In a world obsessed with beauty, youth and vitality, ageing gracefully - or for that matter not ageing at all - is a must. Although we acknowledge that ageing is an inevitable evil, we go out of our way to turn back the hands of time; anti-ageing has become the byword of the decade.

To assist us in our quest for eternal youth, modern medicine has developed a number of ingenious ways to slow this dreaded process down. The Cape Town Anti-Aging Clinic – based in Sea Point - offers a wide range of anti-ageing procedures and treatments. These range from aesthetic skin treatments such as Botox, fillers and skin peels, to internal treatments, for instance hormone balancing and detoxification.

The philosophy behind the clinic’s approach to ageing is that true beauty begins on the inside. To this end, they encourage a culture of health awareness which places emphasis on the importance of healthy lifestyle and nutrition choices. Their objective is to help people fine tune their health instead of simply treating disease and its symptoms.

Dr. Duncan Charmichael is the founder of the clinic. Originally a GP, Dr. Charmichael studied at the University of Cape Town and later in the UK where he qualified as a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). Following this, he turned his attention to aesthetic medicine and later studied hormone balancing through the American Academy of Anti-Aging medicine. In January 2005, he set up The Cape Town Anti-Aging Clinic. The team has since grown to include Mrs Francoise Lallemand, a senior skin therapist, Charmaine Roberts - Endermologist, dietician and lifestyle coach -and Gillian Robey, a nutrition and detox consultant.

Of the many varied treatments on offer at the clinic, three caught my eye, namely, liposculpting, thread vein removal and mesotherapy.

Liposculpting with Lipostabil is a non-surgical alternative to liposuction. Areas of fat are injected with a natural substance, the active ingredient of which is a soya bean derivative. This product breaks down fat in much the same way as bile dissolves lipids in the gut. Results of liposculpting are visible after six months and require a series of three or four injections –which are painless and shrink the skin in the area – leaving a smooth sculpted look.

This is a great alternative for those who have considered liposuction with trepidation.

Thread vein removal is another popular treatment. It is designed to target small red capillary veins which appear with old age on the face, chest, legs and thighs as a result of hormone changes (pregnancy, menopause) or a deficiency of Vitamin K. Smaller veins are best removed using electrolysis – a mild electrical current burns the vein – or laser treatment, where laser energy coagulates the vein. Larger veins are successfully removed using Sclerotherapy, a procedure whereby glycerol is injected into the veins causing them to collapse and disappear.

Mesotherapy is an exciting French skin rejuvenation and cellulite treatment that has been used for years to treat arthritis and other medical problems. A cocktail of nutrients and antioxidants is injected – through a myriad of painless pricks - into the deepest layer of skin. This results in a reduction of wrinkles, pigmentation and radically improves skin lustre.

Treatments such as these, along with a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercise, enough sleep and good dietary habits, can go a long way towards helping you regain your youthful confidence and zest for life. With the little help from science and anti-ageing doctors, it seems possible that one need never grow old – inside or out!

For further information regarding anti-ageing programmes and treatments, contact The Cape Town Anti-Aging Clinic on (021) 434-2564 or alternatively email Dr. Charmichael at Duncan@taac.c.za or Charmaine at charmaine@taac.co.za