Rigorism

Guide to Non-Surgical Injectable Fillers

July 11th, 2009

Aging is an undeniable fact of life that many of us choose to fight. It used to be that the only available procedure for retaining our youthful look was a full facelift, which meant serious swelling, bruising and long downtime with an unusually tight-looking result. Luckily today the facelift is not the only option. There are numerous non-surgical procedures which are available to those of us who desire a more youthful appearance with quicker recovery times and a more natural-looking result.

Some non-surgical options for those looking to rid themselves of unsightly frown lines include Botox, fillers like Juvederm and Restylane, and the Fraxel Laser Treatment. Botox, Restylane, Aquamid and Juvederm are injectables, where the skin is numbed and an ultra-fine needle is injected just underneath the skin. The Fraxel Laser creates microscopic “wounds” within targeted areas beneath the outer layer of skin. The natural healing process produces collagen and healthy skin cells. Healing time with the Fraxel Laser is minimal, and the results are usually quite remarkable.

For those wishing to control acne and discoloration, a chemical peel is a good option. During a chemical peel an acidic solution is applied to the skin, allowed to penetrate for a few minutes then removed. The outer skin layer sloughs off, revealing smoother, healthier-looking skin, with smaller pores and softening of fine lines and acne scars. A chemical peel has varying degrees of penetration, from a light peel, which just removes the top layer of skin, to a deep peel, which uses a stronger concentration of acidic solution and has a longer downtime, but produces more dramatic results. Downtime for a chemical peel generally ranges from 5 days to 3 weeks, depending on the strength of the acid used.

Fortunately, the days of the ultra-tight facelift are gone. Women and men now have a myriad of non-surgical options to choose from. A consultation with a plastic surgeon, like Dr. Alan Kingdon will help you determine the procedure best for you.

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