Written by: dr Nikola Milojević
Five Treatments Recommended by Dr. Milojević - Because the Best Memories of Summer Should Stay in Your Mind, Not on Your Skin
In our previous blog, we discussed aesthetic medicine treatments that can safely be performed during the summer months. For years, there was an unwritten rule: as soon as the sun came out and temperatures rose, aesthetic medicine went on holiday. And that wasn't just a myth. Many treatments were indeed recommended only during autumn and winter because the skin was more sensitive to sunlight afterward, increasing the risk of pigmentation issues and other unwanted side effects.
Fortunately, times have changed. Thanks to advances in technology and modern treatment techniques, we no longer have to choose between enjoying summer and taking care of our skin. Today, many aesthetic treatments are perfectly safe during the summer when combined with proper sun protection and careful adherence to your physician's instructions. In other words, aesthetic medicine no longer has a summer break—we simply choose treatments that are best suited to the season.
After Summer, Your Skin Reveals Everything the Sun Has Left Behind
Summer is coming to an end. Most of us have returned home, unpacked our suitcases, washed towels that still carry the scent of the sea, and slowly settled back into our daily routines. Only then do we begin to notice that our skin has been through a summer of its own. Perhaps it feels drier than before. Maybe it's rougher to the touch. New pigmentation spots have appeared, patches of redness have become more noticeable, and the fine lines around the eyes suddenly seem more pronounced. All of this is completely normal. Sun exposure, saltwater, wind, and air conditioning all leave their mark—even if we have been diligent about protecting our skin.
And no, that's not a reason to regret all those wonderful hours spent by the sea and under the sun. Summer is meant to be enjoyed. But it is the perfect time to give your skin the attention it deserves and help it recover.
Before I introduce the five treatments I most frequently recommend to my patients after summer, let me take you back for a moment to the place where some of my happiest memories were made... and, quite possibly, where a few of my first wrinkles began.
Rovinj, Childhood, and My First Encounters with Aesthetic Medicine
Rovinj. I spent almost every summer of my childhood there with my mother Duka, my father Boško, and my sister Iva. Those were different times. The drive to the coast took hours. There were no motorways, no air conditioning, and our entire world fit inside an old Volkswagen Beetle. My mother, sister, and I would usually arrive first, eagerly waiting for my father to finish work and join us a few days later. During the summer, it often felt as though work had stayed behind in Zagreb—but never completely. While we sat on the beach, my father would often tell stories from his working week. He spoke about noses, ears, and faces he had operated on, and to me they were simply fascinating stories that I listened to with endless curiosity and countless questions. Only many years later did I realise how deeply those conversations had shaped me and quietly guided the path I would eventually choose as my profession.
My memories of Rovinj are filled with scents. The scent of pine trees. The scent of the sea. The aroma of freshly grilled fish. Almost every day we wandered through the pine forests of Šturago, searching for hidden coves until someone called us back for lunch. In the evenings, fresh figs from the garden would be waiting on the table, and after dinner we would play Uno or Rummy together. Many days ended with tennis or water skiing until the sun disappeared behind Red Island and Figarola.
Back then, sunscreen was hardly something we thought about. If we came home sunburnt, we simply believed that by the next day we would have an even nicer tan. Looking back today, that almost seems unbelievable.
The Sun Accelerates Skin Ageing
Today we understand that the sun deserves both our appreciation and our respect. Not only because it accelerates skin ageing, but because excessive UV exposure can have serious consequences for our overall health. That is why sun protection is not a trend—it is a lifelong habit that preserves both the health and beauty of our skin.
When it comes to aesthetics, our skin remembers far more than we see in the mirror. Year after year, collagen gradually declines. Pigmentation appears. Tiny blood vessels become visible. Fine lines slowly develop. Not overnight, but after thousands of hours spent in the sun. Perhaps this is why, when we look at old photographs of our parents or grandparents, they often seem older than we do at the same age. Sometimes we see someone in their twenties or thirties and instinctively assume they are ten or even twenty years older.
Was it the hairstyles, the fashion, or the makeup? Certainly, those played a role. But I believe there is another—and much more important—reason.
