The previous section mainly discussed the characteristics of invasive treatments. Now, we will talk about non-invasive treatments, which are also a topic of interest for many women.
As previously mentioned, skin degeneration occurs in different layers, and the epidermis becomes loose, resulting in wrinkles. Wrinkles can generally be improved with botulinum toxin. Some may ask, won’t the skin become even looser when using botulinum toxin to relax the muscles? In fact, some parts of the body are controlled by two muscle groups, such as agonist and antagonist muscles. One is responsible for pulling up, and the other is responsible for pulling down; or one is responsible for pulling left, and the other is responsible for pulling right. Smart readers will immediately realize that if botulinum toxin is used to counteract the muscle that pulls down, it is equivalent to pulling the muscle up, right? Yes, if the muscles that pull down are injected for eye brows and mouth corners, there will be a lifting effect. Some doctors will also inject botulinum toxin in different places to achieve a lifting effect, but the effect of this method is only average and difficult to sustain.
Another method is to use fillers. As mentioned earlier, there are various fillers available, including hyaluronic acid, polylactic acid, collagen protein, and microcrystalline ceramics. The results vary in terms of duration and quality, which will be discussed later. The principle of fillers is simple, which is to fill the lost collagen protein and fat due to aging, and the lower layer of the skin becomes plump after filling. The usual locations for fillers are apple muscles, lips, mouth corners, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, temples, forehead “train tracks,” etc. The filling effect is usually immediately visible (except for Sculptra® and Radiesse microcrystalline ceramics injections, which require time to stimulate collagen growth), and most clients are satisfied with the filling effect.
Radiofrequency tightening – different radiofrequency devices can have different effects. Monopolar radiofrequency has a stronger penetration power than bipolar radiofrequency, that is, it contacts deeper tissues. If it works, the dermis must be heated to more than 60 degrees to make collagen protein contract and grow. However, if the surface skin temperature is too high, it can cause burns. Some devices have both surface cooling and deep heating effects, making the skin safer. Readers must be aware that although some devices have radiofrequency technology, the dermis layer cannot reach the specified temperature, and the treatment will be futile.
There are also several tightening devices available recently, including fractional radiofrequency microneedles and ultrasonic facelifts. We will discuss these technologies in more detail when they mature.
Laser – besides sagging, wrinkles and pores are also inevitable due to collagen protein loss. Deep segmented laser can reach more than 1.5mm below the skin surface. Segmented lasers can improve other problems that other treatments cannot handle. Imagine if the face is tight but the pores, fine lines, and skin texture are not improved, it will appear inconsistent.
These different treatments can help with different types of sagging, and the choice of treatment should be discussed with a doctor.