The ‘Triangle Of Youth’ refers to the well-defined facial contours associated with youth. As we age and lose facial volume, our facial contours change, causing shadow patterns to develop while youthful highlights fade. The triangle becomes ‘inverted’.
As we age, our facial bone is resorbed over the years, just like the rest of our bones, and soft tissues fall due to gravity and lack of support. As a result, our facial tissues sag and droop downwards. Another key contributor is the shift in fat distribution across the face. Fat pads shift as we lose fats in some places, and gain fats in other areas.
For instance, we lose fats under the eyes, while fat pads beneath the chin can increase in prominence, causing fullness between the neck and chin, causing what is known as a “double chin”. The effort of the lower face getting fuller can be described as the ‘Pyramid of Age’, or ‘Inverted Triangle’.
Youthful skin is soft, supple, smooth, well-hydrated, and rich with cells that renew relatively rapidly. As we age, we experience a loss of facial oil glands, which leads to less oil production and less moisture in the skin. We lose collagen and elastin, which can contribute to the formation of lines, such as laugh lines, frown lines and crow’s feet.
After repeated facial movement, these eventually become static lines that are gradually etched into the skin over time. Additionally, because our skin is less elastic, our face becomes more disposed to sagging.
A youthful look depends on having the right amount of facial fats in the right places. Redistribution, accumulation and atrophy of fat lead to facial volume loss.
This redistribution of fat pad deposits affect the contours of the face, and contribute to an illusion of downward sagging, disproportionate features and migration of features. Areas of fats tend to become further spaced apart, leading to an uneven appearance as separate structures, instead of a smooth, almost continuous layer.
Facial muscles lie beneath our facial fat pads. As we laugh, eat, smile and frown, repetitive muscle activity and loss of facial fat can contribute to wrinkles in the face. As a result, crow’s feet form at the outer corners of our eyes and creases form between our brows.
Altered facial proportions cause dyssynchrony in facial muscle movements, and undesired facial expression causes certain muscles to get stronger, whilst some muscles lose their tone over time. This loss of muscle tone and thinning skin can give the face a loose, sagging appearance. Our jawline loses its contour and our profile becomes less defined.
BTX relaxes muscles to reduce repetitive facial expressions and lessen deep dynamic and static furrows. Multiple research studies over the years found that these treatments have a good safety profile.
Read our treatment guide on botulinum toxin injections here.
Lasers resurface the epidermal and superficial dermal layers, encouraging the generation and remodelling of new collagen in the dermis and epidermis.7
Gold standard laser technologies for rejuvenation include erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) lasers8 and 1,064-nm Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) lasers. Scientific studies have shown significant improvement in skin texture and rejuvenation in study subjects.
Compared to ablative lasers, non-ablative lasers are typically associated with no serious adverse effects. Side effects were limited to minimal downtime in the form of transient redness and swelling. At VIDASKIN, we advise a personalized skin assessment for your doctor to plan on a suitable laser modality for your condition and therapeutic goals.
Read our treatment guide on the Laser Genesis treatment or enquire with our clinic about our signature Laser Medley program.
Peels can encourage epidermal regeneration, and new collagen formation with remodeling of fibres and deposition of glycosaminoglycans in the dermis.10 Peels can be classified as superficial, medium and deep according to depth of penetration. Results depend on the type of chemical used, its concentration, time of contact and more.11 A trained clinician can customise and modify the strength and timing of treatment
Read our treatment guide on the Cosmelan peel.
Different from high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), microFU is very high intensity, focused ultrasound energy that creates thermal coagulation points in skin and subcutaneous tissues at 1.5mm, 3.0mm and 4.5mm depths. Not only has MFU been shown to stimulate long-term collagen regrowth (neocollagenesis)12, it also specifically targets the dermis or SMAS (a fibrous network of collagen, elastic fibers and fat cells that connects the dermis to the facial muscles, and is tightened during a facelift).13
At VIDASKIN, we use only the original, USA manufactured, FDA approved Ultherapy machine which also has a built-in Real-Time Visualisation function, that allows our doctor to see precisely beneath the skin, to ensure each treatment line is delivered at the precise layer, ensuring optimal results, and minimal side effects and complications.
Read our treatment guide on Ultherapy.
RF delivers uniform heat to the dermis at a controlled depth to stimulate collagen and elastin fibres and tighten skin. A 2011 study of individuals over 3 months of treatments had their photos and skin biopsy specimens analysed. It was found that their skin had a significant increase in collagen types I and III, and newly synthesised collagen at the end of treatment.14
At VIDASKIN, we employ only Thermage FLX, an FDA approved treatment which has optimal efficacy, and treatments need only be done once every 1 to 2 years.
Read our treatment guide on Thermage FLX.
Dr Vicki Leong, MBBS (Melbourne), MRCP (UK), Postgrad Diploma in Clinical Dermatology (Cardiff)
Dr Sarah Teo, MBBChBAO (Ireland)
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