July 30, 2012
New trends in anti-aging procedures
Wrinkle, which is a crease in the skin is the tell tale sign of the aging process. As part of aging, the collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elascticity in the skin decreases, causing wrinkles and a loss of fullness and volume in the face. The most common signs of aging in the facial skin are:
1. Tranverse lines on the forehead (frown lines).
2. Ptosis or downward progression of the eyebrows.
3. "Crow's feet" or laugh lines.
4. Prominence of the nasolabial folds (nose to mouth lines).
5. Glabellar frown lines (squint lines).
6. Pre-jowl sulcus (sad mouth corners).
7. Vertical lines on the upper and lower lips.
8. Flattening of the malar prominence (cheekbones).
9. Deep transverse lines around the neck.
10."Double-chin" or "turkey gobbler."
To minimize prolonged downtime from invasive surgical procedures, minimally invasive procedure such as injection of soft tissue fillers into the skin is utilized. These tissue fillers can soften and smooth facial creases and wrinkles, elevate and fill deep folds and shallow contours such as hollow cheeks, pump lips, and improve the appearance of facial scars and imperfections from traumatic injury.
Some of the more commonly used soft tissue fillers are autologous fat, hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, and collagen. Fat, when used as a filler should be autologous (should come from the same patient). This makes it well tolerated by the surrounding tissue where it is injected, and rejection or allergic reaction is avoided. The process involves harvesting of fats from the donor site, usually in the abdomen, inner thighs, or the chin. The fats are then processed and injected in the areas where there are depressions. The fats are eventually vascularized and become part and parcel of the area where it was injected.
On the other hand, the other soft tissue fillers are non-autologous. Hyaluronic acid is by far the most common non-autologous filler, and one available in the market is a gel of hyaluronic acid produced by bacteria. When injected into wrinkled skin, it adds fullness and reduces prominence of the wrinkles in the previously wrinkled area. Hyaluronic acid also attracts and binds water, and this also helps maintain fullness in the area of injection.
This is most commonly used to diminish wrinkles and aging lines of the face such as the nasolabial folds, pre-jowl sulcus, "crow's feet," and forehead wrinkles. It may also be used for filling aging-related facial hollows, and orbital troughs (under and around the eyes), as well as cheek volume and contouring of the chin, forehead, nose, and lips.
Dr. Perry de la Cruz obtained his medical degree from the University of Sto. Tomas. He is a diplomate of the Philippine Board of Cosmetic Surgery; a fellow of the Philippine Society for Cosmetic Surgery and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery; and a member of the Asian Pacific Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. He pioneered research on "Serial Revision of Leg Scars" in 1988. He holds clinic at:
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Unit 518 Medical Office Building
205 Civic Drive, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Telephone no. (632) 771-9246
Medical Center Manila
Suite 207 2nd floor
1122 Gen. Luna, Ermita, Manila
Telephone no. (632) 521-7370
Visit his web site at www.geocities.com/docperryster or e-mail him at docperryster@gmail.com.
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