Botox, fillers and cosmetic surgery have long held onto the crown as the most effective ways to slow down signs of ageing, however, there are plenty of other methods to try which don’t require you to go under the knife – some of which you don’t have to pay a penny for.
Dr Asiya Maula, Director and GP at The Health Suite, said: “You don’t need to turn to cosmetic surgery straight away to retain a youthful appearance as this can be costly and involves recovery time. Plus, there is a risk of infection if you opt for surgery such as a facelift and your body can reject foreign matter like fillers and botox.
“It’s perfectly fine to age gracefully, but if you’re looking to explore ways of slowing down the signs of ageing then here are a few ways you can do so without going to extreme measures.”
Face yoga
Isolating muscles in your face by doing various exercises can help tone, keep the skin plump and also tighten it which will help maintain a youthful appearance long term. We obviously use our faces every day when smiling, chatting and growing but face yoga adopts intent behind the exercises, much like when you work out other areas of the body at the gym.
Face yoga stimulates the blood flow in your face and the circulation can encourage the production of collagen – the protein that supports the skin and other tissues. Start by practising face yoga twice a day, once in the morning when you wake up and once in the evening before you go to bed, and it can be for as little as five minutes. Choose 3-4 poses and do this for 30 seconds each after a quick warm-up.
For the warm-up, open your jaw as if you’re yawning and then raise your eyes to look up at the ceiling without moving your forehead and hold for 10 seconds and repeat. It’s up to you which poses you’d like to implement into your routine but if you find yourself hunched over a desk at work a lot, targeting the neck to release tension is a good place to start. Move your chin to one side and lift it up slightly and pucker your lips into a kiss. Hold this for 10 seconds and switch sides to repeat.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Simple, painless, and non-invasive, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves you being supplied with 100% oxygen whilst lying down inside a tube-shaped hyperbaric chamber. A treatment so relaxing that you can read, listen to music or even take a nap during it, the pure oxygen encourages collagen production which can provide rejuvenation of fine lines and wrinkles.
Dr Maula said: “Oxygen under pressure can improve cognitive functions such as concentration and memory, accelerate the formation of blood vessels, and new nerve cells and increases the connections between nerve cells in addition to providing anti-ageing benefits.
“Research has found that HBOT increases circulation, thus helping cell repair which improves age spots, saggy skin, wrinkles, poor collagen structure and skin cell damage and increases skin elasticity, meaning you can enjoy a more youthful appearance for longer.”
Spending time outside
Exposure to sunlight is a natural source of vitamin D, which is essential for maintaining healthy bones, teeth, and muscles. Vitamin D also plays a role in regulating the immune system and reducing inflammation which can help slow down the ageing process. Wearing sunscreen can reduce UV absorption and vitamin D synthesis.
Spending time outside in natural surroundings can help reduce stress and improve mental health. Chronic stress has been linked to ageing-related conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and cognitive decline. Exposure to natural light can help improve the quality of sleep.
Acupuncture
Facial acupuncture is on the rise due to it being an alternative to filler injections. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture involves inserting very thin needles into the skin and is most commonly used to treat pain. Now, facial acupuncture has gained popularity as an anti-ageing treatment.
It works by targeting drooping muscles to tighten, lift and tone and the whisper-thin needles help boost blood circulation to the face, helping to promote oxygenation of the cells. You can expect the results to give you a soft, glowy and youthful complexion and after a few sessions, the most noticeable anti-ageing effects will be present after four to six sessions.
“Acupuncture works by causing a tiny trauma to the skin as the needles are so thin”, Dr Maula added, “so this sends the body’s healing cells (fibroblasts) to fix the areas with collagen and elastin production which helps with loss of firmness in the skin.”
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