the field of hair transplants and the very surgeon who performed my recent procedure. 

Baldness is often described as a 'sign of advancing years', which is hardly helpful given that hair loss can start as early as the mid-twenties for many men. In this episode, Mr. D'Souza lifts the lid on the complex issue of male (and female) pattern baldness, with a razor-sharp focus on the most effective treatments and the snake oil we need to be wary of. He sheds light on the impact Covid had on our locks, the hair care you actually need, and we discuss why, even though Turkey has taken the crown as the hair transplant capital of the world, the risks and results can be hair-raising. 

About Our Guest: Dr. Christopher D’Souza is an award-winning hair transplant surgeon, with extensive experience in Follicular Unit Excision (FUE) and Strip Follicular Unit Transplantation (Strip FUT). Dr. D’Souza has been part of the executive committee of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery since 2017 and was voted in as President in 2021. He is also part of the executive committee of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) where he currently serves as Secretary and Chair of the Oral Examination Committee. He has a state-of-the-art clinic in central London.  

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In this episode, we’re joined by aesthetics aficionado and award-winning journalist and author, Alice Hart-Davis, for an unfiltered foray into the changing face of Tweakments – a term she coined that has since become industry standard. We journey from 1998, when Alice first ventured into aesthetics procedures, to the present. Back then, nurses were injecting collagen, and the idea of using toxins was met with horror. Fast forward to today and we chat salmon sperm injections for firming things up under the eyes, shaking up cocktails of regenerative medicine and ingredients to regrow your own fat. 

We muse over what the future holds for Aesthetics, share the skincare you must always use, and the treatments that have dazzled and disappointed. 

About Our Guest: Alice Hart-Davis is an award-winning beauty journalist and author. She has reported on non-surgical cosmetic procedures – ‘tweakments’ and skincare for 25 years and has tried countless procedures and products in order to review them. 

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Today, we’re breaking down maybe the biggest topic in skincare: Retinoids, or as my co-host Salima calls them ‘the broccoli of skincare’ - something you do need to have, whether you like it or not.  

Possibly the most effective ingredients when it comes to improving skin health, the retinoid family do have a reputation for being troublemakers, leaving many (like Salima) “too terrified” to use them, having experienced redness, peeling, breakouts and sensitivity in the past.  

If you’re on the fence when it comes to adding this miracle molecule to your routine, this episode is your golden ticket to retinoid success. I’ll share my foolproof guide on achieving A class results with vitamin A, without enduring the infamous Retinization process.  

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Have our brains undergone more transformation than our faces? Today, I'm joined by powerhouse psychotherapist and author, Jennifer Cox, to explore the fascinating intersection of aesthetics and psychology. From the rise of the 'Annabels Face' - a new aesthetic tribalism where conformity trumps individuality, to facial dysmorphia and the pressure on men to keep their hair (but only in the right places) have our plastic minds been so #influenced that it's changed the landscape of our faces forever? 

We discuss the profound influence of social media on beauty standards and question the Aesthetic Industry’s role and responsibility. Can we challenge this new wave of judgmentalism without overstepping ethical boundaries? Is it time to champion and celebrate our unique features once again? 

About Our Guest: The brilliant Jennifer Cox is a leading psycotherapist, co-host of the ‘Women Are Mad’ podcast with actress and writer Salima Saxton and has just released her first book ‘Women Are Angry’ (available at all booksellers). 

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Life in Plastics: It’s Fantastic. In our first episode, we’re really going to get under your skin – deep beneath its surface – past the SMAS and into the layers where skin ageing truly occurs. Our guide? The brilliant Georgios Orfaniotis. We’re exploring the fascinating world of facelifts, covering the most common age for these procedures, the truth about the recovery process, the real scoop on how many A-listers have gone under the knife and the must-knows, myths, and misconceptions about non-surgical treatments and their impact on surgical outcomes. 

We take a deep dive into the Deep Plane Facelift – a revolutionary technique that George pioneers for restoring your unique facial structure to its youthful state, naturally and without the dreaded 'wind-blown' look. 

About our guest: Mr Georgios Orfaniotis is a fully-certified and internationally trained Plastic Surgeon and esteemed surgeon specialising in facial aesthetic surgery, with over 15 years of experience and over 8,000 operations under his belt. Georgios has extensively trained in Head and Neck reconstruction and over the years he has used these skills to develop an expertise in Facial Aesthetic Surgery. He is one of the few surgeons in the UK able to offer the most advanced facial rejuvenation techniques including; Extended Deep Plane Facelift, Deep Neck Lift, and Lip Lift. He sees patients and operates in prime central London in multiple locations. 

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