Being ready to give yourself a real makeover is one thing, but knowing how to get started and what’s right for you is quite another. We spoke with Studio City, CA dermatologist Gene Rubinstein, MD to find out exactly what his favorite treatments are for turning back the clock and preventing the signs of aging, and how he tailors a regimen for his patients.
Starting Point: IPL Photofacials
A revitalization regimen has to start somewhere, and Dr. Rubinstein for the majority of his patients is the IPL Photofacial. Well, after you urged them to use sunscreen, that is.
“I would say the first step to looking younger and rejuvenated is always sunscreen, for any dermatologist,” says Dr. Rubinstein. “But in terms of procedures and treatments, my favorite is the IPL Photofacial because it treats multiple skin aging conditions at once.”
Intense Pulse Light Photofacial is an energy light treatment that uses multiple wavelengths of pulsed light to address discoloration, fine lines, redness and scarring. It is also easily combined with other treatments including fillers, neuromodulators such as Botox and the Vbeam laser to produce even better results.
“I think it’s suitable for many skin types,” explains Dr. Rubinstein. “This includes skin that is prone to redness, that has brown spots and sun damage, and for those starting to see new signs of ageing, because it stimulates collagen production.”
Moving Deeper: Morpheus8
Different treatments target different layers of the skin, treating the very surface to the SMAS muscle layer of the face. IPL Photofacials work on the epidermis, the outermost layer of our skin, but addressing deeper structures requires other methods.
“In my practice, we like to start with IPL and then move on to deeper procedures after that,” says Dr. Rubinstein. “Morpheus8, which is a technology that combines microneedling with radio frequency and works by thickening the skin, the layer under the epidermis.”
Morpheus8 uses microneedles to penetrate the skin and send radio frequencies deep into the skin promoting collagen rebuilding, skin tightening and rejuvenation.
“One of the reasons people see sagging skin as they age is because their skin gets thinner,” explains Dr. Rubinstein. “The skin doesn’t sag as well as it gets thinner, so it sags. So if we can thicken the dermis, then it will dress better, and that’s exactly what Morpheus8 does.”
Muscle-Deep: Ultherapy
Other processes go even deeper.
“Other procedures like Ultherapy go even deeper than the dermis,” says Dr. Rubinstein. “Focused ultrasound goes to the SMAS layer which is the muscle layer under the dermis that plastic surgeons deal with during a facelift. Ultrasound can cause this SMAS layer to shrink and therefore lift without surgery.”
“Of course, this is not a surgical procedure and does not replace a facelift, so we have to temper expectations. But in a good candidate, you can see really good results.” Ultherapy is a favorite non-invasive skin tightening procedure for anyone looking for downtime-free skin tightening.
Mature skin: Fractional CO2
If you have more mature skin, additional treatments may be recommended to address more advanced solar elastosis, which is the buildup of elastic tissue due to chronic sun damage and aging.
“We offer treatments such as CO2 laser resurfacing for mature skin that has advanced solar elastosis,” explains Dr. Rubinstein. “Fractional CO2 lasers are very useful because they do lift the skin, but there is very little downtime compared to the older non-fractional lasers. We can also use this laser around the eyes to reduce fine lines around the eyes and lids.”
“Laser and light treatments are ideal for those who are beginning to see the signs of aging, such as sagging and sagging, are excellent candidates,” says Dr. Rubinstein, “someone who already has really loose skin and hasn’t done much to their skin over time and is older, often needs to be referred to a plastic surgeon.” According to Dr. Rubinstein, patients will have the best results when they understand how these procedures work compared to surgical options.
Building a personalized regime
“It’s important to note that we now have a laser toolbox, and each person will have an individual set of needs.” A consultation with a trusted provider at a facility that offers multiple modalities is best to help design an individualized treatment plan. Dr. Rubinstein recommends a comprehensive approach to skin aging, using lasers, fillers, biostimulators, neuromodulators, skin peels, and medical-grade skin care products, “Especially now that we can remove treatments from the face as well, treating the neck, chest, hands and bodies are important to match the excellent results we were able to achieve on the face.”
