Looking good doesn’t have to break the bank — or the skin.
Dr. Anthony Youn, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Detroit, recently shared a video detailing four affordable skincare tips — none of which call for going under the knife.
“Here are my four biggest cosmetic bangs for the buck,” said Youn, 49, who calls himself a “holistic” plastic surgeon.
So, what’s his prescription?
Start with topical Tretinoin — what Youn refers to as “the most powerful anti-aging cream out there.”
In dermatology, this retinoid therapy is used to treat acne or stave off the development of fine lines and wrinkles. This vitamin A derivative works by forcing cell turnover to replace old skin with new.
“If you can get a doctor to prescribe it for you, your insurance may even pay for it,” he added.
Without insurance, a tube of the cream may cost around $123, according to SingleCare. With insurance, Tretinoin is priced as low as $10.
Youn’s next beauty tip is Intense Pulsed Light Therapy (IPL). “IPL treatments are great for getting rid of unwanted sun spots and they’re less expensive than most traditional lasers,” Youn said.
IPL works by heating the skin’s surface with intense wavelengths of light to stimulate collagen production and skin cell regeneration.
For IPL, expect to pay between $400 and $500, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The results of a TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peel, a treatment that uses powerful acids to remove dead skin, “can rival” fractional laser treatments that similarly resurface the skin, according to Youn. It’s also “hundreds if not thousands of dollars cheaper than laser treatment.”
The ASPS prices the average chemical peel at just over $500.
Youn’s final recommendation for ageless beauty is that people give intermittent fasting a go.
The doctor explained that periodic fasts prompt autophagy in the body — “an intracellular renewal,” he explained. In this process, the old and dysfunctional contents of cells are expelled, “making the way for better-functioning cells overall.”
But this diet, which limits the intake of food and caloric beverages to an 8-hour period of the day, isn’t safe for everyone, Youn warned. Such exclusions may include those living with diabetes or eating disorders, who are pregnant or breastfeeding or using medications that should be taken with food, according to Harvard Medical School.
Commenting on his post, Youn’s approving followers shared their own effective beauty routines to back up his suggestions.
“I started Tretinoin at 50. At 67, my skin looks better now than it did then. Tretinoin is the most effective and cost-efficient product on the market,” proclaimed one beauty buff.
“After doing IPL once, I am never doing microneedling again. Better results, cheaper, less downtime,” said another.
Youn is known for sharing his honest take on the beauty industry, including treatments performed in his own office, with his millions of followers on social media — and with The Post — such the troubling reality of breast implant illness and how to spot the telltale signs that someone has had plastic surgery.