What is facial rejuvenation?
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives. This famous quote becomes ever more relevant the more we age. We are constantly reminded of our age by the deepening frown lines around our eyes and the unrelenting sag of our face and neck skin. Fortunately, we do not need to agonize about the effects of age anymore. The wonderful world of skin care and cosmetic surgery provides us with an invaluable extension on the lease of our youth. This is great news because it means there is no need to wake up in the morning and just be content with what we see in the mirror, no need to agonize about those droopy eyelids or saggy lobes, now we can actually do something about it, facial rejuvenation.
Facial rejuvenation is a solution!
The simple solution to our aging problem is facial rejuvenation. Now, obviously it isn’t just as easy as that. First we need to figure out what exactly is facial rejuvenation. Facial rejuvenation is the collective term used to describe a variety of cosmetic procedures that aid a person in having a more youthful and sprightly appearance.
The types of procedures available for facial rejuvenation range from noninvasive and minor, to something a little more serious. Let’s look at the minor procedures first.
Botox
Botox is a type of protein made from botulinum toxin and this protein. When injected, it causes the muscle to weaken. The way Botox works is it blocks signals coming from nerves in the face that communicate with the muscles, and this gap in communication means the facial muscles cannot contract. Therefore the muscle is incapable of contracting it becomes frozen, causing wrinkles to relax and soften. Botox is a brand name, just like Coca Cola, and so other brands also exist like Dysport and Xeomin.
Botox injections only take a few minutes and they cause very little discomfort. As such, the effects will be fully visible after about 14 days, in some cases it could be as soon as 7 days. Botox is more of a temporary solution and will generally last around 6 months. After this time, wrinkles will begin to reappear as the muscle gradually starts to become active again. The good thing about Botox is with repeated use the muscles will start to shrink and wrinkles could appear less severe.
Filler
Fillers are substances that are injected underneath the skin. These injections will provide the injected area with a more voluminous and fuller look. There is a wide variety of fillers available on the market today, all serving a different purpose. Examples include: Polylactic acid (this causes the skin to create more collagen), calcium hydroxylapatite, hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring substance in body tissue that provides plumpness to the skin).
Like Botox, the time it takes to inject filler is also just a few minutes and the only discomfort you will experience is the pinch of the injection. Effects can last anywhere from 6 months up to 2 years and longer. Fillers are ideal if you have thin lips and want to make them look thicker, or if you want to soften wrinkles in the face, especially static wrinkles like the ones around the mouth and cheek.
The following procedures are more invasive and require more procedure and recovery time.
Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a common procedure to undergo when you are looking for a more permanent result. As we get older the muscles around our eyes weaken and cause the eyelids to droop. Upper Blepharoplasty involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the eyelids, allowing the eyes to appear bigger. Lower Blepharoplasty is performed to remove saggy bags under the eyes and also to decrease the visibility of dark circles. Blepharoplasty restores youthfulness to the face by giving the eyes and surrounding area a sprightlier look.
Facelift
A facelift is basically the tightening of the face by pulling back skin on each side of the face in order to give the it a more youthful appearance. A facelift will restore the face to its former shape, removing folds of skin that have become saggy due to the loss of elasticity. This can be achieved via the conventional method called the traditional lift or via the limited incision method.
A traditional facelift starts with an incision by the temple and continues around the ear, right to the bottom of the scalp. Fat is redistributed throughout the face and facial tissue may also be repositioned. The limited facelift method is also called the mini-lift, and it is done by only making an incision around the temple and ear. The mini-lift obviously does not produce as great a result as the traditional facelift and therefore is more suited for you if you don’t have a drastically aged face.
Necklift
A necklift follows the same method as a facelift by pulling back the skin and repositioning fat and tissue the skin under the chin and neck will be more taut. A necklift is an invaluable procedure that millions of women undergo to achieve a more complete facial rejuvenation.
What is the right type of rejuvenation for me?
When it comes to deciding which procedure is right for you it comes down to a few key factors. Firstly you have to take into account your age, if you are still in your forties perhaps you could start with less invasive treatments and see if you like the outcome. If you are older and have tried Botox and fillers then maybe a lift could be a good option. The severity of your aging is another important aspect to keep in mind; if you have severe sagging due to poor skin care or just bad genetics then a lift from the start could be a better option.
It is also possible to combine a few procedures in order to get the best results out of your facial rejuvenation. The most important thing to remember when considering any facial rejuvenation procedure is to make sure you are in good health. It is not advisable for patients to undergo any stressful procedures if they are unhealthy. Always consult with a doctor before receiving any treatment.