Facial cosmetic procedures are becoming increasingly popular amongst the aging population, particularly women over the age of 50. In fact, many women in their early-, mid-, and late-50s are starting to look decades younger, bringing some truth to the notion that 50 may very well be the new 40! Makeup, a healthy diet, and routine exercise are, of course, major contributing factors to their youthful appearances. But it’s also important not to underestimate the appeal and effectiveness of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures as well.
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Your Skin After 50
As you age, your body reduces estrogen production. Estrogen promotes the production of collagen and oils in your skin. Most women experience menopause in their early or mid-50s and with this drastic loss of estrogen, the naturally occurring collagen levels in your skin also begin to diminish.
Collagen is a structural protein that gives your skin the smooth, yet firm texture and elasticity you experience in your youth. Over time, skin loses volume, begins to look sunken, and develops age or sun spots, in addition to wrinkles and fine lines. Even the most elaborate skincare routines aren’t always sufficient to preventing these things from happening. Sometimes, these effects are genetic, but they can also be caused by environmental factors such as pollutants, humidity, or dry climates.
Taking care of aging skin isn’t always easy. Even when you do everything right—moisturize regularly, wash your face, or use creams and oils—you could still develop unwanted signs of aging. Fortunately, there are several popular cosmetic procedures for women that you can try to combat the signs of aging and restore your skin to its former glory.
If you’ve been thinking about getting some work done but aren’t sure where to begin, check out our list of the top 10 cosmetic procedures for women over 50.
Surgical Procedures
Surgical cosmetic procedures are perfectly safe if you double check the credentials of the facial plastic surgeon performing them. Here are a few of the most well-known cosmetic surgical procedures women undergo:
1. Facelift
Technically known as a rhytidectomy, a facelift is a procedure that aims to restore your youthful appearance by removing several layers of skin from your face. Excess sagging skin and fat deposits are also extracted, and the skin of the face is pulled back to give a tighter and smoother result. Facelifts are often performed in conjunction with other facial cosmetic procedures including eyelid lifts, neck lifts, and lip injections.
2. Eyelid Lift
Otherwise referred to as blepharoplasty, eyelid lifts correct droopy eyelids and smooth out fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet around the eyes. There are two types of blepharoplasty: functional and cosmetic. Functional blepharoplasty removes excess skin around the eyes that may be impeding your vision. Cosmetic blepharoplasty can be done on the upper or lower eyelid or both to improve your appearance.
3. Neck Lift
Neck lifts are performed to remove excess fat deposits and tighten sagging skin (also known as a turkey waddle) under the neck and chin area. The facial plastic surgeon will expertly contour and manipulate the muscles and tissues in the neck to render a smooth and slender result.
4. Rhinoplasty
Corrective and revision rhinoplasty are two of the most common forms of plastic surgery for women over the age of 50. Whether you’re doing it for cosmetic or medical reasons, getting a nose job can create facial symmetry, make you look years younger, and boost your self-confidence.
5. Forehead Lift
This procedure is also increasingly popular amongst middle-aged women. Aside from the eyes and around the mouth, the forehead is a part of the facial construct that showcases the most noticeable wrinkles. Some women cleverly hide their forehead wrinkles with bangs, but unfortunately this isn’t a feasible solution for everyone. Also referred to as a browlift, temporal lift, or browplasty, it is a cosmetic procedure that smooths out the creases of the upper brow by pulling them back and removing excess skin from the upper part of the face.
Non-Surgical Procedures
Going under the knife isn’t for everyone. If you’re feeling particularly squeamish about getting any of the abovementioned procedures done, then there are other non-surgical alternatives you might want to consider.
6. Fillers and Injectables
Well-known brand name fillers and injectables include Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, and Dysport. Your facial plastic surgeon will determine which treatment is right for you based on your needs and medical history. Fillers are a safe option as they consist of naturally occurring proteins and substances such as hyaluronic acid that your body already produces.
7. Microneedling
Microneedling involves the use of miniscule needles penetrating the surface of your skin to inject small amounts of collagen throughout the face. Results are fast and there’s virtually no recovery time. Most procedures last about 15-20 minutes and you can usually go home right after.
8. PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Treatment
More commonly known as the “vampire facial”, PRP involves extracting small amounts of blood from various parts of your body (usually your arm or thigh). The blood is then spun around in a centrifuge to separate the plasma and the platelets. The plasma is then injected into localized areas of your face depending on where treatment is needed.
9. Fat Grafting
Fat cells are extracted from different parts of your body (the arms, thighs, or legs) and then injected into various parts of your face where treatment is needed. The purpose of fat grafting is to fill in sunken cheeks or sometimes the fat is used as a lip filler. Since the filler is coming from your own body, there’s no chance of having an adverse reaction to this procedure.
10. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels exfoliate the skin on the neck and face to reduce the look of wrinkles, remove imperfections, and render a smoother and more radiant result by essentially “peeling” off the top layer of skin.
As a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Gantous has over 20 years of experience providing both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments for women over 50. At Toronto Facial Plastic Surgery, our goal is to help make your visit as comfortable as possible. Contact us today to schedule your preliminary consultation.