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The fountain of youth. Time machines. Peter Pan. They all express a deeply human wish, a wish to avoid growing old. Today, science is revealing ways to bring that wish closer to reality. They may be baby steps, but they prove that we’re not powerless against the forces of aging. We can take measures to keep up our youthful appearance and confidence. Let’s start with the easiest anti-aging tip…
Get plenty of rest
How many times have you seen a friend with dark circles under her eyes and concluded that she didn’t get a good night’s sleep? Science would back your conclusion up.
When you sleep, you produce 30X more skin cells than you do when you’re awake. Those new cells replace the old ones, leaving your skin brighter, fuller, and more elastic. You can kiss the baggy eyes goodbye! You also produce more human growth hormone (HGH) when you’re asleep. HGH peaks during adolescence and childhood, but even as an adult, more HGH means a higher metabolism and better muscle tone.
Choose your foods carefully
It’s no secret that the food we eat has a big effect on our bodies. In addition to being linked to several major diseases, diet has been shown to affect your immune system, your energy level, and even your mood. But can a healthy diet make you look younger?
You betcha!
Foods like dark chocolate (with flavanols) and salmon (with omega-3 fatty acids) can protect your skin from sun damage, while leafy greens and broccoli (high in Vitamin C) can boost collagen production to repair skin that has already been damaged. Throw in some tomatoes and olive oil, and you can improve your skin’s elasticity and hydration as well.
Meanwhile, fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants can fight aging at a nuclear level. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that degrade DNA, sometimes leading to cancer. And let’s not forget that your metabolism slows down as you age. Cutting back on junk food is a must if you want to maintain the lean body of your youth.
Develop a skincare routine
Once you’ve got your diet and your sleep schedule dialed in, you can begin adding to your anti-aging routine. Skincare is a great place to start. Between wrinkles, sagging, and dark spots, your skin is more likely to give away your age than any other part of your body.
A good product will hydrate your skin, reduce inflammation, break down dark spots, boost production of collagen and elastin, and provide protection from UV rays. Different products have different active ingredients, so do your homework and find a product with ingredients designed to meet your concerns. If you’re looking for a starting place, check out our physician-approved skincare products.
Treat yourself to a spa day
For wrinkles and dark spots that won’t go away no matter how much kale you eat, head to the spa. The professionals at the spa can put you on the fast-track to youthful skin.
Intense pulse light therapy works wonders on inflammation, spidering veins, and age spots. The bursts of light target dermal cells that have high levels of pigmentation and destroy them with heat.
Chemical peels and enzyme treatments tone and brighten your skin by removing cells that might be damaged on the epidermis, the outer layer of your skin. You can also try microdermabrasion for a similar result. Microdermabrasion uses exfoliating microcrystals to “sand” away damaged epidermal skin cells.
Try medical treatments
Botox is the go-to treatment for many people with fine lines around their eyes and brows. Botox works by relaxing your facial muscles so that wrinkles fall away. You are left with smoother, younger-looking skin. Treatment takes less than half an hour, but for best results, you’ll need to repeat the treatment every few months.
Injectable fillers can be used as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with Botox to make your face look fuller and younger. There are lots of fillers on the market, so you can choose a product based on your priorities: using naturally-occurring compounds, getting long-lasting results, attacking deep wrinkles, etc.
Or surgical intervention
To reverse advanced signs of aging, like sagging skin, surgery is the most effective treatment option. Facelifts can correct saggy skin around your mouth, chin, and neck. During the procedure, your surgeon will make an incision from the bottom of your ears up to your temple. This incision will allow your surgeon to tighten up the underlying tissues and remove fat deposits to restore your face to its youthful contours.
Brow lift surgery, to reposition drooping brows and minimize forehead wrinkles, and eyelid surgery, to make your eyes look bigger and full of life, are also available.
When you’re ready to turn back your body’s clock, schedule a consultation at Associated Plastic Surgeons. We have countless anti-aging products and treatments that can help you look as young as you feel, and we’re always happy to chat!