Posts Tagged ‘collagen’

Tips For Preventing Facial Aging

Tuesday, February 12th, 2013

Tips For Preventing Facial AgingGetting older brings several benefits to our lives—we become successful in our career, enjoy our families , possibly travel, and have the chance to have experiences that we always dreamed of. However, experiencing all of life’s wonders can take a toll on our face, which might include new wrinkles, fine lines, damage to the skin, and volume loss. As an expert facial plastic surgeon in Charlotte with an extensive knowledge in facial rejuvenation techniques to slow and diminish the aging process, I know that taking preventative measures is one of the best ways to keep a natural and youthful facial appearance well into your later years.

To help my patients overcome the aging process, I’ve gathered my best tips for delaying the onset of facial aging.

1. Prevention With Injections

When you think of getting older, I’d be willing to bet that you’re not excited to wake up one day and notice crow’s feet beginning to appear around your eyes! To prevent the formation of crow’s feet, I inject Botox to prevent their formation. Though Botox is most often use to diminish wrinkles after  they have  appeared, it can also be injected as a prevenative measure to prevent their formation in the first place.

2. Rinse, Lather, Repeat!

The face is exposed to UV light on a daily basis.  UV light causes damage to the skin causing brown spots, rough texture, large pores, and destroys the elastic compent of the skin.  I believe in using organic medical grade skin care to repair damage skin and keep the facial skin looking great.  I recommend Image Skin Care as it is free of petrochemicals and parabenes.  The using of daily skin care that repairs, protects, and heals is imperative for patients of all ages.  The continued use of chemical peels will only enhace the results and keep the skin looking bright for many years to come.

3. Collagen is Key

Perhaps the most important part in maintaining the youth in a face is the promotion of collagen within our skin. When a face maintains collagen production it look brighter, clearer, and more vibrant. To prevent wrinkles and volume loss from occurring early on, it’s a good idea to begin using anti-aging products in your early 20’s and use throughout life. If you’re unsure of which products to choose, select labels that include Retin-A, Renova, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid–a substance found naturally in your body which is also utilized in facial fillers.  These products are both safe and effective in a comprehensive skin treatment plan.

Speak With An Experienced Facial Plastic Surgeon Today

Understanding the different measures that you can take to keep the signs of aging from gracing your face is key in delaying the process. If you’re interested in learning more about the various non-invasive ways that I treat patients at my office in Charlotte, I encourage you to contact my practice today to schedule your initial consultation by calling (704) 323-5090. Whether you’re in your 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s, I’m confident that I’ll be able to tailor a unique treatment plan to meet your needs and goals.

For additional information regarding Botox, Facial Fillers, and other facial rejuvenation techniques, please contact Carolina Facial Plastics today.

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What Are in the Facial Fillers that I Use at My Facial Cosmetic Surgery Practice in Charlotte?

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

As a Charlotte cosmetic surgeon, I use facial fillers to replace lost volume and reshape the face to a more youthful proportion.  Whenever I am performing a procedure, I want my patients to be well informed about the facial fillers that I use.  I commonly receive questions regarding the composition of fillers.  Generally, there are 2 types of fillers:

1)      Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

  1. Restylane
  2. Perlane
  3. Juvederm

2)      Collagen Stimulators

  1. Sculptra
  2. Radiesse

 

Hyaluronic acid sounds like a bad substance because it contains the word “acid.” Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that the body produces daily.  It functions to support all of the cells in the body.   Typically, Restylane, Juvederm, or Perlane will last 6 -12 months.  It will resolve faster in areas that are constantly moving, such as the mouth, as opposed to still areas, such as the temples. Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm differ in their thickness and swelling rates after the procedure.  Juvederm tends to swell the most while Perlane in the thickest.  Restylane is in the middle.

Charlotte Sculptra1 300x26 What Are in the Facial Fillers that I Use at My Facial Cosmetic Surgery Practice in Charlotte?

Sculptra’s fancy medical name is poly-l-lactic acid.  That is same material that is used in a line of commonly used sutures which have been popular for years.  Sculptra is very safe when placed in the face by a trained injector.  It stimulates the body to produce collagen which replenishes the lost volume of the face.  The results typically last 2-3 years.  Depending on the amount of volume lost, more than one session of Sculptra may be required.

 

Radiesse is composed of Source calcium hydroxyl apatite , a substance that is produced by our bones.  When injected into the face, it will fill the area and stimulate the body to produce collagen.  It typically lasts for one  year depending on its location.  I do not use it around the eyes or in the lips because it may leave lumps or bumps.

