Anti-Aging Medicine
What and Why
Strictly speaking, anti-aging medicine is a growing and increasingly complex field
that shows promise for future generations of scientists who hope to retard or reverse the aging rate on the cellular, molecular and genetic levels. As Dermatologists, when we talk about anti-aging we are still mostly referring to how to reverse the look of aging as it shows up on the skin. In our practice in New York, we are also concerned with the aging effects of stress, and with how nutrition influences energy levels, good health and good, youthful looks. As of yet, we cannot reverse aging, but we can certainly help change what it means in terms of aesthetics and vitality.
Dermatology has always been about both skin health and appearance--in fact the skin’s appearance is a strong indication of its state of health, so to us it is nothing new to think in terms of the two together. We’ve always known that good, healthy skin looks better longer, and that good skin care makes you look younger longer. Now, in recent years, age-defying developments like Botox and Restylane have dramatically changed our ability stop the signs of aging as they appear—and with virtually no risk to the patient, as would be inherent in plastic surgery. Many of the procedures and signature treatments we’ve developed at NYDG are designed to approach health and beauty as equal partners; in that sense, we’re old hands at the science of anti-aging. And advances in laser technology, in technique and materials continue to contribute to this science, which is tending more and more to consider aging as a treatable condition. Listed below are the many procedures available today at NYDG with wonderful anti-aging capabilities.
Injectables
Botox® Cosmetic. Smoothes wrinkles, lifts facial sagging
Collagen Replacement (i.e., Restylane). Restores facial contour
Signature Treatments
The Triad Medical Facial. Combines Microdermabrasion, Laser Toning, and Gentle Peeling
The Pedicure Triad. Combines Microdermabrasion, Laser toning, and Gentle Peeling
The Fifteen-Minute Facelift. Botox and Collagen Replacement
Laser and Light-Based Therapies
The Titan™. Skin tightening for face and body
Laser Toning. ‘The Gym for the Skin’
GentleWaves®. Photocorrects wrinkles and age spots; shrinks pores
Intense Pulse Light. Improves photodamage and photoaging
XEO Coolglide Laser. Erases broken blood vessels
V-Beam Laser. Treats wrinkles and vascular lesions
VariLite. Treats vascular and pigmented lesions
Topical peels
Glycolic, Lactic, TCA, Beta or Fruit Acid
Microdermabrasion. Acid-free Rejuvenation
Body Recontouring
Microliposuction. Removes fat deposits, improves face and body shape
Microlipo and Fat Transfer. Uses natural fat in depleted areas
Anti-Aging through Anti-Stress
Acupuncture. Stress reduction
Acu-Lume. Anti-aging with acupuncture and laser toning
The Acupuncture Facelift. Facial Rejuvenation Treatments
Nutrition Counseling
Nutrition and Anti-Aging
Nutrients, Anti-Oxidants and Disease Prevention
Who and When
Of course, medical intervention to reverse signs of aging is an entirely personal choice, and to most smart consumers (and doctors) really a matter of degree. We find that in New York, any stigmas vis a vis Botox and other age-reversing injections have more or less vanished as the treatments have become so widespread and popular, and people have gotten used the idea of looking better with the help of needles. But many people still prefer the notion of aging completely naturally. For these patients we are happy to advise good skin care and nutrition, which alone can do a lot to reverse the signs of aging. Regular topical peels should not be underrated as a way to maintain a youthful glow long into advanced age, and exercise and nutrition and stress reduction can do wonders to keep you feeling vital and young. As for the more advanced cosmetic treatments like Microlipo, injections and others described below and available from dermatologists, we encourage our patients to decide if they’d like to try them out on their own, though we will of course consult with the patient so he or she knows what to expect. The aesthetic at NYDG is less is more. It’s our experience that often a little bit of cosmetic help goes a long way in improving appearance and giving the attendant boost in self-confidence that usually comes from looking good.
