Wrinkle Treatment

New products and technologies for wrinkle treatment seem to appear with great rapidity, and this trend will only increase as the huge demographic bulge of the baby boomer generation reaches their 50s and beyond. There are three basic types of wrinkle treatment: skin resurfacing, injectable fillers, and muscle relaxants. Which type is best suited for an individual depends on the depth and placement of the wrinkles, how much down time can be tolerated, and the age and general condition of the client.

Skin resurfacing can be done by microdermabrasion, chemical peels or laser. Microdermabrasion and light chemical peels are most effective at diminishing fine lines, and have few or no after effects. Deeper chemical peels and laser resurfacing remove several layers of the epidermis. They can eliminate fine lines and diminish the appearance of deeper wrinkles, but the deeper the treatment, the longer the recovery and the more chance of infection.

Injectable Fillers for Wrinkle Treatment

The second type of wrinkle treatment uses materials which are injected directly into the wrinkle to fill it in. Collagen and fat can be used for this purpose, but now there are several alternatives. Hyaluronic acid, one of the newest products, was approved in November, 2003. This is a clear gel made from a complex sugar which appears in all living organisms. This is primarily intended to fill the deeper labio-nasal lines.

Botox and other muscle relaxants, which are also injected, work by paralyzing the muscles which habitually contract to create frown lines and crow's feet. None of these injectable treatments will be permanent; most last from three months to a year. Resurfacing, too, has to be repeated to obtain good results.