For millions of people beginning to notice the natural effects of aging on their once youthful faces, the question arises, “What can I do to turn back the clock?” As we age we face the inevitable effects of gravity, a breakdown in collagen growth, a loss of volume and plumpness in our skin, and the increase of wrinkles and fine lines. So what can be done? There have been invasive surgery options available for years which are usually very effective, but modern cosmetic procedures are much less invasive while still helping to turn back the hands of time.
Fillers
Wrinkle remedies in the form of fillers have been increasing in popularity ever since they were first introduced on the cosmetic scene. Botox, Xeomin, Dysport and other similar botulinum toxins provide a temporary fix to deep lines and wrinkles. The toxin helps to relax clenched facial muscles and in so doing, relax the appearance of frown lines, crow’s feet and more. Fillers usually take no more than mere minutes to administer and the effects can last for many months.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are an acidic solution that is applied to damaged skin to assist in the removal of dead, old cells on the outermost layers of skin. The solution usually consists of a mixture of lactic acid, salicylic acid, phenol, glycolic acid and trichloroacetic acid. A chemical peel usually takes about 15 minutes to apply and as it removes the upper layers of damaged skin over the course of a few days, newer, smoother looking skin is revealed beneath.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a procedure intended to treat sun damage, mild acne scars, brown spots and rough skin. Though microdermabrasion does irritate the skin causing some redness due to the fine crystals used to slough off damaged skin cells, the healing time is relatively short and the pain is minimal.
Thermage
Skin that is suffering from sagginess and crepe-like texture can benefit from Thermage and other related radio-frequency energy and heat treatments. The heat in these treatments encourages new collagen production; collagen that helps to create tightness and firmness of skin leading to a more youthful and refreshed appearance overall. For many patients, one treatment is all that is required to see significant improvement.
Laser Treatments
Laser technology can do a lot in stimulating new collagen growth, targeting fine lines and wrinkles and in improving the skin’s overall tone and firmness. There is some pain associated with laser treatments but a skilled doctor will use a numbing solution to make the process much more bearable. These treatments are very successful in creating drastic improvement in skin tone and texture.