AGE REFINING TECHNOLOGY

As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of gravity, sun exposed and years of facial muscle movement. Despite the slew of products and advanced technology available today, there is only so much we can do to curb this. Dramatic results can be achieved with face-lifts and reshaping, but there are less-invasive rejuvenating techniques like freezing, filling and polishing. While one needs to accept the inevitable changes tat come with age, there is no reason why one should not make use of the sophisticated cosmetic procedures and techniques available.

There are so many options, however, that you will need to do some homework. All surgery carries some risk and even less-invasive techniques can have side-effects. Use reputable, certified professionals. Get recommendations or contact the dermatological or plastic surgeons association in your country. Know what can and cannot be improved and allow for recovery time. There are quick procedures such as 'lunch-time peels', while other treatments leave your skin red and inflamed for a few days and will require some time off.

Though surgery can have dramatic results, remember that beauty really does start within. Look after what you have and celebrate your uniqueness.

Whatever method you choose to rejuvenate your face, you should aim to create natural-looking results. Always consult a registered dermatologist or plastic surgeon, and be realistic about what the procedures can and cannot achieve.

There are three types of wrinkles. Static wrinkles are with you all the time, even when your face is at rest. Dynamic wrinkles are created by your facial expressions, and folds are lines that develop when the skin folds are lines that develop when the skin loses its youthful elasticity and begins to sag. Examples of the latter include droopy eyebrows, bags below the eyes, jowls and nasolabial folds (between the corners of your mouth and the sides of the nose). Various non-invasive techniques can help to improve these and they can be used in conjunction with surgery.

Botox injections have become a popular lunch-time fix; other than the possibility of some redness and very slight swelling at the site, patients can immediately resume their activities.

FREEZERS
Botox has become the treatment of choice to get rid of expression lines - those that form when you frown, smile or laugh. Botox is a neurotoxin produced from the botulinum bacteria. When injected into a muscle, it acts as a nerve impulse blocker, temporarily paralyzing the muscles and so keeping them from contracting.

Because it 'freezes' the expression muscles, your ability to move the muscle temporarily disappears along with the wrinkles. Botox is most effective on frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet (on the outer corners of the eyes). The procedure is painless - just a needle prick, but a topical anaesthetic cream can be used if the client prefers or if multiple sites are planned.

The procedure takes about 10 minutes and the effect takes about four days to a week to kick in. It lasts from three to six months and must be repeated to maintain results. Injections can cause redness and swelling at the injection site and it's advisable not to do anything too strenuous on the day of treatment; nonetheless you can go about your business almost immediately. In rare cases, Botox injections too close to the eyelid muscles can cause the eye area to droop temporarily.

FILLERS
Soft-fillers are injected into the skin to fill lines and wrinkles and build or plump up areas like the lips and cheeks. There are temporary and permanent fillers, as well as exogenous (foreign substances such as collagen) and autologous (one's own tissue or fat) implants. The fat-injection procedure involves extracting fat cells from the patient's abdomen, thighs, buttocks or elsewhere, and re-injecting them beneath the facial skin. This method is usually used to fill in cheeks and lips or to fill laugh lines between the nose and mouth or on the forehead. As the fat is taken from the person's own body, there is no reaction because the immune system immediately recognizes the tissue.

The disadvantages of foreign collagen implants (extracted from cow skin or human cadaver) are that they only last for two or six months, and that skin testing is required in order to avoid possible allergic reactions.

The more popular temporary filling method is with hyaluronic acid (such as Restylane, Hylaform, Perlane). Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in the skin, so allergic reactions are rare. Injected into the skin in tiny amounts with a very thin needle, the gel adds natural volume under the wrinkle. The product is biodegradable and so will gradually be absorbed. As the gel breaks down, water takes its place and when it is totally absorbed, the gel disappears unnoticed from the body. The procedure takes up to half an hour.

After the treatment you could experience some swelling, tenderness and redness, but these symptoms will disappear in two to four days. How long the effect lasts depends on the individual, but it is generally effective for up to six months after lip augmentation, and up to 12 months after facial contouring.

Invasive rejuvenation treatments can tax the body. Regard them as you would minor surgery and allow your system enough time to recuperate.

Other filler materials being used include Fibril, a gelatin powder compound that's mixed with the patient's own blood and is injected to plump up the skin; GORE-TEX®, a thread like material that is implanted beneath the skin to add soft-tissue support; and Zyderm (a bovine collagen) and Zyplast (a cross-linked form of collagen), which are used to improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars and to add volume to the lips. Injectable fillers are not permanent and the body will eventually process the injected material. How long it lasts differs from person to person.



All invasive skincare procedures carry same risk. It is vital to consult a registered skincare professional and ensure you are getting the right treatment for your particular concern.



MICRODERMABRASION
Often referred to as the 'lunch time peel', microdermabrasion is a skin polishing technique that uses microparticles to abrade and rub off the top skin layer, removing the particles of dead skin to give i t a smoother appearance. The operator uses a handheld device that blasts fine particles of sand-like crystals (aluminium oxide or table salt) against the skin and vacuums away the used crystals, dirt and dead surface skin. It takes only 20 to 30 minutes for a full-face treatment and can also be used on the neck and chest.

