It’s no secret that aging is inevitable but most of us want to try and put it off for as long as possible. The market is flooded with pills, creams and new technologies that claim to be the fountain of youth but most of these lotions and potions seem to be just cheap marketing gimmicks, endorsed by celebrities wanting to make a quick buck.
As like in everything else in the world, you get what you pay for. Cheap is not always cheerful, nor the most effective. The best process to drastically reduce the ageing process lies in science but this takes time and patience.
Dr Sheryl Smithies, a top Cape Town based aesthetic dental surgeon and facial aesthetic specialist - shares her five long lasting tips to aesthetically refresh your look for 2023, and how to drop five years off your face.
1. Be committed and in it for the long haul
Today’s fast-paced world is demanding on our bodies, so it is imperative that we take the time to work on us, refuelling our energy tank but also conditioning our body and soul. Your body is the only home you have, so you need to nourish and maintain it, but this takes time. Sadly, there are no quick fixes.
By working with an anaesthetic therapist and doctor, you can build a personalised treatment plan to ensure that you are gaining the best out of your treatments and maintaining your skin optimally to create a younger looking you.
A proper plan would span several months, if not an entire year and focus on things like a facial peel and micro needling every other month and regular laser treatments interspersed with specific filler treatments for example. Having a clearly defined plan also helps to spread the costs of treatment.
2. Collagen is your best friend
We all know that our bodies start producing less collagen as we age and this causes our skin to become thinner, drier, and less elastic. Collagen induction treatments have been on the market for some time now, but there are some fantastic new injectable filler options that have become recently available. These stimulate the body’s own collagen production and build support for your skin, helping it stay tight and not droop as much. Again, talk to an anaesthetic therapist and doctor to find out what cutting edge treatments will be best suited to you and your skin.
3. Invest in threads
Threads, or solid fillers as they are often called, are another great way of building collagen and can completely eradicate the small grooves and lines we often see, especially on the forehead and neck area.
Threads are an amazing technology that allow us to be a better version of ourselves while utilising our own natural collagen. The investment is costly, but you are guaranteed that that the treatment will last you at least two years which is a great long-term investment.
Threads can be placed in almost any area of the body but unfortunately, they just don’t work as well in some regions. For these areas, your injectable collagen stimulators take over to ensure a smoother look and feel.
4. Don’t forget your teeth
As you age, your teeth undergo some serious chewing work, and this can be exacerbated by grinding or clenching habits. All of this wears the tooth structure away and creates a very worn and tired look around the lips and mouth.
If your teeth look extremely straight and square, you may have worn down a serious amount of tooth structure already. An aesthetic dental surgeon will be able to work with you to build on what you have worn down.
Using advanced Digital Smile Design and 3D scan technology, they will be able to design what you have lost and allow you to create, and test drive a remarkable new smile that looks natural and literally takes years off you. It will also ensure your teeth remain undamaged, instead protecting them from further wear.
5. Embrace clear aligner therapy
As you age, your teeth also start to go askew and, in the past, adults would treat this by subjecting themselves to having braces. Clear Aligner therapy is a revolutionary replacement to braces, allowing you to straighten your teeth in an extremely non- invasive manner that is almost invisible.
This, for me, is the epitome of advanced dentistry. Straight teeth are so important in the aging process. Better positioned teeth help rejuvenate your face and allow for a fuller lip support which improves your entire face and keeps you looking younger. Keeping your teeth healthy, and in your mouth, will also enhance your facial appearance and trim years off your look.
To read more insights about how to aesthetically refresh your look – follow Dr Sheryl Smithies @sheryl_smiledr or WhatsApp +27 (0) 71 534 5859 for more advice.
Photo credit: Claire Photography
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