When you look in the mirror, you know that you look older than you did a few years ago, but you can’t quite put your finger on why that it. As you age, certain features of your face change, adding years to your appearance. Knowing how your face is changing helps you figure out the best way to treat the signs of aging and restore a more youthful look.
Lines and Wrinkles
Wrinkles and lines might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of aging. Interesting enough, lines and wrinkles don’t just add years to your looks. They can also change the way people perceive you or alter your facial expression. For example, years of scrunching your eyebrows together while frowning can lead to the development of two vertical creases between the brows. If those creases remain visible, even when your face is neutral, it can look as though you are frowning or angry even when you are completely content.
Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the appearance lines and wrinkles, at least on a temporary basis. Botox injections are ideal for the frown lines and for other lines created by repeated muscle movements over time, such as your crow’s feet. The injectable provides results that last for about three months, at which point you can repeat the treatment to maintain your results.
Lines and wrinkles that develop as a result of gravity or a loss of facial volume can usually be temporarily treated with injectable fillers, such as Radiesse or Juvederm. One type of line that can be particularly aging is a nasolabial fold, or the line that extends from the base of the nostrils to the corners of your mouth. A study published in 2014 in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology found that the nasolabial folds were the feature that were most likely to age a person, more than other signs of aging such as redness or drooping eyebrows.
Loss of Fat
Many people long to be thin, but there is a drawback to thinness – it can age you, particularly if you have little fat on your face. Round, plump cheeks are a sign of youth. Many people lose that roundness as they get older as the fat on their face diminishes. A thin, gaunt, or flat face is a face that looks years older.
There are ways to restore volume to the face, though, both permanently and on a temporary basis. A temporary option is JuvedermVoluma. Voluma is an injectable filler made from hyaluronic acid. It’s related to regular Juvederm, but is much thicker and FDA approved for use in the cheek area, to add volume. The filler also lasts a lot longer than other options, up to two years.
A more permanent option to restore volume to the face or to make the cheekbones seem more prominent is a facial implant. Surgery is required to place the implants in the cheeks, so the procedure is more involved than an injection of Voluma. The results last longer, though, so it can be worth it for many patients.
Looseness of Skin
Sagging or loose skin, particularly in the lower part of the face, is a sure sign of aging. Almost no one has jowls when they are very young. As you get older, your skin becomes more loose as a result of the breakdown of collagen and a general loss of elasticity. While there are non-surgical skin tightening procedures available, a facelift will most likely provide the most dramatic and effective results and provide results that last for the longest period of time.
Depending on a number of factors, the results from a facelift can last about 10 years. If you are in good health before the surgery and take care of yourself well afterwards, you can enjoy a younger appearance for many years to come.
Thin Lips
As you get older, your lips start to thin, losing fullness and volume. The reduction in the amount of collagen your body produces as you get older plays a part in the loss of volume in the lips. You can protect your lips in some ways by using a lip balm that contains sunscreen. Another option is to restore volume to the lips with a filler. While collagen was once the filler of choice for the lips, today hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Restylane, are preferred, as they produce a more natural looking result.
Everyone’s face ages in a slightly different way. If you are bothered by the signs of aging, but aren’t sure the best way to go about treating them, Dr. Michael Schwartz, a board certified facial plastic surgeon in West Palm Beach, Florida, can help you find the treatment that’s right for you. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Schwartz, call 561-228-5888 today.