As the summer months are approaching, summer time cosmetic treatments are on the rise. Whether patients are focusing on skin tightening treatments, SPF products or chemical peels, scheduling the ideal time for these treatments is just as important as picking the procedure itself. Haute Beauty sat down with board-certified Dr. Hanz to discuss the best non-invasive treatments to consider this summer and which skin concerns to be mindful of during these hot months.

Which non-invasive treatment would you recommend for those looking to achieve a youthful look for the summer?

Looking great in the summer is always a concern for patients as we move through spring and look forward to outdoor activities and time at the beach.  This is why so many patients consider surgical procedures in the late winter and early spring.  When it comes to non-invasive treatments, we have to tread with some caution.  Many treatments such as laser treatments or chemical peels make a patient susceptible to the UV rays of the sun.  These types of treatments should be reserved for the fall and winter when the intensity of the sun is less.  Newer treatments such as microneedling RF require significantly less downtime and are perfect for patients looking to achieve a youthful look for summer.

What skin concerns should patients be mindful of during the summer months?

During the summer months, our primary focus need to be on the harmful effects of the sun.  Outdoor activities put us in the harmful path of UV rays  Sun damage clearly leads to premature aging as well as significantly increased risks for future skin cancers.  We can protect ourselves by using sun protective clothing, avoiding the sun during the most intense times of the day as well as using sunscreen in a liberal manner.  Sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater should be applied every two hours on all sun exposed areas.

Which at-home devices would you recommend?

My experience has been that the array of products in this area tend to over-promise and under-deliver.  My feeling is that patients are typically better off using their time and energy in a good skin care regimen and then follow the advice of a trusted Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist to achieve the most efficient use of their resources.

Which prevention products would you recommend?

I am a strong supporter of EltaMD brand sunscreen.  The company has a strong line-up of products in this arena.  Other considerations regarding prevention should center around the retinoids.  Transretinoic acid or Retin-A needs to be a mainstay in any skin program.  The retinoids should be stopped 6 weeks prior to any laser treatments or before a chemical peel.  The retinoids promote healthy skin by increasing cellular turnover.  You can think of this as a mini-peel that occurs on a continual basis.

Which treatments have the shortest recovery time?

Modern technology has introduced radiofrequency treatments to the aesthetic field.  My followers realize that I am a huge proponent of radiofrequency.  RF as it is abbreviated has become the laser of the 21st century.  Morpheus8 is an innovative treatment from InMode Aesthetics that requires little downtime.  It is a microneedling RF based treatment that can be performed on all skin types (lighter skinned and darker skinned individuals).  The treatment combines microneedling with energy in the form of radiofrequency to tighten skin, improve skin texture, eliminate fine wrinkling and improve issues with scarring.  A patient typically will need 3 treatments, spaced approximately 4-6 weeks apart.  Our patients continue to be impressed with their skin following Morpheus treatments.  By the way, it can be used on the stomach, arms or banana rolls to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles as well.