Frown lines, crows feet, sagging jowls, and all the rest are signs of anti-aging. No matter who we are, we see these things in the mirror as we get older. That does not mean, however, that we have to live with it. There are a lot of ways to reduce or even remove those signs, thanks to advances in modern medicine.
The problem is, with so many choices out there, how do you find the right one? The answer is simple – get informed on what your choices are. Knowing what is available, what side affects might be involved, and how effective it is will narrow your choices down tremendously.
Anti-Aging Creams and Lotions
You see many skin care products that claim to rejuvenate the skin with just a few applications. Anti-aging lotions and creams promise to reduce your wrinkles, remove age spots, and make you look years younger. The problem is that most are nothing more than skin moisturizers or contain bleaching agents to lighten age spots.
Using these creams or lotions tend to have fewer side affects than others, that’s certainly true. The reality is that they also don’t produce very noticeable results and what results you do get are only temporary. If you have major signs of aging, this type of treatment won’t be right for you.
Laser Therapy
Procedures using laser equipment are either ablative or non-ablative. Ablative treatments destroy dead skin cells, removing most of the outer layer of skin, to show the healthy cells underneath them. This type of treatment works best on heavy wrinkling and acne scarring. It can be very uncomfortable, has a longer recovery time and noticeable side affects like redness of the skin. The potential risks include infections from the exposed skin.
Non-ablative treatments cause controlled micro punctures in the skin to encourage collagen production and healing. This works well on mild acne scarring and wrinkles. The recovery time is short and it isn’t too uncomfortable, depending on your pain threshold.
Non-Laser Treatments
There are a number of non-laser treatments available as well. Microdermabrasion uses tiny medical grade needles to puncture the skin, forcing the skin to heal. It works well for mild scarring, but can be very painful.
Plastic surgery has many risks, is very invasive, and requires the most recovery time. It is something one should resort to only in extreme cases.
Making a Final Decision
Before making a final decision, it is important to speak with your medical doctor to find out which treatments they might recommend. They can help you choose the best procedure to match the result you are looking for.
