Ageing. We can’t escape it. It is the natural accumulation of metabolic damage and there is not much we can do to halt the march of time. We can, however, slow the process down somewhat, by taking good care of our skin.
Most commonly, sagging and thinning of skin is first noticeable, followed by the onset of wrinkles and the appearance of “age spots” (i.e. small areas of darkened skin). Wrinkles are one of our most treated problems of ageing, and can most commonly appear in the glabellar frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines.
There are a large number of factors involved in ageing, particularly of the skin, including normal metabolic processes, infections, smoking, alcohol consumption, sun exposure, trauma, hormonal imbalances, and stress to name just a few.
Most wrinkles occur as a result of the everyday use of muscles in the face for smiling, concentrating, frowning, and laughing.
Technology has made a wide range of options available, both surgical and non-surgical, to help maintain a youthful appearance.
Anti-wrinkle injections are a non-surgical cosmetic treatment to help improve and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Some injections stop the muscles from working properly, relaxing them, thereby improving the overall facial appearance. Others involve the injection of filler materials into the deep folds to create a fuller-looking profile.
Skin resurfacing through chemical peels, light treatments, and laser treatments can improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots and scarring (usually acne scars respond well).
Chemical peels exfoliate the top layer of skin to make dead skin peel off and stimulate the production of collagen to give tighter skin and a more youthful appearance.
Laser treatments use heat to cause injury to the different layers of the skin, stimulating the production of collagen. There are a number of different types of laser treatments available including Fraxel and Clear & Brilliant, the choice of which is dependent upon the objectives of the patient, age, and type of skin.
BBL (Broadband Light) uses bursts of light energy to heat the layers of skin, similar to laser treatments.
It is important to remember that all treatments carry risks, and should be discussed fully with a qualified and experienced practitioner prior to making a decision. We recommend coming in for a complimentary consultation session to discuss the best option for you.
“We get that ageing is a part of life, but it doesn’t mean you need to accept it. We believe in a natural approach here at Ocean Cosmetics, so will create a treatment plan to ensure you look refreshed and youthful, without looking frozen or overdone.”
DR GINA MESSIHA
(Cosmetic Doctor) MB BS FRACGP