That day. That strange and awful day when you look in the mirror and wonder who that tired, old lady is looking back at you.  Want to make sure that day never happens again?

You’re not alone. Nine in 10 women say they don’t mind getting older, but don’t necessarily want to look older, show stats from the most recent FACE institute survey, which was led by leading Canadian aesthetic physicians.

But a facelift isn’t what women want anymore. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, almost 30,000 fewer surgical cosmetic procedures were performed in 2009 than the year before.

The possible reason? Advances in skin rejuvenation technology have generated many more non-surgical treatment choices than ever before. “Twenty years ago you could either have a facelift or not,” says our medical advisor Dr. Lisa Kellett. “We’re moving away from more drastic measures and more towards things that will enhance beauty, but not completely change the way someone looks.”

At Kellett’s private Toronto clinic, treatments such as Botox injections, epidermal chemical peels, Thermage radio frequency tightening, or facial fillers like Restylane and Juvederm, have become the gold standard options for women, and men. Results are subtle  yet enough to make someone say, “You look different, I can’t put my finger on it. Did you get a hair cut?”

At-home care is also important. Dr. Kellett strongly believes that the cheapest and most effective way to younger-looking skin is to use a gel-based exfoliating scrub and sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 every single day.

Aging beautifully with the help of a dermatologist is the path that many women are now embracing. The key is to start early and seek a reputable professional who is very honest. Dr. Kellett’s cosmetic nurse Diana Phillips emphasizes that “lasers, peels, and injectables can yield great results, but keep in mind that no amount of Botox of filler can ‘lift’ very loose saggy skin around the face. Surgery may be the better option, for your expectations and wallet.”

Check out this cheat sheet of clinical options. Click on the image below to enlarge.

anti-aging Laser resurfacing Wrinkles