While “safe” is relative and there are risks with any plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery procedure, today there are some safer alternatives that many people may not be familiar with. These alternatives are so new that not every doctor has been trained to provide them or talk about them, so if you’re interested in may help to look around online to find a qualified specialist.
Minimally Invasive and Non-Surgical
When you’re looking for a safer alternative, in most cases what you’re looking at are things that are non-surgical, first and foremost. There are some non-surgical options available today for things surgery was needed for as little as five years ago, several of these examples are included below.
“LipoSelection”
If you’re interested in liposuction, new technologies, such as Vaser Liposuction, can help increase the safety of these procedures by “selecting” only the fat for removal and saving other types of healthy tissue.
The goal of Vaser liposuction, and other ultrasound liposuction technologies, is to break up fat to make it easier to remove. This also helps reduce the amount of bleeding, swelling, and damage to other tissues. However, this type of liposuction only applies to specific procedures.
Micro-Needling
Used to treat scars and wrinkles, micro-needling may also help hide hyperpigmentation as well as cellulite and small deformities. The process is non-surgical in most cases and an excellent alternative to other procedures. It may also be used as a first step before considering a more extensive method.
If you are after facial rejuvenation, micro-needling is one of the few in-office procedures that produces somewhat long-term results. One of the other services many cosmetic surgeons may offer is the thread lift. However, the results of a thread lift are somewhat short-lived and may result in persistent pain and other complications, with threads breaking in more than 20% of cases.
Isolated Surgeries
Instead of a full face-lift or another type of large-area surgery, going in for smaller treatments can reduce the risk of complications, lower the period you will have to be under anesthesia, and reduce your risk of infection overall.
Laser Procedures and Rejuvenation
Cosmetic treatments involving lasers, before or after a surgical procedure, are generally safe compared to the alternatives. Most lasers are set low enough that any cosmetic procedure will take many sessions, allowing the skin to rest in the meantime. This can help prevent burns and other complications.
More Popular Procedures
The more popular a cosmetic surgical procedure is, the safer it is. This is because that particular procedure will be one that a given medical team will have had plenty of experience in. According to the BAAPS (British Association of Plastic Surgeons), a procedure must be performed at least 20 times a year for a surgeon to stay sharp and keep their skills polished.
Breast augmentation procedures and liposuction are the most likely to meet this guideline, with facelifts and breast reduction surgeries often falling short.
