As years go by, traces of our life experiences are left on our skin. Laugh lines, worry lines, and sun exposure tell the story of your life. Add to that poor diet, smoking and stress, and you may well be looking much older than you feel. Would you like to know how you can shave approximately 16 years off your appearance – without surgery? Then keep on reading!
Collagen is the compound that adds elasticity and firmness to your skin. However, after the age of 35, the skin produces less collagen, which causes the skin to sag. Likewise, hyperpigmentation and pitting from pimples and acne can also age your skin.
In the past, we had to rely on plastic surgery to look younger, but thanks to advances in cosmetic procedures, you simply don’t have to, even if you’d rather avoid plastic surgery.
The European Academy of Dermatology published a paper that revealed fascinating facts about cosmetic procedures and perceived age.
Participants in the study were asked to guess the health status and age of each individual in a photograph. Some of the photos were altered to remove uneven pigmentation and lines.
The individuals in photos that had wrinkles airbrushed out, were estimated to be ten years younger.
Individuals in photos with both wrinkles and discoloration removed, were estimated to look 16 years younger than their actual age.
The results of this study clearly confirm that you can look close to two decades younger than your actual age without surgery. If you have age spots or wrinkles, your local med spa or dermatologist can tackle both of these issues beautifully and effectively; no scalpel required.
If you want to look younger, but you don’t want to undergo surgery, you’ll be happy to know that facial rejuvenation procedures can restore your youth by offering a range of benefits:
Injectables target individual lines on your face and can fully eliminate wrinkles from many areas. Muscle relaxers like Botox and Dysport freeze muscles that cause expression wrinkles like crow’s feet, while fillers like Radiesse and Sculptra add volume to fill in deep creases and folds. Results from muscle relaxers last up to six months. Fillers have more variation, but may last anywhere from six months to two years — some even offer permanent results.
Laser rejuvenation techniques offer a greater resurfacing power than photofacials and can nix fine lines, scars, dark spots and other flaws, exfoliating the outer layer of skin to reveal the supple layer beneath. At the same time, they heat the underlying skin layer, spurring collagen production and causing the skin to grow smoother than before. Non-ablative lasers require no downtime, though you may look and feel as though your skin is sunburned for a day or two. Ablative lasers give stronger results, but you may experience some redness and peeling in the following week.
Photofacials use either LED or IPL light to gently encourage collagen production in the skin, resulting in a plumper, smoother complexion. IPL lights are the stronger variety, and can eliminate brown age spots, redness and even spider veins. Both of these techniques may also help reduce acne — which as many of us know, does not always go away after the teen years.
Your therapist at Bradford Skin Clinic & Med Spa will assess your skin to determine the best procedure. Whichever procedure you undergo, you will have to take into consideration the following:
If the thought of shaving a decade and a half off your complexion sounds appealing, it’s time for a consultation with your local skin clinic. The latest facial rejuvenation techniques offer results that used to only be possible with a facelift or other surgery, but they cost far less and don’t come with the same risks and side effects. With the right procedures, you just may trick your friends into thinking you’ve turned back the hands of time — all while keeping the wisdom and grace of your actual age.
