Alexander Pope once said, “Time conquers all, and we must time obey.” This is certainly true of our skin, particularly on our face. While we’re gaining all of that life experience over time, our faces are showing the progression, too.
Much of Dr. Ip’s practice is devoted to countering that march of time as it relates to the face. Our patients often wonder when they will know if it is time to have a procedure such as a facelift or a brow lift performed. That all depends on the individual, but there are some typical signs of aging that prompt people to want to put the brakes on the march of time, at least temporarily.
- Skin laxity — Gravity is the worker to end all workers. It never sleeps, never takes a day off, and is ever vigilant. As you age, your facial skin is particularly susceptible to its forces. This is partially due to the fact that some facial skin is among the thinnest on the entire body. Also, facial muscles tend to weaken with age. The result are issues such as drooping brows, jowls, sagging cheeks, descending eyelids, and much more.
- Volume loss — After you turn 20, collagen (the basic support system for your skin) production decreases one percent each year. Add that up — by 50 you have a 30% lower rate of collagen production than a 20-year-old. No wonder your skin is looser. Elastin, the protein responsible for keeping your skin supple and malleable, production also decreases. The result is volume loss in areas across the face. The areas under the eyes and below the cheekbones both become hollow with volume loss.
- Changes in skin tone and texture — Where the skin was taut, plump, and smooth, as we age it becomes dull, dry, and leathery. This is usually the result of reduced collagen production combined with sun exposure. Unless you’re a vampire, you’ve had your share of sun damage. The skin also becomes thinner with time, again due to decreasing collagen, making it more prone to wrinkling.
Treatment options
You have options for addressing these issues, both surgical and non-surgical. Volume loss and changes in skin tone and texture can all be addressed non-surgically. Injectables (Botox and dermal fillers), chemical peels, and laser resurfacing treatments all work to improve these areas. Skin laxity, especially if more extreme, can best be addressed with surgery: a facelift, brow lift, or eyelid surgery. This is especially true where the skin has lost some elasticity.
And don’t stop with just the face
Dr. Ip believes that steps to slow down the aging process should also look beyond just the face and should include the neck, chest, décolleté, and hands. These areas are often overlooked.
Don’t give in to the forces of gravity and aging on your skin. Call Dr. Ip at his Newport Beach, Beverly Hills, or NYC offices and schedule a consultation. Together we’ll see what procedure or procedures could help you.
