You may use this image in your ezine or website if you choose to publish my article. Click here to see the picture full-sized.--- Kamau Austin

Facelifts have emerged as a common cosmetic surgical
procedure.  It promises to remove the ravages of time from
our faces.

As we grow older the muscles of our face lose their
elasticity.  This creates wrinkles – lines and folds of skin
on our faces.

Wrinkles are some of the most visible signs of aging. As a
cosmetic procedure, facelifts are increasingly being used to
tighten saggy skin and get rid of wrinkles.

After a facelift the face looks more youthful and more
alert. Facelifts can be conducted on the whole face but
sometimes only a partial procedure.

It may be recommended for the brow area or the lower face.
Another alternative is to get just the neck area tightened.

The results of a facelift are expected to last from 7 to 10
years. However, you should be aware that this procedure may
have no effect on certain areas.  For example, the fine skin
lines around the mouth area.

Facelifts are a costly cosmetic plastic surgery procedure.
Apart from the considerable financial burden, the recovery
time involved in this procedure is considerable (almost 4
weeks).

Scarring of the face as a by-product of the operation is a
risk. Although a good surgeon can reduce the risk and
appearance of the operation.

Recoveries from plastic surgery in some instances can be
long, and painful. The patient may have to suffer a strict
regimen of antibiotics and strong painkillers.

You should also be aware that repeated procedures tend to be
less promising. Especially, as the facial skin ages, it
becomes less responsive to treatments.

If you are reluctant to undergo this surgery but want to
look younger there are alternatives to it.   Most of these
alternative treatments are non-surgical procedures and work
on the surface layers of facial skin.  Some treatments like
Rejuvinol™ boast rich ingredients to moisturize and smooth
out wrinkles.

Other popular alternatives to facelifts are...
- chemical peels
- external or resurfacing laser treatments,
- tissue augmentations,
- anti wrinkle injections (for example, Botox).

Some of these treatments can also be used in combination
with a facelift to delay the aging of face.

One of the most effective surface treatments is laser
resurfacing. It can help to reduce surface wrinkles from the
face.

It involves the removing of the upper layers of the skin
with the help of a laser. It is a non-surgical procedure and
involves relatively less post-treatment care.


A chemical peel makes the facial skin feel smoother and
reduces the appearance of wrinkles.  It does this by
removing the damaged surface layers of skin – as in laser
resurfacing.

The recovery period is negligible for this treatment.
However, patients are advised to avoid the sun and
religiously apply sun block in order to safeguard the newly
exposed skin from the harsh effects of sunlight.

A very popular alternative to a facelift operation is the
injecting of collagen into the face. This is particularly
useful to remove laugh lines from around the mouth.

Also they are quite effective against any deep naso-labial
folds that might have formed in the mouth area. The collagen
injected into the affected area raises the skin layer,
plumping it out.

This action actually smoothes away the wrinkles and the
result is a more youthful appearance. Usually, this
procedure lasts only a few minutes. Its effects can last up
to a period of 6 months.

Another highly popular 'injecting' procedure involves Botox
(or botulinum toxin type A). These injections are used to
treat the wrinkles appearing on the forehead and between the
eyes. Also, botox can be injected both around the eyes (to
reduce crow's feet) and around the mouth (to smoothen out
laugh lines). A botox session is hardly 10 minutes long and
its effects are apparent within a few days. The effects of
this procedure last up to 3 or 4 months.

Botox should only be administered by licensed professional
doctors.

Fortunately there are some less invasive products and
procedures that can give results that rival the benefits of
Botox and collagen injections.

Rejuvinol™ found at Amazon and from www.BODeStore.com, may
be one of those products.  Its makers market a powerful,
advanced anti-aging formula.  It has been touted for its
amazing anti-aging and moisturizing qualities. They
illustrate how it can help reduce the appearance of fine
lines and wrinkles, and leaves skin firmer, younger-looking,
more vibrant and healthier. 

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Kamau Austin, (c) 2006 All Rights Reserved

This Article must be published with a disclaimer as such...
This article is for general information purposes only. Before
under taking any exercise or treatment program always first
check first with your doctor and health professionals.