Two Injectable Options for Delaying and Smoothing Out Wrinkles

The team at The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery in Portland frequently fields questions from prospective patients who want to know the best age to start getting plastic surgery to reduce the visible signs of aging. While everyone’s individual experience is different, as we get older, it’s often difficult to preserve defined facial contours and hold onto the radiant, smooth skin of youth. However, starting a skin care routine early in life can make a significant difference when it comes to delaying the onset of lines and wrinkles.

Millennials have realized they aren’t immortal and are planning ahead, seemingly more than ever before. It is not uncommon for a 20- or 30-something to become alarmed when first noticing the dreaded, tell-tale signs of aging—and to fear that these lines will become more pronounced. Luckily, there are cosmetic solutions for this problem. Injectables aren’t only useful for maintenance, but for prevention as well.

Perhaps the belief that it’s easier to preserve existing features for as long as possible than to attempt to restore and reconstruct a youthful face face later in life is also driving members of Gen Y in their proactive approaches to managing the effects of aging. Another contributing factor is the strong desire among young people to look perfectly Snapchat-filtered and selfie-ready at all times.

To that end, research by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery shows that since 2013, there has been a 24 percent increase in cosmetic treatments for patients under the age of 30. In addition to “tweak-ments” (minor enhancements to the face) and body contouring procedures, plastic surgeons expect the popularity of preventative treatments to soar this year. When it comes to choosing wrinkle treatments, it’s vital to first understand the type of lines one has, where they are located, and what causes them.

Injectable Neurotoxins

From crow’s feet and glabellar lines to laugh lines and forehead creases, just about everybody develops unwanted signs of aging. But what exactly are these wrinkles and where do they come from? There are two main types of wrinkles: dynamic and static. Dynamic wrinkles are the result of repeated facial motions, such as frowning, smiling, laughing, and concentrating. Static wrinkles, on the other hand, appear when the face is at rest and are often linked to external causes, such as sun damage, as well as age-related soft-tissue volume loss and prolonged dynamic wrinkling.

BOTOX^® is one of the injectables that can be used prophylactically. It has been shown to have long-term anti-aging properties. The drug, which contains a purified form of the naturally occurring botulinum toxin, relaxes the muscles that make repetitive contractions in the face. There is some evidence that it can, in essence, “train” muscles to stay at rest. In cases where dynamic wrinkles have already formed, particularly in the upper third of the face, it can work to keep existing creases from becoming deeper.

Dermal Fillers

Another nonsurgical option for youthful-looking skin comes in the form of dermal fillers. This option is relatively low cost, easily accessible, quick to administer, and lacking in significant recovery time. These benefits, and more, have resulted in dermal fillers’ growth in popularity over the last several years.

Loss of moisture in the skin is a big part of what causes it to become thinner, weaker, and duller later in life. Treatments like Juvederm^® work by kickstarting the hydration process and keeping water-retention levels in check. The main ingredient of Juvederm^®, stabilized hyaluronic acid, is a clear, gelatinous substance that is naturally present in the human body. It acts as a lubricant for the joints, tissues, and eyes. This is useful for patients who are concerned about hollows, depressions, scars, and sunken parts of the face, such as the cheeks and temples.

The Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery provides more information about preventative treatments, as well as well as other available surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic options. Call (503) 646-0101 or 1-800-310-7901, or send a message via an online contact form.