Sorensen Clinic
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
10 Knaresborough Place
Kensington
London SW5 0TG
United Kingdom
Appointments: +44 (0) 20 7600 4444
Email: info@sorensenclinic.com
Office hours
Monday - Friday: 09.00 - 17.30
Rejuvenation of the Décolletage
Due to years of accumulated sun exposure, the skin of the lower neckline, shoulders and upper chest (the décolletage) is vulnerable to premature ageing and pigmentation. Treatment options include: therapeutic skin care, skin peels, micro needling, hyaluronic acid micro-injections and micro fat grafting - providing long-lasting improvement to the health and aesthetic appearance of the décolletage.
Sun-damage to the décolletage will manifest differently throughout life. Early changes relate to varying degrees of pigmentation, uneven colour, sun spots and fine lines. Later on, from mid-life and onwards, the physiological changes will include dermal thinning, loss of elasticity and the formation of deeper lines and skin crepiness. In addition, the sub-dermal tissue is prone to fat atrophy, resulting in volume loss, thinning and hollowing of the upper chest area.
Multi-vectored aproach to skin restoration
In order to achieve a comprehensive and lasting improvement, it is important to treat the deeper soft-tissue layers alongside the superficial skin. A combination of treatments (each of which addresses a relevant component of the ageing process), will provide synergistic benefits beyond what can be achieved from a single procedure.
The list below describes different treatment options available at the Sorensen Clinic, some of which may be combined depending on individual requirements.
A personalised skin care protocol with active ingredients is the foundation for successful skin restoration of the décolletage. Products from the ZO Skin Health range contain retinol (e.g. Retinol Skin Brightener and Wrinkle and Texture Repair), vitamin C (10% Vitamin C Serum), peptides, melanin inhibitors and antioxidants to brighten the skin, treat pigmentation and improve skin texture. ZO Enzymatic Peel (glycolic acid, papain and bromelain) will provide mild skin resurfacing and stimulate renewal of skin cells. ZO Body Emulsion (retinol and beta-glucan) will smoothen the skin and improve hydration.
Chemical peels, for example the ZO 3-Step Peel (10% trichloroacetic acid and 6% retinol) will exfoliate dull skin cells from the surface of the décolletage, reduce fine lines and improve on overall skin quality and texture. Chemical skin peeling is an effective tool for treatment of hyper-pigmentation and melasma, especially when combined with therapeutic skin care (see above) to optimise and maintain results.
Medical microneedling (Dermapen) provides fractional stimulation of the dermis and epidermis which activates a cascade of natural skin-regenerative processes, resulting in formation of new collagen and elastin. Within weeks the skin becomes smoother, with increased thickness and elasticity. Treatment of the décolletage is indicated to improve a variety of chronic and age-related skin conditions, including sun-damage, scarring and skin lines. A course of 3-4 treatments is usually required.
Superficial volume loss and dermal hydration can be improved using hyaluronic acid micro-injections. Products such as Profhilo are designed to optimise dermal hydration and improve skin texture of the face, hands and décolletage. Two treatments of Profhilo will provide improvement for up to nine months.
A suspension of fine-sized autologous fat particles (patient's own fat cells) are transplanted into the superficial layer below the dermis of the décolletage. Micro fat grafting is effective in restoring smooth and soft contours in areas of the upper chest with atrophy, scarring and premature ageing. In addition to the added volume, the grafted fat will also rejuvenate the overlying skin, properties which are attributed to the fat's high stem cell content and ability to increase the oxygenation of the soft-tissues.
Fat grafting may also be indicated to improve on the lower chest, breast and cleavage contours. It is effective for providing soft-tissue cover to prominent ribs or to smoothen out an indented breastbone (e.g. for women with 'pectus excavatum' or similar chest wall deformities). Fat grafting is also beneficial in improving the aesthetic appearance of the cleavage, either as a stand-alone procedure or combined with anatomical breast implants (typically indicated for women with asymmetries or a widely spaced cleavage).
Each patient's skin concerns and characteristics are evaluated during consultation and the appropriate treatment protocol recommended. Our system is flexible and is easily customised to individual skin types.