In my practice, men rarely come in on their own accord…it’s usually prompted by a significant other. With a little prodding, men do express concerns about aging. Fortunately, men do age more gracefully than women. Testosterone promotes a better foundation (bone density and muscle mass) to their faces from the start, so the skin has more support when things go south. Thicker, oily skin also makes recovery a bit faster for the man, which is great, since men generally cannot tolerate as much pain as women…but that’s what numbing cream is for…

First, a quick list of internal beauty habits everyone should have. Drink at least half your body weight in water if you’re sedentary; more if you exercise. Wash your face with a cleanser suitable for face skin (not Dial), immediately after workouts, and especially at night, ideally with a face brush. Exfoliate the upper face once a week; introduce retinoids twice a week to build collagen and speed up sloughing of skin. You naturally exfoliate by shaving, so be gentle with the lower half of your face. Apply SPF of at least 30, and reapply every hour while exposed. Do not smoke, even second-hand. Get enough quality sleep. Exercise regularly.

 Even with the best preventive care, you may need a little assistance..

 Nine cosmetic procedures men should consider…

• Microdermabrasion. In a word, this gateway procedure is sandblasting…that feels like a cat licking you. And, like sandblasting, it whittles down the superficial layers of dead skin to make wrinkles, acne scars, and pores less visible. Your face will feel like a baby’s butt after this quick procedure, and you will then have man-glow.

• Botulinum toxin (Botox Cosmetic, Xeomin, Dysport): this purified protein is injected into muscles to relax them. If anyone has asked you if you were mad at them, but you weren’t…this is for you. In just a few short days, you will look more relaxed, approachable, younger. The results last 3-4 months, and muscles atrophy as treatments progress, so you can say goodbye to the cro-magnon brow.

• Dermal fillers (Belotero, Juvederm, Perlane, Radiesse, Restylane, Sculptra, Voluma) fill in shallow and deep wrinkles, restore volume that was lost from temples, cheeks, lips, and lift sunken undereyes. The results are instant and last 6 months to 2 years.

• Laser hair removal: may I suggest the neck, front and back? Pseudofolliculitis (razor burn / bumps) is a terrible, but preventable thing. Hairs grow back finer and slower, and eventually, don’t come back at all. Unless you feel compelled to grow out all your facial hairs and have a wild man experience, get your 6-10 monthly laser treatments while your hairs still have color. Other areas that you may consider…armpits (especially if you’re a runner, and for reduction of body odor), unibrow, ears, back.

• Mesotherapy (spot fat reduction). These injections utilize several ingredients to permanently dissolve fat cells and burn off the released fat. This is great for jowls, double-chins, stubborn saddlebags, lovehandles. Gynecomastia (aka. Man Boobs) are usually present with obesity and are a result of testosterone being converted to estrogen. Get your hormones balanced, then address the cosmetic appearance with mesotherapy, truSculpt, or liposuction.

• TruSculpt: radiofrequency is used to trigger fat cell death. This procedure feels like a hot stone massage, but reduces fat by 20% with each treatment. Treatments are monthly, and usually 2-3 sessions are necessary. This can be performed on all areas of the body, except over bones and above the jawline (mesotherapy is best for the jowls).

• Photofacials: this non-invasive procedure involves intense pulsed light that targets brown spots and blood vessels to make your skin one color, and a bit smoother. This monthly procedure has no down time, in that you may return to work immediately, but be religious with sunblock.

• CO2 fractional laser: with three days of looking sunburned, this vaporizes columns of skin to stimulate collagen to fill wrinkles, thicken and tighten skin, lighten discolorations, and reduce acne scars. This can be used near the eyes to build collagen and strengthen and tighten the skin around the eyes, so it is great for dark circles from thin skin, and droopy upper lids. This laser may also be used to minimize the appearance of scars and stretch marks as well. It’s basically the iphone of cosmetic procedures. You should plan for a nice weekend out of the sun while recovering from this annual laser treatment.

• Platelet-Rich Plasma is a great add-on to the CO2 fractional laser treatment to increase collagen production and speed healing. One tube of blood is drawn, and spun down in a centrifuge to separate the red blood cells from the platelets and plasma, which contains eight growth factors that do the magic. The serum is placed on the holes produced by the CO2 laser or with microneedling…it’s like applying fertilizer after aerating the lawn.

Don’t forget medical-grade skin products to protect your investment. Retinoids stimulate collagen growth and skin turnover. Hydroquinone lightens brown spots. Sunblock prevents future damage and complications; find one that is oil-free and lightweight, so you don’t feel smothered.

This is just an introduction into the wide world of beauty. Schedule your consultation to determine your best options.