You spend a lot of money on your anti-aging treatments, so of course you want to make sure you’re getting the most ‘bang for your buck’. Don’t just get a chemical peel and forget about it; take care of your skin and ensure that your results are the best they can be. Being diligent about practicing proper skin care techniques in between treatments can help maintain your results as long as possible.

Moisturize

Laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, and other skin treatments can bring amazing results to your skin, but they can also be a bit drying. After treatment moisturize often using a high quality moisturizer (your doctor can recommend a medical grade product for your skin type). Not only will this keep your skin soft, it will ensure that you minimize dryness and peeling during the healing process. Dr. Seth Matarasso, a board certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon in the bay area, encourages his patients to moisturize at least twice a day after treatment using a soothing moisturizer. Avoid using regular lotion on your face; products designed for facial use tend to be less irritating and less likely to clog pores than plain body lotions.

Stay Out of the Sun

Many anti-aging treatments require you to stay out of the sun for a period of time while you heal (or in some cases before treatment is performed). After treatment cover up when you’ll be outside (wide brimmed hats work great) and use sunscreen liberally. Ask your doctor for specifics about how long you’ll need to stay out of the sun. Sunscreen is important advice to follow even when you aren’t going through anti-aging treatments; the sun is a contributing factor to many types of age related skin damage. It is highly recommended to use a daily moisturizer that has, at least, SPF 15 whether you have had anti-aging treatments done or not.

Follow the Recommended Schedule

Different anti-aging treatments have different windows of effectiveness. Following the recommended treatment schedule will help maximize your results. Dr. Matarasso explains, “Often you’ll get the best results from following a specific treatment schedule. For example, with chemical peels you’ll get the best results if you receive 6 treatments over the course of about 3 months. Following your treatment schedule as set by your doctor gives your body sufficient time to heal in between treatments without waiting too long. Following the recommended schedule will typically lead to better results than more treatments in a more sporadic pattern.”

Choose Long Lasting Options

If you’re looking to extend your anti-aging as much as possible, ask your doctor about long lasting options. Some of the dermal fillers available can last for several months and sometimes even years. If you’re interested in a long lasting filler solution talk with your doctor about Juvederm Voluma (a filler for mid-facial lifting that can last up to 2 years) or Juvederm (great for filling wrinkles and lasts 6-8 months or longer).

Know What to Expect

Before any anti-aging beauty treatment ask your doctor what to expect. They can give you tips for extending your results and help you know how long each treatment should last. Knowing what to expect will help you to plan ahead and schedule rejuvenating treatments as needed.

Make the most of your anti-aging treatments by taking care of your skin in between visits to your doctor. Anti-aging treatments can help you stay young and beautiful, but one of the best things you can do for your skin is take care of it. Use a high quality moisturizer, stay out of the sun, and work closely with your doctor to create a customized skin care routine.

Dr. Seth L. Matarasso is a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon with his own practice in San Francisco / Bay area. He is also a clinical professor of Dermatology at University of California in San Francisco, having published over 75 articles in the peer reviewed literature and have presented over 300 lectures in the US and internationally. He is on the Board of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and is the President of the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. Through the years we have been fortunate to see many of our patients through some of the happiest moments in life and think of them not just as patients, but as friends and family.

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