Press Room

The rate at which the facial aging process takes effect varies from person to person. But the main elements that cause the face to age – bone changes and fat, collagen and elastin loss – are inherent. An ounce of prevention goes a long way when it comes to taking care of your self, and this includes your skin. State of the art treatments and surgical procedures can be key in lessening the signs of aging. You won’t be able to do much about bone changes, but other things like fat, collagen and elastin loss can be minimized. Lifestyle choices like diet and sun exposure can also have an impact on the speed at which these factors come into play. Today the science behind aging gives us a better understanding of what the causes of aging really are, and are able to address the various nuances behind these changes to provide better results. Keep in mind that every face ages differently. In order to reach your ultimate goal, you may need a combination of procedures to really improve the problem.

How the face ages: For years, it was believed that the human face aged vertically and uniformly. But today’s school of thought involves the theory of fat compartments and that different parts of the face age at different rates. “Fat naturally resides in different compartments or parts of the face,” explains Dr. Pessa. And just like how different areas of the body lose or gain fat easily, the same notion applies to the face. “We know that there are compartments of deep fat, which is the second layer of fat responsible for giving structure and fullness, in the middle of the cheeks and under the eyes,” he says. Some compartments store fat while others, like the cheeks and eye area are quicker to lose fat. Dr. Pessa also points out that when fat is lost from these key areas, along with changes in bone structure, the signs of aging become more evident. A benefit of understanding these fat compartments is that it allows us to know where to “add back”, so you get the results you want. With this type of loss, injectable fillers can be very effective.

Loss of Collagen and Elastin: Collagen provides structure and is essential for healthy, plump skin. However, over time, our bodies naturally lose collagen and begin producing less of it. Once this happens, moisture levels diminish and elasticity is lost – the result is wrinkles, lines and loose skin. Lets look from a different perspective. “Think of the skin like the material lycra. When it’s young and elastic, the skin has support and literally wraps itself around the face. But as we lose collagen and the skin thins, it behaves more like linen since its elastic and supportive qualities are lost.” Says Dr. Wells.

The Role of Elastin: Similar to collagen, elastin is key for flexible, healthy, youthful skin. But with age, the amount of elastin that the body naturally produces begins to decrease. When there is less elastin present in the skin, it can droop and sag. Skin that has lost its elasticity cannot tighten itself around the underlying bone and muscle structure, causing drooping and sagging. ”The skin doesn’t progress in terms of elasticity, which is why some procedures, like a facelift, are not the best option for treating wrinkles,” says Dr. Lambros.

Collagen Loss Accelerators: Environmental factors, such as overexposing your skin to the sun can cause collagen to break down. Other aggressors that contribute to the breakdown of collagen include pollution, smoke and the weather. You facial expressions can affect collagen loss as well. It’s nearly impossible not to smile, laugh, frown, or squint your eyes, but with every facial expression made, tiny amounts of collagen are slowly depleted.

The Solution: Injectables and fillers are best for crow’s-feet, nasolabial folds, and undefined jawlines. They can even be used to fill in and smooth out depressed areas as well.

Botox prevents lines and wrinkles from forming, especially around the eyes, on the forehead and between the brows. It is a relatively painless procedure, and there is virtually now downtime. Results are typically visible in two to three days, but it may take upwards of a week for the final results to be noticeable. Botox is not a permanent solution – you'll need repeat treatments every three to four months. You may choose to use Botox in conjunction with a filler to provide the best results.

Injectable such as Juvéderm and Restylane can plump up the nasolabial folds and tear throughs in jus one treatment. These fillers can smooth out the skin, but the results need to be maintained about every six to twelve months.