Dear Dr. Seckel, I am 35-year-old female- a former model turned technology professional. Over the past two years I have been noticing various changes in my facial skin: I have bags under my eyes, a beginning of sagging in my cheeks and neck, laugh wrinkles that have deepened, etc. My appearance is important to me. However, I want to avoid invasive surgery like blepharoplasty or face-lift and am looking for a non-surgical method, which will help me rejuvenate my facial and eyelid skin and overall appearance in a consistent yet naturally looking way, and I’d like to avoid surgery. What is the best method you would recommend? Many thanks, Laura, San Francisco, CA
Dear Laura,
There are many exciting new non-surgical facial skin rejuvenation techniques available today which work very well to prevent facial skin aging and reverse or rejuvenate the facial skin which has been damaged by the sun and facial aging changes, especially for someone your age. It is great that you are starting facial skin rejuvenation early!
All facial skin rejuvenation techniques especially non-surgical facial rejuvenation, work best in younger people. Loss of collagen in the skin from sun damage and other inflammation caused by free radicals is the main cause of the facial skin aging changes you see and facial skin rejuvenation starts with restoring collagen to the sun damaged, aged facial skin. All non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques try to rebuild new collagen in the skin. The earlier you start, the more healthy collagen you have in your facial skin and the less facial aging, and the better the facial skin rejuvenation techniques work-so good for you starting early-you will have better results!
The first step is a healthy lifestyle: low fat anti-inflammatory diet, avoid tobacco and alcohol, drink plenty of water, exercise, take anti-oxidant vitamins, and wear your sunscreen-prevention is key to effective skin rejuvenation!
It is important to apply non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques in a proper sequence so that you get the maximum benefit. I outline these steps in my 6-step non-surgical facial rejuvenation program, which you can read about in my book Save Your Face, or check the archives listed on the right side of the page.
Below are the 6 steps of my 6-Step Non-surgical Facial Rejuvenation Program and a discussion of why all 6 steps are necessary and how I achieve them:
1. Exfoliation-this step removes dead skin and starts the production of new collagen- this is the key first step in non-surgical facial skin rejuvenation and helps restore fresh skin and remove fine wrinkles-methods are Retin A, microdermabrasion, and Microlaserpeel.
2. Stimulation of new collagen production- this step plumps up wrinkles and restores skin texture and elasticity- methods Retin A and laser genesis® a laser technique
3. Removal of pigment and blood vessels- this step removes brown spots and red spots, classic signs of inflammatory facial skin aging and sun damage - method- Photo facial (IPL) and lasers
4. Relax facial muscles- this step removes crow’s feet, frown lines, and worry lines-method-Botox®
5. Fill deep facial lines this step plumps the deep lines around the mouth, the nasal labial folds and Marionette lines-method- Injectable fillers Restylane® and Radiesse®
6. Tighten Facial Skin – removes the sagging you see in your face – method – LuxIR and Aluma with FACES®
These non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques are new and very few physicians are aware of the 6-step program, so you should first read my book Save Your Face so you will know what you need and how to find a good doctor. Always see a board certified plastic surgeon or Dermatologist who is familiar with the new technology.
Since you are younger you may not need the whole program. Everyone can benefit from skin exfoliation and that is the best starting place in any non-surgical facial rejuvenation program. From your email you mentioned early wrinkles and facial sagging, thus you may need only step 1,2,4, and 6.
Eyelid bags and puffiness usually require eyelid rejuvenation surgery called blepharoplasty. I do this with a laser and do the operation from the inside of the eyelid so there is no scar visible. It is called a transconjunctival laser blepharoplasty and avoids many problems of the older scalpel approach. You can read about the operation in the archives.
The great thing is you are starting your non-surgical facial rejuvenation program early-you will be rewarded by good results.
PLEASE READ MY BOOK FIRST! There are many non-board certified doctors out there who offer lasers and other facial rejuvenation techniques that don’t understand the 6-step program-I don’t want you to be misled or worse hurt.
For more information on non-surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Boston, Massachusetts