It all starts innocently enough: first, the laugh lines around the mouth start to appear, and maybe the crow’s feet around the eyes when you smile. Before you know it, an old bag is staring back at you in the mirror. Do something about it! Here, a range of options for the aging you—from the drastic (Joan Collins-level of commitment required) to the minimal (uh, Dakota Fanning?).
More wrinkles than a shar-pei
Get a facelift (B120,000 including doctor’s fee and one night hospital stay). The traditional recourse for the 50+-year-old society maven, the facelift is perhaps considered the best option when people won’t notice whether you’ve had “work done” or not (like when you’ve had a “car accident” and suddenly emerge with a new nose). Involving the tightening of the muscles and skin, the facelift will involve at least two weeks of recovery and quite a bit of pain. Because of this, those with deep wrinkles will benefit most from the procedure, says Dr. Worarat Suwanruxa, plastic surgeon at Bangkok Hospital. Patients looking for a little “preventive” action can get themselves a “mini-facelift”, which incorporates much more superficial cuts beneath the skin to tighten the muscles and will take 10 days-2 weeks’ recovery time.
Too chicken to go the whole hog
Try Thermage (B50,000-100,000). This procedure, which is non-invasive and uses a radiofrequency technology called ThermaCool, is meant to tighten skin and promote healthier collagen. The effects of the procedure last for one-and-a-half to two years, says Dr. Taweeratana Butsuntorn, dermatologist. “This is best for patients who don’t want facelifts,” she said. “You can see the results immediately, especially on men for some reason.”
Some wrinkles or dark “patches”
Choose microdermabrasion (B1,500 per session). We’ve all seen the pictures of the actress with the nightmare facelift, so those of you who opt for something a little less invasive can’t be blamed for wimping out. But wrinkling isn’t the only issue tackling Thais today: according to Dr. Taweeratana, the biggest aging problem her patients have are “sun spots”, dark patches brought on by sun exposure. Laser dermabrasion, which helps fix both of these problems, involves sloughing off the epidermis and possibly some of the underlying dermis in the hopes your face will grow new skin in a few months’ time.
Fine, superficial wrinkles or small age spots
A chemical face peel(B600) should do the trick. This option could be ideal for those wishing to go even more superficial than the microdermabrasion (only sloughing off the top epidermis), and the recovery period is only about a month or so, says Dr. Worarat. “We can adjust the depth of the face peel, depending on the chemicals we use,” he said. But there are drawbacks: “The results don’t last long. Maybe a couple of years and then you have to do it again.”
Just a little spotted
Get lasered (B5,000-6,000/session). The laser can be deployed in two ways: the “painting” process, which is like a more superficial scan of the spotted area, is for patients who don’t want scabs or “crust” (Yum!). Superficial spotting means you only have to endure this procedure once. More stubborn stains may have to be targeted with a “spot” technique that could result in a “crust” for one week, and three to four trips to the dermatologist. After this procedure, you have to avoid the sun, or all that work will have come to nothing.
Want to look like Nicole Kidman
How about some botox (B5,000-6,000/area)? Yeah, you’ve heard of this stuff before. It’s one of the most poisonous naturally occurring substances in the world, but someone thought to inject it into their face, just to see what would happen. Voila, a second life has emerged for a whole generation of middle-aged actors in Hollywood. It’s caught on in Bangkok; Dr. Taweeratana says she injects 3-5 patients a day with the stuff. If you, too, want to look like the stars, inject this into the frown lines between your eyebrows or on your forehead—the toxin will relax your muscles. Effects last for 3-4 months, but Dr. Taweeratana advises doing the upper part of your face only: “You get a sort of mask face if you inject it in the lower part.”
7 Tips to Avoid the Scalpel
Want to avoid ever having to see the plastic surgeon? The trick is to rein in “free radicals,” those nasty little molecules that are responsible for visible signs of aging.
- Eat less sugar and starch, which kick-start the metabolism, aging your cells. Instead, focus on protein, fruits and vegetables.
- Exercise, but not too much. More than the recommended 3-5 times a week for 30-45 minutes has the same effect on your metabolism.
- Slap on the sunscreen. “The best way to prevent aging is to apply sunscreen every day, every three hours,” says dermatologist Dr. Taweeratana. She recommends sunblocks of at least 15 SPF, but normally finds 30-40 SPF the most effective. Staying out of the sun in the late morning and afternoon is also helpful.
- Cut out all alcohol and tobacco from your life. Seriously.
- Say no to heavy metal, which also tends to rouse nasty free radicals to dirty deeds. No, not the music; it’s the old-style fillings and braces that Dr. Patsri Pongsatit, anti-aging specialist, is talking about. “The body should be in contact with as little metal as possible,” she says, adding that studies have shown long-term exposure to metals leading to Alzheimer’s and breast cancer.
- Don’t rely too much on the fancy face creams. “Applying the creams on the skin, sometimes it’s not adequate,” says Dr. Patsri. “It doesn’t stay long.”
- Sleep 6-8 hours a night. You need at least 4 hours of deep sleep, so go to bed around 10pm!
