Daniel Sister talks about the physiology of the aging face and explains how a non-surgical facelift can provide the results you want without the downtime associated with more invasive procedures. Non-surgical facelift – it is a real option for patients who want to fight the aging process without resorting to surgical techniques. The author examines the causes and process of facial aging, and also explains how to achieve the effect of facial rejuvenation without surgery.
Non-surgical facelift: features of the aging process
In order to perform a successful non-surgical facelift, it is critical to understand the changes that occur in the face as we age.
Facial Aging – a complex process that resembles a domino effect; it is a three-dimensional process that affects not only the skin, but also the tissues located under it: fat, muscle and bone.
The aging process is often referred to as the cascade effect. Aging manifests itself in:
- weakening and ptosis of subcutaneous tissues;
- decrease in the amount of collagen and hyaluronic acid in the skin;
- atrophy and hypertrophy of adipose tissue;
- reabsorption of bone tissue;
- lack of elastin (and, as a result, loss of skin elasticity);
- skin texture changes;
- muscle weakening.
Bone and cartilage structures become more visible as the skin and subcutaneous tissue thins, skin texture changes, and bulges become concavities (temporal, perioral, and orbital regions). Other visible signs of aging:
- wrinkles, furrows and folds;
- loss of volume and sagging of the skin;
- change in skin pigmentation;
- changing facial proportions.
The face can be divided into three horizontal parts (upper, middle and lower third). A young face is characterized by an ideal ratio of all three parts of the face. However, as we age, we observe:
- lengthening of the upper third of the face (due to hypotrophy of bone and cartilage tissue and ptosis of soft tissues);
- reduction of the middle part of the face (for the same reasons);
- reduction in the height of the lower face due to loss of maxillary and mandibular bone structure, thinning of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, and an increase in width due to ptosis of the midface.
Peculiarities of aging to be considered in a non-surgical facelift
Leather
As we age, the superficial and subcutaneous layers of the skin become thinner as a result of:
- Chronoaging resulting from a decrease in the amount of collagen in the skin;
- loss of elastin, which leads to loss of skin elasticity;
- other factors such as photoaging, smoking, sun exposure, hormonal changes, and exposure to gravity.
Adipose tissue
Adipose tissue in the facial area is distributed approximately evenly between its deep and superficial layers and is separated by the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS). Over time, the adipose tissue is redistributed, the face loses its fullness, and the fat sacs appear in the form of clear and separated compartments. With age, the fat layer in the zygomatic region shifts downward, contributing to the visibility of the lower part of the orbital ridge and the formation of nasolabial folds.
According to the author, the aging process affects these zones in different periods of a person's life. Therefore, the concept of individual fat pads explains why the face does not age as a whole, but undergoes a change in each individual fat pad at a certain stage of life.
In some areas, soft tissue atrophy is observed, namely in:
- frontal;
- temporal;
- periorbital;
- perioral;
- maxillary;
- chin.
In other areas, hypertrophy of the corresponding tissues is observed, namely in the following fat packs:
- submandibular;
- nasolabial;
- labio-chin;
- buccal;
- infraorbital;
- painting.
Muscles and ligaments
Loosening of ligaments in the malar and orbital area is one of the most common causes associated with the appearance of signs of aging. This results in:
- omission of the paint fat pack – sunken cheeks appear;
- formation of depressions under the eyes.
With age, some muscles become more relaxed, while others – tense, resulting in crow's feet and frown lines, as well as strands of platysma.
Bones
The most noticeable are the changes in the facial skeleton in the area of the nose and eyes. The process of bone reabsorption leads to a decrease in bone volume. The result of aging in the lower part of the face is primarily visible in the mandibular region.
Procedures that provide the effect of an invisible non-surgical facelift
For harmonious rejuvenation, it may be necessary to apply all or several of the following methods of non-surgical facelift:
- botulinum toxin injections;
- dermal filler injections;
- platelet-rich plasma injections;
- "bidirectional" hanging seams;
- bipolar RF lifting;
- chemical peels.
It is thanks to these methods that it is possible to carry out an "invisible non-surgical facelift" without resorting to invasive methods.
Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum toxin – the gold standard in smoothing the wrinkles of the upper third of the face. It works well on dynamic or active wrinkles and can be applied to:
- for smoothing horizontal wrinkles in the forehead area;
- for smoothing wrinkles between the eyebrows (vertical);
- for smoothing crow's feet (periorbital area);
- for brow lift;
- for the correction of a massive jaw (hyperactive masticatory muscles) and the treatment of bruxism;
- for lifting the tip of the nose and correcting the nostrils;
- for gum smile correction.
Dermal fillers
Temporal area – a small but very important area of the face. In the process of aging, atrophy of muscle and adipose tissue in this area is observed. In the middle third of the face, there is a decrease in skin elasticity, loss of volume, which leads to a downward displacement of the malar fat sac. As a result, the nasolabial folds deepen. Bone atrophy, along with weakening of the ligaments, leads to the omission of malar-palpebral fat pads and elongation of the lower eyelid. Dermal fillers are used to restore lost volume and solve the problems described above.
Lifting with bidirectional threads
This procedure produces the following results:
- face contour correction;
- volume recovery;
- correction of the position of the cheeks;
- increased cheekbones;
- chin line correction;
- wrinkle smoothing;
- neck and brow lift.
Plasma therapy (infusion of platelet-rich plasma)
Platelet alpha granules contain a range of proteins, including:
- Three isomers of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)
- chemoattractant for mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells;
- contribute to the differentiation of fibroblasts and osteoblasts.
- Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-[1 & 2]
- promotes cell division;
- promotes collagen synthesis and significantly increases the amount of type I collagen synthesized in ligaments.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)
- stimulates angiogenesis, is a chemoattractant for osteoblasts.
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)
- play an important role in the regulation of cell growth, proliferation and differentiation by binding to their EGFR receptors;
- stimulates epithelial development and angiogenesis;
- stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of epidermal cells.
In addition, there are many signaling molecules on the surface of activated platelets: CD9, CD-W17, CD41, CD42a-d, CD51, CD-W60, CD61, CD62P and CD63.
Thus, the maximum effect of a non-surgical facelift can be achieved by combining the above procedures, which will provide the effect of rejuvenation and facelift without surgical intervention.
Platelet-rich plasma will help stop or slow down bone resorption, strengthen ligaments and muscles, and stimulate the production of fibroblasts. Botulinum toxin will smooth out active wrinkles, dermal fillers – to replenish the lost volume, and bidirectional threads will allow you to tighten facial tissues and correct the position of fat pads.
According to Prime magazine.
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