The Facts on Facial Rejuvenation

By Wilfred R. Ehrmantraut, Jr., MD, PA

Plastic Surgery Center of Southern Maryland, P.A.

. http://www.plasticsurgeryofsomd.com

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The Facts on Facial Rejuvenation

Our skin is the first line of defense against the elements and expresses our inner health and age. Some of the most visible signs of aging first appear on the face. Over time gravity, stress and the environment take their toll. The process of aging can be minimized and the signs can be reversed by several safe and effective options.

Exposure to the sun, stress, pollutants and free radicals may destroy healthy skin at a much earlier age. There are ways to reverse this process. First, minimizing exposure to the sun and/or wearing a sunblock is essential.

Other options to revitalize skin include facial peels with many types to treat specific conditions. Lighter peels help to exfoliate the skin and stimulate the cells to turn over more rapidly. This may be done in combination with light mechanical abrasion of the skin. These facial treatments are referred to as the “lunch time” peels, because they are painless, inexpensive, require little time to do and have very rapid recovery time. More extensive peels include TCA and phenol used to treat deeper wrinkles, particularly around the lips. The deeper peels require a longer recovery time but produce excellent results in selected patients.

Botox is another popular alternative to deal with facial aging. This treatment is a purified therapeutic agent that removes lines and creases in the upper part of the face by inactivating certain muscles that pull on the skin, causing the underlying muscle to relax giving the skin a more refreshed appearance. The procedure is quick, done in the office and causes very little pain.

Injectable fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane are substances that enhance the fullness of soft tissues, primarily in the face, and are another excellent non-surgical treatment to restore the skin's youthful appearance. The fillers are injected into the skin, smoothing lines and wrinkles, such as frown lines, smile lines, and crow's feet. They may also be used to enhance lip size and shape, and treat skin depressions such as those caused by acne scars. The results are immediate and there is a minimal recovery time. The fullness achieved from the injectable fillers generally lasts three to six months. Botox and injectable fillers may be used in combination to help stop the creation of lines and wrinkles and plump up the skin to smooth the appearance of them.

Face lifts are a surgical procedure used to correct loose skin, wrinkles or excessive fatty tissue, deep wrinkles in the cheeks, sagging skin near the cheek bones, loss of a well defined jaw line, or a deep line that runs from the corner of the nose to the corner of the mouth. There are many variations to the face lift procedure. This procedure requires significant recovery time, but has the most long lasting and dramatic results. Face lifts are done as an out patient procedure.

These are just a few of the many options available today to help restore skin's clarity, tone, color and texture, and reverse the effect of years of exposure to harsh environmental conditions, acne and/or stress. For more information regarding these treatments and to determine the best option to achieve your desired results, it is best to consult with a plastic surgeon board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.