Non Surgical Aging Treatments for Men in Mountain View
As we age lines, next to the mouth, called the nasolabial folds develop, and eventually become creases that are like the crease in folded paper. They are caused by the descent of the cheeks along the line of skin that is not mobile, but is fixed to the muscle around the mouth. While this is improved by facelift surgery, an excellent improvement, albeit temporary, can be obtained by injection of the newer filler materials under the skin of the nasolabial folds and cheeks. These materials include Restylane® and Radiesse®. While there may be some bruising and swelling from these injections for several days to a week as a trade-off, the result is an immediately more youthful face that lasts as long as the material persists, usually six months to a year.
Laser treatments can also be done to get a gradual stimulation of collagen in the dermis. One treatment results in some redness and swelling that lasts from hours to a day or two. This treatment is done 3-5 times at 3-4 week intervals and shows a gradual improvement in skin tone, color and texture that continues to improve for six months after the last treatment. This is known as non-ablative erbium laser treatment because no skin is removed at the time of treatment. In our office we use the Palomar LUX 1540 erbium laser.
Another treatment, called non-ablative carbon dioxide resurfacing, gives more skin tightening and wrinkle removal effect in one treatment, than the erbium laser. The downtime for work outside the home is about 7-9 days, and redness and swelling gradually decline over the next several weeks. Because this laser actually removes columns of tissue, the skin is tightened. This is a good treatment before the skin becomes lax enough to require a facelift and gives benefit even if no facelift is done. For this treatment we use the Reliant Fraxel Re:pair laser.
Botox is widely known to decrease the severity of frown lines around the eyes. When done carefully it can reduce forehead wrinkles and crows’ feet lines around the eyes. It can be done in such a way as to retain a masculine look and avoid a feminized or unnaturally quiet look around the eyes and forehead. For men, less is better. An injection underneath the lateral eyebrow and a little at the medial brow can help the forehead muscles lift the brows, i.e., a “chemical” brow lift. This can give a more open, rested look to the eyes, getting the heavy or sagging brow up a bit, by changing the balance in favor of the eyebrow elevators over the eyebrow depressor muscles.
Laser hair removal is very effective for men desiring to remove excess hair from part or all of their back, shoulders, chest or abdomen. We choose a laser appropriate for lighter or darker skin tones. We use the Candela GentleLase alexandrite laser for lighter skin tones and either the Candela GentleYag laser or Palomar intense-pulsed light device for darker skin tones. Depending on the density and vigor of hair growth 5-10 treatments over 6-18 months provide a significant and long-lasting hair reduction.
Contact us today to schedule a personal cosmetic surgery consultation with board certified surgeon Dr. Robert Lowen.