The Best Ways to Get Rid of Wrinkles on Your Face

As the years pass, many women find that sun damage, wind damage, hormone changes and normal aging has caused a variety of wrinkles on their faces that cause them to look older than they really are. Fortunately, a wide variety of methods for reducing the look of wrinkles are available today. Some of these treatments are very minor, while other treatments require considerable expense and recovery time. A look at the range of choices will help you to decide what's right for you.

Creams

The first line of attack against wrinkling from normal aging is usually a facial cream. Consumers can choose from a vast array of facial creams, lotions and ointments. The range of options can be overwhelming, but most skin experts recommend creams that contain retinal or retinyl proprionate, sirtuin or copper peptides to help retain skin moisture and smooth unevenness. Moisturizers with hyaluronic acid or glycerin helps to plump skin to reduce the look of fine lines. Many creams also contain sunscreen which helps to protect the face from damaging ultraviolet rays.

Peels

Facial peels can be a good way to remove minor wrinkling and reveal new layers of skin. Peels can brighten the appearance and create a smoother and younger appearance. Peels can be light, medium or deep, depending on your type of skin and the problem you are trying to correct. Your dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon can determine the right type of peels for your skin type. Generally, there is no healing time. Peels are usually done every few months to maintain smoothness.

Botox

Botox is brand name given to a substance called botulinum toxin A, which can be used to paralyze the muscles of the face to reduce the contraction of muscles that causes wrinkling. It can be used on frown lines in forehead, horizontal lines on the forehead and fine wrinkling around the eyes. Botox is injected under the skin with a very thin needle. Numbing is done with a topical anesthetic or cooling of the skin. Injection can cause small amounts of bruising, but the patient can usually return to normal activities immediately.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are compounds that have been created to mimic the natural substances in the body that help to keep tissues full and uncreased. These compounds are injected under the skin to fill in wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and on the forehead to create a less lined appearance. The filler generally contains a numbing substance to reduce discomfort. No recovery period is required. Dermal fillers need to be re-done every six to twelve months.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a treatment that removes only the most upper layers of the skin of the face. It can be thought of a deep exfoliation. The physician uses a special tool that shoots fine crystals onto the surface of skin, which removes the thin upper layers and reveals newer skin below. Some patients require multiple treatments to get the effect they desire. However, microdermabrasion does not require a healing period. The skin may feel slightly sunburned or wind-burned for a short period afterward.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion uses a special abrasive grinder called a dermatone that removes deep layers of the facial skin. The treatment is done under local anesthesia and generally takes 30 to 60 minutes. Treatment can cause some bleeding of the treated area. The facial skin may have drainage and scabbing that takes from one week to ten days to completely subside. Dermabrasion can improve the look of acne scarring or deep wrinkles dramatically. Multiple treatments are required in some cases.

Laser Resurfacing

Cosmetic surgeons also offer laser resurfacing to reduce the look of fine lines and give a younger appearance to the face. Laser uses high-energy light beams to vaporize very thin layers of the skin. The treatment area is numbed with a local anesthetic before treatment begins. Redness and swelling remains for several days after the procedure.

Face Lift

When more conservative methods do not produce satisfactory results, a face lift procedure may be needed to remove the excess tissue and tighten muscles that cause the deep wrinkling in forehead, mouth lines or around the eyes. These procedures often require a general anaesthetic and recovery time of several days to a week or more to reduce bruising and swelling.