10 non-surgical alternatives for facial rejuvenation
Constant activity of facial muscles on a daily basis causes muscular contraction and relaxation whenever the person makes facial movements or expresses emotions.
Facial muscles ensure emotional expression; and the latter is usually achieved at the expense of skin elasticity and hydration each time a micromovement is produced and reproduced over time.
That is how the so-called “expression lines” appear. These are found in nasolabial folds, outer eye corners (crow’s feet), the forehead, between the eyebrows (lion’s wrinkles), and on the corners of the mouth (bitterness folds).
Different techniques have been suggested to rejuvenate the face without having to undergo surgical acts. These are:
Nevertheless, if one wishes to prevents signs of skin aging on the long term run, wrinkle treatments do not suffice as the person has to also protect their skin from external factors like sun exposure and tobacco consumption.
Recent research has shown that combining botulinum toxin injection therapy to hyaluronic acid injection therapy extend rejuvenating results. Results of this procedure are visible starting from the third day after injections, while optimal results can be appreciated after 15 days. The effect of injections lasts for a period of 6 months or so.
The more known indications of hyaluronic acid injections are imperfections of the face like wrinkles, fine lines (lion’s wrinkles, crow’s-feet wrinkles, etc.), furrows of the face (nasolabial folds, bitterness folds, chin and lip folds, etc.), the neck, the lips, bitterness folds, and loss of volume that is due to aging (cheeks, under eye, chin, cheekbones, mandibular contour, nose, etc.).
It is recommended to renew the filling every 9 to 12 months to maintain the results of hyaluronic acid injections.
Dermabrasion results in a brightened and homogenous skin. Scars are also removed, pores are refilled and wrinkles are smoothed.
This is achievable in one session. It is possible to do a dermabrasion twice per year (except for dermabrasion using co2 laser, which can be done every 3 to 4 years).v
The skin that grows back after a chemical peel is smoother and younger looking; therefore eliminating wrinkles, fine lines and scars.
Areas that can be treated using the thread lift technique are the cheekbones, nose and chin fissures, jowls, corners of the mouth, the oval of the face, and eyebrows and the area in between them.
The results are immediately visible after the first session. The skin feels more lifted 15 to 30 days after the lift, which will be further improved in the months that follow the intervention.
This technique ensures cutaneous rejuvenation, which creates a newer layer of facial skin that is generally smoother and more elastic.
Ipl can be combined to other interventions of the face like chemical peeling or micro-abrasion to treat skin slackening.
The intervention has a tightening effect on the skin, but severe wrinkles and lines cannot be treated through a simple photo-rejuvenation technique.
Results can be appreciated after several weeks with skin quality improvement. The latter can be maintained by taking good care of the skin and avoiding harming factors like sun exposure and tobacco consumption.
It is recommended to redo the intervention every 6 to 18 months in order to maintain the results.
Carboxytherapy improves skin elasticity and quality and removes small pockets of fat. There are no contraindications to the treatment except for pregnancy.
All the aforementioned rejuvenating treatments can be performed on their own or combined to other techniques depending on the patient’s medical case and desired outcome.
In certain cases of severe skin aging, cosmetic medicine will not suffice, and surgical acts like facelift or cervico-facial lift will be needed; and therefore suggested by the surgeon.
It is however important to consult your surgeon when choosing your non-surgical or surgical rejuvenating act to make sure that it is well-adapted for you.
Facial muscles ensure emotional expression; and the latter is usually achieved at the expense of skin elasticity and hydration each time a micromovement is produced and reproduced over time.
That is how the so-called “expression lines” appear. These are found in nasolabial folds, outer eye corners (crow’s feet), the forehead, between the eyebrows (lion’s wrinkles), and on the corners of the mouth (bitterness folds).
Different techniques have been suggested to rejuvenate the face without having to undergo surgical acts. These are:
1. Botulinum toxin injections (upper face)
The cosmetic form of botulinum toxin blocks the nerve signals to the muscle in which it was injected, and therefore prevents the muscle contraction that is usually responsible for facial wrinkles. The injection could be used to prevent the appearance of wrinkles for patients under the age of 25 (which is less frequent).Nevertheless, if one wishes to prevents signs of skin aging on the long term run, wrinkle treatments do not suffice as the person has to also protect their skin from external factors like sun exposure and tobacco consumption.
Recent research has shown that combining botulinum toxin injection therapy to hyaluronic acid injection therapy extend rejuvenating results. Results of this procedure are visible starting from the third day after injections, while optimal results can be appreciated after 15 days. The effect of injections lasts for a period of 6 months or so.
