A Top Dermatologist Shares Her Secret for Looking 30 in Her 40s

It makes her look more than a decade younger than her actual age.

By Tatiana Bido, Aesthetic Content Manager · Mar 31, 2017

For 44-year-old Louisville, KY, dermatologist Tami Buss Cassis, MD, there’s one go-to treatment that she personally relies on to keep her skin looking youthful and fresh. “Just like everyone else, I have the normal aging skin worries: fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, larger pore sizes and sunken eyes.” As a skin care expert, Dr. Cassis has access to a multitude of noninvasive options for facial rejuvenation. To treat her own skin, she chooses microneedling as an easy and effective way to treat the common signs of aging, leaving her with a complexion that makes her look more than a decade younger than her actual age.

Using a small, roller-like device with tiny needles, microneedling works by making miniscule holes spaced apart in a given area of your skin. This creates a controlled skin injury that your body will respond to by sending collagen and elastin to heal the entire area. “When the trauma happens to the skin, it is forcing collagen remodeling,” says Dr. Cassis. “There is some slight pain associated with it, so we make patients sit with numbing cream about 20-30 minutes before the procedure. But beyond that, it’s a very safe, effective and fast treatment. The procedure takes about 30 minutes. Afterward your skin is very raw, swollen and a little bloody. You will have very specific skin care instructions to follow after the procedure. Sun avoidance is an absolute must!”

Immediately After the Microneedling Treatment

The collagen and elastin heals the damaged area and smooths out minor scars, flattens out fine lines and wrinkles, and promotes elasticity in the skin. “I love the glow it gives my skin,” adds Dr. Cassis. “My brown spots have diminished, and under the layers of skin that peeled off after my treatment, I can see an improvement in my fine lines.”

“My after picture was taken eight days after the procedure, and I am very happy with results,” says Dr. Cassis. “Most people will need a series of three treatments about a month apart. Results are ongoing and it really depends on what you are trying to treat. It’s a great option for acne scars, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.”

The cost for a microneedling treatment varies by the physician, geographic region and the complexity of the procedure (some use radio frequency, platelet-rich plasma and special serums). “In Kentucky, the cost is about $300, plus the cost of the post-op care, which is about $100,” says Dr. Cassis. “Everyone will react differently, so make sure you are having this done in a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon’s office.”