Today it is possible to restore freshness and softness to the skin and smooth lines to the contour of the face without expensive operations.There are many modern lifting procedures that do not require major surgery.How to choose the ideal lifting and how do the procedures differ from each other?
Every woman sooner or later faces such problems: the skin of the face loses its elasticity, becomes dull and wrinkles appear.Modern cosmetology knows many ways to get rid of these unpleasant procedures, and surgery is not necessary at all.
Stages of age-related skin changes
Biologists have not yet reached a consensus on what constitutes aging and what causes it.However, we can say that aging is the result of the accumulation of defects in cells and intercellular structures, which gradually disable the body's vital systems.
Childhood
Perhaps the only time when the skin needs virtually no care is the period of life from about six months of age until the onset of puberty.Baby's skin is supple, smooth, shiny and fresh and is a pleasure to look at.
Teens
Alas, all good things come to an end sooner or later and, starting at the age of 12–14, the appearance of the skin begins to deteriorate.First of all, it gets oilier and some people produce so much oil that it literally runs under the skin.Then the structure of the skin changes, it becomes rougher and more porous.
In people with dry and thin skin, these changes are less noticeable than in people with oily skin.However, in any case, the skin does not remain the same as it was in childhood.
And, of course, the most painful skin change that poisons the life of a significant part of teenagers is acne, which appears during puberty and concerns the skin for many years (sometimes decades), despite all efforts to get rid of it.For many teenagers, fighting acne becomes the main goal of cosmetic procedures and sometimes the meaning of life.Unfortunately, in the process of this struggle, many people cause serious damage to their skin, which can be very difficult to compensate for in the future.
A very small percentage of teenagers understand the need to protect their skin.Most, as a rule, at this time mercilessly irradiate the skin with sunlight (and sometimes with artificially produced ultraviolet radiation in solariums), cover it with layers of cosmetics (often left on overnight), tattoos, exhaust it with night vigils and all kinds of toxic substances.Nevertheless, the skin remains fresh and elastic for a long time.
Youth
By the age of 20, the condition of the skin of many people improves - it becomes less oily, less prone to acne, more even and attractive.
20 to 30 years is a period of stability for the skin, when most people cannot think about the intricacies of cosmetic care, choose cosmetics based on packaging, fragrance or company name, and still have good skin.
But all this applies only if the skin is healthy.Unfortunately, teenage angst, attempts to self-medicate acne by haphazardly applying anything labeled "for acne" to the skin, overuse of antibiotics or retinoids, and sometimes unthinkable diets can cause various skin problems, ranging from advanced forms of acne to allergic dermatitis, etc.specific.
The beginning of skin aging
Already at the age of 25, the skin gradually loses the fresh charm of youth.Cell renewal in the stratum corneum slows down and the skin becomes duller.The rate of collagen and elastin formation decreases and the skin no longer looks as elastic.Fine wrinkles appear under the eyes, skin defects accumulate, such as age spots, stretch marks, scars from past acne, etc.
The closer the 30-year mark approaches, the more often women start thinking about skin care, trying to slow down its aging or mask its signs.And although doctors never stop repeating that it is necessary to protect and care for the skin from early youth, in fact, only after 30 years the skin can expect that its needs will finally be taken care of.
Middle Ages
Between the ages of 35 and 50, skin aging becomes more and more noticeable.At this time, its ability to retain moisture decreases, cell renewal slows down, defective collagen and elastin accumulate, the amount of hyaluronic acid decreases, the fat layer on the face becomes thinner, and fat is redistributed (there is less and less fat in the cheekbones, and fat pads are often formed in the lower part of the age).vessels and, of course, wrinkles.
It must be said that the wrinkles that upset women so much not only look different, but have different causes.They are often divided into static and dynamic wrinkles.
Static wrinkles appear due to changes occurring in the skin itself (damage to skin fibers by various harmful factors, age-related wear and tear and destruction of skin structures, etc.).
Dynamic wrinkles form in places of constant muscle activity due to the fact that when the muscle contracts, it shortens and wrinkles the skin, and when it relaxes, it returns to its original position and "pulls" it back with itself.
