Treatment for Facial Aging

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is facial aging?
  Facial aging is the natural process of change in the skin, fat, muscle, and bone of the face over time. It may appear as wrinkles, loss of volume in the cheeks and temples, laxity along the jawline, or increased pigmentation. Genetics play a role, as do environmental exposures such as sun damage.
• What are the signs of facial aging?
  Common signs include fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, reduced cheek fullness, under-eye hollowing, sagging along the jawline and neck, deeper nasolabial folds, thinning lips, and age spots. These changes usually develop gradually and may become more noticeable after age 40.
• What causes facial aging?
  Facial aging reflects both intrinsic factors, including genetics and hormonal changes, and extrinsic factors such as sun exposure, smoking, and environmental pollution. Collagen and elastin decline, subcutaneous fat is lost or redistributed, facial bone resorbs, and repeated muscle movement creates expression lines.
• When should I see a doctor about facial aging?
  See a dermatologist or plastic surgeon if facial changes affect your confidence or quality of life, if they develop rapidly or asymmetrically, or if a skin lesion appears suspicious. A board-certified specialist can evaluate the changes and discuss options suited to your concerns and goals.
• How is facial aging treated?
  Treatment may include injectable fillers, botulinum toxin, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, or surgery such as a facelift. Many patients benefit from combining surgical and nonsurgical approaches. A qualified provider can build a treatment plan around your individual concerns and goals.
• Can facial aging be prevented or slowed?
  Facial aging cannot be prevented entirely, but its visible progression can often be slowed through consistent sun protection, avoiding smoking, adequate hydration, a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, and proper skincare that includes topical retinoids. Research suggests that UV radiation contributes up to 80% of environmental skin aging.
• What can I expect long term from facial aging treatments?
  Results vary by procedure, skin characteristics, and other individual factors. Fillers and botulinum toxin typically require periodic maintenance, while surgical procedures such as facelifts can provide longer-lasting results. Continued sun protection and healthy lifestyle habits can help sustain improvements over time.
• Does facial aging need skin treatment or surgery?
  That depends on what is creating the concern. Declining skin quality appears as texture changes, pigment, and fine lines, and it responds well to resurfacing and light-based treatments. Options at Aesthetx include Halo, ProFractional, BBL, and a croton oil peel. Loss of support appears as jowls, neck laxity, or a heavy upper lid and calls for repositioning rather than resurfacing, which leaves those structural changes untouched. Adding volume to lax tissue often reads as additional weight. Most people have some degree of both skin and structural aging, in different proportions. Because we bring dermatology and plastic surgery together, either concern can be addressed here.
• What order should facial rejuvenation procedures be done in?
  Structural work generally comes first, followed by skin treatment. Surgery repositions tissue but leaves texture and pigment much as they were, while deep resurfacing performed close to an operation can complicate the incision plan. Injectable volume may be placed on either side of that sequence, depending on where it is used. Sometimes the right answer is "not yet." Early volume loss is often better addressed a few years later rather than at its first sign, and there is no advantage in beginning before there is something to treat.