Today, we understand the ageing process far better. We know how significantly UV radiation contributes to wrinkles, pigmentation, and collagen loss. We understand the importance of daily sun protection, proper skincare, and healthy lifestyle habits—subjects that were rarely discussed fifty years ago.
During my childhood, sun protection often meant little more than a layer of Coppertone, Nivea, or even olive oil, while a deep tan was considered the ultimate sign of a wonderful summer. At that time, aesthetic medicine was still in its infancy and practiced by only a small number of physicians, one of whom was my father. Today, we have the knowledge, technology, and treatments that allow us not only to protect our skin but also to help it recover after summer. Not because we want to stop time—but because we want to preserve healthy, beautiful skin for as long as possible.
I never tell my patients to avoid summer or stay away from the sun. Quite the opposite. I want them to travel, swim, sail, spend time with their families and friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime. But I also want them to protect their skin and restore what the sun, sea, and wind have gradually taken away.
As a boy listening to my father talk about aesthetic surgery on the beaches of Rovinj, I could never have imagined that one day I would help people feel more confident in their own skin. Today, that is my profession.
So let me introduce the five treatments I most frequently recommend after the summer months. Although each treatment works differently, they all share the same goal—to help the skin regenerate, rehydrate, and regain its healthy glow.
Let summer leave you with memories—not with lasting marks on your skin.
Five Treatments to Restore Your Skin After Summer
Towards the end of August and the beginning of September, I hear the same questions almost every day at Milojević Clinic.
"Doctor, my skin looks tired."
"Where did these dark spots suddenly come from?"
"I feel like I've aged so much over the summer."
Interestingly, almost nobody says:
"I want to look twenty years younger."
Most people want something much simpler.
They want to look in the mirror and see healthy, refreshed, well-rested skin again.
1. PRGF (PRP): Natural Skin Regeneration After Summerž
If I had to choose just one treatment that I would recommend to almost every patient after summer, it would most likely be PRGF (Plasma Rich in Growth Factors)—better known to many as PRP or the "vampire facelift." Why? Because we use what already belongs to you. A small sample of your own blood is processed to isolate highly concentrated growth factors, which are then reintroduced into the skin to stimulate its natural regeneration. The treatment promotes collagen production, improves overall skin quality, restores radiance, and gradually leaves the skin looking healthier and more youthful. Scientific studies have shown that PRGF helps repair UV-induced skin damage, while skin cells demonstrate biological characteristics associated with significantly younger tissue.
I particularly recommend it for the face, neck, décolletage, and hands—areas that receive the greatest amount of sun exposure and are often the first to show signs of photoaging. Since UV radiation also affects the health of our hair follicles, PRGF is an excellent option for scalp regeneration and hair restoration as well.
2. SkinPen® Microneedling: New Collagen for a New Season
If your skin feels rough after summer, your pores appear more visible, or pigmentation has become more pronounced, one of the treatments I recommend most often is SkinPen® Microneedling. For even better results, I frequently combine it with PRGF, a protocol we call Skin Perfection at our clinic. Thousands of precisely controlled microchannels stimulate the skin's natural healing response and encourage the production of new collagen. Over time, the skin becomes smoother, firmer, more even in texture, and the visible signs of summer gradually fade.
SkinPen effectively treats: fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, acne scars, pigmentation, uneven skin texture, and reduced skin elasticity. Microneedling can also be combined with advanced biostimulators such as ASCE Exosomes, PB Serum Enzymes, and Retix boosters to further enhance skin regeneration and overall quality.
3. BBL Forever Young®: Erasing the Marks Left by the Sun
We all love a healthy summer tan. But today we know that pigmentation is actually the skin's protective response to UV exposure. After summer, many people notice dry, damaged skin, dark spots, broken capillaries, redness, and an uneven complexion. One of the treatments that has made the greatest advances in managing photoaged skin in recent years is BBL Forever Young®, performed on the Sciton® platform. Using highly precise light energy, BBL targets pigmentation, vascular changes, and redness while improving the overall quality and appearance of the skin. This is exactly why we chose to work with the Sciton platform, one of the world's most advanced technologies for skin rejuvenation.
