All posts by admin

5 Common Lip Filler Myths

When it comes to lip fillers, many people are understandably cautious.

Poorly executed lip implants and injections can leave bloating and swelling that is instantly notable and is one of the most obvious tell-tale signs that a person has had cosmetic work done.

However, rapid advances in lip filler technologies and composition in recent years mean that this stigma may no longer be justified.

In fact, recent research has shown that lip fillers comprised of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the human body, are actually some of the safest cosmetic treatments that it is possible to get.

This is becoming one of the worst kept secrets in the cosmetic industry, however, and lip fillers are on the rise with more and more people seeing the advantages of opting for a non-surgical treatment.

Based on some of the common misconceptions found among those considering lip filler treatments, we have put together this guide to 5 of the most common myths surrounding the entire process.

Myth 1: Lip fillers are Irreversible

Understandably, the thought of being stuck with a botched or unsatisfactory lip filling for the rest of your life may put you off having the procedure.

However, as long as you opt for a hyaluronic acid-based filler you will be able to reverse the effects if required.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the human body that will dissolve itself over time.

In around 9-12 months the effects of lip fillers will have worn off anyway and another treatment will be required to replenish the benefits that you have enjoyed thus far.

This means that if you are not quite happy with the way they have made your lips look, you will not be stuck with the results for years to come.

If you are really displeased with the outcome or something goes wrong during the procedure and filler leaks towards your nose or check, your doctor will be able to inject hyaluronidase, an enzyme that will immediately dissolve the filler.

Once this has been done your lips will return to their original shape and size as soon as the swelling has gone down.

Myth 2: Lip fillers don’t work on younger people

Given that tackling signs of aging is one of the most common reasons people choose to have lip fillers, many believe that they are only suitable for older people and there is no significant benefit for the under 40s.

However, other reasons for fillers include achieving symmetry in the face, and considering that hyaluronic acid helps to maintain collagen production, having fillers injected could actually prevent the signs of aging and reduce any more invasive work that needs to be carried out later on in life.

Myth 3: It is easy to tell who has had lip fillers

Watch any reality TV show and you will probably spot at least one person who has blatantly had their lips plumped using cosmetic treatment.

However, there are many more who have also had fillers that you will never notice, because the effects of their injections look natural.

Hyaluronic acid based fillers put in place by an experienced dermatologist are almost indeterminable and are far less likely to result in bloating than implants or other cosmetic treatments.

Furthermore, as mentioned above it is possible to dissolve the filler once it is in place so if you are really worried about the end result then your doctor will be able to perform remedial work.

Myth 4: Lip fillers need to be refilled on a regular basis

It is true that lip fillers break down over time and need to be re-applied every so often in order to maintain the effects.

The precise frequency of your visits to the clinic will depend on a number of different factors including the type of filler used and the rate at which your body breaks down the hyaluronic acid.

Lip fillers do need to be refilled more regularly than other fillers offered by cosmetic clinics as the high activity level of the area (chewing, smiling, yawning, talking etc.) will speed up the rate at which the filler breaks down.

Myth 5: Lip fillers leave saggy lips when they wear off

There is a common concern among those who have never had lip fillers Glasgow before that once they start, they will have to continue with the injections forever, as the area where the filler has dissolved will sag.

This is completely false. In fact, given that hyaluronic acid prompts our bodies to produce more collagen, even once the filler itself has dissolved the skin’s dermis will actually have thickened, significantly reducing the chances of wrinkles and aging lines in the area.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Saunas

If you are looking to add a touch of luxury to your home, whether you are designing your bespoke property, or similar looking to upgrade your existing one, a home sauna is the perfect choice.

Not only will a sauna bring a sense of luxury spa to your home life, using a sauna regularly also has a wide number of tangible health benefits, improving circulation, reducing stress, eliminating toxins, and soothing sore muscles.

In many countries, saunas are commonplace in domestic properties, but not quite yet in the UK, and many people are unsure as to whether this luxurious bathroom feature is really for them.

To help you make a more informed decision, we have put together this guide to the pros and cons of owning a home sauna:

Home Sauna Types

This first thing to note when beginning your home sauna research is that there are several different types of home sauna that you can install.

The most common of these include:

Traditional sauna

The classic sauna experience involves a wooden built room that is heated to around 70 degrees, fills with steam and creates a lovely home spa experience.

Traditional saunas are usually built from cedar, or a similar wood that does not warp or crack easily and is able to withstand exposure to a high amount of moisture.

Infrared sauna

Infrared saunas are a modern variation on the traditional sauna, where the body is heated directly, rather than heating the air nearby.

By applying infrared waves to the body of the user, sweating will occur at much lower ambient temperatures, around 40 degrees.

