Minimally invasive! Non-Invasive! These words have become a mainstay of marketing and news coverage of cosmetic procedures offered by many physicians and med spas. It seems that every week there is an announcement touting a new “miracle” laser to rejuvenate the face, or a new filler material for plumping and obscuring facial lines and wrinkles. But what are people really buying when they choose one of these treatments, in hope of gaining a younger look?
“Primarily, they are buying a little time,” says Dr. Fodor, who has participated in the evaluation of many of the cosmetic lasers and injectable fillers that have been released over the past twenty years. “For some people who have minor issues including fine lines, sun damage and minor skin laxity, laser treatments and products like BOTOX and Juvederm can produce results,” say Dr. Fodor
Many people don’t realize that the minimally invasive procedures offer only temporary improvements and they must be repeated (every few months, in most cases) which will increase by many times the long-term cost of maintaining one’s appearance. Dr. Fodor says that the right plastic surgery procedures can provide much more dramatic aesthetic improvements, at a lower overall cost because patients won’t need to return repeatedly for re-treatments.
Peter Fodor, M.D., F.A.C.S.
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