Non-surgical procedures are of course the fastest growing area in cosmetic surgery and can sometimes delay the need for invasive procedures. However, the reality is that such short procedures with mostly temporary results may not always help to address all the concerns which could otherwise be handled with an invasive option. One thing to be noted is that these procedures can enhance the results when combined with an invasive option.
For instance, excess skin in the neck and upper eyelids and excess fat deposits cannot be treated completely using any non-invasive option. An invasive surgery such as facelift could resolve the condition, and combining it with non-invasive laser resurfacing could improve the results.
During the 11th annual Vegas Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology multi-specialty aesthetic symposium in Las Vegas, leading surgeons presented this subject and discussed its possibilities and favorable results with other experts in the field. According to one of the surgeons, three areas needed to be assessed.
- Volume loss from skeletal changes, bone resorption and bony remodeling, and facial fat loss leading to a gaunt and hollow appearance
- Laxity of the skin – weakened elasticity and collagen results in jowls, neck redundancy and drooping eyelid skin
- Intrinsic changes of the skin leading to discoloration, fine and deep lines and lack of a uniform color and smooth texture
While the first two areas cannot be handled with laser resurfacing, it can help with the third area. So using facelift to reposition tissue, remove the deeper lines and folds and tighten skin; lasers to remove fine lines and discoloration; and adding volume can contribute to a youthful appearance. Thus an enhanced outcome is what these combination procedures can offer.
To conclude, they said “Combining these procedures allows the surgeon to obtain enhanced results, while being slightly less aggressive with each treatment, which allows faster recovery and a lower chance of side effects…. Combining surgical procedures with the less invasive procedures allows surgeons and patients to obtain the best from both worlds: optimizing treatment results with more limited recovery and downtime.”