The Best Anti-Aging Treatments That Actually Work

We’re desperately waiting for a breakthrough that’ll completely change the anti-aging game. But, some of the current treatments work well enough to delay surgical procedures for a good few decades.

Even though there hasn’t been an extraordinary discovery for a while, dermatologists and plastic surgeons have certainly improved the outcomes of these anti-aging treatments.

Think about how people looked after getting Botox a decade ago. And compare that to how natural the results look today. The treatment is the same but the results have improved dramatically.

So if you’re like me and a little bit worried about treating or preventing wrinkles and you want to learn about what your options are, relax. I did the research. To help you tackle aging skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, below are the best anti-aging treatments for a younger-looking face.

Personally, I haven’t been able to move past injectables. I’ve tried Botox and fillers and I indulge in an occasional facial but I’m hesitant toward other treatments. But still, I like to know they’re there. So keep reading to learn about the best anti-aging treatments.

A quick disclaimer first! I’m not qualified to give you any dermatological advice. This is for informational purposes only. I was looking into the topic for myself and thought to let you in on it.

Best Anti-Aging Treatments

1. Wrinkle Relaxers

Wrinkle relaxers like Botox and Dysport are the most commonly used procedures for cosmetic purposes (¹). Botox temporarily relaxes the areas of wrinkles, resulting in a smoother, wrinkle-free appearance.

Botox gives fast results but it is temporary. So you need to renew it every 4-5 months to maintain the results. I’ve been getting regular injections for a very long time now.

I get Botox treatments for jawline slimming, lifting my eyebrows and hooded eyes, forehead wrinkles, and wrinkles around my eyes and I love the results every single time.

However, Botox is not really a ‘treatment’ for wrinkles. Because it doesn’t erase the cause of wrinkles. For example, Botox doesn’t stimulate collagen production. Your wrinkles disappear because they’re not visible anymore. When Botox wears off, they come back. So you need to keep that in mind.

I’m in my late 30s. And according to my dermatologist, injectables are complementary treatments. And as long as I take care of my skin with a skincare routine that involves sun protection, I don’t have to go out of my way to try out more aggressive treatments.

2. Fillers

Fillers, which are usually made of hyaluronic acid, are almost as common as wrinkle relaxers. They’re also used to smooth out wrinkles but most of the time, fillers are used where Botox doesn’t work, such as smile lines.

On top of that, fillers can be used to replace volume loss, such as on the cheeks and under the eyes, and to add volume for enhancement, such as on the lips.

They work so well that you can change your profile dramatically. I’ve tried chin fillers and lip fillers and my injector was pretty conservative with the application. Despite that, the results were amazing! Fillers helped me look fresh instantly!

Fillers can also be combined with Botox to customize the effects. But again, just like Botox, fillers require maintenance. And they don’t erase the cause of wrinkles.

3. Biostimulators

I heard the term ‘bio-stimulator’ from a longevity and rejuvenation doctor, Oliver Zolman, who is the lead of the team of doctors who are helping Bryan Johnson achieve his longevity goals. Bryan Johnson is the person spending 2 million dollars a year on his anti-aging protocol.

Anyway, Zolman says bio-stimulators are a natural way of restoring volume in that they stimulate your body into producing collagen instead of temporarily plumping your face there and then like fillers.

Biostimulators like Sculptra and Profhilo, Zolman says, are treatments you can get regularly, such as annually, to maintain youthful skin on the condition that you find a good, reliable injector.

These work all over the face including the wrinkles under-eye area and around the mouth. Personally, I’m sold on the idea and Profhilo is on my list of treatments to try this year.

4. Kybella

Kybella is another injectable treatment and is used to reduce the excess fat under the chin, aka double chin (²). As we age, the fat pad under the chin grows and can make the neck look saggy. This can make you look older than you actually are.

Kybella is designed to dissolve the fat in that area. Depending on the severity of the situation, you might need more than 1 treatment. But the good thing is if you achieve the desired result, it doesn’t go back unlike Botox or fillers. Once that fat dissolves, it doesn’t come back.

5. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels rejuvenate the skin by resurfacing it using chemical solutions (³). There are several types of chemical peels. But as the technology improved, there’s been a less invasive version where you can get it done in half an hour.

