Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – When did I become my mother?

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it within us or we will find it not…Ralph Waldo Emerson

On my thirteenth birthday, my mother gave me a small wrapped present. I gleefully ripped the paper off expecting a piece of jewelry, maybe a necklace, a bracelet. No jewelry. Instead a small clear bottle of pink lotion. I quickly thought this is the teaser gift. Another, bigger gift was waiting for me. No second gift appeared.

The pink lotion, in the small glass bottle, was Oil of Olay. My mother gave me a full lesson on how to care for my face, “now that I’m a young lady.” I think my mother was more distraught about the time I was spending in the sun, then the fact I was boy crazy at thirteen!

I know, now, that I owe her and Oil of Olay a great, big thank you. She introduced me to the groove of washing and moisturizing my skin every night. In my late twenties, a friend introduced me to Erno Lazlo skincare products. Lazlo remains a first on a couple of my lists. I had never been to a Saks Fifth Avenue, and I had never spent that much money at one time! Again, a big thank you. Annabelle, my mother, got me into the groove, and Erno Lazlo got me into the full-fledged routine of skincare.

The attention we pay to our skin, in both time and money, is an excellent investment. Some are gifted with gorgeous skin and don’t do much. For others, like moi, we are always on the hunt for a new wonder product. The good news…we are living in the perfect time for noninvasive touch-ups with little or no downtime!

To fill or not to fill

As we age, our past sins begin to catch up with us. The number one sin. The sun. You remember all those glorious days we baked lying on the beach. Ultraviolet light (the sun)speeds the natural aging process and is the primary reason we have wrinkles. The UV light breaks down your skin’s connective tissues – collagen (closer to the skin surface) and elastin fibers (a deeper layer.) As these breakdowns begin, lines and wrinkles become more apparent. We are also confronted with the loss of natural oils. The lack of oil causes the skin to become dry and makes it appear more wrinkled. Fat in the deeper levels of our skin begins to diminish, as well. The warning signs – loose, saggy skin, and more pronounced lines and crevices.

If you do not need or are not quite ready for a full facelift but want to eliminate or at least diminish your lines, then a filler will work for you. Fillers are a volumizer that physically fills in the wrinkles and contours. There are several ways to utilize a filler. The filler can be injected directly into the wrinkle to smooth out the line. There is also the indirect use of fillers. The filler is strategically placed to create structural support for troubling areas. Doctors refer to this procedure as re-draping. The filler ‘lifts’ the surrounding area and, in tandem with the direct injection, gives the impression of a smoother, more youthful appearance.

The most popular dermal fillers are hyaluronic acid fillers. Sounds scary, uh? Let’s call them by their brand names: Juvederm and Restylane. Both of these brands are similar in substances, with slight differences and varying results. Botox seems to be the go-to for diminishing lines in the forehead area. And, I have heard, Botox is now being used in the neck area. What is the difference between these fillers and Botox? Botox freezes muscles to stop creases from forming by limiting muscle movement. Also, Botox will wear off within three to five months. Whereas, the fillers, with continued use, will require fewer visits to the doctor overtime.

Your homework assignment – investigate

Do your homework. There are almost as many medical spas as there are hair salons today. And equal numbers of doctors that attend a one-day seminar on injectables and hang out a shingle! Investigate the ones that appeal to you. Perhaps friends can make a referral to a medical spa or a doctor. But you still have to investigate their credentials. Your first appointment should be for a consultation. There might be a minimal charge, but, in most instances, it will be deducted from your first visit.

The best consultation advice I have heard: Before you begin to point out your issues and expectations, allow the doctor or practitioner to examine your face and advise you on what they feel needs to be accomplished. It is very easy to see a deep line or a thinning lip and fill it in. You want more than that. It might sound funny, but you want an artist. Fillers can reshape and sculpt your face. You want a dr./practioner that knows and understands the structure of your face and how to enhance it. And, one that performs injectables regularly and has a good eye. Come to the appointment prepared with a list of questions and review during your session. I have seen rush to fill mistakes and it is not pretty. It’s your face – do your homework.

Expectations

Your appointment day is here. For your first visit, I would suggest that you schedule your appointment so you have an afternoon or a day of downtime, just in case. The bruising level really depends on your system, skin, and age. And the expertise of the dr./practioner. A good tip – exfoliate your face the night before. This does away with those pesky dead cells and prepares the surface for the procedure. Once in the chair, your face will be cleansed, and a topical anesthetic applied to reduce discomfort. The anesthetic takes about 15 minutes to settle in. Use this time to meditate and relax. Take a minute to discuss and review the areas that were decided upon in your consultation. And relax. Yes, they are poking you with a needle, and yes, it is easier than childbirth. But, it is still uncomfortable, especially around the eye area and lips.

Icing right after your procedure can help reduce bruising and swelling. Ice will help to decrease the swelling if applied immediately. Everyone responds differently to bruising. If you are on certain medication, for example, if you are taking a blood thinner or aspirin regularly. You may experience more bruising. The normal recommendation is to ice every twenty minutes every hour after the procedure.

Once you’re home, be a good girl, and follow the rules. The number one rule – take it easy. No jumping jacks! It’s okay, in fact to your benefit, to skip a few days at the gym. You do not want to increase your heart rate. The increased rate creates added circulation and increased blood flow, which brings along more swelling and prolonged bruising. You also want to stay on the cooler side. No hot showers for a day or so. And absolutely no jacuzzi or sauna. Here’s a fun little nugget of advice, before your appointment, stock up on some yummy, fav goodies to nibble on. And buy, if you don’t have one, a full face sheet mask. Pop it in the freezer, then pop it on your face, put your feet up and relax! Sounds good to me. Who does’nt want an excuse to do nothing!

As I mentioned above, you’ll want to do your research and be prepared with questions for whomever you select. You also might want to do a couple of consultations. Cosmetic procedures have become so commonplace with Botox parties, cocktails, and fillers, and multiple spas offering services. Thoroughly check out a medical spa if that is on your list. If you prefer a doctor. Select a doctor who is board-certified in dermatology, plastic surgery, or facial plastic surgery. This will ensure you are with a professional. 

Not all fillers are created equal. Each is a composite of different substances, with its own end results. One will last longer than another and offer different benefits. Which injectable is best for you personally, this would be a top question in the consultation.

• Hyaluronic Acid|HA: Hyaluronic acid is a type of naturally-occurring sugar found in the skin that attracts and holds water. When used in a filler, it does it all. It will volumize the cheeks, chin, the under-eye area, lips, and jawline. A great side benefit is it’s lasting power – from six months to a couple of years. Not bad, when you consider the cost of maintenance. Common side effects: bruising swelling and perhaps, small bumps and lumps. All of which should not last any length of time. Brand Names: Juvederm and Restylane.

• Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA): Calcium hydroxylapatite is biocompatible with human tissue and acts as a stimulator, encouraging your own natural collagen production. Radiesse is top in this category. Because of its gel-like composition, it is excellent for mimicking bone and can add sharper contours to the face. Side effects are rare. A positive side effect is it offers stimulation that can help prolong results.

There you have it…You can now decide what direction if any, that you will go in. There are so many options available to us today that do not require surgery and anesthesia. Let’s do what’s best for us individually. Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all — YOU ARE…