People today are living longer than ever before. We retire later, start families later, and can expect to have longer, more vital, more productive lives than previous generations. Because of these factors and others, many people, as they begin to see the cosmetic signs of aging, opt for cosmetic surgery to combat those effects, allowing them to better compete in both in the social sphere and in the workplace.
Cosmetic surgery to reduce the signs of aging isn’t designed so much to change the patient’s appearance, but to enhance it, reducing the effects of the aging process and creating a more vital, youthful appearance.
As people approach their 40s, they start seeing more pronounced effects of aging, including wrinkling, loss of tone, and other subtle changes that result in a pronounced aged appearance. Fortunately, modern cosmetic surgery procedures offer solutions that can reverse these signs of aging subtly or drastically, depending on the needs of the patient.
Factors that contribute to creating an aged appearance include the following:
- Loss of elasticity in the skin, which results in sagging and wrinkling
- Loss of muscle tone, which results in a sort of ‘gravity’ effect, in which features such as the brow and the cheeks fall lower on the face
- Skin damage, due to prolonged exposure to the sun and other elements; resulting in skin that is coarse, finely wrinkled, and unevenly pigmented
Fortunately, modern cosmetic surgery procedures provide a number of options to combat these and other effects of the aging process. As with any procedure, each patient should consult with a qualified cosmetic surgeon to review the options available. Some of the more common procedures are discussed below.
ENDOSCOPIC BROW LIFT
The endoscopic brow lift is a procedure designed to tighten and smooth out the brow line, reducing or eliminating the appearance of frown lines and sagging that can create a tired, aged appearance.
The endoscopic method differs from traditional brow lift surgery in that it is far less invasive than previous brow lift techniques, which required a large, end-to-end incision, resulting in less potential for scarring, a shorter recovery time, and a more natural look overall. In the endoscopic brow lift procedure, the surgeon makes a series of small incisions—usually three or four—along the hairline, then insert a scope to separate and lift the brow muscles. The end result is a tauter, smoother, more youthful brow.
MID-CHEEK LIFT
Unlike the traditional ‘facelift’ procedures that pulled back and distorted the features in the process of tightening the skin, the mid-cheek lift is a finely tuned procedure in which the drooping effects of aging are targeted directly, lifting the sagging pockets of fat around the lower eye and the cheek, thus reducing or eliminating bags under the eyes and sagging jowls that contribute to a tired, aged appearance.
In a mid-cheek lift, the surgeon creates small incisions along the hairline, and then repositions the fat and tissue of the mid-cheek, bringing it higher on the face, creating a tighter, more vital looking face.
LASER RESURFACING
One very obvious contributor to an aged appearance is the effects of sun exposure. Prolonged exposure to the sun creates a series of fine wrinkles and areas of uneven pigment, making the skin appear coarse, leathery, and spotty. Laser skin resurfacing is a procedure in which a cosmetic surgeon targets lasers on the areas that require treatment. The lasers are able to remove the damaged skin, one layer at a time, revealing the fresh, undamaged skin underneath.
Every person ages differently, so every patient will have unique needs, interests, and goals when considering cosmetic surgery options to most effectively combat the effects of aging. A qualified plastic surgeon can help guide the patient through identifying the factors contributing to his or her aging process, and how those can be addressed most effectively.
