Which products and procedures will actually work?
If anyone can answer that question, it's Terry Dubrow, MD, author of the new book, Dr. and Mrs. Guinea Pig Present The Only Guide You'll Ever Need to the Best Anti-Aging Treatments.
The "Dr. and Mrs. Guinea Pig" part comes from the fact that Dr. Dubrow and his wife have tried everything from cupping therapy to leech facials. Yes, blood-sucking leeches.
Dr. Dubrow explains that while the typical anti-aging products you'll find in a department store run from $50-$500, most of them contain no viable anti-aging ingredients/properties.
One treatment that Dr. Dubrow has found benefits in is LED light therapy. The blue light reduces bacteria that causes acne and the red light is used for anti-aging. You can even purchase the light over the counter (and it's not every expensive).
Dr. Dubrow offers these other general anti-aging tips:
- Avoid sun as much as possible and use sunscreen when in the sun.
- Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
- Eat healthfully.
- Keep your weight steady (which will reduce risk of wrinkles).
Also, take note of your age range for even more advice:
- 20-30s: make sure to have a solid skincare regimen (cleanser, moisturizer).
- 30-40s: early administration of Botox will prevent development of lines and wrinkles.
- 40-50s: radio frequency therapy can help the skin from aging.
- Beyond 50s: surgical therapy is an option.
If you do turn to plastic surgery, the goal should be to look like the best version of YOU, not a celebrity.
Having surgery outside of the U.S. raises risk of complication, as Dr. Dubrow knows well from his experience on his hit show, Botched.
He advises three steps when seeking out a plastic surgeon.
First, ask your surgeon, "Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure?" The regulations surrounding plastic surgery are quite loose.
Second, search plastic surgeons according to their specialty. Review the medical board website (and other sources like Yelp) for any negative feedback.
Third, meet your surgeon and go with your gut if it doesn't feel right. If he or she isn't very busy or is trying to "sell" you on procedures, it's probably not a great fit.
Listen in as Dr. Dubrow joins Dr. Friedman to share even more anti-aging secrets, including which ingredients to use and which to stay away from.
Dr. Terry Dubrow was born and raised in Los Angeles, obtained degrees in medical sciences from Yale University and the UCLA School of Medicine.