Solutions for the Aging Face

Marching along with the successes and celebrations of life come the visible signs of aging. While we uplift the milestones of life, most of us want to delay and minimize the signs of aging. The visible signs of aging include:

– pigmentation and textural changes
– lines and wrinkles
– sagging skin
– loss of volume

Several factors contribute to these changes including sun damage, environmental factors like pollution and stress, loss of fatty tissue in the face, repetitive muscular movements and decreased collagen production.

There are ideal ways to address each of these signs of aging without the need for major surgery. You can start by taking care of your skin with a sound skincare regimen.

SKINCARE PRODUCTS

It’s important to take care of your skin every day. It’s not enough to buy good skincare products and only use them occasionally. Make it a daily habit. Your skin will thank you. The three musts are a good sunscreen, retinol and an antioxidant.

Sunscreen

Although the sun feels fantastic, it is not a friend to our skin. Sunscreen is essential year round. UVA rays, the ones that age us, can reach 30 feet into a window. So even at home or the office, you are most likely being exposed to these rays. And most definitely while driving the car. Most sun damage is seen on the left side (driver’s side) of the face. Make sunscreen a daily habit.

Recommended sunscreen:

– ZO Daily Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50

Retinol

Studies show this vitamin A derivative increases collagen production and promote elasticity. It has the ability to improve the skin’s texture and tone by promoting skin cell turn over. As we age, our skin cells turn over more slowly. This leads to lackluster skin. It also inhibits effective absorption of skincare products. Retinol helps slough skin cells to reveal fresh skin below. It is also the only topical proven to reduce wrinkles. Retinol is a must for your skincare regimen.

Recommend product options:

– ZO Wrinkle + Repair
– ZO Retinol Skin Brightener

Antioxidants

These are little warriors that help to prevent free radical damage within our skin. We should include foods rich in antioxidants in our diets (dark green and orange vegetables, red berries, blueberries, grapes, nuts, green tea ) and also apply as a topical to our skin. Topical antioxidants also alleviate inflammation (known to increase the visible appearance of aging), provide UVA/UVB protection, and stimulate the production of collagen. Free radical damage is caused by the sun and pollutants. When exposed to these elements, the cells become unstable and break down.

It’s important to use an antioxidant daily because of its ability to neutralize free radical damage to the cells. Routine use of antioxidants helps you stop the damage before it even occurs. One of the best antioxidants is Vitamin C.

PIGMENTATION + TEXTURE

While skincare products can help with skin pigmentation and texture, there are in-office treatments that can greatly improve the appearance of your skin. As we age, brown spots and broken capillaries can arise. These make our skin look blotchy and uneven.

IPL

This light-based technology is very effective at removing brown spots caused by sun damage and aging. The light energy from the laser is absorbed by the cells containing the pigment and destroys them. IPL is also effective for the treatment of broken capillaries. Broken capillaries often appear on the cheeks and around the nose, causing a pink, flushed appearance.

Typically one to two treatments safely correct pigmentation issues and broken capillaries. Popular areas for IPL treatments include the face, decollete, arms and hands. We tend to forget our hands, but brown spots there can be a quick giveaway of our age. IPL is a quick in-office treatment that requires no downtime. IPL is also very effective for hair removal.

Learn more about IPL.

Radiofrequency

Skin rejuvenation is one of the top desires of clients today. Radio frequency is a proven, popular way to address texture issues and tighten skin all at the same time. Our Venus Viva uses nano fractional energy to quickly and safely rejuvenate the skin. Unlike other laser technologies that can be painful, Venus Viva allows you to return to your daily routine very quickly and without the pain associated with other lasers.

You can enjoy a more refreshed, youthful appearance with Venus Viva. This technology is great for eyes, face, sagging jowls, neck and decollete.

Learn more about Venus Viva.

FINE LINES + WRINKLES

The common wrinkles people complain about are the vertical lines between the brows, forehead lines and crow’s feet. These are a result of repeated muscular contractions of the face. These wrinkles make us look tired and older than we feel. The fix? Botox or Dysport. These are injectables that can be administered in minutes in the office. They serve to relax the muscle and dramatically reduce those pesky lines and wrinkles. Results typically last between 3 – 4 months.

Other lines form on our face as we age, to include lines on the sides of our face and around our eyes and lips. These can be effectively treated with a series of radiofrequency treatments with the Venus Viva. These treatments put our collagen on fast forward and serve to rejuvenate the skin and diminish the appearance of pesky lines.

Recommended treatments:

– Botox or Dysport
– Venus Viva radiofrequency treatments; learn more about this treatment

SAGGING SKIN

As we age, our collagen production slows. Think of collagen as the foundation of our face. When our foundation weakens, it allows our face to begin sagging. This is apparent as jowls form (yes horrible) and our jawline squares off. The best way to improve this is through skin tightening technologies and dermal fillers.

Skin Tightening

The goal to slow aging is to keep the collagen amped up as it naturally tries to slow. A great way to do this is through stimulation of collagen through energy-based technology, like laser or radio frequency. The energy from the laser disrupts the collagen underneath our skin and causes it to remodel. Routine treatments can keep us looking years younger. Areas that see a noticeable improvement with radiofrequency treatments include the eyes, face, and neck.

Recommended treatments:

– Venus Viva; learn more about this treatment
– Exilis Elite; learn more about this treatment

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers can create a lift to the appearance of sagging skin. Fillers like Restylane and Juvederm can replace volume we once had when we were younger. Soft tissue (fat) in our face acts as the scaffolding for our skin. Once we lose the volume, the skin begins to sag or look deflated. Two areas that noticeably lose fat are the temples and under our eyes. Another area that loses volume is our cheeks. They often flatten out as we age. Replacing some volume to the cheeks makes us look younger instantly.

LOSS OF VOLUME

Our youthful face has pads of fat that naturally plump our face – in the forehead, temples, under eyes, and in the cheeks. As we age, these fat pads thin and shift. We begin to notice the appearance of sunken eyes or bags. Telling signs of aging also include a flattening of the cheeks. Just a touch of filler in our cheeks can dramatically restore a more youthful appearance. Replacing volume lost in the temples can also make a dramatic improvement in our appearance.

Recommendation:

– Dermal fillers like Restylane and Juvederm

For each of the signs of aging, there is a solution outlined above. Our team of professionals is happy to sit with you to discuss your goals for a refreshed and vibrant appearance. We can tailor a single treatment or comprehensive plan for you that suits your unique needs.

ELITE RECAP

Skincare Products: Sunscreen, Retinol, and Antioxidant
Pigmentation + Texture: IPL and Venus Viva radiofrequency treatments
Fine Lines + Wrinkles: Botox or Dysport and Venus Viva radiofrequency treatments
Sagging Skin: Venus Viva radiofrequency treatments and Dermal Fillers
Loss of Volume: Dermal Fillers

Posted by Elite Medi Spa