Wrinkles, a natural part of aging, are most prominent on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, neck, chest, hands and forearms. Other factors, such as pollutants and smoking, also contribute to wrinkling. Fortunately, there are great solutions waiting for you at Apex Dermatology in Westlake Village, California. For the latest state-of-the-art treatments from board-certified experts at a world-class dermatology provider, request your appointment online or by phone now.
WRINKLES Q&A
Where do wrinkles come from?
As we grow older, our body no longer produces the natural oils we hated so much as teens, making our skin look drier. We also lose the fat in the deeper layers of our skin. Sun exposure breaks down our skin’s collagen - the support system of our skin. By themselves, these factors lead to our skin being less supple and elastic.
Every time we smile or frown, we use our facial muscles. Over time, a groove forms under the surface of your skin, and as we get older, our skin no longer "snaps" back into place. Those grooves become wrinkles. The result is a face that looks tired or angry, even when relaxed.
What can I do to prevent wrinkles?
Your lifestyle choices are your first defense against premature aging. Avoiding excessive sun exposure and smoking will help prevent sagging skin. Wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+, along with the use of a daily moisturizer fully-loaded with peptides and lipids will help prevent the skin from aging prematurely. Smoking also contributes to wrinkles around the mouth, and a degradation of the skin.
What can I do to eliminate my wrinkles?
Apex Dermatology uses the latest technology to reverse the signs of aging including medications, skin-resurfacing techniques, fillers and injectables to reduce the appearance of fine lines, resulting in a smoother, more relaxed looking you.
Nerve blocking with Botox
Botox® is a nerve blocker that relaxes the muscles that causes the appearance of wrinkles. Treatments are quick and simple and require no downtime, producing results that last for between 3 to 4 months.
Topical Medications
Topicals retinoids or Lytic agents work to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen. They also stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which improves skin color. It takes three to six months of regular use before improvements in wrinkles are apparent—and the best results take six to 12 months. Please discuss with your provider if you are a good candidate for topical agents.
Eliminating fine lines with chemical peels
Peels use controlled amounts of acid to remove the outermost layer of the skin, targeting damage caused by sun exposure and often visibly reducing the appearance of fine wrinkles. Patients see results in 3-5 days, with days 1-3 being the time with most redness and peeling.
Boosting collagen with PRP
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) can be injected into wrinkles to stimulate collagen production within the dermis of the skin. This uses the body's own physiologic processes to fill in the wrinkles with time. Common treatment areas include the cheeks, forehead, crow's feet, smile lines, and nasolabial folds.
Eliminating deep lines with laser resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that uses state-of-the-art lasers to remove damaged skin that increase the appearance of fine lines, while stimulating new collagen modeling below your skin to fill in the deep lines. At Apex Dermatology, we have four different types of lasers to treat every type of skin to create a younger, fresher appearance.
Volume Replacement with Fillers
Injectable fillers can act like a non-surgical face-lift, adding back lost volume to cheek bones and jawlines, along with filling in deep wrinkles or thinning lips. Each filler used at Apex Dermatology works differently, and we customize our plan based on your goals and what would look more naturally youthful. Fillers require no downtime, and you can return to work or social engagements the same day.
Non-surgical facelift with Instalift
One of the newest solutions to sagging skin is the Silhouette Instalift. Silhouette InstaLift is a simple, in-office procedure to re-contour your face that uses dissolving threads to lift the deeper layers of your skin for a more youthful, natural-looking appearance.