2. Hyaluronic acid injections (lower face)
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in soft connective tissues of the body and in the fluid surrounding eyes. Our bodies produce an approximate amount of 5 g per day; mostly used for the rejuvenation of skin tissues.The more known indications of hyaluronic acid injections are imperfections of the face like wrinkles, fine lines (lion’s wrinkles, crow’s-feet wrinkles, etc.), furrows of the face (nasolabial folds, bitterness folds, chin and lip folds, etc.), the neck, the lips, bitterness folds, and loss of volume that is due to aging (cheeks, under eye, chin, cheekbones, mandibular contour, nose, etc.).
It is recommended to renew the filling every 9 to 12 months to maintain the results of hyaluronic acid injections.
3. Mesotherapy or mesolift:
Mesolift is an aesthetic treatment that involves injecting a custom-made medical cocktail according to the skin’s needs – based on hyaluronic acid vitamins, minerals, plants, elastin, etc.4. Dermabrasion :
Dermabrasion is an exfoliating technique that uses a rotating instrument to remove the outer layers of skin, usually on the face. Once the superficial layer of the skin is exfoliated, a new cutaneous layer is naturally formed. This treatment is popular with people who wish to improve the appearance of their skin. Some of the conditions it can treat include fine lines, sun damage, acne scars, and uneven texture.Dermabrasion results in a brightened and homogenous skin. Scars are also removed, pores are refilled and wrinkles are smoothed.
This is achievable in one session. It is possible to do a dermabrasion twice per year (except for dermabrasion using co2 laser, which can be done every 3 to 4 years).v
5. Chemical peel:
A chemical peel is a procedure in which a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the top layers. The latter stimulates the production of fibroblasts and collagen.The skin that grows back after a chemical peel is smoother and younger looking; therefore eliminating wrinkles, fine lines and scars.
6. PRP:
Platelet-rich plasma (prp) includes drawing a patient’s own blood, separating the platelets, and then injecting them into the skin via microneedling. This technique is believed to offer immediate results of rejuvenated and glowier-looking skin. The platelets can be shot into the eye corners, mouth corners, scars, and stretch marks. After one month, the patient will feel that their skin is smoother, less wrinkly, and free of imperfections.7. Thread lifts:
Thread lifts present an incredible alternative to surgical face-lifts, and offer a remedy for skin aging. It is a procedure wherein temporary sutures are used to produce a subtle but visible lift in the skin. The cosmetic surgeon suspends the patient’s loose skin by stitching up portions of it. This has the effect of pulling the skin back slightly and therefore lifting and tightening it.Areas that can be treated using the thread lift technique are the cheekbones, nose and chin fissures, jowls, corners of the mouth, the oval of the face, and eyebrows and the area in between them.
The results are immediately visible after the first session. The skin feels more lifted 15 to 30 days after the lift, which will be further improved in the months that follow the intervention.
8. Laser treatment:
Laser treatment is essentially used to correct imperfections of the skin. Different techniques of laser are considered, but their action is generally thermic and they all aim at removing facial skin layer by layer.This technique ensures cutaneous rejuvenation, which creates a newer layer of facial skin that is generally smoother and more elastic.
9. Photo-rejuvenation:
Photorejuvenation is a rejuvenating technique that uses intense pulsed light (ipl). It treats skin conditions like dark and red spots and gives the face, neck and cleavage area a younger appearance.Ipl can be combined to other interventions of the face like chemical peeling or micro-abrasion to treat skin slackening.
The intervention has a tightening effect on the skin, but severe wrinkles and lines cannot be treated through a simple photo-rejuvenation technique.
Results can be appreciated after several weeks with skin quality improvement. The latter can be maintained by taking good care of the skin and avoiding harming factors like sun exposure and tobacco consumption.
It is recommended to redo the intervention every 6 to 18 months in order to maintain the results.
10. Carboxytherapy:
Carboxytherapy involves the injection of carbon dioxide gas (co2) beneath the skin to stimulate collagen production and increase oxygen supply, as well as blood flow. The intervention treats wrinkles and skin laxity, most effectively around the eye with regards to crepey skin and saggy eyelids. It also corrects crow’s feet, nasolabial folds, bitterness folds, and wrinkles around the neck.Carboxytherapy improves skin elasticity and quality and removes small pockets of fat. There are no contraindications to the treatment except for pregnancy.
All the aforementioned rejuvenating treatments can be performed on their own or combined to other techniques depending on the patient’s medical case and desired outcome.
In certain cases of severe skin aging, cosmetic medicine will not suffice, and surgical acts like facelift or cervico-facial lift will be needed; and therefore suggested by the surgeon.
It is however important to consult your surgeon when choosing your non-surgical or surgical rejuvenating act to make sure that it is well-adapted for you.
