Then and Now: Beauty

The methods we use to keep ourselves beautiful have changed over time, just like clothing has. Luckily, we have become so much more advanced. Think back to just 20 years ago—if someone wanted to turn back the hands of time, their only solution was to go in and get a facelift. Tight skin was in, but today it is out. Now we have other options available to us. Think about it; just 20 years ago, we used to think that tight facial skin was the answer to looking younger. Now instead of just pulling the skin tight, we opt for more volume through injections. This gives us more of a natural look. Instead of full facelifts, someone can go in and just opt for a brow lift. Of course, there may come a time when you opt for a full facelift. Remember when someone got a nose job? Back then, they were cookie cutter noses. They all looked the same, and it was easy to tell when someone had their nose fixed. Today, surgeons take a more customized approach to nose jobs.  Surgeons emphasize the need for preserving or improving support for more natural-looking and functioning noses. Surgeons fix the nose to fit the rest of the face to avoid the cookie cutter nose. Back then, if you wanted to freshen up the skin on your face, the only option was a deep chemical peel, which left patients with a lot of downtime or possible bad side effects. There are so many different options available for us now to refresh the look of our skin. An IPL (Intense Pulsed Light – a photofacial) is now a great option. There is no downtime and very little pain associated with it. These procedures can actual reverse years of sun damage. There are so many other options; just visit your dermatologist to find out what is available to you. Remember when collagen was used like spackle to fill in those lines on the face? Now hyaluronic acid and semi-permanent fillers are used to sculpt and add volume to the face through an injectable. Not only do they look more natural, they offer longer-lasting results. We used to not worry about wrinkles until we got them. Now many more people are taking a proactive approach to beauty. Lots of people are focused on prevention, and are starting much early with their skin care needs. We wear sunscreen on our faces daily, and often start fillers and Botox before the need is actually there. Hint: If you start early, it is better than waiting until you need it. Next time you sit back and remember how things used to be, think about how far we have come in beauty. Can you even imagine what the next 15 years will bring? Source:  New Beauty Magazine, Winter 2012