Plastic surgery can do wonders for a person’s appearance and self esteem, but like any other surgical procedure, it comes with some risks and recovery time; something more and more people just don’t want to deal with.

From the time between the years 2000 and 2010 the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported an 18 percent decrease in plastic surgery procedures. Facelifts fell 65 percent, brow lifts dropped to 57 percent, eyelid lifts (blepharoplasty) decreased 36 percent, and nose surgeries (rhinoplasty) declined by 35 percent.

On the other hand, non-surgical cosmetic procedures have become very popular in the last ten years, according to the ASPS. The report showed a staggering increase in these types of procedures, from 5.5 million in 2000 to 11.6 million in 2010; a 110 percent increase!

The reason is simple.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures, like Botox, are convenient, cost-effective, and scar-free.

Plastic surgeon, Dr. John Bull, described the trend to the Chicago Tribune, “It’s taking hold. People are doing injections a lot more frequently. People that are looking for modest improvement with less downtime and no scars typically want to have this done. The best candidates are people with early signs of aging and volume loss.”

A good candidate for these non-surgical injections is pretty much anybody with wrinkles and fine lines then, which explains the rise in these procedures in recent years. Injectables have really made cosmetic surgery much more accessible, allowing even the most unsuspecting patients to give it a try.

Laurette Agee, 51, is a general manager of McDonald’s and a patient of Dr. Bull’s. She lost her husband four years ago, and wanted to do something to rejuvenate her appearance.

Instead of traditional facial plastic surgery, Agee received dermal filler injections: Radiesse in her cheeks, Botox around her eyes, and Juvederm around the creases in her nose. All of this cost only $2,500, which is a steal when compared to surgery. 

Of course, like any normal patient, Agee had her reservations at first. She thought, “My God, what happens if I look like a freak? I work in public nine hours a day. I have like 50 employees under me. I’m going to look like Frankenstein.”

Luckily, Agee doesn’t look anything close to what she feared. Instead, the tiny tweaks transformed her into a more refreshed version of herself.

She described the benefits of her new and improved look to the Chicago Tribune, “I catch men looking at me now in a different perspective. It makes me feel very good. At my son’s wrestling meets, other moms were like, ‘Did you have something done Laurette? You look so good.’ I have no shame in saying, ‘I did this, and this, and this.”

Susan P., 57, is another patient who is reaping the benefits of non-surgical cosmetic procedures. The executive assistant has been getting Botox and Restylane injections in her face for about four years now, and she claims to spend about $3,500 per year.

She said, “There’s no giveaway that I’m doing anything, which is really appreciated. The longer you do this, the less often you have to go. There’s a cumulative effect.”

But patients should be careful about undergoing injections too often.

Plastic surgeon and professor of surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Dr. Thomas Mustoe, warned, “Some patients look overly plumped up. There are limits to what you can do. You only have to look at the folks in Hollywood to see that a series of too many small procedures can have a very strange effect.”

To avoid an unnatural, movie monster appearance, the best suggestion is to first consult with a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist. There are many injectable dermal fillers on the market today, each used to achieve different results, and only a professional can decide which one is best for you.

To learn more about non-surgical cosmetic procedures like dermal fillers, contact a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist in your area.