Exercising Your Facial Muscles? Some Things To Consider…

Time. It’s a passing thing and the facial aging that accompanies it is nothing to be sneezed at.
Loose and saggy facial skin is a given as you age. Perhaps you wish there was a non-surgical way to tighten your skin and may have tried facial exercises.

Can these exercises reduce your saggy skin? That’s a good question, the answer being a very qualified ‘yes.’

There are a few things to consider before you start your facial work out:

• The muscles in your face can increase in size with exercise just as any muscle in body. So, by adding lost volume, you can expect less sagging. The caveat: The exercises required involve continuous facial expressions that can deepen fine lines and wrinkles. Squinting and puckering are some of the encouraged exercises, but these can contribute to crow’s feet and lines around your mouth.

Is there a better way to increase facial volume? Dr. Dunn uses Radiesse®, an FDA-approved synthetic injectable filler that reduces fine lines and wrinkles by augmenting the skin’s natural collagen supply. Radiesse® is quick, effective, safe and long-lasting. It adds volume and contour to your face for a more youthful appearance. In just one or two treatments, you will see a natural look that lasts.

Some other things to think about:

• It’s impossible for facial exercises to increase collagen in the face. To help your skin maintain firmness, look for peptides in your skincare products. Retinoids and alpha hydroxyl acids, such as glycolic acid, are also helpful in producing collagen.
• To tighten loose skin in the lower face and neck area, a facelift or mini-facelift will give you the longest lasting result.

And remember: Sun damage is the biggest contributor to agin skin. Facial exercises can’t reduce age spots, fine lines or wrinkles that come with years of exposure to the sun.

At UMass, we offer many surgical and non-surgical treatment options including face-lifts, fillers, chemical peels and Botox – that can treat the visible signs of aging. Call us at (508) 334-5990 to book a consultation.