Facial rejuvenation using non-invasive methods
Facial wrinkles appear for three reasons. One is skin aging, that is, with age skin loses some of its characteristics. The proportion of elastic and collagen fibers that give it firmness and elasticity changes. Water content also diminishes, so the skin loses its youthful look and becomes dryer. As a result, small, not too deep wrinkles form most often in the area of eye bags, and later can be found on the whole face.
Second reason is wrinkles that appear because of everyday expressive mimic musculature. These are horizontal forehead wrinkles, vertical glabelar wrinkles between the eyebrows, horizontal wrinkles on the base of the nose, radial wrinkles in outer corners of the eyes. Third kind of wrinkles appears because of gravity, which causes a fine oval shape of the face to fade. These are nasal-labial wrinkles, which go from the nose towards the lip corners, become deeper, puppet wrinkles go from lip corners towards the chin, and horizontal wrinkles on the neck. Each type of wrinkles demands different kind of treatment.
In esthetic surgery, there is a wide range of non-evasive methods, which aim at eliminating wrinkles for longer or shorter period, in such manner that the procedure does not require any pre-operative treatment or absence from daily routine.
Wrinkles which result from skin aging can be eliminated by methods of surface dermal abrasion or chemical peelings that remove surface skin layers down to the geminate layer, which produces new cells. It creates new skin with considerably smaller or completely absent wrinkles, depending on their original depth. This cannot stop the skin aging process itself, but the skin can look younger and fresher. Depending on the size of the treated area and the method used, post-operative period lasts from a few days to two weeks. This type of procedures is done in early spring, late fall or in winter. Summer period is avoided because of hot sun, which could make dark spots on this new, sensitive skin.
Botox (Dysport)
Wrinkles created due to the effect of mimic muscles can be eliminated by injecting specifically treated botulinum toxin (Dysport, Botox) in the doses that a few thousand times lower than toxic doses. Botulinum toxin acts on the level of neuron-muscular synapses stopping the transmission of the nerve impulse to muscular fibers, which disables the function of only specific parts of some muscles. On the forehead, central frontal part of the large occipital-frontal muscle is disabled. After that, the patient cannot raise its eyebrow high and horizontal wrinkles disappear from the forehead. Vertical glabelar wrinkles disappear by disabling the corrugator’s supercilious muscle, and horizontal wrinkles from the base of the nose withdraw when procerus muscle is disabled. For radial wrinkles in the outer corner of the eye only one part of oculomotorius muscle is disabled. The whole procedure is painless and is done by injecting small amounts of botulinum toxin, without any pre-operative preparations, and after the operation no changes are visible, so this kind of procedure can be done during lunch break. First effects are to be expected within 3-5 days, and final results are visible two weeks after the procedure. Upper part of the face is tight, the patient has no problems and there is not a significant change in everyday mimic. Results of botulinum toxin last for about six months, after which time it is possible to repeat the whole procedure. After having the procedure done once, the patient does not have to repeat it. After the effects have disappeared, skin will look the same as before the procedure, and while the toxin is effective, wrinkles will not become deeper.
Fillers ( Purgen, Aquamid, Metacryl, Silicex bioplimer…)
There is a whole range of different fillers that can be used to fill all facial wrinkles, which can significantly reduce their depth. Most often, artificial fillers, such as hyaluron acid and similar products, are used. Their effects are limited in terms of duration, and can last from six months to a year. There are also permanent fillers, such as Aquamid, whose effects last after a number of years. Similar effects can be achieved by using filtered patient’s fat tissue from under the skin on the stomach or some other area where there is excess of fat. It is taken by liposuction, and then used to fill the wrinkles. Besides being used for wrinkles, these fillers can also be used in order to change facial contours, and repair various innate or acquired facial asymmetries.
Mezotherapy
Mezotherapy is a completely new procedure in rejuvenation of the face, neck and cleavage. It encompasses injecting specific products in the areas that need treatment. The achieved effects are: hydration, nourishment, firming, quick regeneration and skin rejuvenation. The surgeon injects the product into surface skin layers with a special gun and thin needles. The procedure is practically painless, skin becomes fresher and wrinkles become tendered. This kind of procedure does not demand any preparation or special recovery. The patient immediately returns to their normal everyday life. The procedure is repeated once a week in the first few weeks, and the once a month in the next couple of months. After that, a break of several months does not diminish the effects.
Facial changes that occurred due to gravity in combination with aging are accomplished by various face lifting procedures.
Outline toxin, filler and mezotherapy can be used at the same time, or can be combined with operative face-lifting, if necessary, in order to achieve best possible results.
