Skin Deep: Hamptons Cosmetic Surgeon’s Top Three Tips For Looking Fab This Fall

After a long summer in the sun, the fall not only means back to school, it mean facing the facts of sun damage as your fab tan fades. We spoke to a Hamptons pro, cosmetic surgeon and skin cancer specialist Dr. Kenneth Mark, MD, to get the scoop on how to manage the damage at any age.

What’s the best way to reverse/manage sun damage?
The key to answering this question is to first appreciate what damage the sun does to our skin. It causes the breakdown of our elastic tissue and collagen, which results in fine lines and wrinkles. It causes thinning of the skin. It causes blotchy sun spots and pigment issues. As such, the most comprehensive way to reverse these ill-wanted effects is the Mixto Fractional CO2 Laser – which is not only a “laser peel” to help with the pigmentary alterations of the skin but it also tightens the skin, stimulates collagen, eliminates fine lines, and lessens the severity of wrinkles.

While there’s not a miracle in a jar, what products do you recommend for women in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s to moisturize, protect, and revitalize?
It really does not change that much based upon ones age. The key is sun protection and antioxidants plus peptides and exfoliants. Retinoids are important for those with acne so often in younger patients. Sometimes, they are not that well tolerated by middle aged, but are better tolerated by older patients. They have been scientifically shown to increase collagen and fight pre-cancers. Other than prescription strength retin-a, I recommend my product line which is comprehensive and extremely well tolerated.

Beyond Botox, what are the hottest treatments out there and who should check them out?
By far, the hottest new filler is Voluma, which is not just a filler, but also a volumizer and lifter. This is ideal for those wanted to augment their cheekbones and add volume to the mid-face as well as obtain some lifting. The hottest procedure with no downtime is the only procedure that lifts the skin is Ultherapy, perfect in the summer as it leaves the surface of the skin intact. This is ideal for those who do not “need” a facelift like patients in their mid-late 30s thru 50; those who could use a facelift but just do not want surgery, for example patients in the 50s – 70s; and those who had a facelift but want to help prolong their results and/or just do not want another one. Besides the whole facelift comparison, Ulthera is ideal for lifting the neck, jowl, and eyebrows. Therefore, anyone who just wants to stimulate collagen and put their best face forward and actually lift these areas is a great candidate. Coolsculpting is arguably the hottest treatment of all as it can literally freeze away 25% of the fat in a treated area in one treatment with no downtime, anesthesia, or pain.

Dr. Kenneth Mark, MD, has offices in Southampton, East Hampton, Manhattan, and Aspen.