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A Blank Slate Media Special Section • May 14, 2021

30 Living 50 Plus • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 14, 2021

Looking young at 50 and beyond BY DR. ROBERT H. GOTKIN Recalling the 1960s, women around the world wanted to emulate the flawless beauty and sex appeal of Rio de Janeiro’s girl from Ipanema. Sixty years later, women still want the look that was romanticized in song and seek plastic surgeons who can create that timeless image. As women cross that midcentury mark and deal with peri- and post-menopausal changes in their face and neck – even if they have been availing themselves of neuromodulators and fillers over the years – they yearn to turn back the hands of time. There are many things that plastic surgeons can do to help. A myriad of factors influences how the face and neck age. First, you cannot escape your genetics or heredity. If you have a thin face, with less fat, you tend to have more and earlier skin laxity in the face and neck.

If you have a fuller, rounder face, you will generally have more delayed evidence of skin laxity. If you have spent a lot of time in the sun, especially if you have not used sunblock, you will have a lot of suninduced changes in the skin: lines, wrinkles, sunspots and textural changes in the skin. If you are a smoker, those lines and wrinkles will generally be worse around the mouth. Most women are aware of the benefits of neuromodulators like Botox and Xeomin in the forehead, between the eyebrows, in the crow’s feet and even around the mouth. These injectable agents can also be used all over the face to improve skin texture and to shape and sculpt the face. They can be used in the neck to soften the muscle banding that often stands out in the front of the neck. Hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvéderm, Restylane and Belotero, can also be used to shape the face. No longer are they advocated simply to fill lines, but are more often used to improve the entire contour of the face

– even the shape of the bones. Hyperdilute Radiesse is another ﬁller that can be used to improve the texture of the skin, soften the “necklace” lines in the neck and the diagonal lines in the chest that often come from sun damage and sleeping on your side. When there is signiﬁcant solar elastosis – the suninduced loss of elastic tissue structural support in the skin – there is a sallow, yellowish appearance with marked, course wrinkles. This is often most apparent around the mouth and in the cheeks. While injectable neuro-

modulators and fillers alone can help to some extent, the combination of these agents with fractional CO2 laser skin resurfacing gives the most dramatic and lasting improvement. The laser skin resurfacing “irons and presses out” the wrinkles, improves the texture and eliminates the sallow yellowish appearance of the skin. Laser resurfacing improves wrinkles even in a way that a facelift cannot achieve. As time progresses and the effects of aging begin to outpace the results the neuromodulators, fillers and lasers can produce, there are surgical options to enhance your appearance. If your upper eyelid skin seems to be “hooded” and resting on your eyelashes, upper blepharoplasty – a simple procedure to remove excess upper eyelid skin – can be performed. If the excess is less severe, CO2 laser resurfacing of the upper eyelids may often be just the right choice. Lower eyelid “crinkles” are often best smoothed out by laser resur-

facing as well; this can be combined with fillers, once again, to give the best cosmetic result. If some excess fat under your chin and muscle banding in your neck bothers you the most, a neck lift with Smartlipo (laser-assisted lipo), combined with a platysmaplasty – a procedure to address the muscle banding in the neck – will give you just the results you desire. If the skin laxity and muscle banding in the neck are more severe, and associated with jowls and a loss of the definition of your jawline, it may be time to consider a face and neck lift. This procedure addresses the laxity of your face, jawline and neck and is often combined with blepharoplasty and/or brow lift to enhance the upper part of your face as well. All of these procedures can be safely performed in the office with varying degrees of recovery. The most important thing to remember is that there are many options to look great beyond 50. After all, who wouldn’t want to be that woman who “when she passes, each one she passes goes ‘Ahh’?”

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32 Living 50 Plus • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 14, 2021

Keep your youthful look, enjoy the sun

Did you know? L

eisure activities may be widely viewed as fun ways to fill up free time, but the benefits of leisure activities extend beyond beating boredom. A 2011 analysis published in the journal BBA Molecular Basis of Disease found that leisure activities have a positive impact on cognitive function and dementia. The analysis, conducted by researchers with the Aging Research Center in Stockholm who examined various studies regarding the relationship between certain activities and cognitive function, defined leisure activity as the voluntary use of free time for activities outside the home. After retirement, leisure time constitutes a large part of many retirees’ lives, and finding ways to fill that time is more beneficial than merely avoiding boredom. The researchers behind the study concluded that the existing research is insufficient to draw any firm conclusions regarding the effects of certain types of leisure activities on the risk for dementia and cognitive decline, though they did note that multidomain cognitive training has the potential to improve cognitive function in healthy older adults and slow decline in affected individuals. A multi-domain approach to cognitive training involves memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and map reading, among other activities. Aging adults who embrace activities that require the use of such skills may find that they’re not only finding stimulating ways to fill their free time, but increasing their chances of long-term cognitive health as well.

