Reversing Time Without the Stigma – Prime of Your Life Recap

One of the things women can feel self-conscious about as they age is their skin’s appearance. Fortunately, there are multiple remedies, products and procedures to reverse the signs of aging, as Wendy Ashby, PA-C, discussed at February’s Prime of Your Life Women’s Health Event, “Reversing Time Without the Stigma.”

Wendy’s enthusiastic and informative presentation kept the full room of attendees engaged and interested. Her expertise removed much of the stigma revolving around plastic surgery, as what we see on the internet and from celebrities is not commonplace. The presentation was broken down into the four “R”s of skincare – restore, relax, refill and resurface, each of which can reduce signs of aging.

Restore to before

Restoring refers to bringing the skin back to its state before sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles. Wendy emphasized how effective certain ingredients in skincare products can help restore skin, especially:

• Antioxidants
• Peptides
• Retin-A or Retinol
• SPF 30 sunscreen

Wendy stressed that although many over-the-counter skincare products claim that they have anti-aging benefits, the only true scientifically-proven products will be sold by registered estheticians or physicians.

Relax just enough

Certain muscles in the skin contract and contribute to fine lines and wrinkles, and when those muscles are relaxed, those lines and wrinkles aren’t as apparent. You guessed it – this involves procedures like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. Though this is typically what many people envision when they hear “plastic surgery” and become wary of the stigma surrounding it, Wendy ensured the audience that it’s possible to undergo these procedures without looking overdone, sharing photos and examples of patients whose skin looked younger yet still natural after injections.

Refill and plump

Refilling diminishes lines in the skin by pushing up the dermis space beneath wrinkles and creases. Fillers typically consist of hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally-occurring substance in the skin that contributes to its plumpness. Wendy uncovered the differences between fillers and Botox, which was quite eye opening. For example, most people think Botox plumps lips, when that’s actually done through fillers.

Resurface and refresh

The last portion of Wendy’s presentation focused on resurfacing skin through light therapy, an innovative technology that targets signs of aging and sun damage. This type of therapy can treat those with multiple skin conditions, including acne, age spots, freckles, redness and even unwanted hair. There is minimal recovery time after the therapy is performed, and the results Wendy shared looked incredible.

Other options for resurfacing included multiple types of peels, fractional resurfacing and deep resurfacing. These can treat specific surfaces on the face and body, and all are meant to reduce fine lines and improve the tone of the skin.

Because there were so many options discussed, Wendy noted that the UF Health Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Jacksonville office offers free consultations, and encourages anyone who is interested or has questions about these options schedule an appointment by calling 904-383-1518.

Keep up with the latest skin specials by following our UF Health Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Jacksonville Facebook Page.

Our Prime of Your Life Women’s Health Series focuses on the health and unique needs of women. Each event is free to the public and hosted by experts from UF Health Jacksonville. The venue provides a safe space for collaboration where participants can connect with experts and learn from each other. Previous event topics have included pregnancy, pelvic floor disorders and stress management. Learn more and register for our next event at UFHealthJax.org/poyl/.