Minimally invasive plastic surgeries are probably one of the better options if you can opt for it. Why is that? First of all, minimally invasive plastic surgeries mean fewer incisions. This translates into less scaring and quicker recovery times. According to statistics recently released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, minimally invasive procedures were up 6% in 2012. However, overall plastic surgery procedures performed were due to economy. Some of the top five procedures that were up on the rise were:
1. Botulinum toxin type A – up 8%
- This is the general botox injection that has been popular in media.
2. Soft tissue fillers – up 5%
- Soft tissue fillers are an easy way to quickly help reduce wrinkels and fill lines in order to enhance facial contours.
3. Chemical peel – up 2%
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Chemical solutions are applied to the skin and allowed to soak in. Over the next 1 to 14 days the skin peels off. This procedure destroys parts of the skin in a controlled way to regrow new and rejuvenated skin.
4. Laser hair removal – up 4%
- Laser hair selective targets dark coarse hairs and leaves the surrounding skin undamaged. Around ninety percent of patients have permanent hair loss after an average of three to five sessions.
5. Microdermabrasion – up 8%
- Uses micro particles in order to slough off the top layer (epidermis) and stimulate new skin growth.
Some other additional attractions of minimally invasive plastic surgery are that they tend to cost less than the traditional surgeries. The average surgery can cost upwards of several thousand dollars while the average minimally invasive surgery usually costs several hundred. These can generally decide what procedure a patient is going to get. For example if it costs several thousand for a face lift versus a couple of hundred for a botox injections, and results will be fairly similar, what do you think the patient will choose? The procedure is usually much quicker than an average surgery and the recovery time is much quicker. However, it is important for patients to realize that minimally invasive surgeries for the most part are temporary and over time they may need repeat procedures. Many times patients only see the upfront cost of surgery and not the long term costs associated with it. Doctors will recommend that patients should prioritize which is more important to them in terms of price and quality.
Learn More About Non-Surgical Skin Treatments