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Preventative Beauty at 36: A Patient Journey

By Emily Harborne

I teach yoga for a living, so my lifestyle is naturally quite calm and balanced. My days are filled with movement, mindfulness, and helping other people slow down, and, overall, life feels relaxed.

I’m not someone chasing perfection or quick fixes. If anything, I’ve always believed that less is more.

But even with a healthy lifestyle, I started noticing small changes in my skin as I moved through my mid-thirties. Nothing major, just tiny expression lines beginning to linger, especially when I was tired or had been teaching a lot.

At 36, I decided to try anti-wrinkle treatment from a preventative point of view, and I wanted to share my experience honestly.

Why Prevention Made Sense for Me

Because I work in wellness, I approach beauty the same way I approach yoga – gently, consistently, and with long-term thinking.

I wasn’t trying to change how I look. I simply noticed:

  • Fine lines beginning to settle around my forehead
  • Expressions staying slightly longer than before
  • Makeup not sitting quite as smoothly

I wanted to bring myself back to a place where I felt confident and happy. For me, prevention felt aligned with how I already live. You take a breathe before you get overwhelmed, you stretch to prevent muscle aches, to me looking after my skin early felt like the same philosophy.

The Appointment Experience

I was curious but calm going into it.

The treatment itself was very straightforward, a few tiny injections, a little sting that lasted seconds, and then it was done. I went straight back to teaching later that day without any issue.

What I appreciated most was how low-key the whole experience felt. Nothing dramatic, just a simple, professional appointment.

The Results: Soft, Natural, Quietly Polished

The change happened gradually, which really suited me.

Over the following days I noticed:

  • My forehead looking smoother
  • Expressions feeling relaxed but still completely natural
  • A fresher, calmer appearance overall

Nothing looked frozen or obvious, which was very important to me, especially as someone who teaches movement and expression daily.

Students and friends didn’t notice the treatment. They just noticed I looked rested and glowing.

How It Fits My Lifestyle

Because my life revolves around yoga and wellbeing, I see this as an extension of self-care rather than a beauty transformation.

It sits alongside:

  • Movement and stretching
  • Hydration and good nutrition
  • Skincare and sun protection

For me, it’s not about trying to look younger, it is about supporting how I want to age: gently, and with intention.

What Surprised Me Most

I expected smoother skin, but what surprised me was how confident and fresh I felt without anything looking “done.”

My face still moves exactly the way it always has. I still smile, teach, laugh and express, everything just feels a little softer.

Final Thoughts

If you’re in your thirties and starting to notice early signs of lines, I think a preventative approach can be a really positive option especially if you want subtle, natural results.

For me, it wasn’t about changing my face. It was about maintaining balance inside and out.

And that fits perfectly with the way I try to live.

Emily’s Note:

This is my personal experience. Always seek advice from a qualified medical professional to find the right approach for you.

Patient Journey: Relfydess & Profhilo Experience at 46

By Adam, 46, Project Manager & Frequent International Traveller  

I work in project delivery, which means long days, tight timelines and a lot of international travel. Some weeks I’m in multiple countries, living out of a carry-on and moving straight from airport to meeting room. I enjoy the pace, but over time, it started to show on my face.

I’m not someone who’s heavily into aesthetics. In fact, the only thing I’d ever had done before was a small amount of Botox around my crow’s feet, just enough to soften the lines without changing how I looked. Beyond that, nothing.

Recently, though, I decided to try an anti-wrinkle treatment more seriously for the first time Relfydess, alongside Profhilo, and the experience genuinely surprised me.

Why I Decided to Try Something New

This wasn’t about looking younger or chasing perfection. I just wanted to look less tired.

Frequent travel does a number on your face:

  • Dehydration from flights
  • Stress lines setting in
  • That permanently fatigued look after long journeys

I noticed that even when I felt sharp and prepared, my face didn’t reflect that. I wanted something subtle natural, professional, low maintenance.

Since my only previous experience had been light Botox around the eyes, this felt like a step into new territory.

First Time Trying a Full Anti-Wrinkle Treatment

I wasn’t sure what to expect.

The treatment itself was straightforward, simple and quick injections, a slight sting that lasts microseconds, then done. Very manageable, even for someone who doesn’t love needles.

What stood out was how normal everything felt afterwards. No dramatic change. No heavy or frozen feeling.

