Gravitational ptosis. What is it and how to remove it?

Ptosis is the drooping of facial tissues, including the skin, under the influence of gravity, which is why it is called gravitational. It is determined by three components:

• sagging skin;
• muscle weakness;
• displacement (migration) of adipose tissue.

Gravitational ptosis appears on average after 25-30 years (sometimes a little earlier, sometimes later, depending on lifestyle and genetic characteristics).

There are three stages of skin ptosis:

1. At the first stage of ptosis, a nasolabial fold and a nasolacrimal cavity are formed, the skin of the upper eyelids sag, the line of the eyebrows changes, and the corners of the mouth droop. Typically, ptosis begins in the upper part of the face. Next it moves to the cheeks, cheekbones and chin.
2. At the second stage, a skin fold forms on the bridge of the nose, the outer corners of the eyes droop, and jowls appear on the lower jaw. There is a drooping of the skin above the nasolabial fold, which becomes pronounced and sharply defined. Folds form between the chin and lower lip, resulting in a double chin. The contour of the face blurs, and excess tissue forms in the lower part. The drooping of the upper eyelid increases, the corners of the mouth droop.
3. The third stage of ptosis means the formation of deep wrinkles, folds, furrows and creases in the skin, a radical change in the contours of the face.

Depending on the stage of ptosis, procedures are individually selected that will be effective in each specific case.

Treatments against ptosis

The first effective method is fan lifting . This is an injection technique for tightening facial tissue using fillers. A special feature of the procedure is the intradermal injection of filler along Langer's lines or massage lines. The purpose of this manipulation is to restore the natural tension of fibers that have lost their elasticity. This way you get a clear, tightened oval. For fan lifting, fillers based on both hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite are used.

In Ukraine there is only one certified filler based on calcium hydroxyapatite - Radiesse. Unlike hyaluronic acid, it solves two problems:

1. Increases the volume of tissues that have begun to sag, that is, produces an instant lifting effect;
2. Triggers neocollagenogenesis (stimulates skin cells to produce their own collagen).

Thus, Radiesse has a prolonged effect. A frame is formed on the problem area, which tightens the skin from the inside, and the injected drug completely disintegrates and is excreted from the body.

Thread lifting is another effective method of combating ptosis. The advantage of this technique is the naturalness of the changes. The tissues return to their natural place, so the facial features remain the same. Traces of the intervention are practically invisible. Since the punctures are made in the temporal part of the head, hidden by the hair. Now there are many threads: 3D threads, Silhouette lift, Happy lift, Aptos, ligature threads. They are either absorbable or non-absorbable. They also differ in their duration of action and their results, as well as the possibility of contouring.

Before the procedure, the doctor will help determine which type of threads will suit each individual patient best. For slight tissue sagging, mesothreads are usually recommended. For more pronounced changes, Aptos threads are more suitable. The procedure takes no more than an hour, and recovery takes place on average in 2 weeks.

Ultrasonic lifting Altera is a non-surgical facelift. The only hardware way to tighten the oval, restore the elasticity of the face and neck. Lifting is carried out using ultrasound, which affects the smas layer (a special layer between the muscles and the skin). On the one hand, the device tightens deep tissues, on the other hand, it stimulates the production of collagen in the skin, making it more elastic. Just one procedure is enough to achieve the desired lifting. There is no need for special preparation for this procedure. And yet, in order to achieve a better result, it is often recommended to undergo biorevitalization before ultrasonic lifting so that the skin is more hydrated. After the procedure, it is better to drink collagen-forming amino acids or hepatoprotectors. Altera lifting is not suitable for the following categories of patients:

• vegans;
• those with a sweet tooth;
• smokers;
• women over 5 years of menopause;
• with a lot of excess weight or sagging skin after losing weight.

A month after the procedure, an intermediate result is visible, but after three months it will be final. The effect of the procedure will be visible for about a year, in some cases even up to two years.

The most problematic places

Ptosis can affect almost any part of your body, but the most vulnerable are the eyelids, face, chest, neck, and inner surface of the forearms. These are precisely the zones that most eloquently indicate a person’s age and shape his appearance. Therefore, the doctor at our clinic uses many techniques that can stop premature aging and sagging skin. These techniques can be either invasive or non-invasive.

Our specialist looks at which area requires correction and how serious the problem is, and then chooses the appropriate technique. In some cases, to eliminate a defect it is necessary to perform a set of various procedures. Let's look at the most popular options.

Which procedure should I choose?

At the first and second stages of ptosis, any of the above procedures is suitable. In this case, it all depends on the patient's preferences. For example, if you are not ready for injection or quite traumatic methods of introducing threads, the best solution is the Altera device. Also, in some cases, to achieve maximum effect, it is recommended to combine several procedures.

For the third stage of ptosis, plastic surgery is preferable. In such a situation, you can carry out lifting using the Altera apparatus or the Radiesse injection procedure, but most likely, despite the fact that the condition will improve slightly, the desired result will not be achieved.

What it is?

