eve’s beauty bytes
At Eve Aesthetics Skincare and Laser Centre we believe that every individual is uniquely created and possesses a unique beauty.

We're a musical bunch around our house, which is probably why, when the Metropolitan Opera announced a new version of Carmen in 3D, it was a major event. If you're an opera buff and you haven't been to a Met broadcast, it's well worth the visit - the sets, the music, the larger-than-life stories and personalities, all professionally directed and brought to your nearest movie screen. And when opera babes like Elina Garanca and Renee Fleming are headlining, it's even more fun to look at.

But truth be told, opera singers, as a group, have never been known for their beauty. (Horned hats and breastplates anyone?) And with new HD/3D technology, it's catching up to the best of them. Up close and personal, every line, wrinkle and extra pound is on display. Even the great Placido Domingo can't sing them away. These days, he and many of his colleagues are suffering from 3D, of both the technological and facial kinds.

You see, we in the medical aesthetics world talk about 3D as well. But for us, it's the three Ds of aging: descent, deflation and deterioration. Sooner of later, this terrible trio affects all of our faces. The combination of genetic heritage, environment, health and sun exposure leaves us looking old. Fortunately, good habits and a little medical magic can help us combat the effects of Facial 3D.

Here's a few things you can do:

Descent, or You Ain't Nothin' but a Hound Dog:

As we age, the soft tissues of our faces begin to sag. This is thanks to the downward pull of gravity, the loss of elastin in the skin, and the weakening ligaments in the face. True, surgical intervention treats these issues most effectively, but these days, non-surgical options such as Titan and Thermage make a big difference too. These treatments work by gradually restoring elastin and rebuilding collagen in droopy areas of soft tissue, like the jawline, nasolabial folds and neck.

Deflation, or My Beautiful Balloon:

Gradual loss of facial volume can be compared to a balloon slowly losing air. As the support base of fat, muscle, skin and bone (yes, bone!) shrinks, the outside layer of skin becomes increasingly wrinkled. Of these structures, subcutaneous fat undergoes the most shrinkage. Fillers such as Juvederm, Radiesse, and Sculptra can effectively replace lost subcutaneous volume.

Deterioration, or I'm Melting! I'm Melting!:

No doubt about it, the texture, colour and quality of our skin changes as we age. It's no wonder that preventing and reversing age-damage is a huge industry, and that the amount of information available is overwhelming. The short version is that skin management breaks down into the Three Ps: Prevention, including sunscreen use and healthy lifestyle habits Prescription skincare, including products like Vitamins A and C, exfoliants and hydroquinones, and resurfacing Procedures, such as IPL, chemical peels and fractionated lasers.

Here's what all this means for you. The more Ds you address, the younger you will look. Deflation and deterioration are relatively easy to handle. As for descent, surgery is off the table for most of us, but non-surgical options are also effective. In truth, the real key to maintaining a youthful look is taking a global approach to skin health instead of fixating on one issue. A huge range of options is open to you, and all of them are worth considering. The combination of Botox and fillers, physician-grade skincare products and laser procedures can help you project a youthful image for years (and years) to come.