Botox
A droopy brow or forehead is often one of the first signs of aging, as are crow’s feet and frown lines between the brows. Botox, an injectable neurotoxin, works by temporarily blocking nerve signals to certain muscles. While the treatment is working, you don’t make the subtle movements that lead to deep creases along your forehead or between your brows or the lines at the corner’s of your eyes. In some patients, Botox can be a surgical alternative to a brow lift, as the treatment can help to elevate the brow and reduce droopiness in the forehead area.
Many people are able to return to their regular lives right away after a Botox injection. You might have some redness or bruising, but that should fade quickly. Your injector will most likely advise you to avoid bending or leaning forward for a day or so after treatment, to reduce the chance of the substance migrating to a different area of your face.
One of the shorter surgical alternatives, results typically last for at least three months and usually take about a week to fully appear. You can repeat results to maintain them or wait for them to wear off if you aren’t quite satisfied.
Liquid Facelift
As far as surgical alternatives go, a liquid facelift is a bit of a misnomer. The goal of a facelift is to reduce or significantly reduce droop and sagging in the lower part of the face. You don’t get that from a liquid facelift, which typically involves a number of injectable fillers and Botox. But, depending on your specific concerns, the procedure can take years off of your appearance.
The type of injections you receive as part of liquid facelift can vary. If one of your concerns is a loss of volume in your cheeks, you might have Juvederm Voluma, which instantly adds volume and lift to the cheek area. The filler is long lasting, and many people see results that last for at least two years.
If you’re more concerned about fine lines and creases, a filler designed to correct wrinkles, such as Radiesse, Restylane or Juvederm, might be part of your liquid facelift, too.
The treatment has almost no downtime, and you’ll be able to get back to your regular activities and work schedule pretty much right away. How long your results last depends on the injections you have
Ultherapy
If loose, sagging skin is your main concern but you’re not ready for surgery, Ultherapy might be right for you. Unlike fillers, which just add volume to certain area, Ultherapy actually tightens the skin, reducing drooping and sagging, at least in the early stages. It corrects skin laxity through ultrasound energy, which stimulates collagen production and helps the skin become firmer.
Although it’s possible to have some redness or swelling after Ultherapy treatment, many people are able to jump back into their regular routine immediately. You can expect to go back to work or other daily activities right after the hour-long treatment. You can also resume exercise and other strenuous activity pretty much right away.
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
Just as a liquid facelift is a surgical alternative to a traditional facelift, a non-surgical nose job or rhinoplasty is a surgical alternative to a traditional rhinoplasty. Depending on the concerns you have about your nose, a non-surgical rhinoplasty can offer you a preview of how your nose might look should you end up having surgery.
The procedure involves the use of injectable fillers to fill in divots or dents in the nose, make the nose wider, or otherwise augment or enhance it. No downtime is needed afterwards, although you might have some bruising or redness. It’s worth noting that there are some issues a non-surgical nose job can’t correct. For example, it won’t reduce the size of your nose and it can’t get rid of large bumps or humps.
Coolsculpting
Fat can be the bane of some people’s existence. You might be in great health, workout regularly and eat a healthy diet, but still have some fat deposits that just won’t go away. Before, your only real option for getting rid of that fat for good was liposuction.
These days, there’s a non-surgical, downtime-free alternative, and that’s Coolsculpting. Coolsculpting freezes away your fat. Treatment takes about an hour for each area being treated. After treatment, you’re able to get back to your daily life immediately. Plus, the treatment itself is fairly comfortable, and many people are able to sit and read, watch TV or chat with friends during it.
What to Know About Surgical Alternatives
If you are considering surgical alternatives to change your appearance in any way, it’s important to remember a few facts first. One is that surgical alternatives aren’t identical to their surgical counterparts. You’ll see results, and many people will be satisified with those results, but the treatments aren’t identical. For example, a facelift can tighten looser and saggier skin than Ultherapy and a nose job can do much more than the non-surgical version can.
Still, alternatives to surgery can be ideal for you if you want to dip your toes into the world of cosmetic treatments. Since results often fade after a few months, you aren’t stuck with them if you really don’t like your results. In some cases, a non-surgical treatment can give you a general idea of what to expect from a surgery.
Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique in Houston, Texas, specializes in non-surgical and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. To learn more about your options, call (281) 810-9083 to schedule a consultation today.