Aging Gracefully?

Men and women come to my Houston plastic surgery practice for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s to fix a deformity, such as asymmetric breasts. Most often it’s for a cosmetic treatment. Some cosmetic treatments, such as breast augmentation, are performed to improve ones appearance. Other plastic surgery procedures are performed to turn back the clock, or forestall the appearance of aging. While we’re all going to age (me included!), it’s a wonderful world we live in when we can erase some of the years and look more youthful! Looking youthful contributes to feeling young and vibrant. Here are some tips for aging gracefully which, in my mind, means looking your absolute best for as long as you can!

Treat Your Body Well
Aging gracefully includes the entire body, not just your face! Being active is the most important factor in healthy aging. Let me say that again: being active is the most important factor in healthy aging. While adequate hydration, getting enough rest, eating right and seeing your family doctor with minor concerns (before they bloom into major ones) can add years to ones life, exercise is an absolute must! You don’t have to hit the gym every single day. Even walking 30 minutes each day will keep a spring in your step! And don’t forget muscle training. Muscle loss starts in the 40′s and really picks up speed in the 50′s. Loss of muscle strength leads to falls as we age. Check out this article about muscle health and you’ll see what I mean!

Take Good Care of Your Skin
Even if you work out regularly, eat healthy foods and otherwise take good care of yourself, your skin will age–especially on your face, which you (and everybody else!) sees daily. It’s disheartening when new wrinkles appear and the face begins to sag around the cheeks and jowls. But there is something you can do about it! Adopting a high-value skin care regimen now can prevent some of the wrinkles from forming in the first place! What does this include? Physician-grade skin care products have been proven to be more effective than over-the-counter products from the drug store. Yes, they cost more. But you use less and you get better results so the value is obvious. My Houston cosmetic surgery practice has its own line of skin care products. If they didn’t work, I wouldn’t offer them. Check out the broad variety of skin care products available in my Houston area office.

Along with skin care comes BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers. Houston women (and men!) who want to stave off aging find that BOTOX® eliminates the wrinkles caused by facial motion, like smiling and squinting by weakening the muscles around the eyes (crow’s feet), the forehead and between the brows. Fillers like Juvéderm® and Radiesse® are tops for filling in wrinkles and plumping the face for a more youthful appearance. AND, the earlier you start with fillers and BOTOX®, the fewer wrinkles you will have–it’s been proven!

Don’t Lie About Your Age
Although it’s tempting, wouldn’t you rather people know your age and think you look amazingly young rather than think you look old for the age you lie about? And what’s the point of hiding your true age anyway? Be proud of your age! Besides impressing others with your youthful appearance, you won’t have to remember those fake birthdates and the year you supposedly graduated from high school or college! (Not to mention the fear that someone else will spill the beans about your true age!)

Don’t fear the future
While none of us knows what the future holds for us, it’s easy as we age to have anxiety about the future. Keep in mind that your older years can be filled with opportunity! Most older Americans aren’t bed-ridden or sick. Statistically, older people in our country are doing very well: traveling, visiting family, learning new skills, and contributing to others through meaningful volunteer work. Aging can be an opportunity to expand, not shrink! Banish fear and that younger attitude will serve you well!

Match your outside to your inside
While we’re all going to age, certain cosmetic surgery procedures here at my Houston plastic surgery office can make you appear younger. A facelift can take 10-15 years from your appearance! An eyelift can open droopy lids and contribute to a more lively and young face. A brow/forehead lift removes deep wrinkles in the brow and lifts the brows back to their younger position. Facial plastic surgery isn’t that uncomfortable, either. Most of my Houston facelift patients are surprised at how little postop discomfort they experience. And even if you aren’t a Mom, a Mommy Makeover, which includes breast enhancement and eliminates a saggy tummy with a tummy tuck, can definitely bring your sexy back!

Keep Your Mind Active
Studies prove that “mental callisthenics” can keep your mind sharp. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, card games and the like are terrific to keep the brain active. Here’s a site with free “brain games” to keep you mentally sharp regardless of your age. And here’s another site with smart phone apps for brain health–you can download your way to sharpness! A Google search will reveal hundreds of these kinds of apps for computer or cell phone, and many of them are free!

The bottom line is that aging shouldn’t be a time of anxiety or depression. Growing older happens to everyone. It’s how you age that matters! I’m here to help you age gracefully! Just give a call and come in to see what we can do to make your aging process a positive adventure!

To your health and beauty,
Dr. Hustak and Dr. Wentworth, Houston Plastic Surgeons