Facelifts seem like old news. I mean, facelifts are so 1980s. Today all the buzz is around non-surgical facelifts, liquid facelifts, or lunch hour threadlifts. Everyone seems to promise that you can get facelift results without all that mucking around with surgery or waiting for you body to heal. Sounds like a great deal, right? Of course it does. But is it the truth?

 

The Facelift Is an Advanced Technology

 

The modern facelift was developed in the 1970s and grew to popularity in the 1980s, but that doesn’t mean it’s old technology. After all, cell phones and personal computers first became popular in the 1980s, but they’re not exactly old technology. Although they have not changed in terms of their basic function, cell phones, PCs, and facelifts have all continued to develop.

 

Like cell phones and PCs, facelifts have become smaller and more powerful. Advances in surgical techniques and recovery methods have allowed facelifts to give better, more natural-looking results with a shorter recovery time than ever.

 

Facelift Alternatives



If you are looking into cosmetic procedures at all, chances are you’ve heard about many different procedures that promise to be as good as facelifts, only without surgery. Many of these are scams, but some of them are legitimate alternatives that have reasonable tradeoffs against the facelift procedure, and should be considered. Perhaps the most successful facelift alternative is injectable fillers, originally collagen, but nowadays they are more likely to be hyaluronic acid, a natural material that is found in skin, spinal fluid, eyes, and streptococcus bacteria. Botox, commonly promoted as a facelift alternative, actually targets completely different areas than the facelift. Whereas a facelift works on sagging skin and facial folds in the lower face, Botox is most successful in remedying crow’s feet and wrinkles in the forehead.

 

Other facelift alternatives include skin and subcutaneous fat treatments, such as Thermage and some components of the Sciton platform. These treatments actually apply light or radio energy to the skin in a fashion that penetrates below the surface into the subcutaneous layers of fat. These treatments can loosen the tissues of the skin and fat, causing them to rearrange themselves slightly and contract. With these treatments, some people see significant tightening of the skin and alleviation of facial wrinkles. Not everyone sees the same results, however, and doctors have not yet assembled a consistent profile of who will see the best results.

 

Nothing like the Real Thing

 

The truth about these facelift alternatives, though, is that they are all wannabe facelifts. If you have significant skin laxity and wrinkling, large jowls, turkey wattle, and other signs of facial aging, the best possible treatment is a facelift. A facelift can reduce lax, hanging skin and reduce wrinkling in the lower face, especially around the mouth. In addition, the results of a facelift are long-lasting. A facelift doesn’t stop your face from aging, but some patients see results from their facelift for ten years after the surgery. When you compare that to injectable fillers or Thermage, which may need to be repeated every six months or more, the facelift has a definite advantage. Perhaps the best way to approach these other treatments is as a possible complement to the facelift, like a laser and a lift, in which light treatment of fine wrinkles supplements the facelift remedy of deep folds and hanging skin.

 

If you want to experience a remedy for lax facial skin, deep facial folds, and a jowly appearance, you should consider all the alternatives, but the most reliable treatment is the facelift.



Thanks to Patricia Woloch for contributing this article to our Anti-Aging blog:

Glycolic Moisturizer

Before discussing ideal candidates for a mini facelift, it’s important to understand the difference between a “mini” - or sometimes “micro” - and a regular facelift. Advertisements use the terms “mini” and “micro” quite frequently, sometimes implying that the surgery is easier, faster and cheaper. In medical terms, however, the terms just mean that a smaller area is to be treated, with perhaps smaller incisions than a traditional, full-facelift.

What a Mini Facelift Entails

A mini facelift generally treats minor jowling and loose skin on the bottom part of the face. A surgeon, after administering a local anesthetic, will make an incision beginning at the base of the sideburn area and ending at the earlobe. A full face lift incision would start higher, continue around the facial hairline and behind the ear and end about two inches from the middle-back of the neck.

A mini facelift is not quite as invasive as a traditional facelift, resulting in less swelling and bruising, whereby a traditional facelift separates the facial skin away from the underlying muscle and tissue and results in much more recovery time.

Who is a Mini Facelift Candidate?

Ideal candidates for a mini facelift tend to be between the ages of 40 and 60. These candidates want to deal with some of the loose skin or jowling on the lower part of their face, and take of about five years of age from their face. Other good candidates may be those who have recently lost a good deal of weight, and want to tighten the loose skin, which was a result of the loss. Good candidates are generally in good health, and don’t smoke or tan too excessively, as this will undo all the benefits obtained by a mini facelift.

The best candidates would benefit from smaller incisions and the use of tiny stitches, as opposed to the heavier, multi-layer stitching required by traditional facelifts. Patients who have previously had a traditional facelift, and want a “touchup” can also do a mini facelift. Also, ideal candidates for a mini facelift have strong jaw and cheekbone structure, for a good foundation.

Benefits of Facelift Surgery

The benefit of a mini facelift is less recovery time and pain. However, it is not appropriate for people who want to fix extremely loose jowl skin, or tighten eyebrow or forehead wrinkles. A mini facelift will not be able to successfully treat a “turkey neck,” which is loose skin attached to a drooping muscle underneath the chin. It is also not appropriate for patient candidates who are not willing to participate in good follow-up care, just like any other facelift surgery, or who won’t be satisfied by about five years of touch-up.



