Wrinkles of the skin are an unavoidable part of life. However, there are ways to minimize the appearance of frown lines and prevent them from emerging prematurely. As you age, your skin produces less collagen and becomes less elastic. As your skin loses its elasticity, lines cause by facial expressions that once bounced back into place now stay etched into your skin. Consulting with a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or facialist can help to determine the best treatments for you.
Injectables
Through tiny injections to a specific area of the face, you're able to minimize the appearance of expression lines. A few common injectables are Botox and Restylane. Botox uses botulinum toxin type A to block muscle movements temporarily. Restylane uses soft tissue to smooth wrinkles around your eyes and mouth. Even your own fat can be taken from one area of your body and injected into your face. There are a large variety of injectables on the market, and a skin care professional can help you choose the brand best for your skin's condition.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are used to remove outer layers of skin in order to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the appearance of pores and improve the texture of skin. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, or ASPS, alphahydroxy acids, trichloroacetic acid and phenol peels are commonly used solutions for chemical peels. Depending on the level of improvement needed for your frown lines, a professional can adjust the potency of the formula.
You may experience some discomfort the first week of your chemical peel, such as burning, itching or swelling. According to ASPS, your skin will be sensitive to the sun after a chemical peel, so avoid excess sun exposure.
Microdermabrasion
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the results you will receive from a professional microdermabrasion are more visible than at-home kits. With this treatment, your skin is exfoliated through gentle abrasion, which removes the top layer of dead skin cells, allowing new healthier skin to emerge. This procedure will also stimulate the production of collagen, which will give you a more youthful appearance.
Micodermabrasions may need repeated several times before you achieve your desired results; however, the procedure is so gentle that it can be done during your lunch break.
Surgical
If nonsurgical methods are not giving you the desired results for your frown lines, a surgical facelift, or rhytidectomy, is an option. This is an intrusive method, which involves a plastic surgeon making an incision in the hairline of the side of your face. According to the ASPS, there are three options for facelifts: traditional, limited incision and neck lift. The traditional incision will be between your temple and lower scalp while the limited and neck lift incision is only around the ear. Skin is redraped over uplifted contours and excess skin is cut, according to the ASPS.
Unlike the other procedures, which have minimal recovery, a facelift can take several months for swelling to subside and the incision line can take up to six months to diminish its appearance, according to the ASPS.
Prevention
Whichever treatment option you choose, it's important to prevent frown lines from reoccurring prematurely. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the sun is the main culprit that ages skin at an increased rate. By wearing a sunblock daily that has an SPF of at least 30, you will be preventing harmful ultraviolet rays from doing further damage to your skin. In addition, wear protective clothing and avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., which is when ultraviolet rays do the most damage.
If you're a smoker, quitting will also greatly reduce fine lines and deep indents from occurring around your mouth.
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