Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

Almost 16 million minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures were performed in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That’s nearly nine times the number of cosmetic surgeries that were done over the same time.

Minimally-invasive treatments are trending in a big way for a few easy-to-appreciate reasons:

• They’re fast
• There’s little discomfort
• They don’t require general anesthesia
• There’s little to no downtime
• They’re economical

The “nonsurgical facelift” is kind of an umbrella term that’s used to describe a combination of minimally-invasive and nonsurgical procedures. The specific combination is tailored to the patient’s needs, but the general goal is to rejuvenate the appearance—and to do it much more quickly than a traditional facelift, which typically entails surgery, general anesthesia, and recovery time.

The various treatments that comprise a nonsurgical facelift can address anything from fine lines and deep creases to loose skin and large pores to acne scarring and sunken cheeks. These are a few of the most common elements:

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are kind of the core of the nonsurgical facelift because a few injections can accomplish so much. By plumping thin lips and sunken cheeks, temples, and under-eye areas, dark shadows vanish and take years of aging with them. , but the plumping and smoothing derived from other dermal fillers can last from six to 12 months.

Botox

Botox, can also create definition and smooth tissues for a wrinkle-free look. The benefits of Botox last about three months.

Fat Injections

You can also use your own fat to also address loss of fullness in your face as you age.  The fat tissue is removed from another area of the body through liposuction, and reinjected into the face to enhance volume. Those cells will be naturally incorporated, leaving youthful contours that will last for years.

NeckTite (Radiofrequency Lift)

Radiofrequency lifts are being featured more prominently in the nonsurgical facelift as a means to instantly—and permanently—redefine the lower portion of the face and neck. It’s a minimally-invasive procedure where small incisions are made under the chin and behind the ears. A fine probe is then threaded under the skin, which will essentially melt the underlying fat and tighten the skin around it.

Chemical peels, dermabrasion, and microdermabrasion and Lasers

A chemical peel helps create a glowing complexion by shrinking large pores and improving the overall quality of the skin. While dermabrasion and microdermabrasion resurface and exfoliate the skin. As dry, damaged, and dead tissue is shed, fresher skin comes to the surface. And as it does, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation fade.

Most of the treatments will need to be repeated every few months for the best results. But, the more diligent you are about it, the less you may need in the future. The hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers, for example, increases the body’s own collagen production, meaning that, over time, you should need less of it—making a cost-effective procedure even more attractive.

A survey conducted not too long ago by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that two-thirds of those polled were self-conscious about their double chins.

The technical name for it is submental fullness. The causes vary. In some, it’s just something they’re born with, passed down through genetics. In others, it can appear later in life, as a result of aging or weight gain. Either way, the double chin is one of those conditions that never really goes away, no matter how much you diet or exercise.

For a long time, the only available treatment for a double chin was liposuction, which struck many as fairly invasive considering the size and location of the area of concern. But a new option entered the picture a few years ago, and it’s completely revolutionized the experience.

When Kybella is injected into the fat beneath the chin, it destroys the fat cells, which results in a significant reduction in the fullness under the chin. It’s fast, it’s noninvasive, it’s permanent, and there’s little to no downtime.

Approved by the FDA in 2015, Kybella uses a synthetic form of deoxycholic acid, which aids fat digestion. When Kybella’s injected into subcutaneous fat, the acid breaks down fat in the targeted locations.

In more than 20 clinical studies involving over 1,600 patients treated with Kybella, nearly 70 percent reported physical and emotional improvement.

Kybella’s effectiveness in treating other small pockets of fat, beyond the double chin, is being investigated. Studies involving the upper knees and the roll of fat that can be present under the bra line or between the bra and armpit are underway.

What’s the procedure like?

You’ll receive a series of injections over about 15 to 20 minutes. How many injections you’ll receive and treatments you’ll need will depend on the amount of fat under your chin and your aesthetic goals. In the studies, 59 percent of patients underwent six treatments. Each treatment is given at least a month apart, but there are patient’s that love the results after one treatment for a double chin.

Is there any downtime?

There can be some minor swelling, numbness around the treated area following the injections, but it’s usually short-lived and nothing that would prevent you from, say, returning to work following a treatment or running some errands.

Your double chin will improve gradually over the next few weeks as the dissolved fat is cleared naturally. And within a few months, maybe even less, it’ll be as though it never existed.