Infrared saunas can be used for much longer than traditional saunas as the lower heat is much more comfortable for the user and experienced users will spend as long as 30 minutes per session, compared to just 5-10 minutes in a traditional sauna.

Another one of the major benefits of opting for an infrared sauna is that there is no requirement for water or steam to be introduced into the room. This results in lower power requirements and means that the sauna can be located almost anywhere in the property.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Owning a Home Sauna

Home saunas are cheaper now than they have ever been, but they are still a significant investment to make, and like anything, there are a number of pros and cons to consider before you take the plunge.

Advantages of home saunas

Here are just a few of the fantastic benefits that home sauna owners enjoy:

Home spa experience

Enjoy all the luxury relaxation benefits of a spa experience from the comfort of your own home, with a home sauna that you can use whenever you want.

In fact, having a sauna in your own space that you don’t need to share with other gym or spa goers, makes this even more of a treat, allowing you the ultimate stress free relaxing experience.

Health benefits

Probably the most common reason that people install a home sauna is the wide range of excellent health benefits they provide.

Sauna sessions will help you flush the toxins from your body, literally sweating away unwanted substances such as nicotine and lead.

They will also help increase blood circulation, helping your body heal and aiding in the soothing of aching muscles. There is a good reason that so many professional athletes swear by saunas as a means of recovery.

A relaxing sauna session can also do wonders for your stress levels, giving you a break from the rush of every day life to sit and reflect.

One common myth to dispel, however, is that saunas should NOT be used as a weight loss tool. Any weight lost in the sauna is likely to be water weight, and replenishing this as soon as possible is essential to staying safe.

Increase home value

It is not only you who sees that advantages of having a home sauna.

They are also increasingly desirable among property hunters and having one installed now could see the value of your home go up when you finally come to sell.

Disadvantages of a home sauna

All sounds great so far? Well there are a couple of possible drawbacks to consider before you commit to installing a home sauna Scotland.

These include:

• Cost – Home saunas are coming down in cost, but they are still quite expensive, so you need to be sure that you are in a position to fit one into your budget.
• Space – Infrared saunas have made fitting a sauna into your home a lot easier but giving up valuable space inside your home might not be something you are willing to do.
• Maintenance – There is very little maintenance involved in home sauna ownership but you will need to clean the floor every so often if you have a water based steam room.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Hybrid Heat Pump System

If you have researched heat pumps in the past and come to the conclusion that they simply won’t generate enough energy to power and heat your home, a hybrid heating solution could be perfect for your needs.

Combining the clean, almost completely free energy produced by a heat pump, with the proven efficiency of a gas boiler will ensure that your home remains at the ideal temperature all year round, whilst also saving you a significant amount of money on your annual energy bills.

Hybrid heat has been dubbed the ‘future of home heating’ but with the cost of installation ranging from around £5000-£10,000 installation is not something to take lightly. It is important to be aware of all the pros and cons before making the decision on whether a hybrid system is the right choice for your home.

Advantages of a hybrid heat pump system

Lower energy bills

An air source heat pump will dramatically reduce the amount that you will have to spend on heating your home on an annual basis.

Heat pumps do require a small amount of electricity to work, but the cost of this is nowhere near the amount that it costs to fire up a gas boiler to produce the same amount of heat.

With energy bills soaring across the UK at the moment, all homeowners are looking for ways to cut costs, and no single step is more effective in this regard than the installation of an air source heat pump.

Estimates suggest that in the ideal conditions, homeowners could save themselves an incredible 50% on their heating bills by switching to a hybrid system.

Lower emissions

There are two main reasons that people choose to install renewable energy sources such as air source heat pumps in their homes.

One, to save money, and two, to help save the planet.

By installing an air source heat pump alongside a gas boiler, you will reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, reducing your carbon footprint significantly and helping to do your bit to help protect the environment.

Improved Energy Efficiency

The moment that your air pump is incorporated into your existing heating system you will see a significant rise in your home’s energy efficiency level.

To put the difference into perspective, a top of the range brand new gas combi boiler will be lucky to achieve 94% energy efficiency, whilst an air source heat pump will achieve anywhere in the region of 300-400%.

The whole point of a hybrid heating system is that it will automatically switch between your heat pump and gas boiler depending on which is most energy efficient at any one time.

A heat pump is perfect for the summer months, for example, and you will often be able to avoid switching your gas boiler on at all for many months of the year.

In the winter, however, when temperatures drop and demand is higher, a gas boiler may be more efficient, as there will be less heat energy to harness in the outside air and gas boilers are better at dealing with low temperatures.

Durability

A gas boiler has an estimated life expectancy of around 10 years.

