It’s no secret that many cosmetic surgery techniques have non-invasive or minimally invasive alternatives, and yet both versions of care still enjoy widespread usage. Every type of cosmetic treatment will have its own advantages and disadvantages depending on a variety of factors that need to be considered by you and your doctor, such as:

Medical history
Degree of symptoms
Extent of treatment goals
Recovery time
How long you want your results to last

Deciding on Your Treatment Plan

With so many aesthetic options to choose from, each with its unique features and specifications, it is simply not possible for the average patient to decide on their own cosmetic care strategy. Instead, it is critical to speak with our highly knowledgeable and experienced experts at the Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center of Kentucky, led by triple board-certified cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. Mitchell D. Kaye.

Dr. Kaye routinely performs multiple face, breast, and body surgical procedures. However, he is fully aware that sometimes non-surgical alternatives are the more appropriate route for some patients, which is why he is proud to offer them at his practice as well. During your consultation, you and Dr. Kaye will discuss which treatment(s) are right for you based on the factors described below.

Patient Medical History

Your medical history will always play a critical role in determining which treatments you qualify for. Certain medical conditions may prohibit a patient from getting cosmetic surgery, but might not be an issue for non-surgical procedures. Similarly, a patient will not qualify for things like injectables if they are allergic to them.

Degree of Symptoms

But besides being a healthy candidate for a particular procedure, deciding on cosmetic surgery vs. non-surgical treatments also depends on the degree of your symptoms. Minimally invasive therapy might be the best idea for patients just starting to notice a small amount of wrinkles and fine lines. However, more significant wrinkles and other signs of skin laxity may necessitate cosmetic surgery.

For example, consider forehead wrinkles. Patients in their 30s often choose Botox® as a preventative treatment for early dynamic forehead wrinkles. However, a brow lift may be more suitable for prominent lines on patients in their 40s and 50s.

Extent of Treatment Goals

When choosing between surgical vs. non-invasive procedures comes down to patient preference, many choose the latter because they don’t want the dramatic results that come with cosmetic surgery. Although the non-surgical alternatives may involve more trips to the practice, these patients frequently like the flexibility of dermal fillers, lasers, and other lower-intensity choices.

Recovery Time

Since cosmetic surgery is more involved, that also means a longer recovery time. While non-surgical alternatives entail very little (if any) downtime, surgery typically demands taking some time off of work for rest and healing. If your job consists of heavy lifting, you might have to wait even longer.

How Long You Want Your Results to Last

Finally, another difference to consider between these two types of procedures is how long you want to experience the effects. Depending on the specific technique, the results from plastic surgery can last for a decade or longer. While that might sound great for some patients, others want to be able to make alterations every so often. That is usually possible with injectable therapies and other non-surgical protocols.

Let Dr. Kaye Help You Decide

In order to get the process started, you’ll need to speak with an aesthetic expert like Dr. Kaye. Contact the Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center of Kentucky today to schedule your initial consultation.

Cosmetic Surgery vs. Non-Surgical Alternatives: Making Informed Choices