Having A Facelift Is So Early 2000s!

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the use of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures has surpassed traditional surgical procedures among patients.  As recently as 2013, the Society reported the performance of 6.3-million Botox treatments and only 133,000 facelift procedures.  While the number of facelift procedures hasn’t dramatically changed since the early 2000s, the number of Botox procedures has increased by 700\\\\% since the year 2000.

Rise of Non-Surgical Procedures

The increasing obsession among Americans to stay youthful looking has led doctors to improve upon existing cosmetic procedures.  The rise in the use of non-surgical facial rejuvenation is in response to the demand for cosmetic options with less “downtime” following the procedure.

The hectic daily life of patients is one big reason they desire less recovery time following a procedure.  Traditional surgical procedures such as facelifts or a neck lift require a lengthy recovery period.  Finding the time to schedule a procedure, while also setting aside 2-4 weeks of recovery time, is difficult for almost anyone living in today’s fast-paced world.  Botox, as well as dermal fillers, are certainly a more convenient option that offers quicker results.  They can be administered during an in-office visit with little to no downtime at all.

Popular Non-Surgical Procedures

Thanks to advances in non-invasive procedures, there are a variety of non-surgical facial rejuvenation options available to the public including

• Botox – Botox injection results are created by blocking the nerve impulses that cause the muscles to contract. This relaxes the muscles and makes the surrounding wrinkles on the skin smoother. The cosmetic results of the procedure are typically seen in two to four days and each treatment lasts for approximately four to six months.
• Soft Tissue Fillers – Fillers work to restore lost volume that often happens due to the aging process. Fillers are used to fill-in areas of the face such as the lips as well as minimize the appearance of deep scars and wrinkles.
• Chemical Peels - Chemical peels are a non-surgical technique used to improve the appearance of the skin on the face, neck and hands. The procedure peels away the layers of the damaged outer skin and speeds up cellular turnover to promote new cell growth and bring about a fresh layer of new and healthy skin cells.  During a chemical peel procedure, the appropriate chemical solution is applied to the skin. The chemical solution reacts with the skin and causes it to blister. Within a short period of time, the old skin will peel off. Depending on the severity of the condition being treated, the procedure can be repeated in one to four week intervals. Chemical peels have a variety of benefits which include improvement of the texture, color, look and feel of the skin as well as the reduction of fine lines located around the eyes and mouth and the reduction of wrinkles due to sun damage, normal aging and some hereditary factors.
• Microdermabrasion - Microdermabrasion is one of the most popular non-surgical skin care procedures available. Microdermabrasion treatments utilize a piece of equipment that emits a pressurized stream of crystals onto the surface of the skin. The procedure is used to treat several skin conditions including acne, stretch marks, acne scars, age spots, enlarged pores, wrinkles and rosacea.
• Laser Resurfacing - Laser resurfacing procedures are designed to target the specific area being treated by focusing a short, concentrated pulsating beam of light on them. Laser resurfacing procedures use carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers and erbium lasers. The procedure reduces wrinkles, eliminates skin irregularities and blemishes and also reduces the appearance of acne.
• Cellulite Therapy - Cellulite therapy is a skin treatment designed to remove cellulite and fat deposits that exist under the surface of the skin. Cellulite therapy uses an ultrasound machine that generates unfocused and low-pressure waves to stimulate the production of collagen. In addition, the ultrasound machine has been known to improve the metabolism of fat cells within the treated areas as well.

Non-Invasive Procedures Give Patients Options

Another reason why more people are choosing non-surgical procedures is the options available to them as opposed to traditional surgery. 

From Botox to smoothing out the wrinkles to enhancing the lips or using dermal fillers to minimize the look of facial scars, there is a wide variety of choices available to cover almost any perceived “imperfection” on the face of a patient.  People love to have options in every aspect of their lives and current cosmetic procedures offer more choices than ever before.

Non-invasive procedures such as non-surgical facial rejuvenation don’t carry the same stigma as traditional medical procedures (like facelifts).  In fact, many people consider them a special way to pamper themselves after a stressful day at work.  The procedures not only improve their self-image but they also help them relax and unwind from their hectic daily routine,

While many people are interested in options that make them look younger, they might be reluctant to commit to “recovery heavy” surgical procedures.  The rise of non-invasive techniques has brought about procedures, such as Botox, where the effects of the treatment are temporary.  Many of these procedures have results that could last for several months before a follow-up treatment is needed.  Rather than commit to a permanent change through surgery, fillers and injections allow patients to get a preview of their desired look without much in the way of risks.  Many patients like their results so much that they adopt the non-invasive techniques as a regular part of their beauty routine.  These procedures allow them to decide if they like the results well enough to opt for a more permanent change that can be made later through surgery.