Also called rhytids, facial wrinkles may be cute on this little guy, but not so much on us humans. Women, especially, know the first sign of wrinkles to be our preview to inevitable aging, and the quest to remove them begins. In order to arrest the rascally wrinkle formation, it helps to know what causes them. Then we can begin to get rid of them.
Wrinkles caused by repetitive movement
Repeated movement of the facial skin may create wrinkles. These types of wrinkles are called dynamic wrinkles. Aging contributes, but repeated facial movements, such as frowning or squinting, smoking or drinking from a straw, can also create lines, which means they may develop even in younger adults.
Wrinkles caused by volume loss and gravity
Over time, we lose volume in our faces, increasing the chances for wrinkles and folds to appear. The fat pads in our cheeks may slide downward toward the mouth, which can cause the skin to wrinkle or fold, creating the “smile lines” from your nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds). (Incidentally, our wrinkly rascal above will actually grow into his folded skin!)
How to remove wrinkles
Because dynamic wrinkles are caused my repeated movement, relaxing the muscles that make the movement is the first step. Neurotoxins such as Botox ® and Dysport™ are injected into the forehead, between the eyebrows, and in the crow’s feet area to slow the development of wrinkles forming there. Existing wrinkles in these areas can be “filled” with injectable hyaluronic acid products such as Restylane ®, Perlane ® or Juvederm ®. Some skilled practitioners will also inject Dysport or Botox into the area around the mouth to minimize pursing of the lips. Filling lip lines is best done with superficial injections of Belotero.
Wrinkles that occur because of loss of fat in the face, poor skin elasticity and sagging (thanks to aging and sun damage) tend to occur in the lower 2/3 of the face. In order to treat these wrinkles and folds, thicker stronger products are needed to mask the wrinkle or fold. Radiesse ® which is comprised of calcium microspheres provides a scaffold for collagen to build on and reduce wrinkle depth.
Facial fat loss needs to be addressed in a different manner with the goal being to restore and build volume. Sculptra ® Aesthetic is made from a synthetic material called poly-L-lactic acid (which has been used in dissolvable stitches since 1999). Sculptra is gradually and naturally absorbed by the body as it works to replace lost collagen. Over several months and with repeated treatments, facial volume is regained and folds and wrinkles lessen.
Bellafill ® (formerly Artefill) is perhaps the longest lasting of the volume correctors. The key component of Bellafill is unique microsphere-enhanced collagen. As the collagen is naturally absorbed, the microspheres stimulate collagen growth which adds youthful volume and fullness to the area and effectively lifts the wrinkle or fold to the level of the surrounding skin.
It’s a doggone drag getting older, and wrinkles are not cute. Thankfully we live in an age where wrinkle correction and anti-aging treatments are getting better and better. We may not be able to grow into our wrinkles and folds like our little model here, but with the help of injectable wrinkle correction, we can grow older without them.
For more information on any of the treatments mentioned in this blog, please call Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa in San Diego at 858-720-1440 or contact us below.
Copyright 2015 Jill Darrah for Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa
