When you look in the mirror, do you wish for a drastic change or a small tweak? When thinking about visiting a plastic surgeon, is it exciting or nerve-wrecking? Knowing the difference between invasive and non-invasive plastic surgery can guide you on your way to enhancing your appearance.
To Cut or Not to Cut, That Is the Question
Nowadays, there is a plethora of cosmetic options that can help you say goodbye to those insecurities and bring the best out of your natural beauty. At Northeastern Plastic Surgery, we offer both invasive and non-invasive procedures and are clearing the similarities and differences so that you can come to your appointment with all the information necessary to discuss with your doctor.
Invasive Surgery
Invasive surgeries involve breaking the skin by cutting it or entering the body with an instrument. Most of the time, they require incisions and therefore leave scars. An invasive surgery, cosmetic or not, will always be conducted by a board-certified surgeon.
Pros of Invasive Plastic Surgery
Invasive cosmetic procedures are used to create relevant and long-lasting changes in your appearance. Thanks to this, the results will be more noticeable, and usually require less touch-ups later in time.
Cons of Invasive Plastic Surgery
The main con to invasive plastic surgery can be found in its name: it invades your body and requires more preparation and aftercare. The recovery periods will be longer and more incapacitating, and you may experience pain, swelling, and bruising.
Depending on the particular surgery and area, there will be some scarring, although specialized techniques are used to minimize and hide the marks as much as possible. Also, because of their scope, these types of procedures always involve local or general anesthesia, which not everyone is comfortable with.
Examples
At Northeastern Plastic Surgery, we offer various invasive plastic surgery options, all conducted by the head of our team, Dr. Joseph Fodero:
- Nose Reshaping
- Body Contouring
- Fat Transfer
- Breast Surgery
- Facial Surgery
- Post Massive Weight Loss Surgery
Non-invasive Surgery
Non-invasive cosmetic procedures are those that do not require incision or cutting the skin. Due to their facilities, they have become increasingly popular in recent years.
Pros of Non-invasive Plastic Surgery
Since they don’t require any cuts, non-invasive procedures won’t leave any scars on your skin. Additionally, they don’t require general anesthesia, although local anesthetics and other types of sedatives can be used to reduce discomfort. They also involve less recovery time, and are usually outpatient procedures.
All of this makes non-invasive alternatives more convenient in many cases, easier to fit in busy schedules, and better options for individuals with certain health issues who may not be ideal candidates for open surgeries.
Cons of Non-invasive Plastic Surgery
Despite looking almost perfect on paper, there are several factors you should consider before undergoing a non-invasive cosmetic procedure. In order for a treatment of this nature to be effective, it must still alter the body in some way. For example, Botox injections temporarily paralyze muscles. Chemical peels and lasers damage skin cells to stimulate the growth of new tissue. Other procedures use heat or freezing temperatures to destroy fat cells. Since your body will still be affected in some way, you can experience side effects such as swelling, redness, bruising, and pain.
In addition, non-invasive procedures may be offered by any medical practitioner, not necessarily a board-certified plastic surgeon. In most cases, results are determined more by the inherent effectiveness of the non-invasive device or drug, rather than the experience, technique, and/or training of the provider. This makes it especially important to research not only the practice you’re attending to, but also the supplier.
Finally, know that if you want to maintain your appearance after a non-invasive cosmetic procedure, touch-ups and repeated treatments over time will be necessary. This might mean that, in the long run, non-invasive options can end up being more expensive.
Examples
At our Florham Park practice, we offer the best non-invasive procedures to help you reach your aesthetic goals. Among our options you will find:
Minimally Invasive Plastic Surgery
Not everything is black and white! There is also a third category known as minimally invasive surgery, which refers to those procedures that only require small incisions. Doctors use these openings to access certain organs or parts of the body using specialized thin instruments.
A minimally invasive procedure typically means a shorter recovery time, more tolerability, minimal to no scarring, and reduced risks of complications.
Get to Know Your Options for Invasive and Non-invasive Plastic Surgery
If you want to enhance your appearance and re-fall in love with your reflection in the mirror, rest easy knowing that there is a wide variety of options available. Depending on your medical history, aesthetic goals, and lifestyle, at Northeastern Plastic Surgery, Dr. Joseph Fodero can help you choose the right path for you.
We can provide you with expert guidance on the difference between invasive and non-invasive procedures and which one will give you the best results in the safest possible way.
We understand how important your body is to you, and we want to help you love it even more. For that, we use the latest plastic surgery techniques. Our friendly and helpful staff will answer any questions you may have.
If you live in Florham Park, NJ, or the surrounding areas, contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic treatments and how they can be the change you’re looking for. Book a consultation by calling (973) 295-6565 or sending a message online.