What 5 Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons Are Doing to Look This Good

Tina Alster, dermatologist

“My daily skin care regimen includes washing with a cream cleanser on a Clarisonic ($169) in the shower every morning followed by an application of SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum ($165) and a BB cream. In the evening, I alternate between a retinol cream and Senté (heparan sulfate) Dermal Repair Cream ($170). Every quarter, I have a Fraxel Clear + Brilliant laser treatment done. Two to three times per year, I get my Botox/Dysport injections and filler injections, too. Once a year, I have an Ultherapy treatment performed for skin tightening. I also just had a Silhouette Instalift (absorbable sutures) done to noninvasively lift my neck.”

Tiffany McCormack, plastic surgeon

“For me, prevention is key. On one hand, I am obsessed with preventing permanent wrinkles and sun damage. On the other hand, my current skin concerns relate to discoloration (melasma) and volume loss. I treat melasma like diabetes—it is not curable but can be well-controlled with a good product regimen, regular facials and peels, and sometimes laser treatments.

To subtly address volume loss, I rely on both Sculptra Aesthetic (I do it every two to three years) injected into my midface, and Ultherapy (every 18–24 months) treatments on my lower face, brow area and upper knees to stimulate collagen production in my skin. This is somewhat preventive and also treats early signs of aging prevalent in my age group. Botox every three to four months in my glabella lines and crow’s-feet is my go-to to prevent wrinkles and subtly lift my brows. I get Hydrafacials regularly to maintain good skin and condition it—they’re great before an event or night out because they plump and moisturize my skin, creating a beautiful glow.

I have had CoolSculpting done to erase unsightly bulges on my thighs and I love the result. It definitely gave my thighs more of an athletic appearance. I also had an upper lid blepharoplasty.  I naturally have a fairly hooded eye, which can give an aged appearance early on. Nobody can tell I had it done, but I see a marked difference.”

Dendy Engelman, dermatologist

“I love all things beauty! I feel that I am able to best communicate what a patient can expect from a treatment if I have experienced it myself, and I have tried most things aesthetic. I am a huge believer in treating signs of aging as soon as they appear. I love getting IPL done every six months for overall skin improvement. Once every few years I do a mild fractionated CO2 laser on my face, neck and chest.

I keep up with regular Botox injections and have hyaluronic acid fillers injected once a year. I also get facials once a quarter, use prescription retinoids (tretinoin) three to four times per week and use a 5 percent glycolic acid pad twice a week. I also love sheet and gel masks (specifically Decléor Intensive Brightening Sheet Mask ($54) and Derm Institute Antioxidant Hydration Gel Masque ($120). I love ingestible beauty as well, and I take verisol collagen (found in Reserveage Collagen Replenish Powder ($20) for my skin and Nutrafol ($88) for my hair.”

Mary Herte, plastic surgeon

“My first foray into plastic surgery was about 25 years ago. I had bags under my eyes, heavy upper lids with low eyebrow position and a little bit of a double chin. It all added up to a tired appearance.  I had a coronal brow lift, a lower eyelid blepharoplasty and a tiny bit of liposuction under my chin. I was amazed that I felt exactly what my patient’s see and feel after their surgeries, even though as a plastic surgeon I am acutely aware of the psychological forces likely to be in play. Shortly afterward, I started using Botox to preserve my browlift result by reducing the downward muscle pull that could undo the excellent result I had gotten from the browlift. 

About 17 years ago I had a facelift and necklift after losing a bit of weight. My jawline was sagging and my neck was loose. I felt more confident, refreshed and put together after having it done.

I have maintained my results as much as I can with the same kind of maintenance I recommend for my patients: Botox regularly, filler for volume and lines, good medical-grade skin care, IPL and ResuFX laser resurfacing for maintaining youthful and healthy skin. When I inject myself (I do all of my own injections), I am likely to use multiple syringes and multiple products in one sitting to get the overall improvement and balance that makes for a natural result.

I also had liposuction and ended up with a more balance and proportioned figure. I still look like myself, just more refined. A couple of areas never quite smoothed out despite my liposuction and have been treated with CoolSculpting. My hip contour is now finally smooth!”

Carmen Kavali, plastic surgeon

“My skin care routine consists of SkinMedica Sensitive Skin Cleanser ($38), Obagi Clenziderm MD Pore Therapy Toner ($39)—I’m acne-prone, so the salicylic acid keeps my skin in check—SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum ($281), which is my favorite anti-aging product ever because it contains growth factors, skin brighteners, antioxidants and hyaluronic acid for instant smoothing. I also use SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 ($154), as well as its HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator ($178) and Total Defense and Repair Sunscreen ($68).

I love my Botox and have it done several times each year to prevent lines between my brow (the 11s), in my forehead and around my eyes. I also use it in my neck muscles to prevent ‘turkey neck.’ I also have had Juvéderm Voluma injected into my cheeks, which gave me back my cheekbones. And, I use Juvéderm Volbella for smooth lips without giving me duck lips.

I’ve had Ultherapy done and I loved the lifting and smoothing I got from that. Regular IPL treatments help keep my brown spots tamed—I grew up near the beach and it was in the years before sunscreen was thought to be important, so I’m paying for that now.”

To finance these and other in-office or spa procedures, visit CareCredit.com.