When those deep creases around the mouth and fine lines around the eyes are giving away your real age, a facelift isn’t your only option. Wrinkle treatments such as Botox, Restylane and Juvederm continue to be popular anti aging treatments for those that do not want to undergo surgery, and some researchers suggest that the injections are actually good for your skin. 

Since the elasticity and firmness of skin tissues is markedly reduced with age, any treatment that increases collagen – the necessary compound that makes skin look resilient – can help you regain your youthful looks. Wrinkle fillers such as Restylane also help the body produce collagen naturally, which leads to natural-looking results and a tighter, toned appearance.

Scientists at the University of Michigan recently reported on the most effective treatments that promote collagen production in the May 2008 issue of Archives of Dermatology. Among them were retoinic acid, hyaluronic acid (dermal fillers) and laser resurfacing techniques, all popular methods for the average baby boomer. Increasing the rate of collagen production is a necessary goal for many people already seeing wrinkles cropping up around the face and neck, and there are several innovative treatments to choose from.

Innovative Ways to Boost Collagen Production

Collagen already exists in the body at varying levels, but researchers have long confirmed that collagen production slows down with age and reduced collagen levels can give skin a loose and sagging appearance. The breakdown of collagen can also lead to several skin conditions and problems, simply because the skin isn’t healthy or strong enough to ward off toxins in the environment or repair and heal itself after trauma.

The essential process for improving the texture and tone of the skin is to increase the level of fibroblasts – collagen making cells – and trigger collagen production over an extended period of time. This can be achieved with several anti aging treatments on the market, and can help many people reduce the appearance of wirnkles and even prevent new wrinkles from forming in the near future.

Thermage Skin Tightening Treatments: Thermage makes use of heated radiofrequency energy to stimulate collagen growth and tighten and tone the skin.  It has become an increasingly popular alternative to laser treatments, and works by delivering a series of electrical currents deep into the skin’s surface. This process effectively injures the skin so that it begins to heal itself naturally, and at a rapid rate.

Restylane Injections: Restylane is a popular hyaluronic acid dermal filler that can be used to plump up the lips, get rid of fine lines around the eyes and improve the contours of the face. It can also be used as a  cheek filler, helping to create a more youthful appearance. 

Dermabrasion: a long-standing anti aging treatment, dermabrasion works by scraping away the top layer of skin and stimulating new skin growth over a few short weeks. Dermabrasion is a fairly extensive procedure and requires weeks of healing. Results can be fairly dramatic and most people will experience a faster-than-average cell renewal rate after just one treatment.

Learn more about wrinkle treatments and facial rejuvenation in our information guide, or meet with an anti aging specialist in your area for a consultation.