After social media erupted over the recent change in Renée Zellweger’s appearance, we started wondering if there’s a secret behind refreshing your look without losing your identity. It’s certainly possible—we’ve all seen celebrities who seem to defy the hands of time yet don’t show obvious signs that they’ve gone under the knife. And according to leading experts in the field, there most definitely is a proper preservation formula. This is what it looks like.
Communicate what you want. Bringing in photos of yourself from a time when you looked more rested can help a doctor see the natural shape of your eyes and face so that there’s no drastic change in appearance. Remember, the most authentic look is your own. “Just like makeup, cosmetic procedures were created to help enhance your natural beauty, not to re-create or hide it,” says New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Haideh Hirmand. It’s also helpful to bring in photos of what you don’t want to look like so that your physician is clear.
Work your way up. Consider incorporating peels and IPL laser seasonally or annually to maintain a fresh look. As a next step for sagging-skin concerns—such as dropped brows or noticeable jowls—New York City dermatologist Dr. Doris Day recommends Ultherapy. “It’s an in-office treatment using high-density focused ultrasound to deliver precise energy on the face or chest to create a natural lifted look that rejuvenates without changing your own features,” says Day. “If you start young, like in your mid-30s, you have young collagen that will respond extra well to treatment and may even have longer-lasting results,” she adds.
Take a good look around your doctor’s office. If you want to treat fine lines and wrinkles without looking frozen, it’s essential that you research a board-certified doctor who has natural aesthetic skill. “Look at examples of the physician’s work in before-and-after photos to make sure they’re similar to the look you personally want to see,” says Jim Hartman, vice president and U.S. head of aesthetics & OTC at Merz, which makes popular injectables like Xeomin, Radiesse, and Belotero. “Another good tip is to look at the physician’s office staff as examples of their injection style—typically, physicians treat their own staff,” says Hartman.
Consider combination therapy. When you’re looking to make more of a change but still want to preserve defining features, pairing a surgical procedure with a noninvasive option can produce very natural-looking results. An example would be combining a blepharoplasty [an eyelid surgery that improves sagging skin and bags] with a tear trough [an under-eye injection that helps with dark circles and hollowness] as a second stage two to three months after all the swelling has gone down, explains Hirmand. “The hollowness and dark circles does not have a good surgical solution and fat bags and loose skin does not have a great non-invasive solution.” The outcome: The area around the eyes appears “rejuvenated” but doesn’t look overly taut.
