Why do we age, and what are the latest treatments?
Many have heard of free radicals. These are basically loose electrons as a result of oxidation (the process of burning oxygen). Every living person and animal burns oxygen to create cellular heat, which is converted to energy for everything from thinking to muscle movement. But oxidation has a downside and that is the formation of free radicals. When a banana or an apple turns brown or when seafood smells fishy or metal corrodes, that is oxidation. When we age, our bodies are rusting.
How can we diminish this process? The obvious answer is to reduce free radicals (excess sun exposure, smoking, etc.) and eat more antioxidants. The ultimate way would be to consume plant-based food, especially with a variety of colors, which is where antioxidants come from. The question then may be, “Then where do we get our protein?” The protein comes from plants. Horses, elephants, and giraffes eat only plants.
How can we treat the results of oxidation, e.g., aging, wrinkles, sagging skin, brown spots, etc.?
The recent higher technology is voluminous. The latest lasers can treat unwanted hair with zero discomfort. Brown spots, large pores, abnormal pigmentation, spider veins, lower eyelid bags, sagging skin, and more can also be treated with much less recovery time and discomfort. This includes the wrinkles around the mouth, which everyone gets and despises.
Fillers have been and still are used successfully for years for re-volumizing lost volume, mostly in the face such as the cheeks, hollows under the lower eyelids, and even hands and cellulite on the legs and buttocks. Available now is Renuva, a new product that stimulates the patient’s own production of fat to replace lost fat that occurs with aging. This fat will last 5 years or more, and it can be used virtually anywhere, such as the face, hands, buttocks and many other areas.
New technology enables the treatment of sun-damaged skin of the face, neck, arms, knees, etc. with advanced Microneedling RF (radiofrequency), such as the Helix Cool peel laser and/or the versatile Virtue RF.
Both Smooth and Lifting PDO threads can be used to increase production of collagen and elastin both rejuvenating and lifting sagging skin. And, of course, the Everesse tightens and volumizes skin without needles, pain, or recovery time.
Simultaneous combination treatments usually further rejuvenate the face, e.g. Everesse + PDO lifting threads or Helix cool peel + VirtueRF and adding fillers when needed for more facial volume.
For fat reduction liposuction is still the most effective. There is nothing like removing fat once and for all, and this often can be done under local anesthesia. Often it requires skin tightening also, which can be done with the Renuvion performed at the same time.
Often combination therapy is used for the best results. Repeat treatments may be needed as we continue along the anti-aging road, as well as the mentioned healthful diets and avoiding environmental hazards. These technologies work every time, but, if we are lucky, we will continue aging chronologically.
Dr. Ronald Finger, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon with offices in Savannah and Bluffton. fingerandassociates.com
