The new wave of facial rejuvenation: you don’t need a facelift!
January 18th, 2010The New Wave of Facial Rejuvenation: You Don’t Need a Facelift!
By Rudolf C. Thompson, MD, FACS
The number of non-surgical options has been on the rise during the last few years which is wonderful news for patients seeking facial rejuvenation without going under the knife. The number of patients seeking and taking advantage of such non-invasive solutions seems to be on the rise as well. I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the latest non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures available today for patients who are looking to refresh their look and “turn back the clock” without surgery.
The best options today for non-invasive and minimally-invasive facial rejuvenation involve a combination of procedures. Many people are familiar with Botox® (and lately, its newest competitor, Dysport®) and its ability to reduce forehead lines, crow’s feet, etc. However, nowadays, non-surgical facial rejuvenation is more than just about Botox®. It’s about restoring volume back into the face, reducing sagging skin, tightening skin and smoothing the skin’s surface.
I would like to introduce to you three relatively new, but very efficacious, procedures designed to provide outstanding results. The first is Sculptra® Aesthetic. This injectable treatment is designed to restore volume that has been lost in the cheeks, temple areas, and the pre-jowl areas (“marionette lines”). Sculptra® is a true collagen stimulator. It stimulates the body’s own natural processes to form collagen to restore volume in the often “hollowed out” areas of the face. Sculptra® provides the versatility to provide patients a “liquid facelift” with gradual and long lasting results (up to two years).
SkinTyte is a skin firming laser treatment which utilizes pulsed light technology to deeply treat your skin while cooling and protecting the entire treated surface. SkinTyte is a quick and comfortable treatment with no downtime and the end result is a more youthful appearance. SkinTyte heats collagen which initiates the body’s natural healing process. This creates a new layer of collagen leading to increased skin firmness. Popular treatment areas include the face and neck, however, impressive results can be found in the abdomen and arms as well.
Pro-Fractional Therapy is another quick and comfortable laser treatment with little downtime used for improving the overall appearance of your skin. It is the laser treatment of choice to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, scars (including old acne scarring) and sun damaged skin. This treatment results in smoother and softer skin that looks and feels younger. The true benefit of Pro-Fractional therapy is the collagen remodeling that occurs during the 4-6 months following this treatment.
The combination of two or three of the treatments described above will often preclude the need for a facelift or surgical rejuvenation of the face as they address the key concerns of the aging face such as wrinkles, sagging and crepey looking skin. While non-surgical options are effective for many patients, there are circumstances when a surgical procedure is the best course of action. This can only be determined by consulting with your physician. As always, I encourage you to look for a Plastic Surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery which you can verify by visiting www.abplsurg.org and entering your physician’s last name and the state in which he or she practices.
