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Who does not seek a youthful appearance? Every generation has attempted to unearth the secret, magical potion to postpone aging. From Cleopatra soaking in honey milk baths to Ponce de Leon searching for the fountain of youth, the quest for rejuvenation has been unending. Magical concoctions aside, today’s top anti-aging methods come closer than ever before to achieving the desired results.
Many dermatologists, plastic surgeons and beauty experts believe the future will bring products that use DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) repair techniques to deliver anti-aging treatment. This technique works by encouraging the skin to repair its own DNA.
A good skin care regimen can make a huge difference in the appearance of facial skin and diminish the signs of aging. Today there is available an array of innovative face and body treatments for all skin types and ages. In the urban world, daily pollution contributes to the ag- ing process by increasing the level of free radical activity on skin cells. But there’s no longer any need to go to the extreme of surgery at the first sign of aging.
FACIAL REJUVENATION
Facial rejuvenation is any cosmetic or medical procedure used to enhance a youthful appearance. Dermal fillers are a popular anti-aging procedure, leaving a smooth, natural and significantly im- proved appearance of your skin. Every developer claims that its product will give the best results, but the best course for an individual is to discuss available options with a reputable professional.
THE NEWS ON FILLERS
There has been a lot in the news lately about fillers. With so many types accessible on the market, how can you distinguish which will work best for you? New products are constantly being developed, making it difficult to keep up with reports of the results. Consumers have been requesting and physicians have been developing ways to restore aging skin for over 100 years. As early as the 1930s, researchers discov- ered a natural substance in the body known as hyaluronic acid that plays a key role in skin hydration, eye volume and shape. This discovery was placed on the back burner but has been reintroduced in some of the most popular fillers on the market.
The Original and Old Faithful
Botox is the most well known and oldest injected treatment on the market. It works in a way that is slightly different from filler injections, although the procedure is similar. Filler injections work with the skin’s natural processes and supplement the products found in your skin, and their developers claim that they last much longer than the traditional Botox. Botox injections produce an improvement that can be seen within days, lasting for up to four months. Con- taining botulinum bacterium, Botox works by freezing the muscles that cause the lines rather than by filling them in.
Another product that has been around for a while is collagen. Collagen occurs naturally in the skin and helps retain elasticity. In an effort to fight the loss of col- lagen in the skin, many people turn to collagen injections to replace their origi- nal supply and to minimize early signs of aging. Botox and collagen have proved their effectiveness as tried and true methods, but some of the newer fillers may work longer, prove more receptive to your chemical balance and produce a better natural appearance.
More Recent Fillers
Artefill
This solution not only acts as a dermal filler but is also known to stimulate the skin to produce its own collagen. As the injected collagen slowly degrades natu- rally, the newly produced collagen replaces it. This means longer lasting results than other cosmetic filler injections. The drawback is that it should not be used in the crow’s feet area or the eyelids. The best results are received from the folds near the mouth and cheeks.
Captique
As a colorless gel, Captique provides immediate volume enhancement, wheth- er it’s used to fill wrinkles and folds or to plump up lips. Captique is composed of plant-based hyaluronic acid. No pre-testing for allergic reactions is necessary before injections are administered. It is similar to Restylane with the exception that swelling is much more minimal and lasts only a few hours.
Cosmoplast/Cosmoderm
Cosmoplast and Cosmoderm are the only FDA-approved, commercially avail- able dermal fillers that contain natural human collagen. Unlike other dermal fillers, CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast do not require a pre-treatment skin test, making them the first same-day, single-visit dermal fillers approved in the United States. Treatment results are immediate and typically last three months or more. Without ongoing treatments, the natural collagen is gradually absorbed by the body and your face returns to its original contours.
Before and After Results of using Evolence. Image courtesy of Elemis
Evolence
Organic collagen is used in this dermal filler, which allows a longer duration between injections. This breakthrough in treating the effects of aging is said to give immediate results that last for at least 6 months or more. The desired result can be achieved with just one visit. There is less bruising than with other fillers.
