Anti-Aging Skin Beauty Procedures

Introduction

The anti-aging technology mainly refer to anti-aging skin care procedures (nonsurgical or surgical) than improve skin appearance, tighten sagging skin and tissue, reduce wrinkles, irregular pigment or brown spot, sun damaged spot, hollow cheeks and eyes, and textural imperfections. Another direction of anti-aging technology is to increase life span (longevity) which is still in the stage of early research. We will devote some space to discuss this topic in our anti-aging innovation section of the knowledge base where background knowledge will be provide for you to ease the understanding of new products, technologies and research in our anti-aging innovations web site.

Although surgical face lift can tighten the sagging skin, they have given way to less invasive procedures requiring minimal downtime or recovery. These include noninvasive nonsurgical face lift procedures such as microcurrent face lift. Many patients after face lift were still left with irregular pigment, hollow cheeks and eyes, and textural imperfections and wrinkles. That’s why the dermal filler or wrinkle filler market come into its existence and making it the must have noninvasive alternative to a face lift with minimum downtime.

Nonsurgical skin resurfacing and/or rejuvenation techniques always were intended to offer an alternative to facial surgery – but some of these facial treatments are really radical or ablative skin resurfacing and rejuvenation techniques like chemical peels, microdermabrasion and laser resurfacing. Skin resurfacing removes layers of damaged and wrinkled skin so that new, smoother, and younger looking skin can form. Dermabrasion and chemical facial peels are commonly available skin resurfacing techniques. Now the precision of the laser is being used in the same way. The great news is that science is moving on fast, pain free nonablative alternatives to facial surgery and radical nonsurgical skin resurfacing treatment are created to produce amazing skin tightening and skin lifting results. Nonablative means that the skin surface does not get burnt off. Two biggest stars are nonablative photorejuvenation (laser, LED, intense light) treatments and microcurrent face lift- both completely pain free, risk free and with absolutely no downtime. The good news is that the smaller hand held home based version of the professional machines used in dermatologists offices and beauty salons are now available for many of these treatments such as at home microcurrent face lift, at home microdermabrasion.

Light therapy or phototherapy consists of exposure to specific wavelengths of light using lasers, LEDs, fluorescent lamps or intense light, for a prescribed amount of time. It has proven effective in treating several skin conditions such as acne, skin rejuvenation, psoriasis. Ion therapy stimulates the skin’s fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin proteins and is known for its deep cleansing properties while Light Therapy is the most advanced non-invasive system available to diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, creases, furrows and crow’s-feet. At-Home Photorejuvenation Light, Ion Therapy Devices are available on the market. Ultrasonic therapy can provide: deep cleansing and lotion penetration (sonophoresis), vibration massage and tissue firming.

Nonsurgical Vs Surgical Procedures

Although surgical face lift can tighten the sagging skin, they have given way to less invasive procedures requiring minimal downtime or recovery. We do not cover plastic surgery here, but we do have an article “Anti-Aging Plastic Surgery” to briefly introduce the surgical face lift and other anti-aging surgical procedure. You can locate an area that provide some resource and links on anti-aging plastic surgery procedures and clinics.

Nonsurgical (noninvasive or minimally invasive) anti-aging skin care procedures is divided into 2 broad categories each contain several or more techniques: nonablative techniques versus ablative techniques. The ablative nonsurgical anti-aging skin care procedures include: (micro)dermabrasion, chemical peel, and ablative laser resurfacing all of which are skin resurfacing rejuvenation techniques meaning the outer layer aged and damaged skin cells are removed by direct physical (mechanical), chemical and thermal injury and replaced by the newer, rejuvenated cells underneath. The second nonablative (noninvasive or minimally invasive) techniques includes: dermal fillers, skin dermal roller (skin needling), microcurrent, nonablative light therapy (Laser, LED, intense pulsed light, ultrasound or iron therapy.

Nonablative Nonsurgical Skin Care Procedures

During 2010 the number of non-invasive medical procedures carried out in the US rose by 5 percent to 10.4 million, according to figures from American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dermal Fillers are gels consisting of proteins (collagen) or other dermal nutrient (hyaluronic acid) injected into the skin and absorbed by the skin to plump up and help to restore volume loss as well as reduce wrinkle. Collagen injections is a safe, non-surgical treatment that have been used for decades. The new generation of collagens injection last longer. Generally, the thicker fillers will be used for the deepest wrinkles and folds. The procedure typically will take around 30 minutes to an hour. Artefill, the latest FDA-approved facial filler, has the potential to remain in the face for years. It combines purified collagen and polymethacrylate.

Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® are new and popular hyaluronic acid based filler. All are FDA-approved. Restylane SubQ is the thickest gel filler which is used to replace lost fat in gaunt cheeks and is injected just under the muscle in the cheek. Restylane Hydrafill are used to fill out medium to fine lines and wrinkles. Restylane Lipp is a lip filler for restoring plumpness to thinned lips. Perlane is a product for deeper wrinkles. Restylane generally costs in the range $400-600 per session and is one of the more expensive but most effective dermal fillers on the market. JUVÉDERM has additional FDA clearance for use with all skin types and colors, making it an ideal choice for many African-American and Hispanic patients. Clinical trials suggest it may last up to six to eight months. Read more hyaluronic acid based filler product comparison and review

Radiesse® is a calcium-microsphere based hydroxylapatite (hydroxyapatite) dermal filler. Radiesse® is most often used to augment the bridge of the nose and jaw line for non-surgical cosmetic improvement and for chin and cheek augmentation too. One of the major advantages of Radiesse® is the long-lasting (1-5 years) results it offers. Read more about Radiesse®.

Skin dermal roller is a very effective method for the transdermal delivery of anti-aging cosmeceutical products into deeper skin layers. Dermal Rollers are also proven to be just as effective as and may even be better than other non-ablative treatments, like IPL, Fraxel, and CO₂ laser in its ability to stimulate collagen and elastin production by using extremely fine needles to penetrate the skin. An example anti-aging complex and microneedle dermal roller kit contain the following components: serum (vitamin, peptide), microneedle skin roller (0.2 mm), peptide mask, peptide moisturizer, sun protective cream and sterilization kit (for cleaning needles). The kit is available at make me heal.

Microcurrent face lift is the real alternative to facial surgery. The better part is — there is no anaesthetic, no pain no side effects and no down time. Studies have shown that after twenty days of treatment collagen production increases by 14 percent, elastin increases by 48 percent, and blood circulation increases by 38 percent and ATP (cellular energy) production is also increased which in turn increase the rate of cell repair and new skin cell production. The great news is that you no longer have to go to the clinics to be treated using CACI microcurrent system or other similar systems used there. At home microcurrent hand held device is now available at affordable price. Although home microcurrent systems were available in Europe that has been shown to work extremely well, NuFace is the only and FDA approved at home microcurrent face lift device available in US and is getting good reviews on skin care forums and sites.

Nonablative Anti-Aging Light Therapiesare noninvasive and nonsurgical anti-aging treatments using either laser (regular laser or fractional laser), LED or intense pulsed light (IPL). A detailed comparison of these different light therapy is available at our “nonablative light therapy” page. Visit our “nonablative anti-aging laser techniques”, “anti-aging LED treatment”, “anti-aging intense pulsed light therapy”, and “nonablative fractional laser treatment” for detailed information and devices of each of the anti-aging light treatment techniques. You will find we particularly focus and favor home use anti-aging light therapy devices that bring the clinic or spa anti-aging treatment into the comfort of your home.

Radio Frequency Anti-Aging Treatment is also noninvasive treatment techniques using microwave energy. Different RF technologies are used in RF therapy. Same as noninvasive light treatment, home use RF devices are being developed and some are already launched on the market recently.

Ablative Skin Resurfacing Techniques

Dermabrasion, chemical peel and ablative laser resurfacing are physical (mechanical), chemical and thermal methods of skin resurfacing, rejuvenation treatments where the outermost layers are scraped away leaving just the smoother, younger looking skin below.

Dermabrasion is radical, high strength local anaesthetic beforehand and a sedative if necessary is needed. Swelling and inflammation occurs during downtimes, risks such as skin pigmentation, scarring and enlarged pores are possible.

Microdermabrasion is much less aggressive in that dermabrasion machine is replaced by microdermabrasion machines which blast the skin with tiny rough particles (either aluminum or salt) and vacuum away the debris including the dead skin cells. Originally a completely in office treatment, nowadays, some of the excellent home microdermabrasion creams and kits are available, although they could not achieve the same results as the more powerful type of microdermabrasion machines. Microdermabrasion cream is just the topical skin care products to be applied manually. Click here to find out our recommendation of the top micredermabrasion creams. Microdermabrasion kit would include a battery operated microdermabrasion applicator to help to get a salon experience at home.

Chemical peel is an excellent way to refresh and rejuvenate the appearance of wrinkled, spotted, or otherwise aged skin. Glycolic acid, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), Retin-A or liquid nitrogen, is applied to the skin to remove damaged outer layers. Glycolic peels are great for superficial treatment.. With TCA peels the concentration can be varied, giving them more flexibility to treat a variety of facial conditions. The Retin-A® Peel promotes dramatic improvements in skin tone and texture. The deep exfoliation it causes helps to do away with dark sun sports, sun damage, and even fine lines. The Retin-A® Peel is an ideal treatment for patients who are not good candidates for laser skin treatments and for patients of all skin colors. Read our recommendation for best brands and products of chemical peels here.

Ablative Laser Resurfacing is one of the latest yet ablative treatments without facial surgery. Laser resurfacing allows to precisely target the area requiring treatment rather than the whole surface of the skin. The level of penetration required can be varied to remove deeper scars or stubborn age spots, and wrinkles. The procedure is always done under an anesthetic. If the whole face was to be resurfaced then intravenous sedation or a general anesthetic is the usual approach. Most laser skin resurfacing procedures are successful but there are still risks. Skin can become permanently lighter or darker as a result of laser resurfacing. Heat from the laser can cause burns or injuries. Research very carefully before deciding.