Plastic surgery is an ever-evolving field, with new procedures continuously entering the medical profession. Your plastic surgeon may recommend surgical or non-surgical procedures, depending on your needs and preferences.
Here’s an in-depth look at non-surgical options your surgeon may recommend and some of the reasons why they may do so:
Non-surgical Options
Non-surgical plastic surgery treatments don’t involve incisions. They have a fast recovery time and can be conducted on an outpatient basis. These procedures may be ideal if you’re looking for a subtle improvement in your appearance. Common options include:
Juvederm
This is a dermal filler made with hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the human body that stimulates collagen production. Collagen helps plump the skin. As one gets older, the level of hyaluronic acid production lowers, consequently causing a decrease in collagen.
This then results in signs of aging like wrinkles and sagging skin. Injecting hyaluronic acid can help add volume to facial structures.
Your plastic surgeon may recommend Juvederm treatment if you want to improve contouring around the nose, mouth, lips, and cheeks. Your surgeon will likely start by marking the areas you want to improve.
They’ll then inject Juvederm into the marked areas and massage them to promote even distribution. This process can take anywhere between a few minutes to several hours, depending on the treatment areas.
Botox
Botox is a treatment involving botulinum toxin injections. Botulinum is a neurotoxin that prevents signals from the nerves from reaching the muscles. This keeps muscles from contracting or tensing up. When injected, it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, allowing you to achieve younger-looking skin.
Your plastic surgeon may recommend Botox if you want to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines around the forehead, eyes, jawline, neck, chin, and nose.
This is an outpatient procedure as it’s non-invasive and only takes a few minutes or hours. It takes several days for the treatment to take full effect, and its results can last for several months.
Reasons for Non-surgical Options
Non-surgical options may be suitable if there’s no need for surgical treatment. Here are some reasons why your surgeon may recommend non-invasive procedures:
Minimize Downtime and Recovery
Non-surgical options require minimal downtime and recovery periods because they don’t involve incisions.
Your surgeon may recommend them if you want an aesthetic solution that fits seamlessly into your schedule, as you only need to take a few hours off from your daily activities for treatment.
They may be suitable if you lead a fast-paced lifestyle or have responsibilities you can’t postpone for a long period.
Natural Looking Results
Non-surgical options provide gradual, natural-looking results. Your surgeon may recommend them if you’re looking for a subtle way to enhance your appearance.
They may also recommend them if you want to experiment with different treatments. Botox wears down after several months, and Juvederm is reversible, so you can easily adjust the effects of your treatment.
Combining Surgical and Non-surgical Treatments
Your surgeon may recommend combining surgical and non-surgical procedures to enhance the effectiveness of treatments. They may recommend Botox or fillers after a facelift.
A facelift can eliminate fat deposits in your face, and Botox or fillers can improve skin texture and volume. Using surgical and non-surgical treatments in this case can result in younger-looking skin.
Your surgeon may also recommend non-surgical treatments to help with maintenance. Scheduling a few non-surgical treatments a year after undergoing surgery can help you maintain your results for longer periods. Let your surgeon know about all the plastic surgery procedures you’ve undergone to help them recommend the best follow-up solutions.
Explore Non-surgical Options With Your Plastic Surgeon
A plastic surgeon can offer surgical and non-surgical treatments. They can recommend a non-surgical option if your specific issue doesn’t require surgery, if you need a solution with minimal downtime, and if you want a subtle enhancement.
Non-surgical options may also be complementary solutions to surgical treatments, as they can enhance and maintain their results. Seek a reputable plastic surgeon in your area for all cosmetic procedures.
