Lately I've noticed a bit stubborn wrinkle in my forehead. I lift the skin just a little, mimicking a facelift - and a fold away. During a facelift, the surgeon makes the incision, usually around the hair, then pulls the facial skin to smooth up the loose skin and wrinkles, and provide a more youthful look.
While a facelift can give dramatic results, I'm not quite ready for it all. I'd just something to freshen up your face a bit. And yet I'm smart enough to know that some products and procedures billed as a facelift alternatives are likely to have more impact on my wallet, but on my face. But how to separate fact from fiction? I turned to experts for help - and here's what I learned
.topical treatments
Dr. Joel Schlessinger, MD, FAAD, FAACS, president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, convinced me that the cream can be very effective when targeting specific problems. There is a cream can do all this, however, and unfortunately could not tell me about a cream that is truly "better than Botox." He recommends the Obagi line of pigmentation and age spots, and that he found creams that make things such as increasing eyelash growth and an increase pouty lips.
peels are another option, and their level of invasiveness depends on what you want. Prices range from a low strength AHA peels for $ 30 - $ 100 per treatment to a very strong phenol peels for $ 4000 or more. Chemical peels burn off the outer, damaged layers of skin, revealing younger skin beneath. Babies have a soft skin because their cells constantly regenerate, but that slows as we age. Chemical peels accelerate the process.
There are some nasty stories about what happens if you go too deep chemical peeling, so be careful in choosing a doctor. Some of the newer features, such as blue peels, claim to be safer. At $ 200 - $ 1000, and peels can be adjusted to the desired effect. Milder peels may be repeated at regular intervals in order to achieve the desired outcome and reduce side effects and healing time. According to Blue Peel web site, measured using blue glycerin is mixed in a traditional chemical peel, trichloracetic acid (TCA), to "improve patient safety visually demonstrate the power of TCA solution, and skin coverage." All of which helps peel goes too far it sounds good to me.
High Tech Salon Treatments
Laser treatments are increasingly popular these days, whether you're trying to remove unwanted hair or get rid of wrinkles. Laser "facelifts" to use the carbon dioxide laser to remove the outer layer of old skin and tighten muscles.
Dr. Schlessinger tells me that the first laser treatment was "a long recovery time and great results. Today's technology produces only about 20-30% of these early results, but with almost no side effects." The new buzzword, Schlessinger tells me, "the fraxellation." In today's treatments, you can "strafe" area so that only interferes with the laser pinpoints of skin, leaving enough on the surface of untreated speed healing time. This one sounded good to me.
What's more, the laser treatments are just one type of skin resurfacing. Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion, which can be regarded as extreme exfoliation, the old standbys that are still quite popular.
In dermabrasion, the surgeon removes the outer layers of skin with electronically operated wire brush or diamond-impregnated suture. It can leave a rather rough and moderately painful, with 2-12 weeks of recovery. Microdermabrasion is a little easier on the patient. It involves spraying fine crystals onto the skin, then remove the top layer of skin cells. It is not as painful as dermabrasion, and that is sure to repeat every couple of months.
Microcurrent "facelifts" go deeper, using a mild electrical stimulation to activate the chemicals in the skin. Dr. Schlessinger warns that some microcurrent treatments are nothing more than quackery. Generally, he says, be careful and spa-type clinics that recommend the same treatment for all, chances are they could have only one piece of equipment!
Any woman trying to decide which procedure they should have a consultation with a certified surgeon, Dr. Schlessinger tells me: "This is one area where you get what you pay for ."
Needles Required
Dr. Schlessinger warned me to be particularly careful in choosing a good practitioner if you decide to go with Botox. These days, Botox is offered everywhere, from the Salon to the parties. However, Botox is a powerful chemical that should be administered only by those with training to do so. It is derived from the toxin that causes food poisoning. Injected in small amounts in the skin, however, weakens or paralyzes certain muscles or blocking certain nerves, causing less frown lines and wrinkles.
"Many struggling because of repetitive motion on the scowling face-their habits, "says Schlessinger. These wrinkles disappear after Botox, a very good news is that very often after several treatments habit is broken and further injections are needed.
But what about all the horror stories? paralysis? Most of these are just urban legends. Botox is not permanent. In fact, injections last only three to four months, which means that any side effects are also temporary.
According to Schlessinger, "we see the greatest complication of Botox done wrong." For two reasons, he advises going to a professional who specializes in Botox. A proliferation Medspas and day spas has resulted in many unqualified practitioners. Two: you're more likely to get a fresh botox in a place that uses a lot. According to Dr. Schlessinger, we should buy our fresh Botox - just as we would like to get our fish fresh fish market
.facial filler injections are another option. These injections actually help replace the volume that you begin to lose in your 30s. And sometimes they actually stimulate more collagen growth. A recent University of Michigan study found that even apparently non-permanent filler Restylane sometimes provides long-term effects.
One of the most popular name-brand filler Juvederm, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in all living organisms as a type of sugar. Although treatment does not last forever, it does not last longer than Botox, usually at least six months or more.
I was also intrigued by threadlift. In this procedure, persons barbed Prolene sutures (threads) are attached to hooks in the face (such as a sagging jaw) through the hollow needle bore. nor used for lifting sagging areas, and can be tightened when necessary. I thought this sounded pretty cool, but unfortunately, it turns out that this is a risky procedure that Dr. Schlessinger says that the "so popular, but so incredibly wrong." or used in the procedure are very fragile and can break. When this happens, the effect becomes unbalanced and can not migrate to new areas, or even penetrate through the skin! I moved this option to "no" column for me.
Go-Go Gadget Facelift
For those who are willing to try anything weird science on their faces, there is no such thing as a facelift tape, which uses an external anchor and threads physically pull the skin on your face tighter. Think Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire. Unfortunately, you will have the composition of the team to help connect the device to your face every morning, and it seems like you'd need an awful lot to hide nor hair properly. Not for me!
sweatin 'to the Oldies?
and a natural ability to exercise the facial muscles. Instead of working from the outside in, these programs claim to work inside-out, building tone and strength in the muscles of the face. Some programs, such as the Flex face, and even include a resistance device that fits in your mouth in order to improve the results of their "exercise ."
Sorry to say, Dr. Schlessinger says that these claims are the program "a complete fabrication. If this were true, people who chew a pack of gum a day will look great, but in fact the opposite is true." over a stretch of skin on your face, the more you will get wrinkles. Remember, Botox temporarily paralyzes muscle work group, not giving them a workout. I was a little disappointed by this news, but at least can take comfort in knowing that there is something good about a couch potato.
minor procedure
Although it is May not seem like an alternative to some, there is a partial facelift options, in which the surgeon has completed the entire facelift (which is extremely painful, expensive and requires a large recovery time), but simply targets areas that would most would like to see improvement. Neck lifts, lifts the upper forehead, cheek and lifts are a common option, but the possibilities are truly endless. It is particularly popular for women to have removed the fat under the chin, and in some cases, the liposuction procedure that does not include cutting the skin removal. And this, in my opinion, one way to look a lot younger in a relatively minor procedure.
Welcome to the New Millennium
used to be unheard of to visit a plastic surgeon before you really need, at which time your skin and facial muscles are almost beyond repair. "Today," Dr. Schlessinger assured me, "we have better alternatives to keep people looking good for much longer." The trick is to do your research and take care of your face begins early. And while effective Botox cream is still five years off, new treatments are developed every day. With so many good features, short full facelift, I am very happy to know that I will never be trapped in the premature aging of the face.
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