Singer Robbie Williams recently admitted that with his 40th birthday soon approaching, he is planning to combat any signs of aging with a facelift. He’s not the only celebrity who is turning to facial plastic surgery and non-surgical procedure to maintain a youthful appearance. Former Bond Girl Britt Ekland also admits that when she turned 50, she suddenly felt very insecure about the effects of aging and opted for surgery. Joan Rivers has never hidden her plastic surgeries and admits to having her first facelift in her 50s.
The appearance of wrinkles, jowls, and age spots can impact a person’s confidence. The good news is that there are surgical and non-surgical procedures that take years off your appearance. Here are some of the popular options and what to expect of the procedure and recovery.
Facial Plastic Surgery
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a popular choice for eliminating bags and dark circles under the eyes and drooping upper eyelids. Incisions are made in the crease of the upper eyelid and in the area where crow’s feet form, or under the lashes for the lower eyelid. Excess fat, muscle, and skin are trimmed to help tighten the eyelids and reduce the sagging and bags that make you look old or tired. The area around your eyes may feel sore for a few days. Bruising and swelling are common complaints, but they subside within two or three weeks. Stitches come out after a week.
A facelift is the best way to reverse signs of aging, often resulting in improvements that last 8 to 10 years. The procedure will reduce sagging skin on the cheeks, jawline, and upper neck. If you have and hate your jowls or turkey gobbler neck, a facelift is probably something you’ve considered. During the surgery, incisions are hidden within the hairline, inside of or in front of the ear, and then behind the ear in a crease that ensures scars are camouflaged. Once the skin is lifted, tissue is tightened and excess fat is removed. The skin is draped over the new frame and any excess is trimmed away before the incisions are sutured. You’re wrapped in bandages and go home for the recovery. After a day, bandages are removed. Bruises take about two weeks to fade. Swelling starts to lessen during that time period but can take up to six months to completely resolve.
Non-Surgical Procedures
When it comes to reducing age spots, fine lines, and some wrinkles, there are non-surgical procedures that may benefit you. Recovery times are usually faster, if you even need a recovery time.
Fillers are one of the easiest non-surgical cosmetic procedures to help ease fine lines and wrinkles. Fillers also help add volume to hollows that form as you lose fat during the process of aging. Hyaluronic acid fillers (Captique, Hylaform, Juvederm, and Restylane for example) are the most popular fillers, requiring no allergy test, and last anywhere from a few months to upwards of a year. Collagen (Artefill) is another option, but you will need allergy tests prior to their administration. After the injection of fillers, you can get back to your normal routines. While you may feel some tenderness at the injection site, it’s no different to what you feel after a routine vaccination.
Chemical peels and lasers also help minimize fine lines and wrinkles. The added benefit with these skin resurfacing procedures is that they also reduce discoloration like age spots and freckles. Following a chemical peel or laser treatment, your skin may appear reddened, much like a sunburn, and require a recovery period of up to 10 days, with at least one week off work. You must stay out of the sun while your skin is healing, and then use a broad spectrum sunscreen to help prevent additional sun damage.
Read more about skin rejuvenation treatments that help fight the signs of aging. When you’re ready to learn more about your surgical and non-surgical choices, talk to Dr. Jessica Kulak, a facial plastic surgeon who specializes in aging faces and has offices in Virginia and Maryland. Call (703) 481-0002 in Herndon, VA, or (301) 222-2020 in Chevy Chase, MD, to schedule a consultation.
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