Know Your Facial Enemies
From Sun Tzu to Ulysses S. Grant, leaders throughout history have advised us to know our enemies. When it comes to growing older, we have more foes and—more ways to do battle against them—than ever before. Since facial aging is a challenge for many people, it pays to stop and learn about which forces may be impacting your face most and your choices in dealing with them.
Environment
Sun, wind, dry air and pollution all have a negative impact on the skin. Basic steps we all can take to fight back include using sunscreen, wearing mufflers in bad weather and choosing a good moisturizer. And, if you’re concerned about aging too soon, don’t smoke! Nicotine inhibits circulation and dries the skin, causing those “smoker’s lines” above the mouth and other unwanted wrinkles.
When patients consult us in New York about skin rejuvenation, we usually develop a combination strategy. We’ll often recommend a chemical peel for the majority of the face, with perhaps gentle dermabrasion where the skin is quite delicate. These weapons can complement other facial rejuvenation techniques as well.
Internal Changes
With time, the collagen and elastin foundation under facial skin breaks down, and surface tissues seem to sink. That’s when wrinkles form around the nose and mouth, plus cheek and under-eye hollows. If this is your biggest challenge, you might choose a dermal filler or fat transfer to the face.
Another unwelcome change is the appearance of wrinkles made by muscle action over the years. These “dynamic wrinkles” include crow’s feet, the “elevens” between the brows and horizontal forehead lines. For a non-surgical solution, these wrinkles can be treated with injections of Botox or Dysport.
Gravity
Ah, gravity. Without it, life as we know it would be impossible. With it, facial tissues inevitably migrate southward with the passing of time. It’s all compounded as you add in years of environmental damage and aging processes occurring internally.
If the result is the loss of sculpted cheekbones, fat transfer or perhaps small cheek implants may be options. If the problem is more widespread across the face, a mid facelift or full facelift might well be a better choice. If gravity has succeeded in pulling down your jowls and neck, it could be that a neck lift is a right move for you, on its own or in combination with other procedures.
Gravity also affects delicate eyelid skin, sometimes causing it to droop. Women and men can end up looking tired, bored or even angry when lids become saggy. When this happens, eyelid surgery can be a way to brighten up the eyes up permanently. If the culprit is sagging forehead skin, a brow lift may be the right tactic.
Realities of the War Against Aging
The truth is, devising an effective strategy against enemies of a youthful appearance is not necessarily easy. These opponents affect us all, but they impact each of us in unique ways. Not only that, each person has his or her own tolerance for downtime and individual demands on the budget.
That’s why it pays to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with many weapons at hand. You can work together to formulate a battle plan that can work today, and discuss some ideas for the future when more dramatic steps might be needed. We would be very pleased to help you with facial rejuvenation in New York, whether you’re just getting started or considering facial plastic surgery. Give us a call at 212-570-6080.
Once you reach a certain age, fending off the enemies of youth is a life-long proposition. Choose your partner with care!
