Dr Véronique Gassia
Preventing aging is one of the cornerstones of aesthetic medicine, along with beautification and correction.
Longer life expectancy, scientific advances in the field of epigenetics and the risk factors of aging, and the move towards participative medicine are all arguments for incorporating prevention into all individuals’ health behaviour, in order to preserve their health and beauty capital.
A beauty routine
Skin aging is the result of intrinsic (genetic) factors connected with age and extrinsic (environmental) factors.
The skin is directly affected by the exposome (Prof. Jean Krutman): pollution, radiation, stress, tobacco, nutrition, temperature, sleep, etc. With regard to skin treatments, prevention involves using a protective, hydrating and antioxidant day cream, applying sun cream every 3 hours if necessary, eliminating any pollutants with a suitable cleanser every evening, then repairing the skin with a good moisturiser combined with active ingredients (retinol, AHAs) depending on the skin type.
This routine must be coupled with a healthy lifestyle: good quality sleep, balanced nutrition, regular physical exercise, stress management, elimination of toxins (tobacco, alcohol), use of sun protection and an “ecological” way of life.
The menopause leads to oestrogen deficiency
The menopause speeds up intrinsic aging due to oestrogen deficiency. Menopausal women who take HRT have a thicker dermal layer, which can be measured with a skin biopsy or a scan. HRT, where per-mitted, allows these women to avoid skin atrophy.
The second preventative measure is treating the first signs of aging as soon as they appear, in order to stop them getting any worse.
Using botulinum toxin (twice a year) relaxes the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles in the upper third of the face (glabellar lines, horizontal forehead lines and crow’s feet wrinkles), enabling us to correct and stabilise these wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid is effective for filling wrinkles and restoring volumes, but also acts as a skin-booster and stimulates the fibroblasts. In parallel, all fibroblast-stimulating techniques (lasers, IPL, peels, LEDS) can be used in this preventative approach. Monitoring patients over the long term and multiple scientific publications confirm their long-term positive impact on aging and skin texture. To preserve your beauty capital, make sure you follow a healthy lifestyle, adopt a regular cosmetic routine as early as possible, and have some botulinum toxin/hyaluronic acid injections as soon as the first signs appear, com-bined with fibroblast stimulation tech-niques. You must start early, before the menopause sets in! Younger pa-tients should opt for a combination of peels, skin boosters and LEDs.
Dr Véronique Gassia: Dermatologist, former house doctor and clinic head. Former secretary of the French Dermatology Federation. Former secretary and founding member of the GDEC and SFD. Co-author of two books: “The art of botulinum toxin and injections” with Lakhdar Belhaouari and “Aesthetic dermatology: from concept to practice” with Thierry Michaud and Catherine Grognard, from Editions Arnette. Soon to be released: “The art of aesthetic injections” with Prof. Claire Beylot, Lakhdar Belhaouari and Thierry Michaud. 25 years’ experience in aesthetic dermatology. “For me, aesthetic medicine means beautifying and restoring but, above all, preventing, preserving and optimising our individual capital. We can preserve our identity and prevent aging with a long-lasting and sustainable aesthetic approach!”
