Aging is not a disease, and nobody needs treatment for it. But some of its visible and physical changes bother people, and many of those changes have specific, understandable causes. Skin makes less collagen and thins, facial fat and bone lose volume, repeated muscle movement etches lines, and muscle tone declines. Each of those changes responds to a different kind of treatment, and matching the treatment to the cause is what separates a natural result from an overdone one.
At NYMD Center, anti-aging care has two sides. Our medical spa offers five aesthetic treatments: Botox, dermal fillers, microneedling, Morpheus8 and Emsculpt. And because we are a multi-specialty medical group, we can also look at the medical side of getting older, including hormones, metabolic health and longevity medicine, with physicians in internal medicine, urology and gynecology.
What we do not do is promise to stop the clock. The aim is to look rested and like yourself, and to stay healthy enough to enjoy the years ahead.
How skin and body change with age
According to MedlinePlus, the outer layer of skin thins with age, the connective tissue that gives it strength and elasticity breaks down, and the fat layer beneath it thins. Sun exposure is the greatest single factor in how old skin looks, which is why the backs of the hands, face and neck often show the most change. Smoking, heavy drinking, poor sleep and rapid weight change add to it.
It helps to think of four separate processes. Collagen and elastin loss shows up as crepey texture, fine lines, enlarged pores and loosening along the jaw and neck. Volume loss hollows the temples and under-eye area, flattens the cheeks and deepens the folds from nose to mouth. Muscle-driven lines are the frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet that form where we move our faces thousands of times a day. And declining muscle tone, in the face and the body, changes shape and firmness. Spots, broken vessels and veins are part of the picture too, and some of them are medical questions rather than cosmetic ones.
How we evaluate you
An aesthetic consultation begins with what bothers you, then a close look at your skin, facial structure and, where relevant, the body area you want to change. Your provider reviews your health history, medications and supplements, prior treatments and any history of cold sores, keloid scarring, bleeding problems or pregnancy. Photographs record your starting point. The result is a plan that names which process is driving each concern and which treatment addresses it, in what order.
If something you mention sounds medical, such as a new or changing mole, sudden hair loss, marked fatigue, hot flashes, or leg veins that ache or swell, we will say so. We do not offer skin cancer screening, so a changing spot should be seen by a dermatologist. Veins are evaluated by our vascular care team rather than in the medical spa.
Treatment options, matched to the cause
Prevention first
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, avoiding tanning and sunburn, not smoking, moderate alcohol, regular exercise and good sleep do more over a decade than any single procedure. Prescription creams can be part of a home routine for texture and fine lines, and your provider can discuss whether one fits your skin.
Botox for muscle-driven lines
Botox relaxes the small muscles that fold the skin into frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. Mayo Clinic notes that it usually starts working in 1 to 3 days and that the effect may last 3 to 4 months, so it needs repeating. It does nothing for loose skin or lost volume.
Dermal fillers for volume loss
Hyaluronic acid fillers restore volume in the cheeks, lips and folds and can refresh the backs of the hands. Results are immediate and last months to longer depending on product and area. Swelling and bruising are common; the FDA warns that accidental injection into a blood vessel is rare but can be serious, which is one reason fillers belong in a medical setting.
Microneedling for texture
Microneedling creates tiny channels that prompt the skin to repair itself with new collagen. It improves texture, fine lines, pores and mild acne scarring, with redness for a few days. It works gradually over a series of sessions.
Morpheus8 for laxity and deeper scarring
Morpheus8 adds radiofrequency heat to microneedling, reaching deeper to tighten mildly loose skin on the face, neck and body and to treat deeper acne scars and stretch marks. It involves more recovery than plain microneedling, and collagen keeps building for months after a series.
Emsculpt for muscle tone
Emsculpt uses electromagnetic energy to produce strong muscle contractions in the abdomen and buttocks. It is aimed at toning and strengthening, not weight loss, and works best for people already near their goal weight.
The medical side of aging
How you look and how you feel are connected. Declining testosterone in men and the hormonal shifts of perimenopause and menopause in women can affect energy, sleep, body composition, skin and libido. Our physicians evaluate these changes with a history, examination and blood work, and discuss hormone replacement when it is appropriate and safe. Our longevity medicine program goes further, looking at cardiovascular and metabolic risk, bone health, cancer screening and the habits that shape how well people age. We care for adults only.
What to expect at your visit
Aesthetic visits start with a consultation. Some treatments, such as Botox, can often be done the same day, while others are scheduled once a plan is agreed. You will leave knowing what each treatment is for, what the trade-offs are, what recovery looks like and how many sessions to expect. If a medical question comes up, we will point you to the right physician in the group. The full range of treatments is on our medical spa page.
Questions patients ask
Which anti-aging treatment is right for me?
It depends on what is causing the change you see. Lines that appear when you frown or squint usually respond to Botox. Hollowing and deeper folds reflect volume loss and respond to fillers. Rough texture and fine lines respond to microneedling, while mild loosening and deeper scars suit Morpheus8. Body firmness is Emsculpt's territory. A consultation sorts out which process is driving each concern.
Can I combine different anti-aging treatments?
Yes, and many plans do, because each treatment addresses a different cause. Botox for expression lines, filler for volume and Morpheus8 or microneedling for skin quality work well together. Your provider will decide the order and the spacing between sessions, since some are better done on separate days. The plan is built around your priorities, timeline and budget.
Do you treat spider veins and varicose veins?
Veins are handled by our vascular care team rather than the medical spa. Varicose veins in particular can be a sign of underlying vein disease and deserve a proper evaluation, which can include an ultrasound. If your legs ache, swell or feel heavy, mention it, and we will arrange a vascular visit to look at the veins medically before any cosmetic treatment is considered.
Do you offer laser treatments for aging skin?
No. Our medical spa offers Botox, dermal fillers, microneedling, Morpheus8 and Emsculpt. Within those, Morpheus8 and microneedling address texture, fine lines, scarring and mild loosening, and your provider will tell you honestly if a concern would be better served by a treatment we do not offer, so you can seek it elsewhere.
Can hormones affect how I age?
They can. Low testosterone in men and the hormonal changes around menopause in women may affect energy, sleep, body composition, skin and libido. These are medical questions, so they are evaluated by our physicians with a history, examination and blood tests rather than in the medical spa. Hormone therapy is discussed when it is appropriate and safe for you.