Multifaceted Aging: Why Facial Rejuvenation Goes Beyond the Facelift
Frequently, patients want to know why they need to have a good skincare program if they are having a facelift or why they may want to consider toxins or fillers if they already had a facelift. The reason is that facial aging is a multifactorial process involving our skin quality, loss of volume in our facial fat compartments, and the loss of elasticity of our supporting ligaments in our faces. So, since we age on different levels, we really have to work to refresh our faces on different levels.
Skin Quality:
We age in our skin by losing elasticity and collagen. Things like smoking or sun exposure can accelerate this process. What we see then are wrinkles, a rough texture, and pigment changes.
What can we do?
We can start a good quality skincare program early and continue with it as we age, such as the ZO skincare line of products. Other adjuncts, like chemical peels, laser resurfacing, or microneedling, work with your daily skincare regimen to stimulate collagen regeneration and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and pigmentation.
Loss of Volume:
The cruel joke of age is that while most of us will struggle to lose weight elsewhere in our bodies, our deep facial fat compartments actually atrophy or decrease in size. We also lose bony volume (think of it like osteoporosis of your face).
What can we do?
If you haven’t already, I would recommend considering fillers or fat grafting. Some of us may be scared or hesitant because we fear that it won’t look natural. I can assure you that if fillers are done well to restore lost volume, you will look natural and refreshed.
Loss of Elasticity:
As the supporting ligaments in our faces lose elasticity, we may notice the ‘sagging’ – this can manifest itself with jowls, a ‘turkey neck,’ and excess skin. If we compare ourselves to pictures of when we were younger, our faces may appear more square.
What can we do?
This is where surgery is a great option. Surgery can restore and reposition the sagging muscles while removing excess skin.
However, a facelift alone won’t treat the skin quality or lost volume, which is why I believe facial aging should be approached from multiple angles. Also, remember that if we start young with daily maintenance, we may need less aggressive treatments later or not as many – that is at least what I’m hoping for!
Ready to Learn More?
Please let us know if you have questions or would like to learn more about the best treatment options for you!