Top Tips on How to Age Gracefully Without Looking Plastic
So you want to try one of the anti-aging treatments you’ve heard so much about – perhaps Botox or body contouring. But you don’t want anyone to know. You can rest assured that by choosing the right treatment for your specific skin care concern and working with a knowledgeable provider, results can be effective and discreet. Here’s how.
How to Naturally Age Gracefully
Injectables, Fillers, and Other Wrinkle Reducers
For several years now, injectables have been all the rage in the dermatology world, and for good reason. These treatments are quick and easy, with fast, effective results. And whereas they used to be available only to the rich and famous, they’re now extremely commonplace and priced much more affordably, making them accessible to many everyday people.
Wrinkle reducing treatments like Botox work by targeting and “relaxing” the muscles around the affected area. The active ingredient in Botox is clostridium botulinum, a neurotoxin that causes muscle paralysis. With the use of needles, dermatologists are able to inject this ingredient in controlled amounts to the areas directly adjacent to a facial crease. Within a week or two post-treatment, those nerve impulses are blocked and the muscles no longer contract, smoothing out the wrinkle.
Other injectables, like Restylane and Juvederm, are considered dermal fillers. They use an active ingredient of hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump the skin cells, helping with fullness and smoothness. They can be used on their own or in conjunction with a treatment like Botox.
Other Anti-Aging Injectable Treatments
There are other dermatological treatments available for those areas of concern. One popular injectable is called Sculptra, and like other fillers, it helps promote collagen production in the skin to improve firmness. But instead of working on the layers of the epidermis closest to the surface, it actually targets the foundation of the face. It uses an active ingredient of poly-L-lactic acid. And instead of needing touch-up treatments every three to six months, results can last up to two years.
Finally, there is now an anti-aging treatment called Kybella to target submental fullness, also known as “double chin.” Within a few treatments with this injectable, the fat cells in the area under the chin shrink and dissolve, reducing or eliminating the double chin effect. Results are permanent.
Keeping It Discreet
The keys to keeping your anti-aging treatments discreet are simple: choose the right product for your concern, and choose the right provider to administer it.
Botox injections, for example, are typically used around the glabellar lines – the area between the eyebrows that becomes deeply creased or “furrowed” over time. But if you’re looking to plump your lips, you wouldn’t choose Botox. Dermatology injectable fillers like Perlane and Restylane are especially popular for volumizing lips, filling in scars, and smoothing out nasolabial folds or marionette lines.
The best way to choose the right treatment is to work with the right provider. Injectables in particular should always be administered by a dermatology specialist. Don’t be afraid to ask for proof in the form of photos or testimonials. Your provider should be knowledgeable about which products are right for the issues you want to target, and how much and how often they’ll be needed. Ideally, start with one or two problem areas in order to keep things looking natural and avoid a sudden overhaul.
Contact Louisiana Dermatology Associates
If you’re in Baton Rouge or the surrounding areas and want an anti-aging consultation, contact Louisiana Dermatology Associates today for an appointment with one of our board-certified specialists.