Hyaluronic Acid      

Nonsurgical means to reduce signs of ageing

Date: 9th December 2008, Source: Hyaluronic News

Dermatologist Dr. Mary C. Massa of Rush University Medical Center says many people can benefit from "UN-extreme" measures that can make a big difference in how you look and feel about yourself. "Not everyone needs an extreme makeover or surgery to look their best. There are non-surgical treatments for enhancing appearance and reducing the signs of aging come with less risk than surgical procedures, and are a great option for patients who seek improvements without surgery."

Massa says topical cream and lotions are the best option for people who want a modest change in their appearance. Vitamin A derivatives and glycolic acids can induce new collagen formation and change the way new skin cells grow. These topical agents can make skin smoother, more even in color and even soften fine lines.

Microdermabrasion, done in the office by a physician, gently removes the dead top layers of the skin by using hard particle called aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide particles are skimmed across the skin's surface, removing the dead skin cells revealing newer, fresher skin. Usually a series of six to eight sessions every two to four weeks is recommended to see a significant difference in appearance. Patients can return to work immediately after treatment.

Another office procedure, light chemical peels (often referred to as lunchtime peels), offer little-to-no recovery time and can be performed during a short time period like a lunch-break. "Light chemical peels remove the dead top layers of skin and induce new collagen formation, making skin smoother and more even in color. Chemical peels can also soften fine lines. A series of four to six peel sessions are generally recommended. Deeper chemical peels can be performed to achieve greater results faster, however these require a more significant recovery period," says Massa.

"Botox, a purified protein derived from Botulinum toxin, can be injected into facial muscles to weaken their motion and soften facial lines. The effects of Botox last about three months, but most patients find that after several treatments, the muscles become weakened and treatments are required less frequently. Botox is most often used to decrease the appearance of frown lines between the eyes, lines across the forehead, and lines around the eyes. The injections are relatively painless and take only a few minutes in the doctor's office," says Massa. Botox has been used in many different areas of medicine for many years and has an excellent record for safety.

Collagen and hyaluronic acids are popular filler substances and are used to soften the signs of aging around the nose and the mouth. These fillers can also be used to enhance lip size. Most people return to their daily activities immediately after the procedure. Filler materials such as collagen and hyaluronic acid generally last from three to six months.

Another nonsurgical, office procedure uses laser light to decrease the overall redness in the face, decrease age spots, and to shrink or remove broken red blood vessels in the skin. There are many different types of lasers and each have a different recovery time based on the areas treated and the laser used.

An excellent option for patients who desire skin tightening without surgery is Thermage, a procedure that causes collagen tightening in the skin. High intensity heat energy is placed under the skin's surface, which causes tightening of the forehead, cheeks and neck area. Though results are not as dramatic as a face, neck or brow-lift, Thermage offers patients results without surgery.