Effective Ways to Reverse Signs of Aging
Aging is an inescapable reality of life, during which your body starts to show the signs of your age. Wrinkles are known to be mainly caused by the decrease in production and availability of important nutrients and proteins throughout the body; including hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin. This leads to skin tissue becoming less hydrated with subsequent sagging, allowing wrinkles to as longer and more noticeable until they reach a permanent point. This process of aging showing itself on skin can also be influenced by external factors. These include controlled and uncontrolled factors, like sun exposure and environmental elements, which have damaging effects on skin and can lead to premature aging.
There are 2 broad categories of wrinkles:
- Dynamic wrinkles – These wrinkles are caused by repeated facial movements, such as those that occur when we make certain facial expressions. When the skin is young and full of collagen and elastin, these lines and wrinkles appear only temporarily as the expression is in motion but become permanent as the skin loses elasticity. These wrinkles include smile and frown lines, crow’s feet, and the horizontal creases that appear on the forehead.
- Static wrinkles – These wrinkles are caused by gravity in combination with the loss of volume and plumpness in the skin caused by aging. They can appear all over the face and skin, though they are most prominent in the areas around the lips, cheeks, neck, and the chest. They typically run in parallel lines.
Anti-aging treatments
There are a number of non-surgical options available to individuals who are looking to rejuvenate their skin and decrease the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. Some of the most popular include chemical peels, dermal fillers, and Botox injections.
What are chemical peels?
Chemical peels are an acid-based solution treatment that helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and other skin issues that can lead the skin to look prematurely aged. They can also help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation, melasma, sun spots, age spots, and acne scars.
How do they work?
Chemical peels operate as highly effective and strong exfoliants, removing the superficial layers of skin that are old and damaged. After the chemical peel solution is applied and the superficial layer of skin is peeled off the newer, healthier skin cells underneath are revealed, leaving the patient looking fresh-faced and younger.
How long do they last?
Depending on the strength of the peeling solution used, chemical peel treatments can last anywhere from 1 month to a couple years.
Risks
Though chemical peels are safe, there are some risks associated with treatment, including: scarring; infection; change in skin tone causing hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation; swelling; cold sore outbreak; increased sun sensitivity.
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are an anti-aging treatment that works by injecting a bioresorbable gel into the soft tissue of the skin. They are most commonly made of hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally within the skin and that decreases production with age.
How do they work?
Dermal filler injections replace lost volume and moisture within the skin and provide an instant plumping effect, consequently smoothing out fine lines, wrinkles, and facial folds and creases. They may also be used to help shape the facial contour and to augment the lips.
How long do they last?
The duration of results will depend on a number of factors, including the product used, the area being treated, the injection techniques used, and the age and lifestyle of the patients. Dermal filler injections can last anywhere from 3 to 18 months or more.
Risks
Dermal filler treatments are FDA-approved and are very low-risk. However, there are some mild side effects and rare risks associated with treatment, including: bruising, redness, and inflammation at the injection site; bump formation under the skin; itchiness and rash; hypersensitivity or allergy; permanent nodules.
What is Botox?
Botox injections are a very popular wrinkle prevention treatment. Botox is made of the neurotoxin Botulinum toxin type A and is great for reducing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, particularly those that appear in the upper half of the face.
How does it work?
Upon injection, Botox provides a paralyzing effect on the injected muscles, preventing them from contracting during facial movement and thereby preventing wrinkles from forming. While many patients seek Botox injections to treat wrinkles that have already appeared in their skin, injections early on can help to prevent wrinkles from getting worse.
How long do they last?
Results from Botox injections will typically last somewhere between 3 to 4 months, though patients should receive injections no more often than every 3 months.
Risks
Botox is also a safe and approved method of facial rejuvenation, though it too has some side effects and risks associated with use, including: pain, swelling, redness, and bruising at injection site. Rarely, it may cause drooping eyelids, headache; flu-like symptoms, weakness in muscles, and allergic reactions.
What should I know before and after facial rejuvenation treatment?
Though there are many safe and effective facial rejuvenation treatments available to patients, it is important to do your research. To ensure you receive the best results possible, find a licensed, reputable medical professional to consult with over your facial rejuvenation options. While these procedures are for cosmetic purposes, they are still considered medical procedures, and should only be performed by licensed health-care professionals who have an advanced understanding of the body, the skin, and the underlying anatomy of the face, or any other area you will be treated. It is also important to be aware of all aftercare expectations, as many treatments will require the patient to avoid makeup application for approximately 12 hours, and to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures. Proper sun care is also integral to having a successful facial rejuvenation treatment, as the sun is 1 of the most damaging external factors to the skin.
