Good skin is always in, and our eternal quest to achieve that youthful Hollywood glam glow is ever-present. Thanks to a major advancement in micro-needling, a centuries-old skin aging treatment, it's now possible to achieve this with minimal downtime. The modality is called Potenza. And it is all the buzz amongst plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and med spa patients, promising tighter, firmer, more revitalized skin with a collagen boost. As we age, the skin gets thinner, we lose collagen, and the subcutaneous fat tissue under the skin thins. You start to see a lot of underlying structures more clearly, which is not necessarily good. 'Potenza is a modality I have added to my practice for patients who want to go through a non-surgical treatment that they can do on the fly with quick recovery,' says plastic surgeon Dr. Jay Calvert. 'You're getting the benefits of micro-needling, these small needles that puncture the skin, stimulating collagen, causing repair. But then energy gets put into the skin, which creates more extracellular matrix...that will make it look more refreshed too. It will make it look clearer and add volume to the skin." Dr. Calvert says it works much more effectively than micro-needling or skincare alone, delivering an enhanced skin revitalization treatment that can be performed anywhere on the body, such as the face, neck, hands, stomach, and legs. 'I'm excited about Potenza and the versatility of the treatment it can deliver. This machine can use different tips, energy settings, and treatment depths. Because it's so customizable, whatever patient comes in, I can dial the settings to get them the best results,' says the doctor. 'The fusion tip is exciting because it allows you to treat the skin with topicals by pushing them deeper into the dermis. This is a very specific technology that I think I've only seen with Potenza.' The treatment generally takes about 45 minutes, and they typically do three to five of these treatments over several months. Be sure to ask your doctor if Potenza is right for you. Head to cynosure.com to learn more. Calvert says collagen levels naturally decline 1-2% each year starting at age thirty, and we should do whatever we can to preserve it. This includes exercise, getting enough sleep, avoiding stress, and limiting sun exposure.