Men care about their appearance just as much as women do; wanting to look your best has no gender bias. The thing about aesthetic treatments, however, is that most of them are marketed to women, so many men don’t realize that they have plenty of options to reverse the effects of time on the skin. At Tru-Male Medical in Oak Brook, IL, we believe that dermal fillers like Radiesse can be an ideal choice for men who want to smooth the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
What Is the Right Age for Radiesse Treatments?
In general, Radiesse is a dermal filler that is approved for people between the ages of 30 and 65, so most people who are experiencing wrinkles and loss of skin volume are qualified for this treatment. The right age for your treatment will depend on the severity of your wrinkles, as many people prefer to use dermal fillers when their fine lines and wrinkles are moderate to severe. For men, this may mean that you will not need this filler until your 40s or 50s, or sometimes later.
When Do Men Start Experiencing Wrinkles?
Men develop wrinkles more slowly than women. Although you may notice the start of fine lines as early as your mid-20s thanks to natural collagen depletion, many men won’t notice significant wrinkles until their late 30s or 40s. This can be a major contrast to women, who often start to see moderate wrinkles and fine lines during their early 30s.
Why Does Testosterone Matter for Visible Aging?
When it comes to skin appearance, men have a built-in advantage, and it’s naturally higher levels of testosterone. Collagen is a protein in the skin that is largely responsible for providing structural support, and while your body will begin to produce less collagen as early as your 20s, usually men experience a slower drop in collagen depletion. This is mostly because estrogen, the female sex hormone, breaks down collagen more quickly than testosterone.
Men do not typically experience any significant drop in testosterone production until the mid-40s to 50s, which is when the onset of andropause starts. For this reason, many men may not experience any moderate wrinkle formation until well into middle age. The formation of wrinkles isn’t the only place where this testosterone advantage kicks in, either – men are also less likely to develop cellulite for the same reason.
What Causes Wrinkles for Men?
So, if testosterone is what helps men look younger for longer, then what does contribute to early wrinkles in men? There are actually a few factors that can cause men’s wrinkles, such as smoking, habitual expressions, wrinkles, and genetics. While each of these factors is certainly applicable to women, they also tend to have more pronounced effects on men – especially men who lead busy lives or have unhealthy lifestyle habits. Minimizing some of these factors may delay wrinkle onset.
What Is Radiesse and How Does It Work?
Radiesse is a dermal filler, which is a type of injectable treatment that is designed to restore volume loss in the skin to smooth away the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity. As a long-lasting hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler, you can count on the results of this treatment to appear natural, since the main ingredient in the filler encourages natural collagen production in the sub-dermal layers of the skin.
Where Can You Use Radiesse?
This particular dermal filler was first designed to treat signs of aging in the mid-face, such as nasolabial lines, marionette lines, and hollowness in the cheeks. Over time, this filler has been adapted to be one of the most versatile on the market and can be used on virtually every area of the face, including:
- Forehead lines
- Hollow temples
- Undereye hollows
- Jowl laxity
Interestingly, this filler can also be used to restore volume on the back of the hands, which can help erase a veiny or bony appearance. Like other dermal fillers, this treatment is commonly used to contour the face, as well. Men may be interested in using this filler to contour the shape of the nose, chin, or jawline.
How Much Filler Will You Need?
Most of the time, this filler is potent enough that one syringe is enough to restore volume loss. However, for those who have significant wrinkles and skin laxity, a second syringe may be necessary. We will curate the amount of filler you need for your treatment based on the condition of your skin and your result goals.
What Should You Do Before Your Treatment?
Although this is an aesthetic treatment, it’s still important to prepare for your appointment carefully so you can get the results you want. First and foremost, you should discuss any medication and supplements you are taking with your aesthetic expert; it’s sometimes necessary to temporarily discontinue taking blood-thinning medications for at least three to five days. You should also stop taking any anti-inflammatory medications, including Aspirin and Advil.
On the day of your treatment, you should arrive at your appointment with a clean face. You may want to skip shaving on the day of your appointment. You can take Tylenol about one hour before your appointment if you have sensitive skin.
