It’s a new year, so that means a new you, right? If you took a peek in the mirror on January 1 and were surprised to notice the signs of aging for the first time or noticed that those fine lines aren’t so fine anymore, 2016 might be the year that you finally decide to do something about them. In this day and age, fighting back against the signs of aging doesn’t have to mean surgery. This year, consider some of the newer options out there or some anti-aging trends that aren’t going anywhere soon.
Kybella
If you’ve ever looked at your double chin in the mirror and wished that there was a way to just melt it away, there’s good news. Kybella, which first became available last year, is a non-surgical way to get rid of your double chin. The FDA-approved injectable contains an ingredient, deoxycholic acid that actually dissolves unwanted fat.
Don’t worry, deoxycholic acid isn’t something out of a science fiction novel. It’s actually a naturally occurring substance that your body produces on its own to get rid of fat. When strategically injected under the chin, it dissolves the unwanted fat in that area, reducing the size of your double chin over time. How many treatments you need depends on how much fat you have in the area. Typically, patient can receive up to 50 injections at a time, and up to six different treatments, spaced about a month apart.
Since it is a non-surgical treatment, downtime after each Kybella treatment is pretty brief. You might have some redness and swelling in the area, but you’ll be able to jump back into your daily life right away. Since the injection permanently destroys the fat, your results will be long lasting.
Sculptra
Sculptra isn’t a new treatment, since it’s been approved by the FDA for cosmetic use since 2009, but it is different from other options out there. If you’ve been filling in lines and wrinkles with hyaluronic acid fillers for some time now, and want an option that lasts a bit longer, or if you’ve never had fillers but want something that provides subtle, gradual results, Sculptra might be for you.
The injectable is made from a synthetic material, poly-L-lactic acid. It’s meant to add fullness and volume to the cheek around, making the face look more youthful and filling in lines and creases as it does so. But, Sculptra doesn’t provide instant lift or results. Instead, the main ingredient works slowly, over the course of several treatments and over the course of months, stimulating the production of collagen in the dermis. The restored collagen helps lift and smooth the cheeks, creating a more youthful look. Although Sculptra takes longer to work than other dermal fillers, the tradeoff is that it also lasts much longer. You can expect your results to last for about two years.
Lip Augmentation
It seems that a new starlet or model is admitting to getting lip injections every month. Fuller lips have been on trend for years now, and don’t expect them to go anywhere in 2016. If you’ve been waiting to try it for yourself, 2016 might just be the year to do so, since there are so many options for plumper lips available today.
The collagen injections once used in lip augmentation are pretty much gone now, and facial plastic surgeons typically prefer to use fillers made from hyaluronic acid. HA fillers create as softer, more natural look. They also only last for about six months and can be reversed with another injectable, so if you really don’t like the results, you don’t have to live with them.
The brand of filler your surgeon uses depends on her preference and yours. Some fillers might create a bumpier appearance, while others are a smoother. Thinner fillers can be used to fill in those fine lines that form around the lips, creating a smoother pout.
Botox
Botox is an oldie, but it’s a goody, which is why it, and similar injectables, such as Dysport, remain among the most commonly performed minimally invasive treatments. If you’ve been noticing deeper and deeper creases developing between your eyebrows or that your crow’s feet are becoming more and more pronounced, this might be the year that you give Botox or similar a try.
Results from the treatment last for about 3 months, so you aren’t stuck with them if you don’t like them. Of course, if you do like the results, you can repeat them every few months to keep the lines at bay.
As the New Year gets underway, resolve to speak with an aging face specialist and to learn more about your options for reversing the effects of the years on your face. At the Naderi Center in Virginia and Maryland, Dr. Jessica Kulak, a board certified facial plastic surgeon, specializes in treating the signs of aging on the face. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kulak, call (703) 481-0002 for the Virginia office or (301) 222-2020 for the office in Maryland.
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