There was a time, not so many years ago, that if we wanted to push back the years we had to resort to surgery. And serious cosmetic surgery at that, including everything from eye lifts and cheek implants to the full facelift, all costing thousands of pounds. But fortunately things have changed, and now lines can be erased, wrinkled smoothed and skin plumped all in the time it takes to pop out for a sandwich.
But why do these offending lines and wrinkles happen in the first place? Collagen is the magic ingredient that keeps our skin looking young, fresh and plump. More than 80% of our skin is made up of collagen, which is a naturally occurring protein that provides strength and structure to the skin. Unfortunately, as we age, collagen production slows down and our skin slowly starts to lose its tone and elasticity.
Although our bodies continue to produce collagen throughout our lives, by the time we reach our 30s, cell turnover has slowed down, and environmental damage such as UVA and UVB rays, pollution, and smoke starts to cause the collagen fibres to loosen. As a result, fine lines and wrinkles start to appear, and the skin loses some of its youthfulness.
During our 40s, the collagen fibres start to decrease, stiffen and break apart, and the skin loses more elasticity and volume. By the time we reach our 50s, hormones changes such as the menopause cause further damage. The hormone, oestrogen, is responsible for cell renewal and is depleted dramatically during the menopause, causing collagen fibres to stop repairing themselves. This loss of collagen results in loss of volume, first from around the eyes, then the upper cheeks, cheekbones, sides of the mouth, nose-to-mouth lines, and then the forehead and sides of the face.
It all sounds pretty depressing, but help is at hand, and the latest treatments are now so sophisticated and subtle that nobody ever need know. After Botox, facial fillers have become the second most popular ‘non-surgical’ procedure across the globe. However, unlike Botox, which relaxes the muscles of the face, facial fillers plump up the skin, and soften and smooth out lines and wrinkles. And the good news is that you can start as early as you see your first wrinkle.
Most cosmetic surgeons these days prefer to take a ‘little and often’ approach to facial rejuvenation, making subtle tweaks here and there rather than one obvious face lift. And of course, it’s a lot cheaper. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) recorded 36,400 procedures in 2009, a rise of 6.7% from 2008, despite the financial downturn.
These treatments are becoming the ‘norm’ and are the secret weapon of most celebrities. According to one industry expert, ‘If they say it’s all down to yoga and face cream, they’ve normally done Botox and fillers’. And unlike surgery which involves time off work and a long recovery time, there is a small amount of swelling which disappears in a matter of days. The disadvantage is that the results are temporary, lasting anything between six months and two years depending on the treatment, but the good news, according to Cosmetic Dermatologist, Dr Ravi Jain, Medical Director of the Riverbanks Clinic in Bedfordshire, is that facial fillers actually help slow down the ageing process. “Fillers hydrate the skin and can stimulate collagen production”, he explains. “With regular maintenance, less product tends to be required”.
Next week.....Inject Your Way to Youth....The Latest on Injectables
