Superbowl Showstoppers
Like most people who were knee-deep in guacamole and buffalo wings yesterday, I was anxiously looking forward to seeing Jennifer Lopez and Shakira during the Pepsi® Half-Time Show. After the showstopping 10-minute performance, my phone started blowing up with patients asking for the scoop on what makes JLO and Shakira look INCREDIBLE at ages 50 and 43 respectively.
First off-I have no idea what or if anything they have had done. There are very few people who flaunt the secrets of what makes them defy the hands of time. One of the most important things about non-invasive anti-aging treatments is that they should not show any outward and obvious signs of being performed. Since I share all of my secrets, here are the top procedures that our experts at Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of NY & NJ recommend to refresh and renew your skin for a more youthful appearance.
- Wrinkle Relaxers: First off, let’s dispel the deep, dark secret that everyone keeps so closely guarded. EVERYONE GETS BOTOX®!! And if you’re not, you should! Any injectable wrinkle relaxer like Botox®, Xeomin®, Dysport®, or the newest on the market Jeuveau®, takes YEARS off your look! We need to abandon the old “frozen housewife” look of 20 years ago and embrace the idea that you can relax and smooth wrinkles and lines and still have natural movement. The goal of injectable wrinkle treatments is not to make it obvious you have had them done. Less is always more, and you can always adjust your look by adding more if needed. To maintain your newly refreshed look, treatments must be performed every 3-4 months.
- Ultrasound Skin Tightening: In my opinion, this is one treatment that everyone should be doing beginning at age 30. Ultherapy™, or Ulthera® is the gold standard in skin tightening and collagen stimulation. Using specially focused ultrasound energy, Ulthera® penetrates into the deepest layers of the skin to start the process of collagen repair and stimulation. Over a 4-6-month period, natural lifting of the lower face, brows, and neck will occur (depending on the treated area) and will last approximately 1 ½-2+ years. We want to keep our bodies in a constant state of collagen stimulation to prevent sagging of the skin and loss of firmness. Obviously as we age collagen breaks down faster than it did when we were younger. Ulthera® is designed to be corrective as well as preventative. If you are experiencing noticeable loss of firmness and skin sagging, Ulthera® is definitely one of the most popular treatments for natural rejuvenation.
- Laser Resurfacing: So, laser resurfacing is really an open-ended category because there are SO many different devices for different skin types and tones. Most people think “burn off my face and run around looking like a rare roast beef for two weeks” is all of what laser resurfacing consists of. About 30 years ago they would have been correct. Technology has come a long way from the days of full ablation that only would be for one type of patient skin tone. Today, laser resurfacing can safely and effectively treat patients of many different skin types and tones for a myriad of concerns like acne scarring, sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, deep wrinkles, etc. While full ablation is still a gold standard and something that is performed often in our offices, most people don’t have 2 weeks of downtime. Fractionated laser resurfacing helps speed tissue healing which offers little to no downtime. We often combine a few vials of your body’s own growth factor rich plasma, or PRP, to infuse the highest concentration of growth factors which will stimulate collagen production to build and maintain skin structure. A series of treatments over the course of several months are recommended, but the beauty of non-invasive resurfacing is that you go right back to your normal routine after treatment. Nobody is the wiser!
- Proper Skin Care Regimen: While celebrities have the luxury of unending budgets, patients who invest in these treatments for the improvement of their skin and well being do so with the understanding that maintenance is required to maintain the results. Each patient in our office is recommended a customized skin care regimen to help them achieve optimal skin health. After laser treatments, it’s especially important to protect the newly created collagen forming skin. A proper regimen consists of antioxidants, growth factors, retinols, and sunscreen. Skin Laser & Surgery Specialists of NY & NJ offers a select number of products backed by clinical science to help patients achieve and maintain clear, radiant skin.
It’s also important to stress the need for a balanced diet and exercise regimen. We can use the latest technologies and the newest devices and treatments, but if the overall health of your body is in a rather poor state, that is going to show in your skin. An unhealthy body in and of itself already looks much older than it is because of the stress placed on organs and cells. Eating a balanced diet, drinking water, not smoking, and exercising all contributes to our overall health and the health of our skin. The healthier we are, the younger we look and feel!
There is no right or wrong answer of when to begin anti-aging treatments. Earlier is obviously better, but you’re also better late than never! I am always available to answer any questions you have about our exciting anti-aging treatments and services as well as to schedule your personalized consultation with one of our treatment experts!
Peace and good skin,
Joelle