In young women, the skin is elastic, quickly responds to such muscle movements and returns to its original state.With age, such exercises become more difficult for her, and around the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, on the forehead and around the mouth - where the facial muscles work most actively.
Age-related skin changes after 50 years
After 50 years, the skin is affected by the onset of menopause, when the amount of the female sex hormone estrogen in the body decreases.At this time, more wrinkles appear, the thickness of the skin and epidermis decreases rapidly, and the skin fades noticeably.The process of rapid aging continues until about age 60, after which the skin enters a period of relative stability.At this stage, little depends on cosmetics and any changes are possible only with the help of plastic surgery.Those who have spent a lifetime protecting their skin from harmful influences (especially the sun) will have fewer wrinkles, fewer blemishes and look fresher and younger.
If the skin has been exposed to intense sun exposure (this is more important in hot countries), then it will likely develop rough, deep wrinkles and be covered with age spots.
In old age (70 years and older), the skin is characterized by a thick (parchment) stratum corneum, a thin dermis (through which the subcutaneous adipose tissue is visible, giving the skin a yellowish color), low elasticity and many deep wrinkles and folds.
The path we have just described follows the skin of each individual and there are no products in cosmetology that will prevent the skin changes that occur at each stage.
The skin of a teenager will never return to the fresh softness of a child's skin, and the skin of a lady of Balzac's age will never resemble the skin of a 20-year-old girl.
Aging changes in the skin occur due to the fact that this is the program built into the cells, due to the fact that the skin, like the whole body, accumulates damage and disease throughout life, in other words, it wears out.It is practically impossible to affect genetically determined aging, but you can slow the rate of skin deterioration and prevent premature aging.To do this, you need to know which skin changes are inevitable and which are caused by our careless attitude or due to harmful environmental factors.
What happens to the skin as it ages?
As we see, almost all structures of the skin (and the body as a whole) deteriorate over the years and cease to perform their biological functions.For convenience, we can identify some aging targets, which are also the main targets for anti-aging procedures.
Professional cosmetic procedures, aesthetics and medical cosmetology - we found out what procedures for the rejuvenation of the skin of the face are offered by the salons of our city.
Facial massage + botulinum toxin injections
Facial massage ─ manual or material ─ is one of those procedures that can be used to prevent age-related changes even at a fairly young age.It also gives a good result when correcting the already emerging age-related changes (pronounced nasolabial folds, "pride wrinkles" and longitudinal wrinkles on the forehead, "crow's feet" in the eye area, loss of facial contour, double chin).Massage allows you to work on and tone loose muscles or, on the contrary, relax tense ones.Due to this, we have the result of reducing the severity of wrinkles and improving the oval of the face.The massage is done in one course (on average 10 procedures, two per week), after which you can correct facial wrinkles using botulinum toxin injections.In this case, it will be possible to get by with a smaller amount of the drug and get a more intense effect.
Facial skin lifting + filler or automatic fat injections
With the help of plastic surgery, you can achieve a lifting effect, but, unfortunately, it cannot completely get rid of wrinkles.After plastic surgery, for example, wrinkles remain around the mouth, as well as "puppet lines" (the so-called "sadness lines").To make them less noticeable, filler injections are used in the nasolabial folds, lips and cheekbones.An alternative to filler injections is the lipofilling procedure, where your own fat cells are used to fill the volume.They are taken with a syringe from certain areas of the body (abdomen, inner thighs, knees) and injected in small amounts into the desired area.This must be done very carefully, because the main task is to ensure that the fat cells adapt to the right place and take root.The advantage of lipofilling over filler injections is obvious: fillers have to be renewed every year, while fat cells remain in the injection area for years.Also, in the case of lipofilling, a possible allergic reaction that may occur to the injected fillers is excluded.
Blepharoplasty + laser operations
To a greater extent, this combination will be suitable for plastic surgery of the lower eyelid, where the muscles are "glued" to the skin and it is impossible to remove all its excess.That is why laser treatment of this area is indicated three weeks after the operation.The laser has a stimulating effect on the skin, reducing it and activating the synthesis of new collagen and elastin - after which the skin thickens and becomes more elastic.One session can be enough for a strong result.
