Wrinkles are a fact of life that everyone must face as they grow older. This has created an anti-aging industry that offers multiple treatment options to help to reduce the signs of aging, especially on the face. One of the most invasive but effective treatments for this is the surgical face-lift. However, for those looking for something less invasive, there are several other treatments on the market that provide similar results without surgery.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are one option to acchieve some of the effects of a face-lift without resorting to surgery. Dermal fillers are substances that are injected into wrinkled areas of the skin, plumping the crease even with the surrounding tissue. Some fillers, such as fat transplants and collagen, use their volume to plump the skin, while others, such as hyaluronic acid, attract water, providing more bulk under the skin.
Botox
Botox injections are commonly used in the place of surgical procedures. Botox is made from the botulinum neurotoxin type A, which blocks the action of acetylcholine in the muscle tissue. Without acetylcholine, the muscle becomes paralyzed, forcing it to lie flat. As the muscle relaxes, wrinkles in the skin become less apparent. Repeat injections are typically needed every three to four months to continue the effects of the toxin, states the Mayo Clinic.
Themage
Thermage is a relatively new treatment on the market that provides some of the effects of a face-lift. During a thermage treatment, energy in the form of radiofrequency is emitted into the skin, which stimulates the natural growth of collagen. As collagen increases, the area beneath wrinkles on the skin plumps, making the wrinkled skin even with the surrounding tissue.
Laser Face-Lift
Laser face-lifts use specially calibrated infrared optical light to tighten the skin without the surgery involved with a typical face-lift. Like a Thermage treatment, laser face-lifts activate the body's production of collagen, reducing the look of wrinkles on the face. A laser treatment can take up to two to six months to tighten the skin, states the LA Laser Center in Southern California.
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