How We Age
The effects of gravity, sun exposure, intrinsic aging, and the stresses of daily life take their toll on our faces over time.
On the surface, the skin accumulates sun damage, leading to age spots, blemishes, and fine lines. Deeper lines and creases develop as the skin loosens and sags.
Beneath the skin, the support structures of the face (muscles, ligaments, etc.) loosen, and the soft tissues atrophy so that our face loses volume. This causes a constellation of age-related changes to the face – the nasolabial folds deepen, the jawline slackens, fat collects beneath the chin, the eyelids droop and fat protrudes from the lids, the eyebrows, cheeks, and tip of the nose go southward.
How To Turn Back the Clock
The first step to turning back the clock is to maintain a proper lifestyle, including a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, regular exercise, the avoidance of smoking, and proper skin care.
Treatments for the aging face include nonsurgical cosmetic treatments and cosmetic surgery. In general, nonsurgical treatments are best suited as main treatments for younger patients with milder signs of aging or as adjunctive treatments for older patients. Older patients with more pronounced signs of aging typically need surgery (in addition to the nonsurgical treatments) to produce effective results.
Improving the skin’s quality, texture, and appearance can benefit many patients both younger and older. Options to achieve this include:
- Topical medicines (e.g. proven medicines, such as tretinoin, hydroquinone, Obagi, etc.)
- Chemical peels
- Dermabrasion
- Laser skin resurfacing
Additional nonsurgical cosmetic treatments, such as Botox and injectable fillers, can also play an important role in facial rejuvenation. Botox reduces smile lines by inactivating facial muscles. Fillers, such as Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Artefill, and autologous fat, plump up areas that have “hollowed out” over time, such as the nasolabial folds, lips, and around the eyes.
Noninvasive “tightening” procedures, such as Thermage, Titan, etc., may tighten the skin, but to date patient satisfaction rates have been low.
Older patients with more pronounced signs of aging, including sagging skin, prominent jowls, etc., typically need cosmetic surgery to produce good results. Surgical options include the face lift, forehead lift, eye lift, midface lift, and neck lift. These procedures are often done in combination along with nonsurgical treatments.
If you are a patient interested in turning back the clock, I recommend that you see a qualified cosmetic specialist (e.g. plastic surgeon) who can offer you the full range of cosmetic treatments so that you can choose the best options for your particular needs.