BY DR. DEBORAH S. SARNOFF When it comes to maintaining a youthful look, the sun – in all of its radiant glory – is not your friend. Excessive sun exposure leads to leathery changes in the skin, wrinkles, age spots, blotchy brown patches and broken blood vessels, not to mention the possibility of skin cancer. When patients come to see me to reverse their sun damage, I always explain to them that I can skillfully combine various lasers to reverse the damage, but they must change their habits and stop worshipping the sun. I like to use pigment-specific lasers for brown spots, vascular-specific lasers for red spots and carbon dioxide resurfacing lasers to reverse sun damage and eliminate wrinkles. I also like to use Botox and facial fillers to help smooth out the wrinkles.

If you have fair skin, red or blond hair, or blue eyes and a family or personal history of skin cancer, you are more genetically prone to skin cancer. Aside from using sunscreen diligently and wearing a hat and sunglasses, I advise everyone to examine their own skin monthly and have a complete body check with your dermatologist once a year. If you’re at high risk, you may need to be seen more frequently. A thorough exam from head to toe can save your life. My best advice is to have a thorough exam of your “birthday suit” on your birthday! There are lots of easy and effective quick fixes that can truly help you look younger and more refreshed for summer. Some options include Botox, facial fillers, cellulite smoothing, zapping of brown spots and injections for leg veins. As president of The Skin Cancer Foundation, I believe it’s best to “go with your own glow.” Please don’t patronize tanning salons. Tanning, whether indoors or outdoors, is dangerous. In fact, rays used in tanning beds penetrate deep into the skin and might increase your risk of developing melanoma. If you feel that you must have that tan to boost your confidence or look better on the beach, use a self-tanner or bronzer in combination with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. It’s still OK to have fun in the sun – just don’t forget your sunscreen!

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Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 14, 2021 • Living 50 Plus

The advantages of RV travel

movie theaters, casinos, rest stops and other roadside locations will allow free overnight parking. Just verify before staying to avoid being ticketed.

ndividuals who are approaching retirement or those who already have said goodbye to the working world may find they are ready to make some life changes. Travel is something many older adults enjoy when they have much more free time to see the sights. Recreational vehicles are great ways for people to get out and about. An RV is more than just a way to get around; for many people it becomes a lifestyle. According to the RV Industry Association, about 10 million American households own RVs. There have been more RVs on the road in recent years, and there are now more facilities to accommodate them. RVIA says there are

now roughly 18,000 campgrounds around the country, and certain facilities are pushing to improve and upgrade campgrounds in national parks and on federal lands. Individuals considering if the RV lifestyle is for them can refer to this list of RVing benefits. Inexpensive travel (or living): RVers may be attracted by the idea of low-cost travel that doesn’t involve hotels and airfare and greatly reduces their reliance on restaurants while traveling. RVs can be rented for roughly $100 to $500 per day, and RV parks usually run between $35 and $50 per night, according to Allianz Travel Insurance. To keep the costs down even more, certain truck stops, big box retailers, churches, hotels,

Freedom to come and go: When traveling in an RV, there are no set check-in-/check-out times to follow or boarding times to meet. RV travel can be strictly on your schedule. Plenty of help: Others who have embraced the RV lifestyle tend to be very friendly and ready to make new acquaintances at campgrounds and other stops. Those with more experience may be willing to share their expertise and pitch in to offer tips for better excursions. Creature comforts: People who vacation or choose to live in their RVs tend to keep familiar items and essentials on hand. Those can include preferred linens, clothing, toiletries, books, games, and more. When taking such items along, there’s no need to pack and unpack much for any trip. Follow the weather: If desired, RVers can pick up and follow the jet stream. If 70-degree days are your thing, then follow those temperatures coast-to-coast. If you like skiing or snowboarding, you can head to colder climates. Downsize: The RVIA says that RVs are available across a wide range of price points. So if the idea is to trade in a stationary house for an RV, you may be able to do so for as little as $6,000 to as much as $500,000. The RV lifestyle may attract soon-tobe retirees. There are various advantages to getting on board.

34 Living 50 Plus • Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 14, 2021

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pharmaceutical items and travel and leisure than any other demographic.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are roughly 52 million people who are age 65 or older in the United States. With a $1.6 trillion total net worth, seniors spend more on groceries,

Age does not have to restrict one’s ability to travel, and with age comes experience and more opportunities to enjoy travel. Before taking off for parts unknown, men and women over 50 can take steps to ensure their excursions are as safe as they are memorable.

ne of the perks of getting older is having more time to devote to recreation and traveling.

