Many patients, especially those who have noted signs of facial aging, feel like they need a complete overhaul of their face or body to achieve the refreshed, youthful look that they desire. For most patients, this radical approach is usually not necessary nor recommended, as the results can be striking, and significant changes in appearance may be displeasing even with an excellent result. A notable exception would be in breast and body contouring after bearing children or massive weight loss. In these patients, removal of excess tissue and repositioning of sagging tissues can provide a very youthful, attractive appearance. In dealing with facial aesthetics however, it is important to evaluate the face as a whole and understand the multiple processes that contribute to signs of aging.
While many patients are excellent candidates for surgery to improve appearance, most patients will likely benefit and have superior results from staging their surgical and minimally-invasive treatments over time. As we age, our facial skin suffers skin damage, and skin increases in laxity and decreases its elasticity. Chronic contraction of facial expressive muscles leads to wrinkles around and between the eyes and of the forehead and mouth. There is a progressive loss of soft tissue volume within the face due to atrophy, and natural fat pads descend with gravity. While this all sounds very depressing, addressing these concerns as they arise can prolong the youthful appearance of the face, and enhance the results of surgical treatment. Addressing a single area of concern may also provide a feeling of refreshment or youthfulness, which is the ultimate goal in treating patients.
For a younger or middle-agesd patient who notices the development of crows feet, vertical or horizontal lines between the eyebrows, or horizontal lines of the forehead, botulinum toxin injections (BoTox, Dysport) will often provide a (temporary) smoother appearance with less-noticeable lines. For the patient who notes fine lines and a decrease in skin quality, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and/or laser treatments will often provide an improvement in appearance. When deeper lines form or natural creases become more prominent, injectable fillers can provide excellent results and a youthful refreshed appearance. Surgical treatments will often provide the best and longest-lasting results, but should be chosen at the right time to provide natural-appearing results. This may include undergoing smaller surgical procedures earlier on, so that a more profound change is not required later to achieve a good result.
In our practice, we make it a priority to determine the specific areas of concern for each patient, and then customize a treatment plan that will provide the optimal result based on the individual patient’s needs and physical exam. Often, addressing one or two areas of concern is all that is required to accomplish a patient’s goals, and subtlety in results is much easier to address than results that are too profound. Call our office or navigate our website to find out more information about the numerous services we provide, and call to schedule your consultation.
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