A Blog published by the Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii

Improving skin elasticity keeps your face looking younger.

  

 Email Article  

Tweet  

  

Dr. Stover, I have heard that certain treatments can help to stimulate collagen production in the deeper layers of my skin. I have lost elasticity in my face over the years and would love to find out more about how I can recapture a bit of my youthful self. Thanks for your advice!

Young skin has natural elasticity.

You are certainly correct that the goal of rejuvenation of the face, particularly the skin of the face requires improving elasticity. Tightening and pulling the skin of the face as I do during a surgical facelift have a role in rejuvenation, but without improving the elasticity of the skin the results may be less than ideal. Our skin loses its natural elasticity due to the effects of aging and environmental factors, particularly sun exposure. For graceful aging, you should begin early in life to preserve your skin’s elasticity with sun avoidance, use of effective sun blocks and of topical antioxidants like topical Vitamin C. In early adulthood you should also begin to stimulate the elasticity of your skin.

It is not too late to improve your skin’s collagen and elastin.

To improve elasticity, we must stimulate collagen and elastin in the skin. Just as controlled stimulation of muscles during exercise improves muscle tone, controlled stimulation of the skin improves skin tone. The most straightforward method of doing this is to apply Retin A each evening over many years.

Other rapid and aggressive ways to improve collagen and elastin include chemical peels, Thermage and laser skin resurfacing. We offer all of these procedures in my three offices. Laser skin resurfacing options include the Fraxel laser (fractional Erbium glass energy) and the more aggressive fractional carbon dioxide (Active Fx and Deep Fx) laser. With these more intense treatments we can improve the appearance of your skin and give you a more rejuvenated appearance regardless of age and degree of sun damage.

--Thermage Days