non-invasive cosmetic procedures up 5% in 2010

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), non-invasive procedures are up 5% in 2010.  Are you a part of the statistic?  Chances are your answer is yes.  So who is getting these cosmetic procedures done and what are the most popular procedures?  

Women, who made up the majority of the recipients of all surgical and nonsurgical procedures in 2010. Women under age 35 opted for less invasive procedures. The most common nonsurgical procedures for women under age 35 were Botox injections, hyaluronic fillers, microresurfacing and chemical peels.  Men also saw their share of surgical and nonsurgical procedures last year, with Botox, hyaluronic fillers, microresurfacing and chemical peels.  

Why the increase in non-invasive cosmetic procedures?  Millions of American want a youthful look.  People want to put their best foot, I mean face, forward these days with all of the competition in the workplace. More women (and men) want to age gracefully...and aging gracefully comes easier with a little help from their plastic surgeon, dermatologist or licensed skin care professional.

Cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures increased 5 percent in 2010.  According to the ASPS website, he top five minimally-invasive procedures were:  

• Botox
• Hyaluronic Fillers
• Laser Hair Reduction
• Microresurfacing
• Chemical Peels  

Botox is great for those frown lines on your forehead can add years to your appearance, and continues to be the anti-aging solution for millions of men and women who want to remove wrinkles. Botox treatments are quick and painless – a great choice for squeezing in a treatment over lunch hour or right after work.

  

Hyaluronic fillers are now readily available at many skincare centers and dermatologist offices, and offer several benefits for wrinkle removal. Dermal fillers can be used to plump up the lips, decrease lines and wrinkles on the face, and target key areas that are showing signs of aging like the cheeks.

   

Laser hair reduction treatments are a safe and effective way to remove unwanted hair, and many doctors offices may offer a customized treatment plan for the best results.  Laser hair reduction causes ‘injury’ to the hair follicle to inhibit growth, and it’s a relatively painless procedure with long-term results.

  

Microresurfacing can reduce the signs of aging by removing fine lines, dead skin cells, lighten pigmentation and stimulate collagen production.  The procedure involves exfoliation and vacuum which sweeps away the dead skin and debris.  Over time, this means you can effectively get rid of scars, fine lines and wrinkles, and keep the skin looking fresh and youthful after each treatment. A series of 3 – 6 treatments will help to achieve the most dramatic results, and these can be coupled with other facial treatments such as chemical peels.  Microresurfacing treatments can be performed in under 30 minutes, and with today’s innovative technology, you can enjoy regular treatments with little downtime.
  

Chemical peels can be used to treat several skin conditions, like acneic skin, fine lines and eliminating age spots and other pigmentation. Chemical peels range in potency from mild peels to intensive peels, which downtime can vary also.  Chemical peels can also now be combined with microresurfacing which enhances the overall results and decreases the social downtime.   

All of the procedures mentioned above can each give you great results alone, but will give you even better results when combined with the other treatments, along with clinical skin care and sunscreen.  For instance, if you are getting a series of microresurfacing treatments done for fine lines and pigment, having botox done will just enhance the results from the microresurfacing treatments.  It's a good idea to begin doing non-invasive procedures before all of the aging sets in, meaning it's easier to prevent aging than correct aging.

So how you know if these procedures are right for you?  Make an appointment for a consultation to go over the best options and treatment plan for you!  Just make sure you go to a physician, nurse or licensed skin care professional that has had extensive training in injectables, laser treatments, microresurfacing and/or chemical peels...or else you may not like what you see!