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BEAUTY LESSONS:
Yours for the taking with these doctor-endorsed body “tweakments” and home improvement tools.
Written ByKATHERYN ERICKSON
Photography by ALISTAIR TAYLOR-YOUNG / TRUNK ARCHIVE
Getting a little work used to be a confidential affair reserved for a certain type—but those days couldn’t be any further in the past. “Social sharing and pop culture have decreased the stigma associated with cosmetic procedures,” says Dr. Lara Devgan, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in New York City and founder of luxury skin care line Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty. “The secrets that used to be hidden away in the dark recesses of your doctor’s office are now on your Instagram feed, and that’s totally flipped the script.” Now the discussion is less about whether you’re doing it and instead what to sample from an endless menu of options to lift, firm, and soften.
THE MULTITASKER
THE MAGIC ERASER
THE TWEAKMENT: Scar Tattoing
THE TARGET: Those pale stretch marks on your hips and butt from when you were a teenager? They’re actually hypopigmented (where an area is lighter than your overall skin tone) and, unlike newer marks and scars that can be softened with lasers, there historically hasn’t been much you can do for them. Enter micropigmentation. “The advancements in semi-permanent makeup are just astounding,” says Dr. Frank, who employs an in-house tattoo artist for the cause. “Micropigmentation is a form of tattooing that can cover those old, difficult, nothing-works-on scars and stretch marks.”
THE TIME COMMITMENT: It depends on the area, but the average appointment is 15 to 30 minutes. Like any tattoo, expect a few weeks of skin healing.
THE AT-HOME BOOSTER: Work Vita Liberata Body Blur Instant Skin Finish on limbs to add glow, mask leftover marks, veins, and spots, and make skin look especially perfect.
THE SHAPE SHIFTER
THE TWEAKMENT: Laser Fat Removal
THE TARGET: The innovations for getting rid of fat are endless—there are options that freeze it, injections that dissolve it—and the jury is still out on whether some make a justifiable difference. But Dr. Gross is enthusiastic about using heat—specifically Sculpsure, a laser—to melt fat away. “From a scientific point of view, heat is a better way to [destroy fat] than freezing it,” he explains. “Because burning fat, like when you’re exercising, is the way our bodies naturally break it down. Lasers literally melt fat and kill the cells permanently.” Keep in mind that it’s not designed to remove large amounts of fat; it’s a fix for smaller, stubborn spots, like the lower belly, love handles, and thighs. Dr. Gross even uses it around the jawline to nix double chins. “Its ability to contour makes a big difference. With old technology you had to stick the patient in the machine or put the skin in a clamp. This is a device where you can contour beautifully and individualize and customize the fat reduction to fit the person’s body.”
THE TIME COMMITMENT: You’ll need a few 25-minute treatments, spaced a month apart. Fat cells are flushed out of the body over the course of 12 weeks, but you’ll notice a difference after the second visit.
THE AT-HOME BOOSTER: In Fiore Firmante Elevating Leg Tonic contains herbal actives to boost circulation and relieve heavy, bloated legs. Use it before you steam or sauna to amp up the detox element.
THE TWEAKMENT: Shock Wave Technology to Treat Cellulite
THE TARGET: Cellulite is notoriously stubborn, but a European device that uses shock wave technology could be promising for leveling dents by targeting their many causes. “Cellulite is not unilateral—it has to do with lymphatic drainage, uneven fat deposition, and loss of elasticity in skin,” Dr. Frank explains. “Shockwave technology improves circulation, breaks up scar tissue, and has been shown to dramatically improve dimpling while tightening skin.” Stay tuned for its US drop this fall.
THE TIME COMMITMENT: The process is quick and feels like “a mini jackhammer mixed with a hot stone massage,” Dr. Frank says. Expect to see changes in a month and aim to repeat a few times a year.
THE AT-HOME BOOSTER: Dry Brushing is the OG cellulite fix. Use Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Cellulite Body Brush working from feet all the up way to your butt, hands to shoulders, and finally along your torso (the key is to brush towards your heart the whole time) before showering to support lymphatic drainage.