Age brings about wisdom, experience, and strength, but it can do a number on your skin. Aging skin is an issue that most people deal with in their lifetime, but you don’t have to deal with it alone. With today’s technology, there a variety of innovative treatment options to help prevent and treat your skin as it ages. To find the best treatment for aging skin that suits your needs, take a look at the seven skin-rejuvenating procedures below.
1. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a popular option around the world for treating a variety of skin issues. It is performed by a physician or dermatologist, and it doesn’t require any recovery time or anesthetic. Even though the name sounds intimidating, microdermabrasion simply involves using “tiny, fine particles or a very hard diamond-tipped wand to slough off cells from the top layer of the skin and encourage new skin growth,” through controlled, surgical scraping.
This procedure is not considered painful but it can be uncomfortable. It helps aging skin by getting rid of unhealthy skin and producing healthy cells faster. Patients can require multiple sessions, but the side effects are minimal and healing-time is quick.
2. Laser Resurfacing
This type of treatment involves removing the upper layers of skin like microdermabrasion but uses laser-power instead. The wand-like instrument uses laser-heat or light to remove old skin and promote collagen production. It can be used to treat wrinkles, scarring, or blemishes. The high-intensity light creates longer-lasting results than microdermabrasion however.
Laser resurfacing could be considered the best treatment for aging skin if you’re looking for something effective and long-lasting. The procedure can take between 30-90 minutes per session, but results can last for years. Laser resurfacing is typically done on the face, neck, and chest areas. Side effects include redness, swelling, and tenderness.
3. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are the best treatment for aging skin for anyone just getting into the aging-treatment-game or anyone wanting something as non-invasive as possible. This treatment can improve the appearance of skin through the use of a particular chemical solution. Typically performed by your dermatologist, this chemical solution removes old layers of skin.
The procedure is extremely short; only lasting between 5-10 minutes per session. While pain medication may be administered, discomfort is minimal and only lasts a few minutes. Chemical peels can treat scarring, wrinkles, age spots, sun damage, and the overall feel of the skin on the face, neck, and hands. There is absolutely no recovery time, and side effects include redness or tenderness. Some people may have a poor reaction to the chemicals however and experience blisters or discoloration.
4. Liposuction
Liposuction is a popular choice for patients looking for a more immediately effective treatment for aging. It is an invasive procedure performed by a physician or surgeon, under local anesthesia. It is minimally invasive with today’s technology, however. Liposuction involves inserting a small, hollow tube into small incisions in the skin to remove excess fat. This type of procedure does not necessarily help with skin issues like wrinkles or blemishes, but it can get rid of excess fat associated with aging.
Micro-liposuction is a new type of technique that can be used in areas like the neck, cheek, or chin to contour aging skin. Liposuction can be performed on almost any part of the body but comes with recovery times of up to 2 weeks. Immediate side effects include swelling, redness, and numbness. Rare, but serious complications can include skin or tissue damage, allergic reactions, blood clots, and infection.
5. Ultrasound Skin Tightening
Many people wish to improve the appearance of their aging skin, but do not wish to have invasive procedures or experience pain. If you are one of those people, this may be the best treatment for aging skin with serious, long-lasting results. Ultrasound skin tightening can be done in as little as one session but can require multiple or “touch-up” session.
During this treatment, a dermatologist uses an ultrasound machine to stimulate below the surface of your skin. It naturally aides in creating new collagen, which gives your skin its youthfulness. Ultrasound skin tightening lifts and tones your skin over a period of a few months. Typical side effects include swelling, tenderness, and redness, but you can resume normal activities immediately. This type of treatment can be done on the face, neck, and upper chest.
6. Soft-Tissue Fillers or Injections
Injections are a minimally invasive way to improve the look of aging skin. There are two main types of injections, which do various jobs. Some injections contain chemicals which paralyze your facial muscles and smooth out the appearance of wrinkles and fine-lines. These injections are usually done at the “expressive” points on your face, like your brow, crows, feet, and frown-lines.
Dermal fillers are a different type of injection that contain substances used to restore the lost volume in your face and contour facial features. These can be used to plump lips, enhance cheeks, smooth chin wrinkles, and more. Typical side effects of injections include swelling, redness, and discomfort. In rare cases, paralysis at injection-site is possible. The results you receive from these injections can last for up to 18 months.
7. Cosmetic Surgery
The best treatment for aging skin if you’re looking for the most-permanent, is cosmetic surgery. It is probably the most invasive form of treating aging skin, but it also the most extensive and long-lasting. You can receive procedures like facelifts on your face, neck, or elsewhere by cosmetic surgeons that give your skin an immediate, tighter appearance. Also, surgeries on the nose can slim and perfect noses which have widened and stretch with age.
There are a wide range of cosmetic surgeries that can be performed; which vary in cost, pain-scale, and recovery-time. These surgeries generally require anesthesia. Recovery-time can range from a few days to a few months, and side-effects can range from redness, swelling, and pain to clots, infection, and allergic reactions.
Summing Up
The best treatment for aging skin can only be determined by you and your doctor. Depending on your age, health, skin-type, result-expectations, and more, there are a wide variety of options to choose from. The seven treatments found on this list are sure to get you feeling and looking your youngest, in the best years of your life.
