Top 5 Cosmetic Procedures: Have You Tried Them?

Minimally-invasive cosmetic treatments continue to grow in popularity, according to a recent report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Ongoing developments in anti-aging products and techniques, along with the relatively lower cost, risk, and recovery time, have made minimally-invasive cosmetic treatments a strong alternative to traditional surgical rejuvenation.

Here are the top 5 minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States last year, as ranked by the ASPS. How many have you tried?

Botulinum Toxin Type A (e.g., BOTOX) injections (6.7 million procedures, up 1 percent from 2014 and 759 percent since 2000)
BOTOX is used to reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles, frown lines (vertical creases between the eyebrows), and crow’s feet (wrinkles radiating from the corners of the eyes). These expression lines are exaggerated by muscle movements. BOTOX subtly interrupts the signals to the muscles, smoothing the lines without affecting natural expression.

Soft Tissue Injectable Fillers (e.g., JUVEDERM, VOLUMA, RADIESSE) (2.4 million procedures, up 6 percent from 2014 and 274 percent since 2000)
Injectable fillers use various combinations of materials (including synthesized hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring moisturizing fluid in human tissue) to fill in wrinkles and lines and to plump and smooth tissues that have lost their natural elasticity due to age. Fillers are tailored to treat specific areas of the face, eye area, lips, cheeks, and hands.

Chemical Peel (1.3 million procedures, up 5 percent from 2014 and 14 percent since 2000)
Today’s chemical peels range from gentle exfoliating and hydrating masks to medical-grade skin resurfacing peels. Peels are used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines, address issues of uneven tone and texture, remove sun damage, treat acne and rosacea, and stimulate the production of natural collagen through deep resurfacing. Peels are an alternative not only to traditional plastic surgery but also to laser rejuvenation for patients for whom lasers are contraindicated.

Laser hair removal (LHR) (1.1 million procedures, unchanged from 2014, but up 52 percent since 2000)
One of the most common cosmetic laser procedures, hair removal is safe and popular. With a sufficient course of treatment, unwanted body hair is removed for a prolonged period of time, without the irritation of shaving, depilatories, or waxing, and with no stubble. LHR is performed on the face, underarms, bikini area, legs, and–for men–chest and back.

Microdermabrasion (800,340 procedures, down 9 percent from 2014 and 8 percent since 2000)
Performed with a rotating diamond microfile, microdermabrasion exfoliates and mildly resurfaces the skin by removing the surface layer of dead skin cells, stimulating the growth of new, healthier, clearer skin. Microdermabrasion reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and eliminates surface sun damage.

As the ASPS notes, minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures are not something to be left to amateurs. While many spas and salons offer these treatments, for your skin’s sake you should always turn to trained physicians and licensed providers, who can evaluate your skin’s particular needs and provide the safest, most effective treatment. At Cosmetic Dermatology Center of Pasadena, our Board-certified Dermatologists, Licensed Physician Assistants, Laser R.N., and Licensed Medical Aesthetician have extensive experience in minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. Call or email us today for more information about the Top 5 or any of the many other services and products we provide!