The Fundamental Reason Wrinkles Can’t Be Solved with Just Good Cosmetics

As we age, many of us face increasing concerns when looking in the mirror. The fine lines that were invisible in our youth become more pronounced, and the skin loses its elasticity, succumbing to gravity and beginning to sag. While many people use expensive functional cosmetics and regularly receive skincare treatments to delay this process, eventually these efforts alone reach their limits.

This is because there is a more fundamental cause that cannot be resolved by simply applying products to the skin surface. Patients often express similar concerns when I see them in the clinic.

“Doctor, why does my facial contour keep collapsing even though I apply expensive creams and get treatments daily? It seems like my nasolabial folds are getting deeper.”

This issue is not just a problem with the outer skin but involves structural components deep within the skin collapsing due to aging.

When the SMAS Layer within the Skin Collapses

The skin on our face is composed of several layers. The outermost epidermis, beneath it the dermis, and deeper still lies the subcutaneous fat layer and fascia layer (SMAS). The SMAS layer is crucial for maintaining youthful and resilient facial contours. It serves as a fibromuscular layer that firmly connects the skin and muscles, supporting the overall facial structure like a scaffold or pillar.

However, as time passes, the SMAS layer also ages, losing strength and sagging. Just as a building’s structure weakens, causing cracks in the walls and the building to tilt, when the SMAS layer sags, the fat and skin above it shift downward, resulting in sagging cheeks, deep nasolabial folds, and a collapsed jawline (commonly known as jowls). This is the structural aging that cannot be resolved with cosmetics alone.

The Difference in Precision of Surgery

Facelifts are intricate surgeries that significantly alter facial impression, as the SMAS layer houses numerous nerves and blood vessels responsible for facial sensation and motion. A crucial factor to consider in various surgeries is the potential decrease in concentration as surgery time extends.

Recently, various surgical tools have been employed to aid more precise approaches. For instance, devices that magnify the surgical area three-dimensionally help the surgeon’s visibility, enhance precision, and minimize unnecessary tissue damage and bleeding. Consequently, postoperative recovery can be smoother, and patients can experience reduced bruising and swelling, resulting in a more satisfying outcome.

A Facelift Isn’t the Only Solution

Of course, not everyone needs a facelift surgery. Depending on the degree of aging or specific concerns, there might be more suitable solutions. For instance, droopy eyelids or under-eye bags might be more of a concern than overall facial sagging.

Heavy and Tired Looking Eyes

If droopy upper eyelids obstruct vision or under-eye bags cast shadows, surgery such as blepharoplasty can refresh and rejuvenate the look. Particularly, surgeries that reposition under-eye fat can alleviate shadows that create the appearance of dark circles, brightening the impression.

Sunken Cheeks and Deepening Wrinkles

As aging progresses, the volume of the face decreases, causing areas like underneath the cheekbones or temples to appear sunken. In such cases, fat grafting can enhance the harmony and three-dimensionality of the whole face. By harvesting one’s own fat and grafting it onto thinner areas, a more natural facial contour can be achieved.

Understanding an individual’s facial structure and aging condition accurately and applying a complex approach tailored to it is key to successful anti-aging plastic surgery.

Which Doctor Should You Consult?

When contemplating rejuvenating plastic surgery or a facelift, the most important aspect is a comprehensive consultation with a doctor who can accurately diagnose your facial condition, beyond concerns about cost or advertising. During the consultation, it’s beneficial to ask specific questions such as your biggest concerns, the expected changes from surgery or procedures, and the recovery time, rather than just saying, “Make me look pretty.”

Additionally, choosing a plastic surgeon with extensive experience and anatomical understanding is critical. Since the face is the most visible part of us, ensuring that changes occur safely and naturally without any emergencies is paramount.

Have you ever wanted to look younger for either yourself or for your parents? What aspects were you most curious about? Feel free to share your thoughts via comments or messages. Your insights might help others make wise choices.

Facial wrinkles are not just a surface skin issue but are closely related to structural changes in deeper layers, including the SMAS layer. Therefore, plastic surgery procedures like facelifts can be considered one of the more fundamental anti-aging methods. If you are seeking more systematic consultation regarding facial aging, please contact MedithinQ at Inquiry.

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