It is common for people of a certain age to begin thinking about beauty. Before the signs of aging become prominent, the goal may be to enhance beauty and postpone the onset of lines and wrinkles. No matter how hard we try, though, it is inevitable that the skin and the shape of the face will change over time. To manage the signs of aging well, it is ideal to address the cause of cosmetic aging. And because aging is an ongoing process, its cause has to be addressed over and over again.
We perform hundreds of services in our Denver plastic surgery and medical spa facility each month. New clients that we meet often want to know what results they can expect from “their treatment.” Translation: “what will this one treatment do for me?” Honestly, one treatment will do very little in the long-run. From the perspective of aging being a continual process, our patients can understand that their beauty is a matter of maintenance.
What Happens Beneath the Skin Doesn’t Stay There
To maintain healthy, attractive skin, many people rely on skincare products. Some are purchased from reputable department stores, some from doctor’s offices, and some are DIY. In every one of these scenarios, we find the singular shortcoming of limited penetration. Remembering that we must address the cause of cosmetic aging, we have to look to the dermis, where most skincare products do not go.
The dermis is the deeper layer of skin where fibroblasts live. Fibroblasts are the cells that produce collagen and elastin. These are the proteins that keep skin looking younger. Collagen does so by supporting firmness. Elastin does so by providing the skin with some stretch and bounce. During the first three decades of life, fibroblasts work wonderfully. They produce enough collagen to keep the skin firm and tight and also extra to heal cuts and scrapes as needed. Around age 30, though, fibroblasts lose their vitality. They all but go to sleep for good. Just because fibroblasts slow or stop their production of collagen and elastin does not mean the skin stops using these proteins. In fact, 1 to 2% of collagen and elastin stores get depleted each year. Without sufficient replenishment, the skin begins to show signs of this degradation.
This isn’t all bad news. Because we know what fibroblasts do and we know that they go dormant, we know we need to wake them up. Topical skincare products don’t do this, but professional treatments can. Examples include Halo laser treatment, Forever Young BBL treatment, and microneedling. With each treatment, fibroblasts are stimulated to stay awake for 4 to 6 months. As treatments are repeated, the new activity in these cells promotes smoother, softer, younger-looking skin.
Learn more about the services that will promote healthy collagen and elastin production. Call our Denver office at (303) 839-1616.