Chemical peels are very effective in getting rid of hyperpigmentation, lines, congestion, dullness, and loose skin. You can even get one for your neck or your hands. After your treatment, the outer layer of your skin starts to peel.

This resurfaces a healthier layer of skin that is smoother and younger. The downtime and the results depend on the type of peel you’re getting.

If you’re following an anti-aging routine, you’re probably already using some type of exfoliant such as a glycolic acid serum. That’s the at-home version of a chemical peel on a much smaller scale with much smaller results compared to the one you get from a professional.

6. Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing works similarly to chemical peels in the way it resurfaces the skin. The difference is that this time, it’s not a chemical solution but lasers. Commonly known as Fractional CO2 Laser, this procedure shoots out laser beams into the skin in a pattern (⁴).

These beams damage the skin and force it to start healing itself with new and healthier skin cells. It’s effective because it accelerates skin turnover and collagen growth.

The result is fresh skin with less visible lines, age spots, and other impurities. For severe sun damage and mature skin, you usually need more than one treatment. But the results are very impressive.

7. Intense Pulse Light (IPL)

When we don’t protect our skin from sun exposure, our skin produces excess melanin. This causes the formation of dark spots all over the face. These are usually called age spots. In our 30s, these spots become more visible and increase in number.

IPL treatment is super effective in eliminating these spots. IPL treatment is performed using a device that shoots light beams that directly target melanin pigments.

The dark spots become more visible after the first treatment. Usually, they start to disappear after a week. The procedure can be a little painful for some people. And you may need more than one treatment.

But this is one of the best anti-aging treatments to get rid of hyperpigmentation issues that cause the face to look dull and uneven. So, it’s definitely worth considering. This is also what Bryan Johnson did to get rid of dark spots and he did this on his whole body.

8. Microneedling

Microneedling is the process of inflicting tiny punctures into the outer layers of the skin using a device (⁵). These punctures are controlled wounds to the skin to stimulate cell regeneration.

This anti-aging treatment helps with collagen and elastin growth to achieve tighter and younger-looking skin. Microneedling also helps to soften lines and wrinkles and remove scars, and even stretch marks.

This treatment can be a little painful. So, they usually put numbing cream on your face before the treatment. But these days, micro-needling is basically an at-home practice.

There are micro-needling kits. Of course, you can’t expect the same results you get from professional treatment. But for the faint-hearted, an at-home kit may be a good way to test the waters.

Even though I’ve never tried a professional micro-needling treatment for my face, I tried it for my hair loss. I got 12 treatments on my scalp. It’s not very pleasant but it’s not too much either.

The Takeaway

So these are the best non-surgical anti-aging treatments out there. I can only speak for the procedures I’ve done. And I can say that both Botox and fillers are absolutely worth it. People call these ‘tweakments’. And sometimes, dermatologists suggest ‘combination therapy’ where they utilize different types of treatments.

Let me tell you, injectors are artists! They combine a buccal fat removal procedure to slim down the cheeks with facial fillers to basically give you a more sculpted, defined look. The possibilities are endless.

But to get the best result out of your treatment, make sure to find a certified dermatologist or a plastic surgeon, and follow their instructions. As these are relatively invasive treatments, you shouldn’t risk irreversibly damaging your skin.

References:

1. Biello, A., Oney, R., & Zhu, B. (2023). Botulinum Toxin Treatment of the Upper Face. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. ↩︎
2. Shamban A. T. (2016). Noninvasive Submental Fat Compartment Treatment. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open, 4(12 Suppl Anatomy and Safety in Cosmetic Medicine: Cosmetic Bootcamp), e1155. https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000001155 ↩︎
3. Samargandy S, Raggio BS. Chemical Peels for Skin Resurfacing. [Updated 2023 Oct 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547752/ ↩︎
4. Omi, T., & Numano, K. (2014). The Role of the CO2 Laser and Fractional CO2 Laser in Dermatology. Laser therapy, 23(1), 49–60. https://doi.org/10.5978/islsm.14-RE-01 ↩︎
5. Alster, T. S., & Graham, P. M. (2018). Microneedling: A Review and Practical Guide. Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], 44(3), 397–404. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000001248 ↩︎