Often this technique is used in cases where it is necessary to get rid of hernial sacs (this problem, by the way, can also bother quite young people).The operation to remove such hernias is performed transconjunctivally (through a small incision on the side of the lower eyelid mucosa) and after the fat bags are removed, excess skin remains that needs to be tightened - for these purposes a laser is required.
What is lifting and which procedure is best to choose?
Perhaps almost every woman sooner or later begins to think about lifting.Over time, the skin loses its previous elasticity and the first wrinkles appear.This is an inevitable process - after 30 years, the amount of collagen and elastin begins to decrease gradually, and without this framework, the skin becomes loose and inelastic.
All operations are divided into surgical and non-surgical.Surgeries require the intervention of a surgeon.Non-surgical methods include various types of material lifting, as well as injections of cosmetic preparations that improve skin tone and imbue it with moisture.
Circular elevator
Peripheral facelift is usually indicatedin an operation that corrects the front and sides of the neck, the middle and frontotemporal areas, the outer eyebrows, the cheeks and the areas around the corners of the mouth.The operation is performed under general anesthesia and can last several hours.After the operation, you will have to spend several days in the hospital, after a week the stitches are removed, and the swelling disappears completely in about 2 months.You can speed up recovery with the help of massage and physiotherapy.You can fully evaluate the result after a facelift after 6–8 months.The circular lift is the most serious and traumatic lifting procedure.However, the result is very long-lasting - surgeons recommend resorting to such operations no more often than once every 7-10 years.Circumferential lifting should not be performed before the age of 40–50 years.Based on the depth of impact, there are two types of circular lift: the SMAS lift, which affects not only the skin, but fat and muscle tissue, and a more superficial subcutaneous lift.The first can deal with even the most significant age-related changes, while the second is suitable for less noticeable problems.
This is important
The procedure has a number of contraindications, which include blood diseases, oncology, serious disorders of internal organs, heart diseases, hypertension, diseases of the nervous system, epilepsy, pregnancy, lactation and many others.Therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor before the operation.
Endoscopic lifting
This procedure is sometimes also called a sutureless lift.All manipulations are carried out through small incisions, after which there are practically no scars.Endoscopic lifting is indicated for minor age-related changes - appearance of facial wrinkles on the forehead and nasolabial folds and drooping eyebrows.However, if there is significant skin wear, it is preferable to choose a traditional circular lift.In terms of effectiveness and recovery time, the endoscopic lift is very similar to a conventional circular lift.Contraindications are similar: heart and vascular diseases, oncology, diabetes, hypertension, blood coagulation disorders, diseases of internal organs, thyroid gland, wounds and burns on the surface of the face, pregnancy, lactation, etc.
By the way
Facelift surgery reduces the blood supply to the skin, which affects its elasticity.Therefore, after surgery, additional procedures are always required for quick recovery.
Thread lift
This is a relatively simple, minimally invasive and very effective procedure.That is why it gained such popularity.The essence of the method is the implantation of thin threads under the skin that strengthen the skin.These threads are made of gold, caprolactone, polypropylene, polylactic acid, are biologically compatible with the human body and do not cause allergies or other side effects.The thread is inserted using an elastic needle.Over time, connective tissue forms around the thread, which supports the skin and prevents it from loosening.
Both non-absorbable and absorbable sutures are used today.The latter decompose after 8-9 months and are eliminated from the body naturally.Threads are used not only for facelifts, but also for body contouring.
The operation is performed under local anesthesia and lasts about an hour.After 2-4 days, the swelling subsides and after 2 weeks you can return to your normal lifestyle.
This type of lifting has significantly fewer contraindications than the previous two types.These include pregnancy and lactation, acute infections, skin diseases, allergies, oncology and autoimmune diseases.
