Can one be too old to generate new collagen?

Hi Loosie,Thank you for your question. In response to your question varies from person to person. Depending on the recommended treatment, certain treatments may help boost the stimulation of collagen but keep in mind to have realistic results. It's hard to recommend a specific treatment as there is no photo included but we have seen awesome results with Contour TRL for treating the under eye and around the mouth for those who are fit candidates. This is an aggressive, full field resurfacing that removes skin to a specific depth determined after a consultation with the surgeon. Treating skin with a laser stimulates the growth of new collagen, which improves the skin’s thickness and resilience. The skin surface will also re-grow with fresh, healthy cells, which will give your skin a younger rejuvenated appearance. There will be some downtime but the results are unbelievable! We like to pair this specific treatment alongside a Halo resurfacing treatment in the other areas of the face that will help promote firming as well as remove the superficial layer, removing sun damage, dead skin cells and tough texture, leaving a brighter, tighter and refreshed.

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

A #facelift is a surgical procedure designed to remove the major folds and wrinkles that form on our faces with age. Gravity, sun damage, smoking, living in a dry climate, and a variety of factors contribute to the aging process of our faces. Facelift techniques vary from patient to patient to give each person a procedure tailored to produce the best possible surgical result. A facelift will smooth out major folds and #wrinkles, #tighten the tissues beneath your skin, remove #sagging and excess skin. A facelift can also reduce excess skin around the #neck and #jawline. There is not just one facelift procedure, but a whole range of facelift procedures. These different techniques have been developed over the years, involving different incisions and lifting the skin to varying degrees. A facelift may also involve the tightening of certain muscles and tissues, or liposuction of areas such as the jowls or chin.It is important to understand that facelifts are meant to remove major folds and wrinkles, not fine wrinkles. A facelift which removes every line and fold would be too aggressive and would result in an unnatural result. Fine lines and wrinkles are better addressed by skin treatments such as chemical peels or microdermabrasion, which we also offer at our office. If you are deemed a candidate, Lite-lift™ may be an option for you. Patients who desire facial rejuvenation that is affordable, quick, and effective should consider the Lite-lift™. The LiteLift™ is an innovative facelift developed by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Larry Nichter and myself which benefits many male patients. The goal of the #LiteLift is to provide a less invasive natural looking option for both men and women desiring to refresh their appearance with less downtime and risks. The LiteLift® is a “real” facelift, which does address the underlying muscle, tissue and overlying skin.The technique requires limited incisions and takes a vertical lifting approach, in contrast to the traditional facelift, which requires extensive incisions and lifts or pulls the face towards the ears horizontally. The modern techniques used allow us to perform most LiteLift® procedures in the office under local anesthesia. Also, removing the risk of general anesthesia opens the door for more people to pursue facial surgery. All too often people do not move forward with undergoing the desires facelift surgery due to their overwhelming fear of the risks associated with general anesthesia.This is a modified facelift that can be performed in the office with a local anesthetic and improve signs of aging around the neck, jawbone and lower face. Because the incisions are limited, there is less bruising, swelling and healing time for most patients. Many patients can be back to work in one to two weeks looking rested and more youthful.The best candidates for #LiteLift are non-smoking patients 35-60 years old with early changes of the lower face and the neck. They also have a face and neck line beginning to sag, but whose skin has elasticity and whose bone structure is well defined. Older patients who cannot or do not wish to have a longer operation or general anesthetic can be improved with a Lite Lift™.

Collagen production can be stimulated at your age with an
Ultherapy treatment. Ultherapy is an FDA
approved treatment that lifts and tones sagging skin and, over time, stimulates
new collagen production. You should schedule
a consultation at a facility that offers the treatment to determine whether or
not you are a good candidate for the procedure.
Other non-invasive options are also available.

