Got it from your mama?

How genetics affects your aging

• Myth: Most think that lipstick lines and cellulite are the results of lifestyle choices, but they are largely genetic
• Fact: Hair loss is genetically determined from the mother’s side of the family, not the father’s

Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed you look more and more like your parents? Whether it’s your face or your body, you were blessed with both the good and the bad from your mom and dad. We’re about to break down some myths and facts about how genes contribute to the changes seen with  age.

CELLULITE

Myth: You can exercise your cellulite away

If you have cellulite, you have likely tried all the exercises and every cream or remedy with little to no luck. While lifestyle can play a small role, it’s really all about genetics, hormones (estrogen), and aging. So, you can officially stop blaming yourself because it’s not your fault. Cellulite happens when tight fibers pull at weak skin. All throughout our body, we have fibrous bands that attach our skin to the structures beneath. Overtime, some of these bands become tighter while the surrounding skin becomes weaker. This is how a dimple or cellulite is formed and is further accentuated with age as skin loses elasticity, or the “snap back”. The multiple components of cellulite make it difficult to treat but with a combination of treatments, it’s certainly not impossible.

Treatments

QWO

This is the first FDA approved injectable treatment for cellulite on the buttocks although it can be used off label on the thighs as well. The approach is to target the fibrous bands creating these dimples by injecting an enzyme to break them up and release that dimple. The fat is then able to reorganize itself, creating a smoother appearance. A full treatment requires 3 sessions, 28 days apart with improvement being seen after each session. The session itself can be done in a quick 15 minutes with minimal discomfort.

Carbon Patch Laser

This is a new and exciting treatment that is still being studied but has been showing promising results. I’m on my second session out of three, and I have been pleasantly surprised. The theory is like QWO in that it targets the fibrous bands. The difference is that we place a carbon patch over the treatment area and use a laser treatment to target that carbon. The result is a photoacoustic effect that creates a sound wave strong enough to interrupt the integrity of that fibrous band while stimulating blood flow to the area. The nice thing about this treatment is that there is zero downtime. The treatment is very tolerable and can last anywhere from 20-30 minutes. We recommend a total of three sessions, four weeks apart for best results.

Hyperdilute Radiesse

This treatment uses a calcium hydroxyapatite filler in hyperdilute form to stimulate collagen production rather than to volumize. This helps to improve skin quality and firmness in the areas being treated. In this particular case, we are strengthening the surrounding skin but can also inject directly into any stubborn dimples to help smooth out the dimpling appearance. We typically need 1-3 sessions depending on the end goal and if being used in a combination treatment.

HAIR LOSS

Myth: Your hair loss is determined from your mother’s side of the family

I think we’ve all heard different things about who’s at fault for our genetic hair loss. Let’s clear up some myths here. You can stop blaming your poor mother for ALL your hair loss because these genes could also be coming from your father.  While your mother’s lineage can be a good predictor of what your hair will look like, it’s even more likely if your father is losing his hair too. Androgenic alopecia (male or female pattern baldness) is the most common type of hair loss and is due to genetics. Men will notice a receding hairline and women usually notice thinning hair around their part. However, there can be other underlying factors as well such as, hormone imbalances, stress, nutrition deficiencies, medications, and aging. All these factors shorten the hair growth phase, delay new growth, and cause a poor environment for hair growth. The good news is that most of these have a solution.

Treatments

Topicals and nutraceuticals

The first step is to create the best environment for hair growth and that means going back to basics with minoxidil also known as Rogaine. This medication is available over the counter and is designed to help bring blood flow to the scalp which is essential for the hair follicle to thrive. We also use Nutrafol vitamins to ensure the hair follicles are being supplied with the necessary nutrients. You can think of Nutrafol as the fertilizer and minoxidil as the watering hose, both creating the best environment for growth.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP)

The beauty of this treatment is that we use your own platelet rich plasma to help regenerate hair follicles and stimulate hair growth. We draw a vial of blood and get rid of the red blood cells. We take the growth factors that remain and administer them through a series of small injections over the affected area. Results are seen over the next few months as new hairs grow and give a fuller appearance. We recommend starting with four sessions, once a month in combination with minoxidil and Nutrafol.

Hairlase

This treatment was an accidental discovery seen on patients who were getting laser treatments to tighten and lift the brows. Patients were coming back with more hair growth in the treatment areas and that’s what prompted this laser protocol. We believe it increases blood flow and stimulates the hair follicle to go into the growth phase. We use it as a maintenance treatment after doing PRP injections to continue to encourage hair growth.

LIP LINES “SMOKER LINES”

Myth: If you have lip lines, it must mean you are a smoker

Lip lines have been given the unfortunate name of smoker lines because they are seen in patients that smoke BUT just because you have lip lines, doesn’t mean you are a smoker! These lines are usually attributed to a learned expression (like smoking) but also happen due to a loss of collagen, loss of volume, and loss of boney support. We can thank aging for all the above and if we don’t do anything, those line get deeper while the lip gets flatter and longer. This is something that we want to treat as early as possible for best results. So don’t wait until you have deep etched in lines before starting treatment.

Treatments

Vampire Facials

This is a combination of automated micro-needling with topical platelet rich plasma (PRP). This treatment targets the skin itself by creating hundreds of superficial micro-channels every few seconds to deliver the topical platelet rich plasma. This stimulates the skin’s natural ability to heal itself and therefore creating new collagen and elastin. The PRP amplifies this healing response with its concentration of growth factors. As a result, you see softer, firmer skin with a reduction of wrinkles, acne scars, and textural issues. I always like to start with 3 treatments separated once a month when dealing with deep wrinkles or scars.

Botox

This is treatment is known for being used on the forehead, frown lines, and crow’s feet but it can also be used to help relax the muscle around the lips that created these lines in the first place. By doing so, you stop creating these lines but it’s good to keep in mind that you will notice some changes when trying to drink through a straw or whistling for example because we have relaxed the muscle responsible for those motions. This is done every 3 months and can be easily added to your regular Botox treatment.

Filler

This is the easiest and fastest treatment there is to help with the appearance of lip lines. We can physically go into the lines with a soft hyaluronic acid filler to help smooth and reduce these lines. However, it is not making changes to the quality of the skin nor is it addressing the underlying issue.

These are just a few of many myths patients ask us on a regular basis. The good news is that nowadays we have an abundance of nonsurgical procedures to help! If you are still on the fence or have more questions, I recommend coming in for a personalized consultation based on your concerns where we can create a treatment plan just for you!