Thanks to Julie Bricklin for contributing this article to our Anti-Aging blog:

Glycolic Moisturizer

Regular microdermabrasion treatments are an excellent way to keep your skin looking its youthful best. When deciding if microdermabrasion is a good option for you, one of the most important things to consider is the dramatic microdermabrasion before and after results you can expect to see.

The extent to which you can see a change in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your skin before and after microdermabrasion should weigh heavily in to the decision making process when deciding whether or not to try microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion Before And After

Microdermabrasion before and after results vary from person to person and with the type of microdermabrasion treatments. There are a number of different microdermabrasion kits. To select the one that will provide you with the best possible microdermabrasion before and after results, you need choose one that is simple to use and will work best with your skin type.

Your skin type is a very important consideration, particularly when you are concerned with the before and after results of microdermabrasion. People who have very sensitive skin or who have a skin condition such as rosacea or eczema should not use any type of microdermabrasion kit without first getting approval from their physician. If you have very sensitive or problem skin, the microdermabrasion before and after outcome will likely be a worsening in the condition of your skin.

Those who do not have sensitive or problem skin are likely to be very pleased with the microdermabrasion before and after results they see. Don’t assume that the microdermabrasion before and after results immediately following your first treatment are as good as you will get. While most people do notice and improvement after their first microdermabrasion treatment, the results only get better with proper, regular use.

People who have oily skin are likely to see changes in the form of reduced acne problems, smaller pores, and reduction in the occurrence and size of both blackheads and whiteheads.

Those who have dry skin will notice a microdermabrasion before and after positive impact of the brightness of their skin. Because microdermabrasion sloughs of the flaky skin that tends to dull drier skin types, those with dry skin will notice an immediate improvement in the youthfulness and brightness of their complexions.

With consistent microdermabrasion usage, even those with very dry skin will also begin to notice a reduction in the appearance of the fine lines and wrinkles that keep your skin from looking its best.

Those who use microdermabrasion regularly experience microdermabrasion before and after benefits that are hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced the benefits of microdermabrasion for themselves. Not only does the skin look better before and after microdermabrasion, it becomes more resilient, even-toned, and soft.

For most people, finds microdermabrasion systems are an ideal solution to maintaining a youthful and healthy appearance. Make sure to check out the different types of microdermabrasion systems and choose the one that best meets your needs.



Thanks to David Faulkner for contributing this article to our Anti-Aging blog:

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Microdermabrasion is used to treat several types of skin problems including acne scars, wrinkles, fine lines, discoloration, and sun damage. The results are clearer, smoother, and younger-looking skin.

Microdermabrasion is often performed in a clinic or spa. It is highly effective in treating most skin conditions but can be quite costly and also carry some risk. Although microdermabrasion is one of the safest skin care treatments around, risks include perforation, infection, bleeding and discoloration. The good news is you can now treat your skin with home microdermabrasion kits for a fraction of the cost and risk. These kits are designed for use at home and so are easy to apply.

The main actions of microdermabrasion are to get rid of dead skin cells, cleanse the skin’s pores, and promote the rebuilding of new skin cells in the skin. Basically, microdermabrasion uses exfoliation to accomplish all these tasks.

Skin sheds occasionally, but in some cases, skin cell turnover is slow and dead skin cells accumulate. This makes your skin appear patchy and dull. Microdermabrasion acts to slough off dead skin cells to reveal the smoother and healthier skin underneath. Microdermabrasion also sloughs off raised scars and reduce their depth so that they are less visible.

When excess sebum and bacteria accumulate on the skin, your skin’s pores become clogged. As a result, they become irritated, red, itchy, and inflamed. When the affected areas erupt, scars form and your complexion turns dull, oily/dry, and full of bumps. What microdermabrasion does is unclog those pores so your skin can “breath” and return to its healthy state.

Finally, microdermabrasion stimulates healthy blood circulation. When you have healthy blood circulation, oxygen and nutrients are able to reach your skin effectively. This means your skin will be able to heal properly so that scars don’t form.

These are only the common actions of the typical microdermabrasion treatment. There are actually home microdermabrasion products like ZENMED containing special ingredients that treat and prevent certain skin conditions as well as maintain healthy, youthful skin. For example, the ZENMED Renewing Serum contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which are natural exfoliating agents deriving from fruits. These agents can remove the outer layer of the skin that has become dull and inflamed without the harshness. The serum is used alongside a skin care system to maintain healthy skin and prevent unwanted skin problems.

Another skin care solution is the Microdermabrasion Complex, which also gives that exfoliating effect, except this time it is used to specifically treat stubborn scars. It uses micro-spheres to smoothen out skin, and because these are very tiny beads, they do not irritate the skin. What these micro-spheres do is gradually remove jagged bumps on the skin, much like sanding wood for a smoother surface but with no harshness.

Find microdermabrasion products that can be applied to both the face and body, as body acne is common. There are a variety of skin care systems where you are able to use the product on both the face and body.



Thanks to Cavyl Stewart for contributing this article to our Anti-Aging blog:

Facelift Without Surgery

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I am planning a spa day and I need to know if I can I get Microdermabrasion plus mini facial and get my face waxed on the same day?

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