Benefits of Minimally-Invasive Cosmetic Procedures for the Aging Face

For many who seek to slow the signs of aging, non-surgical procedures, such as dermal fillers and laser treatments, are appealing as a way to retain a younger look without going under the knife. The Wall Street Journal online reports that older workers, especially, are increasingly interested in minimally-invasive procedures to help stay competitive in this economy.

“If you are a woman who has to come back to work full-time or a man who isn’t going to be able to retire any time soon, you’ve got to look like you can compete,” says Wendy Lewis, a New York–based plastic surgery and skin care consultant. “And if you are working in a field like media where everyone is really young, you don’t just want to look good for your age, you want to look good, period.”

Statistics from by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show that for those in the 51-64 age group, the number of facelifts dropped from around 75,000 in 2008 to just under 55,000 in 2009, while, for this same age group, the number of Botox procedures jumped from 672,840 in 2008 to 734,751 in 2009.

Overall the number of facelifts in the U.S. decreased 29 percent and eyelid surgeries declined 23 percent from 2008 to 2009. Meanwhile, Botox and Dysport injections rose 3.8 percent from 2008 to 2009.

Some of the benefits of less-invasive procedures include a shorter recovery time compared to surgery and generally a lower cost than a surgical procedure. Lewis does point out that one can overdo minimally-invasive treatments. “There is a point at which you are going to have a better result and spend less money if you just have a facelift,” she says. In addition, there are some problems that can only be fixed by surgery, such as sagging jowls.

Inland Cosmetic Surgery has many non-surgical offerings, including Botox and Dysport, chemical peels, and injectable fillers.