By reducing the amount, you use your boiler, however, by installing a heat pump alongside it, you can extend this, and result in a much lower risk of repairs or replacement being required in the near future.

Disadvantages of a hybrid heating system

Not fully clean energy

A hybrid heating system is far more environmentally friendly than a gas boiler alone.

However, as a heat pump does require a certain amount of energy to run, the energy produced cannot be classed as 100% clean.

Ideally, you would be able to run your home off renewable energy alone, but this simply isn’t financially viable for most people just now, and a hybrid heating system allows you to do your bit in a responsible way.

Installation costs

By far the biggest factor preventing many from installing a hybrid heating system in their homes is the installation cost of doing so.

A hybrid heating system can cost as much as £10,000 whilst a gas boiler replacement is close to the £3500 mark.

However, the savings that you will make over the many years of usage you will get out of a hybrid system and the reduced risk of needing to replace your boiler on a regular basis means that a heat pump will cancel out much of the discrepancies.

Long wait for savings

Eventually, the cost of installing a hybrid heat pump will be recouped in lower energy bills but this will take a good few years.

For this reason, hybrid heating is best suited to those who expect to remain in the same home for many years to come.

Liquidating a company – A step-by-step guide

Liquidating a company usually occurs when a company is no longer able to repay its creditors and involves it being closed down and removed from the company house register.

The process of liquidation can be instigated in two different ways, wither voluntarily entered into by the company’s directors or court ordered as a result of creditor action in response to unpaid debts.

Either way, an insolvency advisor will be able to guide you through the entire process, providing you with all the guidance and expert advice you need to emerge as healthily as possible from this difficult time.

Liquidation is often a shock, and not something that many people have or want to enter into more than once. For this reason, most are unaware of exactly how the process works.

This guide is designed to give you a brief rundown of the liquidation process, giving you all the crucial information that you need of what to expect:

What is the goal of liquidation?

The end result of liquidation is the winding up of a company and its removal from Companies House register.

This is normally achieved through the sale of assets to pay creditors what they are owed.

How does the liquidation process begin?

If you are reading this article, there is a good chance it already has. The first step along the liquidation process is the company directors identifying that the company is no longer financially viable and may need to be wound up.

There are many different reasons why this may be the case but if a company is no longer able to meet repayments and becomes insolvent, liquidation is often the only viable option.

A company does not need to become insolvent before liquidation, although most do, and if directors see the net closing in, they may choose to enter liquidation proceedings early to limit the damage done.

If you are at this stage where you are considering liquidation as a genuine option, it is time to speak to an insolvency expert who will be able to give you a run down of all the options available to you and advise on the best route forward.

What are the different types of liquidation?

There are several different types of liquidation processes that can be undertaken. Deciding between the following 3 options is the first major step in the liquidation process.

1)      Members’ Voluntary liquidation

If a business is still solvent but the directors have decided that they no longer wish to operate it, they can file for members’ voluntary liquidation.

As there are no major debts to be repaid or court proceedings, this is the quickest liquidation process. The directors and shareholders will come to an agreement regarding the sale of the company and any profits will be split between shareholders once existing debts have been paid.

2)      Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation

If a company’s directors become aware that the company is insolvent they can go to the creditors and agree to voluntarily liquidate.

The sale of any assets in this liquidation process will be distributed among the creditors in lieu of payment for loans that the company still owed them.

Once this process is complete the company will cease to exist.

3)      Compulsory Liquidation

Compulsory liquidation is a little different to the other forms of litigation, due to the fact that the process has been instigated against the will of the company directors.

If creditors have not been paid and have failed in their attempts to secure what they are due, they can ask the court to issue a winding up petition.

Should this be unsuccessful, a winding up order will then be issued, and the company will be removed from the hands of the directors.

The creditor will then be paid what they are due through the sale of the company’s assets.

It is the role of an appointed insolvency practitioner to oversee this process.

How long does it take?

The length of the Liquidating a Company can vary widely from a few weeks to 6-12 months depending on the nature of the situation.

Litigation cases will take a lot longer if there are legal disputes involved or assets that need to be sold, in comparison to voluntary liquidation.

The larger the company, the more complex the process will tend to be with multiple lawyers and creditors involved in attempting to find a solution.

Court dates can also take time to become available and the more cooperation and negotiation that takes place between directors, creditors, and other relevant parties the quicker a process this will be.

Having the right insolvency team to help you out is also key to resolving the liquidation process as quickly as possible and here at Oracle Law we have all the expertise and experience that you could possibly need.

For more information on our Insolvency and Corporate Recovery Service, and how to wind up your business as smoothly as possible, get in touch with us now on 0141 404 1091.