It’s no secret that elective cosmetic surgery, or “plastic surgery” as it is called, has a big impact on beauty standards and how people achieve them. Options for fighting aging are available, people have gained the ability to reshape features to their liking, and alternatives for losing fat have been presented.
The popularity of cosmetic procedures has virtually 200% increase in the last 20 years alone. There are several potential reasons for this. Increasing availability and advances in procedures aren’t any doubt part of the equation. There is also public attitude and acceptance of this procedure to consider. People are usually driven to improve themselves, and if you can change something about yourself for the better, why not do it? The stories of celebrities and other icons who successfully performed the procedure have undoubtedly had an impact on public acceptance as well.
There’s one other big factor that has undeniably led to the increase in procedures—cosmetic surgery does not must be invasive in most cases. Procedures that require little downtime have increased in popularity over the past few years, and even though women still experience facial procedures more often than men, the trend has become significantly more popular for men since 2005. Non-invasive options are attractive overall because of their much lower risk compared to invasive procedures and their quick recovery. The following are some of the most popular trends.
Type A botulism
This is a form of botulism toxin, derived from bacteria, that is often used as an injection in cosmetic procedures. This is usually a facial procedure meant to temporarily get rid of wrinkles or other fine lines. It is often used to reduce or eliminate frown lines, forehead creases, and crow’s feet. It can even be used to soften jawlines or remove neck bands.
The venom essentially prevents muscle contractions, which are a way of controlling lines on the face. Due to this property, the toxin version can even be used to treat muscle spasms. Common side effects can include headache and temporary muscle weakness near the injection site.
CoolSculpting
This is a non-invasive fat reduction treatment. While it does not remove as much fat as its more invasive cousin, liposuction, it does appeal to many people because of the ease of the procedure. But what is CoolSculpting appropriate? This is largely a procedure that reduces fat by freezing it under the skin. Results can be seen within weeks to months, and the procedure is popular with both men and ladies.
Treatment is straightforward, and patients can return to normal life soon after. The applicator is placed on the target area to remove fat, and the treatment generally takes about an hour. As long as it’s under the applicator, the patient is free to do anything during treatment.
Laser Hair Removal
A really concentrated light can be used to target hair follicles. The heat from the light damages the follicle, making growth harder. While one session does not lead to permanent hair removal, it does make it grow more slowly, and repeated treatments have the potential to get rid of it.
Ultherapy
This is an more and more popular procedure that is usually treated as non-invasive alternative to face lift. It is normally used to tighten the skin of the face and neck. It works by channeling ultrasound energy to increase collagen production. Almost no preparation is critical before treatment, even though some people feel a bit sick, so taking pain medicine beforehand may be a good idea. As with other non-invasive procedures, there is normally no downtime after treatment.
As cosmetic procedures become more and more creative and convenient, we will likely see their popularity continue to grow. The idea of looking as young as you feel continues to become an ever closer reality.
