The signs of aging affect everyone, and you might be self-conscious about wrinkles or saggy skin. Many people opt for cosmetic surgery to look more youthful, but there are a lot of non-surgical alternatives that work just as good. In some cases, the positives of non-surgical methods are better than going under the knife. Here are the pros and cons of non-surgical facial treatments.
Laser skin resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that uses lasers to clear up any imperfections in the skin, such as wrinkles, spots, acne, and scars. A common goal in laser resurfacing is heating the skin to promote collagen growth. Collagen is one of the main components of the skin and helps to rejuvenate and keep the skin healthy.
Pros
- Rejuvenated facial skin
- Addresses stubborn skin imperfections and issues
- Great for wrinkles, scars, pigment, acne, and spots
Cons
- Patients can experience a painful or stinging sensation from the laser
- Swelling and redness in the skin during recovery
Facial fillers
These injectables are incredibly safe and utilized to smooth wrinkles and restore facial volume. A lot of fillers make use of hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body that works as a lubricant for the joints.
Pros
- Extremely quick treatment
- Smooths wrinkles and adds volume to areas of the face
- Many trusted options to choose from
- No significant downtime nor recovery time
Cons
- The patient may experience some discomfort at first
- May cause slight swelling and bruising
- Usually, results are not permanent
Botox and Dysport
These injectables make use of Botulinum Toxin Type A, a neurotoxin that blocks nerve signals to the facial muscles. That relaxes the muscles and smooths wrinkles and creases in the skin.
Botox has been FDA-approved since 2002 and is extremely safe. Dysport is an alternative to Botox, which also uses Botulinum Toxin Type A. They are remarkably similar to each other, from the results they produce to their downtimes and recovery times.
Pros
- Extremely quick procedure
- Great for addressing more prominent wrinkles and lines
- Adds volume to areas of the face
- Botox has been trusted for 30+ years
Cons
- The patient may experience some discomfort at first
- May cause slight swelling and bruising
- Results are not permanent
Kybella
Kybella is an injectable solution that eats excess fat in the neck and under the chin. It can be helpful with reducing turkey neck and producing a more attractive jawline. Not only that but it can even improve breathing during sleep.
Pros
- Permanently reduces neck fat and double chins
- Accentuates the jawline
- Tightens the skin on the neck
Cons
- The patient may experience some discomfort at first
- May cause slight swelling and bruising
- Results are not immediate
Non-surgical “liquid facelift”
As opposed to a normal facelift, the liquid facelift makes use of dermal fillers and Botox to smooth the skin and essentially create the desired “lift” effect. Just like the surgical version, it can also be paired with other procedures, like the non-surgical rhinoplasty, to really accentuate the results.
Pros
- Results are on par with a surgical facelift
- Restores a youthful appearance
- Increases self-confidence
- Relatively quick procedure
- Little to no recovery time
Cons
- Results are not permanent.
- The patient may experience temporary discomfort.
- Some patients experience redness or soreness.
Non-surgical rhinoplasty
Like the non-surgical facelift, the non-surgical rhinoplasty procedure makes use of dermal fillers and Botox to effectively reshape the nose to the desired result. These fillers can hide a bump on nose, add definition to the nose, or change the shape of the nose in another way for an aesthetically-pleasing profile.
Pros
- Similar results to surgical rhinoplasty
- Relatively quick procedure
Cons
- Results are not permanent
- The patient may experience temporary discomfort
- Some patients experience redness or soreness
Non-surgical lip augmentation
Lip augmentation is a procedure that adds volume to the lips and plumps them up. Typically, implants are used to add fullness, however, non-surgical lip augmentation uses facial fillers to achieve similar results.
Pros
- Fuller and more voluminous lips
- Relatively quick procedure
- Results can last up to a year
Cons
- Results are not permanent
- The patient may experience temporary discomfort
- Some patients experience swelling
Non-surgical eyelift
In a non-surgical eyelift, injectables like Botox, Restylane, and Juvéderm are injected to smooth wrinkles and add volume under the eyes to address bags and hollowness.
Pros
- Smooths wrinkles near and around the eyes
- Addresses bags under the eyes
- Relatively quick procedure
Cons
- May not address deeper wrinkles as effectively as surgery might
- Results are not permanent
- The patient may experience temporary discomfort
- Some patients experience swelling
If you are experiencing wrinkles, saggy skin, spots, and other signs of aging and wish to improve your skin’s condition, you need to entrust your skin to the right surgeon who knows what they are doing. This professional will tell you the pros and cons of various treatments, and which one is best for your unique situation.
About the writer
Put your skin in the good hands of Dr. Joseph Russell, a top South Carolina facial plastic surgeon, and expert in both surgical and non-surgical procedures. Is it your time to act to get the best non-surgical facial rejuvenation available to feel happier in front of the mirror and other people again? Call (843) 576-3302 today to schedule a consultation and start on the path to confidence in your appearance, without the hassle of surgery.