There’s a common misconception that plastic surgeons fill their days performing facelifts, liposuctions and breast augmentations.
The truth is that much of my time is spent advising clients of how to take better care of their skin. Many of my happiest patients never have surgery at all.
Fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and loss of skin elasticity are the result of thousands of tiny injuries that accumulate over decades. UV damage, inflammation, pollution, declining collagen production, hormonal changes, poor nutrition and simply choosing the wrong skincare products can cause trauma that shows over time.
The good news is that small interventions, done consistently, can counter this damage and even reverse it.
Patients are increasingly asking for treatments that don’t require months of recovery. They want gradual, natural improvements that friends notice without being able to pinpoint exactly why. And by not going ‘under the knife’ patients in my Beverly Hills practice can look younger without looking ‘done.’
I typically advise the following five treatments…
Collagen stimulation
There’s a common misconception that plastic surgeons fill their days performing facelifts, liposuctions and breast augmentations. The truth is that much of their time is spent advising clients of how to take better care of their skin
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is the primary building block of skin, bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles that create the structural system for facial firmness, elasticity and support.
Few people understand that after our twenties, we lose roughly one percent of our collagen every year. That loss accelerates during menopause, after weight loss and following prolonged illness.
Until recently, many collagen treatments improved skin quality but did little for the deeper structures that give the face its youthful look. That’s why I’m so excited a new technology that uses radiofrequency energy to stimulate multiple tissue planes, including the critical fibromuscular layer of the face which contains connective fibers.
The goal isn’t to make someone look different. It’s to help them look like themselves five or ten years ago with minimal downtime. Expect to pay $1,200 to $3,500 per session for this treatment.
Peptides
Patients often spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on treatments while ignoring nutrition and supplementation. That’s like repainting a house whose foundation is crumbling.
Peptides can stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin, another vital protein that give body tissues their elasticity.
Expect to pay between $250 to $450 per month for leading injectable peptides; practitioners like myself who will ship peptides directly to patients to be injected at home. Peptides should always be sourced through certified medical professionals.
Qualified medical practitioners will ship peptides directly to patients to be injected at home
Popular peptide-based serums, meanwhile, are similar in function to more traditional collagen-stimulating antioxidant serums and can cost from $25.
When skin functions better biologically, everything from hydration to elasticity to healing improves. Rather than chasing a temporary glow, my philosophy has always been to improve the quality of the skin itself.
Exfoliation
Dead skin cells accumulate, dull the complexion, clog pores and prevent active ingredients from penetrating where they need to go.
One of the simplest products I consistently recommend is glycolic acid, which is one of the most studied alpha hydroxy acids for improving skin texture, brightness and fine lines.
Used appropriately, it helps reveal healthier skin while preparing the skin to better absorb the benefits of the rest of your routine.
Glycolic Pads come in a range of strengths and grades and can run anywhere from $10 to over $100 per package.
Antioxidant protection
Most people understand sunscreen by now, but very few appreciate how much oxidative stress contributes to aging.
Every day our skin is bombarded by pollution, UV exposure, smoke and unstable molecules, known as free radicals, that gradually break down collagen and elastin.
Oxidative stress is thought to play a role is causing cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and eve heart disease. Toxins and environmental irritants can cause oxidative stress, while foods rich in antioxidants can help reduce it.
Antioxidant treatments are straightforward and inexpensive – and include everything from vitamin-c and vitamin b3 based products to plant-based potions such green tea extract, Resveratrol and Ferulic Acid.
Patients often think of antioxidants as optional. I consider them one of the foundations of an intelligent anti-aging routine. Expect to pay between $100 to over $250 depending on the strength and brand.
Laser lightening
Finally, when pigmentation becomes the primary concern, I often recommend laser technology rather than endlessly layering brightening creams. Sun damage, melasma (AKA splotchy patches), freckles, acne discoloration and age spots all require different approaches. And focused laser treatments can attack them all.
Lasers work by targeting excess melanin to break down unwanted pigment and remove dark spots and other forms of facial discoloration. As with so many other non-surgical procedures, lasers also stimulate collagen growth to help even out skin texture and tone.
When performed correctly laser treatments are safe, though not entirely risk free. Their heat can potentially overstimulate melanin-producing cells and worsen dark spots; lasers can also cause the reverse: pale or white patches that result when pigment cells are destroyed. Such risks are higher in people with darker, more melanin-rich, complexions. Prices can vary – from roughly $150 to upwards of $1,500 per session depending on the precise treatment and practitioner.
The common thread connecting all five of these recommendations is that none of them are about chasing perfection. Social media has convinced many people that beauty comes from changing your face. In reality, beauty comes from improving skin quality.
The biggest transformations I see usually are not dramatic makeovers. They’re patients who commit to a smart skincare routine, stimulate collagen consistently, protect their skin every day and invest in treatments that work with their biology instead of against it.
The goal isn’t to erase every line. It’s to age so well that people assume you’ve simply been blessed with great skin.
