Why Do You Lose Facial Volume As You Age?
It’s common knowledge that facial skin begins to wrinkle and sag as we age, but what causes this, and how can one avoid it?
3 Minimally Invasive Skin Treatments That Reverse Collagen Loss
Seeing new wrinkles and fine lines showing up on your face year after year can be difficult to stomach. If you’d rather your look be aesthetically younger, smoother, and free from signs of aging or weathering, cosmetic treatments can help turn back the clock.
At Laughlin Plastic Surgery in Annapolis, Maryland, Dr. Daniel Laughlin provides a variety of minimally invasive cosmetic skin treatments designed to treat the core cause of most signs of aging and sun damage: collagen loss.
Collagen basics
Collagen is part of the scaffolding that helps hold your skin in place. It’s a protein, like its sister, elastin. Both proteins diminish as you age, because your body slows down their production.
As the amount of collagen in your system is reduced, you’ll notice your skin start to dimple and sag. Fine lines and wrinkles appear, and gravity starts pulling loose skin downward.
While a facelift can transform your look, not everyone is ready to undergo surgery for a more youthful look. Botox® can freeze certain kinds of wrinkles in their tracks, but can’t help fill in the ones caused by sun damage and gravity.
Getting your body to produce more collagen is an easier, effective way to de-age your face without scalpels or toxin injections. Here are three minimally invasive skin treatments designed to reverse collagen loss.
1. Microneedling
Microneedling is pretty much what it sounds like: a treatment that uses a bunch of micro-sized needles. The needles are sterile and extremely fine, and are run over your face using a hand-held roller.
You’ll barely feel the pinpricks as the treatment progresses, but your body will go into high-alert mode due to the micro-injuries it’s suffering. This means collagen production kicks into gear, working to repair the perceived damage.
This can help fill in fine lines and wrinkles, plump out small acne scars, and give your face that smooth, fresh look associated with youth.
2. Microdermabrasion
Like microneedling, microdermabrasion is designed to work on a micro-level. The very uppermost layers of skin are removed from your face in 30-minute sessions, with each visit spaced four to six weeks apart.
This reveals the fresh new skin beneath, but also triggers the body’s response to micro-injuries, triggering new collagen production. As a result, your face can look younger and smoother than ever.
3. Chemical peels
A chemical peel can be light, triggering only the uppermost layer of skin to peel off and reveal the baby-smooth skin beneath, or heavy, delivering almost a full sunburn effect to force a deeper peel that can get rid of imperfections like acne scars or liver spots.
Once again, the body’s reaction to tampering with the layers of skin is to enter repair mode. Collagen production is restarted or boosted, and your new skin will look smooth and healthy.
Ready to try a gentle approach to facial rejuvenation? To schedule an appointment with Dr. Laughlin, call our office or use our web form to send a private message today.
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