Instead, over the following days I noticed:

  • A smoother forehead
  • A more relaxed look around my eyes and upper face
  • Lines softened without losing expression

It didn’t look like I’d had something done, it just looked like I’d had a decent break.

The Difference Compared to My Past Botox Experience

Because I’d only ever treated crow’s feet before, this felt like a different level of refinement.

With previous Botox, the change was local, just one area.

With Relfydess, the result felt more balanced across the face.

What I liked most:

  • Natural movement stayed intact
  • Expressions felt normal
  • Smoother coverage without obvious “treatment zones”

For someone who spends a lot of time in client meetings, keeping that natural communication in my face matters.

Adding Profhilo Injecting Skincare from the Inside

At the same time, I tried Profhilo, which was explained to me as more of a skin booster than a wrinkle treatment.

The idea appealed to me straight away, especially as someone constantly exposed to dry cabin air and changing climates.

Profhilo works by supporting hydration and collagen, almost like putting skincare beneath the surface rather than on top of it.

The effect was subtle but noticeable:

  • Skin looked healthier and less tired
  • Texture felt stronger
  • Overall appearance had a fresh, rested quality

I’d describe it as a “skin survival boost” exactly what frequent travellers need.

The Frequent Traveller Test

The real test was after international flights.

Normally I’d arrive looking drawn and worn out. This time, even after long-haul travel, my face looked smoother and more relaxed than usual.

It doesn’t make you look different it just stops fatigue showing quite so loudly.

That alone made it worth it for me.

A More Practical, Masculine Approach

I think a lot of men still hesitate around these treatments because they assume the result will look obvious or unnatural.

My experience was the opposite.

This felt:

  • Subtle
  • Professional
  • Proactive rather than cosmetic

You don’t look “done.” You just look better rested and more composed.

Final Thoughts

As someone who had only ever tried a touch of Botox for crow’s feet, I wasn’t expecting to notice such a clear difference.

Relfydess gave me a smoother, more relaxed look without losing character. Profhilo improved the quality of my skin from the inside, something especially noticeable with constant travel.

The outcome isn’t dramatic. It’s just… right.

And for anyone who’s felt a bit underwhelmed by traditional anti-wrinkle treatments or has only dipped a toe in before, this feels like a very worthwhile next step.

Adam’s Note:

This is a personal experience. Treatments should always be carried out by qualified medical professionals following an individual consultation.

Patient Journey: Why I Started Having Treatment at 61

By Jayne, Stylist, Birmingham  

I’ve worked in salons across Birmingham nearly all my life, from early days training in town to running a busy chair where you hear everyone’s stories. You get to know people properly when you’re doing their hair. You see marriages, new jobs, new babies, hard years… everything.

And one thing I’ve learned is this: how you feel about yourself matters more than anyone admits.

I’m 61 now. I’m proud of that. I’ve earned every year. But after a while, I noticed something. I’d be laughing with clients all day, full of energy, and then catch my reflection in the mirror at the end of a shift and think, that doesn’t look like how I feel at all.

That was the start of it.

The Moment It Clicked (A Real Birmingham Story)

It wasn’t some glamorous beauty moment. It was a wet Tuesday in Harborne.

Long day, back-to-back clients, kettle constantly on, typical Birmingham drizzle outside. I went to take a photo with one of my regular clients, she’d just had a big birthday and wanted a picture.

When I looked at the photo later, I noticed how tired I looked. Not old, just tired. Heavy around the eyes, lines that made me look fed up when I definitely wasn’t.

That genuinely bothered me more than I expected.

Not because I wanted to look younger, but because it didn’t feel truthful.

I Honestly Thought All Botox Was the Same

I’d heard clients talking about treatments for years. In my head, it was all just “Botox,” one thing, one result, frozen foreheads and surprised eyebrows.

I wasn’t keen on that.

But after chatting to someone local who explained it properly, I realised there were different approaches, different products, and more natural options than I’d imagined.

So I decided to try it, not as a big transformation, just as something for me.

What Actually Happened

I’ll be straight, the appointment was simple.

Few tiny injections, a little sting, over and done with quickly. I walked straight back out, grabbed a coffee, carried on with my day. No hiding away, no drama.

I didn’t expect much.

Then about a week later, I caught my reflection while blow-drying a client’s hair, and honestly, I just smiled.

I looked relaxed.

Not tight. Not frozen. Just… brighter.

The Difference I Wasn’t Expecting

The biggest surprise was how natural it felt.

