NYC's Top Cosmetic Physician: Expertise, Safety, Natural Results.

Anti-Aging Guide For The Face and Neck

Specializing in Natural Appearing Results

Natural, safe, and effective.

New York City's Cosmetic Experts

Anti-Aging for The Face and Neck

At The Dermatology and Laser Group, our approach to facial anti-aging focuses on three essential principles:

  1. achieving natural-looking results,
  2. delivering visible improvements in the short term while building a thoughtful, long-term plan,
  3. and ensuring the highest standards of safety.

Our goal is to help you look refreshed and feel confident- without ever appearing overdone.

A Comprehensive Approach

The key to achieving natural but impressive anti-aging results lies in taking a comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation. Results are best when we focus on addressing all the major aspects of facial aging as they develop. This allows us to create balanced, harmonious outcomes that enhance your appearance without ever looking overdone.

There are four primary contributors to facial aging:

  1. Loss of Collagen and Elastin
    Over time, our skin loses the structural proteins that keep it firm, smooth, and elastic. This results in fine lines, wrinkles, and a rougher skin texture.
  2. Volume Loss in Bone and Muscle
    As facial bone and muscle diminish with age, the overlying fat and skin begin to sag. This can cause deep facial folds such as nasolabial folds and marionette lines, under-eye hollows, flattened cheeks, jowls, and a general loss of definition across the face.
  3. Sun Damage
    Years of sun exposure can lead to sun spots (solar lentigines) and dilated blood vessels (telangiectasias), both of which contribute to an uneven and aged skin appearance.
  4. Dynamic Wrinkles from Repeated Expressions and Fat Loss
    Continuous facial expressions, combined with the gradual loss of superficial facial fat, lead to dynamic wrinkles such as frown lines between the eyebrows (the "11s"), forehead lines, and crow’s feet around the eyes.

The good news is that we have a wide range of treatments tailored to address each of these concerns. In the sections that follow, we’ll walk you through the most effective skincare solutions and in-office procedures to help you look your best- now and for years to come.

 

1. Loss of Collagen and Elastin

Issue: Wrinkles, Fine Lines, Skin Less Firm, Skin is Loose, Poor Skin Texture

Cause: Loss of collagen and elastin in the skin

Collagen and elastin are the building blocks that keep our skin firm, smooth, and resilient. As we age, the natural production of these proteins slows down- typically starting in our mid-20s and accelerating in our 30s and beyond. As collagen and elastin degrade, the skin begins to thin and lose its ability to bounce back. This leads to the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, and an overall rougher or crepey skin texture. Sun exposure, environmental stressors, and lifestyle factors can all speed up this process, making early and consistent intervention especially important.

How We Treat It

We offer a range of effective treatments to help stimulate collagen and elastin production, improving both the texture and firmness of the skin:

  • Medical-Grade Skincare and Anti-Aging Prescription Products
    Topical products containing ingredients like retinoids, peptides, vitamin C, and growth factors can help support collagen synthesis and improve skin tone and texture over time. We’ll help you select the right combination for your skin’s needs.

  • Skin Surface Treatments: best for combination of collagen/elastin loss + sun damage

    • Fractional Laser Resurfacing (Light, Medium, and Strong)
      This type of laser treatment creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin, triggering a powerful healing response that boosts collagen and elastin. It improves skin texture, fine lines, and pigmentation. Examples of laser resurfacing include ResurFx, CO2 Laser, and PicoWay Resolve.
    • Microneedling with PRP or Exosomes
      Microneedling stimulates the skin’s repair process by creating tiny punctures that encourage new collagen formation. When combined with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) or regenerative exosomes, the results are amplified- accelerating healing and improving skin quality.
    • Chemical Peels
      By exfoliating the outer layers of skin, chemical peels help reveal fresher, smoother skin underneath while also triggering collagen regeneration. They are ideal for improving dullness and rejuvenating the skin in patients with sun damage.
    • RF Microneedling
      This treatment combines the collagen-inducing benefits of microneedling with radiofrequency energy to reach deeper skin layers. Must be used very gently to avoid complications, making it the least effective on the face and neck.

  • Deeper Skin Treatments: best for collagen/elastin rejuvenation in deeper layers for a skin tightening benefit. No improvement for sun damage.   

    • Radiofrequency (RF) and Ultherapy
      These heat-based technologies work by delivering energy deep into the skin to contract existing collagen and stimulate new collagen and elastin production over time.
    • Skinvive
      A unique injectable skin booster, Skinvive improves skin smoothness and hydration from within, while also encouraging collagen production over time. It’s ideal for patients looking to restore a dewy, refreshed glow without changing facial volume or shape. Great for quick improvements.

 

Woman with wrinkled skin
Woman With Sagging Skin

2. Volume Loss in Bone and Muscle

Issue: Sagging skin, under eye hollows, skin folds, jowls, sunken cheeks

Cause: Loss of muscle volume and tone and bone volume

One of the most dramatic contributors to facial aging is the gradual loss of bone structure and muscle volume. As we age, the facial skeleton slowly recedes, and the muscles that support the overlying tissue begin to thin and shift. This underlying volume loss causes the fat and skin to descend, leading to visible signs such as hollow temples, under-eye hollows, flattened or sunken cheeks, deepened nasolabial folds, marionette lines, jowls, and an overall sagging of the lower face. These changes can give the face a tired, aged, or even sad appearance.