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1. Consider risk. The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 taught the world that situations can change rapidly. Before booking any travel, weigh the risks and the benefits of a trip. Determine if COVID-19 is spreading where you live or at your destination. Older adults have a higher risk for severe illness caused by the virus. Until you are vaccinated, it may be best to wait to travel. 2. Use senior-friendly services. Seek out travel services that offer the best perks for older adults. Many travel providers no longer offer senior discounts, but they may offer other benefits, such as early boarding or assistance with traveling from gates to baggage areas. 3. Get travel insurance. According to Liz Dahl, cofounder of Boomer Travel Patrol, a website featuring expert advice geared toward the Baby Boomer demographic, travel insurance can be essential for older travelers. Older travelers may be more at risk of falling or getting sick and some may need extra medication if travel is interrupted or delayed. Travel insurance can provide extra coverage for a relatively low price if something goes wrong.

4. Don’t advertise your absence. It may be tempting to upload photos of your beachside vacation to social media as you are immersed in paradise. Unfortunately, seniors tend to be targets for thieves because they are seen as vulnerable. Don’t make the job easier by advertising you are away from home. In addition, have a neighbor periodically pick up your mail and set lights on timers to give the impression you are home even when you’re not. 5. Share your itinerary. Keep loved ones apprised of your general travel itinerary, especially if you are traveling solo, recommends AARP. Keep a mobile phone on you at all times. 6. Pack copies of important documents. In the event paperwork is lost while traveling, request copies of prescriptions and/or statements of medical conditions from each physician and medical treatment center so you have a second set. Keep copies of your passport, driver’s license, insurance cards, travel tickets, and other documents as well. Seniors have the ability to travel much more than other age groups. Make the experience enjoyable by focusing on safety.

Blank Slate Media Newspapers, Friday, May 14, 2021 • Living 50 Plus

The beneﬁts to seniors having pets P ets bring much joy to the lives they touch. So it should come as no surprise that the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey, which was conducted by the American Pet Products Association, found that about 85 million families in the United States own a pet. In Canada, 7.5 million households are home to companion animals, states the PetBacker blog.

Pets offer companionship and unconditional love. While they are fitting for any family, seniors may find that having a pet is especially beneficial. The organization A Place for Mom, which helps match families with senior living residences, says pets provide a comfort system that produces measurable health results. Caring for pets and being around them can produce a chemical chain reaction in the brain that may help to lower stress hormones while also increasing production of the feelgood hormone serotonin. This is not the only health benefit pets may provide. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic, which

looked at 1,800 people between the ages of 25 and 64 who had healthy hearts, found that almost half owned a dog. Having a dog was likely to spur heart-healthy behaviors, like exercising with the pet, eating well and having ideal blood sugar levels.

Pets also provide emotional support and companionship that can help seniors - including those who may be divorced or widowed - feel more secure and happy. The National Poll on Healthy Aging found that, among respondents who had pets, 88 percent said their pets helped them enjoy life, and 86 percent said their pets made them feel loved. Seniors considering getting a pet can explore the many benefits to doing so. · Reduce pain: A 2012 study published in Pain Magazine found therapy dogs provided “significant reduction in pain and emotional distress for chronic pain patients.” · Feeling of purpose: Caring for an animal not only stimulates

physical activity, but it also can give seniors a reason to get up and go, which equates to a feeling of purpose.

· Increased physical activity: Pets require care, and that interaction can get seniors moving more than if they didn’t have a pet.

· Altered focus: Having a pet can help seniors focus on something other than physical or mental health issues and preoccupations about loss or aging, according to New Yorkbased psychologist Penny B. Donnenfeld.

· Improved health: Ongoing research from Harvard Medical School has found dog owners have lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease than those who don’t own a dog. · Stick to routine: Caring for pets

helps seniors maintain a routine. Having structure after retirement can be important to ward off risk of depression. Staying on top of feeding, grooming and other pet needs also can help prevent cognitive decline. Pets bring many benefits to their owners’ lives, and they may be the perfect remedy for seniors looking for a friend and purpose.

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Should We Go Reverse? Are you 62 or older? Do you own your own home? STAY IN YOUR HOME And retain ownership ELIMINATE MONTHLY PAYMENTS Proceeds are tax free! PAY FOR IN-HOME CARE SERVICES Enjoy an indepedent life GET A HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT 100% safe HUD/Government insured mortgage

Get all the facts. Call Jason Black (718) 215-1630

We’ve got reverse mortgages figured out. TM