Skin Club by DermaGenesis

Everyone ages! Lines, wrinkles and laxity sets in. Thanks to the latest Botox Facelift (Liquid Facelift), skin firmness is restored and the lines are erased in less than 20 minutes without the need for any surgery. Fast, safe and effective!

Liquid Facelift or Botox Facelift is a unique technique, where minute amounts of Botulinum Toxin Type A (popularly known as Botox or BTA) are injected very superficially into the mesodermis level of the skin and along the so-called “anchorage” points of the facial muscles. Occasionally, Botox is combined with injections of Hyaluronic Acid, or Dermal Fillers.
This procedure is very effective in reducing facial lines, to increase skin firmness, rejuvenate the skin and most importantly, maintaining facial expression. The procedure produces a very natural look since facial expression is preserved. Botox Facelift is done three to four times a year depending on the desired degree of skin firmness.
Under normal circumstance, when Botox is injected into a muscle, it blocks impulses from the nerve to the injected facial muscles. The muscles become relaxed and dormant. Botox is target specific, which means only the injected muscles do not contract while the untreated facial muscles continue to contract in a normal fashion allowing facial expression. In the case of Botox facelift, the injected Botox causes a biological inflammation to the SMAS (Superficial Muscular Aponeurotic System) causing the SMAS to contract. Addition of Hyaluronic Acid helps to reduce deeper lines and wrinkles. Subsequently, the facial skin tightens and skin firmness improves.

The aging skin

Aging is a dynamic process, experienced by every living organism. Part of the aging process includes the natural death of cells, called apoptosis, which is regulated by the so called ‘cell death genes’. Aging that result because of apoptosis is known as primary aging or biological aging. On the other hand, aging because of extrinsic causes is known as secondary aging. Biological aging or primary aging is highly influenced by genetics, allowing some people to age better than others and is inevitable.
By far the most significant environmental factor responsible for secondary aging is sunlight. Another major contributing factor to secondary aging is the liberation of free radicals in the body. Free radical cycle is normally triggered off by extensive sunlight exposure, chronic illness, malnutrition, smoking, spirit (alcohol), stress, malignancy. Other factors that hasten aging include:

• Genetic factors and lifestyle affect skin aging.
• Fair-skinned people are more susceptible to the photoaging caused by sun exposure than darker-skinned people are.
• Prolonged exposure to the sun causes skin to become stretched and leathery.
• Smoking cigarettes causes the body to produce oxygen-free radicals that damage cell membranes and age the skin.
• Air pollutants can also increase production of oxygen-free radicals.
• Rapid weight loss can cause wrinkling by reducing the cushion of fat under the skin.
• Constant stress also speeds aging of the face.

There are two types of facial wrinkles:

• Wrinkles that appear during muscle contraction or expression; known as dynamic wrinkles
• Wrinkles that appear at rest due to loss of underlying elastin and collagen

Dynamic wrinkles are caused by contractions of the underlying facial muscles, whenever you smile, laugh, or frown. Years of squinting and frowning tend to leave deep wrinkles in the skin between the eyebrows and on the bridge of the nose, across the forehead, and at the corners of the eyes. Frown lines produce an angry or sad look that detracts from a pleasant facial appearance.

Wrinkles that appear at rest due to loss of underlying elastin and collagen is due to aging, either primary or secondary aging. As we age, skin cells replace themselves more slowly, and the dermis begins to thin. The network of elastin and collagen fibres beneath the skin gradually breaks down. On the face, the thinner and less elastic skin tends to form wrinkles and fold. Permanent crease lines and crow's feet form on the brow and around the eyes. The eyebrows drop, and loose skin folds around the upper and lower eyelids. Tiny wrinkles form around the lips. The tissues of the jaw and neck droop into jowls and double chins. The skin of the neck droops into folds and wattles.

Non surgical facelift procedure using Botox

The physician, after analysing the skin laxity, shall plan the site of injection and the amount of Botox required for the procedure. Patients with expression facial lines and minimal to moderate skin laxity are best suited for Botox Facelift. Treatment involves injection of very small amounts of Botox using a very tiny needle into the mesodermis, along the anchorage points. The Treatment is well tolerated and takes just a short time with minimal recovery. The area can also be prepared with a topical anaesthetic cream to make the procedure more comfortable. Effects are noticed 3 to 7 days after Treatment. Botox Facelift last for 3 to 5 months. In some individuals, for no known reason, the effects may last longer or shorter than the published information. Once the longevity of Botox wears out, the nerve impulse gradually re-establishes; skin firmness gradually fades and the facial lines re-appear.

Cost

The cost of non surgical facelift procedure using Botox or Dysport ranges from RM 2000 to RM 2200. The cost of Dermal Filler (Hyaluronic acid) depends on the amount of Filler used. Each ml costs about RM 1200 - RM 1400; non surgical facelift normally requires 2 - 3 ml of Dermal Filler.

Safety, risks and side effects

Botox procedure is considered as one of the safest and well-regulated cosmetic procedures ever. It has been in practice for more than 20 years and leading Medical Societies, along with the US FDA regulate most of the Botox procedures. Regular injections of Botox into the facial muscles have been clinically proven to be harmless, produces longer-lasting results and effectively delays the onset of aging skin.
Side effects are minimal and typically relate to the local injection. Soreness or mild bruising, while uncommon, may occur around the injection site. Rarely, there might be temporary weakness of the neighbouring muscles, a temporary droopy brow or eyelid, or a headache. There is no limitation to the patient’s normal activity / lifestyle after the procedure and the patient can proceed with his / her routine chores as usual. Botox injection is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation, while on antibiotics or at sites that has any infection.

Photo gallery

Picture of non surgical facelift using Botox / Dysport. Click on the thumbnail for larger image.
(Pictures are copyright protected and are the property of DermaGenesis (Australia) Pty Ltd. Unauthorized use or reproduction is strictly prohibited.)