1. Laser Treatments

The power of lasers has been adopted by the aesthetic surgery community for a number of non-surgical cosmetic skin treatments. The treatments fall into four main kinds: to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face; to reduce vascular birthmarks; hair reduction and removal; and for the treatment of scars and blemishes. Essentially, in all of these, laser burns away dead/old skin and a new layer of better skin grows in place. Some treatments will target under surface skin layers, others the top layer.

2. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are designed to improve the texture of your skin to reduce the signs of aging, making it look healthier, firmer, fresher and younger looking. The peel will reduce the effects of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, blemishes, sunspots and uneven skin. Chemicals act to remove the outermost layers of skin and when new skin grows back, it is smoother and the effect of previous imperfections is reduced. Chemical peel treatments are available as superficial, medium and deep.

3. Scar Revision

There are preparatory treatments available over the counter or via your physician to help minimize the appearance of scars, making them less obvious. Treatment is either by microdermabrasion (see later point) or laser therapy, whichever is the best option for the type of scar and its severity/extent. Both types of treatment result in the removal of scarred tissue and new, smoother skin growing in its place.

4. DERMABRASION and MICRO MICRODERMABRASION

Both of these non-surgical cosmetic skin treatments are for improving the texture and appearance of skin, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles and evening out irregularities such as blemishes, acne scars and sunspots. Like other treatments, the aim is to achieve a fresher, younger appearance and more even skin tone. As the name suggests, the technique is abrasive, removing a thin layer of the outer skin. Microdermabrasion is merely a lighter treatment.

5. Mole Removal

Cosmetic surgeons should only perform mole removal on moles that have been checked by a dermatologist or physician to ensure they are not an indication of something more concerning than an unsightly blemish – particularly any moles that change shape, color or begin to irritate. Although mole removal is not a surgical procedure, it does require a local anesthetic. Generally, the process is to cut the mole out with a scalpel and close the wound with stitches, but other options include laser removal or removal by freezing with liquid nitrogen gas. There will usually be minor scarring.

6. Laser Hair Reduction

Laser treatment to reduce unwanted hair is an option for when stubborn or persistent hair cannot be budged by waxing, shaving or plucking. There are two types of cosmetic procedures for hair reduction: laser treatment and IPL – intense pulsed light therapy. Both are able to be used on the face and elsewhere on the body (except near the eyes). Both treatments destroy the hair follicle to prevent re-growth.

7. Thread Vein Treatment

Some people have very fine veins that are visible in places like the nose, cheeks and legs. A number of treatment options are available: sclerotherapy is the common treatment for leg and body thread veins in which a very fine needle injects chemicals into the veins, which makes the vein walls stick together and disperse; laser therapy destroys thread veins by light absorption; high intensity light treatment works in the same way as laser therapy; and Veinwave is a trademarked procedure, which is a version of sclerotherapy using a heated needle.

This was just an overview of the non-surgical cosmetic skin treatments that are available. All of these procedures, though non-surgical, require VERY careful consideration and proper consultation with qualified practitioners.
Would you consider cosmetic surgery – surgical or non-surgical?