Cosmetic Surgeons: Non Surgical Cosmetic Procedures Requests Increasing
Non surgical cosmetic surgery procedures appear to be on the rise from young women, says a local cosmetic surgeon. Whether this trend is in response to the less-is-better mind set of the new generation, or a result of recessionary cash flow woes, the less expensive alternatives are a growing segment in most plastic surgery practices.
Non-invasive procedures tend to be less risky, less costly, and have much faster recovery times. All these factors are important to a working woman, who can not afford the time away from her profession to recover from a full face lift if a laser or ultrasound face lift will give the same general effect.
Many of the non surgical procedures are newer technologies born of lasers, ultrasound, and chemical compounds that weren’t available even 20 years ago. Will this trend replace cosmetic surgery? Not likely, since the non invasive procedures tend to have a limited life. Dermal fillers, laser and ultrasound therapy all promote regeneration of the existing skin and dermal structure, but need to be renewed to continue to work.
Memories of the photos of Michael Jackson, Priscilla Presley and Tara Reid, make young people hesitant to start down the road of cosmetic surgery, if a non surgical option is available. They feel that they can opt for surgery once the non invasive procedures fail to give them the desired results.
Your plastic surgeon will explain non surgical cosmetic procedures and the corresponding plastic surgery options to you, the steps of the procedures, the risks, side effects, complications and limitations, and of course the costs. Then you can discuss which kind of procedure will help you to best meet your goals.
Some of the different techniques for face or body areas include dermal filler or silicone injections, lasers, and ultrasound. Side effects can include redness, swelling, blisters, bumps and rare cases of surface irregularities. Ensure that you speak to your doctor and get as much information as possible about non-surgical cosmetic procedures before making a decision. Here is a more complete list to help sort out your options.
Non Surgical Cosmetic Surgery Procedures:
Laser Treatment
Laser technology is used to treat a variety of cosmetic problems, from hair and skin restoration to the treatment of cellulite. A hand held laser device generates radio frequency waves that penetrate the lower layers of the skin and generate heat. When used for liposuction, the heat generated with the radio frequency waves then breaks up fat particles for removal. When used for skin care, the heat from the laser can spur collagen regeneration to rebuild a stronger underlayer to the skin, revitalizing skin texture and giving more youthful features.
Body Thermage
The Body Thermage helps tighten, shape and firm areas of the body including baggy or loose skin on the abdomen, arms, thighs and the buttocks. Radiothermaplasty can also improve the appearance of skin damaged by diet, smoking, environment, or sun damage.
Botox® injections directly into the muscles to relax the tension that causes moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles and smoothes the appearance of facial skin. In addition, Botox® can treat severe headaches, excessive sweating and other conditions.
After an acid solution is applied to the skin, it removes an outer layer of cells, which exfoliates the skin and gives it a healthy glow. There are three types of chemical face peel: superficial, medium-depth and deep peel. More aggressive chemical peels have longer lasting results, but have a longer recovery period. Chemical facial peels effects are limited, they don’t correct the size of pores, improve sagging skin, or remove deep scarring.
Collagen is a dermal filler which is used to treat minor imperfections in facial skin, including wrinkles, laughter lines, crow’s feet, and even acne scars. Collagen injections can also be used to create fuller lips and cheeks, or can be used to treat other areas of the body like the chest, back, and neck.
During a dermabrasion treatment, the plastic surgeon uses a special “sanding” device to remove the upper layers of skin and unveil a healthier layer below. The new layer of skin emerges smoother, without many of the scars and blemishes that marred it previously.
Fractional resurfacing stimulates collagen, and is used to remove dark pigmentation problems like age spots, freckles and melasma, as well as reducing wrinkles and acne scarring. A hand held laser resurfaces the skin so that as the healing process begins, new cells generate leaving the skin smoother and softer.
Restylane, Juvederm – Hyaluronic acid based
Restylane and Juvederm are the most recognized of the hyaluronic acid facial fillers. They are injected into facial wrinkles to ease some of the signs of aging, lines and wrinkles. All hyaluronic acid products are temporary, lasting less than a year, though individual results may vary. The risk of allergic reaction is minimal since the products are synthetic.
IPL Hair Removal
During IPL (intense pulsed light) hair removal the heat energy damages the cells at the root of the hair, thus preventing further growth. It provides a long term solution to unwanted facial and body hair.
Laser resurfacing uses the heat from the laser to remove the upper layers of the skin on your face to destroy the surface layer of skin and expose the lower layer (the dermis). This stimulates the growth of new collagen fibers to reveal newer, healthier skin.
Laser Skin Tightening
Laser skin tightening uses a hand-held infrared laser to tighten skin by heating the collagen under the skin’s surface. This non-invasive, non-surgical process causes the skin to contract, stimulating the production of new collagen. The resulting tightening of the skin reduces the appearance of wrinkles for a more youthful look.
Mesotherapy
Mesotherapy involves multiple injections into the subcutaneous fat. A formula of pharmaceutical and homeopathic medications, plant extracts, vitamins, amino acids and other ingredients dissolves the fat cells so they can be passed out of the body.
Micro-dermabrasion treatment blasts a stream of fine micro particles across the face which loosens and partially removes the outermost epidermal layer of the skin. This increases the production of new skin cells to help improve the appearance of the skin.
Artefill – Polymethyl-methacrylate microspheres
ArteFill is a permanent injectable implant material used to reduce the depth of nasolabial folds, or smile lines. When ArteFill is injected, the microspheres ArteFill contains a combination of microspheres suspended in a carrier gel provide a permanent support structure under the skin to prevent further wrinkling.
Scar revision is the name given to a range of surgical and non-surgical techniques used to reduce scar tissue and blend it in with the surrounding skin area. Scar revision techniques can use laser therapy, micro-derm abrasion or any number of other non-surgical means. While these cannot completely remove evidence of a scar, keloid scars, hypertrophic scars, contractures and facial scars can be vastly improved.
SmartLipo – Slimlipo – Laser Lipo Treatments
Laser Lipo treatments like SmartLipo and SlimLipo use a laser and cannula suction instrument to dissolve localized pockets of fat so it is more easily removed in the liposuction procedure. This simultaneously tightens the surrounding skin. Laser Lipo can be employed almost anywhere on the body, including arms, neck and under the chin. The low level laser energy also stimulates the production of new collagen to give a slimmer, more defined appearance.
Radiesse – Soft tissue augmentation and fillers
Radiesse™ is a synthetic dermal filler used to treat skin folds and wrinkles by means of soft tissue augmentation. Radiesse™ and other soft dermal fillers provide a matrix into which the body’s own tissue can grow and add volume, when injected into the deep dermis and subcutis.
Thermage skin tightening procedure uses radiofrequency (RF) energy directed beneath the skin to smooth, contour and tighten the appearance of the skin. Thermage can be used to treat the face, neck and body. It is a non-invasive procedure designed for tightening lax and sagging skin to restore a more youthful appearance.
The list of non surgical cosmetic surgery procedures has more than doubled in the last 5 years. Find out if there is a viable alternative to surgery and compare the risks and benefits between the two procedures. Non surgical cosmetic surgery may be the the right choice for you.