There may be mild redness, which can be covered up with make-up and fades after a couple of hours. This procedure is not painful (there may be a slight tingling) and won't lighten or darken black skin as some strong exfoliating treatments do. It is recommended for smoothing away roughness, fine lines, sun-damaged or pigmented skin, age spots, scarring from acne, accidents or previous surgery, and even precancerous growths. Microdermabrasion exfoliates skin faster and more efficiently than any salon facial and penetrates the skin more deeply than a glycolic acid peel. It is not recommended as a treatment for crow's feet because, if used too close to the eyes, the crystals can cause eye irritation and the delicate eyelid skin can be damaged by the machine's suction.


INTENSE PULSED LIGHT THERAPY (IPL)
A fairly new, convenient and thus increasingly popular alternative to laser skin resurfacing and chemical peeling is the use of intense pulsed light. With this type of therapy, an intensive light source is directed towards the surface of the skin. It spreads in all directions and there is no danger of burning or scarring as there is with regular laser.

This therapy is particularly effective for rejuvenating the skin, not just superficially but in the deeper levels, too. The light pulses are adjustable in wavelength and duration so that a variety of tasks can be performed and objectives achieved.

Intense pulsed light therapy helps to improve redness (it's particularly effective in the treatment of rosacea); reduce broken capillaries, brown spots, UV damage, fine wrinkles and large pores. It can even out skin tone and firm the skin. One of its biggest advantages is that there is no down time. Each treatment takes approximately 20 minutes and patients can return to their daily activities immediately afterwards. There is also minimal discomfort - no anaesthesia or topical anaesthetic cream is needed.

This, coupled with an absence of scars and ease of treatments, makes an attractive number of advantages over laser skin resurfacing, chemical peeling, or microdermabrasion. Aftercare is customized to each patient's individual skin sensitivity. This rejuvenation technology is certainly cutting edge and very exciting. As with all of these procedures, it must only be administered by a skilled and qualified professional and a series of treatment is recommended to get the best possible results.

Age, gravity, sun exposure, smoking and stress changes the way a face looks. Creases form and it begins to lose its youthful definition.

CHEMICAL SKIN PEELS
These peels use a chemical solution to smooth the texture of the skin by removing the damaged outer layers. There are various kinds available. Alpha hydroxy acids are usually the mildest of the formulas. They can be used to remove the top layer of skin to treat fine lines, even out skin tone and uneven pigmentation and smooth acne scars. They also stimulate cell metabolism, increasing the skin's natural functions. The process takes about 10 minutes. The cons: it can irritate the skin, and you have to undergo a series of treatments to reap the benefits.

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is most commonly used for medium-depth peeling to smooth out fine surface wrinkles, blemishes and uneven pigmentation problems. The treatment takes 10 to 15 minutes and can be used on the neck and body. Although healing is quicker than a phenol peel, the results are usually less dramatic and not as long lasting. Repeated treatments may be needed to maintain results.

Phenol is the strongest of the chemical solutions and is used mainly to treat patients with deep wrinkles, sun-damaged skin or precancerous growths on the face. It is more suitable for fair skins as there is a high risk of loss of pigment. A full-face treatment may take an hour or more.

Recovery is slow, complete healing sometimes taking several months. Although the results are dramatic and can last for decades, your skin will never tan again and extreme caution must be taken in the sun.

LASER RESURFACING
Laser facial resurfacing (laser peeling) can be used to smooth skin at almost any age. The top layer of skin is peeled away while the collagen underneath is thickened and reformed. When your skin heals, it looks brighter and plumper. Laser works well on sun-damaged skin, brown spots, fine lines and veins. It does not improve sagging and so is often recommended in conjunction with a face-lift. Laser resurfacing works by directing an intense beam of laser light back and forth over the area being treated. Each pass of the light vaporizes the upper layers of damaged skin and causes the skin to contract. This result in tightening of the collagen and elastic fibres of the dermis, producing a new skin layer that is tighter, firmer and more youthful looking. There are many types of lasers: CO2 and erbium are among the more popular ones. The CO2 is the most aggressive (and effective) treatment for skin that is severely aged or scarred. It is essentially a powerful beam of light that vaporizes the top layers of the skin on contact, prompting it to rebuild itself from the bottom up. It can take from 10 minutes to more than an hour, and must always be performed by a qualified surgeon.

Recovery takes about 10 days, during which time the skin is very swollen, raw and oozing. Crusts form that will eventually fall off. There will be pain, similar to that of severe sunburn, for a few days. Because of the risk of hyperpigmentation, this type of laser treatment is not recommended for darker skin.

The erbium also vaporizes the outer layers of skin, but it resurfaces with less heat, so healing takes place in about a week, with most redness fading within 7-14 days. This type of laser is good for wrinkles, acne scars, sun damage, and irregular pigmentation, but not quite effective as the CO2. It is, however, much gentler, has fewer side effects, requires a shorter recovery period and can be used on dark skins.

IS SURGERY FOR YOU?
There is no doubt that a face-lift or liposculpture can make an enormous difference not only to a person's face, but also to their self-esteem. If you choose plastic surgery, then follow this advice:

• Be sure of your decision.
• Go to a qualified and reputable surgeon with whom you feel comfortable.
• Be realistic in your expectations. Resurfacing and Botox will improve the overall appearance of your skin's quality; surgery deals with skin quantity and can be used to elevate and reshape sagging contours.
• Get clear answers to all your questions.
• Be aware of the risks associated with surgery.
• Know the full cost and be aware of all the implications before you commit.
• Look after your face and body prior to surgery and follow all post-operative instructions.