By Katrina Doran.

If you've started to notice signs of aging but are not quite ready for Botox, Injectables or to go under the knife (eek!) then the Laser 360 treatment at Therapie Laser Clinic could be the treatment for you.

At 37 I don't have any deep wrinkles (yet!) but the thing I've really noticed is slackening around my jawline and some patchy pigmentation on my cheeks. As someone who has never sunbathed it's a little annoying to think I've still managed to get sun damage on my face but it just proves how much daily exposure (even with a daily SPF!) and the rays from your computer screen are attacking your skin every single day.

I also have a lot of acne scaring on my chin and open pores on my nose so I would never got out of the house with out a full face of make-up. The Laser 360 treatment reads like the answer to all my skincare woes!

The Laser 360 treatment reveals brighter, younger and healthier-looking skin, from the inside out. It treats fine lines and discolorations from deep in the skin to give you a lasting new, revitalized look. Laser 360 achieves complete skin rejuvenation using 3 technologies in just 60 days.

The treatment begins with the IPL element of the treatment which treats skin color via IPL (Intense Pulse Light): Eliminates superficial pigmented and vascular marks, evens out your skin color and reduces tiny broken blood vessels. So in layman's terms – it zaps those patchy areas of discolouration and any little broken veins. The IPL laser did make me flinch but it is an intense burst – as suggested in the name – and it is so quick and I had six bursts to target my areas of concern. It wasn't painful at all and the results of even-toned skin are simply remarkable!

Next up was the skin tightening via Near Infrared Laser: which can be used to firm up any loose skin around your eyes, nose and jaw so you regain a more youthful, contoured appearance. I was really keen on this part of the treatment to target my jawline but I really didn't think it would banish my 'Doran double chin' which I thought was just one of those genetic factors I'd inherited from my Dad. The laser is massaged in figure-of-eight movement on the jawline and chin. The laser does get very hot and Sharon (my therapist) asked me to tell her as soon as it felt too hot and then she would stop until the temperature is more comfortable. I really enjoyed this bit, as the heat was lovely.

Last but certainly not least is the skin resurfacing via Pixel Laser which stimulates new collagen to grow, which improves your skin's texture and tone to fight fine lines and wrinkles. It works by creating thousands of microscopic perforations, but the skin around each of these perforations remains intact. This allows the skin's top layer to heal from the edge of these tiny holes very rapidly. This part of the treatment did feel a little strange but at no point was it painful. I was given a cool air machine to direct onto my skin anywhere that felt hot. Immediately after the treatment Sharon let me look at my skin with a hand mirror and I could see lots of tiny little dots all over my face – that looked like I'd pressed my skin against a pin art screen. Then the heat kicked in and my face felt, and looked, like I had sunburn. Sharon applied a layer of Vaseline to protect the skin and form a watertight barrier. I went home with an ice pack to cool the skin and instructions to keep applying the Vaseline for two days. There was no swelling, but it did feel hot and the icepack did the trick to soothe. After the third day I should be able to wear mineral make-up such as Jane Iredale and avoid any over stimulating skincare products for one week.

Sharon has advised getting the treatment on a Friday afternoon so I had the weekend to just leave my skin alone and not apply any make-up.

I had made a rookie error of using an AHA mask the night before as I was attending an awards ceremony on the Thursday evening and not thinking, I grabbed the first facemask that came to hand. You shouldn't use any resurfacing products including AHA's or Glycolic products for a week or two weeks if you can, before the Laser 360 treatment. The sunburn effect lasted four days in my case but it was completely my own fault.

The pixel laser left my skin feeling tight and uncomfortable but I was so enamored with my firm jawline and total absence of my double chin – I couldn't stop looking at my jawline in the mirror!

On the fifth day I went back into work with just mineral make-up on and even with my lightly flaky skin and teeny dots – the girls in the office all remarked how good I looked!!!

Zara was my feedback gal and had a good look at my wrinkles before I went for the treatment so she could compare and contrast. On my return she noted that my fine lines were gone and my whole face looked lifted. As the dead skin flaked away the little dots of pigmentation went with it leaving super even, super smooth skin.

Without make-up on my skin looks like I have a BB cream or a light foundation on. Old acne scarring on my chin and the open pores on my nose are massively reduced and those patchy areas of pigmentation look airbrushed out – I really didn't think it would be so effective and I'm absolutely delighted with the result.

A few people asked if I had my brows shaped, which I thought was interesting as there is clearly a lifted look.

The real benefit of Laser 360 is that unlike with Botox or injectables, which can alter your face with Laser 360 you still look like yourself – only better!

"This treatment is suitable for any client, regardless of age, who is no longer satisfied with the results of topical creams and lotions but is not ready for a full facelift and wants to turn back the clock," said Sharon, Laser therapist at Therapie. "Based on our experience, clients range anywhere from mid-30s to mid-70s."

"Laser 360 treatments are safe and effective without injections, surgery or much downtime. You can expect your skin to be flushed after the treatment, similar to sunburn. Most symptoms subside in about 48 hours.

Before the treatment it is best to avoid the sun, sunbeds, and do not apply any tanning preparations to the area. Do not wear anything that causes friction in the area to be treated, and do not use any harsh products on the skin 48 hours prior to treatment (Glycolic or Retinol based products)."

Do have a consultation a week or two before hand so you don't do something silly like I did and use AHAs the day before. Exact aftercare instructions will be given by your Laser Therapist before the treatment.

Products you'll need to have before you have Laser 360: a tub of Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly, Dermalogica Barrier Repair anhydrous moisturizer, Jane Iredale mineral powder make-up.

Therapie Clinic, Donegall Place (opposite City Hall) 028 9043 8397 or Queen's Arcade, 02890 244719 or visit www.therapieclinic.co.uk