BBL (BroadBand Light) represents the next generation of light-based therapy. Combined with artificial intelligence, it enables exceptionally precise, personalised treatments with significantly greater effectiveness than older IPL systems. For patients with more pronounced signs of photoaging, I often combine BBL Forever Young® with the 3DMIRACL™ UltraClear® laser treatment.
In my opinion, this combination is one of the most effective approaches to post-summer skin rejuvenation. UltraClear® is a next-generation ablative fractional laser that uses innovative cold-fibre laser technology. As a result, treatment is generally more comfortable than traditional ablative lasers, recovery is faster, and the results are remarkable. The skin becomes tighter, smoother, and visibly rejuvenated.
An additional advantage is that UltraClear® can be performed immediately after BBL Forever Young®. This allows us to address pigmentation, redness, and other signs of sun damage while simultaneously stimulating intensive collagen production and skin renewal—resulting in healthier, fresher, and more youthful-looking skin.
4. Skinboosters - Skinvive™ and Restylane® Vital for Deep Hydration
Prolonged exposure to UV radiation gradually reduces collagen levels while compromising the skin's ability to retain moisture. As a result, after summer the skin often appears thinner, less elastic, dehydrated, and fatigued. This is why I frequently recommend skinboosters such as Skinvive™ and Restylane® Vital. Their primary purpose is to deeply hydrate the skin from within, improve its overall quality, and restore its natural luminosity. Fine lines become less noticeable, the complexion looks fresher, and the face regains the healthy plumpness that is often lost after months of sun exposure. Unlike traditional dermal fillers, skinboosters are designed to improve skin quality rather than add volume, making them an excellent choice for patients seeking a naturally refreshed appearance.
5. Botox® and Dermal Fillers - Still the Gold Standard of Natural Facial Rejuvenation
No matter how much technology continues to evolve, two treatments have remained the foundation of aesthetic medicine for more than two decades: Botox® and dermal fillers. During the summer we naturally smile more, squint more, and spend significantly more time outdoors. As a result, expression lines on the forehead, between the eyebrows, and around the eyes often become more pronounced. Botox® remains the most effective treatment for softening these dynamic wrinkles. Even more importantly, recent scientific research has shown that Botox® offers benefits beyond wrinkle reduction. It also improves skin quality by acting as a true biostimulator, contributing to healthier and more youthful-looking skin.
Meanwhile, prolonged sun exposure and dehydration can leave the face looking tired. The lips may appear drier and less full, the under-eye area darker, and the cheeks less defined.
When performed by an experienced aesthetic physician using high-quality products, dermal fillers can restore what the face naturally loses over time—volume, freshness, balance, and harmonious facial proportions. They remain one of the most valuable tools in modern aesthetic medicine.
After summer, when the skin often appears dehydrated, fatigued, and less vibrant, carefully selected dermal fillers can be one of the fastest ways to restore a naturally refreshed appearance. I always emphasise one thing: These treatments should only be performed by qualified medical professionals. The goal is never to change someone's face, create excessive volume, or produce an unnatural appearance. The goal is simply to restore balance and subtly replace what time has gradually taken away.
After more than twenty years in aesthetic medicine, I have learned one important lesson. The best aesthetic result is not the one that makes people ask, "What have you had done?" The greatest compliment is much simpler: "You look wonderful."
As I finish writing this article, my thoughts return once again to Rovinj. To those summers when an entire day could be filled with one small childhood adventure. Today I see those same places from a different perspective. I watch my own children—Lucia, Hana, and Max—creating memories of their own, and I realise that some things never change. The moments that matter most are still the ones we spend together, far away from the rush of everyday life.
When we were children, we never thought about collagen, UV radiation, or photoaging. We simply lived. Today we know much more, and we have the opportunity to care for our skin in ways that previous generations could only imagine. But that doesn't mean we should enjoy life any less.
Summer is meant to be experienced. To travel. To laugh. To spend time with the people we love. To create memories that stay with us forever.
And when we return home, we can help our skin recover and preserve what time and the sun gradually change.
Because the goal of aesthetic medicine is not to stop time. It is to help us look the way we feel—healthy, refreshed, confident, and comfortable in our own skin—at every stage of life.