When to Do It

When to Do It

The options for changing your body or your face are almost limitless, and the results can be stunning. Traditional surgical procedures that cut off leathery, thick, lined, or sagging skin long abused by the sun can subtract years from a person’s appearance. Laser resurfacing can create baby-smooth skin and remove skin discolorations. Dermal fillers can plump up wrinkles and acne scarring, and undereye or underbrow bags can be de-puffed, making you look years younger.

In the past, most people waited until they were in their late 50s or 60s, and had noticeably aged skin, before they seriously considered cosmetic surgery. All that has changed with the advent of relatively noninvasive, low-cost procedures such as laser resurfacing, Botox, and dermal fillers, as well as new and more advanced surgical techniques that leave barely noticeable scars.

Obviously, having procedures performed at a younger age, before you “need it,” means having healthier-looking skin for years as opposed to an abrupt change when you finally decide you can’t take it anymore and seek a plastic surgeon. Besides, why wait until your skin is drooping and leathery before you do something about it? (In fact, you should be “doing something about it” in the way of a daily anti-aging skincare routine.)