There are some summers that never truly fade. They do not live on in photo albums or social media posts, but somewhere deep within us—in the scent of pine trees, the sound of cicadas, and the warmth of sun-soaked stone beneath bare feet. Whenever I close my eyes, I can still picture the summers of my childhood.
I remember the pier where we would leave our towels every morning, convinced that doing so reserved our own little place in the sun. Then we would spend hours diving into the sea, competing to see who could perform the best swallow dive, make the biggest splash, or stay underwater the longest. Time simply did not exist back then. No one looked at a watch; we only knew the day was ending when the sun began to sink towards the horizon.
I also remember the warm stone rocks beneath St. Euphemia's Church in Rovinj. Today, chess is often played on mobile phone screens, but back then we moved the pieces by hand, sitting on the sun-warmed rocks of Sturag Island while listening to the sound of the sea and the laughter of swimmers. The games may not have been extraordinary, but the memories certainly are.
I was a boy from Zagreb spending every summer with my family in Rovinj—a destination that shaped so many of my happiest childhood memories. There were no smartphones, no internet, no selfies, no filters, and no apps counting steps or calories. There was only sunshine, the sea, and endless days that seemed as though they would never end.
Each morning we would head to the beach and only return when the first lights came on along the waterfront. Looking back, I smile at how carefree we were. Sun protection was almost unheard of, apart from the occasional Coppertone sunscreen, and many people even applied olive oil believing it would help them tan more quickly.
And tan we certainly did. We were bronzed, happy and carefree—but the sun, like time itself, quietly keeps its own records.
Years later, fine lines begin to appear around the eyes, pigmentation develops across the cheeks, and signs of fatigue emerge that we may not feel on the inside but can clearly see in the mirror.
This is where modern aesthetic medicine begins—not as a fight against ageing, but as an opportunity to bring the face back into harmony with the energy we still feel within ourselves. Most of my patients do not want to look twenty years younger. They simply want to look the way they feel.
Just as every summer has its own scent, soundtrack and memories, every skin has its own unique needs. There is no single miracle treatment that suits everyone, but there are several trusted treatments I find myself recommending year after year. Whenever patients ask me how to achieve a fresh, rested and natural appearance during the summer months, these are the five facial treatments I recommend most often.
Dr Nikola Milojević's Five Favourite Treatments for a Fresh, Natural Summer Look
HydraFacial - Hydration, Freshness and Healthy Glow
Years ago, preparing your skin for summer meant little more than using a good moisturiser and hoping the sunshine would do the rest. Today we know much more.
HydraFacial has become one of my favourite treatments because it does not change your face—it simply restores what your skin is missing: hydration, freshness and radiance.
I often compare it to spring cleaning after a long winter. The skin breathes again, and sometimes that alone is enough to make someone look several years more refreshed.
Botox - Subtle Rejuvenation Without Changing Your Expression
When I first began performing Botox treatments in London in the early 2000s, many people viewed it with scepticism. Today it is one of the most extensively researched and widely performed procedures in aesthetic medicine, yet one misconception remains.
Many people believe Botox is designed to change the face. It isn't.
The best Botox is the Botox no one notices.
When expertly administered, Botox softens expression lines and removes the tired or angry appearance that facial muscles can sometimes create—without changing a person's personality or natural facial expressions.
Micro-Botox and Baby Botox doses can soften wrinkles artistically and almost invisibly while giving the skin a naturally rejuvenated appearance. In fact, I was the first to use the term "Baby Botox" in an article for a British newspaper back in the early 2000s. Today, the term is used throughout the aesthetic medicine industry.
Botox is also an excellent treatment for excessive underarm sweating, making it particularly popular during the warmer months.
Biostimulators and Skin Boosters - Encouraging Your Skin to Renew Itself Naturally
There is something remarkable about the fact that, even as we age, our bodies still know how to produce collagen—they simply need a little encouragement.
Polynucleotides such as Plinest, Sunekos, PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), skin boosters and many other modern biostimulators represent one of the most exciting developments in contemporary aesthetic medicine.
