The process of facial ageing and what I can do to minimise its impact
As we age our skin and facial structure undergoes a number of progressive changes due to the effect of gravity, bone reabsorption, decreased tissue elasticity, decent of and loss of fat tissue. This is a multifactorial process with many intrinsic and extrinsic variables.
To explore this further I have divided the face into different areas:
• Upper third of the face: As we age, we lose subcutaneous fat to the forehead, brow, temple and upper eyelid which results in an enhanced prominence of the underlying anatomic structures such as the bone around the eyes and a concavity of the temples. With this loss of supportive structures, the frown muscles strengthen and becomes more noticeable and your eye lids may also appear to droop as a direct effect on the loose of surrounding structural support.
• Middle third of the face: The loss of soft tissue around your eyes and a thinning of the skin will give rise to a darkened coloration and due to repetitive movements of the muscles around the eyes you will also notice the development of fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Initially you may only see these when you are using these muscles but with time these will deepen and become noticeable even without movement.
You may also experience a loss of volume within the cheeks which is causing a decent in malar and buccal fat pads, creating a cheek flatness and concavity. This also results in a weakening of the retaining facial ligaments which in turn creates a “hammock” for the descended fat compartments and can create a prominent tear trough, malar bags and nasolabial folds.
The nose also undergoes changes as we age, cartilaginous nasal skeleton and the lower lateral nasal cartilage structural changes may result in a “flattening” of the face and blunting of the angle of the nose which can give the illusion of increased nasal length and nasal tip ptosis.
• Lower third of the face: Increased skin laxity, volume loss and bone resorption in the lower face and neck also contributes to descent of the jowls and creation of progressive marionette folds. Maxillary bone resorption and muscle athrophy causes vertical lines to the perioral area (“smokers” lines). Additionally, a flattening of the philtrums and lengthening of the upper lip coupled with a general loss of lip volume, results in thinner lips with a descent of the corners of the mouth.The reabsorption of the mandibular bone also resulting in an increase in the angle of the jaw and a decrease of the jaw length which alongside soft tissue decent and poor skin elasticity creates a poorly supported jawline with sagging to the neck.
• The skin: As we age, we see a reduced collagen and elastin production, with a rate of 1% yearly loss from our twenties and this loss dramatically increases from the age of 50. Increased skin laxity is further compounded by a reduced cell regeneration leading to pigmental changes and a dull uneven skin tone. Additionally, the skin becomes less effective in producing hyaluronic acid and storing moisture and regulate sebaceous gland activity and subsequently resulting in dull, thinning, dry and sagging skin.
The ageing of the skin can be divided into two categories: Intrinsic and Extrinsic.
Intrinsic ageing, known as natural or chronological ageing, normally begins in our mid-20s and is determined by genetics.
Extrinsic ageing accounts for up to 90% of skin ageing and is largely controllable. The most common causes are:
• Sun exposure - the major cause, often referred to as photoageing.
• Pollution and environmental stressors • Lifestyle choices, such as smoking and alcohol consumption • Stress
Targeted actions for skin health and ageing skin treatment.
· Antioxidant protection which supports cellular protection for cells.
· Stimulate and replenish collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production.
· Increase cell turnover.
· Protect against UVB & UVA damage.
· Encourage fibre blast actions and skin healing
· Restore lost structural support and volume loss
So what can be done to slow down this process and improve our skin health?
Often a multifactorial approach is needed to make a meaningful impact on our skin and we need to target all of the areas within our facial structure.
1, Getting a targeted skin care regimen is crucial to improve the skins function, stimulate cell rejuvenation, reduce dull and uneven skin tone and target a range of skin conditions such as acne, pigmentation, rosacea, sensitive skin and general ageing. Most importantly to protect the skin with a broad-spectrum SPF to reduce further UV ray damage.
2, Having regular in clinic chemical peels and microneedling treatments will also support your skin’s cell regeneration, slough away dead and dull skin, tighten pores and stimulate the release of serum growth factors in the skin to promote collagen production.
3, Bio-remodelling treatments aims to restore your skins hydration by infusing hyaluronic and enzymes to boost the production of collagen and elastin with a firming and lifting effect.
4, Anti-wrinkle injections uses a targeted protein that is injected into a muscle to cause a weakening of the muscles activity by blocking the neuromuscular transmission, ie. It stops the chemical messages between the nerve and the muscle. By reducing the movement of muscles in these areas, the skin stops being creased and is allowed to recover, causing the lines to soften or even fade away
5, Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers can have a number of uses in the treatment of ageing skin. It can be used to replace the loss of the reabsorbed bone structure in order to provide support for your soft tissue and it can also be used to restore the loss of volume for example in your cheeks or lips.
6, Collagen Stimulating Dermal Fillers Ellansé® is a non-hyaluronic acid filler. It is injected into the skin to lift, sculpt and restore lost volume associated with skin ageing and it works differently to other dermal fillers due to its unique properties. It not only corrects lines and folds but uses the body’s natural response to stimulate the formation of your own collagen which aims to really treat the underlying causes of facial ageing. The effects are gradual and longer lasting, giving you a gentle, natural and youthful appearance.
At Revitalise Skin Aesthetics, you will receive an in depth consultation ahead of your treatment which will provide you with an opportunity to discuss what you would like to achieve, and together with a full facial assessment and a detailed medical history, the most appropriate treatment plan will be devised. There will be no pushy sales pitches and you will be encouraged to have a cool-off period before deciding if the proposed treatment is right for you.
Book your appointment online to see how we can help you restore your confidence or contact me to discuss this further.
Love Hanna
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