Non-Surgical Cosmetic Treatments Becoming Mainstream
Aesthetic injectables have seen tremendous growth in popularity over the past decade as non-surgical cosmetic treatments have become increasingly mainstream. What was once seen as drastic or unnecessary is now a simple and common way for people to enhance their appearance with minimal downtime. Treatments like Botox, fillers, and fat reduction injections are now routinely used by both men and women of all ages to smooth wrinkles, plump lips and cheeks, and slim problem areas like the jawline or double chin.
The Rise of Botox and Dermal Fillers
Botox and dermal fillers like Juvederm or Restylane are undoubtedly the most widely-recognized and commonly-used aesthetic injectables on the market. Botox temporarily paralyzes muscles in the face that cause wrinkles and lines to form, smoothing them out for 3-4 months. Aesthetic Injectables add volume back into areas that have lost fullness due to aging, like wrinkles, thin lips, or hollow cheeks. Nearly 9 million people chose to get Botox or fillers in 2018 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Both procedures take 30 minutes or less and have little to no downtime, making them appealing options for people who want subtle improvements but do not have time for invasive surgeries.
Fat Dissolving Injections Slim Problem Areas
As waistlines expand and gravity takes its toll on facial contours and jawlines, more patients are also choosing to reduce localized fatty deposits through injections. Kybella is an FDA approved injectable used to dissolve fat beneath the chin, creating a sharper jawline. Competitor injections like Sculptra aim to slim the abdominal area or back fat humps. These “injectable liposuction” treatments involve a series of 5-10 minute injection sessions over the course of a few months. While not as extensive as traditional liposuction surgery, they can produce a 1-2 size reduction in the treated area for those looking for some subtle slimming
Longer-Lasting Dermal Fillers For Major Volume Loss
For patients looking to replace more significant volume loss in the cheeks, lips, or under eyes due to aging, fillers like Sculptra, Bellafill, or Belotero Balance offer long-lasting results of 18 months to several years. These agents stimulate the body’s natural collagen production to gradually build new volume from within. They require more product than other fillers, but results last significantly longer. Sculptra, in particular, is used for aging hands or to rebuild facial contours after weight loss. Bellafill is approved by the FDA as a permanent dermal filler. While no filler is truly permanent, Bellafill can last 5 years or longer. These stronger fillers produce more dramatic yet lasting changes compared to temporary hyaluronic acid fillers.
Alternatives to Surgery Like Thread Lifts
Some newer aesthetic injectables aim to provide facelift-like results through minimally invasive techniques instead of surgery. An emerging trend is PLLA thread lifts which involve injecting absorbable suture material under the skin in a threading motion to instantly lift brows, jowls or midfaces. Over 3-6 months, the body naturally breaks down the threads as new collagen forms, resulting in a subtle yet durable facelift effect. Another alternative is truSculpt, which freezes fat cells beneath the skin using controlled cooling to kill them permanently in problem areas like inner thighs or back fat. Combined with exercise and diet, truSculpt can produce 1-3 inches of circumference reduction each treatment. These alternatives provide surgical upgrade benefits with less recovery than traditional face or body lifting procedures.
Emphasis on Safety and Board-Certification
With the rise of aesthetic injectables also comes increased attention on safety. Most dermal fillers and neurotoxins carry an extremely low risk when performed by properly trained physicians. However, medical spas or inexperienced injectors outside of a medical setting have caused some high-profile cases of vision loss or severe infections from Botox when not handled properly. It is recommended when considering any injectable treatment to only see practitioners who are either plastic surgeons or dermatologists, and to check credentials like being certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties in whatever specialty they practice. This validation helps weed out unlicensed providers and ensures providers receive ongoing training to perform injectables to the highest standards. By choosing a board-certified physician, patients can avoid potential risks and have access to properly performed procedures.
As technology advances, new injectable options are continuously being developed to further expand non-surgical aesthetic options. Gene therapy injections are arising as a potential future treatment to halt the aging process or treat conditions like hair loss from within. Advances in biomaterials are probing alternatives to hyaluronic acid like plant-based fillers that are longer lasting or provide other benefits. Fat-dissolving injections are also branching out from the neck and chin to target entire faces or full body areas through a process called lipodissolve. Similarly, neurotoxins could evolve to treat additional problems like excessive sweating or migraine headaches beyond just wrinkles. Aesthetic injectables are bound to only gain more popularity as new treatments that deliver surgical results with minimal downtime continue to innovate and capture mainstream appeal.