Is there a way to look rejuvenated and youthful and still look natural? Yes, says New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD. As a notable skin expert who has all the latest treatments at her disposal, she says overcorrection and inappropriate placement of fillers are the top mistake people make when trying to look younger, a misstep that inevitably makes them look older. “It is not a good idea to get rid of lines at the expense of you looking done, older and less attractive,” she explains. “The goal is never to chase the lines, but to identify and treat the source. This creates balance and youthfulness in an authentic and natural way.”
Understanding Facial Aging
Dr. Day says the first thing she explains to her patients is that we all have beauty, and while it changes as we age, we can be even more beautiful as we age. However, we don’t age in just one dimension. “Anatomically aging is occurring at different levels, whether it’s deep from bone all the way up to the very outermost layers of the skin or from the upper face as compared to the midface, chin and neck. We need to restore it appropriately at those different levels for optimal results.”
Instead of chasing what is lost, Dr. Day says the key to a beautifully rejuvenated look is to bring balance to your face where it’s at. “There are limiting factors of what we can do since as we age, our skeletons shrink and the soft tissue that makes up all the layers of the skin, expands. The eye socket for instance, and its surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons, they’re all going to sink in a little bit as the supporting bone around them shrinks and the brows often drop a bit as we age. So, if you put too much Botox Cosmetic in the forehead and filler around the eyes, you will end up making the eyes look smaller.”
A Global Approach
Understanding the aging process rather than simply chasing lines and wrinkles is the best way to get long-lasting results and a natural outcome. Dr. Day explains that she factors in every aspect of a patient’s concerns, which are unique to every patient, to find the exact treatment that will help them reach their goals. “This global approach works on every dimension,” she explains. “From physical to emotional dimensions, I use a combination of skin care, devices and injectables to help contour, rejuvenate and optimize your best features and minimize your flaws—and help you see your beauty so you can fully appreciate it.”
The Latest Treatment Toolbox
While patients may initially have one specific treatment in mind, Dr. Day says typically a combination treatment is preffered for best results. “While one procedure may give you the lifting you need, another will tighten your skin and another is going to give you skin tone and texture improvement. Combining modalities, like Botox Cosmetic, fillers and Fotona, leads to a beautiful, natural-looking result that will give you that, ‘She looks so good, what is she doing?’ outcome without anyone knowing exactly what you’ve done.”
The most common treatments Dr. Day recommends for turning and holding back the clock include injectables, lasers, microneedling with radio frequency and personally prescribed skin care. “For resurfacing, lasers and chemical peels can be done, and for tightening I like to use collagen stimulators, like my Fotona laser, Ultherapy, Sofwave, Thermage or microneedling with radio frequency, which I often combine with growth factors to enhance the results. When we create a controlled wound in the skin, we have an opportunity to deliver actives directly into the skin which enhances the treatments I do. And, I always have my finger on the pulse of the newest and most innovative treatments available.”
Dr. Day says treating facial aging is a long-term commitment, but when done correctly, it can also help postpone the need for facial surgery down the line. “These are all treatments that enhance and celebrate your beauty. It’s not just about getting a facial treatment, it’s about getting the right facial treatments plus the specific skin care you need to help you look younger and to age better over time.”
