MoreYouthful.com

Age has its advantages, but wrinkles are not one of them. As the face matures, it actually loses fat, particularly around the mouth, eyes, cheeks, and nasolabial folds (the crease that runs from the nostril to the corner of the mouth). We also begin to see creases and wrinkles on the forehead, face, and around the eyes.

Cosmetic surgery can address some of these problem areas such as jowls caused by lax skin. Some areas, however, such as around the mouth and nasolabial folds, are better addressed with injectables.

Injectables comprise a variety of substances that are used to build up tissue, replace lost natural fat, and significantly minimize facial creases. Creases create shadows and shadows are what catch our eye as we quickly scan someone’s face. By plumping up creases with microinjectables, we diminish the shadows and create the appearance of a smoother, more youthful face.

Microinjectables include a variety of substances such as, fat, collagen, and Alloderm. When fat is used as a microinjectable, the patient donates a small amount of it from another area of the body.

Collagen is one of the more popular microinjectables. It is a substance found in the connective tissues of our bodies. Patients can donate their own collagen or use a commercially available collagen made from either cattle or from cadaver donors.

Alloderm, a product extracted from cadaver tissue, is gaining some popularity because of there being no reaction to it. Unless a patient is allergic to commercial injectables and must therefore use his or her own fat or collagen, no one particular injectable offers a particular advantage over another.

Microinjectables are ideal for handling the troublesome wrinkles or creases in the upper lips of older women. As we age, creases or wrinkles form in the upper lip area perpendicular to the muscles that purse the lips. When lipstick is applied, it tends to run up into these creases, called lipstick bleed, resulting in an irregular lip line. Using microinjections of fat or collagen, we can fill those creases and help minimize the problem. We may also use microinjections to create a �dam� at the edge of the lip to contain the lipstick within defined borders as well as puff up the lips to give them a more youthful appearance.

Although safe and effective, microinjections do have a drawback. They are not permanent solutions. The body will absorb collagen, fat, or Alloderm over a period of about six months, thus the procedure must be repeated periodically to maintain the desired results. However, since microinjections are affordable, many people choose to bear the relatively minimal discomfort and get reinjected on a regular basis.

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