January 7th, 2010
Considering a face lift? It can be quite effective in the rejuvenation and aging process of the skin. It can be a simple procedure of skin excision or a more complicated, invasive method which could include manipulation of fat and muscles to the face. There are newer techniques available that will cut down recovery time and be less traumatic. If you are thinking of having a similar procedure, it is vitally important to seek a surgeon that has a full understanding of the anatomy of the neck and face.
As we go through the aging process, several changes start to take place. You loose elasticity in the skin and will experience a decrease of collagen support. Facial bones will be remodeled along with skin and fat changes that will make your face appear older.
Face lifts are invasive and in order to get maximum results it will require modification of SMAS platysma component through placation, suspension and or resection. This will provide the durable framework which the skin will then be re-applied over the face. Simply stretching the skin will not give you good results and may even cause skin to die, cause scarring and have an appearance that you had facial surgery.
Before any type of surgery you will have to consult with your doctor first. This is the time to ask many questions and get a plan of action together. You will then know what to expect and discuss any fears you may have about the surgery.
If this type of procedure ends up not being something you decide to do, there are other ways to give yourself an instant face lift, rejuvenate your skin and turn back the clock without being invasive, having recovery time and the high cost of surgery.
September 30th, 2009
Good news: With the right care, skin that’s late-thirty-something, forty-something or even beyond can look more youthful. Even better, much of the damage we associate with aging skin-roughness, blotches, brown spots, wrinkling-is causes not by the passing of the years but by unprotected exposure to the sun. Translation: A lot of age-related skin damage is preventable.
As you approach midlife, your skin care routine should center on preventing further sun damage and replenishing the moisture young skin has naturally. But it’s also wise to rethink skin care habits you’ve been following for years: You may need to replace an oily skin routine with one for dry skin or intensify the dry skin routine you already follow.
As you will see, gentle care, a daily dose of sunscreen and the right makeup can go a long way toward restoring a woman’s youthful appearance. And if you so desire, a dermatologist can offer even more rejuvenating skin treatments.
No need to buy expensive products that may not live up to their promises. Following these few simple steps can help keep your complexion fresh and lovely.
Cleanse gently. If your formerly oily skin now feels a little dry, switch from a soap, which can be harsh, to a gentle soap-free cleanser formulated for dry skin. Try superfatted bars (beauty bars), or soap free liquid cleansers for dry skin. If your skin is extremely dry, try a tissue-off cleansing cream-the oiliest cleanser of all.
Uncover fresh skin. Exfoliating, or sloughing off dull, dead cells from the surface of your skin, reveals the new, fresh skin beneath. The best way to exfoliate mature skin, says experts, is with Retin-A, the prescription vitamin A cream that unglues dead surface skin cells and stimulates the skin’s production of collagen, the stuff that keeps skin firm and supple.
Never exfoliate with abrasive pads or grainy cleansers. Using these products can dilate the blood vessels in your face. Over time, these vessels will stay dilated, causing reddened, irritated, blotchy skin.
Nourish skin with moisture. Skin produces less oil as we get older. How much oil it produces varies from person to person. Since oil keeps skin soft and supple, locking in your skin’s moisture may be your biggest skin care challenge.
It’s recommended using a light, water-based moisturizer for daytime under makeup, and a heavier, oil-based product, or even plain petroleum jelly before bed.
September 30th, 2009
If you have oily skin, consider yourself blessed. The oil you bemoan now will beautify your complexion later.
Oily skin is more resistant to sun damage, harsh treatment and wrinkles than, say fair or dry skin.
But while oily skin can bounce back from insult after insult, punishing your skin with harsh cleansing products to scrub away oil can leave your complexion dull and flaky. And if you have mature skin, bear in mind that your oil glands produce less oil after menopause. So continuing an oily skin-care regimen out of habit rather than necessity may be hurting rather than helping your skin.
The bottom line? Your natural oil is a built-in lubricant, a beauty oasis. So don’t fight oil-control it.
You scour your face with a harsh soap, use astringent to dry up the oil and then slather on moisturizer to ease the tightness and flaking that the astringent has left behind. That’s the way to keep oily skin in line, right? Wrong: While drying soaps and alcohol-based astringents do cut oil, over time they can damage your skin. And despite what you may have heard, trying to scrub away oil is even worse. Trying to get rid of oil by scrubbing your skin with abrasive facial pads and grainy cleansers is the worst thing you can do-it can actually stimulate your oil glands to produce more oil.
To keep your skin at its loveliest, cleanse with soaps that have been proven to be mild. If you have oily skin, avoid superfatted soaps that contain emollients like cocoa butter, lanolin or olive oil. While they’re gentle, your complexion doesn’t need the extra oil they contain.
You might also try a soap-free liquid cleanser formulated specifically for oil skin. Liquid cleansers are the mildest of all. Look for a clear formula rather than a milky-white or opaque one-a sign of added moisturizers your skin doesn’t need.
Unless you break out, avoid drying antiseptic or antibacterial cleansers. And when you’ve found the perfect product, resist the urge to wash your face ten times a day: Like scrubbing, over cleansing can rile your oil glands into producing more oil. Wash as little as you can-just enough to feel clean and comfortable.
Astringents-commonly formulated with alcohol and little else-remove dirt and oil, temporarily shrink pores and can give your skin a pleasant feeling of tautness. But tightness doesn’t equal cleanliness: Use too much astringent on a daily basis and even the oiliest skin can flake, peel, sting or burn.
If your skin is so oily you feel you must use an astringent, limit it to twice a day. But don’t whip out the astringent every time you feel the oil pooling.
If you have oily skin, reverse astringent for wiping away oil between cleansing or during your workout. Tuck a few astringent pads, into your gym bag and use them during your workout to wipe away oil and perspiration-a mix that can provide a breakout.
