The Natural Facelift–LOL!
Occasionally we run across advice about aging that truly has us laughing out loud, and a recent article in The Asian Age about “a natural facelift” merited a few chuckles. It detailed five exercises to pump up and tone facial muscles, thereby providing an “ironing effect” on the skin to smooth lines and wrinkles.
Just five minutes can take your face back in time, the article said. “Isn’t it quite unbelievable?” Well, yes, it is unbelievable. Fortunately, men and women who consult us about facial rejuvenation and facelifts in New York don’t put much stock in stuff like this.
How the Face Ages
As time passes, several processes are at work to age our faces. On the surface, environmental damage from sun, wind, pollution and other influences dull and dry the cells. At the same time, the natural action of cell turnover slows, allowing old cells to hang around on the surface longer. Underneath the skin, collagen and elastin fibers that help form a firm foundation gradually break down and let things slide southward. In addition, we tend to lose fat volume that gave us a youthful look, especially in the cheeks, and what remains also descends.
These processes take place all over the body, of course, not just in the face. If you’re like many of our patients in New York considering a facelift or other steps toward facial rejuvenation, you may be noticing sagging arm skin as well. Taking a look at your upper arms is a good way to understand the role of muscles.
If you flex your biceps, you can see that the bulging muscle on top of the arm “takes up” some of the loose skin below—some, but not all. You can envision that going to the gym and pumping iron religiously to build up the biceps might lessen the amount of skin sagging underneath the arms. But it’s hard to imagine strengthening the muscles in the face having the same effect. You just can’t plump them up as you would your biceps. Not only, that, strengthening muscles has no effect on surface skin quality or fat position.
The Effect of Facial Exercises
Ironically, exercises very well could have a negative instead of positive influence on your face. We agree with a facial plastic surgeon quoted in an article on Healthline: “the idea that toning facial muscles prevents wrinkles is backward.” As you probably know, many facial wrinkles form due to repeated muscle action. They include crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles and vertical lines between the eyebrows. That’s why we use Botox for New York patients with early signs of aging like these. Injections paralyze muscles that cause these dynamic wrinkles. Performing facial exercises could actually lead to more and deeper wrinkles.
Facial Rejuvenation in New York
If facial exercises don’t help you look younger, what does?
You can make sure you’re doing everything possible to delay the need for facial rejuvenation or a facelift. In New York, it’s particularly important to protect your skin from the elements. Scarves, hats, sunscreen and good quality skin care products should be part of your daily routine. You can also work on staying hydrated, eating healthy foods and getting plenty of sleep. And please do not smoke! Along with the negative effects on your overall health, smoking takes a huge toll on your skin.
When it’s time for professional help, choose a board certified plastic surgeon with many tools and techniques to offer—including surface skin treatments, injectables, fat transfer and a variety of surgical procedures. A successful, experienced plastic surgeon can be your partner in making good choices for your face as the years pass.
Considering your facial rejuvenation or facelift options in New York? We would be delighted to have you come in for a consultation. Call our offices on Park Avenue at 212-570-6080 or drop us an email today.