What Should You Do After Your Treatment?
Because it will take several hours or days for your filler to “settle” in your skin, it’s very important that you avoid massaging, rubbing, or scrubbing your face for at least 24 to 48 hours after your appointment. You may also want to sleep on your back and keep your head elevated on the night after your appointment.
You must avoid direct unprotected sunlight for several days after your treatment session. You should also limit your exposure to excessive heat, sweating, steam, or other forms of hot water, including hot showers, saunas, and hot tubs. These activities will all raise the temperature of your body and create swelling that could interfere with the settling of your filler.
How Long Do Results Last?
This filler is expected to last for about 12 to 18 months at a time, making it one of the longest-lasting dermal fillers available. Some people may experience results that last several weeks longer. If your results are lasting longer than anticipated, it’s likely because your skin is still producing higher levels of collagen. Because this filler will improve over time, many men can experience results that last nearly two years at a time.
How Can You Maintain Results?
Aside from the aftercare instructions, you must follow closely, there are a few things you can do to maintain your results. Your main task will be to attend any touch-up appointments you may have so you can enjoy continuous results. Many men have touch-up appointments once a year so they can extend the results of this treatment. Other ways you can maintain your results include:
Skincare
It’s often the case that skincare isn’t emphasized for men – but the truth is that men should be as mindful of their skincare as women. Even the simplest skincare routine will benefit your skin health and support collagen production in your skin. You should wash your face twice a day and apply a good moisturizer. Ingredients like collagen, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide are all good options to support your skin health and elasticity. The right skincare products may help your results last longer.
Sunscreen
UV ray exposure is thought to cause 80 to 90% of all visible aging, so if you want your results to last for as long as possible, you will need to prioritize your sunscreen. There are many sunscreens for men that are integrated into a daily moisturizer so you can enjoy a one-step solution. Ideally, your sunscreen should be graded 30 or higher, although fair-skinned men and men who spend time outdoors may want to use SPF 50.
You should wear sunscreen even when you are going to be inside or the weather is cloudy. UVA and UVB rays can travel through cloud cover, so even if it’s not sunny, you are still exposing your skin – and your filler – to potentially harmful UV lights. And although windows offer some protection from UVB rays, they do not protect from skin-aging UVA rays, so sunscreen is still important for office workers.
What Are Some Benefits of This Filler?
Aside from how long the results last and the fact that this filler will help you build your own natural collagen, there are significant benefits that many men find attractive. For example, this filler can be used on virtually every area of the face for both moderate and severe concerns, which makes it a universal one-step solution for age-related concerns. Other benefits include:
Non-Surgical
Injectable treatments such as this one are often preferable to plastic surgery like facelifts. Non-surgical treatments are considerably safer, simpler, and easier to incorporate. Because this treatment does not involve surgery, you will not need to schedule any downtime off your job or planned activities. The convenience of non-surgical aesthetic treatments makes dermal fillers and other injectable treatments preferable to men who want to reduce visible signs of aging.
Hypoallergenic
Dermal fillers formulated with hyaluronic acid are generally considered hypoallergenic – including this one. This is because hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the body and the synthetic hyaluronic acid used for your filler is biologically compatible, so your body won’t be able to tell the difference between the two and develop an immune response.
That said, like other injectable treatments, it’s still important that you verify you are not allergic to other ingredients in this filler. You may need to complete a small allergy test during your consultation to confirm that this treatment is compatible with your body.
What Can You Expect From Your Consultation?
Overall, a consultation for a dermal filler treatment is similar to any other consultation. We will go over what this treatment is and what you can expect for your appointment and your results. We will discuss your age-related concerns and go over lifestyle factors, health factors, and previous aesthetic treatments you have tried. Most men who are generally healthy and have no history of severe allergic reaction are qualified for this treatment.
Reverse the Effects of Time With Radiesse
It’s perfectly natural to want to look your best, particularly when looking your best means looking younger than you are. For men who want to reduce visible signs of aging, a dermal filler like Radiesse is the ideal treatment. Please contact Tru-Male Medical in Oak Brook, IL to schedule your consultation today.
