Anti-Ageing and the truth no one tells you

Today, everyone talks about longevity and anti-ageing as if there were a magic pill against time. But the truth is less glamorous and far more serious: no medicine stops ageing, and anyone who promises that is selling illusions. «It is more appropriate to speak about Age Management Medicine, meaning a type of medicine aimed at achieving slow ageing, that is, a slowed ageing process. We all age, and we will continue to age. The goal of scientific medical protocols is to promote slower ageing and therefore to grow older while maintaining youthful characteristics», explains Professor Alessandro De Luca, reconstructive, aesthetic, and breast surgeon; Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at Sapienza University of Rome; Medical Director, Breast Surgery Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome.

Anti-Aging: time doesn’t stop, but it can slow down

Ageing does not arrive suddenly, and it appears earlier than we think, already between the ages of 28 and 30.

«Ageing is a process that affects all organs in our body, all cells, and all tissues. It can involve blood vessels and the cardiovascular system – De Luca explains – The first signs may include high blood pressure or tachycardia. It can affect peripheral organs and the peripheral nervous system, such as the ear, causing dizziness or hearing loss. It can also involve the skin, leading to chronological damage and photoaging».

Then there is genetics: DNA certainly plays a major role.«However, we know with certainty that epigenetics can itself modify and influence the ageing process. Epigenetics concerns environmental factors, the so-called lifestyle, that can alter a person’s DNA and therefore modify gene expression. By influencing these genes, we can also influence variations in the ageing process».

The science behind longevity

Age Management Medicine is not a shortcut; it is a scientific, personalised pathway built around each individual’s metabolic and clinical profile.

«A patient evaluated within the context of longevity and slow ageing should follow a multidisciplinary path, in which different professionals analyse the various aspects of ageing. When we oversimplify the concept, we think ageing only concerns the skin. In reality, the skin is merely an epiphenomenon of what happens inside our bodies».

In a slow-ageing program, the patient is not simply treated but assessed globally, from every angle, by a multidisciplinary team. Fundamental aspects such as metabolism, nutrition, sleep quality, dietary habits, and physical activity are analysed. «Aesthetic and regenerative medicine, commonly referred to as anti-ageing medicine, is an integral part of the pathway, although it represents only one component of the slow-ageing process».

The foundations of slow aging

Nutrition and physical activity are not optional recommendations; they are the foundations of a wellness and slow-ageing journey. Proper nutrition and appropriate exercise not only promote well-being but also play a significant role in reducing oncological risk.

«For this reason, it is important not to trivialise the topic and to always address it with qualified professionals – De Luca explains – Improvising with do-it-yourself diets is not correct. It is not possible to speak about nutrition without clinical experience and the knowledge necessary to guide patients along the most optimal path».

A nutritional plan must be tailored to each individual by a qualified professional, based on clinical characteristics, metabolic profile, and lifestyle. However, in line with scientific evidence, certain shared principles represent common denominators of well-being, such as regular physical activity and healthy dietary habits.

«A proper diet should include a daily intake of vitamins from fruit and vegetables, reduced consumption of complex sugars and animal fats, while favouring plant-based fats. Caloric intake should also be balanced according to our thermogenesis – De Luca explains – Thermogenesis is regulated both by environmental temperatures and by physical activity and basal metabolism».

The professor emphasises the importance of physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, preferably performed outdoors, to improve oxygenation, always alternating with adequate rest periods. Sleep, often underestimated, is equally essential. «Sleep is a fundamental element of well-being, longevity, and slow ageing. It plays a crucial role in muscle regeneration and the recovery of neurocognitive functions. It is also important, especially on muscle rest days, to perform daily exercises that maintain high thermogenesis».

The future is a “Longevity Society”

Talking about anti-ageing of the skin without considering the person as a whole is simply wrong. Skin health reflects the balance and proper functioning of the entire organism. For this reason, patient care begins with a comprehensive evaluation, and only afterwards is aesthetic and regenerative medicine considered, a field that has seen significant technological progress over the past decade.

«In our clinics, we promote what we call the ‘Heedra Project,’ a multispecialty patient evaluation program aimed at a slow-ageing pathway. It is a 360-degree approach that integrates various areas of expertise and includes aesthetic and regenerative treatments. When addressing aesthetic and regenerative medicine, we always remind patients that it represents only one stage of the slow-ageing journey».

Within the Heedra pathway, patients undergo a structured treatment including deep medical cleansing, controlled exfoliation, regenerative hydrodermabrasion, and medical oxygen therapy. This phase is followed by the application of functional substances and selected protective creams designed to support skin quality, promote tissue repair, and stimulate regeneration processes. The skin is only one stage of the journey, not the destination. The future of anti-ageing is the longevity of society. «Today we know that, on average, in Italy and Europe, a woman will live to 85 and a man to 80. Longevity, however, is not just about caring for an individual patient. It means caring for society as a whole, promoting positive behaviours, behavioural hygiene, and integrating wellness medicine into preventive healthcare pathways».