Dr. Bienstock Helps You Fight Age, Not the Credit Bureau

Plastic Surgeon to the Stars, Dr. Alan Bienstock, has given a wealth of information to me since I first met him, when he schooled me in the ways of post-first-date-ettiquette. Rest assured when I tell you, he’s a man who knows women.  I mean, he knows women. He knows about your wrinkles, and your dwindling bank account, and your skincare battles… things no man should be made aware of.

Lucky for all of us, Dr. Bienstock likes to use his powers for good, not evil. So I sat down with him today to talk about how women can retain a youthful demeanor without breaking the bank.

TLS: I know you’re a bonafide ladies man, so I have to ask: if you can’t afford to get rid of every little facial wrinkle, which ones should you take care of first and which ones should you spare? In other words, which wrinkles age you the most?

Dr. B: During the aging process, men and women both lose volume in their face and develop both static and dynamic lines. The areas of the face that really divulge an individual’s age are the tear trough deformity (or the hollowness under the eyes), the lines in between the eyebrows (otherwise known as the 11’s), depressed or lowered eyebrows (where the eyebrow has lost its elevated and sloped arch), and the marionette lines (the smile lines).

Botox, soft tissue fillers, and fat grafting are good techniques to combat and retard the aging progression. The combination of botox to elevate the eyebrow arch and soften the intense lines in between the eyebrows in conjunction with filling the depressed lower eye region and cheek bone, marionette/smile lines, and nasolabial folds help create a more youthful appearance. Fat injections and/or fillers in the tear trough area/periorbital area help wind back the years and eliminate the tired and fatigued look.

TLS: Botox and Restylane have become increasingly popular because of their accessibility and their being significantly less expensive than traditional plastic surgery. Do you forsee a shift in the future of those clients reliant on plastic surgery opting for the less invasive procedure?

Dr. B: There has definitely been a shifting paradigm in the realm of plastic surgery due to the evolution of non-invasive approaches which include Botox and soft tissue fillers. In addition to the decreased expense, there is minimal downtime and risks with these non-invasive approaches. Patients feel fresher and younger with small, subtle improvements without drastic changes and without any scars. This will only continue in light of our struggling economy and the technological advances of improved fillers and non-invasive products.

TLS: If you do opt for one of these non-invasives, is there any way to prolong anti-aging procedures?

Dr. B: Women as well as men can prevent and minimize the flood of wrinkles by curtailing sun exposure and terminating all tobacco products. The two biggest culprits for aging, leathery skin is sun damage and smoking.  Therefore, we should all stop smoking and not wallow in the sun. Although we are lazy and laconic, we should always apply sun screen to minimize the UVA and UVB exposure.

Alcohol is another nefarious agent that can add extra years and destroy skin texture. The best thing to do is to limit alcohol consumption to a reasonable portion, ie a glass of wine per day and to stay hydrated with water. The skin needs to be hydrated – this means applying copious amounts of moisturizer and drinking enough fluids

TLS: What advice can you give our readers regarding at-home maintenance of their youth?

Dr. B: My patients who look young without any invasive or non-invasive procedures really embrace an all encompassing healthy lifestyle. These patients tend to be vegetarians with an avid exercise schedule, including yoga . These women don’t drink alcohol; they stay hydrated with copious water consumption, and have a regular sleep schedule of at least 7 hours of sleep per night.

I encourage all of my patients to have a healthy, complete diet that is replete with vegetables, proteins, fruit, and vitamins. In addition to nutrition, I emphasize the importance of sunscreens, sleep, relaxation, moisturizers, and smoking cessation.  Sun, smoke, stress, and dryness can be the biggest catalysts of the aging process.

There it is, my friends. To sum it up: don’t age yourself to begin with! (I should follow this advice myself). Once you do, there are plenty of little nips-and-tucks that don’t actually involve nipping and tucking– and are healthier for your fatigued bank account than going under the knife.

For more from Dr. Bienstock (including information on his services), visit his website or contact him via e-mail at info@drbienstock.com.

Disclosure: All products were provided for review. No monetary compensation was received for this review. All opinions belong to the author.