Preventative cosmetic medicine

Preventative cosmetic medicine means intervening earlier, with the aim of slowing the development of visible ageing rather than correcting it once established.

It is a reasonable idea, and it is also one that is easy to oversell. This page sets out what genuinely prevents skin ageing, where earlier treatment has a defensible rationale, and where starting young is more likely to cost money than to help.

What actually prevents skin ageing

Before any treatment, the honest ranking:

Sun protection. Ultraviolet exposure is the largest modifiable cause of visible skin ageing - wrinkling, pigmentation, loss of elasticity and texture change - and it is also what causes skin cancer. Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, shade and clothing do more for how your skin looks in twenty years than any procedure on this website. In Australia this matters more than almost anywhere.
Not smoking. Smoking accelerates collagen breakdown, impairs blood supply to skin, and independently worsens surgical outcomes if you ever need a procedure.
Sleep, nutrition and managing weight fluctuation. Repeated large weight changes stretch skin and undo elasticity.
Evidence-based skincare, principally retinoids and sunscreen. Most of what is sold as anti-ageing skincare has little effect on skin structure.

None of these are procedures, none of them are sold at a clinic, and all of them have more effect over a lifetime than early injectables. Any clinic offering preventative treatment should say so.

Where earlier treatment has a rationale

The argument for treating earlier rests on the distinction between two kinds of line:

Dynamic lines appear only when a muscle contracts.
Static lines remain when the face is at rest - the crease has become established in the skin itself.

Dynamic lines become static over years of repeated folding. The rationale for earlier treatment is that reducing the folding may slow that transition, and that a line which has not yet become static is easier to soften than one that has.

That is a plausible mechanism rather than a guarantee, and how much difference it makes varies between individuals. It is also worth noting the trade-off: earlier treatment means more years of treatment, more cost over a lifetime, and more exposure to the risks of each treatment.

Where the argument is weaker

Treating lines that do not exist. If there is nothing visible at rest and nothing much on movement, there is nothing to prevent yet.
Volume treatment in a young face. A face that has not lost volume does not need volume restored. Adding it changes the face's shape rather than preventing anything, and repeated treatment over years can accumulate in ways that are difficult to reverse.
Starting in the late teens or early twenties for cosmetic reasons. Faces are still changing, and the case for intervention is weakest here. Australian law also places specific restrictions on cosmetic procedures for under-18s.
Any plan that grows over time without being reviewed. Preventative treatment should be reviewed periodically against whether it is still doing anything, not simply continued.

What causes lines and wrinkles

Facial expression - repeated frowning, squinting and smiling crease the skin in the same places.
Collagen loss - production slows from the twenties, reducing firmness and elasticity.
Sun damage - breaks down collagen fibres and accelerates fine line development.
Genetics - influence where and how quickly lines develop, and how skin ages.
Lifestyle - smoking, stress, dehydration and poor sleep.

Areas commonly considered

Forehead lines - horizontal lines from raising the brows
Frown lines - vertical lines between the eyebrows
Crow's feet - creases at the outer corners of the eyes
Lip lines - fine vertical lines around the upper lip
Chin dimpling
Smile lines and folds around the mouth

Treatments used

A preventative approach typically draws on the same treatments used for correction, at lower doses or lower intensity:

Anti-wrinkle injections at conservative doses, to reduce the muscle movement creating dynamic lines while preserving expression.
Skin treatments and laser skin rejuvenation, addressing texture, pigmentation and collagen.
Factor4 and similar treatments aimed at skin quality.
Structured skincare and, above all, sun protection.

Injectable treatments in Australia involve prescription medicines, must be prescribed by a doctor following a consultation, and the law restricts what can be published about them - which is why no product names appear here.

Downtime and frequency

Most non-surgical treatments involve minimal downtime, with mild redness, swelling or tenderness settling within a day or two. Because effects wear off, a preventative approach means ongoing treatment - which is exactly why the cost and risk over years is worth thinking about at the start, not later.

Risks

All treatments carry risks. For injectable treatments these include pain, redness, swelling, bruising, headache, infection, asymmetry or uneven results, spread of effect to nearby muscles causing temporary drooping of an eyelid or brow or altered expression, allergic reaction, and lack of response. Dermal fillers carry the additional risk of vascular occlusion, which can cause tissue death and, rarely, permanent vision loss.

The full risk lists are on the anti-wrinkle treatments and volume enhancing treatments pages. Read them before starting a course of treatment, not after.

Consultation

A consultation should include being told when nothing needs doing yet. As at September 2024 and including GST, a consultation with a Cosmetic Doctor is $150 and a skin assessment with a nurse or aesthetician is $50, redeemable on products or services.

Me Clinic is at 4 Burke Road, Malvern East VIC 3145, five minutes' walk from Caulfield station.

See anti-ageing procedures, wrinkle treatments, skin, or all face procedures.

Individual results may vary. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.