Anti-Aging at Any Age

Posted April 29, 2020

The key with anti-aging is to remember that aging can not be stopped, but the process can be slowed down. 

20’s  

Antiaging in your 20’s consists primarily of skincare. The optimum result with skincare is found with consistency of usage and quality of the medical-grade products. Staying on a routine that addresses your individual skin care needs is important as well as recognizing that this routine may change with seasons and aging. Medical grade products are FDA approved and achieve specific results when used as instructed. Beautiful skin can be achieved with a plan of care and products.

30’s

Skincare remains key with antiaging but lasers and injectables may now be introduced to achieve a more youthful and rested glow. There are different types of lasers designed to tighten the skin, address dark spots, sun damage or skin discolorations, and fine lines. The Aerolase laser is excellent for facial veins, discolorations, and tightening. The CO2 CoolPeel targets the superficial layer of skin tissue, damaged skin is removed revealing younger and healthier-looking skin.

There are also laser treatments that are used to treat hair removal. The Motus AX system is a breakthrough in laser hair removal because of its results, speed, efficiency, and comfort. Microneedling is an excellent device that is used in the treatment of acne scarring and to boost collagen for a soft, rejuvenated skin tone. This can be combined with radiofrequency that provides heat to stimulate collagen production for tighter, younger-looking skin. Botox is used to treat frown lines and crow’s feet by temporarily reducing the muscle activity which results in a smoothing of those lines. Injectable fillers are used to add volume, create contours, and add lift. Fillers can be used in the lips, cheeks, nasolabial folds, jawline, undereye, and in some cases on the nose.

Each company has a variety of products that vary in consistency to be used in different places on the face. Product is commonly used to add volume to the lips but it can also be used to soften and define their borders. Cheeks can be contoured and highlighted with product as well as the jawline for definition. Natural-looking results can last anywhere between 8 months to 2 years depending upon the duration of the product.

40’s

Patients may begin to see some deeper lines, sagging, loose skin, and changes around the eyes. Lasers are a key player for this age group for those wishing to take a non-surgical route to maintaining a youthful appearance. CO2 lasers are used to resurface and target specific skin concerns like tone, dullness, fine lines and wrinkles, scarring, and lax skin. They boost radiance and the treatments are customized using the intensity, depth, and shape of the laser energy.

The downtime is minimal with new collagen formed and elastin tightened for long-lasting results. Microneedling with radiofrequency can also be combined with most laser treatments to increase the results. The Subnovii, a plasma pen, can be used to correct fine lines, crepey skin (especially on the upper and lower eyelids and neck), and skin lesions. The Subnovii plasma pen is a new breakthrough, designed in Germany, to target these areas in an office setting using topical anesthetic cream and mild downtime. At this point, patients may begin to consider surgical procedures such as a blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or neck lift.

50’s

Patients may begin to feel they are looking older and tired as they move into their fifties. Non-surgical procedures and treatments, if maintained, will keep the patient’s skin smooth but the elasticity will begin to break down secondary to the aging process and as they move into menopause. Surgical procedures will begin to precede the injectable treatments to address the sagging skin. Depending on the desired aesthetic results of the patient, a facelift, neck lift, or brow lift may be considered to address skin laxity. An upper and lower blepharoplasty can be done to address aging eyes.

60’s-70’s

Patients will continue to see the same signs of aging as in their 50’s but may be more pronounced.

As we proceed through the decades, giving someone a rejuvenated look moves beyond a single modality such as only surgery or medi spa treatments. The best results arise from the combination of the non-surgical treatments and the surgical treatments. It is common as we get older to use surgery as the foundation of the rejuvenation process and then layer in fillers, lasers, and the Subnovii treatments to add the finishing touches. No one single modality can accomplish all of this. Therefore, the surgeon and his staff will need to be skilled in all of these areas, working together as a team, to give the best long-term outcomes for anti-aging.