Looking younger with selected methods

TOP Magazin Düsseldorf, Winter 2021/2022 edition

Beautiful without surgery

Text excerpt:

"At the first visit to my practice, I always start by asking two questions: 'What bothers you?' and 'What do you expect?'"

Dr. Karl Schuhmann also considers such a conversation absolutely essential before any treatment. He has been a specialist in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery for more than two decades, focusing on gentle surgical techniques. At his private practice in Düsseldorf, non-surgical treatments have long become part of everyday care alongside operative procedures such as breast augmentation, reduction and lift or the classic facelift – including wrinkle treatments with hyaluronic acid, Botox® and autologous fat, as well as skin tightening and fat reduction using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

"At the first visit to my practice, I always start by asking two questions: 'What bothers you?' and 'What do you expect?'", emphasises Dr. Schuhmann. Depending on the answers, he recommends surgical or non-surgical therapies. The trend towards minimally invasive treatments has grown considerably in recent years, and modern devices deliver impressive results. Nevertheless, there are limits – long-lasting effects can often only be achieved through surgical intervention.

That no one should look "treated" after a procedure, but rather refreshed, is a matter of course for Dr. Schuhmann – regardless of the method used. Alongside classic minimally invasive treatments such as filler injections and microneedling, he recommends, amongst other things, high-intensity focused ultrasound as an effective non-surgical skin tightening treatment. The sound waves stimulate new collagen formation, and the result lasts approximately two years.

In addition, Dr. Schuhmann uses Sculptra, a biostimulator that activates the body's own collagen production. "The significant increase in collagen not only tightens the skin, it also restores volume to the face," explains the specialist. The result looks natural and remains stable for around two years.

Those seeking an alternative to classic cosmetic surgery are in good hands with experienced specialists in Aesthetic Dermatology or Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. Costs are based on the complexity of treatment and start at around €350. Experience is key: the more practised the treating physician is with a given procedure, the more reliable and harmonious the results.