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EF MediSpa, Kensington - 4 bubbles
What can you expect from a face-lift without a knife? Single Spy was invited to the super-efficient EF MediSpa and reports from the laser front line. "Come here for quick fixes," she advises, "and cumulative firming effects." Just check your bank balance first.
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Long-term effects
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
On the outside, EF MediSpa is a glass-fronted corner shop in the very trendy Kensington Church Street. The sign outside encapsulates their philosophy: "Intelligent skin care". Push through the glass door, and you are in a small reception area of understated whiteness and glass, with some seats in the window, water, and a reception desk.
How did they welcome you?
Politely and efficiently, with a glass of water and a health consultation form.
What happens next?
I went upstairs for a consultation with the founder of EF MediSpa, Esther Fieldgrass. Esther has a long-standing interest in skincare, especially the sort of care that can make a real difference to your skin without going under the knife. She is a fantastic advertisement for her own beliefs, with immaculately glowing skin. We talked about the range of treatments available at the medi-spa, the importance of lymphatic drainage, and Esther's visions for future alternative skincare therapies. Esther explained about the bone thinning that occurs in our more mature years which causes the face to lose structure. So, what results might I see after just one treatment? To make an immediate difference to the lines around my mouth, Esther advised, I'd need a dermal filler. Not being quite brave enough to try this yet, I promised to consider it for another day.
Which treatments did you have?
I had a EF MediFirm (60 minutes plus consultation time, £475). This is an anti-ageing facial that uses a combination of radio frequency and lasers to tighten and smooth the skin. I knew it wouldn't make a dramatic difference after just one treatment -- the spa advises a course of six -- but I was keen to try one of the more popular facial treatments so I could report on its methods and results for Good Spa Guide readers.
What were the treatments like?
Intense. My therapist, Mina, took me down to a basement room. It looked much as spa treatment rooms usually do, with a treatment couch at the centre, only whiter and more Spartan. There was quite a clinical atmosphere (which is reassuring -- you don't want someone coming at you with laser beams and little Buddhist bells) but there was also a hum from a large machine in the corner, which was a bit foreboding.
Once I was downstairs, Mina issued me with a second, and more frightening, consent form. In it I acknowledged that the risks of the treatment included scarring and discolouration -- and possibly several other alarming things, but I did not get a copy to keep. Interestingly, this form asked for my acknowledgement that I understood the cost structure of the treatments. Necessary, no doubt, as redefining your face doesn't come cheap.
Once the formalities were over, Mina asked me to take off my clothes down to my underwear and hop onto the treatment couch.
When I was horizontal, Mina began the treatment by covering my eyes with eye-pads and shining a bright light on my skin to diagnose what she was dealing with. Let's face it -- at my time of life, it's not going to be complete dewy delight. And so she discovered:
* capillary damage from sun exposure ("Don't get any more of those," Mina said.)
* lines between my mouth and my nose ("Those are genetic," Mina said. Can't do anything much about that -- this is the pattern for ageing on my mum's side of the family, and why Esther had recommended the dermal fillers)
* and what the cruel would call crow's feet but I would call laughter lines around my eyes. ("Now that you've made those lines," said Mina, "we can treat them. But you could have prevented it." Not sure how -- either by having Botox in my thirties, never laughing, or inventing a time machine?)
Terrain mapped out, Mina started with a papaya cleanser, which smelled sweet and fresh. After this, she smeared a very cold gel all over my skin to protect it from the heat of the treatments.
Then we started. The humming machine was called into action. Mina directed radio frequency pulses around my jawline and neck. This was bearable but strange at times as a muscle jumped or twitched. There were little pulses of heat, but it was all quite manageable.
Then Mina started with the laser treatment. This directed sharp points of heat into my skin. It was fine around the edges of my face but as we got closer to my nose and eyes, it felt definitely hot and uncomfortable. Eventually, after I squeaked, Mina went over to the machine and turned down a dial. I asked her later whether this was usual -- to start high and turn down as necessary. She told me no; she would usually build up the intensity but, as she knew I was there for one treatment, she had started quite high with the aim of giving me visible results. So be reassured -- you can go for the slow slope upwards.
Mina finished the treatment by spreading a serum on my face ("to boost the collagen") then moisturiser and a sunblock.
How did you feel afterwards?
Hoping for some results. Mina had stopped the treatment halfway through to show me the difference between one side of my face (done) and the other (not done) but, to be honest, in my myopic state and with cooling gel dripping off my every contour, I couldn't see much. Mina told me that usually they took photographs so you could trace the resurgence of your younger self, but as I was just there for the one treatment, this wasn't necessary. However, if you look at the photographs on the EF MediSpa website, they are indeed impressive.
What happens afterwards?
I got changed back into my own clothes, visited the spotlessly clean loo next door to the treatment room and slapped on some make-up ready for my return to the world.
Long-term effects
The combination of light and radio frequency aims to stimulate collagen production in your skin -- and it's the collagen that gives your skin is firmness and plumpness. So I was on the lookout for plumpness and firmness a little further down the line. And you know what? A week or so later, I think I saw it. My skin seemed smoother and slightly tighter around my jawbone. A course of six was suddenly tempting...
Was it worth it?
Facial refirming treatments are not for the faint of pocket. But if you want to make a difference to your face and you don't feel comfortable submitting a surgeon's knife, this is an avenue for you to try.
What else could you have?
A whole range of treatments from Smart Lipo (a technique that uses lasers to permanently remove fat) to reflexology. Botox. Dermal fillers. Bodysculpting. Instant breast enhancement. Electro-lymphatic drainage therapy. All treatments begin with a private consultation so that the treatments are tailored to you and you alone.
Any special features?
There is also a cosmetic dental surgery on the premises called Yaletown. So you can get tooth whitening and other cosmetic procedures to enhance your look-younger effort, too.
Who do you think would like it?
Those who want the age to stay away. There's little we can do to fight bone-thinning or the inevitable effects of gravity. You can nourish your skin from the inside with plenty of vitamins and nutrients, but when gravity comes to call, you need specialist help. If you're not ready for the knife, stop at EF MediSpa first.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave EF MediSpa a high 4 bubbles. They know what they want to do and they do it very well.
In many ways, it's not fair to rate a medi-spa against a classic "spa", which by definition involves lots of water and at the very least floating about in a robe. If EF MediSpa had called itself the EF BeautySurgery, we wouldn't have gone visiting. It is only in our quest to hunt down all establishments with "spa" in the title and reveal to you what goes on behind their doors that we pitched up in the first place.
So this is a little outside our normal spa remit, but worth your attention if you're after instant and demonstrable results. Why not 5 bubbles? Because there is no floating about in a robe or any equivalent. There's lots of doing here but not a lot of time-out, which is what you search for in a spa. But not what you come to a medi-spa for...
Read more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
Absolutely. I felt well cared for. I just wish I could afford it. I'd have the lot!
We visited EF Medispa in May 2008
See also:
* Contact Details for EF Medispa
* Facials that use specific equipment
* Facial or dermal fillers
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