Even with the most expensive and effective skin care treatments available, we are still faced with the inevitable signs of aging that threaten to chip away at our self-esteem: wrinkles, fine lines, and puffiness.
It is terrible to look in the mirror one day and recognize that your skin is no longer what it once was. So it’s okay to ask, “how can I look younger?” or “what procedures will reduce these wrinkles?” We are increasingly faced with advertising for plastic surgery, which is not affordable for many.
Facelifts have been performed in many ways throughout history. But increased public awareness about non-surgical alternatives has recently come about through the rise of alternative beauty therapies worldwide. In fact, according to the American Society of plastic surgeons in 2019, Botox, soft tissue filler, and chemical peels respectively outdid the list of less invasive methods of cosmetic procedures.
Well, we’ll walk you through some of the best options for non-surgical anti-aging products on the market.
1. Microneedling
Lately, medical practitioners are more focused on “lunchtime procedures .”Why? Because they can’t make too many alterations out of the office, the downtime of those procedures is way less than the time they need to work on someone’s face. So, they are turning to this procedure.
The micro-needling technique is gaining popularity in the world of dermatology. It is a practical non-surgical approach that helps to rejuvenate the skin and tighten the fine lines. It can create beautiful skin without any pain, scars and a reasonable cost of about $100 to $700 for every session. However, you may need some more sessions to get the desired outcomes.
Micro-needling is proven to be a safe, effective, and relatively affordable way to help you look years younger. The plastic surgeon pricks the lower layers of the skin with some tiny needles to offer heat-based energy during the micro-needling process. As a result, it helps stimulate the body’s production of collagen for various skin conditions ranging from acne to stretch marks to wrinkles.
After the procedure, in rare cases, you may take longer to heal, have scarring and infections. Common minor complications are little irritations and redness.
2. Botox
While the idea of getting plastic surgery for your face may be more than a little daunting, you may find yourself looking for alternatives to doing something. Could Botox be the answer? It’s possible. Botox has been around for nearly twenty years, and as a non-surgical treatment option, it’s something that millions of people across the world have used over time. Often used by those in their 30s or 40s, Botox can drastically improve the way they look without having to go through plastic surgery.
Botulinum toxin, Botox’s active component, can smooth the skin and reduce wrinkles in other parts of the human body. Various forms of botulinum toxin are used to paralyze muscle activity artificially. The botulinum after that eliminates the wrinkles and facial lines in a day or three.
The price varies with the area or vial. With vial, it costs approximately $12 to $15, and by the area, it might cost from $450 to $800.
3. Fillers
Fillers are the most natural way to make an area, like the area around your mouth or your nasolabial folds, look smoother, more defined, and generally younger. It’s an excellent alternative for patients who don’t want to undergo more invasive procedures.
Usually, fillers fill the creases and lines or the open area with a substance. They add volume to the area, which plumps, lift and smooth it to look younger. Besides, fillers are semi-permanent, which means that the body dissolves them over a few months. Some side effects are redness, bumps, swelling, and bruising, which subsides with time.
Well, what are some of the filler types? There are calcium hydroxylapatite and hyaluronic acid fillers. Hyaluronic acid filler is the popular type that provokes collagen production to rejuvenate the skin.
Not to forget synthetic fillers that last longer, unlike collagen fillers which may last for only a month and stimulate allergies. Collagen is mainly extracted from cows in purified form. To get an injectable filler, you may have to part with about $500 to $800 for a syringe, and it takes about a year or one year and a half.
There are some common dermal fillers today. They are Restylane, Radiesse, Sculptra, and Juvaderm, each with different properties and uses.
There are several reasons why people might need these treatments. It could result from aging, restoring volume and helping with wrinkles, or filling out hollow areas. The effect can be anywhere from a few weeks to months, depending on the type and the individual’s unique needs and response.
4. Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a procedure that can be done in a doctor’s office. It activates a laser to target the skin and remove the built-up tissue around the scars, wrinkles, or other areas to improve their appearance.
This cosmetic procedure is also the best option for patients who want minimal downtime and have low skin laxity.
Well, how is it done?
The procedure uses a laser to remove the skin’s outer layer one after the other by precision to help rejuvenate your complexion and help reverse aging and give you a more youthful appearance. The laser removes irregularities in your skin to smooth out any pore size and minimize acne treatments, scars, and wrinkles. Eventually, it creates a clean, tight layer of skin that can help you maintain a fresh, youthful appearance.
The process takes approximately a week to dry up and peel, and for the next ten days, the skin will be completely healed. However, there are side effects to it. You can burn, scar, and alter skin pigmentation, sores, and even bacterial infections.
The total cost is approximately $2500. You can try it out!
4. Ultherapy
Ultherapy is a non-surgical facelift alternative that uses ultrasound to heat, lift and support the sites underneath the skin surface of your face. As a result, it stimulates the natural creation of collagen. Ultherapy counters time effects and skin gravity. It can be done every six months to a year because it takes some time to produce collagen.
It is a facial treatment technique for lifting skin, contouring facial features, and tightening sagging skin on the neck, face, etc., making an individual look youthful. The treatment is quite costly as compared to other non-surgical procedures. It’s about $3000, yet one needs three of the same treatment.
But the best thing about therapy treatment is that you can still have your youthful look even after a year. Some side effects could be swelling, tingling, tenderness, and rarely numbness and bruising.
5. Thread lifting
A thread lift is a non-surgical procedure that restores volume to the cheeks by pulling up on the tissue with a suture. The face lifting thread is strategically placed under the skin through an incision inside the mouth to restrict movement. This type of non-surgical surgery can last up to 5 years, depending on the type of threads used.
Now, surgeons lift the skin with “threads” that are barely visible. It feels more comfortable on your skin, mimicking the skin’s natural elasticity. This is a great way to replace your old facelift.
6. Thermeage
Thermage is the best non-invasive procedure that takes 45 minutes for tightening loose skin on the face, neck, and upper arms. This is because it uses short, controlled bursts of radio-frequency energy, which stimulates collagen production by your skin, helping it regain its elasticity.
Thermage FDA-cleared technology for this use is also proven to be safe, painless, and practical and uses controlled amounts of energy to tighten the skin. Many doctors are using the treatment, with 3 million delivered treatments. And with no downtime, there are few treatment options as versatile as thermage provides.
Thermage CPT can be used to reduce moderate to severe wrinkles, laugh lines, smoker’s lines, and creases near the mouth. A handheld device with a cooling tip is the only thing patients will need to feel as the treatment occurs.
Although thermage requires little recovery time, it is essential not to have the procedure on the same day as any other treatment. The skin will be slightly pink or bruised before the color normal. It costs approximately $2500 and lasts long with a repeat procedure after two to three years to sustain the outcome.
Other non-surgical facelift alternatives
- Microdermabrasion- It is a cosmetic procedure to remove the appearance of wrinkles and improve the skin by removing the outer layer of abraded skin cells.
- Chemical peels help exfoliate the skin to remove dry skin cells, scars, fine lines, and wrinkles. They work by removing the uppermost layer of skin, exposing healthy skin for new growth.
Conclusion
Therefore, it is clear that non-surgical facelift alternatives such as Botox and fillers can provide you with significant benefits in firming, addressing the loss of facial volume, and smoothing your facial skin. By using these methods to reduce the signs of aging, you will be helping yourself to avoid the potentially harmful effects of invasive surgical procedures.
Remember, choosing which kind of procedure to go for doesn’t necessarily have to be complicated or expensive. There are many ways to achieve and maintain a youthful appearance for much less than the price of surgery. Start by making changes to your lifestyle, try some new techniques, and find non-surgical facelift alternatives that work just as well as invasive procedures.