Lockdown life has cut us all off from so many things we normally take for granted: family, friends, workmates, even just a reliable supply of eggs. However if you’re a celebrity with an appearance to keep up, self-isolation is bringing a whole other set of worries.
With the UK's cosmetic clinics shut down and no access to botox, fillers, lasers and high-tech facials, there are plenty of women – and men – panicking about what they’re going to look like in three months’ time when their treatments have worn off, according to a top celebrity doctor.
‘Some of my patients are extremely concerned by what I’m calling “Lockdown Face”,’ says Body Fixers star Dr Tijion Esho, one of the UK’s most sought-after cosmetic doctors, with a host of glamorous celebrities from music, TV, film and fashion on his client list.
Lip filler crisis
‘One of my clients admitted she’d ‘borrowed’ a face mask from my clinic so she could hide behind it,’ says Dr Esho, who has bravely chosen to temporarily return to the NHS frontline to help fight the coronavirus crisis. ‘She told me, “I just feel like my lips are vanishing – while everybody has their face mask on to protect from covid, I'm wearing it to protect anyone from seeing my ever-vanishing lips.”’
Another of Dr Esho’s clients is panicking because her botox is on the verge of wearing off. ‘She told me she’s going to have to self-isolate in the top half of the house so her partner doesn’t see her ‘real’ face,’ he says.
Surely she’s joking? ‘I’m not sure,’ he admits.
Dr Esho's clinics have already seen a flurry of July bookings from patients desperate to reverse the effects of enforced isolation. ‘They tell me they want something to look forward to – some are saying they already can’t wait to get their ‘normal’ appearance back,’ he says.
Mental health risk
While all of this falls firmly under First World Problems, there’s a more serious side to Lockdown Face. It’s been suggested by psychologists that botox and filler patients are at a higher risk of mental health issues during the coronavirus shutdown when they’re unable to access their regular treatments.
Dr Esho understands why this might be the case. ‘Normally I’m part of a big puzzle for these people,’ he says. ‘They have their hair stylists, facialists, make-up artists and manicurists, and now they’re going cold turkey on everything, all at once. It can make them feel very insecure, especially when their appearance is such a big part of their job.
Some clients are particularly worried about their cosmetic secrets being exposed by the pandemic. ‘The work I do is very subtle, very natural, so you wouldn’t look at patients and think they’ve had anything done,’ says Dr Esho. ‘However in three months’ time, botox will have mostly worn off and wrinkles will have returned. Lips may also look noticeably thinner, because it’s such a vascular area and filler wears off more quickly here.’
Lockdown law-breakers
His advice to anyone fretting about their appearance is to put things in perspective. ‘It’s only 12 weeks and your face isn’t going to fall off,’ he reassures. ‘It shouldn’t take long to turn things around. In the meantime, I would recommend eating healthily, drinking at least two litres of water a day, exercising and sticking to a good skincare routine. Don’t jump from product to product, as you could end up aggravating your skin.’
And most importantly, do not risk your health – or anybody else’s – by looking for alternative ways to get your fix. Dr Esho is horrified by reports of irresponsible practitioners offering home visits to clients.
‘I know some people are breaking the law to inject clients at their houses during lockdown,’ he says. ‘It’s so dangerous – what happens if a treatment gets botched? There are no legitimate clinics to help. One of my celebrity clients couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t visit her at home, because her beauty therapist had come over to hers.’
‘It’s unbelievable to me that anyone would consider this when we’re in the middle of a crisis and people are dying. Vanity really has to take a back seat at the moment.’
For more straight talking from Dr Esho, listen to his new health podcast, Steths, Drugs and Rock n Roll, with fellow celeb medics Dr Ranj Singh, Dr Zoe Williams and Dr Sara Kayat. Find information on Dr Esho’s clinics here
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