Mainstream media has filled us with ideas about what is at fault for our bodies’ natural aging processes. What is commonplace? What is abnormal? While there is never a need to feel shame for your natural appearance, if you do highly prioritize your appearance, it’s worth understanding what affects your physical attributes and what does not.
If you’ve been chugging ten water bottles a day to ensure a youthful appearance, trusting creams solely based on their hefty price tags, and cursing your parents for passing down their early-aging genes, New York facial plastic surgeon Dr. K has a message for you:
Don’t.
In this exposé by Hana Hong, Dr. Konstantin is joined by a panel of esteemed medical and skincare professionals in laying to rest the lies that have held us in their grips for decades. Joshua Zeichner, MD, Jason Emer, MD, Hadley King, MD, and Danné Montague-King contribute their expertise so that we may all maintain the most youthful, glowing appearance as possible, without breaking the bank or going to unnecessary extremes.
Facial Aging Fact vs. Fiction
When thinking about how to treat or prevent physical aging, what comes to mind? Facelifts and other cosmetic surgery procedures are not the only way to maintain a youthful look. Drinking plenty of water has been touted as a simple fix, but off of what data is this based? (Surprise: as Dr. Zeichner reveals, there is none.) Does strictly following a nighttime routine as opposed to a morning one offer better results? (King concludes no; our skin has different needs at different times.) Many tips, while seemingly scientific, are simply not accurate.
Take chemical peels, for example. While infamous for their harshness and capability to cause permanent damage to the skin, Dr. Konstantin verifies that modern peels are much gentler than their predecessors, and, when properly performed, are safe and effective. Outdated techniques may have been damaging, but the vast majority of current practices do not cause harm. (Be sure, of course, to make sure your surgeon is board-certified and experienced for the best and safest results!)
Why Isn’t Your Anti-Aging Cream Making You Look Younger?
Sick of putting your faith in (and ultimately being let down by) remedies advertised as instant fixes? Dr. K goes on to explain why seeing immediate results when using a new treatment is highly uncommon, and that a surefire way to discourage results is to apply treatment irregularly. “Occasional or irregular use of skincare remedies is the most common cause of failure to prevent aging changes,” he says (Real Simple). There is no miracle cream that shows results in hours (or even days). Luckily for us, Dr. Zeichner divulges his best bet for rapid results: exfoliators to remove dead surface-level skin cells or hyaluronic acid for instant hydration and plumping (Real Simple).
And while magic creams may not exist, magic routines certainly do. Dr. Konstantin reveals a secret to avoiding large expenses: rather than relying on pricey products or procedures, using an inexpensive moisturizer and sunscreen every day will leave you in far better shape. He verifies that no, just because a product is more expensive does not render it a more effective solution. His advice? Look at the ingredients and their functions instead of the brand and its marketing strategies.
Thanks to Dr. Konstantin and friends, even those of us who aren’t professionals can know the ins and outs of what’s fact and what’s fiction. Hungry for more debunking? Read the full article by Hana Hong on Real Simple for the expert-verified truth on preventing aging.
To see examples of the results you can expect after various anti-aging procedures, please visit our before-and-after photo gallery.
If you would like to learn more about anti-aging from a facial plastic surgeon in NYC, please contact us online or call (212) 380-3634.
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