Jennifer Aniston and the case of the timeless knees

In these times of filters and advanced cosmetic procedures, age has become relative. Few could easily guess the real age of Nicole Kidman or Jennifer López, who, at 53, looks better than ever. Jennifer Aniston, also 53, recently starred in one of her most daring covers ever: she appeared on the November cover of Allure wearing tiny Chanel pasties. But what really surprised us about the actress was her recent appearance to promote her new movie, Murder Mystery 2: wearing a rhinestone and fishnet minidress, she showed off perfect knees.

That part of the body, along with hands, the neck and the elbows, tends to resist all our attempts to extend our youth. The culprit, as with almost anything that has to do with aging, is collagen. “The skin on the knees is very fine, and it has a lower density of collagen and sebaceous glands compared to other parts of the body. With the passage of time, loose skin, wrinkles and dryness appear more quickly there,” explains Sara Álvarez, co-founder and creator of the RETO48 workout method. The constant flexing of that area can also cause wrinkles.

There are two effective cosmetic procedures to address flaccid knees, as doctor Moisés Amselem, from the Martín del Yerro Amselem Clinic, explains. “On the one hand, you can treat it directly on the skin level with hyaluronic acid to hydrate, repair, stimulate collagen and prevent aging. Or you can go directly to treating what produces that looseness and the loss of volume, in the inside of the thigh and the area immediately above the knee. When volume in any area is lost, the structure immediately falls. The best way to restore it is with polylactic acid, and the medical treatment consists of restoring volume using collagen.” In this case, the doctor explains, two sessions would be necessary, spaced out over a month. The treatment’s effects last approximately 18 months. After the fourth month, the results are most visible.

If we prefer to avoid the clinic and go for traditional methods — working out — things get tough. The area can not be targeted directly. The key is exercising the entire leg, so that the muscle helps us keep the knees’ skin in its place and without wrinkles. The RETO48 team recommends strength exercises like squats, quadriceps extensions, deadlifting and working out abductors and adductors. They emphasize that exercise is a great long-term ally and a preventative measure. Avoiding weight fluctuations and staying hydrated to prevent swelling and liquid retention are the keys to showing off perfect knees after 50.

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