What Are Tweakments? Professor Caitriona Ryan Explains on RTE Radio

Earlier this week, Professor Caitriona Ryan joined Brendan O'Connor on RTE Radio 1 to talk about tweakments. The conversation covered everything from what tweakments actually are, to who is seeking them and why, to the treatments available in Ireland today.

Here is a summary of the key points from that interview.

What are tweakments?

Tweakments is a term used to describe non-surgical cosmetic procedures. The category is broad, ranging from superficial treatments such as chemical peels through to more intensive options such as laser skin resurfacing. What they have in common is that they do not require surgery or a general anaesthetic.

As Professor Caitriona Ryan explained during the interview, the goal of any tweakment should always be subtlety. "A tweakment isn't there to change your face or make you look like a warped version of yourself," she told Brendan O'Connor. "It's about optimising your skin and your appearance. It's just trying to look the best version of yourself."

The area has grown significantly in recent years and, for many people, non-surgical cosmetic treatments have become a normal part of their grooming and self-care routine.

Who seeks tweakments, and why?

Professor Caitriona Ryan noted that there are a number of common triggers that bring people through the doors of the Institute of Dermatologists for the first time.

These include:

• Milestone birthdays, particularly a milestone birthday

• Weddings, often a year to eighteen months before the date, with brides and mothers of brides both commonly seeking treatment

• After having children, when patients report feeling tired or unlike themselves

• Perimenopause, which Professor Ryan described as one of the most significant groups she sees

On the subject of perimenopause, Professor Caitriona Ryan highlighted the impact that hormonal changes have on the skin. Women lose approximately 30% of their collagen in the five years around perimenopause, which affects skin elasticity, facial volume, and the appearance of the jawline. Many patients describe feeling as though their face changed overnight, and this can have a real impact on confidence, including during video calls.

What treatments are available?

The interview covered a number of treatments currently available at the Institute of Dermatologists.

Sculptra and biostimulating fillers

For collagen loss, Professor Caitriona Ryan discussed biostimulating injectables such as Sculptra. Rather than adding volume directly, these work by injecting particles under the skin, either via a needle or a cannula, which stimulate the body's own collagen production over approximately twelve weeks. Results build gradually and naturally. This approach is particularly popular with male patients who want a subtle result with no visible sign of treatment.

Hyaluronic acid fillers

Professor Ryan acknowledged that hyaluronic acid fillers are effective when used in moderation, but noted that there was a period when they were overused, resulting in the overfilled or pillow-face appearance that became widely recognised. She welcomed the shift in patient preferences toward more natural-looking outcomes, something which is always the priority at the Institute of Dermatologists.

CO2 laser and radiofrequency microneedling (Secret PRO)

Laser treatments have become increasingly popular over the past two to three years, partly as patients have moved away from heavy filler use and toward treatments that stimulate their own collagen. The CO2 laser is among the most effective options available. It significantly improves skin texture and is frequently used for acne scarring. There is some downtime of 5-7 days, during which the skin is healing. Radiofrequency microneedling works on the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production and is a less aggressive alternative for those who want meaningful results with less recovery time.

Microneedling with SkinPen

Microneedling involves stamping fine needles across the surface of the skin to create a controlled micro-injury, prompting the skin to produce collagen in a smooth and even way. It improves skin texture, gives a more polished and fresh-faced appearance, and is typically delivered as a course of four to six treatments. It is particularly popular with brides-to-be in the months leading up to a wedding.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

IPL, or intense pulsed light, is a treatment that targets redness and pigmentation in the skin. It is one of the most popular treatments at the Institute of Dermatologists, and particularly relevant for Irish patients, many of whom experience rosacea. Rosacea causes persistent facial redness and can be a source of significant self-consciousness, particularly for men. Professor Caitriona Ryan noted that rosacea is frequently misunderstood as a sign of alcohol consumption, when in fact it has no connection to alcohol use at all. April is Rosacea Awareness Month.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels have evolved considerably. The deep, aggressive peels of previous decades, which caused prolonged and visible skin shedding, are no longer standard practice. Modern peels are superficial or medium depth, freshen and regenerate the skin, and involve minimal downtime. For more significant resurfacing, laser treatments have largely replaced deep chemical peels.

Why does it matter where you have tweakments done?

Professor Caitriona Ryan was direct on this point during the interview. Non-surgical cosmetic treatments should always be carried out in a medical facility, by clinically trained practitioners including doctors, dentists, and medically qualified nurses.

Even when performed by experienced practitioners, unexpected reactions can occur. It is essential that patients are in an environment where any complications, whether a reaction, an infection, or anything else, can be managed appropriately.

A note on what good tweakments look like

Throughout the interview, Professor Caitriona Ryan returned to one consistent theme: good tweakments should be subtle. The aim is never to look as though you have had something done. It is to look well-rested, healthy, and like the best version of yourself.

The patients she described were not seeking dramatic transformation. They were seeking to feel like themselves again, whether after having children, navigating perimenopause, or preparing for a significant occasion.

That, she explained, is what good aesthetic medicine looks like.

Listen back to the full interview: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22600535/ 

Professor Caitriona Ryan is a Consultant Dermatologist and co-founder of the Institute of Dermatologists, Ireland's largest consultant-led dermatology centre. The Institute of Dermatologists offers a full range of medical and cosmetic dermatology services.