Cosmetic surgery is a popular form of cosmetic treatment. However, it’s not for everyone – the idea of going under the knife can be scary and there can be various risks to consider.
Other types of treatment can be less invasive, less risky and often less expensive too. These alternatives are worth considering if you don’t like the idea of surgery. Below are just 5 examples of non-invasive alternatives.
Fillers
Dermal fillers are a popular alternative to surgery. They involve injecting a non-harmful filling substance into an area of the body to provide extra plumpness. It’s most commonly used to make lips look fuller, but can also be used for various other purposes. For instance, chin fillers can be used to improve the shape of the chin, while various other fillers can be used to reduce wrinkles. Fillers are not permanent – they typically last between 6 and 18 months. You can carry out most activities straight away afterwards, but should generally avoid intense exercise until 48 hours after.
Botox
Botox is similar to fillers in that it involves injections. The difference is that botox involves injecting purified bacteria into muscles. This can freeze muscles and reduce the prominence of wrinkle lines. While largely used for cosmetic purposes, botox can be used for other purposes such as preventing muscle spasms, preventing excessive sweating or even treating migraines. Botox typically lasts 3 to 4 months. You can usually resume all activities immediately after.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment, as the name suggests, involves using a laser to burn or destroy tissue. This treatment can be used to remove unwanted hairs, to remove wrinkles, to remove stretch marks and skin blemishes, to whiten teeth or to even correct one’s eyesight. Laser skin treatments typically last 3 to 5 years. Recovery time can depend very much on the types of treatment (the deeper the laser and the larger the area, the more recovery time). The average recovery time is about 3 to 10 days.
Cryolipolysis
Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive alternative to fat reduction surgery. It involves using sub-zero temperatures to freeze deposits of fat. The fat cells crystalize and die, resulting in fat being reduced. Results are not instant – it usually takes at least one month for frozen fatty deposits to break down and disappear. There’s usually no recovery time needed after this procedure and results are permanent (providing you watch your weight after).
Make-up
When it comes to concealing skin problems, using make-up is by far the least invasive option. Make-up can be a hassle as you need to apply it every day, but the effect is instant and you don’t have to worry about side effects like infections. There are specialist make-ups out there for people who have conditions like vitiligo, acne, eczema and psoriasis. When it comes to reducing wrinkles, there are all kinds of tricks for applying makeup that can help to reduce prominence. Just make sure that you’re not wearing make-up 24/7 – your skin needs time to breathe, otherwise other skin issues can develop.