Fascian
This is another type of collagen extracted from your own body’s fascia, which is submitted to a lab for processing and then injected into your skin. Originally designed to be used for repairing defects resulting from medical or surgical con- ditions, it proved effective as a cosmetic dermal filler for facial hollows, deep acne scarring, fold reduction and enhancing the lip area.
Microlipoinjection
With the method of Microlipoinjection, an individual’s own body fat is used to plump up sunken or emaciated areas of the face. The fat is obtained in a small amount from the thigh or buttocks through low-power liposuction, then processed and injected into the targeted facial areas. This procedure may be known as fat cell transplantation.
Perlane
Perlane is a recent alternative to collagen replacement therapy. This dermal filler consists of a crystal-clear gel that smooths wrinkles and folds. The big advantage of Perlane is that it is a natural treatment. The treatment is quick, so it is like having a face lift in an hour. The incon- venience of a skin test can be avoided with Perlane because it is a non-animal product, unlike collagen.
Prevelle Silk Dermal Filler
This dermal filler works for sensitive skin types. With a lower reaction rate, it can be used even in the most sensitive areas due to its lower concentration of hyaluronic acid. Prevelle may be the ideal “first-timer” dermal filler that does not require a long term commitment. The low- ered concentration of hyaluronic acid means that Prevelle will last for a shorter length of time than the other higher-concentrated formulas of Juvederm or Restylane.
Radiesse/Radiance
Made from calcium hydroxyl apatite, a substance naturally found in the body, this cosmetic filler is used in the treatment of deep lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth. Radiesse is very similar to ArteFill in that it stimulates the body to regenerate new collagen, and it prom- ises to last for at least a year.
Restylane
Restylane is a pure, crystal-clear gel that contains non-animal based hyaluronic acid and gen- erally lasts for up to six months. When injected just under the skin, it firms and tones to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. No pretesting is needed and treatment takes only about 15 -20 minutes.
Injections
Not every one relishes having an injection, even as an alternative to invasive plastic surgery. Topical wrinkle fillers that are placed on the skin’s surface are the newest products. They claim to diminish noticeable lines and to plump up the skin, smoothing its surface and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Amatokin by Voss Industries
Stem cells are now playing an active part in the development of products by the anti-aging industry. Amatokin is an intensive skin rejuvenation cream manufactured by Voss Labs that admittedly uses stem-cell technology to reduce damage cause by the sun and by aging. It has recently been released in the United States.
Fraxel
Fraxel has recently received FDA approval as a non-invasive skin treatment using a CO2 laser without the risks, side effects or prolonged downtime of other laser procedures. Usually taken as one treatment instead of several, the procedure’s healing time is reduced to approximately one week. Fraxel appears to work best with minor skin problems.
SilkPeel Dermal Infusion
Superior to previous microbrasion procedures, SilkPeel is a skin treatment that replaces the drying effects of chemicals with the hydrating properties of absor- bent creams. The treatment provides both exfoliation and treatment-specific topical solutions.
Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial by Elemis
About to be released in the United States is a promising topical skin care anti- aging product that is already taking European spas by storm. The clinical trials have shown that it instantly uplifts the skin and “reduces the number of wrinkles by up to 94% and improves skin firmness by up to 57% after just one 60-minute treatment.” It is being promoted as “a mini-facial lift without the surgery.”
Retinoids
Until recently many dermatologists have said that the only effective chemical exfoliate is Retin-A, a form of vitamin A. But a new study by The Archives of Dermatology has found that a 0.4% retinol lotion applied three times a week for 24 weeks yields a significant reduction in skin wrinkles. As research contin- ues it is likely that retinoids will become a feature of many skin care lines.
Although it is impossible to reverse the aging process, firm and youthful looking skin need not be difficult to achieve. Who knows what future discoveries will bring?
