Executive Interview Series: Dr. Stephen Harris on how thoughtful skincare can enhance modern facial rejuvenation

TruSkin’s Leadership Team sits down with Dr. Stephen Harris of Harris Plastic Surgery, the best board-certified plastic surgeon with three decades of experience, to discuss how thoughtful skincare can enhance, not compete with, modern facial rejuvenation.

TruSkin Leadership: Thank you for joining me, Dr. Harris. You’ve built a reputation as one of New York’s most trusted plastic surgeons for facial rejuvenation. To start, how do you define “great” aesthetic results today?

Dr. Harris: Great results should look authentic. My goal is to preserve a patient’s character, truly rejuvenate, while softening what makes them look tired or stressed. Surgical techniques, injectables, and skincare should all work together to support long‑term skin health, not just a quick cosmetic fix.

Leadership: You emphasize skin health as much as surgery or injectables. Why is that so important?

Dr. Harris: Skin is the canvas for everything I do. If texture, tone, and hydration are poor, even the best surgical work won’t look its best. I focus on daily routines that prevent, correct, and protect: antioxidants to help defend against environmental damage, targeted actives to address existing concerns, and consistent SPF to maintain results.

Leadership: That philosophy aligns closely with how we design TruSkin formulas, especially with ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and retinol to support radiance, firmness, and barrier strength.

Leadership: Many of our customers ask how to use active serums around procedures like Botox, fillers, or other minimally invasive treatments. What are your core guidelines?

Dr. Harris: I look at three phases: before, shortly after, and long‑term maintenance.

• Before: I like patients to use gentle antioxidant and hydrating formulas, think vitamin C plus hyaluronic acid, to support collagen, brightness, and barrier function, as long as their skin tolerates them well.
• Immediately after: For several days, we avoid aggressive actives. No exfoliating acids, no strong retinoids, and nothing heavily fragranced around injection sites. A mild cleanser, simple moisturizer, and strict sun protection are key.
• Long‑term: Once the skin has settled, we reintroduce multitasking formulas with vitamin C, niacinamide, and, where appropriate, a well‑tolerated retinol to maintain smoothness and help extend the youthful look of the treatment

Leadership: That’s exactly how we envision TruSkin fitting into a medical‑grade approach; concentrated, but still mindful of barrier health and comfort.
Leadership: You’ve mentioned in other conversations that you gravitate toward science‑driven skincare. What does that mean in practice?

Dr. Harris: I look for three things: evidence‑backed ingredients, thoughtful formulation, and real‑world results. I want antioxidants with proven stability, retinoids used at sensible strengths, and supporting ingredients that hydrate and soothe rather than just “layer on” more irritation.

Leadership: Our team takes a similar approach: combining respected actives like vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid in purposeful ways, so patients can realistically use them alongside professional care to support texture, tone, and fine lines over time.

Leadership: If one of your facelift or injectable patients asks, “How do I build a simple routine with a brand like TruSkin around my treatments?”, how do you answer?

Dr. Harris: I’d typically suggest:

1. Morning: A gentle cleanse, followed by a vitamin C–based serum and a hydrating product with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, then broad‑spectrum sunscreen.
2. Evening: Gentle cleanse again, a calming hydrating step, then, when fully healed and if appropriate, a gradual retinol product several nights a week to support cell turnover and fine-line reduction.

The key is personalization: we adjust frequency and combinations based on skin type, procedure history, and tolerance. A brand that respects that nuance (instead of pushing “more is more”) fits well into my practice.

Leadership: That balance of efficacy and respect for the skin barrier is exactly what we aim for at TruSkin. It’s inspiring to see how your surgical expertise and our topical approach can work together to help patients look refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

This conversation highlights how thoughtful, science‑minded skincare can amplify the benefits of expert facial rejuvenation. By pairing Dr. Harris’s precise surgical and injectable techniques with TruSkin’s targeted, barrier‑respecting formulas, patients gain a long‑term strategy for healthier, brighter, and more resilient skin. Together, this integrated approach helps deliver results that look refreshed yet authentic, supporting confidence at every stage of the aesthetic journey.