While it may seem counter-intuitive, many plastic surgeons are beginning to offer more non-surgical options to their patients, from injectables, such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and fillers, to devices like lasers and other energy-delivery platforms.
These non-surgical choices give patients the ability to address their cosmetic needs without the recovery time, expense, and incisions involved with surgery. As the technology improves and the results become more significant and long-lasting, their popularity amongst patients and doctors will only increase.
Now, for the 3 most exciting non-surgical cosmetic procedures of 2015:
CoolSculpting®
What is it?
An FDA-cleared fat-reduction treatment featuring patented Cryolipolysis® technology. While Cryolipolysis may seem like a complicated word, broken down to its Latin roots it means “frozen fat breakdown.”
What does it do?
As you may have expected, CoolSculpting literally freezes your fat. After selecting the area you want treated, such as love handles, inner thighs, or tummy pooch, a panel applicator is applied to the region. This panel applicator will then draw in and cool the fat in that region for about an hour.
After the treatment, you won’t notice any immediate results, but starting as early as 3 weeks after treatment, you will see a gradual yet significant reduction of fat in the treated area over the next 2 months. According to the website of Stratis Gayner Plastic Surgery in Harrisburg, PA, CoolSculpting is so comfortable, that many of their patients read, work, or even sleep while undergoing treatment
So where does the fat go?
These frozen fat cells are considered damaged goods by the body and will be naturally eliminated with other bodily waste.
Tell me more.
While CoolSculpting isn’t exactly new, its popularity is soaring, and with the recent addition of specialized applicators, the treatment can be used on even more areas of the body. Watch out for knockoffs.
CoolSculpting is the only FDA-cleared fat-freezing technology, and while it is extremely safe, cheap imposters can produce nasty complications.
Ultherapy®
What is it?
An FDA-cleared ultrasound procedure for non-invasive lifting of the eyebrow, neck, and chin.
What does it do?
Celebrated for its ability to give patients a non-invasive face lift, Ultherapy uses ultrasound energy to help tighten and rejuvenate the treated area by stimulating the production of collagen in your skin and underlying tissues. This system is commonly used to help tighten and lift regions of the face such as the eyes, jaw line, and neck. It is also the only non-invasive FDA-cleared treatment for smoothing décolletage creases.
Tell me more.
Ultherapy was first approved by the FDA in 2009 and has been gaining popularity ever since, particularly among those who want a non-surgical alternative to the traditional face lift.
Kybella®
What is it?
A clear, synthetic form of deoxycholic acid – a bile acid similar to the ones your body produces to dissolve fats.
What does it do?
According to the manufacturer’s website, Kybella is used to treat “submental fullness,” or the dreaded double chin. A trained medical professional will inject Kybella in different regions such as the neck and underneath the chin. There, the deoxycholic acid will begin to break down the fat cells in the region. The broken down cells are then reabsorbed by the body and flushed out of your system. The end result would be a much more streamlined profile without any excess chin baggage.
Tell me more.
Kybella is the first injectable option available for submental fat removal, and it became widely available in June of this year. The downside, though, is that Kybella isn’t a quick fix.
Patients are usually recommended to have 6 rounds of injections at one month intervals for the best results.