Wrinkle Treatment

With all of the treatments available for wrinkles, it can be confusing as to which will give the greatest improvement. As with many problems there is more than one solution.

What causes wrinkles?

There are several different causes of wrinkles. The most common are:

• Wrinkles due to skin changes
• Wrinkles that are induced by muscle movement
• Wrinkles due to loss of facial volume

In order to obtain the best results for treating wrinkles it is important to consider the causes.

Treatment of Wrinkles that start in the skin

Currently, these wrinkles are best treated with lasers. Depending on your skin's issues, Dr Carniol may start by treating these with a fractionated laser. Alternatively, he might recommend a resurfacing laser, a vascular laser, a nonablative laser, a chemical peels and/or a microdermabrasion. Botox/Dysport are used to treat wrinkles induced by muscle motion. Fillers are used to treat wrinkles and facial aging changes due to loss of facial volume. After listening to your goals and evaluating your skin, Dr Carniol can select from the multiple lasers in his office, as well as other modalities and recommend the optimal treatment for your skin and facial aging issues.

Lasers are also used to make skin smoother, improve skin tone and provide some skin tightening. The effects of these lasers are usually "permanent."

However, as we all know, over time you will continue to have aging associated changes. That's why the word "permanent" is between quotation marks.

Treatment of Wrinkles that are induced by muscle movement

Some wrinkles are induced by muscle movement. For example the "11" above and between the eyebrows, the lines at the corner of the eyes and the forehead lines are mainly caused by underlying muscle motion. These wrinkles can be treated by reducing the underlying muscle movement. Usually Botox® or Dysport ® is used to treat these wrinkles. Treatment of the skin surface for these muscle induced lines is secondary to treating the muscles that are causing these muscle movement lines. The effects of Botox/Dysport are not permanent and usually have to be repeated every 4-6 months in order to maintain the benefit.

Treatment of Wrinkles due to loss of facial volume

Facial volume loss is often not obvious since it is a gradual process. One way you can evaluate for facial volume loss is to find a photo from when you were twenty and compare it to your present appearance. Facial volume loss is most notable in the mid and lower face. Some "wrinkles" are actually folds which develop from this loss of volume. Some of the deep wrinkles around the mouth fall into this group. They are usually treated with facial fillers such as: Restylane® Perlane® Juvederm Ultra® or Juvederm Ultra Plus®

Some wrinkles are due to multiple issues and may require a combination of treatments to achieve the optimal results. Patients come to Dr Carniol from multiple areas in New Jersey for treatment. His office is in the Medical Arts Center attached to Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey and is easily reached from Interstates 78 and 24.