Causes of Facial Aging and How Botox Can Help

Facial aging refers to the effects of the physiological aging process on the facial structures. Many of our bodily functions decrease in activity and effectiveness as we age. Muscle tissue begins to atrophy, or deteriorate, resulting in a slimmer face with hollower concaves. The decline of collagen and elastin fiber production, which gives skin structure and elasticity, results in a “drooping” or “sagging” appearance. Additionally, the epidermal and dermal layer of the skin thins, as does the subcutaneous (fat) tissue layer. A decrease in sweat gland and sebaceous (oil) gland function leaves skin dry.

The vascular system, i.e., your blood vessels, becomes more fragile with age and can result in skin discoloration or darker, more widespread wounds. The body’s healing process slows, as does new skin cell production. Determinants of skin health, such as smoking, sun exposure, and nutrition, also heavily influence the effects of facial aging. After many years of life, a certain amount of sun damage to the skin is expected. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to skin impurities such as seborrheic keratosis, senile lentigines (liver spots), or acrochordons (skin tags). However, Juicy Face offers several services that address these concerns and improve them!

While it’s not possible to reverse or stop the natural process of aging, plenty of treatments can diminish the visible effects of aging. At Juicy Face, our well-qualified providers can curate a personalized treatment plan according to your cosmetic goals, using various treatments and techniques, one being Botox.

Juicy Face Medical Esthetics has a long list of optional treatments to cater to everyone’s individual needs. Botox injections are used to smooth wrinkles and lines by disallowing the communication of chemical signals that cause muscular contraction. Botox can also “lift” certain areas of the face, like the eyebrows. If you are concerned about deeper lines or muscular atrophy, dermal fillers can be injected to replace volume loss, smoothing lines, and filling contours. Dermal fillers may also be used to improve the look of aging on the back of the hands. A longer-lasting alternative to dermal filler is Sculptra injections, stimulating collagen production while plumping the skin. Microneedling is a process by which very thin needles create a minor wound in the skin’s soft tissue. The body will attempt to heal this wound, ultimately stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin fibers. This treatment has many benefits, including shrinking pores, evening skin coloration, aiding in removing skin tags, improving skin texture, and giving you a rejuvenated, younger look.

A similar treatment, Aqua Gold, uses fine 24 K gold needles to penetrate the skin and deliver a custom solution containing Vitamin C Complexes, hyaluronic acid, and Botox. Aqua Gold has many of the safe effects of micro-needling, like improving skin pigmentation, pore size, the appearance of wrinkles, and scars. What makes this treatment stand out is the added benefit of hydration. Although these treatments are considered non-invasive, treatment options are even less invasive: VI chemical peels, and dermaplaning. VI chemical peels work to remove the outer layer of dead skin, to reveal a fresher layer. By doing so, chemical peels diminish the appearance of fine lines, acne scarring, uneven skin pigmentations, and rough textures. Finally, Dermaplaning is a form of manual exfoliation using a straight blade at an angle. This technique sheds the dead layers of skin and removes “peach fuzz,” giving a smoother feel and look. Dermaplaning can also make for easier makeup application and better moisture absorption.

Laser skin resurfacing treatments work by using short, concentrated light beams to improve skin appearance. This treatment may be ablative or non-ablative. Ablative treatments wound the skin, vaporizing outer layers to uncover newer skin layers. Non-ablative treatments do not wound the skin and instead stimulate collagen production. Common laser types, such as CO2 and Erbium, are ablative. CO2 laser resurfacing can reduce wrinkles, large pores, scars, warts, etc. Erbium laser resurfacing instead focuses on treating deep lines and prominent wrinkles. Both types cause minimal thermal damage, though erbium has fewer side effects. Pulse-Dye (vascular) laser resurfacing is a non-ablative treatment, using yellow light to target blood vessels and cause the skin to reabsorb pigmentation.

Both ablative and non-ablative treatments may be fractioned, meaning small columnar areas of the laser aren’t used, lessening the recovery time without threatening effectiveness. Here at Juicy Face Medical Esthetics, our attending physician, Dr. Purnima Balla, MD has specialized in laser skin resurfacing treatments, along with many others!

Our biggest priority is to help your innate beauty shine and make you feel as good as possible. New clients may book a one-on-one consultation online or over the phone. Together, we will identify your aesthetic goals and create a customized treatment plan to help you achieve them. We are located at 3000 E 1st Ave Unit 114, Denver, CO 80206. You can easily book an appointment online or alternatively, you can give us a call anytime. We serve patients from Denver CO, Ruby Hill Park CO, Park Hill CO, Lakewood CO, Coors Field CO, Edgewater CO, Globeville CO, Village East CO, and surrounding areas.