I'D like to say I'm the type of person who doesn't worry about ageing and is more than happy to grow old gracefully. I'd like to, but I can't.

You see I'm far more superficial than that. The shameful truth is, since turning 30 I've developed a love-hate relationship with the laughter lines' that have slowly started to emerge between my nose and mouth.

Admittedly part of me has become quite attached to them in a slightly obsessive-compulsive have-to-keep-looking-at-them-in-the-mirror' kind of way and I've frequently tried to convince myself that if you're going to have any lines at all then surely it's better to have laughter lines rather than frown lines.

But I've also found it increasingly frustrating that no amount of touché éclat will completely cover over the cracks. So the chance to refresh my looks purely for research purposes (but secretly for vanity reasons) was difficult to resist.

Dermal fillers, lip enhancement, line smoothing, facial peelsthe demand for non-surgical cosmetic procedures has never been higher and increasingly younger women are seeking treatment.

Although I've never recoiled in horror at the word Botox', I was slightly apprehensive about the possibility of entering a treatment room looking like me, being subjected to an Extreme Makeover-style transformation and then leaving looking like Joan Rivers, albeit a slightly younger version. Fortunately any doubts I had were allayed by Collagenics professional Sally Rigby, a former sister at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, who carried out my procedure.

Collagenics is the largest company in the UK to specialise in aesthetic procedures, offering treatments to enhance facial features and offset the signs of ageing such as fine lines, crows feet and frown lines.

The clinic prides itself on a less is more' attitude (Leslie Ash take note) in order to prevent the frozen face look many people have misleadingly come to associate with injectable products.

Far from pressurising me into having any treatment, I was given ample time to change my mind while the anaesthetic cream smoothed on to my face began to take effect. Botoulinium toxin (Collagenics uses the British version called Dysport) has become increasingly popular for treating lines and wrinkles (particularly around the eyes and forehead), but instead I opted for the dermal filler Restylane, an injectable gel that claims to revitalise complexions and smooth out lines around the mouth and smile, and lasts for around six to nine months. Restylane works by replenishing hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in our bodies and keeps our skin firm and looking healthy. When we age our skin cells lose their ability to produce this acid, resulting in thinner and drier skin that is lacking in volume.

But by introducing the crystal-clear gel into the skin in tiny amounts with an extra-fine needle, you can create a natural and more youthful appearance.

The treatment wasn't entirely pain free but the cream did help to numb the mild discomfort I experienced.

Several injections later and I could see an immediate improvement.

There was a slight redness and swelling, but this disappeared after a couple of days and I was left with much smoother lines - and, more importantly, I could still smile!