Longevity has become one of the most talked-about concepts in health and wellness and increasingly, we are hearing the same language used when discussing our skin. Patients often tell us, ‘I just want to maintain the health of my skin.’
At the same time, we meet people who have tried multiple different treatments in a relatively short period because they are searching for something that will make a noticeable difference.
These two ideas don’t necessarily sit comfortably together. If we are genuinely talking about skin longevity, perhaps we need to think less about constantly finding the next treatment and more about what we can realistically and consistently do for our skin over many years.
What does Skin Longevity actually mean?
“Skin longevity” simply refers to lasting for a long time.
When we apply that idea to skin, it isn’t about stopping the ageing process. Skin will continue to change as we age. Instead, we think of skin longevity as taking a long-term approach to maintaining skin quality and supporting skin health over time.
That distinction is important because many of the changes we associate with ageing develop gradually, and approaches intended to address skin quality may also produce gradual rather than dramatic changes.
This can make them very different from treatments where an effect may be more immediately apparent.
Why consistent treatment changes can hinder Skin Longevity
One of the biggest challenges in aesthetic medicine today is the sheer number of treatments available.
New terminology, technologies and products appear constantly. Social media can make it seem as though there is always something newer or better to try. This can create a cycle of moving from one treatment to another without allowing enough time to properly assess whether a particular approach is appropriate or beneficial.
When the objective is long-term skin quality, we don’t believe treatment should simply be about chasing trends. A more considered approach is to understand:
- What is changing within your skin
- What you are trying to address
- What evidence exists for the options being considered
From there, a treatment plan can be developed and reviewed over an appropriate time frame.
What does ‘regenerative’ mean in Skin Treatment?
Broadly, it describes an approach focused on biological processes associated with tissue and skin quality rather than simply producing an immediate cosmetic change.
Depending on the treatment being discussed, this may involve processes associated with collagen, elastin and the extracellular environment of the skin.
However, ‘regenerative’ is a broad term and the fact that a treatment is described as regenerative does not automatically mean that it is appropriate for everyone or that all treatments within this category are equivalent. Each treatment needs to be considered individually, including its:
- Evidence
- Mechanism
- Risks
- Expected outcomes
- Treatment protocol.
Subtle does not necessarily mean ineffective
One of the more difficult concepts to explain about a long-term approach to skin is that change does not always have to be dramatic. With some skin-quality treatments, changes may develop gradually over weeks or months. That can make them difficult to appreciate when you look at yourself in the mirror every day.
It is also why we need to be careful about expectations. Regenerative treatments should not be presented as a way to stop ageing, reverse time or guarantee that your skin will look a particular way in the future. Instead, where appropriate, they may form one part of a broader strategy for managing skin quality over time.
Consistency versus chasing trends
At Shape Clinic, our approach is not to introduce a treatment simply because it is new or trending. Before incorporating a treatment into our clinical practice, we consider factors including:
- The available scientific and clinical evidence
- Regulatory status
- Practitioner education and experience
- Potential risks
- Where it may appropriately fit within the treatment options we already provide.
This also means we don’t believe that more treatments necessarily equal better skin. For some people, a consistent approach using a relatively small number of selected treatments may make more sense than frequently changing from one treatment to another.
Skin longevity is bigger than a procedure
No injectable, laser, device or regenerative treatment should be considered a complete skin-longevity strategy. The fundamentals still matter:
- Protecting the skin from excessive UV exposure
- Appropriate skincare
- Not smoking
- Looking after our broader health.
- Socialising (often overlooked, but connection with people is a critical)
These remain important considerations throughout life. Procedural treatments, where appropriate, sit alongside these fundamentals rather than replacing them.
Think in years, not weeks
Perhaps the biggest change in thinking around skin longevity is the timeframe. Rather than asking what treatment will make the biggest difference this month, it would be more beneficial to consider an appropriate approach to looking after the skin over the coming years.
That is a very different conversation. It requires realistic expectations, consistency and an understanding that skin ageing is an ongoing biological process rather than something we can ‘fix’ with a single procedure.
At Shape Clinic, our aim is to take this longer-term view, assessing the skin as part of the whole face, discussing the available options and developing an individual approach where treatment is appropriate.
Because when it comes to skin longevity, the goal isn’t to continually chase what is new. It is to make decisions about how we care for our skin over time.
Important information
This article provides general educational information only and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Cosmetic aesthetic procedures have risks, outcomes vary between individuals, and not every treatment is appropriate for every person.
The potential benefits, risks, alternatives and expected treatment requirements should be discussed with an appropriately qualified health practitioner before proceeding.
Our range of Skin Treatments
Here at Shape Clinic, we have a range of skin treatments for all types of conditions and concerns.
