Supermodel Paulina Porizkova has opened up about how she maintains such youthful looks at the age of 55 without the help of any Botox or filler – while also admitting that she feels ‘totally insecure’ about her aging appearance.
The mother-of-two took to Instagram on Tuesday evening to post an ‘unretouched and unfiltered’ selfie, alongside which she shared some of the secrets behind her ageless appearance, as well as detailing her insecurities about her looks.
‘Ok folks. Once again, unretouched and unfiltered,’ she wrote. ‘I am 55, this is good light and a fairly flattering – if plain – photo.’
Candid: Supermodel Paulina Porizkova, 55, shared an ‘unretouched and unfiltered’ selfie on Tuesday evening while opening up about the secrets behind her youthful looks
Emotional: The fashion star confessed that she doesn’t not always feel confidence in her appearance, admitting that ‘more often’ than not she is ‘totally insecure’
Tried and tested: Paulina has never had Botox of fillers, but she does rely on non-invasive treatments like Ultherapy and Plasma Pen (which leaves her with red dots around her eyes)
Paulina then went on to share the non-invasive treatments she relies on in order to keep her skin looking wrinkle-free – explaining that she does not get, and has never had, Botox or fillers, but instead relies on a mix of Ultherapy and plasma pen, both of which she underwent last week.
Ultherapy tightens the skin with the help of high-intensity focused ultrasound waves.
Treating large areas like the face and neck together can cost upwards of $4,000 to $5,500 in New York City, according to Today. But the results are said to subtract years off the skin’s appearance.
Meanwhile, the Plasma Pen is effective in reducing wrinkles while also lifting and tightening the skin.
The device ‘transmits nitrogen plasma energy to deliver soft-surgery plasma fibroblasting deep into the skin,’ according to Dr. Halaas’ website.
Pricing starts at $400 and varies based on treatment area and location.
‘I have had Ultherapy 5 times now, and two plasma pen treatments. No Botox, no fillers,’ Paulina shared in her Instagram post.
However the skin treatments are not the only thing that the supermodel relies on to keep herself looking young; she also tries to live as ‘clean’ as possible – although she admits that she still indulges in alcohol and sweet treats.
Paulina also confessed that she spent years of her life as a smoker, a habit that she maintained until she was 40, with the fashion star placing at least some of the blame for the unhealthy vice on her late husband, Cars Frontman Ric Ocasek, whom she says was an ‘unapologetic smoker’.
Bad habits: The mother-of-two confessed that she smoked until the age of 40 – noting that her late husband, The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek was an ‘unapologetic smoker’
Memories: Paulina met Ric while his band was filming a music video in 1984 and became his third wife in 1989. He passed away on September 15 at the age of 75
‘I live reasonably clean – don’t much enjoy processed foods, but love a variety and do love my cakes,’ she wrote.
‘I drink wine and cocktails. I smoked until I was forty. (Sorry to say. Of course I quit when pregnant and nursing – but my husband was an unapologetic smoker- and it was easier to do as he did instead of fighting about it.)’
When it comes to keeping in tip top shape, the mom-of-two said that she also works out regularly, explaining that she ‘tries for at least three [times] a week’, and sticks ‘mostly’ with pilates, while also adding in some dancing and cycling ‘for cardio’.
Paulina then drew attention to the unfair expectations placed on women to look flawless and ageless as they grow older, pointing out the fact that she has ‘wrinkles’ and ‘sagging’ while noting that anyone who hasn’t ‘enjoyed a rarefied existence [with] medical benefits’ will face the same signs of aging.
‘Sure, I have wrinkles. (My iPhone camera graciously omits them in good light). Sure, I have some sagging. (This is the part I’m not THAT fond of),’ she wrote.
‘Any woman today who doesn’t look her age has enjoyed a rarefied existence of not only a great diet and exercise, but also medical benefits. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We, who can, are so lucky to do. But I do wish we could be more honest and open about it.
‘Because no, I cannot look 39 with just a great diet and exercise.’
Despite her candor about her appearance, and the steps she follows in order to maintain it, Paulina also confessed that she doesn’t always feel confident in her looks, admitting that ‘more often’ than not, she is ‘totally insecure’.
