Cosmetic surgery is a flourishing billion dollar industry, held aloft in spite of economic crises, because the relentless quest to preserve one’s beauty prevails over any prospect of recession. A revealing fact of available statistics, however, is that a booming trend of the enterprise is overwhelming support for cosmetic non-surgery – that is, for procedures that enhance one’s appearance without having to resort to going literally under a knife.

Injectible substances and dermal fillers are now outstripping their more invasive counterparts, for several reasons. Firstly, injectibles and fillers are much more affordable than cosmetic surgeries, allowing anyone with a modest budget to avail of their rejuvenating benefits. Secondly, being non-surgical, many of the risks associated with surgeries, such as bleeding, infection and nerve or organ damage are not present. Thirdly, application of an injectible or filler can be done at the patient’s convenience, even during his or her lunch hour, and without any recovery time that would hamper a person’s lifestyle or put demands on his or her work schedule. Lastly, the results from an injectible or filler can be witnessed instantly, providing patients with immediate gratification, unlike surgeries, which can take as long as six months to a year to produce the desired effects. Mindful of this growing demand by aesthetic-minded individuals everywhere, laboratories and solution manufacturers are churning out a vast range of products designed to cater to the need for smooth, wrinkle-free skin, supple features, and the restoration of youth.

Botox is the number one injectible on the planet today, having received overwhelming support by patients in spite of its unusual source, the lethal botulinum toxin. By paralyzing the muscles that are responsible for causing furrows and lines on a person’s face, Botox effectively prevents them from forming on that person’s skin, dispersing these signs of aging. The treatment lasts about three to four months, after which regular touch-ups may be recommended every six months. The reduction in frequency is due to gradual facial muscle deterioration that comes with aging.

Many dermal filler products, whose purpose is to uplift deflated patches or regions of skin that have lost firmness due to aging, are based on substances derived from animals or human cadavers, such as collagen. Many patients and practitioners have expressed concerns about the sources of these products, which can lead to allergic reactions in patients, and may be refused for ethical reasons. Consequently, certain manufacturers have realized breakthroughs in their production of synthetic hyaluronic acid as the primary foundation for their filler products. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in one’s body, and is the main chemical responsible for keeping a person’s skin well-moisturized and smooth, due to its property of retaining water in quantities that are many times greater than the actual volume of its molecules. Since hyaluronic acid production in one’s body diminishes as one ages and eventually becomes depleted, these products are designed to return this vital substance to a person’s skin, if only for a few months. Restylane and Juvederm are popular examples of this sort of product, and Restylane’s sister product Perlane is an advanced form used for the treatment of deeper wrinkles and crevices. The effects of hyaluronic acid products last between six to eight months on the average.

Lately, cosmetic scientists have achieved a breakthrough in filler technology with the invention of calcium-based microspheres, whose function it is to boost a person’s production of collagen so that the filler effect is completely natural and long-lasting. The product that carries this distinction is known as Radiesse, and its revolutionary microsphere base keeps stimulating collagen production for one to two years after it is administered. Radiesse is simply the latest in a continuing line of innovations that will keep pushing the limits of non-invasive enhancement in the years to come.