They do not work like make-up, nor do they simply conceal imperfections. Instead, they encourage the skin to once again do what it naturally did when it was younger.
I often compare them to a conductor bringing an orchestra back together after a long silence. The instruments have always been there—they simply needed someone to help them play again.
The result is healthier, brighter skin with improved elasticity, smoother texture, refined pores, softened pigmentation and fewer wrinkles. The skin becomes healthy again. The skin sings again.
ClearSilk Laser - Gentle Skin Rejuvenation with Minimal Downtime
Having worked with lasers for decades—and as the founder of Croatia's largest laser centre - I still find today's technology genuinely exciting.
I remember when recovery after laser treatments took weeks. Modern laser technology now delivers impressive results with minimal discomfort and very little downtime.
During the summer, I frequently recommend the ClearSilk laser by Sciton because it is exceptionally gentle, comfortable and requires virtually no recovery time. With appropriate daily SPF protection, patients can continue enjoying the summer without unnecessary concern.
The treatment is painless, restores radiance, stimulates collagen production, softens fine lines, minimises enlarged pores and reduces redness.
We are not erasing the years or the memories—we are simply removing the damage that never belonged there in the first place. And that is a very important distinction.
EmFace - A Needle-Free Lift That Strengthens as Well as Tightens
If someone had told me twenty years ago that we would one day be able to strengthen facial muscles and lift the face without needles or surgery, I would probably have been sceptical.
Today, it is a reality.
EmFace perfectly represents the direction in which modern aesthetic medicine is moving. It combines facial muscle stimulation with radiofrequency energy to tighten the skin while encouraging collagen production.
Less invasive. More natural. Smarter.
The treatment is painless, requires no downtime and produces impressive results. Rather than changing facial anatomy, it simply helps the body make better use of what it already has.
Bonus Summer Recommendation
EmSculpt Neo - Advanced Body Contouring
I have always found it amusing that someone could build muscle while lying comfortably on a treatment bed. Had someone told me that while I was studying medicine in London, I would probably have laughed.
Today, EmSculpt Neo is one of the most exciting technologies available.
A single abdominal treatment can generate muscle contractions equivalent to approximately 20,000 sit-ups. Of course, nothing replaces long walks by the sea, hiking or regular exercise, but it can provide valuable support for people looking to strengthen muscles while simultaneously reducing stubborn fat.
Sometimes, it is those small extra boosts that create the biggest transformations.
The treatment can lift the buttocks, sculpt abdominal muscles, strengthen the arms and reduce localised fat deposits. It is yet another remarkable example of what modern aesthetic medicine can achieve.
After more than two decades in aesthetic medicine—from Harley Street in London to Zagreb—and after performing well over one hundred thousand treatments, people often ask me what beauty truly means.
I used to believe the answer lay in perfect proportions.
Today, I see it differently.
Beauty is when someone looks healthy, well-rested and genuinely happy. It is being able to smile without worrying about how you will appear in a photograph.
Perhaps that is why I still love summer more than any other season.
Summer reminds us that life should never be measured in wrinkles, birthdays or photographs, but in memories.
And if modern medicine can help us feel a little fresher, a little more confident and a little happier while we continue creating those memories, then it has already achieved something worthwhile.
The goal is to look your very best at every age.
Perhaps that is the greatest beauty of modern aesthetics. Not to transform us into someone else, but to help us recognise and preserve the very best version of ourselves.
So the next time you look in the mirror, don't search immediately for flaws.
Pause for a moment and remember everything your face carries: smiles, love, laughter and the summers that shaped your life.
Think back to a distant summer on the beautiful Adriatic coast—to a quiet beach, the sound of waves against the pier, fireworks above an old fishing festival, or sunrise on a rocky shoreline accompanied by a first kiss.
Because true beauty has never been about appearance alone.
It is a blend of memories, confidence and the way we choose to live our own story.
When aesthetic medicine serves that purpose, it becomes much more than treatment.
It becomes a gentle reminder that we deserve to care for ourselves, embrace the present moment, and welcome every new summer with joy.
Written by: Dr. Nikola Milojević
Read more in: ELLE