Commit to a consistent daily skin routine as a fundamental step towards improving skin health and appearance, even if more advanced procedures are not pursued.
Use mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) daily for superior UV protection, as chemical sunscreens may degrade quickly and cause reactive oxygen species.
Incorporate a retinoid (retinol, retinaldehyde, or prescription retinoic acid) into your nightly skincare routine to boost collagen, normalize melanocyte function, and improve skin cell turnover.
Apply an antioxidant serum (like Vitamin C) both in the morning (before sunscreen) and at night (before retinoid) to combat daily environmental damage and aid skin repair.
Use a gentle, glycerin-based cleanser that doesn’t overly strip the skin’s natural oils, as harsh cleansers can cause inflammation and disrupt the skin’s microbiome.
Do not use body soap on your face; instead, use a separate facial cleanser to avoid stripping essential oils and causing irritation.
When applying skincare products, always go from the thinnest consistency to the thickest (e.g., serum first, then retinoid, then moisturizer) for optimal absorption.
Apply a ‘fingertip unit’ (from the tip of your index finger to your DIP joint) of retinoid every night to ensure you’re using the correct amount for efficacy.
Apply retinoid to the entire face, including the under-eye area (avoiding direct contact with eyes), once a week on upper eyelids, and 1-2 times a week on the neck to boost collagen and elastin in these thin-skinned areas.
If starting retinoic acid, persist with daily use, even through initial irritation, as the skin acclimates within 6-8 weeks, allowing you to reap full benefits.
If sensitive, start with a milder retinoid (like retinaldehyde) 5 days a week and a stronger one (retinoic acid) 2 days a week, gradually increasing the stronger retinoid as skin acclimates.
To avoid retinoid irritation, start 2-3 times a week and gradually increase to nightly use, or mix it with 1% hydrocortisone cream during the initial weeks.
Apply a deep moisturizer, like Aquaphor (petroleum jelly), nightly to thicken the skin, improve barrier function, and reduce fine lines by increasing hydration.
Prioritize topical application of antioxidants for skin health, as the skin’s ability to absorb them directly far exceeds what can be achieved through dietary intake.
When purchasing Vitamin C serum, be prepared to spend more for higher quality, stable formulations that ensure bioavailability and efficacy, unlike cheaper options that degrade quickly.
Address acne, especially inflammatory or cystic acne, early and aggressively to prevent permanent scarring, which can cause long-term psychological distress.
Avoid picking at acne, as this can worsen inflammation and lead to scarring, especially with inflammatory or pustular lesions.
For cystic acne, consider systemic treatments like Accutane (isotretinoin) or photodynamic therapy, as topical treatments are often ineffective for this severe form of acne.
If you have very oily skin, consider a short course (e.g., one month per year) of Accutane (isotretinoin) to reduce oil production, tighten pores, and improve skin texture, as oil can be inflammatory.
Manage cortisol levels through sleep and stress-reducing lifestyles, as chronic stress can contribute to rapid facial volume loss and skin aging.
Women, especially in their early 40s, should consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help maintain facial bone structure and prevent accelerated aging, particularly in the lower face.
Seriously consider investing in aesthetic self-care now, rather than waiting, as proactive measures can prevent more drastic interventions later and align with a healthy longevity lifestyle.
Take ownership of your aesthetic journey by thoroughly researching your anatomy and all available techniques, consulting multiple sources (especially reputable society websites), and avoiding secondhand information.
Understand the ‘5 R’s of rejuvenation’ (relax muscles, refill volume, resurface skin, redrape tissue, renew/maintain) as a comprehensive framework for addressing facial aging, prioritizing skin health first.
Emphasize consistent at-home skincare regimens to maximize results and reduce the need for frequent or extensive in-office aesthetic procedures.
When choosing an aesthetic practitioner, ensure they have proper training and board certification in the specific area of the procedure you are considering.
Always verify the qualifications of aesthetic providers and ensure a physician oversees all treatments to mitigate risks and ensure proper management of complications.
For complex procedures like rhinoplasty or facelifts, choose a surgeon who performs at least 25 of those specific procedures per year to ensure adequate experience.
For facial aesthetic procedures, prioritize specialists who focus primarily on the face and do not perform body cosmetic surgery, as facial surgery requires a distinct skill set.
Select an aesthetic practitioner who is actively involved in advancing the field (e.g., publishing, lecturing, teaching) to ensure they are using the most current and effective techniques.
Ask potential surgeons about their complication rates and how they manage them, as a willingness to discuss this can indicate skill and experience.
Seek physicians who prioritize ethical practice and patient well-being over simply fulfilling every patient request, especially when it involves drastic or unnatural transformations.
Be cautious when seeking aesthetic treatments, understanding that many providers have substantial financial incentives that can influence their recommendations; research thoroughly.
Recognize that social media images are often filtered and posed, and do not use them as realistic beauty standards or goals for aesthetic procedures.
Be cautious of overfilling with injectables like lip or cheek fillers, as they can last much longer than advertised, distort natural anatomy, and complicate future surgical procedures.
Younger patients (under 40-45) should generally avoid ultrasound or radiofrequency tissue tightening procedures, as they can cause fat atrophy and prematurely age the face.
To minimize the risk of bad cosmetic outcomes, ensure the chosen procedure is appropriate for your specific needs and that the surgeon has the technical skill to perform it correctly.
When considering skin resurfacing, understand the trade-off between treatment aggression (more aggressive = better results) and downtime (more aggressive = longer recovery), and choose based on your personal tolerance.
For less downtime, commit to lighter ablative treatments (e.g., erbium laser) once a quarter, as the cumulative effect over time can mimic a single, more aggressive CO2 laser.
Consider combining non-ablative therapies, such as a clear and brilliant laser with a light chemical peel, for synergistic effects and cumulative skin improvement with minimal downtime.
Individuals with darker skin tones (higher Fitzpatrick types) should generally opt for chemical peels over ablative laser resurfacing, as peels offer better depth control and lower risk of permanent pigment problems.
If considering ablative laser resurfacing with a darker skin tone, prepare your skin with a regimen to control pigment cells, such as hydroquinone, to reduce the risk of pigment problems.
Be diligent about staying out of the sun, especially after a skin injury or procedure, to aid healing and minimize scar visibility.
Be very careful with longevity doctors who sell both diagnostic tests and proprietary treatments or supplements for the results of those tests, as this creates a conflict of interest.
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Keep your retinoid tube right next to your toothbrush as a visual cue to remember to apply it nightly, especially if you tend to forget.
Commit to a basic daily skincare regimen: AM includes cleanser, antioxidant serum, and mineral sunscreen; PM includes cleanser, antioxidant serum, and retinoid.