Millennials is the term used to describe people born between 1977 and 2000 roughly. In 2016, that means Millennials are between 39 and 16. That is a wide age group! The Millennials in their 30s are the group that has started to notice signs of facial aging. In Denver, because of the high altitude and high UV index, this results in advanced facial or skin aging. 90% of aging is secondary to sun damage. 30 year olds may notice more advanced skin and facial aging changes compared to their peers who live in the East Coast or other parts of the country without exposure to sun damage. Most Millennials who are interested in improving signs of aging do not and will not need surgery at this young age. A 30 year old in general is pretty young for any surgical procedure which includes facelift, browlifts, or eyelid lifting. These are the different procedures that Millennials in Denver tend to get, what each treatment does and finally what the down time is. Remember, every patient is different with different needs. Not every procedure is for everyone and some people need multiple different procedures.

Botox

Downtime: 1 hour - 1 day

Best for: Fine lines and wrinkles in forehead, 11s, Crows feet

Cost: $250-$600

Botox is a medication that paralyzes muscles. It is an injection given in the office which takes 10-15 minutes roughly. After 9 days, the botox works by paralyzing the muscle to reduce wrinkles. The muscles return to normal function in about 3-4 months. Botox works best in young patients in the forehead, 11’s and crows feet. Many millennials use it as preventative medicine to stop the development of fine lines and wrinkles in those areas. The downtime for botox is minimal with mild swelling for a couple hours and rarely a bruise where the needle was introduced.

Juvederm

Downtime 3-5 days

Best for: Lips, marionette lines, nasolabial folds

Cost: $600 a vial (Most patients get between 1-3 vials)

Juvederm is a filler meaning it is used to fill deeper wrinkles. It also is used to add volume to the face, under eyes and lips. Most millennials do not have loss of volume in the face but instead want their lips fuller. Finally, under eye hollowness is something that patients can develop at a younger age. In that case, a filler can be used to fill the under eye area. Eye hollow treatment with filler is the most common loss of volume use for filler for patients. Juvederm has a longer downtime than Botox with swelling and bruising that usually lasts 3-5 days.

Kybella

Downtime up to 30 days

Best for: Submental fat (fat under chin)

Kybella: $750 a vial (Most patients get between 1 and 2 vials)

Kybella is a new fat dissolver that is used to dissolve fat primarily under the chin. Often that area of fat can’t be “exercised away”. Kybella has a downtime of 30 days for the fat once dissolved to be absorbed by the body. Often patients who have Kybella feel their neck and jawline is tighter and well defined. The great thing about Kybella is that its effects are permanent.

Facial Lasers

The vast majority of millennials undergo laser treatments of the face to improve their facial appearance. Because skin and sun aging is what affects most 30 year olds, the major aging changes for millennials can be treated with a laser procedures. These are done in the office. In our office our medical aesthetician Shawn Haviland treats patients daily with various laser procedures. Here is a quick overview of the different laser procedures that are offered.

CO2 laser

Downtime up to 30 days

Best for: Facial aging, fine lines and wrinkles

Cost:$5000

The CO2 laser has the longest downtime. There is significant bruising and swelling. Patients can take a month to heal properly. These treat deep lines and wrinkles that are often not found in millennials unless there was severe sun damage from years of living in the mountains.

Halo

Downtime up to 5 days

Best for: Facial aging, sun spots, discoloration, pores

Cost: $1500

The CO2 laser has the longest downtime. There is significant bruising and swelling. Patients can take a month to heal properly. These treat deep lines and wrinkles that are often not found in millennials unless there was severe sun damage from years of living in the mountains.

Pro-Fractional

Downtime up to 14 days

Best for: Facial Aging, sun spots, discoloration, pores, fine lines

Cost: $1000

The Profractional laser has less downtime than the CO2 laser. There is much less bruising and swelling though there can be some for several weeks. Profractional laser treatment is great for evening skin tone, fine lines, discoloration. Patients often get profractional once a year to refresh their skin and appearance.

Broad Band Light (Forever Young)

Downtime up to 1 hour

Best for: retaining youth, preventing aging

Cost: $250

Broad Band Light therapy refreshes the skin and retains youth in Millennials. Studies show repeated yearly use reduces the aging process. This is probably the most cost effective youth maintaining treatment. The downtime for Broad Band Light is almost zero which young patients with active lifestyles really like.