Causes of Aging
Aging of the skin manifests itself in a number of ways and is due to both functional and environmental factors. Facial skin laxity and sagging, fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, facial thread veins, coarse skin texture, uneven skin tone are all recognised features of the aging process in both men and women. There two main ways in which people can age – intrinsic factors and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic aging refers to signs of aging which can be due to underlying hereditary factors and the aging which occurs naturally with time. As we age, we naturally lose both fat and muscle mass from the face along with a gradual reduction in the underlying bone volume. This causes the skin to lose its underlying structural support and undergo sagging. Changes also occur with the natural turnover of skin cells which gradually slow down with time which means newer skin cells take longer to form and older skin cells take longer to be shed from the body leading to an overall net accumulation of older skin. Other intrinsic factors include an impairment in production of new collagen and elastin as well the components of skin which are responsible for providing natural hydration and turgor known as glycosaminoglycans or GAGs. A reduction in GAG production leads to drier and more brittle skin.
The main type of factors are extrinsic factors which include environmental influences and an individuals lifestyle choices that can result in a more pronounced aging process. Up to 90% of the recognised features of aging are due to extrinsic factors. However many of these extrinsic factors can be controlled more effectively hence slowing down the aging process. Certain lifestyle habits exert a disproportionate influence on the aging process and these include a poor diet, smoking and alcohol consumption. The biggest extrinsic factor which contributes most to aging is chronic long-term exposure to sunlight and this can be up to 90% in most cases.
Sunlight contains UV radiation and the excessive exposure to UV radiation contributes to a variety of adverse effects on the skin. Collagen and elastin breakdown are facilitated by the production of enzymes referred to as matrix metalloproteinases also known as MMPs. This leads to the formation of wrinkles and a reduction in skin laxity. MMPs also contribute to the reduction in skin hydration due to the breakdown of GAGs as referred to above. As the production of collagen is impaired, this leads to a disruption in the internal structure of collagen and its precise arrangement in the skin is disrupted leading to the formation of wrinkles. Melanocytes are the main pigment producing cells in skin however their function is disrupted by excessive sunlight exposure leading to haphazard production of melanin leading to dark blotchy patches. This can lead to the formation of age spots and and unevenness and discolouration in skin tone also known as dyschromia. The fine blood vessels beneath the skin known as capillaries are responsible for transporting nutrients to the skin. Sunlight can disrupt the integrity of these fine blood vessels which can result in facial thread veins and excessive redness of the face also known as rosacea.
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Treatment options for Anti Aging
The fundamentals of an effective anti aging regimen starts with protecting your skin from excessive sunlight and adopting healthy lifestyle habits with a long term commitment. Centre for Surgery provide medical grade skin care products proven to work and which can only be prescribed by a specialist dermatologist. These products achieve results far in exces of your usual over the counter retail products which lack effectiveness. The prescription-only Obagi Nu-Derm system by Obagi Medical is the gold standard in skin care treatment. At its heart, Obagi-Nu Derm is a combination of Tretinoin cream in varying strengths (0.025, 0.05 and 0.1%) and 4% hydroxyquinone. This combination allows a deep penetration of the active agents not achievable with other products. The positive skin changes occur at the deepest cellular level as opposed to retail products which barely attain a superficial effect. For milder skin concerns, there is also the option of swapping out the retinoid, Tretinoin, with a milder retinol which still carries great advantages of collagen regeneration to reduce the visible signs of aging. Prior to any skincare regimen, our specialist dermatologists will carefully assess you in a holistic manner and determine the best treatment based on your skin type, preferences and lifestyle.
Benefits of Obagi Nu Derm
- Increased production of new collagen and elastin by fibroblasts leading to an increase in skin quality
- Increase in tissue hydration through an increase in GAG production
- Improvement in skin tone through reducing excessive production of melanin and a more even skin colour
- An increase in cell renewal leading to an increase in newer skin cells and simultaneously promoting removal of older skin cells through exfoliation
- Improved blood flow to the skin from stimulation of new development of superficial blood vessels
Anti Aging Treatment at Centre for Surgery
Centre for Surgery specialise in the full range of skincare treatments which our dermatologists deploy in unique combinations to effectively treat all types of skin concerns and premature aging. Treatments include chemical peels, laser resurfacing and also more invasive treatments like anti wrinkle injections and dermal fillers. The Obagi Nu Derm perfectly complements all our in-clinic treatments which can lead to an increase of up to 50% in treatment effectiveness. The key with many treatments is to remove dead skin cells and promote the development of newer and more youthful skin which contains higher levels of collagen and elastin for increased resilience and tone. When the skin is able to more effectively exfoliate itself with medical grade treatments, this then helps to enhance the effectiveness of over the counter products such as retinol taken at home.
