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This term, “non-invasive cosmetic surgery” would seem like a contradiction. How can surgery be non-invasive? Doesn’t it involve incisions and stitches? Well, yes, it does. But cosmetic surgeons also offer cosmetic enhancements for skin, especially on the face, which don’t.

Many cosmetic surgeons have a Skincare department, and a separate staff who offer the non-invasive procedures, and perhaps also sell skincare products which are unavailable in the stores. An R.N. may be in charge of this area of the cosmetic surgery facility; or maybe people who are certified in certain procedures. The surgeon may also do some of these procedures, such as anything which uses a laser.

No scars

When the skin is cut, this is an invasion of the body’s protective membrane, the skin, which is a barrier to block infection and injury. Any time it is cut, a scar will result. Non-invasive procedures leave no scars, because they don’t cut the skin. On the other hand, invasive cosmetic surgery does leave scars – there is no way to have a breast augmentation or liposuction or a facelift without the skin being incised. The surgeon will try to keep the incisions as small as possible, and place them where the resulting scar will be well-hidden.

Examples of non-invasive cosmetic procedures

• Injectable fillers

Skin rejuvenation can be done in several ways, but one of the most popular is these dermal fillers. They are injected into the skin’s second layer, the dermis, where collagen and elastin (two common body proteins) support the skin. They intertwine in a matrix which gives skin a smooth youthful look. But aging causes the collagen to become weaker and less of it is produced. So the matrix forms weak spots or gaps, which show as wrinkles on the skin surface.

Some injectable fillers are Radiesse, Restylane, Sculptra and Artefill. They work in different ways, but all provide more volume in the dermis, more support for the skin. They last varying amounts of time, from about 6 months to a couple of years, and then all must be repeated.

• Botox

Although Botox is injected, it is not a dermal filler. It works in a different way, by temporarily paralyzing the muscle into which it is injected. It renders the muscle unable to respond to any nerve impulses telling it to contract. Botox is most often used for frown lines. For the length of time it is effective (about four months), that particular muscle cannot contract – in other words, you cannot frown. Repeated frowning, for whatever reason, is a contributing cause of permanent frown lines. By having repeated Botox injections, you can prevent the frown muscles from ever contracting, and this makes for a smoother, more youthful-looking forehead.

• Laser skin resurfacing

There are two ways to do this: ablative and non-ablative. An ablative treatment removes the surface layer of skin. It causes redness like a sunburn, followed by peeling. From the dermis, new cells rise up to replace what peeled off. A non-ablative treatment bypasses the surface layer and heats the dermis below. So no redness is caused. Both methods stimulate the skin to create new, tighter cells replacing the current surface cells. It’s a way of making the skin improve itself.

• Chemical peels

You can choose what strength of peel you’d like to have. Mild peels, such as glycolic acid peels, cause no redness or peeling and you can have them done in your lunch hour. Strong peels do cause redness and peeling, and some discomfort for a short while. They require some recovery time. But they also give more dramatic results. The purpose of peels is the same as that of laser resurfacing: to stimulate the skin to recreate itself in a smoother way. In the process, defects like discolored patches, fine lines, wrinkles, and shallow scars can be removed.

There are a great many ways to enhance the face and body by non-invasive means. The best way to learn more is to schedule a consultation with an experienced cosmetic surgeon.

If you are in the Atlanta, Georgia area, Dr. Rusca can clearly answer your questions and explain your best options.