Shedding the extra pounds before summer is a popular mission. Some may stick with the old school diet and exercise plan while others will be drawn into using the new talk of the town-Type 2 diabetes medications known as Ozempic, Mounjaro, or Wegovy. Is the skinny face fad aka “Ozempic face” in?

The skinny face fad is becoming popular for those who don’t even necessarily need to lose weight. In addition to diabetes medication, younger people with fuller faces are opting for buccal fat pad removal. This is a surgical procedure where the fat in the cheeks is removed to slenderize and sharpen the facial structure. After losing a significant amount of weight, one of the most common problems that occur amongst middle-aged and older patients is the loss of facial fat which can leave the face sagging and look older. “Fads are fads and aging is inevitable,” says Dr. Navin Singh at Washingtonian Plastic Surgery. “In older individuals, facial volume is key to a youthful appearance. As we all age, the facial volume reduces and shifts around.” He and his team strive to help their patients slow and seize the effects of aging through non-invasive and surgical treatment options.

Dr. Singh and his team offer an array of options to combat the changes that are caused by aging, weight loss, and other variables like sun damage or nutrition. Listed below are some examples of how they target the three parts of aging – structure loss, volume loss, and superficial wrinkles.

“On the Go” Non-Surgical Treatments are:

 

Structure (bones and collagen):

  • Ultherapy to help build collagen. Ultherapy is the only non-invasive treatment approved by the FDA for lifting the skin. It slows down the signs of aging using micro-focused ultrasound to non-invasively treat the same deep tissue planes as a modern facelift. This treatment lifts and tightens loose skin over time, without any downtime.

Volume (fat pads):

  • Fillers (Voluma, RHA, Restylane Lyft) Dermal fillers are designed to effectively reduce the appearance of unwanted wrinkles, contour, create volume, and revitalize the skin.
  • Sculptra is an FDA-approved injectable that helps gradually replace lost collagen—the most common protein in the body that is used to form a framework to support cells and tissue—for results that can last up to two years.

Superficial (fine lines/wrinkles):

  • RF Microneedling With Pixel8 RF microneedling, results are produced faster, are more dramatic, and are longer-lived. RF technology works by delivering precisely controlled RF energy into heat (thermal energy) into the dermis and epidermis through the micro-injuries/channels causing collagen contraction and stimulation allowing cells (fibroblasts) to produce more collagen.
  • Lasers There are two types of lasers used for laser skin treatments, ablative and nonablative. Non-ablative treatments treat deeper parts of the skin without removing any part of the top layer and tend to have fewer side effects and shorter healing time. Ablative laser treatments partially remove the top surface of the skin which can improve the skin’s surface (tone and texture) to achieve a smooth, even, and fresh appearance.
  • Chemical Peels A chemical peel is an aesthetic procedure performed to address a variety of skin concerns including skin rejuvenation, anti-aging, hyperpigmentation, acne, and acne scarring. Removing the outer skin prompts the body to generate a new layer of skin cells which enhances the skin’s appearance as well as improves its functionality.
  • Botox, Daxxify, and Dysport These are FDA-approved neuromodulators that block muscle contractions. Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify injections are the most popular non-surgical form of wrinkle reduction that has very little to no downtime.

“Mini” Surgical Treatments are:

 

Structure (bones and collagen):

  •  Implants High cheekbones and a strong jawline have long had a history of allure. Chin and cheek implants are a great way to enhance a facial profile by improving the overall proportion and balance of the face.
  • Facelift A Facelift is a surgical procedure designed to smooth and firm the skin, providing a fresh, youthful appearance. Throughout one’s life, the sun’s radiation, stress, gravity, and other factors cause the skin to sag and fit more loosely.

Volume (fat pads):

  • Fat Grafting The surgery is an example of liposculpture, where the techniques of suctioning fat and re-injecting fat are applied to the desired region with the goals of enhancing the area by suctioning out fat from another area of the body and transferring to the area to be enhanced.

Superficial (fine lines/wrinkles):

  • Dermabrasion Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that wears away the upper layers of skin with sandpaper or other mechanical means. This procedure smooths skin, removes small scars, and evens out skin tone from scars, birthmarks, sun damage, tattoos, age spots, and wrinkles.

Contact Washingtonian Plastic Surgery at (703) 345-4377 to schedule a consultation to find out which treatment or procedure is right for you. Dr. Navin Singh will work with you to create a treatment plan that meets your needs and helps you achieve your goals!