3 ways to follow the “Notox” trend, anti-aging without Botox

Dr. Jimmy C. Sung, a board certified plastic surgeon in NYC which offers Botox and filler treatments, said doctors are incentivized to give you more than you need because they charge by the amount used. It has led to “overuse” of injectables, he said.

“I feel vindicated,” he said of more people opting for less invasive skin care treatments. He said Botox and under-eye fillers temporarily smooth wrinkles but don’t address their real cause: the loss of collagen and elastin.

In his experience, younger generations care more about a “holistic approach to staying healthy,” such as focusing on longevity. Some look for long-term ways to have smooth and elastic skin, such as collagen restoration.

Sung shared the 3 Ps—peptides, proteins, and plasma energy—that he recommends trying for a “notox” anti-aging skin care routine.

1. Invest in peptides

Peptides are short chains of amino acids which make up the proteins in the skin. Collagen is made up of peptides, so adding peptides to the skin can stimulate its growth, reducing wrinkles and inflammation.

While some people inject peptides directly into their skinSung said it’s technically illegal to use them as skin care injections (currently, peptide injections are approved for medical purposes only). Instead, he applies topical salmon sperm on customers because salmon and human DNA are surprisingly similar.

There are more affordable ways to start using peptides. He said a lot anti-aging products like retinol, they already include peptides, making them easy to incorporate into an existing skin care routine.

2. Eat enough protein

In his consultations, Sung uses a body composition monitor to measure a client’s body fat to muscle ratio.

“If there’s something wrong, I’d tell them ‘get more sleep, hydrate, exercise, improve your diet,'” he said.

More specifically, he said you have enough protein in your diet it can restore collagen in the skin, while losing fat from the face can lead to more pronounced lines.

If you have a healthy lifestyle, he said exercises such as strength training it goes hand in hand with a high protein diet, sleep and proper hydration.

“Having a good ratio of fat to muscle is good for the longevity of your body,” he said. In turn, it’s also great for your skin.

3. If the budget allows, try plasma energy treatments

Sung’s third “P” is plasma skin regenerationa non-laser treatment that promotes collagen growth using plasma energy. Because of the deeper penetration, results can be more drastic than simply using topical products.

But it can get expensive: a session package can cost anywhere from $1,100 to $2,500.

This is why he focuses more on peptides and dietary changes when giving advice to young people, especially if they are focused on preventive anti-aging. “This is something they can afford,” he said.