Plastic Surgery and Study on Womens’ Wrinkles

Plastic Surgery Science Comments (1)

Plastic surgeons have noted for years that the majority of their patients – up to 85 or 90 percent – are women.

Some have concluded that women are  more vain.

But now, scientists in Holland have found a very practice reason why more women than men visit cosmetic plastic surgeons: female facial skin – at least around the mouth — wrinkles more easily.

An article now appearing in the November-December issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal (AES) a professional magazine for plastic surgeons, describes how a team of cosmetic plastic surgeons in the Netherlands compared skin thickness, wrinkles, muscle attachments and other features around the mouths of 25 male and 25 female cadavers, aged 75 to 93.

Until now, most plastic surgeons have assumed that men wrinkle less because male skin is thicker to support the beard.

But the Dutch researchers wanted to know more specifics so they could develop better cosmetic treatment plans for removing some of the wrinkling around the female mouth.

It was not part of the study but most American plastic surgeons advise their clients to quit smoking because drawing in on cigarettes for many years promotes a certain type of vertical wrinkling on the upper lip known as, well, smoker’s lines.

After analyzing the male and female mouth and lip areas, the researchers found:

• Women have fewer sweat and sebaceous glands

That means women have less lubrication for the skin. (Moisturizers, anybody?)

• Womens’ lip and mouth areas have fewer blood vessels

So fewer nutrients are distributed by bodily fluids; all that speeds the formation of wrinkles.

• Women have a closer attachment of muscle fibers to the skin surrounding the mouth

 That means more force is pulling the skin inward, causing yet more wrinkles.

Current cosmetic surgery treatments for patients who want to get rid of facial wrinkles include, not in any order of importance:

• Botox
• Chemical peels
• Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion
• Injectable facial fillers like Restylane or Juvederm
• Laser resurfacing treatments.

Hint: Some plastic surgeons on RealSelf.com say Botox and Juvederm are good treatments for smoker’s lines.

The Juvederm helps plump out the wrinkles while Botox may make it hard to purse your lips around a cigarette.

Sounds like a great way to quit!

(Next: how smiles can save your marriage!)

admin @ December 19, 2009