Everyone wants to slow or reverse the effects of aging. There is a huge volume of information available online. Would it be better to use sesame oil or moisturizers? Is it important to cut back on processed foods? When should you start considering cosmetic procedures? With so many options and so much conflicting advice, it can be difficult to know where to begin. This guide takes you through the best ways to combat aging at different stages of life.
Combating aging in your 20s
In your 20s, it might seem that aging is something you don’t have to worry about. While this might be accurate on the surface, it obscures the fact that you can get a head start in the fight against aging while you are still relatively young.
Maintaining a good level of fitness throughout your life is the most effective way to combat visible and invisible aging without surgery. It is particularly important to maintain a good level of fitness in your 20s because of the power of habit. Many studies show that the younger you set up good habits for health, the healthier you will be later on in your life. This has a very significant impact on your rate of aging.
More and more men and women in their 20s are choosing strategic Botox or Dysport injections. A program of injections before wrinkles become prominent can reduce their incidence later on.
If you have significant sun damage (or residual damage from acne) to your skin in your 20s, there are a number of procedures that can slow the onset of aging while clearing it up. Dermabrasion (or microdermabrasion) is a popular method which can be highly effective. This involves spraying tiny exfoliating crystals on the skin. Laser skin resurfacing is also very popular. Focused pulses of high-energy light are absorbed by water and substances in the skin called chromophores, which vaporize unwanted elements of the skin.
Regarding sun damage, though, prevention is better than cure. You can protect yourself from sun damage in the first place by using a broad spectrum sunscreen every day during all seasons of the year.
Aging in your 30s
Many signs of aging begin to become much more visible in your face during your 30s. These include changes in your neck, jowls and lower face.
Many men in their 30s begin to experience unwanted hair loss. A number of effective treatments exist. Applying Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to the scalp releases growth factors that promote tissue production and promote regeneration. This has the major advantage that it requires no surgery. Applying Acell, a product that assists with wound healing, as part of a procedure called dermal matrix scaffolding is also a highly effective method to promote hair regrowth. Lastly, although hair transplant options like Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) and Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) are more invasive, they tend to yield optimal results.
Aging in your 40s
Men and women in their 40s who are concerned about sagging facial features or décolletage might find either a facelift or a mini-facelift a good solution.
Since wrinkles tend to see substantial growth in the 40s, injections of Botox, Dysport or fillers can be helpful in this decade. The earlier you get the injections, the greater the effect you can enjoy further down the line.
Aging in your 50s and beyond
Once in your 50s, prevention and minor procedures tend to have somewhat limited effects. Most people in this age range find that more aggressive procedures bear more fruit.
For this age group, facelifts and the Y-Facelift yield excellent results.
Many people begin to experience significant loss in facial firmness in their 50s, resulting in a somewhat hollow appearance. Fat transfers from elsewhere in the body to areas of the face that deflated such as the cheek area are a highly effective, natural way to even out the face and return to a significantly more youthful appearance.
Despite the general guidelines above, there are no absolutes as to when might be the best time to take different actions to combat ageing. What is best for you depends on your appearance and the way you feel about it. We should emphasize that prevention is the best form of aging gracefully. If you are sure to stay fit and use sunscreen while you are young, these can have a substantial impact on your appearance for many years.