Katrin Dreissigacker is on a mission to transform the way we age – not by fighting time, but by working with it. As a pioneer in non-Invasive aesthetic procedures, she focuses on naturally enhancing how we look, feel and perform every day. Her approach taps into the body’s innate regenerative potential – aiming not for artificial change, but for deep, sustainable vitality from within.
You’ve spoken out against the promise of „forever young.” What does „age-appropriate beauty” mean to you?
„True beauty harmonises with your life journey, not erases it. I reject the concept of „forever young” which creates unrealistic expectations and often leads to unnatural results. Instead, I champion age-appropriate beauty: an appearance that reflects health and freshness while honouring your life experience. My goal is for patients to look confidently in the mirror each morning, be proud of their appearance, and have the courage to make the right choices throughout the day for their overall well-being. This honest approach fosters lasting confidence rather than a fleeting pursuit of youth.”
Her global training across Switzerland, South Africa and Brazil also shaped her hands-on innovations in aesthetic medicine. „Medical wisdom transcends borders,” she reflects, „but innovation happens when we question established practices.” Early in her career, she noticed that sharp needles often caused unnecessary tissue trauma. This led her to pioneer the use of the blunt cannula, a technique that moves smoothly through connective tissue, reduces damage, and allows more precise distribution of hyaluronic acid. The result is a subtler, more natural enhancement. „Many years ago, a journalist referred to me as the ‘Queen of Needles.’ It’s a name that’s stuck ever since.”
For Dr. Dreissigacker, true skin longevity begins deep beneath the surface. She believes it’s not about miracle fixes or passing trends, but about consistency and inner balance. In her view, lasting results stem from a comprehensive approach that nourishes the body and activates its natural regenerative capacity.
This includes proper nutrition, targeted supplements, adequate sleep, regular exercise, stress management and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to stimulate cellular renewal.
Source of image: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A
When these elements work in synergy, she explains, the skin isn’t just superficially improved – it’s given the internal environment it needs to regenerate authentically and sustain its vitality over time.
Her fascination with cellular renewal is rooted not only in science, but in personal experience. After the loss of her father, she turned to the mountains as both refuge and revelation. „I feel enlightened when I’m around snow and in the mountains” she says. What began as a healing process soon evolved into a path of scientific discovery and personal breakthrough. Ski touring, which she took up at 35, became her way of exploring human resilience – not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. It was during these high-altitude adventures that she first encountered hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), a method that delivers pure oxygen under increased pressure to accelerate cellular recovery and boost performance. For her, HBOT became more than a therapeutic tool; it was a key to climbing higher – literally and metaphorically. „At 55, I reached my highest-ever elevation while ski touring on Mount Olympus” she recalls. „Standing on that ancient peak, I felt as if I had ascended to the realm of the gods.”
Today, HBOT remains the innovation she’s most excited about – not just for its scientific promise, but for its practical potential.
„Oxygen therapy works at the cellular level, increasing stem cell production by up to 800%, repairing senescent cells and improving mitochondrial function”
-she explains. „Used consistently, it can slow, and in some cases reverse, the ageing process.”
To bring this therapy into everyday life, Dreissigacker and her team at EpigenEdit have developed a proprietary portable soft-shell hyperbaric chamber for home and office use – a step toward making advanced longevity tools more accessible beyond clinical settings.
Katrin Dreissigacker
As co-founder of the EpigenEdit Academy, how do you translate complex epigenetic science into personalized, everyday rituals that support longevity?
„Danijela (Danijela Schenker – longevity consultant, co-founder of EpigenEdit) and I design personalised, practical and accessible longevity programmes to improve our patients’ daily lives while building a foundation for vibrant years ahead. We always go the extra mile for our patients because we genuinely care. We pride ourselves on finding solutions for our patients, often thinking outside the traditional medical box. We also cut through a lot of the noise in the longevity world, explaining complex science in simple terms.”
The expert sees epigenetics as a scientifically grounded, holistic approach to improving healthspan through lifestyle choices. Since ageing stems from the gradual decline in cellular repair, she believes that everyday habits – from nutrition to stress management – can significantly influence how well our genes function. At EpigenEdit, these insights are translated into personalised, practical protocols tailored to each patient’s health profile and routines. The goal is not perfection, but consistency – building habits that integrate smoothly into real life.
„We’ve found that small, sustainable daily practices shift epigenetics far more powerfully than occasional extreme interventions.”
Katrin Dreissigacker and Danijela Schenker
Mindset, Dreissigacker argues, is just as critical to longevity as any biological protocol. Appearance, she notes, powerfully shapes how we feel – not just about ourselves, but about ageing itself. „Patients often come to us wanting to look ‘fresher,’ but leave with a completely different attitude to life” she says. The process begins with education: by understanding the cellular mechanisms of ageing, patients shift from passive acceptance to active participation. Instead of strict rules, they’re guided toward intentional daily choices that reflect their own rhythm and goals. „We create a glow that comes from within” the longevity expert adds. The result is sustainable behavioural change powered by knowledge and self-agency – not fear of ageing or superficial ideals. In her words,
“longevity isn’t something to chase, but something you live every day.”
In the end, science alone isn’t enough – at least not according to Dr. Dreissigacker. She believes that the true power of longevity lies in human connection. „Time is our most precious resource, which is why we dedicate ours so generously to each patient” she explains. While much of modern medicine has become rushed and transactional, EpigenEdit offers something rare: time, presence, and deep personal attention. „Our patients constantly tell us that this level of attention and personalisation is what sets us apart in the crowded longevity space. For us no path is too far, and no question is too complex.” This ethos is more than a professional choice, it’s personal history. Raised in a small East German village of just 400 people, Dreissigacker learned early on that resilience is a necessity. „Where others found obstacles, I always found a way” she recalls. But just as important was what she discovered about people. „I learned the value of human connection from a very young age” Decades and thousands of patients later, that lesson still guides her practice. „What I do goes far beyond making people look better. It’s about helping them feel more confident and empowered to live their life to the fullest.”
Katrin Dreissigacker
In what ways do you think longevity will redefine beauty ideals and how we relate to aging?
„Longevity science is fundamentally rewriting our relationship with ageing, moving us from fear to empowerment. What began as a scientific curiosity has become a cultural movement, driven by groundbreaking research in epigenetics that reveals our genes aren’t our destiny.”
“This shift in understanding is revolutionising beauty ideals, moving us away from the pursuit of youth toward the enhancement of vitality at every age. In my three decades as a pioneer in aesthetic medicine, I’ve witnessed an evolution from patients wanting to look younger to wanting to look fresher and more vibrant at their current age. The future of beauty will increasingly focus on indicators of cellular health rather than the absence of wrinkles. Glowing skin, energy, mental clarity, and functional movement will become our new aesthetic goals. This transformation means we’ll increasingly view ageing not as something to combat but as a process we can actively influence and improve.”
If you could share one message with our readers, what would it be?
„The choices you make today can start rewriting your future tomorrow. Be committed, be consistent and find your snow!”
This article contains product placement.
Author: Révész Bogi
(Featured image: Katrin Dreissigacker)
