Best Anti-Aging Treatments: Current Options, Benefits and Efficacy

• With their proven efficacy and minimal invasiveness, non-surgical anti-aging treatments are growing in popularity.
• Neurotoxin injections, dermal fillers, chemical peels and microdermabrasion are all popular forms of treatments that target the common signs of aging.
• Neurotoxin and dermal filler injections provide the most immediate anti-aging results.
• Microdermabrasion and laser treatments require repeat visits to achieve the desired results.

Anti-aging treatments are widely used to tackle the major signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. Many of these treatments provide effective results without the need to go under the knife. These treatments include dermal fillers, chemical peels and microdermabrasion.

Anti-Aging Treatments in 2020

Non-surgical treatments to tackle the signs of aging appear to be more popular than ever; a recent report found that over 15 million were performed in the US during 2018. This rise in popularity may be due to the increased research performed into the safety of non-surgical procedures – which have led to improvements in procedure techniques and changes in the choices of ingredients used.

Do they really work?

Research into the efficacy and safety of non-surgical treatments for anti-aging purposes has so far proved promising. Multiple studies have found hyaluronic acid fillers to be a safe and effective method of significantly reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Similarly, medium and deep chemical peels have been found to improve skin texture and appearance, leading to a smoother and more youthful complexion.

Target areas

The face, hands and neck are the most popular areas for anti-aging treatments, likely as they are the most exposed areas of the body. The unavoidable emergence of lines and wrinkles as we age can often leave many people feeling self-conscious about their appearance.

Best Non-Surgical Anti-Aging Treatments

When searching for anti-aging treatments, it’s likely you’ll be seeking one that is minimally invasive and requires little downtime. Injections are currently the most popular form of anti-aging treatment as the procedure can be completed within an hour, with very little damage to the skin.

Chemical peels are also a popular option, although these require your skin to go through a long healing process. Microdermabrasion and laser treatments are also effective anti-aging treatments that are gaining in popularity.

Injections

Neurotoxin injections, such as Botox and Xeomin, are currently the most popular non-surgical procedure in the US. It is often referred to as a “lunch-break” procedure, as you can be in and out of the practice within an hour.

Neurotoxin injections work by relaxing and smoothing the muscles in your face. It’s best suited to treating dynamic wrinkles, which are those that appear from repeated facial movements and expressions. As a result, neurotoxin injections are typically used on the forehead, around the eyes and mouth, and often on the neck.

It takes around a week for the results of neurotoxin injections to become noticeable, with these effects lasting up to 6 months. However, you may start experiencing gradual muscle movement after 3 months.

Dermal fillers are another type of injectable treatment. Fillers typically contain a gel formulation of hyaluronic acid (HA), a hydrating ingredient used in cosmetics and also found naturally within the body.

Dermal fillers add volume to wrinkled areas of your face, leading to a plumper, more youthful appearance. They are often used around the mouth and on the cheeks and lips. The effects of dermal fillers can last up to six months.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels involve the use of chemical exfoliants to remove dead skin cells and encourage the growth of healthy cells. This process helps to reduce age spots and create a more even complexion. Glycolic, salicylic and trichloroacetic acids are the active ingredients typically used in chemical peel solutions.

There are three major types of chemical peels, these are:

• Superficial
• Medium
• Deep

Superficial peels are the mildest option and only work on the surface of your skin. Medium and deep peels exfoliate much deeper into the skin, providing more noticeable results, although require a longer healing process.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion uses a suction device to spray fine microcrystals over the surface of the skin, buffing away dead cells. This promotes cell regeneration, revealing a brighter complexion; gradually reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, scarring and fine lines.

The results from microdermabrasion can be noticed after your skin has healed, typically after one week. You may need to have repeat treatments to achieve the desired results.

Light and laser treatments

While less common than other procedures, light and laser treatments are another method of treating age spots and wrinkles. These include:

• Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy
• Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy
• Laser resurfacing

LED therapy uses different light wavelengths to gently promote skin cell regeneration and collagen production. Unlike chemical peels and microdermabrasion, LED therapy does not burn or exfoliate the skin, causing very little side effects. This makes it a suitable treatment for those with sensitive skin.

IPL therapy provides a more intense treatment than LED, delivering a higher level of light energy to the deeper layers of your skin.

Laser resurfacing treatments reduce the appearance of fine lines, scarring and age spots by delivering strong pulses of light energy to your skin. The lasers remove thin layers of skin, prompting it to regenerate with healthy cells. 

Light and laser treatments can be used to target specific areas of your face, such as wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, or patches of hyperpigmentation and age spots.

Best Facial Rejuvenation Treatments

There is no definitive answer on which treatment offers the best results – this depends entirely on your personal skin concerns and lifestyle. If you are looking to treat deep lines and wrinkles, neurotoxin injections and dermal filler injectables will provide faster and more noticeable results. Alternatively, chemical peels, laser and microdermabrasion treatments should be selected to treat skin complaints such as hyperpigmentation and scarring.

Takeaway

Non-surgical treatments are growing in popularity, due to their minimally-invasive procedures and almost immediate results. Neurotoxin injections and dermal fillers are effective in reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, while chemical peels, laser and microdermabrasion treatments help to reveal a smoother, brighter and more youthful appearance.