Your skin is a complex organ that is supported by different layers that provide structure (bone), movement (muscle), volume (deep layers of the dermis), texture and complexion (epidermis).

As skin ages it becomes dry and less elastic. Externally, skin pigmentation and texture can be affected by sun damage. As we look deeper, another change with age is the loss of volume. When we are young we have smooth contours, and our cheeks and upper face are full of volume. However, with age this can shift, and a loss of volume can make the skin thinner and the effects of gravity more obvious.

There are also changes to the facial muscles that decrease in strength and tone, reducing the support they provide to the soft tissues above them. Repeated action of the facial muscles means that dynamic wrinkles (formed during facial expressions) can form static wrinkles (wrinkles and folds that are present at rest).

Your skin has the ability to reflect your real age, or it can make you look younger or older than you actually are. You can avoid premature aging of the skin, like dryness, wrinkles and pigmentation, by eating well and exercising regularly and by refraining from smoking and sun baking.

It’s important to think of your skin as a canvas which conveys a portrait of your overall health and wellness. To talk to a clinician about the facial changes that occur over time and the treatment options available to rejuvenate the different layers of your face, please contact us at our clinic on (02) 9387 3900.

Or, visit our website at www.silkwoodmedical.com.au/

Written by Marilyn Cassetta — BSc N, CPSN, RNMarilyn became one of America’s first Aesthetic Nurse Specialists in 1986. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as being a Certified Plastic Surgery Nurse. Marilyn has worked in America and Australia as an Advanced Technique Trainer from 1992-2000, teaching dermal filling techniques to doctors and registered nurses throughout New Zealand and Australia