Wrinkle Reduction

Wrinkles are the most common sign of aging. We all get them...and we all want to get rid of them. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution when it comes to wrinkle removal. That's because there are actually three different types of wrinkles, and each has specific treatments designed to treat them. The three types of wrinkles are dynamic wrinkles, fine wrinkles, and skin fold wrinkles.

Dynamic Wrinkles:

Doctors call them dynamic wrinkles. Everyone else simply calls them smile lines and frown lines. No matter what you call them, they are the most troublesome of all wrinkles and often are the most difficult to treat. They are our crow's feet, scowl lines, forehead creases, and lip wrinkles. They develop because each time we smile, laugh, or frown, our skin creases or folds in the same way. After making the same expressions time after time, our skin "remembers" these creases even when they are not there. These wrinkles can be improved through laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, deep peelsBotox, Thermage, and fillers such as Collagen . However, even if these treatments could vanish your dynamic wrinkles, your dynamic wrinkles will return, because you will continue to make the same facial expressions that caused them in the first place. Interestingly, if you have ever seen anyone who has had one half of their face paralyzed, you may have noticed that the paralyzed side appears younger. This is because they do not move that side of the face, so there are no dynamic wrinkles.

Fine Wrinkles:

Fine wrinkles are seen on dry crepe paper skin (usually on the cheeks). These wrinkles are superficial and their removal is relatively easy through skin care, micropeels, and other simple treatments. (See table).

Skin Fold Wrinkles:

Skin fold wrinkles are the wrinkles that go from the corner of our noses, around our mouths, and down to our chins. They look like big parentheses around our mouths. They develop within the skin fold (called nasolabial fold by doctors) which is due to sagging cheeks. Because these wrinkles are due to sagging skin, the only way to treat them is by tightening the skin...through a facelift. Just look in the mirror while you are pulling your cheek skin back toward your ears. You will see a dramatic improvement in your nasolabial folds, as well as the skin fold wrinkles. (No more will be said of skin fold wrinkles on this page, because the treatments on this page do not help skin fold wrinkles).