cosmetic procedures approaches and pitfalls

Cosmetic Procedures: Approaches and Pitfalls

As you age, should you get cosmetic procedures that appear to turn back time? If you have a feature you want to improve, what cosmetic procedures can most effectively help you? While the answer to these questions is highly personal, there are several things to keep in mind.

Why Cosmetic Procedures?

Both men and women choose procedures to make the skin firmer and more youthful or improve the appearance of a feature. The rationale they often have for seeking intervention is an overall improved appearance. These procedures can help boost self-confidence and help you to love your appearance.

Cosmetic procedures, especially surgical ones, can also fix birth defects, such as cleft lip or palate or correct the affects of disease or injury, such as breast reconstruction after mastectomy, or skin grafts after burns.

What Type Of Cosmetic Procedure Should You Choose?

Cosmetic procedures can be either invasive (surgical) or minimally invasive. Procedures such as facelifts, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, liposuction, breast implants surgically alter the appearance of the body. Some of the most popular surgical procedures include:

  • Facelifts literally lift the skin upward toward the scalp, which smooths and tightens it.
  • Liposuction or body sculpting extracts targeted adipose tissue, or fat, through a small incision.
  • Breast implants augment the size of the breast by implanting saline filled bags between the chest muscles in the chest wall or between breast tissue and chest muscles.
  • Rhinoplasty, a “nose job,” involves removing skin and altering the bone and cartilage that make up the structure of your nose.
  • Eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty removes bags around the eyes by removing pockets of fat and tightening skin

These surgical procedures frequently cost into the thousands of dollars and pose the risk of altering the face too much. When actress Renée Zellweger had surgery done a few years ago, she was barely recognizable to her fans as the surgery removed her distinct look. She was happy with the result, but many recipients of cosmetic procedures experience regrets if the result is not as they hoped.

The Growing Popularity Of Less Invasive Procedures

Improved technology has enabled minimally invasive cosmetic procedures to offer many of the benefits of surgery for less money and with less downtime.

  • Botox injections temporarily paralyze muscles to make wrinkles appear less noticeable.
  • Hyaluronic acid fillers, marketed under brand names such as Jupiter and Restylane, “refill” areas lacking hyaluronic acid and promote collagen growth to fight bags, rings, or dark circles under the eyes, as well as soften smile lines.
  • Microdermabrasion and chemical peels remove dead skin to improve skin tone and texture, while removing age spots, lines, and wrinkles, tighten your skin, and make you look radiant.
  • Laser treatments can encourage collagen production and remove age spots, smooth wrinkles, and improve skin texture.
  • Ultratherapy, which uses heat and ultrasound, can tighten jowls and a neck waddle, or lift brows. A related process, known as Thermage, has similar effects, but uses radio frequency and heat energy to tighten skin.

Once you are sure you want to improve your appearance with cosmetic procedures, finding the right medical professional to perform the procedure is crucial. For surgical procedures, you should look for a center with board certification in cosmetic surgery, as well as years of experience in performing the procedure you’d like. If you’re looking for a less invasive procedure, you should still rigorously investigate your providers; want providers with training and experience for best results and to prevent infection and bad results.

Lifestyle Choices That Reduce The Need For Cosmetic Procedures

Whether you opt for cosmetic procedures or not, there are things you can do to keep your skin looking younger.

  • Avoid exposure to the sun as UV rays can age you, as well as lead to skin cancers.
  • Consider facial massage, which can improve skin tone and texture, while removing age spots.
  • Adopt an antiaging skin regimen which includes day and night products that stop collagen loss and keep the skin firm and moist.
  • Follow a healthy diet that contains antioxidants that keep the skin looking younger, while reducing the general effects of aging.
  • Avoid smoking, and drink moderately. Any degree of smoking or alcohol overindulgence can impact your appearance.
  • Exercise to keep your skin toned and radiant.

Do you need tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle to keep you young? Your primary care provider at Raintree Medical and Chiropractic Center can help you. Book an appointment online or call us today at 816-623 3020.