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Have wrinkles and sagging skin seemingly appeared overnight? While it can feel like you had smooth, flawless skin just days again, the culprits behind aging start affecting your appearance early.  To help keep your appearance looking young and fresh, consider these steps for detecting and dealing with signs of aging right when they appear.

How to spot signs of aging

When most of our patients think of aging, the first thing that comes to mind are sagging jowls and deep creases. Few are aware that the aging process begins in their late 20s, well before your skin shows these common signs.

There are several factors responsible for aging skin. Decreasing collagen production usually begins during a person’s late 20s to early 30s is more visible as skin damage increases. This potent combination can lead to volume loss across the face and causes facial feature to appear sharper. Likewise, subconscious facial movement can contribute to the development of fine lines above facial muscles. The fine lines gradually deepen into wrinkles and creases across the face. While these signs may appear slowly, once they develop they can be difficult to ignore.

Treating the signs

Like many other conditions, prevention is the best treatment for aging. Starting early by adopting a comprehensive skincare regimen and consistently updating the plan as skin texture changes can help patients keep their looks looking younger even as they age.

While it’s impossible to turn back time and tell your former self to start daily moisturizing sooner, there’s still hope for patients who’ve already developed some of the earlier signs of aging:

Fine lines

Smiling, frowning, laughing and crying engages multiple facial muscles. Over time, this unconscious movement can create tiny creases that deepen into tell-tale wrinkles. To help stall the deepening of these wrinkles, some patients may opt to start preventive Botox treatment. These early dosages help temporarily restrict muscle movement, smoothing out unsightly and unwanted wrinkles. For patients who’ve already developed these unwanted lines, more frequent and strategically placed doses can be used to effectively stall these treatments.

Thinning lips

Thinning lips aren’t always caused by unfortunate genetics. The aging process can also play a role in full lips getting thinner and can also lead to the development of wrinkles on lips. To help counteract this volume loss, lip fillers (also called dermal fillers) are often recommended. This treatment uses a viscous, smooth gel to gently add subtle volume to lips, helping restore youthful looking volume to appearances.

Sagging skin

It’s not lack of sleep that causing under eye bags or dark circles – it’s age. For this early sign of aging, dermal fillers are a popular option for improving an individual’s overall appearance. Like lip fillers, facial dermal fillers are specifically designed to bring back volume to specific parts of your face, rejuvenating patient’s appearance without the need for surgery. For patients just starting to see signs of aging, this non-invasive solution can be the perfect intermediate treatment option.

Preserve Your Appearance at BHPS

The best way to get ahead of the aging process starts with a consistent skincare treatment plan, supplemented by ongoing treatments as the signs of aging develop. In Beverly Hills, Dr. Eugene Kim and Dr. Daniel Kim work with each person to create the custom skin solution they need to enjoy youthful looking skin even as they age. Call Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery today and schedule your consultation with our specialists.

When it comes to appearing youthful and rejuvenated, modern plastic surgeons have a variety of options to give you the results you’re looking for. Cosmetic procedures are becoming more and more mainstream in America, offering numerous anti-aging solutions to millions of people every year.

From dermal fillers and Botox to surgical facelifts, you have more options than ever to achieve a younger, natural-looking appearance. Many patients start with fillers, as they’re cost-effective and non-invasive. But how sustainable are fillers in the long term, and at what point should you consider transitioning to a facelift?

The Limitations of Dermal Fillers

For many patients, fillers are perfect for what they’re looking for. Botox can smooth out forehead furrows, and fillers like Juvéderm and Restylane can give your cheeks and lips a little more volume. For sagging jowls and excess loose skin, though, these treatments can’t do the trick.

A facelift can help you achieve a younger look without the need for touch-up appointments, as dermal fillers and cosmetic injectables require. Furthermore, a facelift can provide dramatic results with just one procedure, while the results obtained with fillers and injectables must be maintained with additional injections.

Long-Term Costs

Fillers can quickly and easily enhance appearance, but the effects aren’t permanent. While the timeline varies between brands and is affected by the patient’s facial anatomy, most treatments can be expected to last anywhere from nine to eighteen months.

It can be intimidating to consider a permanent surgical option, and fillers are more affordable and much less invasive. But over time, the cost of maintaining them adds up. At a certain point, it’s worth asking if it’s more financially viable to opt for a one-time surgery rather than to continuously pay for touch-up injections with cosmetic injectables.

A More Permanent Solution

The goal of a facelift is to tighten excess skin, smooth out sagging, and eliminate jowls to give you a more naturally youthful appearance. The procedure can also help address losses in facial volume, though it’s not uncommon to use fillers in conjunction with surgery to enhance the results.

The most attractive aspect of facelifts is its longevity. While the lifespan of fillers can be counted in months, the results of surgery can last up to 15 years.

When is the Right Time to Transition?

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The solution depends on several variables, including your unique aging characteristics and personal aesthetic goals. Technically, the only requirement for a facelift is that you are in good health, but it is ultimately a decision you should make with the guidance of a qualified plastic surgeon.

While fillers are popular with younger patients and are appropriate for all ages, the effects of aging become more difficult to treat as time goes on. This is especially true of the lower third of the face as time and gravity take their toll.

Is it time to consider surgical options to enhance your appearance? Contact our office today to schedule a consultation with our surgeon and find out what’s best for you.