Facial rejuvenation
INTERVIEW WITH DR. ATUL KESARWANI, PLASTIC SURGEON AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE COSMEDICAL REJUVENATION CLINIC AND HEAD OF THE PLASTIC SURGERY DIVISION AT TORONTO EAST GENERAL HOSPITAL
ace and body rejuvenation procedures have become increasingly popular and more widely accessible in recent years. With new options becoming available all the time comes a need for professional advice. Always consult an expert to determine the most appropriate procedure. We asked Dr. Kesarwani, plastic surgeon and Medical Director for the Cosmedical Rejuvenation Clinic and Head of the Plastic Surgery Division at Toronto East General Hospital, to explain some of the facial rejuvenation alternatives.
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Botox, also an injection, relaxes underlying muscles and thereby reduces frowns and lines. "Depending on individual rejuvenation needs, there are numerous solutions available. These injections are popular because there is a very predictable outcome and effectively no downtime," explained Dr. Kesarwani.
When are laser and light treatments appropriate?
Laser and light treatments cater to a wide variety of skin rejuvenation needs. Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatments are most often used to decrease brown spots and blotchy redness, thereby increasing the skin’s radiance and essentially reversing the visual effects of sun damage. There are other lasers that treat acne scarring, decrease pore size and improve skin texture, while still others work to eliminate spider veins. The Titan laser works on deeper tissues using heat to strengthen the skin’s collagen, thereby tightening the face overall. Photorejuvenation treatments are a very effective way to reduce the signs of sun damage and to predictably provide more youthful, healthy skin. "Many of my IPL patients, typically fair-skinned with sun damage, come in for a treatment over their lunchtime," said Dr. Kesarwani. "However, depending on individual needs, some may have photorejuvenation treatments in conjunction with Sculptra or a facelift." neck addressing the deeper tissues and the skin. Dr. Kesarwani explains that "Surgical procedures are safe and provide a natural result with some recovery time. Eyelid surgery on its own provides the biggest bang for the buck with highly predictable results."
What is the latest innovation in facial rejuvenation?
Sculptra, otherwise known as the "liquid facelift", is a newly approved procedure by Health Canada and a popular alternative to facelifts among those who don't want surgery or downtime. It involves an injection of dissolvable suture-like material, which triggers the body to stimulate the skin’s collagen production to restore facial fullness and lift sagging tissues. The effect lasts more than two years and can be touched up periodically. Dr. Kesarwani explains, "The liquid facelift is revolutionary in its ability to create a more youthful appearance without surgery. It has changed our approach to facial rejuvenation."
How can people maintain healthy looking skin year round?
It is important to take care of your skin through a daily regimen that includes vitamin based moisturizers that will restore fullness to the tissues. This may be complemented by a cleansing ritual including exfoliating creams to remove the superficial layers of dead skin and give skin a healthy glow. On a regular basis it is also useful to more intensively exfoliate the skin and smooth fine lines with microdermabrasion and chemical peels. It is essential to protect the skin daily with sunscreen and to avoid excessive sun exposure which prematurely ages the skin, as does smoking. It is clear that there is a wide variety of facial rejuvenation options available. A qualified professional can help assess your needs and recommend the right options for improving your appearance.
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What are the advantages of facial injections?
In addition to Sculptra, injections such as Restylane and Juvederm are non-intimidating ways of experiencing cosmetic rejuvenation procedures that are reversible. Their purpose is to fill in folds, wrinkles and lines and restore fullness and reduce hollows. The results are natural and last from three months to one year depending on the injection site. On the other hand,
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Who is a good candidate for a facelift?
There are several surgical facial rejuvenation procedures including brow lifts, eyelid lifts and facelifts. Brow lifts are advised for those with frowns and forehead wrinkles, while eyelid surgery eliminates upper lid hooding and lower lid bags. Modern facelifts tighten the cheeks, jaw line and
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