Health & Well-Being

Facelift or Not? Alternatives to plastic surgery

The days of traditional plastic surgery facelifts are long gone. The dawn of a new facelift era is here: Millennials, social media, and camera apps with filters have all promoted alternative non-surgical procedures to obtain instant results with minimal downtime.

The advancement of technology now allows people to obtain medical-grade products online and access countless laser procedures that reverse aging. A few are IPL for brown spots and redness, Radiofrequency and Ultherapy for tightening, red-light for collagen production, and Fraxel and Pixel for resurfacing, all of which can be customized to skin types, age, and skin issues.

The rise of Amazon made it easy for everyone to purchase at-home devices, alleviating the need to go to a doctor’s office or med spa for procedures. The supplier offers tons of anti-aging items, from “Frownies” patches for your face as an alternative to Botox to Decollate pads for chest wrinkles. There are even “Save Your Face” pillows to help train you to sleep on your back as another method to reduce wrinkles.

The Covid lockdown also predicated an increased interest in anti-aging treatments. People working from home over Zoom spent much of the workday staring at themselves on a computer, focused on their wrinkles. Botox injections had a 100 percent increase.

Other popular procedures are the “liquid facelift,” introduced in 2004, and the Hyaluronic acid injectable filler Restylane. These are both game-changers, reducing facelifts because you could instantly restore volume loss with minimal downtime and at a much lower cost. Results were natural, with no scars and no need to be put under anesthesia.

Then there is the “Thread Lift,” which consists of PDO barbed sutures used to mimic a facelift and neck lift. This procedure is under a local anesthetic, with minimal downtime; It helps pull back the skin without incisions. The sutures dissolve over time, so they are not permanent. They help build collagen and are longer-lasting than temporary fillers.

The skin is the largest organ of the body, with 20 square feet. How you take care of it will reflect its aging process, the loss of collagen, and the elasticity that comes with aging hormones and exposure to sun damage. Sunscreen, skincare products, chemical peels, and facials slow down aging and work to minimize the necessity for additional procedures.

Surgical practices are still sought after by some, but there are many available less invasive anti-aging services within reach. Yes, it requires more maintenance, but it is more affordable than surgery. Perform thorough research to find what’s best for you.

Anti-aging is at your fingertips — no plastic surgeons required!

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Sherry Hasty, R.N.

Sherry Hasty, R.N, a Nurse Injector Specialist with more than 20 years of experience in her industry, working alongside dermatologists and Plastic surgeons specializing in injectable fillers and neurotoxins. She is a former national trainer with Medicis aesthetics teaching injections to nurses and physicians, and a former trainer for Palomar@ teaching laser treatments.

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