Minimally Invasive Treatments and Procedures for Ageing Skin

Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, 8th edition. Edited by DA Burns, SM Breathnach, NH Cox and CEM Griffiths. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing, ISBN: 978-1-4051-6169-5. Introduction Over the last century there has been a dramatic increase in the ageing population in most developed countries. For example, it is expected that one in five Americans will be aged 65 years or older by the year 2030 (source 2000 USA census), a trend similar to that in most developed countries. Increased social pressure to look younger has led to great demand for effective cosmetic treatments for skin and facial rejuvenation. In particular, there has been an increase in what have been termed non-invasive and minimallyinvasive cosmetic treatments, that is treatments that avoid surgery and involve surface skin treatment such as lasers or peels, or a variety of injections [1]. Currently, most of those seeking these treatments are women, but an increasing number of men are considering rejuvenation treatments, and it is important for the practising dermatologist to be aware of the treatment options.