Crystal Palace London; HIFU For You at its Beauty Hub

The Crystal Palace area in South London is named after the Exhibition building which stood in the area from 1854 until it was destroyed by fire in 1936. A groundbreaking giant cast iron and glass structure, originally erected in Hyde Park to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. Once the event was over it was moved to the area that became known as Crystal Palace. Find out more in Crystal Palace London; HIFU For You at its Beauty Hub

In April 2022 the area was named the best place to live in London by the Sunday Times. Characterised by a bohemian fusion of urban vibes and village feel its three main streets make a triangular shape where independent stores sit next to bars eateries and a handful of chain stores as well as a wonderful beauty treatment location.

It’s in this lovely little village that you can find a rather remarkable beauty treatment room. No need to go all the way to Harley Street for treatments (although they have rooms there too) meet Nathalie Baksh, and her brand Ninski.

At the petite yet compact rooms on the high street, you are treated not just by her own products from the brand available but also by a big photograph of her brother who passed away but sits as a constant inspiration to Nahtalie, all giving off the feeling of being in a safe space, which is what you want from a place treating your most precious face.

Founded as a skincare studio in 2015 Ninski is equipped with the latest cutting-edge beauty treatments. Her beauty rooms evolved, embracing the latest technologies to tackle a catalogue of different skin concerns, including skin-tightening HIFU machines, up-to-the-minute micro-needling devices and body sculpting. Her small and welcoming team offers a wide range of treatments, from monthly skin maintenance to serious rejuvenation.

Ninski, here also showcases one of their most popular and cost-effective aesthetic procedures, 12 D High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), the ‘lunchtime facial’.

This non-invasive treatment uses focused ultrasound to stimulate collagen production by targeting the deepest layer of the skin, which causes contractions that tighten and lift. This layer, the Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System, more simply referred to as the SMAS was previously only accessible by a surgical knife.

Nathalie credits the 12D HIFU as one of the current jewels in her treatment crown and one of her favourite procedures, so much so, that she has designed the machine and offers full aesthetic training to salons who wish to introduce it themselves.

She has been using the HIFU in the salon for five years, which is very popular with her clients and is perfect for that ‘less is more’ look. “Nobody wants to look too ‘done’ anymore”, she clarifies. Also as a teacher, she knows best about how to utilise this technology properly as at one time the ‘lunchtime facelift’ did get a bad reputation. However, in the right hands, it’s a brilliant treatment.

In terms of Ninski’s aesthetic training service of the HIFU machine, Nathalie explains that the key aspects focus on respecting the treatment guidelines. After five years of using the technology herself, she has first-hand experience that is valuable in teaching professionals how to avoid specific areas that could cause accidental nerve damage.

As Ninski offers one of the most cost-effective treatments on the market, she explains that it has multiple benefits, from tightening and firming and blurring fine lines to increasing hydration, reducing pore size and reversing sun damage.

So how does it work and what can a patient expect? Ultrasound waves pass through the epidermis and the dermis to deliver heat energy at specific depths beneath the skin. HIFU energy targeting superficial layers achieves skin tightening, while deeper waves reach the SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System), which is a layer of muscle and connective tissue rich with collagen.

Collagen is a natural protein that makes skin look youthful by keeping it plumped and firmed. When heat energy is delivered to the SMAS, collagen is produced and the SMAS muscles are tightened. This lifts and rejuvenates sagging skin gradually. Results are immediate for some patients, although the full benefits can take up to three months. “Results are immediate, natural-looking and long-lasting, and can be boosted with quarterly or yearly treatments. We do suggest having three to four treatments in the first year depending on the patient” says Nathalie.

So confident is Nathalie she says “HIFU is the first step that we suggest, when patients come into the salon looking for rejuvenation. I have been treating patients with HIFU procedures for five years or more.

Many salons charge high prices for one session when they often need more, so my sessions are more affordable and have longer-lasting results. The HIFU is the foundation treatment and as we offer makeovers, this is the first procedure that I normally recommend to stimulate the collagen. This might be followed by mesotherapy and possible microblading, to correct eyebrow symmetry as people do lose eyebrow fullness as they age.” The makeover packages have been designed to allow patients to enhance their natural beauty, instead of going straight for the fillers and Botox, leading to an unnatural, over-injected look.

Patients may experience tingling and some possible brief discomfort, but overall, the process is virtually painless, with no downtime. Post-treatment, some redness or tenderness may occur but will normally resolve itself within a couple of hours. HIFU is credited with sculpting Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston’s taut jawlines, plumped cheeks and youthful eyes and one of the immediate visible benefits reported by clients is that they look less tired.

Natalie explains that there are multiple benefits for a salon that stocks the HIFU machine and that the return on investment is high. “When you have the machine, we offer a door-to-door service, with one-to-one salon-specific training. Once you buy the cartridges, which could last up to six months or a year, there are no additional costs. And in case you were not aware the machine also treats areas of the body.”

A great selection of Nathalie’s beauty products are on sale so after any treatment advice and product are on offer.

This little triangle that is Crystal Palace Park has also been used as the setting for a number of concerts and films, such as The Italian Job and The Pleasure Garden. Now it’s not just a film location but also the destination beauty that is Ninski.

Find out all about Ninski vegan skincare treatments and products here ninskilondon.com

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