The best beauty advice and tips are shared by Dr. Jacono, a top New York facial plastic surgeon.
Looking Young and Beautiful for as Long as Possible
It may seem difficult to look young when you’ve aged. Over time, the face experiences wear and tear, wrinkles, lines, and sagging skin. For many, these symptoms cause issues of self-confidence.
The reason that skin loses its luster is due to age-induced decreases in laxity. This means that facial tissue becomes less taut and more susceptible to the effects of gravity. The result is jowls, turkey necking, and general facial droopiness.
For hundreds of years, it was nearly impossible to reverse aging. The vast majority of people couldn’t avoid looking tired, irritated, and even depressed. Now, though, there are treatments that target specific aesthetic problems.
“The last 50 years have brought new innovations,” says Dr. Jacono, a Dual Board Facial Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgeon. “Before, people were stuck with their aging faces. They would have to make peace with them when they didn’t want to. Today, however, people can get injectables, laser treatments, and even surgery. Skincare products are also surprisingly effective.”
Skincare Advice: Fun, Easy, and Results-Driven
In the last decade, skincare has become astoundingly popular. This is in part due to social media. Influencers and celebrities are quick to tout the best, newest solutions on their pages. The average person is constantly exposed to treatments that can make a visible cosmetic difference.
Skincare may seem like a drag. After all, applying creams and exfoliators every day takes time, and results aren’t always immediate. However, it is important to keep in mind that consistency is key. Over time, a good skincare routine can mean the difference between dry, cracking skin and a smooth, glowing face.
“My patients find that consistent skincare regimens support their surgical results,” says Dr. Jacono. “That’s why I always recommend they use special products. Even if my patients only opt for minimally invasive treatments, like Botox, I still tell them to follow a skincare routine in the aftermath. It can only make you look better in the long run.”
The best skincare routines incorporate a few simple steps: cream application, exfoliation, skin protection, and overnight treatment.
Cream Application
Creams are the foundation of any good skincare regimen. They aim to not only soften the skin but boost rates of cell turnover. Cell turnover is the replacement of old skin cells with stronger, newer ones. With time, this natural process makes the skin stronger and prevents wrinkles and folds from worsening.
Creams with vitamin A are particularly effective at reducing wrinkling. Ones with retinoids are also very effective at promoting cell turnover.
“The best creams on the market are ones that aim to hydrate and firm the skin,” advises Dr. Jacono. “The skin can be tricky to treat, but that’s why there are so many easy-to-access treatments out there. You can even find great creams in your local drugstore.”
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is the process of clearing away dead skin cells via processes like microdermabrasion. You can also find bottled exfoliation products that clear out even the toughest nooks and crannies of the face.
Exfoliation improves the color and evenness of the skin. It also stimulates the production of collagen, a naturally occurring compound in the body. Collagen is essentially the “glue” of the skin, holding it together and keeping it firm.
“Exfoliation is one of the most important parts of a great skincare routine,” says Dr. Jacono. “You need to clear away dead skin cells as often as you can because they get in the way. New, stronger skin cells always need to grow in order for the face to glow and look radiant.”
Skin protection
There is no point in cleaning your skin if you aren’t protecting it during the day. That’s why you should use sunscreen whenever you can and reapply regularly. Sun exposure is the bane of progress; it can worsen brown spots and wrinkles. It can also cause nasty diseases, like skin cancer.
You should apply sunscreen no matter the season. Even during the colder months, the sun emits UV rays that can cause damage.
It’s best to apply sunscreen of at least 25 SPF, though depending on your skin’s sensitivity, a higher value may be required. The goal is to keep your body’s largest organ as healthy and hydrated as possible!
“I routinely see patients who have experienced significant sun damage,” says Dr. Jacono. “I always ask them what they think they could have done differently, and they always say: ‘I could’ve applied more sunscreen.’ It’s best to avoid this conversation in the first place and put on protection when you can!”
Overnight Treatment
“At night, you should try to apply an anti-aging cream that stays on until the morning,” says Dr. Jacono. “Exposing your skin to products for so many hours gives your skin the care and attention it needs to flourish.”
Cosmetic Treatments for Peskier Problems
If skincare isn’t enough, or if you’ve aged enough to have more permanent problems, then it may be time to visit a doctor.
“At a certain point, skincare isn’t enough,” says Dr. Jacono. “That’s when it is advised to visit either a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. They can offer solutions that you won’t find anywhere else.”
The next step after skincare is minimally invasive treatments. These include Botox, hyaluronic acid fillers, and laser resurfacing.
Botox is an injectable solution that smooths wrinkles and brightens the skin for up to 4 months. It has become a household name since its release to the public.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are injectables that fill in deeper facial troughs and add volume to areas that have lost it. They last for 9 to 12 months on average.
Lastly, lasers tighten the skin and get rid of unsightly blemishes. Their results last anywhere between 1 and 5 years depending on the extent of treatment.
If you still aren’t satisfied, surgery is always a good option. Unlike all other options, surgery is an invasive intervention that directly manipulates and improves facial architecture. It provides results that are dramatic, and last for more permanent periods of time.
The facelift is perhaps the best-known example of cosmetic surgery. It quite literally lifts skin and facial muscles to more desirable positions, eliminating wrinkles, jowls, and other age-induced problems.
“My facelift technique, the Extended Deep-Plane Facelift, has become the gold standard of facelifting,” says Dr. Jacono. “It offers the most natural possible results without sacrificing facial harmony. Other facelifts can make patients look like they’ve had work done, but my clients rarely run into this issue.”
