We often see faces that look “older”. What changes occur to our face and skin when we age?
There are two main categories of aging: functions of our own genes (intrinsic aging) and stresses due to our environment (extrinsic aging). Intrinsic aging occurs as we get older: collagen production wanes from that of our youth and the skin becomes less elastic. Extrinsic factors are caused by what we do as we age, including exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, dehydration, and exposure to various toxins as a result of smoking or inadequate nutrition. Over the years, gravity contributes to the descent of subcutaneous fat and drooping of the eyelids, nose, lips, and cheeks. Both types of aging cause a loss of skin substance, thinning of the skin, and increasing prominence of blood vessels. Skin becomes rough, sallow, lax, and forms brown and red spots. Under the eyes, loss of muscle tone and bony framework may cause the natural fat pad to be lost; discoloration becomes prominent.
What can we do about it? Physicians have many treatment options, surgical and nonsurgical, when addressing aging of the skin. Effective anti-aging treatments begin with topical regimens to clean, moisturize, and protect the skin against ultraviolet radiation. Office-based treatments that include injectable dermal volumizers and fillers, botulinum toxin type A, laser stimulation, and chemical peels also offer noticeable anti-aging benefits when used in combination with topical care. Soft tissue fillers, which are among the nonsurgical group, are often considered one of the first lines in the treatment of the aging face and are frequently used in combination with other techniques for skin rejuvenation.
An effective plan for looking younger often includes some designed combination from the palette of botulinum toxin, fillers, lasers, and topical creams. Fillers and injectables do not require general anesthesia or any preperatory lifestyle changes. Thus, people desire these noninvasive procedures as alternatives to more aggressive interventions.
Treatment plans for the nonsurgical rejuvenation of the face include both topical skin care regimens and office-based procedures. Effective topical skin care regimens include cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens. “Lunchtime” procedures that do not require a lot of downtime include: filling agents to restore the volume and correct soft-tissue contours, botulinum toxin type A injection to immobilize and soften superficial facial lines, and facial peels to smooth skin surface and improve the penetration of therapeutic creams. Each of these have a place in nonsurgical facial rejuvenation. Lasers can be used to rejuvenate the face but may require some downtime. Smoothbeam laser is a non-ablative laser that stimulates the formation of new collagen underneath the outer layers of the skin. VBeam laser, which is a pulse dye laser, can also stimulate collagen production and improve the ruddiness or redness of a face, helping to keep skin healthy and youthful looking. To learn more about our lasers, you may visit http://www.candelalaser.com/
Facial rejuvenation can effectively reduce wrinkles, treat sun spots, tighten loose skin, improve skin tone and color, remove blotching, and eliminate blood vessels. To learn more about skin rejuvenation, please feel free to make an appointment for a consultation in our office for a more detailed, personalized discussion. We look forward to helping you feel better about yourself!