Look Naturally Younger

By Hema Sundaram, MA, MD, FAAD

Sundaram Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center

. http://doctorhema.com

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Look Naturally Younger

How do you view midlife? If you're like most baby boomers and members of generation X, you probably have every expectation that the second half of your life will be fulfilling, inspiring and productive. Today's 30, 40, 50 and 60-somethings and beyond want to reflect externally the youthful vigor and vitality that they strive for internally. In doing so, they are redefining midlife and revolutionizing cosmetic surgery for women and men of all ages.

This life philosophy has led to the development of new, minimally invasive cosmetic surgery techniques that naturally rejuvenate you while preserving your individuality and avoiding the “done look.” In recent teaching in Europe and the US focusing on state-of-the-art techniques and technology, I discussed the latest concept in cosmetic surgery, which is to rejuvenate your skin layer by layer by harnessing your body's own capacity to renew itself. This approach reflects an advanced understanding of the aging process and, if started in time, can save you from ever having to go under the surgical knife.

The uppermost layer of your skin can be treated with Elos photofacials and micropeels with the new CO2RE laser, to fade discolorations, spider veins, prominent pores, acne and rosacea and give your skin a beautiful glow. Photofacials can be alternated with DermaSweep MD, a more effective, aluminum-free alternative to microdermabrasion, which painlessly polishes your skin and then infuses it with customized therapies to fade discolorations, tighten pores and give your skin a youthful glow.

The middle skin layer can be stimulated to produce new collagen with fractional lasers such as the new eMatrix, Pixel or Fraxel Repair breakthrough technologies that remove wrinkles, scars, stretch marks and other blemishes with no scarring and little or no down time. Restylane, Juvederm and Belotero are pure synthetic forms of the hyaluronic acid that naturally supports your skin and is lost with time. Radiesse is a natural, calcium based filler. These fillers can fill lines around the mouth and gaunt cheeks to make thinning lips full again and to free you of under eye hollows. This restores your youthful facial contours and lifts your face subtly and beautifully with no scarring and minimal down time. Recent studies show that these fillers also stimulate your skin to produce its own permanent collagen, for longer lasting results.

The lowest layer of your skin can be treated with the Ulthera or Accent lasers, the newest no down time, no-surgery face lifting treatment. Ultherapy tightens collagen and elastic tissue, to lift your brows and cheeks, recontour your chin and jaw line and tighten loose skin on your face, neck, abdomen, arms and elsewhere. You will see immediate results that improve even further over time. Stimulation of your skin's self-tightening is long lasting and completely natural looking. The Accent laser can be used to tighten and lift your face – and also body areas such as your stomach, arms, buttocks and legs.

LipoLite laser treatment can remove unwanted fat with no down time and no anesthesia to re-contour your jaw line, hips, abdomen, arms and other areas. Precise doses of Botox, Dysport or Xeomin can be injected in the right places to safely relax overactive muscles, smooth frown lines, worry lines, crow's feet, lines around the mouth and neck wrinkles, while preserving your natural facial expressions and avoiding a telltale frozen look.

Rather than focusing on individual procedures, this multi-level makeover integrates state-of-the-art techniques to achieve natural-looking results with no scarring and minimal recovery time. This highly sophisticated approach does not morph you into the “new you.” Better yet, it balances your inner and outer personas and allows you to re-discover the real you, maximizing your personal and professional success at any age.