Beyond Cosmetic Surgery

By Judy Kirkwood

Used to be women of a certain age went “under the knife” to maintain a more youthful face. Now 50+ women don’t necessarily want to look 10 years younger, they just want to look as good as they feel, not tired with eye bags that stare back or angry with frown lines that draw the mouth down. Cosmetic surgery is still the “gold standard,” but there are many other options we might want to consider first that are less invasive (and less expensive).

Botox Botulinum Toxin Type A, or Botox, is safe enough that over 11 million women have used it since 2002. It is injected into the muscles between the brows to improve the look of those ski track (or “elevens”) frown lines we create when we squint or knit our brows in worry. It works by paralyzing the muscles to prevent the contraction that causes the lines. Botox lasts for about 3 months at anywhere from $300 to $500, depending on geographic area and expertise of the technician. Although Botox is very safe, read the side effects before getting a treatment. And make sure the person you go to is a qualified health care professional.

Injectables Injectable dermal fillers, called “liquid facelifts,” are wildly popular right now. They restore fullness to the face, plumping cheeks and lips, softening creases and wrinkles. Depending on the number of shots you get at a time, there is little down time. The worst symptom is usually a little bruising, which can be covered with make-up.

According to the American Academy of Plastic Surgeons, there were close to 2 million “soft tissue fillers” procedures in 2011. The names of fillers include Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Sculptra, Collagen, and Artefill. Each healthcare provider seems to have his or her own favorite. Read up on the different brands so you can ask good questions before choosing one filler over another.

Microcurrent Therapy Originally developed for treating facial palsy, this facelift modality uses electrical impulses to tone and re-educate facial muscles over a period of 6 to 12 hour-long sessions. The impulses are mild at first, but at the highest current setting, there is a definite prickle and even a metallic taste in the mouth. You can sometimes feel the skin jump. Cosmetic benefits include increasing circulation, the production of collagen and elastin, and protein synthesis and cell membrane transport. Results need a “booster” about every 6 weeks at $150 and up per session.

Radiofrequency Waves A painless skin-tightening procedure involving a handheld device that uses radiowaves to send heat deep into the dermis to promote collagen growth that will provide a new foundation for saggy necks and droopy eyelids. Thermage CPT (not to be confused with the original Thermage, which was not very effective), and Exilis are two of the treatment names to research. Exilis requires 4 to 6 treatments and is less expensive than Thermage CPT (around $1500 for Exilis). Results are not significant until after several cycles of cell renewal – 90 to 180 days - but they last several years and can be repeated with no damage or downtime.

Laser Resurfacing Probably the most extreme of the nonsurgical face rejuvenation treatments, laser resurfacing -- also called lasabrasion, laser peel, or laser vaporization -- removes old skin, which is replaced by new skin. Jennifer Anniston recently credited her tight, wrinkle-free face to an obsession with laser resurfacing, but warned she looked like a burn victim for 8 days as the old skin came off in layers. Recovery time is 10 to 21 days and the average cost is around $2500. Short pulsed light energy “vaporizes” damaged skin cells. In other words, it burns your skin off. You have to be willing to endure some pain and keep the skin cool and clean as you would with a wound, but the results should last 2 to 5 years.

Facial Exercises Purists claim that facial exercises can provide a natural facelift. Some involve exercises you can do while driving. Others require hands and fingers moving muscles around. Like massage, skin stimulation does increase blood flow. If you Google facial exercises, you will find demonstration videos. This facelift is free and painless but it requires more persistence than any other alternative here because there is no magic radiowave or microcurrent, pulsing light, or shot of chemicals. It’s all about you developing a healthy routine. Exercises performed on a daily basis will strengthen facial muscles, as they do other muscles.