As a dermatologist, my Houston patients come to me with a host of questions every day. But by far the questions I hear the most are related to the aging process: how to slow it down, stop it, or even reverse it. Aging is simply a natural part of being human, and some of its effects are unavoidable. But there are some steps we can all take to minimize some of the most common signs of facial aging. Here are a few of my favorites.
For flat cheeks or an undefined jaw line
Cheeks don’t have to be “chubby” to look youthful. A natural-looking cheek contour can take years off your face. When administered by an expert hand, JUVÉDERM VOLUMA® XC can offer subtle fullness and a modest lift that can endure for up to 2 years. Our board-certified physicians are highly trained injectors with the expertise to sculpt dramatic (but natural-looking) results, guided first and foremost by your specific aesthetic goals.
For frown lines and crow’s feet
BOTOX® Cosmetic is indispensable for these wrinkles, which emerge gradually after years of repeated facial movements, such as squinting. BOTOX works by temporarily blocking the nerve signals to the muscles that make these wrinkles. This smooths them out without sacrificing your ability to move your face. Expect your results to last between 3 and 4 months.
For loss of volume
As we age, skin, fat, and other facial tissues tend to hollow out, creating a gaunt look as they sag. “Loss of volume” means different things to different people, and it can occur anywhere on the face or neck. JUVÉDERM® is a favorite for treating all-around loss of volume. It’s a versatile hyaluronic acid-based filler that can last for more than a year.
For small lips
In recent years, several dermal filler manufacturers have answered the demand for a product that specifically targets the lips. Both Restylane® Silk and JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® are smooth gel hyaluronic acid-based fillers in special formulations meant for the lips. Both offer subtle additions of volume in a single treatment session.
Small lips are often a by-product of aging, but many people have naturally thin or uneven lips even when they’re young, making these fillers popular with patients of all ages.
For Double Chins
Some of the biggest breakthoughs in 2015-2016 in cosmetic dermatology were related to minimizing the dreaded double chin. As we age we can accumulate fat in the chin area that until recently only could be removed through liposuction. Now we have two new methods that have complete revolutionized patients ability to get a truly chiseled jaw line. For smaller fat deposits we really like to use a product called Kybella®. Kybella is injected in the chin area and helps dissolve the fat in the targeted area with great results. For larger fat deposits we are loving the CoolMini by CoolSculpting®. Now we can use the highly effective freezing technology under the chin to help reduce the fat by 20% in just one treatment. You can also super charge your results and combine both treatments for even better results.