Do You Need a Facial or a Facelift?

HIIT For The Face

HIIT is a cardiovascular exercise that alternates between short bursts of intense anaerobic exercise and less intense recovery periods, allowing you to burn fat and improve your fitness in a shorter amount of time. The great thing about HIIT is that, as a fast and quick exercise, it is something that is achievable much more than other kind of workouts. This is because you are doing short intense exercises which focus your body and muscles in particular areas of the face that show aging. As well as the benefit of targeting areas of the face, the intensity of the exercise means that it increases and improves the oxygen flow to the skin. Oxygen flow is crucial for cell’s energy and vitality. Increased oxygen flow also helps the skin to function better. A 2018 study published in the journal « Cell Metabolism » found that any kind of exercise helps the skin even more than facial creams. But it found that skin touched by sweat and exercise-produced factors starts to show « full thickness epidermal regeneration » after only four days. HIIT is also brilliant for reducing stress. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers and are known to help produce a positive feeling in the body and to help reduce stress and even to reduce the perception of pain. Stress in your face can cause deepening of the nasolabial fold – the lines from the corner of the mouth to the side of the nose. When we are stressed, in addition to other issues like frowning and tension in the face muscles, the hormone adrenaline is released in the body. Over time this can cause the skin collagen to break down. Collagen is the main structural element in the skin and a key protein of connective tissues. So with the reduction of stress through HIIT exercises, it can prevent these signs of aging too.

Lie Very Still

Clients having a facelift can expect to be lying down for a few hours. Local anaesthetic is normally used to numb the areas concerned, so you will be awake but you won’t feel anything while the doctor is working. However, general anaesthetic may be considered for more major surgery. Your blood pressure and the amount of oxygen in your blood and your heart’s electrical activity will probably be monitored while you are having a facelift. This is to make sure you don’t have any problems during the surgery. Fibrous bands around pockets of fat, which often become more noticeable with aging, can be broken down and removed. After making cuts near the ear, the surgeon lifts the skin and identifies which muscles will need to be treated. These are then tightened and secured. Finally, the skin is pulled back and any excess skin will be removed. It may be possible for the client to see the results immediately, and this can be a very exciting and positive time for clients. Once a few weeks have passed, the client should see a noticeable difference after the bruising and swelling has subsided. However, the final result is more likely to be seen after a couple of months when the face has settled and the tissues have been given time to heal. Clients must expect to experience some discomfort both during and after a facelift. Pain and swelling are likely to be worse on the first morning after the procedure, and the client should expect to feel pretty rough for the first week or two. Common side effects include bruising and swelling, as they are the most significant and noticeable after a facelift; scars; numbness; muscle weakness; infection of the scars; hematoma; collection of blood under the skin; and hair loss at the sides of the head. However, all operations carry an element of risk, and clients who choose to have a facelift, as with any surgery, should be fully aware of the potential complications that may arise. It does not usually occur all at once, but it can be pretty daunting looking in the mirror on a daily basis and seeing the signs that you are getting older. However, many clients have a facelift as a way of boosting their self-confidence in that they are getting rid of the visible signs of aging.

Out-Of-The-Box Botox

Botox is a type of toxin that is used in a variety of cosmetic procedures. It works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles that it is injected into. This can have a number of effects. Firstly, it can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This is particularly true of wrinkles that are caused by facial movements such as squinting or frowning. Often these are found between the eyebrows or around the eyes. Botox can also be used as a treatment for excessive sweating and migraines. However, here we’re interested in its uses in facial lifting. One key area where botox is being increasingly used to create a non-surgical uplift is around the eyes, sometimes called a ‘chemical eyelift’. As we age we can all start to develop a droopy appearance to the eyebrows. Over time this can give the eyes a very heavy looking appearance. Traditionally this is corrected by having a surgical browlift. However, more and more dermatologists are choosing to use botox in this area to create a non-surgical browlift. By injecting a small amount into the muscles in the area, the so-called ‘depressor’ muscles which can pull the eyebrows down are weakened. This allows the ‘elevator’ muscles, which pull the eyebrows up, to have a greater effect. The result is a lifting of the skin around the brows and a more open, relaxed appearance to the eyes. The effects last a few months at a time but as the treatment doesn’t require any sort of sedation and takes only a few minutes it can be an attractive alternative to surgery for many patients.

