You know how much we love to sing in the office, right? So here’s our thought for today put perfectly by an oldie, but goodie! Bob Dylan said it best when he crooned the familiar lyrics, “May you have a strong foundation when the winds of change shift…and may you be forever young.”
Foundation. That my friends is the takeaway from that lyric, paired with “forever young.” Because let’s be real – who doesn’t want to age gracefully? We hear it all the time. The common areas of concerns my patients voice are the lines and wrinkles they wish to erase. Marionette lines, those lines below each corner of the mouth, nasolabial folds, and a lack of volume in their cheeks are some of the prominent areas needing attention.
This is where I consider myself lucky. I get to help my patients achieve a more youthful look with the use of a wide array of filler choices providing immediate volume and correction. For many, this is enough of a treatment option.
Okay, now let’s talk about the shift in overall wellness. Yes, we’re all still working too much. But in the balance of life, there is a focus on overall wellbeing that I don’t necessarily think has happened before. Maybe it was the evolution of being home because of COVID or reflecting on the importance of self and family time. Regardless, as we become mindful about how we achieve that health and wellness, we may choose to eat differently, exercise more, or practice stress relieving modalities. Improving our health from within. Fighting the signs of aging is no exception.
We understand that a quick fix can be highly effective (and gorgeous, wink, wink!), but that’s not necessarily the end of the discussion.
Let’s talk about achieving these results we keep chasing. Step one, I always begin with the importance of a good foundation to build upon. There is a common misconception that simply shoving some filler here and there in a few spots will always erase the appearance of those lines captured in photographs or staring back at us in the mirror, or produce the desired results. If I just throw some filler into those nasolabial folds without a proper structure, we get the “chipmunk” effect! Definitely not any end goal we strive for.
Let’s dig a little deeper to understand why just a quick fix is not the answer for so many of us. To do this, we start with why my patients are here in the first place. In general, what many of them are seeing reflected in the mirror is facial aging, but what does that really mean?
“Bags under my eyes”, “frown lines”…you say it, I hear it loud and clear. Facial aging is really the gradual loss of collagen, a change in fatty tissue, bone loss and certainly a change in skin laxity and facial muscle tone.
Collagen
Sweet, sweet collagen! Why do you leave us as we age? Simply put, Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body responsible for providing structure to not only your skin, but bones, tendons, fibrous cartilage, connective tissue, and teeth!
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen. In addition, what we do produce diminishes in quality. One of the main areas we can visibly see this change is the skin, resulting in a less supple and firm appearance.
So, is it a lost cause? Are we doomed to stand by and merely watch that gradual slumping of our smile or facial structure? The answer is no! We can rebuild and restore by stimulating the collagen production to add volume.
Now, this is the fun part. Let’s get into the products. This is where we begin our discussion on Scultpra and Radiesse wrinkle fillers, two unsung and commonly overlooked injectable options that are true heroes!
The Liquid Facelift… hello, Sculptra!
Sculptra is a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) collagen stimulator that, when injected, begins working deep within the layers of your skin dermis to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production and restore the inner structure and volume. This biocompatible, biodegradable, poly-L-lactic acid is gradually and naturally absorbed by the body to help rebuild lost collagen.
By opting for this type of volumizing treatment gem, patients actually begin to restore facial volume and combat the underlying cause of the sunken, hollowed, and sagging appearance. I can’t stress enough the importance of rebuilding this foundation!
I always say…anyone who has skin should do this treatment one to two times a year to rebuild, restore and maintain their ideal facial structure.
Dubbed the “liquid facelift”, Scultpra allows us to restore a youthful facial contour and achieve the highly sought after natural and vibrant aesthetic, without an “overdone” look. By coupling the treatment of Sculptra with Botox and/or other specifically chosen fillers, I am able to help my clients achieve their total facial rejuvenation desires.
By including Sculptra injections in our treatment plan, we are able to address facial aging and to achieve the greatest results.
Radiant thanks to Radiesse!
Now, let’s chat Radiesse. It’s not in the spotlight of glittery commercials or on the first row of pamphlets at any aesthetic office… but, well, we kind of think it should be. It’s a key little warrior in the battle against lost collagen.
Here’s the skinny. Radiesse is a calcium based product. For individuals desiring an immediate correction in volume, Radiesse is a great option providing a quick refreshed gift that keeps on giving! As the body naturally metabolizes these CaHA microspheres (that’s the fancy “sciency” calcium stuff), it stimulates the production of collagen.
Radiesse tackles the loss of volume that leads to the all too familiar skin laxity and wrinkles. By providing the immediate volume and lift we can help correct the appearance of the former, while under the surface, Radiesse provides structure for the natural collagen growth for up to a year, or more in some.
It’s an incredible duo of products that’s been overlooked. The use of these two amazing products is all about the rebuilding of the facial foundation, a method proven to be intricate in the success of reversing the appearance of aging. Once there is a solid facial structure, the strategic use of Botox and fillers comes into play helping to further enhance the youthful appearance. It is then that we can target the specific areas, like those nasolabial folds, adding some filler without producing undesired results and keeping you natural!
Three cheers for the “foundation”!
As always, Be you, be unique, beBold!
XOXO, Chavi