Material lifting
Material tightening is performed using equipment that uses various types of energy (laser, radio waves, ultrasound) to affect the skin.Material lifting is available not only in plastic surgery clinics, but also in medical cosmetology clinics.Such methods do not require general anesthesia or a long recovery period and are incomparably cheaper than surgical methods to restore youth.However, we must not forget the contraindications, which include epilepsy, oncology, heart disease, pregnancy and a number of other serious diseases.
Laser lifting
When the laser is applied to the skin, thermal energy is produced, which promotes the natural rejuvenation process.After laser lifting, the skin becomes denser and more elastic, the production of collagen and other elements that contribute to the natural rejuvenation process increases.Wrinkles are smoothed out, blood circulation is accelerated and the face acquires not only softness, but also a healthy color.
Laser lifting is performed quickly and without anesthesia, although very sensitive people may experience minor discomfort during the procedure.Significant and long-term recovery is not required - slight redness subsides very quickly on its own, and the result of laser lifting is immediately visible.
Ultrasonic lifting
Ultrasonic lifting is the only material technology that allows you to act at the deep levels of the skin.This type of lift is often called a non-surgical SMAS lift.The procedure is moderately painful and takes 30-60 minutes.After the procedure, slight redness or swelling may persist for another 2-3 hours.
When performing this type of lifting, an ultrasonic wave acts specifically on the deep layers of the skin and the muscle denervation layer, activating the process of forming new elastin and collagen fibers.The synthesis of new collagen fibers continues for 3-4 months, so the skin will become fresher and younger every day.The result can last up to 3 years.
The safety of the procedure is ensured by ultrasound imaging of the skin and muscles.in real time, the doctor sees the tissue changes produced by the ultrasound wave.
RF lifting
RF lifting affects the surface layers of the skin and subcutaneous fat using high frequency electrical current.Some devices combine RF with exposure to a magnetic field.The pulses heat the skin cells, activating them and stimulating collagen formation.As in the case of ultrasound lifting, RF lifting has a prolonged effect, which increases over several months and lasts up to 1.5–2 years.The session only takes about 20-30 minutes and does not require pain relief.The procedure is carried out without age restrictions.
The method is contraindicated for people with a heart sensor and metal structures in the body (pins, plates, etc.).
Photolifting
The procedure promotes skin rejuvenation through the use of photothermal pulses that affect its deep layers.It is performed using IPL therapy devices.The light energy is absorbed by various chromophores of the skin (hemoglobin, pigment melanin), turns into heat, due to which the skin cell renewal process is stimulated, pigment spots lighten and the vascular network disappears.This type of lifting is often used not only to smooth wrinkles, but also to eliminate spider veins and smooth the skin.The duration of a session is approximately 30 minutes.The course consists of 1 to 3 procedures.
Plasmolifting
Our blood contains platelets – cells that are responsible for its clotting.But in addition to this, platelets secrete special substances that accelerate cell division.The introduction of platelet-rich plasma stimulates the synthesis of new cells and initiates regeneration processes.For this procedure, blood is taken from patients in a volume of 8 to 40 ml.Using a special way of centrifugation, the platelet-rich plasma is separated from the blood.The concentration of platelets in plasma for cosmetic injections is 4-5 times higher than in human blood.Thanks to such a high content, a noticeable and very fast result is achieved.The course consists of 3-5 weekly procedures.The first results can be seen already on the day of the procedure.
Like other types of lifting, plasmolifting has a number of contraindications: pregnancy and lactation, skin diseases, tumors, infectious and autoimmune diseases, etc.
Lifting with hyaluronic acid injections (fillers)
Contour plastic surgery can also achieve a significant lifting effect.For example, with volumetric correction, creating volume, for example, in the cheekbones, a general lifting of the lower half of the face occurs.Bioreinforcement of the cheek and neck areas, when the filler is injected intradermally and subcutaneously in the form of a mesh, the skin becomes more elastic and toned.Vector lifting - filler is injected subcutaneously in the direction of skin relaxation, strengthening and tightening it.
Contraindications to the procedure are blood diseases, infectious diseases, pregnancy and lactation, damage or inflammation in the treatment area, drug intolerance.