The holidays may be billed as the most festive time of year, but they also arrive with their own brand of fatigue. Late nights, long dinners, back-to-back events and the slow slide into January can leave even the most resilient of us looking (and feeling) worn out. So it’s no surprise that more men are turning to aesthetic dermatology as a strategic reset. (Think subtle brightening, rejuvenating, etc, instead of a complete overhaul.) And cosmetic dermatologists, like Toronto’s Dr. Nowell Solish, the Director of Dermatologic Surgery at the University of Toronto and Founder of his eponymous clinic in Yorkville, are offering precise interventions to keep you looking like the best version of yourself all holiday season and into the New Year long. Here are four treatments that can try now.
What’s the number one treatment men request going into the holidays?
Without a question, it’s Botox. “It’s the most common treatment men come in for because it’s easy, quick and doesn’t give away that anything has been done,” says Dr. Solish. “It relaxes the frown lines—the elevens—and the crow’s feet, which men tend to have because they squint and smile a lot.” The service takes mere minutes to fulfill, and the overall effect is a more rested, relaxed look, not a dramatic change. “Easily 90 per cent of my male patients come in for this,” adds Dr. Solish.
What comes in second?
Filler under the eyes. “Many men develop a hollow or a puff-and-valley effect under the eye that makes them look exhausted,” explains Dr. Solish. “Sometimes it’s genetic, sometimes it worsens with age. I can’t remove the ‘hill’ without surgery, but I can fill the ‘valley,’ so it looks less deep and the whole area appears smoother.” The improvement, he says, is around 40 per cent and lasts about nine months with only, approximately, 5 per cent of all men experiencing any bruising. The overall effect: “You look less tired,” says Dr. Solish. And that’s the main goal, as the treatment softens the shadowing that gives a fatigued appearance.
Third, are treatments for sun damage or uneven tone:
“Men come in for IPL [Intense Pulsed Light] or other lasers that target redness, broken vessels and sun spots,” says Dr. Solish. More intense options like Fraxel even out the skin, reduce mottled pigment and give it a fresher, more uniform look. Youthful skin tends to look bright and even; sun damage interrupts that with patchiness. “There’s no real downtime,” adds Dr. Solish. “Maybe a few days of redness or darker spots, but nothing that keeps you home from work.”
Fourth, is body treatments:
Like CoolSculpting. “Winter is the best time to do this, because any swelling or redness is hidden under sweaters and jackets,” recommends Dr. Solish. Body sculpting or CoolSculpting is a non-surgical way to freeze and eliminate fat cells in the body in areas like the stomach, thighs, buttocks etc. It can reduce these pockets of fat, which are then naturally processed by the body and eliminated through the lymphatic system. ““People often want results for summer, but the smart move is doing the treatments now.”
And all costs for all treatments depend on the number of sessions and applicators needed for each one.
