The Journey To Facial Rejuvenation

There are many methods to keep the face looking youthful and smooth. These methods include: fillers, lotions and peels, laser treatments, surgeries, and other products.

Fillers

Filler substances are implanted or injected into the face to alleviate crow's feet, whistle lines, and some scars.

A common filler that has been making headlines is collagen which is a natural bovine extract. You should have an allergy test to ensure there will be no negative effects.

A second one is hyaluronic acid which is a non-collagen substance used for more pronounced lines and lip augmentation. You don't need an allergy test for this.

Third is fat injections which is harvested from the patient's own fat.

Fourth are synthetic fillers containing polytetrafluoroethylene.

Finally, botulism toxins paralyze facial muscles especially in the forehead. This is widely known as botox. Botox blocks the nerve impulses which control muscle movements. It usually lasts 3 months.

Lotions and Peels

Lotions and peels are another way to approach the problem.

Lotions increase collagen and elastin production to slow aging and improve the complexion. Moisture creams and multi-complex creams are helpful. You apply glycolic acid lotion at night to soften the skin. Furfurynil acid is an anti-aging treatment applied twice a day. Vitamin C solutions are antioxidants that mop up free radicals. This comes in a cream and hydrating spray. Topical retinoid is a cream by prescription to alleviate photoaging.

Then there are peels. Glycolic acid peels are short rejuvenating peels. The TCA chemical peel is a more serious procedure which requires a recovery period.

Resurfacing helps the face by improving fine lines, dryness, and blotches. Dermabrasion is a mechanical smoothing of the skin.

Lasers

Lasers are now involved in facial rejuvenation. The laser pulses feel like small snaps and do not bother most people. Laser treatments are also used for acne and acne scarring.

Erbium-Yag laser resurfacing is a serious procedure with a recovery period. There's also CO2 laser resurfacing which has great promise.

A new procedure called nonablative resurfacing is a laser or radio device which burns or tightens the collagen without taking off the surface skin. Treatments lead to improved skin texture, with no recovery period.

Vascular laser helps facial capillaries. This laser coagulates the abnormal blood vessels without destroying the surrounding tissue. It releases a green light. No anesthesia is necessary for this.

Surgeries

Then there are surgeries.

The full face lift tightens the jowls. The neck lift is for loose skin and neck muscles. The temporal lift or endoscopic forehead lift is for sagging of the forehead and eyebrow. The blepharoplasty removes baggy eyelids.

Other Treatments

Other products are drops, lip and eye therapy, masks, and exfoliation.

Finally, there is a microcurrent machine -- a non-needle acupuncture, non-surgical facial rejuvenation. It provides electro-stimulation at a low frequency. It requires 10-15 treatments. Follow-up treatments should be every month or two. The treatment takes around an hour. The treatments range from $70 - $90 an hour.