I’m a doctor – these are the five ways to slow down ageing without going under the knife

Every year, thousands of Britons go under the knife to keep their youthful appearance.

Botox, fillers and cosmetic surgery are some of the most popular options for slowing down the unwanted signs of aging.

But these costly procedures can come with side effects and dangers, such as infection, pain and scarring, says Dr Asiya Maula, a GP and director of the Health Suite, a private healthcare company based in Leicester.

She shared her tips for staying that youthful you don’t have to go under the knife.

And some methods don’t cost a dime.

You don’t have to go under the knife to slow down aging. Experts say there are other methods and some of them won’t cost you a dime

Facial yoga

Yoga helps you relax, strengthen your muscles and stimulates blood flow.

But yoga just for your face also has benefits for rewinding the clock.

Performing exercises isolates the muscles in the face can make it look tighter, tighter, and plumper, says Dr. Maula.

This is because facial yoga stimulates blood flow in the face, which stimulates the production of collagen – the protein that supports the skin and other tissues.

To see results, experts recommend starting practicing facial yoga twice a day, once in the morning when you wake up and once at night before going to bed.

All you need is five minutes at a time and choose three to four poses, each held for 30 seconds, after a quick warm-up.

For the warm up, open your jaw as if you are yawning and then raise your eyes to look at the ceiling without moving your forehead and hold for 10 seconds and repeat.

For one pose, she suggests moving the chin to one side and lifting it slightly, drawing your lips into a kiss. Hold for 10 seconds and switch sides to repeat.

Facial yoga is said to boost blood flow in your face and circulation can boost collagen production

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Oxygen therapy is another way to rejuvenate the skin, says Dr. Maula.

The air we breathe is only about 20 percent oxygen, with other gases, including nitrogen and carbon dioxide, making up the rest.

But hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100 percent oxygen while lying down in a tubular hyperbaric chamber.

The pure oxygen stimulates collagen production, which can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, Dr. Maula points out.

In addition to the cosmetic effects, the therapy has also been shown to boost concentration and memory – skills that tend to weaken with age.

It also increases circulation, which Dr. Maula says can improveblemishes, sagging skin, wrinkles, poor collagen structure and skin cell damage, while also improving skin elasticity.

This allows you to “enjoy a more youthful appearance for longer,” she says.

Spending time outside

We all feel better when the sun is shining.

But the sun’s rays themselves can also help us avoid wrinkles.

Sunlight exposure is a natural source of vitamin D, which is essential for maintaining healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

The same vitamin also plays a role in regulating the immune system and reducing inflammation, which can help slow the aging process, Dr. Maula says.

The sun’s natural rays can also help reduce stress associated with aging, such as hhigh blood pressure, heart disease and cognitive decline.

However, it is essential to enjoy the sun sensibly and wear sunscreen.

Too much exposure to UV rays from the sun can damage DNA in skin cells and cause skin cancer, as well as premature aging of the skin.

Facial acupuncture has gained popularity as an anti-aging treatment. It is said to promote oxygenation of the cells

Acupuncture

The treatment is derived from ancient Chinese medicine.

But acupuncture, which involves inserting fine needles into specific areas of the body, is now gaining popularity as an alternative to filler.

In theory, it works by causing trauma to the skin, which releases fibroblasts, known as “healing cells,” to fix these areas with collagen.

Dr. Maula says this process is also triggering elastin production, which helps with loss of firmness in the skin.

As a result, the treatment causes hanging muscles to become tighter, lifter and tighter.

According to Dr. Maula, it can take six or more sessions for the rejuvenating effects to show.

Sleep

Getting your beauty sleep is key to looking youthful.

Temporary dark circles, swollen eyelids and pale skin are known side effects of insufficient sleep.

But studies suggest that not getting enough shut-eye has unwanted aging effects.

A 2013 study in which American researchers examined 60 women aged 30 to 50 found that those who slept poorly were more likely to have fine lines and uneven skin tones.

And a sleep experiment, published in the journal Royal Society of Open Science discovered in 2017 that you come across as less attractive after a bad night’s sleep.

In addition to this cosmetic effect, a lack of sleep can cause cells in the body to age more quickly, according to a 2015 study by researchers at the University of California.