Aesthetic Medicine

Skin aging happens in two overlapping ways.

Intrinsic aging comes from inside the body. Cells slow down. Fibroblasts make less collagen. The skin holds less hyaluronic acid. This happens to everyone, regardless of sun exposure.

Extrinsic aging is external. It is mostly photoaging from UV radiation. UV light:

• Activates enzymes (MMPs) that break down collagen and elastin
• Causes oxidative DNA damage in skin cells
• Triggers chronic low-grade inflammation that slows skin repair

The clinical result is a spectrum:

• Fine surface lines — from intrinsic aging and dehydration
• Deeper wrinkles, sun spots, broken capillaries, volume loss — from the combined effects of intrinsic and extrinsic aging

The most evidence-backed treatments address this biology directly. Our skin programs build on three foundations: daily broad-spectrum SPF, prescription tretinoin, and collagen peptide supplementation.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) — male and female pattern hair loss — is the most common cause of thinning.

• In men, it follows a frontotemporal and vertex pattern. DHT shrinks genetically sensitive follicles.
• In women, it shows as diffuse thinning across the crown.

Both forms have FDA-approved treatments.

Secondary hair loss has other causes: iron deficiency, thyroid problems, low vitamin D, and poor nutrition. We identify these through lab testing and correct them directly.

Our hair programs always start with an accurate diagnosis.

Collagen is the structural backbone of your skin, tendons, ligaments, bone, and blood vessels. It declines with age — and the decline is accelerated by UV exposure, smoking, hormonal changes, and nutritional gaps.

This affects more than appearance. It affects skin thickness, wound healing, joint integrity, and tendon strength.

Our collagen support programs work on the biology directly:

• Nutrition — hydrolyzed collagen peptides, vitamin C
• Lifestyle — smoking cessation, UV protection, sleep
• Hormone optimization where clinically indicated

Regenerative treatments use your body's own repair systems to improve skin and hair quality. They include:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
• Growth factor serums
• Emerging cellular therapies

This category is evolving fast. The evidence base is growing but varies by treatment:

• PRP for pattern hair loss has several positive randomized trials.
• Exosome therapy remains investigational. No FDA-approved exosome products exist.

We present each treatment with its true evidence level.

Estrogen does three things for the skin:

• Tells fibroblasts to make collagen
• Keeps skin hydrated by supporting hyaluronic acid
• Regulates oil gland activity

After menopause, estrogen drops. Skin thickness and collagen density fall within a few years. Large studies — including the Nurses' Health Study — show that hormone therapy can help preserve skin collagen in post-menopausal women.

In men, testosterone supports skin oil production and thickness.

DHT — a form of testosterone made by the enzyme 5α-reductase — is the main driver of pattern hair loss in genetically sensitive men.

In men with confirmed low testosterone, hypogonadism is linked to thinner skin and slower wound healing. These effects can partially reverse with appropriate TRT.

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism cause specific skin and hair changes.

Hypothyroidism — even mild (subclinical) — often shows as:

• Dry, rough skin
• Diffuse hair thinning
• Loss of the outer eyebrows
• Slow skin cell turnover

We evaluate free T3 — the active thyroid hormone — when these signs are present.

Aesthetic programs are paired with hormone evaluation when clinically relevant.

We do not start hormone therapy for cosmetic reasons alone. Hormone therapy requires a clinical indication per established guidelines. But correcting a documented deficiency addresses one of the most impactful factors in skin and hair health.