Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Susan Says: The War on Aging

By now most of us baby boomers have determined that we are not just going to grow old gracefully. As we age, collagen is lost and elasticity diminishes.  As featured on a recent segment of The Dr. Oz Show, the new alternative to cosmetic surgery is the use of fillers, which is known a a "liquid facelift." Liquid fillers such as Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm (popular in lip augmentation) are hyaluronic acid-based fillers.  Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body.

Radiesse, which helps stimulate your own production of collagen and according to Dr. Stuart Bentkover  of Massachusetts (see his online interview for CityVibe) gives very natural results. Sculptra, which also gives natural results, is not as controllable according to Dr. Bentkover and needs to be massaged into the skin.

A combination of Radiesse and Juvederm can be used for deeper wrinkles. Each dermal filler has unique attributes and requires subtle variations in injection techniques to optimize results.  An individual's facial characteristics, skin conditions and needs will determine which products or procedures should be used.  Erasing marionette lines (also called parenthesis lines) around the mouth has been done with fillers for some time, but now even the hollows under the eyes can be filled in with Restylane.  As far as Botox and Dysport are concerned, results are less long-lasting and, according to Dr. Bentkover, your body can develop immunity to Botox.  The FDA has approved these fillers and to learn more, go online to the Liquid Face Lift Association.  

Another option is a pulsed light photofacial.  I recently underwent the Palomar RejuveLux process, which helps clear sun damage for a rejuvenated appearance.  The Palomar RejuveLux involves the use of a handpiece which emits pulses of light into the skin.  The light is absorbed by the pigment in sunspots and the blood in visible vessels, and is converted to heat.  The heat dissolves the cells that create the pigment and shrinks the vessels.  The difference between this system and pulsed light systems is Palomar uses a much larger treatment window than most lasers.  This spreads light over a wider are of skin and allows faster coverage and quicker treatments as a result.  All areas of the body can benefit from the treatment except for the area around the eyes.  

Plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Hawrych of Naples, FL, moved the handpiece over my face and with each pulse a beam of light went through the skin.  A flashing light and an audible tone occurred when the skin was being pulsed.  I was concerned about rosacea, which I have on a tiny area of my skin, but the treatment did not aggravate and actually improved the condition.  
After the treatment, I felt a strong sunburn-like sensation and very minor swelling.  After 24 hours it dissipated and I soothed my skin with aloe gels and ice packs, which are best.  The sunspots darkened after the treatment and naturally shed in about two weeks.  It just took one treatment and I see a marked improvement in my skin.  The Palomar Pulsed Light is also used for permanent hair reduction, leg vein and acne clearance.  In the past, harsh treatments resulted in red, raw skin with long recovery periods but the RejuveLux process gives great results without any downtime. The Palomar Pulsed Light also helps build your own collagen.

For a free consultation about this or other procedures to help you look your best, contact Dr. Hawrych at  239-593-5000. Let him know you read about it on our blog!

7 comments:

  1. Mm, those products do come in handy. Among other things, they're very good at leading us into the path of aging gracefully, through a steady pace instead of sudden changes.

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  2. Age should be just in numbers and never on our skin! There are different ways to keep our skin looking young, glowing, and healthy; we just have to choose which one is best for us. Also, keep in mind that we are what we eat. We must be watchful of what we eat, especially fatty food, and junk food, which does nothing to benefit our health. As always, eating a lot of fruits and vegetables is a must, including whole grains like whole wheat bread, and oatmeal, and eat everything else--in moderation.

    -Terry Bayer

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    1. I agree with you Terry. But aside from eating vegetables and fruits to keep your skin healthy, you should also eat food rich in omega-3 like salmon, walnuts, and flax seeds. Basically, omega-3 helps replenish lost fat which otherwise cause skin to dry up and excessive flaking by storing polyunsaturated fat that we gain mostly from eating fish.

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  3. Throughout the years, cosmetic surgeons have come up with a variety of facelift procedures, including the micro-current treatment which is considered a non-surgical type of facelift. Since it helps smooth the skin and tone of the face, more and more women are inclined to go through a facelift procedure. And yes, it does bring about a youthful glow to the skin, thus improving self-confidence as well.

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  4. There are many credited surgeons out there, and with kind of technology that we have nowadays, There are many credited surgeons out there, and with the kind of technology that we have today, we don’t really have to worry about aging. Women in particular, worry about getting old, as they will lose their youthful glow. Well, if you’re ready, and you can afford to undergo the necessary medical procedures, then go ahead. Feel free to do so. There is nothing wrong with it. If you find it as your way to make you feel good about yourself, go for it. :)

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