Why Skin Ages

Toxins and Irritants

	Today when we do facelifts, we're not pulling skin, we are lifting the heavier muscles beneath it.Then, we trim excess skin and tailor it around the ear and hairline.This is closed without any tensions, so there's no "stretched smile" look. - Dr.William Truswell

A variety of toxins and irritants can affect the health of your skin. Like excess sunlight and smoking, such things as alcohol and air pollution affect your skin. How so? They stimulate free radicals, which are oxygen molecules that have become unstable.These unstable molecules may then attach to tissues such as collagen in the skin, causing damage. Overtime, this can cause the skin to lose elasticity and become discolored and wrinkled.

Fortunately, the body has defenses, called antioxidants, that fight free radicals. Vitamins C, D, and E are also thought to prevent free radicals from harming tissues. Selenium and green tea are also considered antioxidants.

Is Cosmetic Surgery for You?

If you want to look younger and more radiant, or improve a facial feature you're self-conscious about, you are probably a candidate for facial cosmetic surgery. In fact, most healthy adults could benefit f ro m one or more p ro cedures. Dramatic im p ro vement is possible for men and women in their thirties to their seventies and even eighties, regardless of skin color, skin tone, or bone structure.

The best candidates for facial cosmetic surgery have realistic expectations, are well informed about the procedure, and are in good physical and emotional health.

Attitude and Expectations

Cosmetic surgeons will tell you that your expectations and a tt itude are the most important qualifications. If you like yourself and you're seeking improvement, not per­fection, you'll most likely be pleased with the results of your surgery. Most patients experience enhanced self-confidence and a sense of well-being. Facial rejuvenation can make you look younger, but feeling younger comes only f ro m good health. And although a more youthful appearance can boost your confidence and self-esteem, cosmetic surgery itself cannot make you happy if you are basically unhappy. If you are depressed or your life is a mess, you should probably postpone cosmetic surgery until you feel more stable emotionally.

When Cosmetic Surgery Might Not Be for You

If your goals are realistic, there could be yet other reasons that you are not a good candidate for surgery. Some chronic health conditions may mean that cosmetic surgery should wait. Examples of such health conditions include: uncontrolled high blood pressure; blood disorders, such as excessive bleeding or clotting, or a family history of blood disorders; a history of hypertrophic or keloid scars (types of severe scarring); connective-tissue disorders; heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease; long-term steroid use or use of other drugs (such as Accutane TM for acne) that can interfere with healing; endocrine disorders of the thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal glands; diabetes; osteoporosis or another bone disorder; autoimmune disease, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis; and obesity or anorexia.

Overweight patients may need to take off pounds and stabilize their weight before surgery, and smokers will have to quit, at least for several weeks before and after the operation. The surgeon will caution patients with thicker skin that they might scar heavily.

If, in spite of a medical condition, you are committed to having facial plastic surgery, ask your doctor to recommend treatments or regimens that can make you a better candidate and probably a healthier human being as well.

What's the Next Step?

Arrange a consultation with an experienced, well-qualified facial plastic surgeon. Most patients, doctors report, are pleased with the growing range of treatment choices in facial plastic surgery. Many cosmetic surgeons urge prospective patients to become well informed.The best patients, they say, are those who understand how skin damage and wear occur, how cosmetic procedures can help, and why some people are better candidates for surgery than others.

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