Fotona 4D laser
Laser rejuvenation using Fotona 4D dual wavelength laser is a very powerful and completely non-invasive treatment that can reduce hyperpigmentation and treat facial redness and thread veins. This treatment can treat both brown age spots and areas of redness in addition to achieving a significant degree of skin tightening when a course of treatments is undertaken. Fotona 4D achieves best results when combined with the Obagi Nu Derm system. As with all laser treatments, it is extremely important to take adequate protective measures against excessive sunlight exposure including wearing regular sunscreen.
Morpheus8 non-surgical facelift
Morpheus8 is a fractional radiofrequency micro needling treatment for the effective treatment of lines and wrinkles, uneven tone and texture and skin tightening without the need for more invasive surgical procedures like a facelift. The Morpheus8 procedure achieves a fresher, younger and healthier appearance through the tightening and lifting of tissue in the neck, under the chin, jawline and brow area in addition to tightening the skin on the décolleté. Morpheus8 can be used as a pre-surgical treatment or replacement for facelift and neck lift surgery and can even be used to maintain the results of surgery after a facelift.
How to find us
Centre for Surgery is located at 106 Crawford Street in Marylebone. Crawford Street is just off Baker Street.
We are easily accessible by all major bus routes that pass through Baker Street as well as Baker Street underground station.
From the tube station, we are just a 5 minute walk southwards down Baker Street followed by a right turn onto Crawford Street. The clinic is about 200 yards on the left.
There is ample local pay & display parking in the surrounding area and an NCP car park is located further west along Crawford Street. Our local residential parking zone is the City of Westminster.
Address: 106 Crawford Street, Marylebone, London, W1H 2HY
FAQs
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How do I prevent the development of lines and wrinkles?The aging process affects individuals to different extents depending on their risk factors. However there are a number of practical measures we can take to slow down the process:
- When in the sun, wear sunscreen of SPF 30 and higher and try to minimise direct sun exposure as much as possible
- Wear an appropriate hat which has a wide brim and wear sunglasses with filters for UVA and UVB
- Wear protective clothing which covers the arms and legs
- Apply high quality skincare products which contain vitamin A and other antiaging ingredients
- Refrain from smoking
- Have maintenance in-clinic skin treatments which promote the production of collagen and elastin such as Fotona 4D
Anti wrinkle injections also known as neuromodulators are ideal as a complementary treatment alongside the above practical steps to slow down the development of early-onset lines and wrinkles and to treat those lines and wrinkles which have already begin to form. -
How do Obagi products differ from skin care products found in retail stores?Obagi skin care products work in a different manner to retail skin products to target the cellular level to address the functioning of the skin cells. Obagi products are doctor-prescribed skin care products asa they contain prescription strength ingredients. Retail stores can only stock non-prescription grade skin care lines which are also known as cosmeceuticals. Cosmeceuticals lack the depth of penetration compared with Obagi products and are unable to target skin cells at the cellular level. The treatment effects are therefore less dramatic.
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Which Obagi products should be used?The Obagi family of products work in a complementary manner to revitalise your skin with impressive results. The pH of the skin is maintained with the scientifically formulated Obagi ingredients. This enables a deeper penetration into the skin layers and this is what gives robust treatment results. It is advised to follow the treatment protocol as advised by your dermatologist.
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Where are Obagi products applied?Obagi skin care products are developed for exclusive use on the face and application should be avoided around the eyes as the skin in the eye region is very thin. There are a number of Obagi products which are targeted at the area around the eyes. The use of Obagi on the neck should also be treated with caution as the neck skin is more delicate compared with facial skin. Your dermatologist will advise you on the most appropriate areas for application of Obagi products.
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Can I use Obagi products if I am pregnant?Our dermatologists do not recommend the use of Obagi prescription grade skin products whilst pregnant as the Obagi Nu Derm system contains Hydroquinone and Tretinoin which are not thought to be safe to use during pregnancy. There a range of non-prescription Obagi products which are safe to use during pregnancy.
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Can I buy Obagi skin care products online?The Obagi Nu Derm system is a prescription only product and because it contains hydroxyquinone and Tretinoin, will need to be prescribed by a dermatologist after a face to face consultation. It is often not possible to assess whether products purchased online are genuine or not and for this reason we would advise against buying prescription products online without a doctor consultation and prescription.
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What result can I expect to achieve following treatment with Obagi products?The Obagi Nu-Derm system is designed to reduce hyperpigmentation and increase cell turnover to result in new healthy skin cells being formed. Patients can expect to experience healthier, smoother and more youthful skin with a more even complexion. Fine lines and wrinkles are also improved. The results of the Obagi Nu-Derm system can be improved with the application of an in-clinic Obagi Blue Radiance Peel to resurface the epidermal skin layer in a gentle manner. Obagi skin peels take up to 6 weeks to give results that result in brighter and more refreshed skin and works in a complementary manner to the Obagi Nu-Derm system.