How to make your results last.

No aesthetic treatment is permanent, and that's part of what makes it a gentle choice: your face keeps changing, and your treatments can change with it. But how long a result lasts varies a lot, from one treatment to another and from one person to the next.

Anti-wrinkle treatments, including the masseter, sit at the shorter end, because muscle activity gradually returns. Hyaluronic acid fillers and skin boosters last longer, because your body breaks the gel down slowly over many months.

If a friend's result lasted longer than yours, there's usually a reason. Everyone's different, but these are some of the things that can make a difference:

• Muscle strength. Stronger, more active muscles can work through anti-wrinkle treatment sooner. It's one reason men often need a tailored dose.
• Metabolism. Some people simply break treatments down faster than others, and very active lifestyles are sometimes linked with results fading a little sooner.
• Sun exposure. UV light breaks down the collagen and elastin that keep skin firm, ageing the skin around your results.
• Smoking. It's linked with faster skin ageing and slower healing.
• The area treated. Filler in the cheeks and chin usually lasts longer than in the lips, which are always moving.

Good aftercare helps your treatment settle exactly where it should. The essentials are simple:

1. 01Stay upright for four hoursAvoid lying down so the product settles properly.
2. 02Skip makeup for four hoursIt lowers the risk of irritation or infection.
3. 03Hands off for 24 hoursDon't touch, rub or massage the treated areas.
4. 04Take it easy for 24 hoursNo strenuous exercise, saunas, hot showers or sunbathing, and avoid alcohol and blood thinners such as aspirin unless they're prescribed.

Once your treatment has settled, your everyday routine does most of the work.

• Wear sunscreen every day. It's one of the best things you can do for your skin, and it protects your results too. Make it part of your morning, whatever the weather.
• Keep skincare gentle. Non-irritating products are kindest, especially in the days after treatment.
• Drink plenty of water, so your skin is well hydrated.
• Look after your skin barrier: cleanse gently, moisturise, and don't over-exfoliate.
• If you clench your jaw, notice when you do it during the day and give your jaw a rest.

Because results fade gradually, the easiest way to keep them looking their best is to plan your maintenance rather than waiting until they've worn off completely.

• Anti-wrinkle injections→A review at around two weeks, then repeat treatments as you notice movement returning
• Masseter→Regular treatments keep the muscle relaxed and the result lasting
• Lip, cheek and chin filler→Occasional touch-ups help maintain the look
• Under-eye skin booster→A course of three for the most noticeable result, then maintenance sessions to keep the benefits
• Vitamin B12→Often taken as a course; if you've chosen one, you'll book your next session together

Gwen sends top-up reminders, so you don't have to keep track yourself. And because she sees you at your review, your plan can change as your face, and your goals, change.

If you have a wedding, a holiday or a big birthday coming up, plan backwards from the date. Anti-wrinkle injections take up to two weeks to reach their full effect, and filler can leave some swelling for a few days, so it's best not to leave things until the last minute.

And if anything ever feels unusual after a treatment, don't wait for your review: contact Gwen straight away.