When age catches up and ushers in crow's feet, wrinkles, open pores, uneven skin tone and little moles, women above the age of 30 often begin to suffer from a confidence crisis. Many opt for surgeries, nose jobs, breast enhancement procedures and Botox injections.
How safe are these surgeries? Doctors claim the surgeries are safe though there have been instances that prove otherwise.
"All of these concerns can be treated safely and effectively with chemical peels, lasers and Botox injections. Older women (50 years and above) will require more extensive Botox treatments for frown lines, a saggy jaw line or neck lines. By this age, the laugh lines start becoming deeper, the lip corners begin to sag downwards and the cheeks begin to appear gaunt or sunken. These can be effectively addressed with the use of dermal fillers like Restylane or Juvederm, in conjunction with monthly skin tightening procedures," says Dr Shetty M K, a cosmetic surgeon at Columbia Asia Hospital.
Procedures
Photo facials involve the use of Intense Pulsed Light to treat freckles, age spots, rosacea (acne) or facial blood vessels, along with lightening and tightening of the skin. These are suitable for young women who suffer from acne and freckles or older women with age spots and uneven skin tone.
For open pores, fine lines, wrinkles and early skin laxity, fractional resurfacing is an option. For older men and women with more obvious skin sagging, a plastic surgeon may choose to perform a face lift or thread lift for better results.
All of these cosmetic treatments require multiple sessions. With laser treatments, one will start appreciating improvement from the third session.
An average of six sessions are performed at quick intervals, followed by maintenance treatment every four to six months.
With Botox, you will see results in seven to 10 days and they last for three to six months. With dermal filler injections, the results are instantaneous and they last from six to nine months. People must follow up in 10 days for a touch up.
There is however no alternative to healthy diet, adequate exercise and a positive attitude for those looking to age gracefully.