The secret’s out: cosmetic surgery is no longer considered the embarrassment it once was. In fact, more and more people are seeking improvement through aesthetic medical procedures. According to statistics gathered by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, during 2005, approximately 10.2 million cosmetic procedures were performed in America, showing an increase of 38% since 2000. However, while an increasing number of people might be clamoring to look younger, that same number are not rushing to go under the knife at their local plastic surgeon’s office. This significant increase in aesthetic procedures, especially during the last five years, has not been due to a swell in the number of surgical procedures performed, but rather in those that are non-surgical.
Unlike surgical methods, non-surgical, or non-invasive, procedures do not require incisions in order to effect the desired change. Revolutionary new methods have made it possible to achieve a more youthful look without the drawbacks of surgery. One example of such a procedure is Botulinum toxin therapy. Commonly known as Botox®, it is currently the most popular aesthetic procedure available (of both surgical and non-surgical), with the number of annual procedures quadrupling from around 780,000 in 2000 to over 3,500,000 in 2005. The procedure itself—a series of strategic injections—is only minutes long and minimally painful. There is also no inactive recovery period, allowing immediate return to a patient’s normal routine. Non-surgical aesthetic procedures such as Botulinum toxin therapy comprise the bulk of aesthetic procedures performed annually, posting numbers that have been up to four times those of surgical procedures in recent years. Since 2000, the number of aesthetic non-surgical procedures has increased by 53%, while aesthetic surgical procedures have actually decreased by 5%. Although shows such as Extreme Makeover and Dr. 90210 have dramatically increased media coverage of surgical procedures, non-surgical methods continue to be more popular for various reasons.
The most marked advantage of non-surgical procedures is the cost. Surgery can cost thousands of dollars in fees, and there may be income lost due to an extended recovery period. Non-surgical means, on the other hand, has a considerably shorter recovery and costs only a few hundred dollars per session. Yet, some might argue that non-invasive methods cost more in the long run, especially considering the fact that the results of most non-surgical procedures are temporary. While this may be true in some cases, consider this: with $10,000, a surgical facelift can create a fresher, more youthful appearance for at most 10 years before the natural effects of aging catch up, at the least 5 years; for that same amount, a patient can maintain a fresher, more youthful appearance for 10 years with biannual Botox® treatments. This same temporary aspect of non-surgical procedures can also offer patients a means of improving their appearance without committing to a permanent change they may not be ready for.
The decision between surgical and non-surgical procedures is best made with the help of a trained physician. In today’s fast-paced medical society, the options are endless and ever growing, making a professional consultation even more important. Still, whether the procedure is surgical or non-invasive, the doctor will keep their patient’s secret …even if the patient decides not to.