Dr. Vardan Khachatrian shares his advice on protecting your skin where the sun is strongest.
Why Sun Protection Matters Year-Round
In California, the sun is a way of life. That near-constant sunshine comes at a cost, because ultraviolet light remains a leading driver of premature skin aging. Few understand how to protect skin under a generous sun better than Dr. Vardan Khachatrian, a surgeon who built his practice in one of the sunniest cities on earth, which is Dubai.
Head of plastic surgery at Valiant Clinic & Hospital, Dr. Vardan has earned the trust of tens of thousands of patients from four continents across more than two decades in practice. He works every day in a climate where the sun is relentless, and so he understands its effect on skin and on healing in ways many colleagues do not.
The Sun and Skin Aging
His first piece of advice is direct. The sun is the greatest enemy of youthful skin. “Most visible skin aging is the work of the sun, not of age,” Dr. Vardan explains. “Wrinkles, pigmentation, and loss of firmness all begin with ultraviolet light.” Protection, in his view, is not a seasonal measure but a daily habit.
His rules are simple and ask only for consistency. Use a high-SPF sunscreen every day, even when it is cloudy. Reapply every two to three hours when outdoors. Add antioxidants and vitamin C to your routine as a shield against free radicals. Wear wide-brimmed hats and seek shade during peak hours. Stay hydrated, inside and out. “Skin forgives almost everything except the sun, day after day,” he adds.
Protecting Scars After Surgery
Scars deserve special attention. “A fresh scar and the sun don’t mix,” the doctor warns. “Ultraviolet light can make it darker and more visible, undoing the surgeon’s work.” His signature technique, the Ultra-Thin Seam™, is designed to produce a thin, discreet seam. The result is built from the inside, with precise approximation of the edges, a dry surgical field, and careful joining of tissue, supporting healing that is clean and predictable.
Even a well-made seam needs protection. Dr. Vardan advises patients to keep the incision fully shielded from direct sun, to apply medical-grade SPF to healing skin, and not to rush back to the beach, even when everything looks fine on the surface.
This principle of naturalness runs through all of his procedures, from breast augmentation, lift, and reconstruction to the Skinny BBL without implants or fillers, his signature mosaic liposculpture, facial rejuvenation and lifting, post-pregnancy restoration, and the complex revision work that other surgeons often decline. A natural result and healthy, protected skin tend to age well, he notes, while excess, under a harsh sun, is usually the first thing to show.
Beauty and Health as One
Working in a hot climate has made Dr. Vardan one of the surgeons who treat beauty and health as a single concern. “The surgery of the future speaks the language of longevity,” he says. “We don’t simply change appearances. We care about how the skin and body will live for decades to come.” For sunny California, the idea feels right at home. Protecting your skin should be as natural as enjoying the sunshine.
His advice is simple and universal. Protect your skin from the sun today, and it will thank you for years. For those considering a change that refines rather than transforms, the first step is a private consultation at Valiant Clinic & Hospital in Dubai.
