When performed by a board certified and experienced plastic surgeon, the results of facial rejuvenation can last for many years. But while procedures like facelift, eyelid surgery and brow lift can produce long-lasting results, they cannot completely stop the hands of time. Your skin will continue aging after your procedure. How you take care of your skin post-surgery plays an important role in how long your rejuvenated look will last.
In this blog post, San Antonio facial plastic surgeon Dr. Jose Barrera shares his top tips on how to prolong facial rejuvenation results.
Safeguard Your Skin Against the Sun
Unprotected sun exposure ages your skin and can cause wrinkles and lines to resurface after your rejuvenation procedure. For this reason, you should always use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. For added protection, wear sunglasses with 100 percent protection as well as protective clothing when outdoors.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking speeds up the aging process. Consider this: studies show that on average, smokers look up to 1.4 years older than individuals who don’t smoke. Smoking breaks down the elasticity of your skin, a protein that is responsible for keeping the skin firm and tight. In addition, smoking robs the skin of nutrients such as vitamin C. As a result, signs of aging (e.g., lines around the mouth and nose) may be more apparent.
Use Injectables to “Touch Up” Your Results
Repeat treatments with non-surgical injectables like Botox and dermal fillers to touch up your results and prolong your younger appearance. The right type of injectable and treatment schedule for you will depend on your specific needs. Dr. Barrera can discuss your options with you during an in-office consultation.
Ask Us about Skin Treatments
Although facelift and eyelid surgery are great to minimize wrinkles, fine lines and loose, sagging skin, they do not address other age-related or sun damage skin concerns such as age spots, redness, dry skin, hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. A skin treatment with Dr. Barrera may be the best way to complement your rejuvenated appearance. The surgeon offers several skin care treatments and can customize your treatment to match your skin tone and needs. Among Dr. Barrera’s most popular skin treatments are facials, chemical peels, CO2 laser resurfacing, ResurFX Erbium glass laser, IPL and photofractional laser resurfacing.
To learn more about the surgical and non-surgical treatment options Dr. Barrera offers for facial rejuvenation, please schedule a consultation. Contact his office by emailing or calling his San Antonio office at (210) 468-5426.