Ways To Maintain Youth And Delay Aging: SKIN LIFTING TREATMENTS BY RADIUM MEDICAL AESTHETICS

by Belle Ong Consultant

Is Non-Surgical Facelift A Suitable Choice for Me?

In early days, medical researchers have been trying to find many ways to prolong youth and delay aging. But aging is a natural process that everyone has to go through regardless of gender or race, and there is no way to reverse or stop the process. What we can do is, at least to age gracefully in a slower pace with technology.

Can We Avoid Aging or Why Do We Age?

To understand why we age, we have to go deeper to understand the process at a cellular level. Our bodies are made up of cells. Cells divide and produce new cells to keep up with growth and repair of body tissue. But bear in mind, cell division does not go on forever. They slow down or even enter a stage where they no longer divide but stay in the body as malfunctioning cells. This causes our bodies to degenerate.

Every time cells divide, the telomeres (protective caps at the end of each strand of DNA) shorten in all 3 layers of the skin. The shortening of telomeres leads to some of these changes that can contribute to visible changes to your skin:

· Thinning of dermis layer by about 10% every 10 years

· Production of less collagen and elastin fibers wearing out

· Flattening of skin between epidermal and dermal layers due to the lack of nutrients being delivered to the top layer of the skin

· Inability to retain moisture in the skin

· Reduction in the volume of fat cells in the subcutaneous layer which can lead to formation of noticeable wrinkles, skin folds, and sagging skin

What Are Some Skin Lifting Treatments Available?

There are many skin lifting – surgical and non-surgical – options you can choose from.

Facelift surgery is a surgical procedure to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by lifting and pulling back sagging facial skin. It enhances the overall appearance of the face and jaw to give you the V-shape face that is often associated with young adults. Facelift surgery can help to repair the harmful effects of aging, stress, and environmental stressors.

Facelift surgery is performed by lifting and tightening the underlying muscles of the face to create a more youthful contour. The surgeon will also remove excess fat and skin that result in an aged, unattractive appearance.

For people who do not wish to opt for surgical procedures, there are non-surgical options as well.

Silhouette Soft Thread Lift, also known as the ‘lunchtime facelift’ uses resorbable sutures made of Polylactic Acid (PLA). For those who are unfamiliar with PLA, it is a key material used by surgeons for surgical sutures, medical implants and even drug delivery systems. It is completely safe for use in humans.

Silhouette Soft threads have tiny bidirectional cones that are key to lift sagging tissue under the skin. Silhouette Soft Thread Lift achieves two outcomes:

· Almost Immediate lifting can be seen because of the tiny bidirectional cones that anchor sagging tissue to contour the face

· Ongoing collagen regeneration is accomplished after the treatment because the threads and cones stimulate collagen production in the skin. The plumping effect will be more pronounced over the next few months, making your lifted skin look more youthful, yet natural at the same time.

The threads are absorbable and will dissolve in about 6 to 9 months after the treatment. However, the lifted contours will remain and maintain its shape for another 12 to 18 months. In total, a single Silhouette Soft Thread Lift treatment can last for about 1.5 to 2 years, depending on individual.

Another option is a non-invasive treatment that does not require any needles, sutures, or scalpel. Ultherapy Skin Lifting treatment is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment that uses High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to lift, tone, and tighten loose skin. Ultherapy is the only non-invasive procedure that is FDA-cleared to lift the skin on the brow, neck, chin, and décolletage.

Ultherapy is a popular skin lifting treatment that is well-received by many big names in Hollywood such as Courteney Cox. Medical technology has progressed so much that we no longer need to solely rely on invasive methods and submit ourselves to all sorts of associated surgical risks.

Ultherapy uses HIFU in combination with DeepSEE technology that allows the doctor to see the layers they are treating. The visualization enables the doctor to know exactly what areas he is treating to safely deliver the ultrasound energy to where it would benefit the patient most.

Delivering controlled, consistent heat of 60-70 °C, Ultherapy results in immediate tissue contraction at the dermis layer, targeting deep facial structures and connective tissue. When HIFU is administered, it encourages the body to respond by stimulating collagen production.

The regenerative process starts immediately after the treatment and some lifting may be seen. However, Ultherapy’s lifting effects are gradual and not dramatic and visible like facelift or Silhouette Soft Thread Lift. The full effects can be seen 2-3 months after the treatment because it takes time to stimulate the body’s collagen production. Results can last for anywhere between 12 to 18 months, depending on individual.

Which Skin Lifting Treatment Should I Consider?

Although the 3 different skin lifting treatments have different safety profiles and effectiveness, they all working towards to one common goal – to reduce appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and restore youthfulness by reversing the aging process.

Ultimately, only you can decide which option is the most suitable because you have to measure the risks you wish to take versus the benefits you like to achieve.