Aesthetic medicine

Condition... Physiological changes	Results ... Clinical aspects
Diminution of natural moisturizing factor Shrinking of sweat glands Slowing down of sebaceous gland secretions	Dry and rough skin
Reduced collagen production	Skin becomes thinner and translucent
Elastin fibres deteriorate (solar elastosis) and become less extensible	Skin becomes loose, less elastic and thicker-looking
Decreased cell migration	Irregular skin texture (skin less smooth)
Poor functioning and reduction of melanocytes (cells carrying pigment of skin)	Hyperpigmentation (brown spots - Solar lentigo) Hypopigmentation (white spots)
Molecular deterioration (DNA) Decline in cell repair mechanism	Wrinkles and fine lines

Ageing...

Ageing of the face and neck causes a slackening and reduction of cutaneous and subcutaneous, fibro-fatty and muscular tissues as well as a reduction in the bone structure of the face. This inevitably leads to the appearance of wrinkles, malar pouches (drooping or slackening of the cheekbones), deep furrows (laugh lines), jowls and folds in the neck's platysma muscle (optu-angled neck).

Factors responsible for ageing include:

Time (age, gravitational pull)
Genetic markers (heredity, skin quality)
Environment (pollution, stress)
Lifestyle habits (consumption of tobacco, alcohol, food, sleep habits, frequency of exposure to the sun)
Significant weight loss.

Each factor and its impact must be taken into account when dealing with the ageing of an individual.

After an examination and analysis of the face to determine tissue quality and the degree of ageing, a decision can be made as to procedures.