Don't Have That Face Lift Yet! Anti Aging Skin Care: A Plastic Surgeon's Advice

More effective anti-aging skin care treatments are available than ever before. Each treatment has its pros and cons. With the right skin care treatment; you can maintain a youthful appearance and a healthy complexion at any age.
Here is a list of skin treatments that are available so you can pick the right one for you.
Skin Care FAQs

Q. How does Botox really work? And is it safe?

A. Botox helps relax the face muscles, giving a less stressed and worried look. Botox as a cosmetic treatment is a purified protein that’s administered in very small doses via injection in order to temporarily improves the appearance of frown lines between the eyebrows in people. Candidates for Botox treatments are adults aged 18 to 65.

Botox has been used therapeutically for nearly 20 years to treat a variety of medical conditions in more than 75 countries. It’s one of the most widely researched medicines worldwide, and as a cosmetic enhancer is used in extremely small doses. In some cases, side effects after Botox injection include headache, nausea, temporary eyelid droop, respiratory infection and “flu” syndrome.

Frown lines aren’t caused by sun damage or skin breakdown, but rather by overactive facial muscles. When these facial muscles contract, the eyebrows are drawn together. Over time, as skin becomes less elastic, repeated frowning can result in moderate to severe lines between the brows. Botox works to reverse this.

Facial fillers, on the other hand, mask wrinkles by adding volume around the muscles through injected materials. Botox, however, blocks the chemicals that cause facial muscles to contract, thereby relaxing them. It is the only product that affects the muscles which produce wrinkles.
Botox is arguably the most common popular procedure performed by plastic surgeons, and most patients are very happy with the results.

Q. What is Juvederm, and how does it work?
A. Juvederm is a smooth gel filler that plastic surgeons inject underneath the skin in order to instantly smooth out wrinkles, lines and folds. It’s derived from hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural complex sugar that is found in all living cells and is a major component of the skin’s connective tissue matrix. HA is one of the most common materials used for temporary reduction of wrinkles, lines and sagging skin, and it produces an instant, smooth, and completely natural-looking effect.

Wrinkles and facial folds occur over time as skin components break down following exposure to the sun and other elements. The skin loses its structure and volume; lines and wrinkles are the result.

Juvederm is manufactured by Allergan, Inc., and its effects generally last for six months, sometimes longer. For best results, do your homework ahead of time, and make sure your procedure is done only by a board certified plastic surgeon.

Q. What’s the difference between Juvederm and Prevelle? Don’t they do the same thing?
A. Yes and no. Both are effective wrinkle removers that are injected into the skin, and both use hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural complex sugar found in all living cells, including the skin. However, Prevelle Silk also contains lidocaine, which makes the treatment less painful. Both injectables offer immediate, natural-looking results, with minimal post-procedure irritation and little or no down time.

Q. Is “laser resurfacing” the same as a “laser peel”?
A. Yes. Both terms are used to refer to a procedure that smoothes the facial skin by using a laser to “refinish” damaged areas and shrink fine wrinkles. Laser skin treatments also correct areas of uneven pigmentation, resulting in a fresh, smoother complexion.

Laser skin treatment involves a beam of laser energy used to vaporize the upper layers of damaged skin with extreme precision. As new cells form during the healing process, the result is smoother, tighter and younger-looking skin. If the imperfections are deep, your plastic surgeon may recommend that your procedure be performed in two or more stages. To maintain results post-procedure, use sun protection and a skin-care regimen recommended by your doctor.

Good candidates for laser resurfacing are men and women who have: fine lines, especially around the eyes; vertical lines around the mouth; facial scars caused by acne, accident or injury; lines on the cheeks due to sun damage; or areas of uneven pigmentation, such as “age spots.”

Laser skin resurfacing is not always a good choice for people who have skin that is olive, brown or black; people who are prone to abnormal (keloid-like) scarring; have taken the drug Accutane during the past 18 months; or who have an active skin infection.

Q. Do I have any other skin care options besides laser resurfacing?
A. Of course. Laser skin resurfacing provides the greatest precision, the deepest results and the most predictable outcome, but it’s not the only choice for skin resurfacing. Many other options exist including creams, chemical peels and quick treatments.

At Dr. Juan Brou’s Medical Spa in Oklahoma City, the following aesthetic treatments are commonly used:

Retin-A: A prescription skin-refinishing treatment that involves regular applications of a vitamin A-enriched cream.
Chemical Peels: Medically safe acids are applied to the face, neck and chest to burn off top, tired-looking layers of skin. The acids used in peels also come in varying strengths in prescription-strength facial washes and creams. Glycolic acid, TCA Acid and Salicylic acid peels are available.

Dermabrasion: In-office treatment with no downtime. A motorized brush removes the surface layer of skin.