I could still move my face normally. I still laughed, frowned, and chatted away like I always do. But the lines that made me look tired had softened.

Clients started saying:

“You look really well lately, Jayne.” “Have you been away somewhere?”

No one guessed anything. That’s what made it feel right.

Why I Go Back Three Times a Year

I call it my treat.

Same as getting your colour done or buying a nice coat in the Bullring when you’ve had a good week, it’s just something that makes you feel better.

I do it about three times a year and that’s enough. It fits around real life, busy days, and everything else.

It’s not about chasing youth. It’s about showing up as yourself, just fresher.

The Honest Truth

I think women my age sometimes feel like we’re not supposed to say we enjoy these things. Like it means we’re vain.

But the truth is, standing all day, looking after everyone else, working hard you’re allowed to do something that makes you feel good too.

I’m still me. Same accent, same laugh, same Birmingham girl who loves her job.

I just don’t look as tired at the end of the day anymore.

And for me, that’s worth every minute.

Jayne’s Note:

This is my personal experience, written honestly. Treatments should always be done by a qualified medical professional after proper consultation.

Patient Journey: Kelly’s Story

Patient Journey –  Kelly’s Story Sutton Coldfield, Age 40 

Interviewer: Kelly, thank you for sharing your story today. Let’s start from the beginning: what brought you here? 

Kelly: Honestly, it’s a bit of a full circle moment for me. I’m from Sutton Coldfield, and like a lot of girls growing up around here in the 90s and early 2000s, I absolutely hammered the sunbeds. Holidays, tanning, all of it. At the time you don’t think twice, you just want a glow. 

Fast forward to turning 40 and I could really see the damage. My skin looked tired, uneven, and older than I felt. That was hard to accept. 

⸻ 

Interviewer: You’ve said before that you felt a bit lost with treatments. What did you mean by that? 

Kelly: I felt like I’d tried what everyone talks about  Botox  and it just didn’t seem to work for me the way it did for other people. 

It softened a couple of lines, but my skin still looked worn out. I’d look in the mirror and think, why do I still look tired? It wasn’t giving me that healthy look I wanted, so I started thinking maybe nothing was going to help. 

That’s when you start losing confidence a bit. 

⸻ 

Interviewer: So how did you end up trying something different? 

Kelly: Through conversation, really. A friend mentioned Relfydess, and at first I just thought, “Isn’t that all the same thing?” But after talking it through, I realised it was a newer type of anti-wrinkle treatment, and the approach sounded more suitable for my skin. 

I didn’t go in expecting magic  I just thought, let’s give it one proper try. 

⸻ 

Interviewer: What was the experience like? 

Kelly: Really straightforward. Quick appointment, a few tiny injections, a little sting but it’s literally seconds. Then I just carried on with my day. 

I actually forgot about it for a few days because I wasn’t expecting much. 

⸻ 

Interviewer: And when did you notice a change? 

Kelly: About a week later. I remember standing in my bathroom in the morning  no makeup, natural light  and thinking, hang on… I actually look well. 

That was new for me. 

My face looked smoother but not frozen. Softer. More rested. It didn’t look like I’d had work done  it just looked like I’d finally caught up on sleep. 

⸻ 

Interviewer: How did that affect your confidence? 

Kelly: More than I realised it would. 

When you’ve had skin damage, you can get quite self-conscious without even noticing. I used to avoid photos or feel like I needed loads of makeup. 

Now I feel comfortable again. People say I look fresh or healthy, and that’s huge for me because that’s exactly how I wanted to feel  not younger, just well. 

⸻ 

Interviewer: What would you say to someone sitting here today who feels like treatments haven’t worked for them? 

Kelly: I’d say don’t assume all treatments are the same  because I genuinely thought they were. 

I’d written anti-wrinkle treatments off completely. But this experience proved that the right treatment for your skin makes all the difference. 

If you’ve got sun damage or you feel like nothing’s quite worked before, it’s worth having an open conversation and exploring options. 

⸻ 

Interviewer: Final question  how would you sum up this journey? 

Kelly: It’s simple really. I went from feeling a bit lost and tired looking… to feeling like myself again. 

I look healthier, I feel more confident, and I don’t hide behind makeup anymore. 

And standing here talking about it today  that’s something I honestly wouldn’t have imagined doing a year ago. 

⸻ 

Kelly’s story was shared as part of a local beauty event discussion. Individual experiences vary, and treatments should always be carried out by qualified medical professionals following a personal consultation. 

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