(BPT) – If you have started to notice changes in your skin in your late 30s or early 40s, you’re not alone. This is when most people see their skin start to sag around the forehead and jowls, and some areas may look more sunken, such as around the eyes and cheek area. These changes tend to make your face look older. Fortunately, there are many treatments that can help forestall and reverse the aging process that do not involve invasive cosmetic surgery.

Start by evaluating what you are putting on your face. Most dermatologists recommend a daily application of broad spectrum SPF30+ by day to prevent premature aging from sun exposure, plus adding a vitamin A-derived cream at night time to improve skin texture, such as prescription tretinoin or retinol. Among the other top-ranked anti-aging ingredients to look for are antioxidants from green tea, vitamin C and E plus resveratrol found in red wine.

A third choice may be botulinum toxin injections, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, to help smooth wrinkles of the forehead and creases around the eyes. These treatments are temporary and last about three to four months. Next on the anti-aging menu are injectable hyaluronic acid gel fillers, such as Restylane® , that plump up deflated areas like cheeks and lips and replace lost volume. These are also temporary and can last from months to years, depending on the type and amount used.

One of the newest and most exciting innovations is Secret RF from CUTERA that delivers radiofrequency or heat energy into the skin to tighten slack areas and stimulate new collagen that is lost with age.

According to Dr. George Ibrahim of Biltmore Restorative Medicine & Aesthetics in Asheville, North Carolina, “Secret RF Microneedling is perfection in an aesthetic treatment, correcting three major concerns women have about their skin: wrinkles, texture and laxity. The system delivers precise radiofrequency into the skin through a microneedle tip. This safe and effective treatment offers gentle to dramatic improvements in all skin types and colors.”

“With little to no downtime, improvements in skin texture, tightening and fading of scars, Secret RF Microneedling is truly the treatment of the future without the peeling and redness or downtime of other laser treatments,” says Ibrahim.

According to Dr. Arash Moradzadeh, a facial plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, “Secret RF is a next generation fractional radiofrequency device that jumpstarts collagen production, smooths out fine lines and wrinkles, and helps to fade acne scars. It can be used on the chest, the hands, for stretchmarks, crepey skin and to reduce pore size. Secret RF has become the go-to treatment in our practice for a very broad audience because it is safe for people of all skin types and doesn’t have the downtime of lasers.”

“This is very different from other microneedling treatments that are more superficial. We are able to use controlled RF energy to reach multiple layers of the skin. Since the surface of the skin remains intact, patients can apply makeup after a few hours to cover any redness,” he says.

To find a Secret RF provider near you, visit http://www.cutera.com.