If you’ve considered or tried one of the non-surgical procedures to give your face a younger look, you probably know that these cosmetic tools have specific applications. One fills in wrinkles, another tightens loose skin, and yet another restores the skin’s surface. You may have wondered if it’s safe and effective to combine these procedures to address more than one cosmetic goal.
In many cases it is, and we often recommend multiple procedures to address a patient’s unique needs. Which procedures to combine, and how to apply them together is one of the arts of our practice. Of course, non-surgical procedures can also be combined with surgical techniques, and we are happy to explore those pairings with our patients as well.
Different Procedures for Different Goals
Creating a younger, more vibrant, and more attractive look often involves addressing more than one cosmetic problem. As the skin on your face ages, it can loosen and droop. Crease lines can become permanent wrinkles. Damage from sun, cold, and wind can cause the texture of the skin to roughen. Each of these effects and others can be addressed with different non-surgical procedures.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some key facial concerns and the non-surgical remedies available to address them:
- Wrinkles can be reduced or eliminated with injections of dermal fillers, made up of materials naturally found in the body, or Botox®, a treatment that targets dynamic wrinkles like frown lines and crow’s feet.
- Loose, sagging skin can be firmed and tightened with Ultherapy®, an innovative application of ultrasound that stimulates collagen production, with ThermiRF, a treatment that uses radiofrequency energy for a similar effect, or with the Silhouette InstaLift, a no-incision method of lifting the skin around the cheeks and jawline.
- Volume loss in the cheeks, lips, and brow can be addressed with dermal fillers.
- Skin damage from sun exposure or acne can be treated with laser resurfacing, which gently removes the uppermost layers of the skin, promoting the growth of new tissue. Chemical peels can also smooth and soften rough skin.
- Aging eyes can be rejuvenated with dermal fillers or Botox®.
Combining Treatments
Because different procedures address different cosmetic issues, it can be a good strategy to combine two or more complementary treatments. Ultherapy®, for example, firms and tightens loose skin, but doesn’t fill in wrinkles or help with problems on the surface of the skin. So combining that procedure with injectable treatments, like Botox® and dermal fillers, or with laser resurfacing can deliver a one-stop facial renewal. Combining the procedures in the same appointment can also save you time in medical visits and in downtime after — though none of these treatments involve significant downtime for recovery.
It’s important to note that non-surgical procedures are best suited to early-stage cosmetic issues. Over time, skin on the face and neck can become so loose that the only effective treatment is to remove excess tissue surgically.
Our doctors will always be honest in advising the most effective approach to your particular cosmetic needs. If that’s a single procedure, that’s what they will propose. If it’s a combination of two or more non-surgical procedures, they will explain the benefit of that approach and what you can expect. And if it’s a combination of surgical and non-surgical procedures, they will review their recommendations with you.
To learn more about your treatment options, contact ART Plastic Surgery in Paramus, New Jersey, to schedule a personal consultation. You can reach Dr. Zapiach and Dr. Cozzone online or by phone at (201) 251-6622.