How do you want to age? Gracefully, right? Most of us know we want to age gracefully, but not everyone is aware of what it takes to accomplish that. What is the perfect skin-care routine, the right prejuvenation and rejuvenation treatments to keep us looking our best, no matter our age?
Rochester, NY dermatologist Lesley Loss, MD, explains how the world of anti-aging has evolved, how to age gracefully and what treatments to keep in mind.
What it Means to Age Gracefully
When it comes to anti-aging, nobody wants to look unlike themselves. We’re long over artificial-looking results and obvious work and so are dermatologists.
“To me, aging gracefully is about loving and accepting the natural aging process, while cleverly using the magic of modern treatments to keep it at bay,” Dr. Loss explains. “Think of it as being the best version of yourself—using Botox, fillers and laser treatments not to change who you are, but to gently erase those premature signs of aging, ensuring you still look unmistakably like you, just refreshed.”
Often, the key to these treatments is that no one can tell you’ve had anything done at all. And achieving that result is a carefully curated, multi-front strategy that starts at home.
Anti-Aging Home Care
“A solid at-home skin-care routine can be a game-changer,” Dr. Loss says.
Keeping up with a nourishing routine can do a lot in terms of reversing obvious signs of skin damage.
“It’s like nurturing a garden—daily moisturizing with sunscreen is your water, preventing UV light from withering your skin,” Dr. Loss explains. “Add some Vitamin C serum to protect against environmental aggressors and a dash of retinol, prescription or over-the-counter, to encourage new collagen, softening those sneaky fine lines and wrinkles.” Thankfully, unlike a garden, you don’t have to worry about over-watering your skin.
“And don’t forget, hydration is key—moisturizing keeps your skin plump and happy,” Dr. Loss says.
How to Age Gracefully Through the Decades
You don’t have to wait for the appearance of deep-set wrinkles to start caring about anti-aging skin care. In fact, experts agree that getting started earlier can vastly improve the state of your skin as it ages.
“In your 30s, it’s all about prevention,” Dr. Loss explains. “Arm yourself with a good skin-care arsenal: sunscreen, antioxidants, retinol and a trusty moisturizer. I’m a big fan of in-office treatments like BBL, Moxi and Botox and Dysport for that prejuvenation magic.”
Overtime, your skin starts to show more advanced signs of aging, like skin sagging, loss of volume, or age spots. It’s then that in-office treatments that stimulate collagen production, like Sofwave and Sculptra, come into the picture.
“As you head into your 40s and 50s, keep up with your skin care heroes,” Dr. Loss advises. “Now’s the time to welcome treatments like Sofwave for skin tightening and BBL and Halo for tackling those brown and red spots. And as we gracefully glide into our 40s and 50s, dermal fillers and biostimulators like Sculptra or Radiesse can be your secret allies in restoring that youthful volume.”
Key Areas of Anti-Aging
Despite our best efforts, aging can cause skin sagging in a few critical areas, like the brow and the jowls.
Treatments for the Upper Face
“For that upper face and the eye area, treatments such as Botox and Dysport and dermal fillers can be a very effective decision,” Dr. Loss says. “Botox and Dysport relax those wrinkle-causing muscles, while fillers step in to refill lost volume, giving a lift to areas like the cheeks and jawline.”
Other modalities can also aid in providing lift to this area. “And let’s not forget Sofwave—it works wonders around the eyes and above the brow, lifting and refining the texture.”
Treatments for the Lower Face
According to Dr. Loss, several methods can address a sagging jawline in-office.
“When it comes to the lower face, jowling and a less defined jawline can meet their match with dermal fillers, restoring that much-needed volume,” Dr. Loss says. “Thread lifts are also quite the trend, using dissolvable sutures for a lift-and-tighten effect. As for minimally invasive procedures, treatments like Sofwave can boost collagen and elastin, adding to that youthful contour.”
New Noninvasive Technologies
As Dr. Loss sees it, the future of anti-aging is all about achieving natural-looking, subtle results, innovating technologies and noninvasive methods.
“The future of anti-aging looks exciting!” Dr. Loss says. “Biostimulatory injectables like Sculptra and hyperdiluted Radiesse are on the rise, offering subtle yet natural results. Then there’s SkinVive—think of it as tiny droplets of hyaluronic acid creating that sought-after skin glow. Noninvasive options like Sofwave are gaining fans for those seeking a lift without a fully invasive procedure.”
And for once, there’s a trend in skin care that dermatologists can be excited about, bespoke treatment plans.
“Of course, personalized skin care tailored to individual needs is the trend that’s here to stay and evolve,” Dr. Loss says.
