Nobody wants to face the hard reality of aging. Many people are young at heart but worry when their looks begin to fade as they age. It’s therefore hardly surprising that cosmetic anti-aging strategies are growing in popularity. Creams and skin improvement methods can help reduce the visible signs of aging and make you look as young as you feel. But do these strategies offer benefits that are more than cosmetic? Yes, they do, say studies.
“Outward appearance can have a significant impact on a person’s self-esteem, so ‘looking better’ both in one’s own eyes and in the eyes of others can add to self-esteem,” says a leading psychologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), confirming the notion that anti-aging strategies offer more than aesthetic improvements.
With more and more men and women aspiring to look younger than they really are, the availability of anti-ageing options has spiraled. Measures that can help retain youthful looks range from making small changes in lifestyle – say, in exercise patterns, food habits and other activities – to cosmetic creams and lotions, non-surgical cosmetic procedures, minimally invasive treatments, and advanced plastic surgery procedures.
Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays accelerates the skin’s aging process, causing lines, wrinkles, and burns. Laser resurfacing is an ideal way to improve wrinkles, pigmentation and abnormalities. Skin laxity can be treated with a surgical or minimally invasive facelift. Dermal filler injections are used to replace lost facial volume and studies report that people say that this skin-improvement method helps them create a good first impression, which in turn makes them feel better with themselves and happier with their lives.
Botox cosmetic injections, recommended for forehead lines, crow’s feet, and frown lines, are amongst the most popular anti-aging treatments. They work by paralyzing the injected muscle so that it cannot contract, which makes wrinkles relax and soften.
Aging can also cause build up of fat deposits in various areas of the body. Liposuction is used to remove such stubborn fatty tissues and tighten the skin for an attractive body contour. Another popular cosmetic surgical procedure that can slow down the effects of aging is eyelid surgery. By removing excess fat from the eyelids and tightening the skin in the area, blepharoplasty rejuvenates facial appearance.
All of these treatments provide more than just cosmetic enhancement. They boost confidence and self-esteem and in many cases, pave the way for professional and social success.