Ptosis is a general term that means drooping of an organ or part of the body. The eyebrows, corners of the lips, eyelids, chest, kidneys, etc. can move downwards. Depending on the cause of the drooping, the following can be distinguished:

• ptosis as a consequence of injury, disease or as a congenital pathology;
• gravitational ptosis caused by the aging process and the force of gravity.

The fundamental difference is that in the first case we are talking about a kind of disease that is not very common, and in the second it is about a natural and inevitable phenomenon to which everyone without exception is susceptible. Thus, the word “ptosis” usually means gravitational ptosis or, simply put, sagging skin.

How to slow down aging and facial ptosis?

At the first stage of ptosis, if changes in the oval of the face are just beginning to appear, you can fight ptosis with the help of cosmetics in combination with massage and facial gymnastics (face building), as well as professional procedures, where the effect is not only on the skin, but also on the oils. layer. These procedures include the Glow Solution hydropeeling procedure.

Glow Solution is a therapeutic non-invasive procedure, thanks to which you can clean, polish, deeply moisturize, treat with active serums and lift the skin in one session. The result of this complex is young, tightened, glowing skin. This procedure can be done either one-time or in a course of 4-6 sessions. The interval between procedures should be approximately 2 weeks. One session of Glow Solution per month helps maintain the effect.

Glow Solutions should not be confused with HydraFacial. They have something in common, but the differences in favor of Glow Solution are significant. There are the following differences:

• Serums for Glow Solution were exclusively created by the internationally recognized leader in the creation of organic cosmetics and cosmeceuticals, the German company Babor. They are free of dyes and flavors. Serums are supplied automatically in the most effective dose.
• The revolutionary Trim Ultrasound low-frequency sound technology ensures the penetration of active substances into the deep layers of the skin.
• The main difference is that Glow Solution has a dynamic pulse massage using a special serum. It penetrates to the oil layer and, through stimulation of fibroblasts (skin cells), increases collagen production. This results in visible skin lifting after the first session.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, it is necessary to carry out prevention from the inside. Therefore, for the beauty of the skin and the health of the body, it is necessary to follow some recommendations.

1. The first is positive thinking.
2. In second place you can put healthy sleep. It is especially important in the period from 22:00 to 02:00 - the most complete sleep, it is during this period that the body fully recovers. Any other time of sleep does not solve the necessary problems.
3. Third, avoid stress as much as possible. Stress negatively affects all organs and systems. In addition, people often eat stress or drink alcohol, and also smoke more. All this negatively affects the condition of the skin.
4. Next we need to mention proper posture. Only with an even posture does the entire body begin to function in a balanced and harmonious manner.
5. Fifth, avoid weight changes. Weight fluctuations (especially sudden ones) negatively affect the state of collagen. In sixth place is regular physical activity and being in the fresh air, or even better, a combination of these factors. This is especially worth paying attention to for people who have a sedentary job in an office. Sixth – water balance. Excluding any drinks and liquid food, you need to drink 30 ml of water per day for every 1 kg of body weight. In order for water to be better absorbed, you need to add a couple of drops of lemon juice to the water.
6. And finally, about the most important thing - nutrition. Food should be healthy. When eating, it is important to chew your food thoroughly and slowly. This helps to better saturate the body. Diet is also important. In addition, it is better to consume fermented milk products and fruits in the morning, any food is suitable for lunch, and in the evening, give preference to vegetables. All food that is considered harmful is prohibited.

By changing the basic habits of sleep, nutrition, and behavior, you can see the first positive results within a month.

Hardware methods for facelift

1. Thermolifting of the face is a modern development that uniquely combines vacuum massage and high-frequency electrical influence. Microcirculation is stimulated, toned, and overall skin immunity is increased.

The mechanism of action of thermolifting is based on bipolar radio frequency energy. The skin fold is captured in a vacuum between paired electrodes. The dermis is heated at a given depth due to radio wave energy. The depth of penetration is easy to control, which eliminates the negative impact on the entire body.

Due to layer-by-layer heating of the skin, new collagen and elastin are produced, and rejuvenation of all layers of the skin is launched. As a result, the skin is tightened, fine wrinkles are smoothed out, and pores are reduced. Thermolifting also solves the problem of a “double chin”. The volume of adipose tissue decreases because tissue metabolism increases and lipolysis accelerates.

After a course of procedures, the oval of the face will be tightened, the fine network of wrinkles will disappear, and facial folds will be smoothed out.

2. Laser facial resurfacing removes the top layer of skin cells. All irregularities and wrinkles are smoothed out, and metabolic and restoration processes are accelerated.

Erbium laser is a new era in facial skin resurfacing. It creates micro-indentations in the skin thanks to its radiation, divided into several micro-rays. Areas with intact tissue are pulled together over damaged areas; this property provides pronounced lifting. The procedure is relatively painless and without unwanted effects. Erbium laser is successfully used on the skin of the eyelids and neck.

The skin absorbs laser photons and heats up. By changing the laser power and the duration of the pulse flow, you can adjust the depth of exposure. When the skin heats up, it evaporates the water it contains, and coagulation of protein structures occurs, old collagen and elastin are destroyed. The presence of healthy tissue around the damaged areas ensures their rapid healing.

