The Quest for Eternal Youth
For centuries, humanity has been searching for the secret to staying young. None of us want to see wrinkles when we look in the mirror. As the years go by and we age, the signs of time increase on our faces; however, our spirits do not age, and we desire our faces to challenge the years as well. With each passing day, new technologies make the fight against aging easier. While it’s uncertain if we can find eternal youth, starting this battle as early as possible can yield better results.
The skin rejuvenation methods discussed on this page are aimed at increasing the collagen that the skin loses with age, thereby reducing wrinkles and sagging on the face and enhancing skin elasticity.
Botulinum toxin (Dysport) and facial filler injections can also be used to prevent skin aging, but since they do not specifically focus on increasing collagen, they will be discussed in a different section.
Methods for Increasing Collagen in Skin Rejuvenation Treatments
We can categorize the methods used in collagen-increasing skin rejuvenation treatments into six groups:
- Laser Systems
- Radiofrequency Systems
- Focused Ultrasound System
- Cellular Methods
- Chemical Methods
- Physical Methods
1. Skin Rejuvenation with Laser Systems
The most commonly used laser systems for skin rejuvenation are Nd
and fractional CO2 lasers.
Nd
Laser Application for Skin Rejuvenation: As we age, the synthesis and amount of collagen in our skin decrease. The satisfaction level among patients using Nd
(Neodymium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet – Nd
) laser systems for reducing wrinkles and sagging is quite high. The heat emitted by the Nd
laser promotes increased collagen synthesis beneath the skin.
Depending on the level of wrinkles, it is generally sufficient to perform an Nd
laser treatment of 4-6 sessions, repeated approximately twice a year. These sessions should be spaced two weeks apart. The most crucial aspect during the Nd
laser application process is to protect the skin from the sun.
Fractional CO2 Laser for Skin Rejuvenation: In the aging process, the damage caused by the sun, combined with the harmful effects of air pollution from urban living, accelerates collagen degradation in our skin. Collagen is the primary protein in connective tissue, and as collagen synthesis in our skin decreases, wrinkles begin to increase.
New-generation fractional CO2 lasers create microscopic channels in the skin in a way that conventional CO2 lasers, which affect the entire skin surface, cannot. The aim of this application is to selectively cause thermal damage to structures containing water, such as collagen, blood vessels, and keratinocytes. Healthy cells surrounding the thermally damaged area migrate to the damaged area and initiate the repair mechanism.
Through this mechanism, new collagen synthesis beneath our skin increases. These new-generation fractional CO2 lasers cause significantly less damage to the skin’s surface compared to traditional CO2 lasers, allowing them to perform their functions beneath the skin and enabling much quicker healing. Consequently, patients can return to their social lives in a shorter time.
2. Skin Rejuvenation with Radiofrequency Systems
Radiofrequency systems heat the deep layers of the skin using radio waves, while a special head with cooling elements indicates the temperature reached in the skin, preventing damage to the upper surface. The heated collagen contracts and triggers new collagen synthesis. The skin rejuvenation process begins within 2-3 months. Sessions are performed weekly, with a total of 4-8 sessions depending on the condition of the skin. Each session lasts between 40-60 minutes.
Fractional Microneedle Radiofrequency: The new generation fractional microneedle radiofrequency treatment is a method applied using uninsulated gold needles. Since radiofrequency energy is generated only at the needle tips, this technique does not damage the skin’s upper layer. This allows for more effective heating of deeper tissues.
Additionally, the lengths of these needles can be adjusted to deliver radiofrequency energy at different depths ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 mm. This is referred to as 3D (three-dimensional) scanning. As a result, the outcomes are significantly better, and the tissue tightening and lifting properties are greater than those of traditional radiofrequency treatments.