There May Be Blood

During and after the procedure, you will have only minimal bleeding because it is a very superficial skin that is being cut. You may bleed a little more if the surgeon is performing a deep plane facelift. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to pick a trained and reputable medical professional to perform the procedure. Such a person will be able to control and manage any bleeding that does occur. Remember that blood gets drawn out of the body to the skin during the healing process, which is why incisions take a considerable amount of time to heal. Therefore, you need to keep the cuts clean and well-maintained until they join back up. Infections can be very dangerous and serious, so it is essential that the healing process is not disturbed or interfered with. Most deep plane incisions heal well, but every patient is different. Some people are more likely than others to develop scars. This could be down to anything from genetic factors to the kinds of foods you eat. Dry, colored scar skin heals differently than other skin. Increases in temperature and sun exposure can also have negative effects. Also, accidents will slow the healing process. If the cuts burst back open, then it is back to square one with the healing process. That is why it is so important to remember that a deep plane facelift is a serious operation. It is not a walk-in, walk-out procedure. You must pick a surgeon who is experienced and qualified to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. If you do this and follow post-operative procedures and take good care of the incisions, then you will be rewarded with a youthful and vibrant new look.

Filler Up

You may have heard of collagen, but you might not be aware that the injectable fillers provided by a cosmetic surgeon actually have multiple categories that include your body’s natural collagen. There are two main types of cosmetic fillers: natural and synthetic. Natural fillers are also known as collagen stimulators. Although many people use the word « collagen » as a catch-all to describe all injectable fillers, collagen injections are actually a specific type of natural filler. Natural fillers such as collagen work to lift the skin to restore lost collagen, which can help smooth out signs of aging like wrinkles and folding. Synthetic fillers, on the other hand, are made from lab-developed materials. These fillers can also help to smooth and lift deep folds. Synthetic fillers are a popular option for those who experience moderate to severe signs of aging. Some of the most commonly used synthetic fillers are silicone, poly-l-lactic acid, and polymethylmethacrylate beads. Silicone is a permanent synthetic filler that does not produce a chemical reaction in the skin. Poly-l-lactic acid is a synthetic filler that helps to replace lost collagen by supporting the production of your body’s natural collagen over time. Poly-l-lactic acid should only be used by experienced injectors. Polymethylmethacrylate beads comprise the only synthetic injectable filler designated for permanent implant in the United States and have been used for decades. These beads remain beneath the skin to provide continued support. Unlike natural fillers, which require patients to receive repeat treatments to make up for the body’s natural digestion process of the filler, synthetic fillers can provide long-lasting results. However, it can be difficult to correct the unsatisfactory results of synthetic fillers, so it is important to consider carefully before obtaining such treatment. Moreover, there are other differences between natural and synthetic injectable cosmetic fillers. For example, according to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, natural fillers are gradually absorbed by the body. This means that repetitive treatments are necessary for patients who would like to maintain results. On the other hand, collagen-stimulating cosmetic fillers can be seen gradually as the filler fades away. Finally, because synthetic fillers are made from a variety of different chemical compounds, there may be various side effects depending on the filler used. For example, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, common side effects of synthetic fillers include prolonged swelling, prolonged redness, increased visibility, migration of implanted materials, and the formation of firm nodules at the treatment site. Understanding these differences between natural and synthetic fillers can help patients make more informed decisions when searching for a suitable type of injectable cosmetic filler.

…But When It’s Time, It’s Time

So, maybe you’re thirty, maybe forty. Maybe even fifty, and you’ve been reading this and you know you’re heading towards a time when you’re going to be making a decision to go further than the non-surgical procedures and to opt for surgery. It can be difficult saying that you’re considering surgical options. The fact that there’s a level of embarrassment worries the fact that people might judge you and the fact that you’re actually going to admit to somebody that you’re going through this process, never mind the downtime, can put a lot of people off. But on the other hand, if you’re hitting sixty and beyond, you’ve got to remember that people are living a lot longer now. We’re all working a lot longer now. We’ve got to compete with other people in the job market that maybe twenty years ago, you wouldn’t have had to have. And the fact is there’s no longer a standard retirement age; people are not retiring at sixty-five. If you’re making a decision now to have surgical option, remember that it’s not just about the way you’ll feel at sixty-five now, it’s about the way you’re going to feel at sixty-five in the future, probably nearer the seventy, or maybe even approaching the seventy-five percent of your life completed. And people always say to me: ‘Why do I bother?’. The truth is, I have people from age twenty-five, twenty-two having collagen therapies, to age seventy having surgical procedures. And every single one of those people; they could have left it too late; they could have had it too early, they don’t regret it, because when the times comes and you make the time to come and see myself and other professionals, you’re making a change for the better for you. But timing is everything. And remember, that it’s not just about the way you feel at the time, it’s about planning for the future and the need to make sure that you feel and look the way you want to do for the rest of your life. And that’s very important. And remember, any queries, any questions; don’t hesitate to give me a call and I’ll be more than pleased to be able to advise you on a no-obligation basis. But if you feel it’s right, it’s right for you, and that’s the most important thing. Because your decision to make the change, your decision to look the way you want to do, is the most important aspect.