3. Facial myostimulation is a method of applying pulsed currents to facial tissue, which restores the tone of muscle tissue, has a lifting effect, and also breaks down fat deposits. Myostimulation works facial muscles that cannot be physically trained, this makes it possible to correct the oval of the face, eliminate tissue ptosis and achieve a rejuvenation effect. Facial myostimulation improves restoration processes in tissues, eliminates hypermobility of facial expressions, signs of fatigue, swelling, and prevents the formation of new wrinkles.

Basic mechanisms of age-related changes

To understand how the years affect us and how an unpleasant cosmetic defect is formed, we need to remember human anatomy.

Musculoaponeurotic apparatus

Its transformation, like the annual rings of a tree, reveals the processes that occur inside. Initially, it all starts due to hypertonicity of the orbicularis oculi muscle. It is tense all our lives, because it is thanks to it that we blink a huge number of times a day, frown, squint, and so on.

It is not at all surprising that spasticity appears over the years - unhealthy tone, overexertion. As a result, the muscle becomes shorter, and then completely freezes, as if becoming stiff. Then the excess dermis has nowhere to go. It descends, forming a kind of pouch.

Spasm of the occipital, sternocleidomastoid, cervical and shoulder muscles also plays a huge role in aggravating the processes. With incorrect posture and low physical activity, they also become toned and block the vessels leading to the face:

• lymphatic;
• veins;
• arteries.

In addition, they begin to actively stretch the muscular frame of the facial set of muscles, which also leads to various deformities. All this works in exactly the same way with tendons, which makes the situation even worse.

Stagnation of lymph

Before figuring out how to get rid of a drooping upper eyelid, what to do with it and how to deal with it, it doesn’t hurt to understand that the problem can lie much deeper than the surface of the epidermis. Lymph is the biggest culprit in causing swelling. This is primarily reflected in the eyes.

The eyelids are distinguished by loose subcutaneous tissue and are covered with a thin layer of skin, under which there are many blood vessels. If metabolism is incorrect or for other reasons, the amount of tissue fluid in the intercellular space increases noticeably, which is why unsightly bags appear, as well as drooping eyelids.

Epidermis

The dermis on the eyelids is 5-6 times thinner than on the forehead or cheeks, and therefore its wear resistance is proportionally less. It contains a little building protein called keratin, which can protect against external aggressive factors, and there is absolutely no granular layer that produces lipids. Therefore, a deficiency of sebum, a minimum number of pores and glands leads to loss of elasticity and disturbances in water balance.

Turgor and elasticity are increasingly lost over the years, as the body produces less and less necessary substances, and the need for them becomes greater. Under the natural influence of gravity, sagging occurs and a bag (ptosis) is formed.

Correct makeup

Modern make-up can work wonders. The main thing is to choose the right technique for yourself in order to look as natural as possible.

Suitable:

• Matte shadows and careful shading.
• Well-tinted, curled or false eyelashes.
• The raised tip of the eyebrow, directed not downwards, but towards the temple.

What is prohibited:

• Clear graphic arrows.
• Bright colors.
• Pearlescent shadows.
• Sharp transitions of shades, stripes and lines.

Expert opinion

• Cosmetologist
• Surgeon

Irina Dorofeeva

practicing cosmetologist

To be sure to get the desired result, go to a professional. If you don't want to resort to drastic measures, then a personal trainer who knows how to pump up your gluteal muscles can help. Squats, cycling and much more can help greatly. But in this case, you will have to wait from 6 months to a year for results. Exercises are not always effective. Plastic surgery can help remove and tighten sagging skin, which is especially important after weight loss.

Amy Bundy

plastic surgeon

If you feel that the skin of your buttocks is sagging, and gentle methods do not lead to a positive effect, then plastic surgery is the only option.
You can either remove loose skin through a traditional butt lift or add volume using your own fat or an implant. Ptosis of the buttocks is an unpleasant phenomenon that causes aesthetic discomfort. But every person wants to have a toned figure. There is no need to worry, as there are methods that can be used to improve the appearance of the buttocks.

Injections

To correct the appearance of the buttocks, some people are inclined to use mesotherapy with biorevitalization. Contour plastic surgery can also be performed. Such methods have a positive effect on the skin, tightening it.

Similar procedures are performed for preventive purposes or to eliminate ptosis. They are also used after plastic surgery for lifting in order to maintain the effect longer. Such methods will not add volume to the buttocks, but will correct their contour.

Everything has its time

With timely prevention of ptosis, you can forget about surgical correction methods for a long time. In the earliest stages of aging, you should do daily gymnastics to strengthen the muscle frame, massage to improve the tone of the facial muscles, and also use cosmetics marked anti-age. It is also necessary not to overeat, quit smoking and do not abuse alcohol, drink more clean water, and take vitamins.

For more pronounced signs of aging, namely the appearance of jowls and drooping corners of the eyes and mouth, it is recommended to resort to a course of physiotherapy, hardware and injection techniques. At the last stage of aging, when deep furrows and wrinkles can no longer be treated with gentle methods, surgical methods of rejuvenation should be considered.

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