Fraxel laser skin resurfacing tricks your skin into creating new skin to replace the damaged, or targeted areas, resulting in natural skin rejuvenation. It is a safe, non-invasive laser skin treatment without the risks of major side effects or prolonged downtime of other procedures.The Fraxel Laser treats mild to moderate acne scarring, sun spots/damage and fine wrinkles. Many people notice results within a week after their first treatment. Their skin feels smoother, looks less blotchy, and has a glow. Some people notice a difference after one treatment, but the recommended Fraxel treatments are usually done in a set of 3, about 4 weeks apart.

This is a great question. Your skin continues to produce collagen throughout your life. But as we get older, the rate at which this occurs becomes much slower compared to our younger years. Lasers, like Fraxel, for example, use light energy which is converted to heat in the skin. There are collagen producing cells called fibroblasts. Again, with age, these will not produce new forms of collagen as often as before. But they will produce these fibers when the skin experiences damage. Heat from lasers can be deliberately applied to “trick” the skin (so to speak) into perceiving that it has been damaged. And this will trigger the formation of new collagen.In addition to such treatments, it is important for patients to consume healthy foods so that the body has the building blocks it needs to produce new forms of collagen. A long term commitment towards consistency is needed. Also staying away from damaging environmental factors like smoking & excess alcohol is also important for optimizing the appearance and functioning of the skin. Using sun protection is another factor. Efforts to stimulate new collagen can be undermined by UV rays which create free radicals that erode and cause tissue structures to atrophy. 

Collagen
production does decline with age, but 62 is a great time to consider beginning
facial rejuvenation that can include treatments to boost collagen levels as
well as addressing other signs of aging. Laser skin resurfacing, for example,
can help minimize fine lines and wrinkles for smoother, firmer-looking skin
while at the same time fading age spots for a rejuvenated appearance that
includes increased collagen levels too. I suggest checking with a cosmetic
surgeon and working together to develop a customized treatment plan.

All of us produce new collagen throughout life as a part of the natural skin turnover process.  There are many methods for stimulating new collagen formation which can significantly improve the appearance of the skin.  In older patients these effects may be slower and more limited so you may have to temper your expectations to some degree.

Certainly the ability of your body to generate new collagen slows with age - so where a 40 year old might get great results from something as benign as micro needling, someone in their 60's might feel they got very little results.Since you're starting a little late, you simply have to temper your expectations. Skin rejuvenation programs with retinoids included are great at getting the skin to wake up. Personally I love the Obagi programs, but they aren't for everyone, so be guided by a physician who is familiar with your skin.Lasers, both ablative and non ablative, provide the controlled injury to skin that causes your body to respond with new collagen. Ablative lasers will vaporize tissue and non ablative will either not affect the surface at all or coagulate tiny columns of skin tissue. They all rely on heat to do this. Each has a different level of downtime - from mere redness to considerable wound care.One way to help get the results you hope for is to add a little outside help in the way of fillers in areas that might otherwise not be capable of producing much new collagen.Sculpta is an injectable collagen stimulator that can prompt your skin to revolumize itself. There's some age related effectiveness that would likely create the need for more injections than a younger person would need, but there's really nothing else like Sculptra.At 62, you would be looking at multiple types of procedures but it's pretty remarkable what the right combination of procedures can accomplish.

The answer is no. However, as you age your ability to form new collagen decreases, meaning you may not be able to form as much as a younger person, but you still can demonstrate an improvement. The easiest and best ways to do this:1) High quality skin care program using medical grade retinol based products. Retinol is one of the only topical products that have been shown in high quality research studies to increase collagen production while at the same time reduce damage to your DNA. It can be VERY effective. 2) Radiofrequency skin tightening - This basically "heats" the deeper layers of the skin and can increase collagen production in your skin. 3) Botulinum Toxin - Interestingly, there is evidence that Botox injections can stimulate collagen production. I've recently completed a research study assessing this. Our study, indirectly, demonstrated that injections of botox can increase elastin (a more youthfull component of skin). Botox resulted in skin that was more elastic and youthfull. This is why wrinkles fade after repeated injections of the medication. I've included a link to my research portfolio if you want to see the study. James P. Bonaparte, MD, MSc, FRCSCHead and Neck Surgerypracticing in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryAssistant Professor, University of OttawaOttawa, Ontario, Canada