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You've arrived. This is the age of mastery at
home and on the job. If you have children,
you've likely weathered their teen or even early
adult years by now. You're proud of your resume,
a chronicle of hard-won accomplishments and
early goals attained. But change is afoot. Your
fifties is a time of closing some chapters and
opening others. Your face and body will show the
signs of the care or neglect from previous
decades.
What you can expect:
SKIN/FACE: Women in their fifties will continue
to experience a decrease in collagen production
which will make their skin feel and look less
supple. Collagen, a naturally occurring fibrous
protein, is the primary support structure of the
skin. It gives the skin strength and suppleness
as well as an inherent ability to retain
moisture. Collagen makes up about 90 percent of
the dermis. With aging, and as a result of
exposure to the sun, the collagen fiber
components begin to weaken causing facial lines
to form and the skin to appear looser. A
decrease in estrogen as a women enters menopause
can also cause skin to loose moisture and become
more sensitive.
During her fifties, a woman may experience deep
forehead wrinkles and sagging brows that can
make her have a tired, frustrated appearance. A
forehead lift or "brow lift" is a procedure that
restores a more youthful, refreshed look to the
area above the eyes. The procedure corrects
drooping brows and improves horizontal lines and
furrows that can make a person appear angry, sad
or tired. This procedure can be done by itself
or in conjunction with an eye lift (Blepharoplasty)
or other facial surgery.
It is also very important to continue a good
skin care regime using products that are
nourishing to the skin. Retin-A and products
containing glycolic acid can help the skin
slough off dead skin cells, leaving the skin
looking renewed while also diminishing fine
wrinkles and sun damage.
BREASTS: Many women in their fifties experience
sagging breasts due to skin laxity and weight
fluctuation. A breast lift (Mastopexy) and/or
breast augmentation can enhance the size and
shape of a woman's breast.
It is also crucial for a woman in her fifties to
be aware of any changes in her breasts by doing
monthly breast self exams and having annual
mammograms. This is especially true if a woman
has breast implants. Some women are misinformed
that mammograms are neither necessary nor
advised if they have had breast augmentation.
Many women are also uncomfortable examining
their own breast because of the changes in
texture they feel with implants in place.
Women with implants, particularly those over 40,
should have yearly mammograms. Compression of
the breast during the exam is unlikely to harm
the implant; however, women with implants should
prepare for a session that is more extensive and
possibly more uncomfortable than the standard
mammogram.
BODY CONTOURS:
Hopefully, a life-long exercise regimen has been
established by the time a women reaches her
fifties. But even with a healthy diet and
consistent exercise sometimes women cannot get
rid of localized deposits of fat, especially
around the hips, thighs and buttocks. A new form
of liposuction, Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction,
uses ultrasonic energy to "melt" fat into an
easy-to-extract liquid. It allows the surgeon to
suction larger volumes of fat with less bruising
and recovery time than traditional liposuction.
It is important to note that liposuction is not
a substitute for dieting and exercise which
should be continued after the procedure. While
fat cells do not return after being removed from
a specific area, the remaining ones can enlarge.
As skin elasticity decreases, women may
experience areas of skin laxity particularly in
the abdominal or hip area which may not be
related to excess fatty tissue. Loose skin is
best treated by a skin tightening procedure,
such as abdominoplasty for the abdominal area.
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Articles by Dr. Gibby
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Diane Gibby, M.D., P.A., F.A.C.S Licensed in Texas, Dr. Diane Gibby is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and the founder of The Women's Center for Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), American Medical Association (AMA), Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons (TSPS), Dallas County Medical Society (DCMS) and the Board Certified Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons of Dallas. She is also a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons (F.A.C.S.). Dr. Gibby's office is located at Medical City Dallas, Building C, Suite 820, (972) 566-6323. Individuals interested in brochures or names of qualified plastic surgeons in their area may call the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons at 1-800-635-0635.
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