How Does Ageing Impact Your Choice of Aesthetic Treatments?

As we age, our skin undergoes various changes that affect its texture, elasticity, and overall appearance. With each decade, our skin’s needs evolve, and so do the aesthetic treatments that best suit those needs. This blog will discuss how ageing impacts your choice of aesthetic treatments. Let’s look at some popular aesthetic treatments in turn.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are gel-like substances injected beneath the skin to restore lost volume, smooth lines, or enhance facial contours. Over time, our faces naturally lose subcutaneous fat, leading to shadow patterns that create an aged appearance. Dermal fillers can be used to:

Plump thin lips
Enhance shallow contours
Soften facial creases and wrinkles
Improve the appearance of recessed scars

Different types of fillers are designed to treat varying signs of ageing. Depending on the filler selected, they can:

Plump up thinning lips
Enhance or fill in shallow areas on the face
Decrease or remove the shadow or wrinkle under the eyes caused by the lower eyelid
Fill in or soften the look of recessed scars
Fill in or soften static wrinkles, especially on the lower face

Static wrinkles include those around the mouth and along the cheeks. These wrinkles are usually a result of a loss of collagen and elasticity in the skin.

Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Anti-wrinkle injections, commonly known as Botox, work by blocking nerve signals in the muscles where they are injected. When those nerve signals are interrupted, the affected muscle is temporarily paralysed or frozen. Certain wrinkles may be softened, reduced, or even removed without movement of these selected facial muscles. These injections are most effective on wrinkles that haven’t entirely set in and can also be used as a preventative measure to prevent deep wrinkles from forming.

Skin Boosters

Skin boosters are micro-injections of dermal fillers in the skin. Unlike traditional dermal fillers, they are not injected beneath the skin to volumise or shape the face. Instead, they are very fluid, so when injected, they act like a hydrating mask from within the skin. Skin boosters are designed to:

Improve skin texture and radiance
Increase skin hydration
Promote the production of collagen and elastin

Skin boosters are typically used to treat the face, neck, décolletage, and hands and are most commonly used for improving skin texture and hydration.

Microneedling

Microneedling is a procedure that uses tiny needles to prick the skin, generating new collagen and skin tissue for smoother, firmer, more toned skin. It’s primarily used on the face and may treat various scars, wrinkles, and large pores. The benefits of microneedling include:

Reduction of scars
Minimised wrinkles and fine lines
Improved skin texture

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels involve applying a chemical solution to the skin, which exfoliates and eventually peels off. The new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. Depending on the desired results, chemical peels can be done at different depths — light, medium, or deep. Chemical peels can be used to:

Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and ageing
Improve the appearance of mild scars
Treat certain types of acne
Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative medicine that utilises the patient’s blood components to stimulate healing and rejuvenation. The process involves drawing a small amount of blood from the patient, which is then centrifuged to separate the plasma and platelets from the other blood cells. The concentrated platelet-rich plasma is injected into the target area, releasing growth factors promoting cell turnover, collagen production, and tissue regeneration. PRP therapy is used for:

Skin rejuvenation improves skin texture and elasticity, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and promotes a youthful complexion.
Hair restoration: Stimulating hair growth and increasing hair density in cases of hair thinning or loss.
Wound healing: Accelerating the healing process of injured tissues and reducing recovery time.

PRP therapy is particularly beneficial for individuals seeking a natural approach to anti-ageing and skin health, as it harnesses the body’s own healing mechanisms. It’s suitable for all skin types and ages but is especially popular among those in their 40s and 50s who want to combat the signs of ageing without synthetic materials.

Topical Skincare Treatments

Topical skincare treatments play a crucial role in daily skin health maintenance and addressing specific skin concerns. These treatments include a wide range of products, such as:

Retinoids: Vitamin A derivatives that promote cell turnover, improve skin texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Antioxidants: Ingredients like vitamins C and E that protect the skin from free radicals, promote collagen production, and enhance skin brightness.
Peptides: Chains of amino acids that signal the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, improving firmness and reducing wrinkles.
Hyaluronic Acid: A natural humectant that attracts moisture to the skin, keeping it hydrated and plump.
Sunscreen: A vital component for protecting the skin from UV-induced damage and preventing premature ageing.

Topical skincare treatments are essential for all ages but become increasingly important as the skin ages and its natural regenerative processes slow down. They can be used in conjunction with other aesthetic treatments or as standalone regimens to maintain skin health and address concerns like pigmentation, texture, and hydration.