The aging process is not one-dimensional. While many people focus on just one aspect of their appearance — perhaps trying to eliminate wrinkles or restore lost volume — true facial rejuvenation demands a more complete approach.
Dr. A. Jay Burns, founder of Resurrect Skin MD, uses a framework he calls the “Four Pillars of Aging” to explain how aging changes our faces. By addressing all four pillars together, you can achieve results that look natural and harmonious rather than overdone or imbalanced.
The First Pillar: Gravity
Gravity’s downward pull is relentless. Over time, you might notice your eyebrows becoming heavier, the corners of your mouth turning south or jowls developing along your jawline. Your neck may also start to show signs of laxity or a “turkey wattle”.
These gravitational changes occur because the supporting structures beneath your skin (connective tissue, muscle and fat) gradually weaken with age. The result is a face that appears to be sliding downward, creating a tired or sad expression even when you feel energetic and happy.
Surgical procedures like facelifts and neck lifts provide the most dramatic and lasting results for gravitational changes. However, if you have mild to moderate sagging, or if you prefer nonsurgical options, treatments like Genius radiofrequency microneedling, INDIBA and Sofwave can give you noticeable improvement.
The Second Pillar: Dynamic Lines
Every time you smile, frown or raise your eyebrows, your facial muscles contract. In youth, your skin springs back immediately after these expressions. But as you age, repetitive muscle movements start to etch lines into your skin, and eventually they remain visible even when your face is at rest.
These dynamic lines commonly appear as:
- Horizontal forehead lines from raising your eyebrows
- Vertical frown lines between your eyebrows (the “11s”)
- Crow’s feet radiating from the corners of your eyes
- Lines around the mouth from smiling or pursing your lips
The gold standard for treating dynamic lines is neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport and Daxxify. These injectables temporarily relax the muscles that cause the wrinkles, smoothing existing lines and preventing new ones from forming.
The Third Pillar: Skin Quality
Dr. Burns describes the skin as the canvas on which the face is painted. No matter how well you address the other pillars of aging, if your skin shows significant damage, you won’t achieve a truly youthful appearance.
Skin quality declines due to multiple factors, including:
- Sun exposure, which causes up to 90% of visible aging through a process called photoaging
- Environmental damage from pollution, smoke and other toxins
- Lifestyle factors like diet, sleep quality and stress
- Hormonal changes that affect collagen production and skin thickness
Improving skin quality often requires a combination of approaches. Laser and light treatments like BBL HERO and HEROic, MOXI, HALO, DermaV or deep laser resurfacing can address pigmentation issues, redness and texture concerns. Chemical peels remove damaged skin cells to reveal fresher, healthier skin beneath. We couple these in-office treatments with medical-grade skincare products that target your specific concerns and protect against further damage.
The Fourth Pillar: Volume Loss
We gradually lose facial fat in specific areas while sometimes gaining it in others. Our cheeks flatten, temples hollow, lips thin and under-eye areas may develop troughs or depressions.
These volume changes don’t just create hollows where fullness once existed — they also affect how light reflects off your face. Youthful faces have a pattern of highlights and shadows that creates a vibrant, three-dimensional appearance. Volume loss disrupts this pattern, leaving you looking tired and drawn regardless of how well-rested you are.
Dermal fillers are the primary treatment for addressing volume loss. We carry a range of fillers and biostimulators from the world’s best-known brands, including:
When administered with our injectors’ artistic eye and deep understanding of facial anatomy, fillers can restore your youthful contours while maintaining your natural movement and expressions.
Why a Balanced Approach to the Four Pillars of Aging Matters
Treating all four pillars of aging in harmony creates the most natural-looking results. Consider a 70-year-old woman who gets a facelift. Her facial contours may look 50 after surgery, but her skin still shows the damage and texture of a 70-year-old. This mismatch creates an unnatural appearance that draws attention rather than admiration.
Similarly, over-treating one pillar while neglecting others leads to an unbalanced look. Using excessive filler to compensate for gravitational changes, for instance, results in the “pillow face” that has become unfortunately common in some aesthetic circles.
The goal isn’t to look dramatically different or decades younger. We want you to achieve a refreshed appearance that retains your uniqueness and keeps all aspects of your face in beautiful balance.
The RSMD Approach: Skin to Life™
At Resurrect Skin MD, Dr. Burns has developed a comprehensive methodology called Skin to Life™ that addresses all four pillars of aging. This approach begins with a thorough analysis of your unique aging pattern and personal aesthetic goals.
Your Skin to Life™ journey starts with a consultation that includes a complete assessment of how each pillar is affecting your appearance. Using this information, Dr. Burns and his team develop a personalized treatment plan that may include:
- Neuromodulators to relax dynamic wrinkles
- Laser and energy-based treatments to improve skin quality and tightness
- Dermal fillers to restore lost volume
- Surgical procedures for significant gravitational changes
Dr. Burns’ involvement in device development, scientific advisory boards and clinical trials gives RSMD early access to advanced technologies. This means you benefit from the latest innovations in aesthetic medicine, delivered by a team with exceptional training and experience.
Treating aging isn’t about a single procedure or product. It’s a long-term relationship and an ongoing process. Your treatment plan will evolve as your face continues to change so you can enjoy natural-looking results throughout your life.
Get Your Personalized Four-Pillar Plan at RSMD
To begin your Skin to Life™ journey, schedule a consultation with Dr. Burns and the Resurrect Skin MD team. Together, we’ll develop a personalized plan that brings your skin to life through science, care and compassion. Call 219-754-6865 or use our convenient booking tool to take the first step toward a more refreshed, youthful appearance.
