'My skin hasn't looked this good for over 10 years' - Shirley Ballas reveals her non-surgical facelift ahead of Strictly's return

With Strictly Come Dancing set to return on September 19th, team w&h is eagerly anticipating the return of the glitziest show on TV with an all-new presenting trio at the helm.

And that's not the only element of Strictly that's had a little freshen-up, as head judge and dance royalty, Shirley Ballas, has just unveiled her 'non-invasive facelift.' On the results of her treatment, Ballas has said, "I'm going into this next series looking better than when I started, and I can honestly say this is the most confident I've ever felt going into a new series."

Considering this is her 10th year as head judge on the show, that's a ringing endorsement. The treatment, NeoGen Plasma, is a known celebrity favourite, with Tamzin Outwaite and Debbie McGee's NeoGen Plasma treatment both hitting headlines this year - here's everything you need to know.

"I recently saw some photographs of me taken in 2017, and if I’m really honest with myself, I was quite embarrassed," admitted Ballas. "I remember that back then I really wasn't happy with my skin, I had sagging jowls, multiple lines and wrinkles plus lots of little age spots. I often had to rely on tinted makeup and heavy foundation to cover all those problem areas."

And she added: "I never thought back then that my skin would look as beautiful and as radiant as it does now. I'm going into this next series looking better than when I started and I can honestly say this is the most confident I've ever felt going into a new series."

How does NeoGen Plasma work?

In a nutshell, NeoGen Plasma is a knife- and needle-free treatment where high-intensity nitrogen gas is directed into the skin in order to stimulate collagen and elastin production. This, in turn, has multiple benefits and improves everything from skin laxity to lines, texture and tone.

The treatment is entirely non-invasive and does not add volume or affect facial muscles as with some injectibles. NeoGen works with your natural processes, so it is popular for anyone looking for skin rejuvenation that looks entirely natural.

It is recommended that patients undergoing NeoGen Plasma have a course of treatments, and the intensity can be dialled down or up, depending on how powerful a result you want - this also has an impact on how long the 'downtime' and skin shedding period is after treatment.

After having low-intensity treatments previously, Ballas opted for a course of six higher-energy sessions at the Ouronyx Aesthetic Clinic, ahead of the launch of Strictly Come Dancing's 24th series.

"This year I’ve had some really strong treatments from NeoGen," explained Ballas, "probably the strongest treatments I’ve had up to date."

"My skin was shedding, and I thought my downtime would be about five days, and it was closer to ten days. But the results by going that little bit higher on the NeoGen machine are outstanding, and I have to say I’m happier than ever with my skin.”

“I was a little bit nervous about going higher," she continued, "but it wasn't painful after they applied a lot of numbing cream. I just didn’t know what was going to happen to my skin, and it did shed. I looked a little strange for a minute or two there, but the end result is absolutely remarkable.”

What other collagen-stimulating treatments are popular?

With collagen stimulation a hot topic in beauty, it's no surprise that famous faces are turning to NeoGen for rejuvenation. As we hit our 40s, 50s and beyond, our natural collagen production slows down.

This is particularly true as we enter perimenopause and menopause, and many women want something more than even the best facial moisturiser can offer, so look to in-clinic collagen-boosting treatments.

As well as NeoGen, non-invasive energy-based treatments such as Ultherapy and HIFU are popular for subtle, collagen-boosting effects. Another option is an injectable biostimulator, such as Sculptra, which stimulates natural collagen production to target lines, wrinkles and sagging skin, with results lasting up to two years. Our editor's Sculptra review, with before and after photos, has all the details on that particular treatment.

As for Ballas, she is loyal to NeoGen and will likely remain so. "This year particularly, I find my skin lifting, looking brighter, looking just beautiful," she concluded. "Lifting up the chin, all around on my jowls. All the places that women tend to look at in the mirror and think, “Mm.” And I have to say, I am thrilled with my results.”

Shirley Ballas has had a course of NeoGen treatments at the Ouronyx clinic. NeoGen treatments are available at clinics across the UK. To find a local clinic, visit neogenplasma.co.uk/neogen-clinics/