As we tell patients every day at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, each person has their own unique list of cosmetic concerns and their own treatment regimen that fits their needs. Still, there are definite trends that appear in the skin care world, and it’s interesting to see the pattern of how various treatments rise and fall. One particularly reliable source for this information is the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, who conducts a nationwide survey each year to find out the most popular cosmetic treatments throughout the country, then releases those statistics publicly. Based on their data, these were the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatments in 2017:
#1: Botox® or Dysport® Injections
Botox® and Dysport® are essentially two different companies’ versions of the same product. They are both injected into precise facial muscles to relax and smooth these muscles. This reduces fine lines like “crow’s feet,” frown lines, and forehead creases caused from repeated expressions and constant movement.
#2: Hyaluronic Acid Fillers (including Restylane® and Juvéderm®)
While some wrinkles can be treated by relaxing the underlying muscles, other wrinkles (like those around the mouth and nose) are best treated with facial fillers. Hyaluronic acid is the most common material used for these fillers, and when injected into an area, the liquid filler “fills in” the wrinkles and creates a more youthful look. Some hyaluronic acid facial fillers can also be used to restore youthful volume under the eyes, in the tear troughs, and in the cheeks.
#3: Non-Surgical Fat Reduction
As a non-surgical alternative to liposuction (not an alternative to weight loss), non-surgical fat reduction reduces fat in targeted, specific areas to give the body a slimmer, more defined contour. At Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, we offer a variety of fat reduction choices, including CoolSculpting®, UltraShape®, BodyFX
, and our newest technology EMSculpt®.
#4: Hair Removal
While shaving, waxing, sugaring, and plucking can remove unwanted hair, the temporary results make for a time-consuming (and sometimes expensive) upkeep regimen. That’s why long-term hair removal with laser treatments or electrolysis is so high up on the list of popular procedures.
#5: Chemical Peels
A chemical peel is a versatile treatment that reduces fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, uneven pigmentation, and more. The procedure uses a customized solution that penetrates the skin and helps your body exfoliate away damaged surface skin, revealing brighter, younger skin beneath.
#6: Photo Rejuvenation, or IPL
Intense pulsed light, or IPL, is also known as photo rejuvenation because it uses non-ablative light to break up age spots or other unwanted pigmentation while also stimulated collagen to tighten the skin.
#7: Microdermabrasion
While traditional dermabrasion is rare, microdermabrasion (and similar treatments like the SilkPeel® we offer at our on-site Skin Medics Medical Spa) is still going strong. This minimally invasive treatment “buffs” away dead skin cells and damaged surface skin to reduce acne, scarring, age spots, fine lines, and uneven skin texture.
#8: Non-Surgical Skin Tightening
Cosmetic surgery might be the best option for people with severe sagging skin, but for patients who just want to lift and tighten, non-surgical skin tightening can do this with little or no recovery time using treatments like Ultherapy®, Infini, and Fractora.
#9: Fractionated Laser Skin Resurfacing
As with dermabrasion, traditional laser skin resurfacing has primarily been replaced by a less invasive yet still highly successful alternative, fractionated laser resurfacing. This treatment uses small laser columns to create tiny treatment zones that spread their rejuvenating effects over the entire area.
#10: Sculptra® Injections
On the surface, Sculptra® looks similar to the hyaluronic acid fillers we mentioned earlier, but it is slightly different. Instead of just using a synthetic filler to create volume, Sculptra® uses a special formula to stimulate collagen production in the area, letting the body produce more lasting volume.
The treatments above are all options that have given thousands of patients great results, so they’re all worth considering. To find out the best way to treat your specific cosmetic needs, schedule an appointment with Dermatology Associates of Atlanta or check out our events page for our monthly Cosmetic Day and other savings opportunities. For more fun facts and skin care tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ as well.
