A Plastic Surgeon’s Tips for Aging Gracefully Through the Decades
Aging is a natural part of living. It comes with the amazing benefits of wisdom, experience, and perspective, but it also takes a toll on our skin. While we surely can’t stop our skin from aging, there are some ways we can soften and even prevent its effects. As a board certified plastic surgeon, I’d like to share my knowledge of the different stages of aging, as well as some tips for aging gracefully. This post was inspired by a Facebook Live event I held back in January.
20s & 30s: The Preventative Years
Most of my patients in this age range aren’t yet showing signs of aging, but rather are looking for ways to prevent them in their 30s and 40s. Preventative aging measures depend on when you start; the earlier the better, but it’s never too late. Taking steps to prevent skin damage during your 20s and 30s can save you time, money, and energy later in life. Here are some dos and don’ts for preventative aging during these years:
DON’T:
Smoke. Smoking accelerates your skin’s aging process. This includes vaping!
Tan. Sun exposure is a leading cause of wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, so minimize your time spent in direct sunlight and avoid tanning beds.
DO:
Eat a healthy diet. The food you eat has a direct impact on your skin’s health, and therefore your appearance.
Get plenty of sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t just reduce the appearance of under-eye bags: it can also help prevent premature skin aging and help you maintain a stable weight, among many other benefits.
Use a good cleanser & moisturizer. If you’ve tried some moisturizers and decided that they’re too greasy, let one of our expert aestheticians recommend one specifically for your skin type. A good moisturizer can really enhance your skin in the long run.
Use a good sunblock. Sunblock is the number one thing you should be using, especially in your 20s, to slow the aging process.
Stay hydrated. Dehydrated skin can easily become dull, wrinkly skin. Drinking plenty of water can also help you regulate your weight, improve your mood, and maintain healthy energy levels.
30s & 40s: The Pre-Treatment Years
People in their 30s and 40s are just beginning to see lines and wrinkles emerge, and therefore are looking for more than a simple moisturizer or sunblock. This is the age range where I see people starting to take skincare more seriously, upgrading their products and beginning to experiment with treatments such as Botox.
Botox for fine lines and wrinkles
Botox is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure because it’s fast (usually 15 minutes or less), requires no downtime, and is highly effective at reducing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles. For patients in their 30s and 40s, I like to inject smaller doses of Botox strategically throughout the face (this approach is colloquially known as “Baby Botox”), customizing each treatment based on my patient’s unique concerns. The forehead, glabella, and eyes are the most common areas I address for this age group.
Although Botox is a relatively simple and straightforward procedure, it’s important that you choose a board certified plastic surgeon to perform your injections to help ensure that it’s done safely and you get the results you want.
Upgrade your skincare routine with medical-grade products
Your 30s and 40s are the perfect time to upgrade your skincare routine. While moisturizers and sunblock are essential to healthy skin aging, our aesthetician can help you find the best skincare products for your skin type to diminish the appearance of fine lines, age spots, and blemishes. A good skincare routine, including sunblock, is the bare minimum that everyone should be doing as they age. It also makes every additional skincare treatment you receive easier and more effective.
I recommend sticking to a skincare regimen for at least six weeks, as this is how long it usually takes to notice any changes in your skin after starting a new product. My favorite skincare brands include SkinMedica and Richmond Plastic Surgereons’ skincare line because they contain quality ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and beta hydroxy acids that are found naturally in your body and continuously improve your skin’s tone and texture over time.
Microneedling
For patients in their 30s and 40s with a history of acne scarring, fine lines, and uneven skin, I recommend microneedling treatment. Microneedling creates micro-wounds in the skin to encourage it to produce collagen to heal itself, creating a more youthful and even complexion. It is also good for breaking up those pesky acne scars. Though microneedling may sound painful, we use a topical numbing cream to make it a completely comfortable treatment. As always, make sure you pair your microneedling treatments with routine skincare.
40s & 50s: The Rejuvenation Years
During their 40s and 50s, people begin to experience more wrinkling and less skin elasticity, and may even start to see the effects of sun damage. I call these the “rejuvenation years” because starting a regular routine of skincare treatments, such as dermal fillers and RF microneedling, can help you refresh your appearance without surgery.
Dermal fillers
Dermal fillers are used to restore volume that we naturally lose as we get older. Some of the most common areas I treat with fillers are:
Nasolabial folds
Cheeks
Marionette lines
Lips
Like Botox, fillers are quick, painless, and require no downtime. Most fillers last between six and 12 months, with some lasting two or more years (these are typically cheek fillers). Most lip fillers last six months, while nasolabial and chin fillers last between nine and 12 months.
My approach to fillers is to first listen to what a patient wants to improve, then work with them to choose the filler that will best deliver their desired result. After their treatment, I follow up with them to go over their results, gauge their satisfaction, and, if needed, plan their next visit.
RF Microneedling
Profound RF is microneedling using radiofrequency. Like microneedling, Profound RF creates micro-wounds in your skin, but the insulated needles deliver radiofrequency energy to the skin, heating its deep layers to encourage collagen growth and tissue tightening from deep within, leading to visibly healthier skin that continues to improve in the months following your treatment. Patients typically begin to see a change in their complexion after three months, with final results appearing around six months.
Profound RF microneedling is great for tightening the lower face, jawline, upper neck, and chin areas. Profound RF is effective at treating jowls, a condition that becomes common in this age range as patients begin to lose elasticity in their skin. Profound RF is also a great treatment for patients who have lost weight and are struggling to get rid of extra loose skin (exercise and diet can’t accomplish this).
50s & 60s: The Treatment Years
Men and women are expecting to live longer, healthier lives and, in order to look great in their Golden Years, patients are increasingly beginning to seek both surgical and non-surgical procedures in their 50s and 60s. Patients in this stage of aging have typically lost elasticity and developed fine and even deep wrinkles, and therefore require a little extra attention.
Routine skincare
Patients in their 50s and 60s still require routine skincare. This may seem redundant, but I can’t emphasize it enough.
Laser skin resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is the gold standard for eliminating wrinkles, fine lines, and sun damage. I use the CO2RE laser at my practice because it’s effective at evening skin tone, treating finer and deeper lines around the mouth and cheeks, and tightening skin on the jawline and upper neck. Laser skin resurfacing using the CO2RE laser is also a great procedure for treating crepey skin, a common problem for many patients in their 50s and 60s. Laser skin resurfacing is easily performed in my office and only requires a two-week recovery period. After your laser treatment, one of our aestheticians will work with you to develop a skincare regimen for maintaining your newly-rejuvenated skin.
Surgical procedures
In this age range, surgery is sometimes required to get the final end results that people are looking for. Surgical procedures can effectively address large amounts of excess skin around the neck and jawline and heavier nasolabial folds in a way that lasers and fillers simply can’t.
Surgery is especially necessary for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, either on their own or through bariatric surgery, and are struggling with excess saggy skin.
The most common surgical procedures I perform for people in their 50s and 60s are:
Facelift
Neck lift
Blepharoplasty
These procedures are not only able to turn the clock back 10 or more years on several signs of facial aging, but they also position patients to age gracefully and naturally going forward. Some people may need these procedures done earlier rather than later depending on their skin type, genetics, and the preventative measures they’ve taken over the previous years. These procedures can also be combined with other non-surgical procedures, like laser resurfacing, microneedling, and/or fillers, to refresh your skin’s appearance.
Let Dr. Aboutanos help you develop a plan for healthy aging
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sharline Aboutanos has been helping patients age healthily and gracefully in the Richmond area for over 20 years. Contact her practice online or call (804) 355-3410 to make a healthy aging plan with her today.