Future Proof
If you’re in your fifties, you’ve probably started to notice changes in your face and body. In our face, we notice looser skin and muscle, bony resorption, and a gradual loss of volume. In our body we notice looser skin, loss of muscle tone and volume, and areas of stubborn fat. Maintaining healthy behaviors such as diet and exercise can slow down the aging process. But lifestyle changes alone may not reverse certain kinds of aging.
When it comes to the face, think of the acro-nym “CHO” (Collagen, Hyaluronic acids, and Ongoing maintenance).
COLLAGEN
Every year, we lose a little more collagen and elastin in our face. Innovative treatments such as Ultherapy and ProfoundRF use heat energy to stimulate de novo collagen and elastin production and can really help slow or reverse the aging process. For those that are looking for a more dramatic change, the minimally invasive FaceTite procedure can help tighten the neck and define the jawline. For those wanting to look a decade younger, a surgical procedure such as a facelift is warranted.
HYALURONIC ACIDS
With aging comes volume loss in the face. Shadows become more pronounced, whether they’re in the temples, under the eyes, cheeks, lips, or smile lines. Hyaluronic acids (dermal fillers) such as Juvederm and Restylane are the most popular ways of maintaining a healthy volume balance in the face. When done by experts, dermal fillers will make you look like a more youthful and natural version of yourself.
ONGOING MAINTENANCE
Anti-aging treatment requires maintenance, and prevention is a key component. As summer approaches, remember to put your sunscreen on 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapply frequently. Zinc oxide is the best ingredient as it protects from both UVA and UVB rays. Other maintenance options include procedures like microdermabrasion, chemical peels, dermal infusions, and microneedling, which all help to keep the skin vibrant and young. Of course Botox can also play a role in reducing unwanted wrinkles such as the pesky “11s” between the eyebrows, forehead lines, or crow’s feet.
For our bodies, the focus shifts to addressing stubborn fat pockets and building muscle. Coolsculpting is the industry leader in non-invasive fat reduction that works by freezing the fat, but there are many additional innovations that use radiofrequency-based heat energy. This “fire and ice” combination works even better to treat unwanted fat. EmSculpt is the latest innovation to body contouring in that it builds muscle (and reduces fat), which helps to combat sarcopenia, the age related loss of muscle mass. However, keep in mind that none of these are to be considered substitutes for a maintaining a healthy balance of diet and exercise.
