Non-Invasive Cosmetic Procedures

Plastic Surgery in Charleston, SC

In recent years, non-invasive (sometimes called non-surgical or minimally-invasive) cosmetic procedures have grown in popularity. They are inexpensive, have few side effects, require little or no downtime, and can give good results. They can help to smooth wrinkles and restore youthful skin. Most are temporary, but effective in the short term.

If you are interested in using non-invasive cosmetic procedures to reduce your wrinkles or other signs of aging, please schedule a consultation at Port City Plastic Surgery today to learn more about the benefits and limitations of this type of procedure.

Types of Non-Invasive Cosmetic Procedures

There are two main types of non-invasive procedures: injectables and surface treatments. Injectables are mostly used for wrinkle reduction and to plump up areas on the face, such as the lips. Surface treatments, mostly laser and other light treatments, can be used for wrinkle reduction, but also for many other procedures. Tattoo removal, hair removal, birthmark reduction, and spider vein reduction are also common uses.

Injectables: BOTOX® Cosmetic, Dysport, and Dermal Fillers

Injectables are injected into muscles or fat pockets directly below the skin. They are mostly used for wrinkle reduction, and each treatment works in a small area. Dermal fillers can also be used for lip augmentation or to plump up areas of the face that have lost volume.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States, and now we are also offering Dysport, an alternative treatment with essentially the same effects. BOTOX® Cosmetic injections account for nearly half of all cosmetic procedures—surgical and non-surgical—performed. Its popularity is due to its ease, effectiveness, safety, and versatility. It cannot treat all types of wrinkles. However, for what it does treat, it has no equal.

Dermal Fillers (facial fillers) are injected into the skin to replace volume lost due to aging. Many wrinkles, folds, and other signs of aging are due to the face's natural loss of volume. Dermal fillers can smooth wrinkles, reduce hollows under the eyes, and restore your face's youthful contour. Collagen was the original facial filler that gained popularity about the same time as BOTOX® Cosmetic, but more advanced fillers have taken its place. We offer several advanced dermal fillers to give our patients the best possible results:

• Restylane®
• Perlane®
• Juvéderm®
• Radiesse®

Dermal fillers can be used to recontour your face to some extent. Restylane is often used for lip augmentation, to give you fuller, more luscious lips. Radiesse can be injected in the nasolabial folds (the parentheses of the face), above the cheek bones or in the chin to help you achieve a better facial shape.

At Port City Plastic Surgery, plastic surgeon Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse performs all cosmetic injections to reduce the risk of complications and improve the quality of your results. Most complications associated with injectables are related to improper injection procedure, so always make sure the person performing your injection has experience performing injections with the compound you are receiving.

Cosmetic Laser Treatments

At Charleston, South Carolina's Port City Plastic Surgery we utilize the Lumenis VersaPulse laser for a wide array of cosmetic laser treatments.

Laser Skin Resurfacing is a good treatment for wrinkle reduction and the restoration of your skin's youthful hue and tone. In the past, it was accompanied by significant discomfort and a long period of down time, but new fractional resurfacing gives the same results with no downtime and only a few days of discomfort similar to sunburn.

Laser Hair Removal is a popular laser treatment. After a few treatments, it can make your chest, back, legs, underarms, or bikini area smooth without shaving, plucking, or painful electrolysis. Hairlessness is temporary, but reduction of hairs by up to 80% and lightening of remaining hairs is permanent.

Tattoo Removal, Birthmark Removal, and Spider Vein Reduction are all applications of laser technology to remove discolorations and give your skin an even, healthy coloration. The number of treatments necessary and your expected results depend on your individual situation.

Limits of Non-Invasive Cosmetic Procedures

Although non-invasive procedures can produce great results for many people, they do have limits. One of their main limitations is that they are often temporary. BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal filler injections tend to last about three to six months (although Radiesse injections can last significantly longer). Laser skin resurfacing gives comparable or slightly longer-lasting wrinkle reduction, but often cannot target deeper wrinkling whose source is below the skin.

For people who want longer-lasting results or a deep impact on multiple signs of facial aging, facial plastic surgery is often the best answer. But if you are looking for significant facial rejuvenation with no downtime, non-invasive cosmetic procedures may be for you. Please call or email Port City Plastic Surgery in Charleston, South Carolina to set up an appointment.