I hope this serves as a synopsis for the composition of the different facial fillers I use in my cosmetic surgery practice in Charlotte.  For more information about facial fillers click here.

 

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How Does the Sun Effect Your Skin? What is the Single Best Product to Maintain Great Looking Skin?

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it is on display everyday.  If the skin looks bright, smooth, and healthy, it can really add to one’s appearance.  Skin that is not well taken care of can be discolored, can have wrinkles, and can sag.  Poor skin can distract from a beautiful face, and taking just a few steps to improve the skin can have a dramatic effect on the overall appearance.

What is the main cause of aging skin?

Sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is the single most damaging factor for our skin.

What is UV radiation?

UV radiation is a type of non-visible light that is produced from our 6 billion year old sun.  It penetrates our atmosphere and eventually can be absorbed by our skin.  When the skin absorbs UV light, this causes the changes in the skin and is responsible for prematurely aging skin, skin cancer, and cataracts.

What are the types of UV radiation?

There are 3 types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

How is UVA radiation different from UVB?

They differ in how deeply they penetrate the skin.  UVA rays are more powerful, and they can penetrate very deeply into the skin.  UVB rays only penetrate and damage the very top layers of the skin.  UVA rays account for 95% of sun exposure, and are responsible for causing skin cancers and premature aging of the skin.  UVB rays are responsible for causing sunburns, tans, and skin cancers.

How does UV light cause my skin to age?

Healthy, young-appearing skin is smooth, free of color changes, and has very few wrinkles. Collagen is responsible for keeping the skin smooth and helps prevent wrinkles.  Elastin is the material in your skin that acts like a rubber band.  When the skin is stretched, elastin causes the skin to come back into place.  When elastin fibers are injured, the skin begins to sag.  Over years of sun exposure, UV light causes damage in the skin by activating enzymes that break down the collagen and elastin.  Over time, the damage of these structures prevents the skin from being able to repair itself with repeated exposure to the sun.  This is a major cause of aging skin.

What causes sun spots?

Melanin is a substance produced by the body that absorbs the UV light to help prevent damage.  Over a long period of sun exposure, the body’s cells that produce this pigment are also damaged and they can overproduce the pigment trying to protect the body.  This causes a sun spot.

What is the single best product to keep great looking skin?

Sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays will prevent damage to the skin from the sun.  Sunscreen should be worn everyday as UVA radiation penetrates through the clouds and glass.  There is a special film that can be placed over the widows in your house, car, or place of business to protect your skin.

 

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What is Sculptra Aesthetic and How is it Different From Injectable Fillers of the Face?

Monday, February 13th, 2012

The growth of injectable facial fillers has been explosive over the past ten years.  I love the products and their outcomes, as they require no downtime and minimal pain.  Facial injectable fillers are ideal for immediately correcting facial volume loss and filling wrinkles in the face.  These products are best for a patient seeking an immediate boost.  They are also completely reversible, and are made up of naturally occurring products, such as hyaluranic acid, which are already in your body.  At our Carolina Facial Plastic Surgery Center offices in Charlotte and Columbia, we use Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm as our facial fillers of choice.  They are injected into the face to immediately fill or volumize areas of concern.

Sculptra Aesthetic is an injectable product used in the face to ultimately increase facial volume, but it is NOT a facial filler.  Sculptra Aesthetic, poly-l-lactic acid, is an injectable substance that stimulates your own body to produce new collagen.  This new collagen will SLOWLY add new volume to the face.  In young faces with good volume and elasticity, it may take only one treatment to give that added youthful “pop” to the face.  In faces requiring more volume, it can take up to four injection sessions to get the desired amount of new collagen. Each session is spaced out over approximately three weeks, and since the result is dependent on the body producing NEW collagen, it will take about three months for the new collagen to become noticeable.  The advantage of creating new collagen is that the effects of Sculptra last much longer, 2-4 years, as opposed to other filler products which last 3-12 months.

In previous blogs, I have discussed my 3D facial topography theory that I use to analyze facial structure.  I believe a face with the right amount of volume will reflect light and have smooth transitions from one area of the face to the next.  In patients with volume loss, the smoothness is lost and the wrinkles create multiple shadows on the face.  The shadows make the face appear tired and aged.  I inject Sculptra into the natural fat pockets of the face to add volume to the actual area of the face that has lost the volume.  This can subtly change the entire shape of the face and smooth the transitions to add a youthful and beautiful appearance to the face.

Dr. Jonathan Kulbersh is the founder of Carolina Facial Plastic Surgery.  He is a facial plastic surgery specialist, and has offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina.

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