6 Anti-Aging Treatments – Natural or Synthetic? What Should You Choose

Have you lately been feeling like a stranger is staring back at you from the mirror?

Do you feel like you no longer recognize that face?

For any woman, signs of aging are more than confidence-busters. As you’re probably noticing, those fine lines and wrinkles impact every sphere of your life ranging from the romantic and personal to the workplace. And, anti-aging treatments seem like a workable solution. It is understandable that like your friends and colleagues, you’ve seriously been thinking of getting some kind of help to feel younger and more in control of your life.

Did you know that the demand for day and night creams fuelled the sale of anti-aging treatment products worth U.S.$88.7million in 2016? Search the internet and you’ll likely find information about a bunch of fillers and injectables. These options promise to reverse the signs of aging and revive that gorgeous, youthful skin you always had. But, before you sign up for them, here’s some in-depth information you’ll need about them.

<a href="https://pixabay.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>

There’s a Difference Between Fillers and Injectables

Fillers are compounds that dermatologists inject into thewrinkles and folds of your skin to smoothen them out. Like, for instance, thelines running from your nose the corners of the mouth, thinning lips, andhollowing cheeks and eye sockets. You can also get them for the frown lines onthe forehead or crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes. In short, fillers workto even out the depressions and give your face more youthful contours.

Like HealthLine reveals, injectables like Botox also work as anti-aging treatments. But, these compounds work to freeze your facial muscles in place so that they don’t wrinkle with movement and expressions.

Whatever may be the option you choose, keep in mind that youmust always work with a trained dermatologist who can work with precision toensure that the procedure is performed with the minimum of risks.

1. Collagen Fillers

Collagen is a natural product that is derived from bovine ordonor cells. In recent times, doctors have also worked out a system by whichthey can use a section of your skin to culture the collagen needed for thefillers. Collagen is a comparatively safe compound since it is human in natureand not likely to have adverse effects. But, if you’re getting the bovinevariety, you may want to get tested for possible allergic reactions. As for theeffects, they may last for 6 to 12 weeks after which you’ll need touchups.

Brands Include: Zyplast, Zyderm, Fibrel, Evolence, Cosmoderm

2. Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Hyaluronic acid fillers use a compound that your body creates naturally. For this reason, they are safe to use. The only after effects you can expect are tiny bumps that typically dissipate after a short while. Like WebMD explains, the effects of this anti-aging treatment can last from several months to a couple of years.

Brands Include: Restylane Defyne, Silk, Juvederm Voluma XC,Prevelle Silk, Belotero Balance, Restylane Silk

3. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections can not only work toreverse the signs of aging but they stimulate the production of new collagenand elastin in the skin. In essence, the treatment heals the underlying supportfor the skin so that the lines and wrinkles disappear. A typical PRP sessiontakes around 60 to 90 minutes to complete. And, since PRP has a healing effect,you’ll start to see the positive effects at 4 to 6 weeks after getting theprocedure done.

As for PRP treatment for face side effects, there are rarely any since the filler is sourced from your blood. Nor do you need to worry about allergic reactions. You can expect that the effects will last for at least 12 months depending on the healing abilities of your body.

<a href="https://pixabay.com/en/photos/?hp=&image_type=&cat=&min_width=&min_height=&q=+blood+cells&order=popular" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>

4. Autologous Fat Injections

Like PRP, autologous fat injections use your own fat cells to plump up the hollows of your face. Dermatologists harvest the cells from areas such as your belly, thighs, and buttocks. Later, they purify the cells and prepare them for injecting back into the affected areas. However, unlike PRP, fat injections are not an instant process. You’ll have to give the dermatologist time to process the fat cells for you.

The effects of this anti-aging treatment may last for a few months to up to a year depending on how quickly your body absorbs the fat cells back into the surrounding tissues.

5. Synthetic Fillers

If you’re looking for more permanent results, you could opt for the synthetic fillers that contain compounds like calcium hydroxylapatite, liquid silicone, or polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA). Since these fillers are synthetic in nature, the body cannot break them down and absorb them. You should also be prepared for a higher possibility of after effects like redness and swelling. Or, bumps and nodules under the skin. If you do opt for this anti-aging treatment, choose a certified, trained dermatologist.

Brands Include: Silicone, Radiesse, Sculptra, Bellafill

6. Botox Injectables

Botox injectables tend to give you a frozen-in-place look. There are also other possible effects include the compound migrating to other sections of your face and giving you a lop-sided look. In case the dermatologist makes an error and injects it into a blood vessel, you may have to deal with long-term side effects. Medical News Today warns of other possible reactions include numbness, nausea, headache, drooping eyelids, and bruising.

Typically, Botox continues to work on the signs of aging for around three to four months after which you may need to get touchups.

Given a choice between synthetic and natural anti-aging treatments, you may want to opt for natural solutions that can give you the results you’re looking for but without the adverse effects. Rely on the advice of an expert dermatologist for the option that can best work for your unique needs.