PICS: Winnie looks stunning at 80 – possibly with a little help

Published Sep 17, 2016

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Johannesburg - Sunscreen helps, so do good genes and not going to bed with make-up on. But when Winnie Madikizela-Mandela revealed her “Awesome at 80” look on Thursday, it had many South Africans wondering how to get a little help turning back the clock.

Madikizela-Mandela arrived in Cape Town for her birthday celebrations at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel with baby-smooth, glowing skin.

She wasn’t wearing her signature glasses, and her flawless, glowing skin looked lifted, rejuvenated and renewed. She also sported immaculate make-up and a stylish Afro wig.

She has been recognised as a natural beauty. As the story goes, she was 21 when Nelson Mandela saw her at a bus stop, stopped his car and made his move. The rest is history.

Madikizela-Mandela was admitted to hospital for back surgery earlier this year and looked tired and drawn, often hiding behind oversized dark glasses.

But this week, as the celebrations began for her birthday on September 26, she looked every bit the glam gogo, not like someone battling illness.

Her new look could be thanks to a slew of new surgical and non-surgical procedures that have transformed skincare.

Among the most popular non-invasive treatments for signs of ageing are Botox and fillers.

Most experts say a combination of treatment products, procedures and maintenance regimes is needed to fight gravity, wrinkles and age-related pigmentation problems.

Dr Alek Nikolic, from Aesthetic Facial Enhancement in Cape Town, says his most popular treatments alongside Botox are superficial chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and the Dermapen treatment, which involves micro-needling the face. All the treatments require several applications and a maintenance regime.

“Ideally, we would like to see people with little ageing changes - the skin treatments we have today have the ability to prevent and even stop a number of changes,” says Nikolic.

Nicolette Wepener, sales director for BTL Aesthetics South Africa, says skin tightening with the company’s Exilis Elite machine combines ultrasound and controlled radio frequency to deliver the most advanced anti-ageing treatments on the market.

This could have been an option for an 80-year-old who might not have been up for surgery.

“The combination of the ultrasound and controlled radio frequency breaks down the skin’s collagen helix to stimulate the creation of new elastin,” says Wepener.

Controlled radio frequency is used to treat ageing effects like neck wattle or sagging skin and can achieve a facelift effect without surgery, according to Wepener.

It is recommended that a series of treatments be given.

Dr Maureen Allem, founder of the Skin Renewal Institute, said techniques like threading - billed as a non-surgical, no scar facelift - are popular.

“Threading involves multistrand filaments being injected deep underneath the surface of the skin (using) thin acupuncture needles of different lengths.

“With threading, collagen and elastin are stimulated, with the continual stimulation of blood supply to the treated area. This means the treated area looks brighter and healthier after a few days.” The effect of threading can last two to three years.

Ntsiki Khumalo, a beauty trainer for beauty chain Sorbet in Gauteng, says some basics can help. “The trick is to go for regular facials, eat healthily, drink plenty of water, and make sure you find out what skincare products work for you.”

In our climate, using sunscreen is essential.

Whatever treatments Madikizela-Mandela has opted for, the radical results have largely been given the thumbs-up. While some have speculated that she has had a “full-on facelift” or called her “a wax doll” and “a Michael Jackson”, others have cheered her on, calling her a “glam granny” and “an eternal beauty”.

Saturday Star

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