Learn About Your Options When it Comes to Wrinkle Treatments in Vancouver, BC
Although wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process, they are a concern for many of us. Depending on lifestyle and genetics, some of us will be bothered by fine lines as early as our late 20s, while others will inherit amazing skin and appear wrinkle free into their 50s. Thanks to advances in medical grade skin care and treatments, there are many wrinkle treatment innovations available to our patients. Board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Thomas Buonassisi provides a variety of wrinkle treatments in Vancouver, BC - from medical grade skin care to laser skin resurfacing. He and his team of skin specialists have extensive experience with the vast array of products and technologies that help prevent and correct wrinkles.
How Wrinkles Form
Sun exposure, the natural loss of collagen as we age and repetitive facial expressions contribute to the development of wrinkles. Wrinkles begin as fine lines, and with repetitive facial movement and environmental exposure, develop into wrinkles. Proper diagnosis of the type and cause of your wrinkles is essential to developing an anti aging treatment plan that will be appropriate and effective.
How to Prevent Wrinkles
Your 50 year old self would like to tell your 20 year old self to wear sunscreen. You've heard this a million times before and we are going to say it again. If time is on your side, the best thing you can do at a young age to prevent wrinkles is to invest in a medical grade anti aging skin care program. While sunscreen won't stop the aging process, it can slow down the process considerably. Medical grade skin care products introduce age appropriate combinations of skin protection, products to strengthen the skin's barrier function, and growth factor serums to increase the body's natural wound-healing response and produce collagen. In addition to a home skin care routine, patients who want to be really proactive about preventing wrinkles and the other signs of aging will love Forever Young BBL treatments, which are shown with Standford University research studies to suppress the genes that cause aging and actually result in people looking younger after aging 10 years. Hindsight is lovely, however the vast majority of us didn't know about sun screen when we were young. For those of us with more mature skin, there are a myriad of options for improving the appearance of wrinkles. But no two faces are the same, and determining the types of wrinkles you have, is key.
Are Your Wrinkles Fine Lines, Furrows or Folds?
Fine lines are typically surface level and develop because of irregular thickening of the dermis and loss of water in the epidermis. We've got sun damage and exposure to environmental toxins (particularly tobacco smoke) to thank for our fine lines. Fine lines become deeper as we age and eventually become furrows. An anti aging plan for someone with fine lines may include medical grade skin care to protect and strengthen the skin, chemical peels to keep skin looking fresh and clear and BBL Photo Facial treatments to maintain and correct skin discolouration as well as other skin problems. Furrows are deeper lines that form in places where we make repetitive facial expressions. Some of the most common areas that we develop furrows are:
- Crow's feet wrinkles: those lovely laugh lines that show around the eyes when we smile. Many of us are proud of our "laugh lines" and believe they are a sign of a happy life. Others find that these wrinkles make them look older than they are, or give away their true age.
- The 11s: the 2 or sometimes 3 vertical lines that form between our brows when we frown.
- Worry lines: the horizontal lines in the top part of the forehead
Furrows start off as dynamic wrinkles, meaning they are only visible when we contract our facial muscles. Over time, dynamic furrows become static furrows, meaning they are there even at rest. Dynamic furrows are often treated with wrinkle relaxing injections. Once they become static, a combination of neurotoxins and skin resurfacing is an option. Folds are deep grooves in the face that are made worse by loss of facial volume. Most of us notice loss of volume in our late 30s in the form of deepening naso labial folds, flattening cheeks (facial volume loss) and an overall less youthful look to the face. Over the years folds become deeper and we see more shadowing in areas such as the mouth and jawline, with more noticeable marionette lines running from the corner of the mouth to the jawline. Folds are often treated with dermal fillers to add volume back. For patients desiring a total correction of sagging areas of the face such as jowls, surgical techniques such as a lower facelift are extremely effective. For patients looking for less downtime and more subtle improvement, skin tightening and dermal fillers may be considered.
Your Wrinkle Improvement Plan Should Include Prevention, Correction & Maintenance
Prevention, correction and maintenance are key to properly managing wrinkles. Medical grade skin care, resurfacing with laser or chemicals and camouflaging with dermal fillers are often used in conjunction to achieve the best results. The plan for someone in their 20s will be different to someone in their 50s, and there are many options to suit your lifestyle and work commitments. The plan for someone in their 30s with fine lines may include a skin care regime to protect and strengthen the skin, combined with wrinkle relaxing injections to prevent the deepening of dynamic wrinkles and a micro laser peel or nano laser peel to uncover smoother skin. The plan for someone in their 50s with pronounced wrinkles and folds may include deep laser skin resurfacing and dermal fillers to plump and fill. Patients of any age will benefit greatly from the scientifically proven age prevention properties of Forever Young BBL Laser treatments.
What to Expect at Your Consultation
We are a team of skin specialists working under the direction of a Facial Plastic Surgeon with 20 years experience. We specialize in designing comprehensive Age Smart Plans based on the unique needs of each patient. Your objectives, budget and tolerance for downtime are always taken into consideration. We specialize in a comprehensive set of medical treatments and can design plans that include surgery, are strictly non surgical, or combine the power of both. Your Age Smart Plan is specifically designed for you to improve and prevent wrinkles and begins with a comprehensive consultation. Your budget and tolerance for downtime are always taken into consideration when designing your wrinkle treatment plan. No two patients are alike, and our team of experts can customize a plan that works just for you and your needs.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you're ready to experience beautiful, youthful skin for yourself, contact us. Our team of experts will work closely with you to find the best treatment plan to help you achieve radiant skin that shines and glows. We offer the complete spectrum of medical services, both surgical and non surgical, to help you get the results you desire so you can start Loving Your Skin.