An Overview of Surgical and Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures

Cosmetic procedures help enhance facial features and other areas of the body and are focused on improving one's aesthetic appearance. Both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures are used depending on the desired alteration. While surgical procedures are used to make significant changes that require incisions and changes to the tissues under the skin, non-surgical cosmetic procedures are popular for minor corrections that boost one's image.

Common cosmetic surgical procedures

Among the most common cosmetic surgical procedures used to alter looks are the face lift, rhinoplasty or nose surgery to reshape the nose, ear surgery, brow lifts and eyelid surgery.A minimally invasive surgical procedure called liposuction is used to remove fat. Also common are tummy tucks, breast augmentation surgery and other procedures focused on improved almost every part of the body.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures

These are more popular than surgical procedures for several reasons. They cost less than surgical methods and can be performed as outpatient treatments, taking only a few hours. Naturally, the recovery time is quicker. Non-surgical procedures include the following:

Botox treatment reduces wrinkles and lines. Injected in low doses, the toxin relaxes the skin where lines appear between the brows on the forehead and in other skin areas.

Fillers injected in wrinkles minimize their appearance. An example is Hyaluronic acid, a water soluble protein which is used as a dermal filler to remove wrinkles, deep lines and to fill narrow lips and make them appear fuller. These are a popular facial renewal option for those who prefer non-surgical cosmetic procedures and are expected to last at least six months. Some surgeons also use silicon fillers but these produce long term side effects that can be harmful.

Chemical peels get rid of the outermost layer of the skin. These are used to treat superficial scars and skin damaged by the sun.  Once the top layer is removed, the skin renews itself to look fresh and youthful. An acidic solution is used to peel the skin and this proves effective in treating skin scarred or wrinkled by acne, aging or smoking.

Microdermabrasion treatment to eliminate dead skin. This procedure scrapes away the top layer of the skin by blasting the skin with minute crystals. It treats skin damage caused by discoloration, acne scars and fine lines.

Laser hair removal treatment helps with permanent hair reduction. The number of sessions depends on the area to be treated. With a hand held laser device, the surgeon focuses a pulsed light on the skin, aiming at the hair follicle, which makes the hair fall out in a couple of weeks.

Laser skin resurfacing reduces facial wrinkles, acne marks and scars and other skin damage.  It uses short, focused pulsating beams of light on the skin area to be treated. Working with precision, it removes layers of skin.