Something has shifted. A few years ago, the typical patient booking an aesthetic consultation was in their mid-forties or fifties, looking to address established signs of ageing. Today, that picture is changing.
More and more patients arriving at Dr Anita Dhunna’s clinics in South Woodford, Bishop’s Stortford, and Hatfield are in their late twenties and thirties. They’re not trying to reverse anything. They’re here to prevent it.
This approach has a name: collagen banking. And it’s one of the most significant trends reshaping how people think about aesthetic medicine in the UK right now.
What Is Collagen Banking?
Collagen banking is the idea of starting aesthetic and skin health treatments earlier — before visible signs of ageing appear — in order to slow down the rate at which they develop.
From our mid-twenties, the body’s natural collagen production begins to decline by around one per cent per year. By the time most people notice the effects — fine lines, reduced skin elasticity, subtle volume loss — that decline has already been happening for a decade or more.
Collagen banking aims to get ahead of that curve. By investing in treatments that stimulate collagen production earlier, patients can maintain skin structure and quality for longer, and may need less corrective work later on.
What ‘Banking’ Actually Looks Like
This isn’t about dramatic change. For patients in their late twenties and thirties, a collagen banking approach typically involves subtle, graduated treatments — not the volume or structural work associated with older patients.
Common starting points include:
- Skin boosters such as Profhilo, which improve hydration and stimulate collagen and elastin production across the face and neck
- Polynucleotides, which support cellular regeneration and improve skin quality at a tissue level
- A small amount of anti-wrinkle treatment to soften early dynamic lines — the kind caused by repeated facial expressions — before they become static wrinkles
- Medical-grade skincare prescribed and supervised by Dr Anita Dhunna to support and extend treatment results
The emphasis is on skin health rather than structural change. The goal is for skin to look well — hydrated, clear, and even — rather than ‘treated’.
Is It Just About Looking Younger?
Not entirely. For many patients, preventative aesthetics is as much about confidence and skin health as it is about ageing. Poor skin texture, dehydration, and dullness affect how people feel about their appearance at any age.
The cultural shift here is significant. Younger patients are increasingly viewing aesthetic treatments the same way they view a gym membership or a good skincare routine — as part of ongoing maintenance, not a one-off fix.
The Case for Starting with a Medical Practitioner
For preventative treatments, choosing a qualified medical practitioner matters more, not less. At this stage, you don’t need intervention — you need accurate advice. What is actually worth doing? What will genuinely make a difference to your skin over time? What is unnecessary?
Dr Anita Dhunna is not in the business of recommending treatments patients don’t need. Consultations at her clinics in South Woodford, Bishop’s Stortford, and Hatfield are thorough and honest. If preventative treatment is right for you, she will explain exactly what she recommends and why. If it isn’t, she will tell you that too.
She will also assess your skin objectively and give you a clear picture of what is happening at a structural level — information that many patients in their thirties find genuinely useful for the first time.
Where to Start
If you’ve been thinking about aesthetic treatments but aren’t sure whether now is the right time, a consultation with Dr Anita Dhunna is the logical first step.
There’s no obligation to proceed with any treatment. The consultation is an opportunity to understand your skin, ask questions, and make an informed decision about whether preventative aesthetics is right for you.
Clinics are in South Woodford (East London), Bishop’s Stortford, and Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Book online or call 020 8099 9248.