How We Treat It

There are two highly effective, non-surgical options for addressing these deeper structural changes: dermal fillers and Emface.

  • Dermal Fillers
    Fillers are a powerful tool to restore volume and contour the face. Our approach to filler use is always conservative and tailored to your anatomy. We design our filler appointments to restore natural contours without creating a “filled” or artificial look.  We use two main types:

    • Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: HA fillers instantly replace lost volume. When placed expertly at the correct depth in the right distribution the results can be very natural. One benefit to HA fillers is that they can be easily reversed.
    • Biostimulatory Fillers: Fillers in this category gradually stimulate your body to produce its own collagen for longer-term structural improvement. These are particularly effective for patients looking for more subtle and gradual improvements in volume combined with skin tightening effects.
  • Emface
    Emface is a revolutionary, needle-free and completely non-invasive treatment that simultaneously tones key facial muscles and tightens skin using synchronized radiofrequency and high-intensity facial muscle stimulation. With applicators designed specifically for the forehead, under-eyes, cheeks, and jawline, Emface can help lift and firm the face by restoring tone to the muscles that naturally diminish with age. The result is a more youthful appearance with improved definition and support- no downtime required. And the best thing about Emface is that because its your own muscle and skin that are being restored, the results will always look 100% natural!

Whether used individually or in combination, these treatments allow us to effectively restore facial structure, reduce sagging, and maintain a naturally youthful look as part of a comprehensive anti-aging plan.

 

3. Sun Damage

Issue: Sun spots, dilated blood vessels, uneven skin tone

Cause: UVA and UVB damage

Sun exposure is one of the most common and preventable causes of premature aging. Over time, UVA and UVB rays penetrate the skin and cause cumulative damage that results in visible changes such as brown sun spots (also called solar lentigines), dilated blood vessels (telangiectasias), and overall uneven skin tone. Even if you’ve avoided sunburns, daily incidental exposure- walking outside, sitting by a window, driving- can still lead to long-term pigmentation issues and inflammation. Fortunately, there are a variety of effective treatments to reverse sun damage and restore a more even, radiant complexion.

How We Treat It

  • Picosecond Lasers (e.g., PicoWay Resolve)
    These advanced lasers break up pigment particles in the skin to clear sun spots safely and effectively. An added benefit is that they also stimulate collagen and elastin production, improving overall skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles, and texture.
  • IPL / BBL / Photofacial
    Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), also known as BroadBand Light (BBL) or Photofacial, is one of the most popular treatments for sun damage. It targets both brown pigmentation and red vessels simultaneously, helping to clear the skin and even out tone with minimal downtime.
  • Microneedling with Tranexamic Acid
    This treatment combines collagen-inducing microneedling with the application of tranexamic acid, a powerful brightening agent. It’s particularly effective for reducing stubborn sun spots and discoloration, with the added benefit of boosting collagen and improving skin texture.
  • Chemical Peels
    Chemical peels exfoliate damaged outer layers of skin, fading sun spots while also smoothing texture and helping with conditions like acne. They’re a great option for patients looking for brighter, clearer skin with minimal intervention.
  • Targeted Skincare
    Topical treatments—including both over-the-counter and prescription formulas—can reduce inflammation, fade pigmentation, and calm redness. Ingredients like niacinamide, azelaic acid, hydroquinone, retinoids, and antioxidants work synergistically to repair sun-damaged skin and prevent further discoloration.

    • Daily Sunscreen Use- The Most Important Skin Care Step
      The single most important tool in preventing sun damage is consistent use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Daily application helps protect your skin from future UV injury and keeps your results from other treatments looking their best.

Combining prevention with corrective treatments allows us to reverse signs of sun damage while keeping your skin healthy, clear, and even-toned for the long term.

Woman with sun damage of skin
Woman With Dynamic Wrinkles

4. Dynamic Wrinkles from Repeated Expressions and Fat Loss

Issue: Dynamic wrinkles, eyebrow furrows, forehead lines, crow’s feet, neck bands

Cause: Repeated muscle expressions and loss of subcutaneous fat

Dynamic wrinkles are the fine to deep lines that form from repeated facial expressions over time- smiling, frowning, raising your eyebrows, or squinting. As we age, the superficial fat layer beneath the skin also begins to thin, which means there’s less cushioning to buffer the effects of these movements. The result is visible creases in areas like the forehead, glabella (the “11s” between the eyebrows), crow’s feet around the eyes, and even the vertical bands along the neck known as platysmal bands.

How We Treat It

The gold standard treatment for dynamic wrinkles is Botox, a neuromodulator that temporarily relaxes the muscles responsible for expression lines. When expertly placed, Botox softens these wrinkles while preserving your natural facial expressions- never leaving you looking frozen or unnatural.

Our preferred neuromodulator is Daxxify, the newest FDA-approved “Botox”. We now almost exclusively use Daxxify in our office. Daxxify offers   significantly longer effects of up to six months, making it a more convenient and longer-lasting option, that is also more economical for our patients.

With the right dosing and placement, Botox not only smooths dynamic wrinkles but can also play a preventative role, helping to slow the formation of deeper lines over time.