‘I truly appreciate many elements of maturing; I’m so much smarter, kinder, more patient, funnier, better at communicating, more self aware and overall – a much better person,’ she shared.
All smiles: Last week, Paulina met with her esthetician Raechel Lowe at plastic surgeon Dr. Yael Halaas’ New York City office
Keeping it real: The model joked she looked liked a ‘monster’ with her blotchy, red face after she was done undergoing Ultherapy and plasma pen treatment
Getting rejuvenated: Paulina had Ultherapy on her lower face and a Plasma Pen treatment around her eyes. They are both non-invasive procedures that tighten the skin
‘But really- I am NOT always ok with the way my age reflects in my face and body. I have days of self confidence and a f**k-off-if-you-don’t-like-it attitude, but more often I’m just totally insecure, and do selfies of myself in horrible light and unflattering angles, so I can get used to how I actually do look.
‘And it’s painful. It’s like building calluses on your fingers when you learn to play the guitar. It’s a process. But it’s what happens if you are lucky to be healthy and alive.’
Paulina’s latest selfie comes just days after she underwent her favorite skincare treatments, which she documented on Instagram.
She shared a photo collage of herself with esthetician and laser specialist Raechel Lowe, who works at plastic surgeon Dr. Yael Halaas’ New York City office.
‘In celebration of reaching 200 thousand of you! I’m posting today’s pick [sic],’ she wrote to her followers, explaining it was her last treatment with her ‘beloved’ Raechel, who is moving back to Florida.
‘She really nailed it to me,’ she noted of the seemingly painful session that left her with red blotches all around her eyes and face.
‘Now I look like a monster — seriously —but hopefully in a few days my miracle worker erased a little of the grief prints from my face,’ she wrote at the end of her post. ‘Thank you all at Dr. Halaas office! We’ll see — and I’ll definitely let you know!’
Paulina’s mention of ‘grief prints’ on her face was undoubtedly a reference to the death of her estranged husband, Cars frontman Ric, who passed away on September 15.
One day later, she posted a selfie highlighting the patches of tiny red dots that circled her eyes, almost like a raccoon – while insisting that the painful-looking sores didn’t actually hurt at all.
She’s a fan! The Sports Illustrated beauty called Ultherapy her ‘go-to magic’ laser treatment when she got it done last year
‘Feeling fine — lookin’ freaky!’ she captioned the image. ‘These are the after-effects of the plasma pen and ultherapy yesterday. The ultherapy leaves no trace, but the same can’t be said for the pen. Guess who’s wearing sunglasses all day today?’
‘My #wednesdaywearables are flowers on my dress and polka dots on my face! Thanks for my polka dots @laserrae and @drhalaas,’ she added, before assuring her fans it’s not as painful as it looks.
‘AND NO, It doesn’t really hurt. They put on a numbing cream first, and then burn these little dots. Not bad at all. And after, it feels like a sunburn the first night. Day after feels utterly fine. But looks — interesting…’
Hanging out: Paulina was sunbathing topless just a few days before her latest cosmetic treatments
This isn’t the first time Paulina has shared photos of her skin treatments. Last year, she shared pictures and videos of one of her Ultherapy sessions at the office.
The Sports Illustrated beauty described it as her ‘go-to magic’ laser treatment because of how the results have improved areas like her neck.
Besides sharing multiple videos of herself getting the procedure done, she also explained that the results will continue to improve along her neck for three months.
But with the incredible procedure comes extreme pain, Paulina said, as she described it as being worse than childbirth.
‘Why wouldn’t everyone in the world do it?’ she wrote of the treatment. ‘Well, first of all, it hurts. Like a lot. I have gone through natural childbirth twice with no drugs, but when I do Ultherapy, I wish there were some around.’
She described the procedure, which causes a burning and prickly sensation along the targeted area, as if someone were to take a lighter ‘and slowly trail it across your skin.’
‘Only, instead of burn scars, you’ll have more collagen plumping up your skin and look perfectly fine directly after,’ she noted.
