Three-Dimensional Rejuvenation of the Photoaged Body

Photoaging is the premature aging of the skin caused by chronic UV exposure. The clinical signs are discoloration, elastosis, deep wrinkles, and laxity, as well as inflammation and vascular lesions, often accompanied by skin roughness and enlarged pores. Furthermore, there also is a loss of volume attributable to lipoatrophy. In addition to the face, the most affected areas are the neck, décolletage, shoulders, forearms, and hands. Because of the multilayered pathophysiology of photoaging, a 1-dimensional approach targeting only a single skin layer is destined to fail. The treatment should address all affected skin layers in a multidimensional approach. Combining superficial and dermal procedures along with fillers for volume augmentation is the key to addressing these issues. The 3-dimensional photoaging rejuvenation concept focuses on 3 types of rejuvenation corresponding to different skin layers. For each type, various scientifically proven procedures are available. However, combining the right techniques is sometimes difficult, as improvements in established modalities and new developments are continuously evolving.