This is a story for all you virgins out there…aesthetic enhancement virgins, that is.
No matter what your chronological age might be, you may start to feel at some point that your outer appearance doesn’t sync with your inner self. This can happen in the blink of an eye, leaving you face-to-face with your mirror image and asking, “When did I get old?” followed by “What can I do about it?” You’ll be pleased to know the answer is: heaps.
Now more than ever before, men and women at every stage of life are proactively fighting back against premature ageing. They understand that gravity is pulling down their mood along with their skin and seek out procedures, treatments, and products to help them meet their aesthetic goals. For some patients, however, the choices are overwhelming, leading to what we call ‘patient paralysis.’ They are unable to move forward because they want to know, “What should I do first?”
Costhetics is happy to help you find your answer.
Faces First: Everybody’s Doing It
“You’re going to have to do it. And not all that long from now,” predicted Time Magazine in Nip. Tuck. Or Else. “Probably not full-on, general anaesthesia bone-shaving or muscle-slicing. But almost definitely some injections into your face. Very likely a session of fat-melting in some areas and then possibly moving it to some other parts that use plumping.” In addition to covering the ‘what’ of cosmetic enhancement, Time also focused on the all-important ‘why’ people seek to change their appearance. “Not because you hate yourself, fear ageing or are vain,” the author writes. “You’re going to get a (facial) cosmetic procedure for the same reason you wear make-up: because everyone else is.”
Now, more than a decade later, women and men of all ages have become most interested in facial enhancement. Experts point to social media as a key contributor, reports Huffington Post. No surprise there. Twelve months after Google Photo was launched in 2016, users had uploaded more than 24 billion selfies. The endless parade of images provides a wealth of material to scrutinise flaws and imperfections, in ourselves and others.
One doctor told Huff Post he believes selfies and celebrity trends are behind a growing number of requests for eye, lip, chin, and jawline treatment options to rejuvenate the face. He reports patients being quite specific in their requests rather than asking for his input. They come in with requests such as “I need a little lateral brow lift,” or “I want more fullness in the middle part of my lip.”
Costhetics believes patients must decide for themselves what path their aesthetic journey will take, but we do urge everyone to consult with a specialist before moving forward. Aesthetic professionals, particularly those with medical degrees, can help you identify issues that may be ageing your face as well as recommend the best possible facial rejuvenation treatment for you and your skin. Surprisingly, the answer may not be surgery.
Temporary vs. Permanent Cosmetic Enhancement
Celebrity trends have a tremendous influence on the decision to try out aesthetic enhancement, as people want to emulate their favourite celebrity looks. Caution! Trends in beauty are just like trends in fashion. Whatever may be “in” today will just as likely be way, way “out” tomorrow. (The 1980’s shoulder pads?) You can throw away clothing but you can’t throw away your face. This is why experts say your first foray into personal enhancement should be a temporary cosmetic treatment rather than a permanent surgical procedure.
Now we’ve narrowed down the choices, it’s time to look at three unique non-surgical treatment modalities professionals use to restore glowing skin and more youthful contours without a scalpel, anaesthesia, or the risks they present:
- Injectables –Dermal fillers, fat melting, liquid facelifts, and muscle relaxers
- Laser/Light Treatments – Broadband light (BBL) and heat-based treatments
- Skin Treatments – Chemical peels, derma-rolling, micro-dermabrasion
Skin treatments are often patients’ first choice for their first dance with aesthetic enhancement. Unlike injectables and laser treatments, skin treatments are most likely to deliver natural-looking facial rejuvenation results. This is important to newbies of all ages who may be fearful that injectables will change their appearance too dramatically or make them look too “done.”
Beginning Anti-Ageing Treatments by Age
Your age is a big factor in deciding how to address skin and ageing issues.
20’s – Prevent – Your investment in skin care at this age will pay off beautifully (and handsomely) as you get older. Use skincare with a sunscreen to prevent skin damage and consider having skin treatments such as a chemical peel to help skin stay fresh and glowing.
30’s – Prevent & Repair – Skin pigmentation problems often arise at this age, making skin look dark and blotchy. Broadband light photofacials help skin look more vibrant by addressing vascular issues such as redness, as well as uneven skin texture, and loss of firmness.
40’s – Repair & Restore – New York-based skin specialists and others recommend microneedling for people in their 40’s. The micro-injuries they create in the skin trigger the body to produce collagen and elastin, making it appear plumped and more firm. Doctors also recommend the use of collagen-building serum in conjunction with microneedling, which makes the skin more receptive to treatment.
50’s – Replace & Maintain – For women in their 50’s, the loss of hormones during menopause leads to a loss of elastin, collagen, and bony remodelling. Skin cell turnover slows for both genders, leaving men and women with skin that’s dull and dry.
Cosmeceuticals are aesthetic home-care products prescribed by doctors because of their medical-grade formulations. They are a wonderful first step to hydrate crepe-y looking skin, protect against skin cancer, and gently exfoliate dead cells, creating more youthful-looking skin.
After 60 – Don’t Give Up the Ship – By the time you reach 60, starting aesthetic treatments may feel like closing the barn door after the cows get out. Costhetics begs to disagree. The paper Skin Care in the Aging Female: Myths and Truths published by the Journal of Clinical Investigation reports that moisturising cosmetic treatments (such as Broadband Light therapy in conjunction with a skin treatment) can “immediately reduce the appearance of fine lines by 15%–20%.” Researcher s further noted “The daily use of retinoids can prevent the appearance of wrinkles; they penetrate into the skin, and work on the extracellular matrix — the collagen and elastin fibres.”
Slow & Steady Wins the Anti-Ageing Race
Costhetics wants to emphasise the importance of doing your research and taking your time before making a change to your physical appearance. Ask friends. Talk to family. Consult experts. When you have all the facts you need and have chosen a provider you trust, you’ll be ready to take your first step. After your first experience, you may want more. Go ahead! You can tweak the results and add on more procedures as you find them necessary or desirable. In the end, you are the boss of you.