Tiny Tweaks from NYC Experts
It felt like it happened overnight—my TikTok and Instagram page started to populate with videos and Before & After carousels featuring a vast array of beauty breakthroughs, micro-improvements, and innovations with little to no downtime. Facials that slim the face, microdroplet injections that give you glass skin for six months, exosome serums, ultrasound machines that subtly lift the chin, antioxidant injections that sweep away cell damage—teeny, tiny, ways to look like yourself and feel like yourself but better, refreshed, and more balanced. It’s official, we are now entering the Tweakmentverse.
It’s undoubtedly become a focus—to make minimal refinements that as Dr. Lara Devgan says are like “a real-life facetune or filter.” There are also options sans needles, like Edyta Jarosz of Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue’s facials that celebrities book pre-red carpet for face sculpting and stimulating blood flow. Below, I spoke with surgeons, doctors, dermatologists, and estheticians to get the lowdown on the tweakments they can’t get enough of.
Global Facial Optimization
Expert: Dr. Lara Devgan, MD, MPH, FACS Female Plastic Surgeon
Contact: 212.452.2400
Admittedly, I have spent far too much time looking at the brilliantly minimal Before & After carousels on Dr. Lara Devgan’s Instagram where she features her signature Global Facial Optimization, which she described as, “My approach to optimizing facial attractiveness while maintaining facial identity.” Dr. Devgan went on, “This is the most common approach to treating celebrity faces in my practice, but it’s also appropriate for anyone who wants to look like the most micro-optimized version of themselves. Think about this as a real-life facetune or filter.” So how does she evaluate the face and break down the best bespoke treatments for you? Dr. Devgan told Quest, “The basic concept is for me to look at the face coherently, as a whole set of features, and correcting the balance of the features and the highlights and lowlights of the face—rather than trying to simply erase a wrinkle or fill in a line.This is accomplished with a combination of injectable procedures, including botox and fillers, as well as micro-enhancement surgical procedures, such as millimeter level blepharoplasty for tiredness of the eyes, alar base reduction for a wide nose, or submental liposuction for heaviness under the chin.”
Jawline Definition & Cellulite Treatments
Expert: Dr. David Shafer, MD, FACS
Contact: 212.888.7770
The snatched jawline, a pop culture term which translates to, “a slim and lifted jaw profile” has undoubtedly become a tweakment MVP. Dr. David Shafer of Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue shared with us that he’s been doing jawline definition with JUVÉDERM® VOLUX® XC, which he said, “Is the new star of the JUVÉDERM® Collection of Fillers.” Dr. Shafer expanded, “As everyone has spent the last three years looking at their aging jawlines on Zoom and social media, the rise of JUVÉDERM® VOLUX® XC is not surprising. The quick injectable procedure takes minutes and is often considered an injectable jaw implant. We often use it in conjunction with JUVÉDERM® VOLUMA® XC in the chin for added structure and definition.”
Besides snatching jawlines, there’s also been the snatching and tightening of the body, as vacation season is on the horizon. With that in mind, Dr. Shafer mentioned he loves the Avéli cellulite treatment. “This innovative treatment is showing real results. It’s a minimally invasive procedure which can be performed under local anesthesia. The device divides the tethering bands causing cellulite depressions. By addressing the underlying cause, the Avéli device gives long lasting permanent improvement”
Lift & Tighten With Sofwave
Expert: Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD
Contact: 212.941.5055
Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, FAAD, specializing in facial rejuvenation at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York and founder of skincare line SkinCare Junkie, loves the skin tightening and lifting effects of the device taking social media by storm, Sofwave. Dr. Rose said, “As we age and with exposure to factors such as UV light, pollution and smoking, we lose collagen and elastin in the skin which contributes significantly to signs of skin aging including fine lines, wrinkles, and loose skin. Collagen is the main structural protein in the skin that supports skin and gives skin its structure. Elastin is the protein most responsible for skin’s elasticity, allowing skin to spring back into place after stretched. Sofwave is the crème de la crème of skin tightening and lifting devices. It works by emitting high frequency, high intensity sound waves into the skin at a depth of 1.5mm which heats this area of the dermis causing tissue coagulation. Coagulation causes an immediate contraction of fibers and it powerfully induces production of collagen and elastin over a course of about 6-9 months. The combination of which improves the quality of the skin, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, lifts, and tightens. Sofwave turns back the clock with virtually no downtime. The device treats below the surface of the skin, avoiding injury to the epidermis or deeper structures.” Dr. Murphy-Rose’s favorite places to use Sofwave include, “the face, neck, and chest but I also often treat the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, above the knees, arms, and backs of the hands. Anything we can do to help boost collagen production and to protect against the free radical damage that occurs over time, will help to keep skin younger and healthier.”
