Combining Treatments to Restore Youth

By Elba M. Pacheco, MD

Center for Eye and Laser Surgery

. http://myeyelids.com/

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Combining Treatments to Restore Youth

The decision to pursue cosmetic rejuvenation can be daunting with so many choices appearing on the horizon daily, each promising to be the panacea. I will outline the safest and most efficacious techniques in the market today. The eyes are often first to show signs of aging, and eyelid surgery is frequently pursued first. Consider the expertise and qualifications of your surgeon. Your primary physician or general eye doctor may assist you with a recommendation. Combining additional treatments is the key to overall rejuvenation and will help you achieve optimal results.
Those of us dedicated to restoring youthfulness become excited when a procedure comes along that achieves something not previously possible. Thermage is just that. Instead of being a laser, which only penetrates the skin surface, Thermage uses radiowaves to penetrate deep beneath the skin where it tightens and re-contour tissues. It lifts your face and contours the neck area like a mini face-lift, without surgery, liposuction or downtime. Designed as a “one-time” procedure, Thermage results last an average of three (3) years. In time, it can be safely repeated to restore benefits. Thermage can even bring a previous facelift back to life obviating the need for another surgery. Thermage can complement an eyelid lift, minimize the surgery needed to rejuvenate your eyes, or delay eyelid surgery.
Dermal fillers, such as Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane, use a non-animal derived injectable substance called hyaluronic acid. This is identical to the natural substance in your skin that holds collagen in place, therefore no allergy testing is necessary. These fillers are injected to minimize nasolabial folds, lip lines, parentheses/folds around the mouth and marionette areas, to augment lips, blunt circles around the eyes, and to fill scars. The correction lasts 6-9 months in areas with great movement (lips, marionette lines) and 12-14 months in areas that are more static (nasolabial folds). Other dermal fillers do exist, but all carry greater risks and therefore are not favored by the author.
Botulinum treatments (Botox and Dysport) and medical-grade skin care are core to achieve and maintain a youthful appearance. Certain facial movements produce undesirable lines. While skin care reduces lines produced by sun damage and age, Botulinum reduces or eliminates those produced by unwanted facial expression. Used together they achieve powerful results. Glycolic and other acids, retinoids, bleaching creams, antioxidants and sunblock constitute the building blocks of successful medical-grade skin care. These regimens are tailored individually and adjusted periodically to achieve the necessary goals. A medical aesthetician teamed with an experienced and qualified physician should be the only choice when pursuing medical skin care and Botulinum injections respectively.
Light-based treatments, including Fraxel, IPL photorejuvenation and CO2 laser, are recommended for those who wish to further rejuvenate their skin. Pore reduction, elimination of fine lines and pigment spots, improvement of acne scarring and broken capillaries, are all achievable through these treatments. Condition severity and skin type determine the light-based treatment recommended. Medical skin care is used in conjunction to enhance and maintain results.
Ultimately individual optimal results are achieved by customizing the proper combination of therapies. Eyelid surgery, in conjunction with the above modalities can produce complete rejuvenation.