First, a reality check: You’re getting older. Everyday. But there’s nothing wrong with aging. With each year, we gain new insights and every adventure we live through teaches us something. Age is a gift. Of course, just because we’re embracing the wisdom of our years doesn’t mean that we have to look tired and rundown. And if you’ve been curious about what you can do to make yourself look a little more handsome these days, you’re not alone.
During the early days of the pandemic, when a lot of men were confronted with their own face during long Zoom sessions, searches for terms like “Botox for men” and “men’s facelifts” soared. And even before that, Botox injections for American men had increased by 182% between 2000 and 2020, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
What exactly does Botox do for you? According to dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, M.D., it blocks certain nerve signals that make muscles contract. As those facial muscles relax, you don’t see as many wrinkles when you smile or frown. But the doc says it does more than just erase age. Among the many benefits: It stops wrinkles from becoming etched in, it helps with collagen production, and it just makes guys look less mean and more approachable.
One thing that tends to bother guys more than wrinkles is discoloration and dark spots—something that people of color or active guys tend to get from all that sun exposure. The Academy of Dermatology recommends one or two laser treatments (there are a handful of laser options available now), which can treat age spots quickly, and deliver long-lasting results with minimal downtime. But lasers do come with some side effects, such as crusting or temporary darkening of age spots, which you won’t get with creams. Dr. Hartman personally uses Cyspera, a relatively new pigment corrector that’s much more gentle than a laser. It’s available from most dermatologists but no prescription is required. You just swipe it all over and leave it on an unwashed face for 15 minutes. He puts it on when he leaves the gym, by the time he gets home, it’s ready to be showered off.
If you are looking for a simpler and more affordable way to improve your skin’s overall appearance, microneedling might be just what you’re looking for. This adaptable treatment uses tiny needles to create microscopic holes in the skin, which stimulate collagen production and help to reduce the appearance of fine lines. Microneedling is also great for uneven skin tone and any scarring that you may have from past blemishes. It requires very little downtime and can be done in as little as 30 minutes, often from a spa or even some high-end skincare stores. The process also helps your skin absorb serums that are chock full or active, supercharged ingredients.
Of course, if you’re ready for a top-of-the-line treatment that doesn’t require any follow-ups and has no downtime, Sofwave is the newest FDA-approved skin tightening treatment that is getting a lot of attention and praise from celebrity groomers, aestheticians and dermatologists alike. Simply put, it’s a tightening device that works to lift saggy skin mostly around problem areas. Think above the eyebrows, under the chin, and around the neck—areas that tend to make you look older. Sofwave can typically improve all of these concerns with just a single treatment.” By utilizing something called “Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam Technology” to rebuild the body’s ever-important collagen stores, it heats the skin at a specific depth and temperature to rejuvenate collagen fibers and improve the overall appearance of the face. Just keep in mind that since it’s stimulating your own production of collagen, it can take a few weeks to even a month to see your final results. But then you’re set … at least for a little while.