A Hydrating Injectable With Skinvive
Expert: Dr. Macrene Alexiades, MD, PhD, PLLC
Contact: 212.570.2067
Six months of a hydrated glow? There’s an injectable for that. Dr. Macrene Alexiades of Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center of New York & owner of cult favorite skincare line MACRENE ACTIVES loves the effects of Skinvive, the first Hyaluronic Acid microdroplet injectable indicated to improve cheek skin smoothness. Dr. Aleixades told us, “The newest advance in dermatology is Skinvive, a very natural appearing dermal filler that corrects fine lines and rejuvenates the skin. I was the lead investigator and lead author on the FDA clinical trial for its approval and launch. The treatment lasts at least six months and should be followed with MACRENE actives Signature Spa Facial which delivers microencapsulated hyaluronic acids, peptides and DNA repair into the skin for maintained restoration.” Dr. Macrene Alexiades acknowledges that while Skinvive is approved for cheeks, she’s also found it incredibly effective for under eyes and lip lines as well.
The Lift & Sculpted Slap Facial
Expert: Edyta Jarosz @ Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue
Contact: 212.888.7770
Expert esthetician Edyta Jarosz, at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, gives one of the most highly-coveted facials in Manhattan with celebrities and VIP clients flocking to book appointments with Edya and her magic hands pre-red carpet. Known for her massage style which blends intra-oral, sculptural facial massage, and lymphatic drainage, there’s a secret touch to Edtya. Edyta shared more about the technique that fans can’t get enough of. “The most commonly requested facial treatment is my signature facial, which is customized and features a combination of OxyLight Ionix, DiamondGlow technology, and my personalized LIFT, SCULPT & SLAP facial massage method. The OxyLight Facial seamlessly integrates various advanced technologies and techniques, including Negative Pressure Therapy, diamond microdermabrasion, high-pressure oxygen infusion, BioSonix ultrasound, MyoLight microcurrent stimulation, Myosonix, ThermaTone Therapy, and full spectrum LED lights with negative ionized oxygen. The signature LIFT, SCULPT, and SLAP technique is an innovative approach aimed to target and activate facial muscles, stimulate blood flow, optimize oxygenation, and sculpt the face. This facial will give an instantly radiant red-carpet glow.”
Inner Glow Glutathione & NAD+ Prescription Injections
Expert: Dr. Amanda Kahn, MD
Contact: 212.737.8973
Chances are, one of your favorite tastemakers is a patient of Dr. Amanda Kahn’s. She’s maintained an in-the-know buzz of patients and devotees that can’t get enough of her expertise in longevity health and weight management on the Upper East Side. “A large focus of my practice is longevity medicine where we strive to help people optimize their health and wellness as they age. I prescribe evidence based anti-aging medications and supplements to combat and potentially reverse aging on a cellular level. Supporting optimal cell functioning is the key to keeping cells young and healthy in all tissues of the body. We can approach anti-aging therapies systemically, from ‘the inside, out”. While Kahn has many secrets up her sleeve, she shared two of her favorite current tweakments that she’s found tremendous success with, “NAD+ and glutathione are both natural molecules that drop in cells as we age. The key to anti-aging is to help cells function optimally. Studies have shown that by repleting these molecules, we can slow down and possibly reverse some of the aging process so anyone that is looking for more energy, better concentration, and improved skin radiance can benefit. I frequently prescribe them together as prescription injections. While there are some good oral formulations, these are too weak for the initial loading period. I also find that using them in IV therapy is too high of a dose, inconvenient and expensive. Glutathione is a master antioxidant with a myriad of systemic benefits: sweeping away cell damage and free radicals, preventing the DNA damage that causes cellular aging, supporting the immune system and stabilizing blood sugar (i.e. preventing weight gain), giving skin radiance from within. Similarly, NAD+ is a key helper molecule that keeps the mitochondria or powerhouse of the cell running. In addition to aesthetic benefits, patients report that NAD+ injection therapy provides increased energy and focus.”
Fade Fine Lines and Improve Texture With Vivace
Expert: Dr. Lyle Leipziger, M.D., FACS
Contact: 516.465.8787
Rejuvenate your skin and fade fine lines during your lunch break with a treatment that combines fractional micro needling and radiofrequency that boosts your natural collagen and elastin production. Dr. Lyle Leipziger of Leipziger Plastic Surgery loves the results he gets with Vivace. “During the spring and summer, Vivace is a great non-surgical option with little downtime for patients who want to fade fine lines and enhance their appearance. In my practice, we also use Vivace to reduce the appearance of acne scars and improve the texture and tone of the skin, which can be performed all year round.” While Vivace can cause skin redness, it will calm down after 48 hours. Leipziger added, “It’s important to note that patients must limit any significant sun exposure for a few days and use sunscreen.”
DiamondGlow Glass Skin Facial
Expert: Audrey Matney @ 123 Beauty Lab
Contact: 347.480.4441
Sometimes, a brightening bespoke facial is just the tweakment you need for a dewy start to the season. Audrey Matney of 123 Beauty Lab has a high profile fanbase that can’t get enough of the instant results of her DiamondGlow facial.
Matney explained, “DiamondGlow facials get your skin in tip-top shape and it’s part of my signature multi-step facial that leaves your skin glowy, dewy and fresh. It’s like Skin Bootcamp—it exfoliates, extracts, and infuses a bespoke combo of medical grade serums, a blend of botanicals, antioxidants and acids infused into the skin to brighten, cleanse, and nourish.” Other skin-perfecting perks of a facial with Matney include a super hydrating hyaluronic acid mask, oxygen treatment, and a selection of different LED light therapy colors that leave your face with her signature glass HD ready skin.