Wrinkle Reduction

Q. What is the most popular treatment to eliminate or reduce wrinkles on the face?

A. Wrinkles on the face can be successfully improved or eliminated through various treatments which include chemical peels, fillers, dermabrasion, laser, lipofilling and botox or, in the case of particularly deep wrinkles, through cosmetic surgery (face-lift).

- Peels are chemical solutions which allow the skin on the face to be improved and smoothed by removing the outer layers damaged by the ageing process such as wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity and tone.

- Fillers are materials that are injected into the wrinkles with very thin needles. Filling materials can be absorbable, semi-permanent or permanent.

- Dermabrasion: is a treatment that can correct scars and the most superficial wrinkles on the face by removing the outer layer of the skin, thus making it smoother and more regular.

- Laser: the lasers used for the treatment of wrinkles are the so-called “resurfacing” lasers. Among these, the most effective ones are the CO2 laser, which is particularly effective for perioral wrinkles (surrounding the mouth), and the Herbium laser, more suitable for periocular wrinkles (the wrinkles around the eyes or crow’s feet).

- Lipofilling: this technique consists of taking small quantities of fat from a part of the patient's body; and then injecting it into the area concerned by means of a syringe with a thin needle.

- Botox is a substance that can temporarily inhibit the movement of the facial muscles, thus reducing the formation of worry lines.

- Face-lift: is a cosmetic surgery that allows the deepest wrinkles and the excess fat to be eliminated by repositioning the muscles procedure of the face and stretching the skin of the face and of the neck.

The best treatment for face wrinkles is usually comprises a correct combination of the above-mentioned treatments.

Q. What are fillers and how do they act on wrinkles?

A. Fillers are filling materials that are injected into the wrinkles to fill in the areas lacking in subcutaneous tissue. Fillers can be absorbable, semi-permanent or permanent.

Absorbable fillers have the advantage of being easily tolerated by the body but provide a temporary volume increase (from 4 to 12 months). The absorbable materials are essentially two: collagen and hyaluronic acid.

Semi-permanent fillers have the advantage of providing a more durable result (from 12 to 36 months) though in exceptional circumstances, may produce foreign-body reactions.

Permanent fillers have the advantage of providing a permanent result but, sometimes, they can induce a rejection reaction that is not easy to control and to correct.

We favour the use of absorbable fillers because they allow the patient to decide whether to continue the treatment or to regain his/her natural state and do not cause any side effects.