UNDER 30 YRS
At this age, the main concern is protecting the skin's surface from the deleterious effects of sun and environment, and preserving skin tone, or elasticity. Skin in the twenties is generally free of signs of aging. To keep it that way, practice proper cleansing and moisturizing, and find a sunscreen that works well for your skin. These steps will help stave off laugh lines, crow's feet, and enlarged pores. Mild peels and topical treatments can be used to control acne.

Aesthetic surgery at this stage might involve correcting a congenital irregularity or improving the appearance of facial and body features, particularly the breasts, nose, and chin. Liposculpture — fat removal or redistribution — and body contouring are options for some people.

AGE 30 TO 40 YRS
Around thirty, signs of aging may start to appear. Early intervention can ameliorate many skin problems associated with aging. Developing an appropriate regimen is paramount. This is the time to introduce anti-oxidants into your skincare routine, to help prevent sun damage that can lead to wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) — fruit sugars — are excellent ingredients for keeping skin looking smooth. AHA peels in conjunction with retinoids (vitamin-A derivatives) and/or topical antioxidants can restore the youthful appearance of the skin's surface. Adult onset acne may develop at this age. Combining AHAs with BHAs (beta hydroxy or salicylic acids) is an effictive way to manage acne while reducing signs of aging.

In addition to prevention efforts, minimally invasive restorative treatments can be beneficial. These include the use of gentle resurfacing lasers, like the Erbium Laser, and the Photofacial, which uses intense pulsed non-laser light alone or in combination with Levulan, a pre-treatment, to boost the effects. Both the laser and Photofacial improve fine lines, brown spots, and small broken blood vessels.

Relaxing agents like Botox can temporarily eliminate early frown and laugh lines from the upper face. They offer minimal inconvenience and may forestall the need for more comprehensive surgery. Filling agents such as collagen, Restylan, and Sculptra can be used to fill out smile lines and augment lips. Scarring caused by acne or injury is often helped by microdermabrasion — fine sandblasting — or carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing.

This is the critical decade for preserving and restoring both skin and body. A coordinated program that includes laser resurfacing, deeper skin peels, superficial liposculpture of the neck and jowls, and early and minimally invasive eyelid rejuvenation surgery is one option. Liposculpture, breast lift, and tummy tuck are also possibilities.

AGE 40 TO 50 YRS
By this age, most people are well aware of the damage caused by sun exposure and other environmental factors. Now it's time for more aggressive skincare to combat the visible signs of aging. Using products like tretinoin (Retin-A), AHAs, and BHAs, in conjunction with microdermabrasion or microcurrent therapy (ultrasound exfoliation and stimulation), brings the best results.

If early preservation and skincare recommendations have not been followed, signs of aging are likely to show up in multiple areas, including the upper and lower eyelids, brow, neck, and jowls. Correction will probably require a combination of facial rejuvenation techniques: eyelid surgery, endoscopic browlift, and liposculpture of the neck, with possible neck tightening. Restoration of the deeper layers of the skin may be combined with superficial resurfacing (laser or peel) and filling agents like collagen, fat, and implants. At this point, a synergy between dermatologist and plastic surgeon can produce the best result. The focus in this decade is preservation as much as restoration. Prevention and protection, combined with continual long-term maintenance, can forstall or eliminate the need for late-stage intensive facial rejuvenation surgery.

AGE 50 +
After fifty, keeping the skin moist is not as easy as it once was. The challenge now is to achieve younger-looking skin, without upsetting the skin's natural ability to retain moisture. Using peels and light therapy in combination with ultra-hydrating home care can help maintain the balance.

If surgery is not for you, plasma or laser resurfacing, combined with fillers to restore volume, can provide an impressive rejuvenation. Prevention and treatment of skin cancers and pre-cancers is of great importance, medically and aesthetically. Regular skin examinations are essential.

Preventive care can go a long way toward preserving the skin's surface at this stage. In all likelihood, however, more extensive facial rejuvenation and resurfacing procedures will be necessary. While aging cannot be prevented, photoaging — premature aging from overexposure to the sun — can be reversed. The more advanced the signs of aging, the more comprehensive the surgery will have to be in the face, brow, mid-face, and neck areas. Anyone willing to undertake the longer healing time of a face- or brow-lift and simultaneous CO2 laser resurfacing will be rewarded with dramatic, yet natural results. The procedure can make you look fifteen to eighteen years younger, without anyone realizing what you've had done. Once the restoration is complete, preserving the result long-term becomes the focus.