Cosmetic Surgery has increased its popularity like a way to look younger, when you are really not. The Anti-Aging Medicine is the next logical step to generate a revolutionary change in the medical care of our patients to extend his span or period of life.
Can really our span of life be extended?
Until now, we have concentrated ourselves in the surgical treatment of the aging through the cosmetic surgery. The future advances will be in their medical/hormonal treatment. These advances along with the evolution of the cosmetic medicine will complete the Anti-Aging Circle.
This circle includes:
. Cosmetic Surgery
. Diet and Exercise
. Style of life
. Anti-Aging/Medical-Hormonal Manipulation
Definition of Anti-Aging
"The application and spread of knowledge that delay mental and physical deterioration associated with the senescence and the end of our lives." It does not try just to extend but to maximize the quality of life. It contributes to recover and to retain physical and intellectual vigor, vitality and capacities that allow us to enjoy the life.
This is of our interest for many reasons:
. The cost of the longevity increases every day.
. The number of centenaries will increase dramatically of approximately 60,000 in 1998 (in the USA) to expected 200,000 in 2020.
. One hundred years ago the life expectancy was around the 47 years, in 1935 was approximately 60 years, in 1998 increased to 72 years and is expected that in 2025, incredibly, will be two people of 65 years by each adolescent.
. Therefore in year 2046 they could have 5 million people over the 100 years.
How can we improve our life quality?
The Cosmetic Surgery is one of the components of the Anti-Aging revolution.
The philosophy of Anti-Aging teaches to our patients an appropriate diet, programs of exercises and changes in their life styles. This, along with future programs of medical/hormonal balance is the foundations of Anti-Aging.
Other methodologies include the application of the genome project which will be introduced in this decade to increase the quality of our lives.
Which is our role as plastic surgeons?
The Plastic Surgery is in a unique position to participate and to lead in this new area of Anti-Aging medicine. We have been the leaders of the Anti-Aging Surgery, both face and corporal. Now it is time to make innovations in Medicine Anti-Aging.
How we will obtain this?
First, we must be well informed about the fast evolution into Anti-Aging.
It is very important to understand the four main theories of Anti-Aging.
. Theory of which we spent and we break: as we age the abuse causes to damage to the cells and the organic system.
. Theory of the free radicals: the normal consumption of products in the cellular metabolism causes cumulative damage to the DNA.
. Theory of the program: the genetic regulation of the repair is codified in our DNA.
. Theory neuro- Endocrina: Hormonal levels fall during the aging taking to the cellular death.
Each one of these theories of the aging has its defender since the total spectrum of well-being and health is very complex. The final answer could be a combination of all these.
How we can detect the true biological age of the human beings?
Several bio markers include the hormonal salivary markers, levels of estrogen and progesterone, levels of DHEA, IGF 1 (insulin-like growth factor), T3, T4 and analysis of the cerebral anatomy using MRI and/or EEG.
How to interpret these bio markers and the roll of the available hormonal therapy to slow down or to prevent the process with aging?
At the moment more questions arise than answers in the analysis, interpretation and application of these bio markers. Many methods of treatment were proposed to be healthful. Some like an appropriate diet, programs of exercises and some changes in the life style are well known.
The Caloric Restriction and the administration of supplements with macro-nutrients is thought to increase the longevity.
The Hormonal Therapy based on the diminution of the hormonal levels with the age, such as the growth hormone, is of great interest and under study.
The Replacement of Stem Cells is another fascinating area. The completion of the project of the genome must have a great clinical application, like the identification of the complete human genetic code.
The Replacement of Organs will increase tremendously in the future discovering the mysteries of the immunological system, which would allow the routine replacements of any part of the body without the possibility of rejections.
This increases the longevity? How it affects to us individually in our daily practice of Plastic Surgeons?
When we took a clinical history we would have to make more emphasis in the style of life of the patient. They must include the diet, exercise, significant medical problems, associated factors of risk as tobacco, alcohol, genetic history of diseases, environment and personal habits. In the future, a comprehensive evaluation of these factors, as much as of the bio-markers, will allow us to consider the real biological age of the patient.
We must educate our patients about Anti-Aging. The genetics, good handling of the relations, interaction with the community and family, to not smoke, to drink moderately, to avoid traumatic situations and minimize the toxin development, elements of a positive style of life.
The exercise protects the heart and fortifies the bones, improves the dream and the memory, reduces the cancer risks, retains the muscular mass and prevents the bony to reabsorb.
The diet is important. Nevertheless, we have learned that a diet serves the patient, if it is easy to incorporate within its style of life. Unless the patient understands and accepts these basic concepts, all diet to lose weight will fail in the long term. A 90% of patients who followed diets to reduce weight failed within the 5 years. The diet must be a strong permanent decision and a change of the life style.
Vitamin, anti oxidant supplements like Vitamin To, C and E, should be added to the daily diet, as well as the Ca, Mg and Selenium. In masculine patients suitable amount of fatty acids would be due to include cardiac protective supplements like the daily dose of Aspirin (81 mg/day) and to consume Omega–3. The folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 can reduce the risk of cardiac diseases lowering the levels of sanguineous homocisteine.
The growth hormone secreted through the life decreases 14 % after the 20 years and continues diminishing with every decade. Between 60 or 70 years only remains 20% of the level surplus.
As we matured and we entered 40 and 50 years have place numerous significant changes:
. Increase of the greasy storage
. Begins osteoporosis
. Begins symptomatic arteriosclerosis
. Declines our capacity to fight the infections
. Appear Arthritic changes
. Declines the pulmonary, cardiac and renal capacity
. Hormones diminish like: tiroid, DHEA, estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, melatonin and cortisol.
The use of the growth hormone can give a turn back gear human the biological aging diminishing the corporal fat, thickening the skin, reducing wrinkles, recovering the hair fall, increasing the energy and the sexual function.
Why a Plastic Surgeon is involved in this Revolution Anti-Aging?
The Plastic Surgery is an integral and essential part of the Anti-Aging Circle. The doctors who are interested in the concept of well-being and the one to feel well, of their patients as of they themselves are due to be involved as much.