Dr. Moubayed is an otolaryngologist – head and neck surgeon practicing facial plastic surgery in Montréal. Before talking about the face, he goes back to the basics: get any medical conditions treated, eat well, rest well and get enough sleep. Those are the foundations of a healthy body and a healthy life. But when you specifically target aging of the face, prevention comes down to a few simple steps.
1. Limit sun exposure and wear sunscreen
The first habit is also the easiest: keep sun exposure to a minimum and, when you go outside, wear sunscreen. According to Dr. Moubayed, this is what really slows down aging of the facial skin.
He points to studies of truck drivers. These drivers always have the same side of the face exposed to the sun through the window, and that side ages faster than the other. It shows how UV damage adds up over the years, even through glass.
In practice:
- apply sunscreen every morning, even in winter and on cloudy days;
- reapply during long periods outdoors;
- wear a hat and sunglasses when you can.
The sun works slowly, without you noticing from one day to the next. Over the years, its effect shows up as fine lines, pigment spots and skin that loses firmness. That is why daily protection matters more than occasional protection on vacation.
2. Don’t smoke
The second habit is not smoking. Smoking speeds up skin aging, and that has been well demonstrated. Dr. Moubayed mentions studies of identical twins: when one twin smokes and the other doesn’t, the smoking twin ends up looking years older.
Quitting smoking is therefore one of the most useful things you can do for your skin, on top of the obvious benefits for your overall health.
3. Neuromodulators around the eyes
The third point starts from a simple observation: when we look at someone, we look at their eyes first. That is where human communication starts, and where the gaze goes.
This is why neuromodulators are often used to soften expression lines, mainly around the eyes: between the brows (the glabella), the crow’s feet and the forehead. They can also help open up the gaze.
Dr. Moubayed explains that they can be used at lower doses, even in someone who doesn’t have marked wrinkles yet, as prevention. By reducing the baseline tone of the muscle, they can help limit the appearance of new lines. The product, dose and areas are chosen during a medical assessment, and like any treatment, injections carry risks.
4. Build collagen with microneedling
The fourth habit targets skin quality. From about age 30, the skin gradually loses collagen and elastin. The loss is estimated at about 1% of skin collagen per year after 30.
Collagen induction therapies aim to counter this. The best known is microneedling. It creates tiny, controlled micro-injuries in the skin that stimulate collagen production. Done regularly, it helps maintain skin quality.
There is also radiofrequency microneedling, which adds heat to optimize the effect a little. Other treatments exist, such as some biostimulators. But according to Dr. Moubayed, microneedling is the most studied, best known and least invasive option, with a lot of data behind it and a low level of risk.
Microneedling is usually done as a series of sessions. The number of sessions, how often they are done and the needle depth are set during the consultation, based on your skin and your goals. The skin is usually pink for one to a few days after a session.
Key takeaways
To slow down aging of the face, Dr. Moubayed highlights four habits:
- limit sun exposure and wear sunscreen;
- don’t smoke;
- consider neuromodulators around the eyes, including for prevention;
- build collagen with microneedling, starting in your thirties.
Dr. Moubayed stresses one point: these habits work best when they are combined and kept up over time. A one-off treatment does not replace daily sun protection, and the reverse is also true.
The first two are within everyone’s reach, every day. The last two are medical treatments: they carry risks, results vary from person to person, and they require a consultation to determine whether they are right for you.
Want a plan adapted to your skin? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with our team. Clinique Face MD, the place for my face.