Is it true that microneedling on my face can help me look younger?
The search for a way to slow down or stop the aging process did not begin in the 16th century with the Spanish explorer, Ponce de León. Whether it’s true that he was looking for some sort of fountain of youth when he landed in what is now the state of Florida or not, people have been searching for a way to remain young for as long as they have been around.
Will it ever be possible to live forever? We currently do so many previously believed impossible things that it’s not a very good bet to say that anything is impossible. That said, chances are that’s not going to happen in our lifetime, which is why so many have focused on the next best thing; reversing or slowing the effects of aging.
There are more diets and fitness programs promising to keep us fit and healthy than we would want to try and list. Finding one that works for you could well keep you feeling young and vital for many years. There is also a wide range of cosmetic procedures and products that can help you look far younger than what might be expected based on your age.
The anti-aging global market was close to 60 billion dollars in 2020 and is predicted to be nearly 90 billion in the next five years. This not only says a lot about our desire to maintain a youthful appearance, it also says that the products and services being marketed must be working, otherwise there wouldn’t be such a strong interest in them.
Collagen Loss
Benjamin Franklin was credited with a lot of wise sayings. One of the most remembered is the one about “nothing being certain but death and taxes”. It’s a catchy phrase but, honestly, it isn’t all that accurate. There are a lot of things that we can be fairly certain about. One of those is that the body begins making less collagen, the most abundant protein in the skin, starting around age 25.
Why is reduced collagen important? Collagen is what gives our skin its elasticity, smoothness, and tone. It’s our own personal “fountain of youth” and, not to over-tax a metaphor, the fountain starts drying up before we ever hit 30, and, for women, that process speeds up exponentially during menopause, resulting in the lines, wrinkles, and sagging associated with aging. One of the more effective ways to get the body to produce more collagen is through collagen induction therapy, which is more popularly known as microneedling.
Microneedling
When the surface of the skin is compromised, the body produces additional collagen as part of its healing process. Microneedling takes advantage of this by using tiny needles to prick the top layer of the skin just enough to activate the body’s healing mechanisms to send new collagen to the site of each tiny hole.
This new collagen can reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, as well as lessen the effects of years of sun damage. Even the appearance of scars left by acne, stretch marks and hyper-pigmentation can be improved with microneedling.
Because microneedling uses the body’s own natural healing system and is less invasive than many of the other anti-aging protocols, it has seen an increase in popularity.
Dr. Brian D. Cohen is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with extensive training in cosmetic/reconstructive plastic surgery and has had years of experience performing a wide array of cosmetic surgery procedures, specializing in procedures of the face, eyes, nose, breast and body and is known for his exemplary and compassionate care by his patients. Knowing that Dr. Cohen has been selected by his peers in Super Doctors and Top Doctors for 9 years in a row in 2021 gives you the confidence that he is highly respected for his performance in his specialty.Information on locations and office hours for Cohen Plastic Surgery can be found by clicking here.