IndieAna- In Search of the HolyGrail

 Lately I've been noticing some more sagging in my jowls. Sure they're not too noticeable right now, but prevention is better than cure, right? Time to treat my jaw to, yes you guessed it, create structure with some collagen building.  Out of my thread stash I chose some PCL threads. I began the procedure by inserting 29g by 38 mm vertically along my jawline. It's the first time I have used this length and did find I had to be careful with insertion to prevent bending the needle because they were quite flexible. I then inserted 27 gauge by 38 mm threads horizontally along the jawline. 2 rows of 5 each side.  Both sizes weren't without their challenges. As stated above the 29 gauge were flexible, whereas the 27 gauge had less give, but I had to be careful when inserting because I found I was more likely to hit something. After 40 threads, I definitely felt I had had enough. I did get a bruise (not a heavy bruise) which I was not surprised by because I did feel discomfort...

 I have been using PDO threads for a few months now and really wanted to try PCL (Polycaprolactone) threads. Similar to PDOs these are dissolvable sutures, but instead of 6 months, they take up to 2 years to break down hence building collagen during this process. I began by treating my nasolabial folds with 16 of the 29 gauge x 25mm threads. I laid them horizontally and vertically in attempt to reduce the lines and tighten the area.  The actual procedure went well, but I did have to remove one thread later when I realised there was thread showing. I could have cut it, however sometimes these threads if not buried continue to work their way out and can cause a pimple in the process. The remaining 4 went horizontally into my upper eyelids, 2 on each side. The skin in that area needs a lot of tightening, which was even more apparent when I was inserting the threads into that saggy baggy skin. I am happy to report that I did not bruise! Yay! Check out my  Link.Tree  for ...

 How did I get to 5 rounds of Miracle L already??? Not going to lie, I'm glad to have this treatment series finished, Miracle L is a pinchy little sucker to inject, however she is worth it. After 5 rounds I've noticed my skin is firmer. I've noticed that I need to use slightly more pressure when injecting because of the resistence my skin now has with the added collagen induced volume. Of course this won't be the last I see of Miracle L because maintenence is needed with 1 round every 6 months to a year. Also I should really do a treatment series on my neck, plus I can also target problem areas that I feel need tightening. Miracle L isn't an overnight miracle and I've learnt that under my eyes is a no-go zone for this product because the thickness of this injectable messes with my lymphatic drainage system and causes long term bruising in this area. I still have discolouration 5 months later! The following photos are before and after I started Miracle L Not sure...

 Medical microneedling was the first more invasive treatment I began my DIY beauty journey with. I set my device at a 1 mm, so being over 0.5 mm deems this as medical, rather than cosmetic. I continue to maintain a monthly schedule.  To make sure the needle doesn't drag along the skin a serum with slip is a must. hyaluronic acid is commonly used, but there are also serums specifically formulated for microneedling. In this session of microneedling I used the Xtra Lightening cocktail from Simildiet Laboratories. I was gifted a 5ml vial from Promesse Filler  (I paid postage and am not sponsored). I used half of the vial to treat my face and neck. The product is quite fluid yet had enough slip to microneedle without absorbing too quickly into my skin. Microneedling at this depth is not without discomfort and this serum did not make the procedure worse. I had no adverse reactions. Due to the microneedling for the remainder of the day I was quite red. This is common and feels s...

 I've come to think of threads as a must have in my DIY beauty journey. I haven't been in a hurry to upgrade to anything more heavy duty than the beginner threads, ie PDO 30 gauge. To step it up in a way that I was comfortable with I purchased some 27 gauge by 25 mm PDO mono threads. Not too much thicker but a good way to level up my thread game. Being a thicker needle there was less give. This made inserting more stable because it doesn't bend as easily, however I still took my time in order to prevent hitting something and ensuring I could adjust as needed. I began by treating my marionette lines near my mouth. I have quite some sagging here so want to encourage more collagen building to firm this area. I used a hashtag pattern, repeating 5 horizontally and 5 vertically each side. The procedure went well with no bruising! *Please note that I am not a doctor, nurse or aesthetician. Anything shared is not for educational purposes but to document my own experience for future...