Aging is a gift! Physical aging is a sign that we are living life to the fullest, experiencing its highs and lows, and creating memories with people we were blessed enough to have in our lives.
As we age, the facial skeleton actually changes shape! Just like the spine becomes compressed when we get older, the bones around our eyes become wider/larger and the jaw becomes shorter and flatter. This, combined with reduction in fat pads, muscle tone, and skin collagen/elastin, all attributes to the classic physical signs of aging that we tend to complain about. Basically, the entire facial structures move downward and inward with gravity over time.
Fillers are an injectable hyaluronic acid that immediately plumps the skin after injected. HA holds 1000x its weight in water, meaning the hydration in your skin and moisturizers/products is immediately pulled to the treated area. Fillers are injected deep in many facial areas, so the overlying structures are tented overtop of the filler! (think: cheekbones) The result is a plumped and sculpted or full look that lasts 6-12 months.
Sculptra is an injectable biostimulator that causes the body to create collagen. Sculptra is injected over a few sittings and allowed to work in between/after each appointment. It causes the skin to become thicker and firmer, but does not plump and shape to the extent that filler does. Results show very gradually and last 2 (or more) years, making it a low-maintenance option. It is also irreversible. Sculptra is a very hot injectable at the moment, as the trends favour a more natural look.
Growth factor naturally occurring in the human body. It is responsible for developing and healing tissues, including skin cells. It’s also a powerful skincare ingredient that is highly researched and recognized in its abilities to firm and tighten the skin. Polyamin-DAB is the molecule you should be looking for in your skincare products to confirm its quality. We love the Grenzcine line by Vivier because it has over 30 years of research and $13 million dollars to back its efficacy and results. The price point is high on this line, but trust us, if you can afford to start incorporating Growth Factors, you won’t regret it!
Microneedling is a well-studied beauty treatment that is known for its effectiveness in creating collagen. Tiny micro-wounds are created with small, sterile needles. The body responds by creating collagen to heal the wounds in the weeks after the treatment. The result is thicker skin, fewer wrinkles, reduced pore size, and more! Microneedling combined with Radiofrequency (Morpheus8) also tightens the skin! We do a deep dive on microneedling in another post, which is linked here for further reading.
Learn more about microneedling
Retinoids refer to the class of ingredients that are derived from Vitamin A (Retinol, Tretinoin, Retin-A, Tazarotene, etc). Retinoids are the most studied ingredient for treating both aging skin and acne, backed with decades of evidence on its effectiveness! If you’re not already using one, you should be! A staple in almost every skincare junkie’s routine, retinoids work by increasing cellular turnover, which means old skin cells are replaced with new ones at a faster rate. They also help the skin to produce collagen and reduce sebum production, making it great for both aging and acne. It’s important to start with a low percentage of retinol, as the side effects are peeling and breakouts as the skin adjusts. We love Vivier’s retinols because they are a gentle, slow-release formula that reduce inflammation that commonly occurs!
Shop Our Favourite Retinol for Beginners
We hope this article helped clear the air regarding the aging process and what you can do to help mitigate facial volume loss.
As always, consultations are complimentary! We’re here to help you finding your best protocol for regaining a natural and refreshed look.
Springbank Skin Centre
Advanced Medical Aesthetics in Calgary, Alberta
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