Most plastic surgery procedures are done to “halt” time. People want to look younger, and there are some procedures that are better at this job than others. Plastic surgery has become more socially acceptable and alluring alongside the rise of social media. People are entitled to their own bodies but should not feel pressured to change their appearance. You can age gracefully without plastic surgery, but for those who want to “stop the clock,” these are the procedures that are worth your time and money:
Botox
Botox is a neurotoxin that paralyzes muscles when injected which can sound scary, but the procedure itself is minimally invasive. It is an extremely popular cosmetic procedure. The key to anti-aging is prevention, and botox decreases the ability to develop wrinkles by paralyzing facial muscles. Botox procedures last around three months and can vary from $250 to $600 per treatment. The cost will depend on how much botox your face requires to minimize movements. There is no “downtime,” but there may be some swelling on the first day. Botox will also take around a week before it is fully effective.
Facial Fillers
One of the easiest ways to tell age is the loss of volume in the face. Facial fillers can help replace the lost volume in the cheek, giving you a more youthful appearance. It can also be done with a fat transfer, but fillers are dissolvable and can be easily calibrated for a more natural facial appearance that is still youthful. Like botox, fillers have a wide price range as it depends on how much volume your face requires. Most dermal fillers cost between $600-$1000 and can last between 12 to 18 months. Minimal swelling and bruising can happen within the first two days.
Laser Resurfacing
Most successful laser resurfacing procedures use ablative lasers, which wound the skin and remove the epidermis from the dermis. This helps stimulate collagen production as the skin heals and grows. It can increase the tightness of the skin as well as create a smoother, younger appearance. The average cost of an ablative laser resurfacing procedure is $2,500. Most patients heal within two to four weeks, but some people may experience redness for longer. The results can last up to five years.
Breast Lift/Breast Augmentation
Aging is not limited to the face. Our bodies also show signs of aging, sometimes before our face does. Many women will experience a loss in volume and elasticity in their breasts as they age. This can be due to gravity, aging, or nursing children. As the years go by, sagginess will make its appearance in breast tissue. Depending on your concerns, a breast augmentation may be better for you than a lift. Speaking with a plastic surgeon and explaining the “look” you want will help determine the best procedure for you.
Recovery time for breast lifts is one to two weeks, which is much shorter than breast augmentation’s recovery time of four to six weeks. Breast lifts generally range from $7,000-$10,000, while breast augmentations range from $5,000-$10,000. Many factors are considered in the final cost. Most patients with a breast lift will seek out another one within ten years, and breast implant patients are similar with the upkeep of their procedure. Most patients will replace or remove breast implants within ten years of having them placed.
Tummy Tuck
Many mothers will find that they are unable to retain the tight abdomen of the early 20s no matter how clean they eat or how often they work out. Pregnancy takes a drastic toll on many women and often leads to weak muscles and excess skin, which will cover up any progress you may have made in your fitness journey. Sometimes the only way you can achieve the look you want is through a tummy tuck, and nothing is quite as youthful as a slimmer, trimmer figure. Tummy tucks range from $9,500 to $12,500 and take around eight weeks to fully recover. If you keep up good habits without drastic weight gain, a tummy tuck can last forever.
Face Lift
A facelift is the holy grail of all anti-aging plastic surgeries. Dr. Zenn, a plastic surgeon that specializes in facelifts in Raleigh, believes that facelifts have the most drastic effect on a person’s face. This surgery lifts tissue and skin upwards, simulating the effect of a collagen-rich and youthful face. This procedure also reduces fine lines and lost volume in the face: two factors that are major contributors to an aged face. The average facelift costs around $8,000 in the United States, and recovery can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks. Results can last up to fifteen years following the procedure.
