Dr. Mendoza in the Media

For Immediate Release
January 2007

WRINKLE MANAGEMENT AT A GLANCE
Reversing the Signs of Aging
by Rigo Mendoza, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

I am a 54 year-old woman with signs of aging. What can I can do for the age spots, fine lines and wrinkles, and a sagging neck and jowls? - A.S. of West Chicago

Your complaints are very common for women in your age group. As women approach the perimenopause and menopause stages of their life, their bodies decrease the production of estrogen. Because of this, most women will notice an accelerated formation of fine lines and wrinkles, loss in the skin's firmness and elasticity, increased dryness and uneven pigmentation. This is why you may be noticing more wrinkles and the sagging in your neck area.

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

Your skin is even more sensitive to the effects of sun exposure than it's ever been in your life. The most important thing you can do to combat the continued signs of aging is to wear sunscreen. Many beauty products contain SPF and while this is helpful, it shouldn't be your first line of defense. A good morning moisturizer applied daily, worn beneath your makeup, is the best protocol.

STOP SMOKING! Cigarette smoking causes biochemical changes in our bodies that accelerate aging. Research shows that a person who smokes 10 or more cigarettes a day for a minimum of 10 years is statistically more likely to develop deeply wrinkled, leathery skin than a nonsmoker.

DEVELOP A SKINCARE REGIMEN FOR YOURSELF

Short of hormone therapy, there are other options to address your issues. With all the information available, I am still surprised to find many of my first time patients are not on any type of regimented skincare program.

To reduce fine lines and age spots, there are many fine pharmaceutical and cosmaceutical skincare product lines on the market today. Many of these product lines are supplemented with a contain Retin A prescription (or contain retinolic acid, which is Retin A derivative) to promote cell turnover in their skin. The cell turnover contributes to a fresher, plumper looking skin and reduces fine lines. These products also utilize Hydroquinone, which is very effective for bleaching the pigmentation issues in your skin such as age spots.

Also popular are the antioxidant skincare products. The antioxidants in these products scavenge harmful free radicals in the cells of the skin and protect it from damage from external environmental stresses such as UV light, air pollution, ozone, and cigarette smoke. Free radicals are unpaired molecules in your skin that cause skin damage.

NON-SURGICAL OPTIONS

As we age, cell turnover slows down, which can lead to skin problems. Many procedures, such as microdermabrasion and chemical peeling, resurface the skin to improve skin quality, reduce age spots, and soften fine lines. . These procedures promote cell turnover in our skin As these procedures are performed in the office, they are especially attractive for patients who want return to work the same day.

Another in-office procedure is a FotoFacial that involves an IPL system. An IPL (Intense Pulse Light) is a non-laser medical device that delivers a series of gentle pulses of visible light onto the surface of the skin to treat a variety of skin conditions such as redness, rosacea, broken capillaries, sun damage and freckles. Commonly treated areas include the face, neck, chest, back, arms and hands. A minimum of three treatments spaced three weeks apart is generally recommended. . Additional treatments may be needed depending on your individual circumstances

Botox®Cosmetic, the most common cosmetic procedure in 2005 with 3.8 million treatments, is the trade name of Botulism Toxin Type A. This toxin blocks the nerve impulses to muscles, causing them to become temporarily paralyzed. The theory behind Botox®Cosmetic is that if the area prone to wrinkling can no longer make a wrinkle, the skin will not be damaged from facial expressions. Commonly injected areas are the glabellar area (between the eyes), crows feet and forehead. The key to a great Botox injection is to "knock out" the wrinkle, while leaving the patient with the ability to make natural facial expressions!

For the treatment of facial creases and folds, injectable fillers are gaining in popularity. Quite often, patients are confused by the difference between Botox and fillers. An easy way to remember is that the first line of treatment for everything from the cheekbones up is Botox and from the cheekbones down is treated by an injectable filler.

SURGICAL INTERVENTION

For advanced aging issues when more aggressive treatments may be needed. The pros to these procedures: they are quick, significant and have long lasting improvements. The cons are: they are more expensive, require treatment in a surgery center and have a rehabilitation period.

Facelift
To specifically address the concern raised in the reader's question above for facial jowls and neck sagging, the most effective way to treat this would be a facelift. A facelift involves surgical repairing any damaged muscles in these areas and removing excess skin. Most of the incisions are done in the hairline. The upper face and eyes are not corrected with a facelift alone. However, these areas can be treated at the same time combining a facelift with either eyelid surgery and/or a brow lift. On average the effects of a facelift lasts about 10 years,though every patient is different.

Thread Lifts
Lately, there has been a lot of buzz about thread lifts. This procedure involves making small incisions so that a specially designed surgical thread can be inserted into the subcutaneous tissue of the face. This surgical thread is covered with minuscule hooks. The thread is fed into the patient's skin, and pulled tight to the desired appearance. At the medical educational seminars I've attended, physicians report the effects last anywhere from 6 months to two years.

IN CONCLUSION

Any medical procedures should be taken seriously, whether they are performed in a surgery center or in the doctor's office. Is it essential that anyone considering these procedures check your doctor's credentials and training. To confirm that your doctor is board certified in the field in which they are practicing, please visit the web site for the American Board of Medical Specialties at www.abms.org.

Rigo J. Mendoza, M.D.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Chicagoland Plastic Surgery
Naperville - Chicago - Oak Lawn

630.305.0331 Main Office

www.ChicagolandPlasticSurgery.com

Dr. Mendoza is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with offices in Naperville, Chicago (Michigan Avenue) and Oak Lawn. Specializing in cosmetic surgery of the face and of the body, he also offers a wide range of cosmetic surgery options.

Board Certified in plastic surgery since 2000, Dr. Mendoza has undergone extensive training in plastic, cosmetic, reconstructive and hand surgery. He also trained at Manhatten Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York City, one of the busiest cosmetic surgery hospitals in the world.

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