The article about Dr Gabriele Travia, published on Live Cheshire in 2011.
This month we had the chance to meet Dr. Gabriele Travia, Clinical Director of Canova Medical, to ask him more about the new cosmetic clinic in Wilmslow, Cheshire and how non-surgical treatments have changed the approach to facial rejuvenation.
Q: Tell us something about you and your professional background.
A: I was born in Rome, the eternal city, where I completed all my medical education. I was always passionate about Cosmetic and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, so once I had my Medical Licence I started my surgical training by joining experienced surgeons who specialised in both fields. In the last three years I have performed in the operating theatre as an assistant surgeon in more than 600 operations. Moreover, I was responsible for all our patients who required non-surgical cosmetic treatments. At the same time I started my own private work in cosmetic surgery and non-surgical cosmetic procedures within several clinics in Rome and in the last three years I have treated 900 patients. From 2008 I became fully registered with the UK General Medical Council (GMC).
Q: Why Canova Medical?
A: In Italy only Doctors are entitled to perform any kind of non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and more importantly, our relationship with the patients is one-to-one, from their initial consultation right through to their aftercare. Moreover whilst non-surgical treatments are seemingly easy and risk-free, great medical and anatomical knowledge is needed as well as vast experience. The main idea behind Canova Medical is to introduce that medical approach here in Wilmslow.
Q: What kinds of treatments are available in your clinic?
A: In our clinic you can ask for any cosmetic surgery procedures and non-surgical cosmetic treatments. One of the most requested surgical procedures is breast augmentation, but other procedures such as nose reshaping, liposculpture and blepharoplasty just to mention a few, are all provided. All the surgical procedures are performed exclusively by skilled surgeons that are on the GMC specialist register. Personally, my focus is especially in Botox ®, dermal fillers and chemical peels, where I can maximise my skills and attain the desired results compliant with the philosophy behind Canova Medical, which is to give patients personal medical care and a customised technique provided only by skilled surgeons or doctors.
Q: Please tell us the differences between Botox and dermal fillers.
A: This is a very frequent question; there is a lot of mix-up regarding these two treatments. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers such as Juvederm ® and Restylane ® are the safest and most popular. It is a natural substance which is present throughout our body and skin but its levels gradually decrease with time and age. We can therefore replace it with a highly purified gel in order to fill in the folds and wrinkles, or in order to enhance the volume of specific facial areas such as lips, cheeks or jaw lines. Botox ® is the brand name for a purified protein that acts as a muscle relaxant. This can be used to reduce the so called dynamic wrinkles, the ones caused by muscle contraction. It is very effective on the upper third of the face, so it is possible to treat frown lines (worry lines between the brows), horizontal forehead lines and crows feet (smile lines around the eyes).
Q:Last question before leaving: what are, in your opinion, the pros of these treatments that so many people ask for?
A: The main benefits are that they are less aggressive, carry less risk and are less inexpensive than any surgical procedure but are still very effective. Nowadays, it is possible to treat beauty flaws that once needed surgery only (e.g. forehead wrinkles, lip enhancement, face contouring etc). The results are generally long lasting but temporary, so patients can decide to modulate the desired effects they wish to achieve over a period of time.