10 New Rules for Erasing Wrinkles

Thanks to new techniques and science-backed preventative measures, you don’t need a face-lift to see real results.


Photograph courtesy of iStockPhoto

Lisa Espinoza of New Hope medi-spa La Chelé gives her best advice for treating — and, if you’re lucky, warding off — wrinkles.

1. Different parts need different stuff.
“We engage the muscles around the eye more than the rest of the face. If the skin on your face is like wrapping paper, then the skin around your eyes is like tissue paper.”

2. You don’t have to look like a Real Housewife.
“With all the non-invasive technology that exists now, you shouldn’t go under the knife until you have exhausted all other options.”

3. Some treatments give you more bang for your buck.
“If it’s upper face wrinkles, then I suggest Botox; for lower face wrinkles, opt for dermal fillers. And if you have brown spots and visible blood vessels, you want a high-quality IPL laser.”

4. Your diet affects your skin.
“The healthier you eat, the fewer inflammatory free radicals there are in your skin. Foods high in vitamins C and E and omega-3 are the most studied ones.”

5. All that frowning and brow-furrowing really does cause wrinkles.
“The more those muscles contract, the more they permanently etch wrinkles into the skin.”

6. It matters how you apply your moisturizer.
“You want to pat the products on, moving from the midline up and out toward your ears.”

7. Find a provider who’s legit.
“A reputable injector doesn’t have to use Groupon! Always ask to see before and after photos of previous patients. Verify that a board-certified physician who is dedicated to cosmetic medicine is actively involved with the medical practice.”

8. Not all products are created equal.
“When it comes to sunblock, I don’t think drugstore products have incorporated a lot of the advances I see in medical-grade products, like infrared protection and tinted mineral powders.”

9. There’s a middle ground between moisturizers and injectables.
“Consider microdermabrasion, light chemical peels and dermaplaning. Each of these treatments deeply exfoliates the skin, which helps reduce pores, fine lines, and superficial hyperpigmentation.”

10. You don’t need to do Botox forever.
“If you try it once and don’t like it, the effects go away. Botox is like a ‘yield’ or ‘stop’ sign: It slows the progression of aging during the time period in which you use it.”

Published as “The New Rules for Erasing Wrinkles” in the December 2017 issue of Philadelphia magazine.