Most people approach facial rejuvenation reactively, seeking treatments once wrinkles are deep-set and facial sagging has become more noticeable. While this can be a legitimate way to address signs of aging, we view facial rejuvenation as a process that unfolds over time, with both preventive and corrective strategies customized for each person.
Your plan should evolve with you, and you should be able to work with a surgeon who is invested in your skin’s health and appearance. At Ridenour Plastic Surgery, Dr. Ridenour wants to come alongside his patients through all of life’s changes with procedures that make sense now and will set you up for the future.
How a Long-Term Rejuvenation Strategy Can Help
Collagen decline is steady and predictable after age 20, and is often easier to address gradually rather than trying to make up for lost time later. Patients who start maintaining the health of their skin and encouraging collagen production in their 30s may not need aggressive intervention later. Staged care also allows you to be proactive and stay looking fresh.
What Happens as You Age
Volume Loss Changes Your Facial Structure
During the aging process, facial fat shrinks and shifts. Your temples may look more hollow, and your cheeks may become flatter. Often, tear troughs deepen under the eyes. Bone density also decreases over time, which changes the shape of the orbital sockets and jaw, and this volume loss is often what makes a face look tired even before any wrinkles appear. Restoring lost volume is one of the most impactful changes you can make early on.
Skin Quality Declines
Collagen and elastin fibers break down faster than your body replaces them after around age 30, which leads to skin that feels less elastic. Sun damage also accumulates in the skin, with pigmentation changes and fine lines. Cell turnover also slows, which means that damaged surface cells stay in place longer and can make the skin rough and dull.
Soft Tissue Descent Reshapes Contours
Gravity and weakening ligaments pull soft tissue downward, often causing jowls or a turkey neck. Natural folds in the skin deepen and can cause the face to look unhappy even when at rest. Once tissue has descended, interventions beyond fillers are often needed to tighten the skin. The key is choosing the right treatment at the right time.
Building Your Plan in Your 30s
In your 30s, your skin still produces collagen efficiently, and it often responds quickly to treatments. This is the ideal decade to start building a baseline so that future changes are smaller and easier to manage. If you establish good habits now, you will likely be able to spend less on intervention later.
Microneedling
Microneedling can be a good starting point, as it prompts the skin to produce new collagen and speeds up cellular turnover. A series of treatments can improve the texture of the skin and soften any early fine lines that may be appearing. Microneedling strengthens the skin from within and can be performed multiple times per year as a maintenance strategy.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels accelerate cellular turnover and treat early sun damage, while providing other benefits such as acne control and improved skin tone. They pair well with other treatments such as microneedling, and treatments are customizable depending on whether you want a deeper or more superficial treatment.
Building Your Plan in Your 40s
This is the decade when most patients start to notice flattening cheeks, hollowing under the eyes, deepening folds and an overall decrease in facial volume. During this time, the focus can be on restoring volume and continuing to keep your skin strong and healthy, while possibly beginning to evaluate early surgeries.
Dermal Fillers and Neuromodulators
Dermal fillers can be used during this time to replace volume quickly. Fat transfer is another option for patients who want longer-lasting results using their own tissue. We may also recommend the use of neuromodulators to soften expression lines and keep them from turning into static wrinkles.
Comprehensive Laser Treatments
This can be a good time to incorporate deeper laser treatments that either use heat to stimulate collagen production or ablate the surface of the skin for more intensive renewal. Dr. Ridenour offers a vast menu of resurfacing lasers, from gentler options like Clear + Brilliant to more intensive options like Candela CO2RE.
Surgical Options
During your mid to late 40s, it may be reasonable to consider certain surgical interventions. Patients in this age range may be good candidates for a mini facelift or blepharoplasty. A mini facelift is less extensive than a full facelift, with a shorter recovery and smaller incisions. Results can last for several years.
Building Your Plan in Your 50s and Beyond
Nonsurgical treatments have their limit, and once tissue has descended enough, it may make more sense to pursue surgical options. During this stage of life, surgery often pairs well with resurfacing options that improve the texture of the skin and make the tone more even.
Facelift Surgery
Dr. Ridenour uses advanced facelift techniques that lift and tighten underlying structures in addition to the skin. Tightening just the skin can lead to an overly pulled or windswept look that most patients wish to avoid, but lifting the entire structure of the face, as one keeps results looking natural and helps the facelift results last longer.
Blepharoplasty
Eyelid surgery can be one of the most impactful surgeries to choose at this age. Loose skin on the upper lids can cause sagging, and fat can collect under the lower lid and cause dark circles. Removing loose skin and extra fat can open up the eyes and make the whole face appear more youthful. Often, blepharoplasty can be combined with a facelift or other surgeries.
Laser Resurfacing
By your 50s, you may notice many more fine lines and dark spots from years of sun exposure. Laser resurfacing targets excess melanin and causes it to flake away while simultaneously improving the texture of the entire surface of the skin. Lasers complement facelift surgery well because they treat the skin superficially in a way that surgery cannot.
How to Get Started With Facial Rejuvenation in St. Louis
Dr. Ridenour has spent his career helping patients in St. Louis look like the healthiest and most radiant versions of themselves at every stage of life. His goal at Ridenour Plastic Surgery is to come alongside you at any age to build a treatment plan that makes sense for you. To schedule a consultation, call 314-878-8600 or contact us through our online form.
