Japanese plastic surgeons aren’t the best when it comes to facelifts. Why? They just don’t get the practice! The ageing Japanese face doesn’t sag and develop jowling the way a white Caucasian does. Why is this?
Between our muscles and skin lies the superficial muscular aponeurotic system (SMAS) – this firm fibrous sheet envelopes the face, connects the muscles to the skin and provides support. As we age, the SMAS can weaken and stretch leading to sagging.
Guess what? The SMAS in Japanese women is very different to that in white Caucasians… it’s more fibrous giving more strength and so less likely to weaken significantly.
So what can you do to strengthen your SMAS?
A recent study by Rajiv Grover (President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) showed that although Caucasian women have much weaker SMAS than their Japanese counterparts, those that had had repeated dermal filler treatments had stronger SMAS in the treated areas bringing them in line with the Japanese!
Dermal fillers are well known for plumping lines and restoring lost volume – we also know that they can stimulate new collagen production. Now we know that they can do even more – regular treatment with dermal fillers before significant ageing has occurred strengthens the SMAS and helps prevent sagging and the formation of jowls!