Post-Pandemic Trends for Botox and Dermal Fillers
It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic has changed a lot in the healthcare and cosmetic surgery industries. But even with offices closed for several months, the demand for Botox injections and other minimally invasive procedures has kept pace as previous years predicted. With 2020 drawing to a close, and with plastic surgeons like K Plastic Surgery re-opened, here’s what people are looking for in facial rejuvenation procedures.
New Trends in Botox Treatments
Since its discovery as a tool for facial sculpting, Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) has steadily increased in popularity for its versatility and ease of use.
In recent years, as demand for Botox continues to rise, especially among young people, Botox injections are becoming less stigmatized, even as treatments adapt to patients’ changing priorities.
The Age of Selfies
It’s no secret that people are paying more attention to their faces than ever before thanks to the sheer number of pictures they take with their high-resolution front-facing cameras. And thanks to the influencer culture among people in their 20’s and 30’s, more people are open to non-surgical procedures to help them achieve a flawless, Instagram-ready look.
But these young Botox users don’t want last year’s solutions for this year’s problems. These patients are pursuing the rising trend of micro-dosing, not necessarily to remove current wrinkles, but to prevent wrinkles from forming in the future. This preventative care blends with the larger trend of treating Botox as a health-and-wellness procedure, rather than a purely cosmetic one.
Beauty, Wellness, and Botox
In addition, Botox is also being used to treat hyperhidrosis, the medical term for excess sweating. Though the most common area for this type of Botox treatment is the underarms, doctors have also treated hyperhidrosis using Botox in the palms and soles of the feet.
In addition, according to many Botox patients, facial injections of the substance help relieve pain from facial tension and headaches. This is because one of the functions of Botox is to relax muscles by inhibiting their ability to contract. This is what smooths out wrinkles, and additionally improves some patients’ well being.
Similarly, another procedure uses an injection of Botox to treat temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), caused by excessive use of the jaw muscle we use to chew food or clench our teeth. While it alleviates symptoms of people who suffer from this pain, it also slims the jaw and removes “square-ness” by softening the look of the lower face.
Anti-Aging Therapies
As the trend of young people using Botox in fewer sessions with smaller doses continues, doctors have discovered clinically proven anti-aging benefits from using Botox and other skin rejuvenating procedures at an early age.
By using less neurotoxins and fillers on a more regular basis, results for young people using Botox tend to be longer-lasting and require less maintenance over time. In addition to Botox, other therapies formerly thought to be unnecessary are proving to extend the healthy, youthful look of skin.
Treatments like photofacial procedures, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) resurfacing, and skin tightening procedures can all contribute to lower-maintenance skin in years to come. The name of the game is preventative treatment, combined with the development of longer-lasting, more flexible fillers and neurotoxins that interact more naturally with the skin.
Anti-aging results typically appear on people who have been using these treatments on a regular basis starting in their 40’s, 30’s, or even 20’s to treat mild problem areas, rather than waiting until later in life, when more drastic, usually surgical, measures are needed. This means that non-surgical facial treatments aren’t just for major problems, but can be used as part of a long-lasting skin rejuvenation plan.
New Facial Fillers Coming Soon
It’s expected that the FDA will approve new filler materials to join the portfolio of options people can choose from when looking to sculpt their ideal face shape. At K Plastic Surgery, we’re keeping an eye out for these new compounds and the benefits they bring to our patients.
Less is More
With young people driving demand for non-surgical procedures, doctors and patients alike are learning that less is more. As Botox and other treatments have been on the market for a considerable amount of time, people have begun to recognize and dislike an “artificial” appearance, no matter how contoured it may be, and instead prefer a more natural beauty that emphasizes a person’s unique features.
These kinds of minimalist procedures, called “lit-lifts” by some, help people look their natural best without having to wear makeup. The thought process goes that people are willing to invest time and money a few times per year in order to look flawless all year long.
Laser Facial Treatments
One million laser hair removal procedures and over 680,000 photofacial procedures were performed by plastic surgeons last year, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons doesn’t expect those number to decrease during 2020 and beyond.
Dr. Kayastha’s toolbox for laser skin treatments includes the newest and hottest (but not literally!) trend in laser therapy: picosecond lasers. These devices, including the PicoWay laser, offer peak power in the shortest pulse duration on the market. Picosecond lasers can treat everything from tattoos and dark skin spots to general skin rejuvenation with minimal down time.
2020 And Beyond
In some ways the start of this decade has turned the world upside down, but not when it comes to the rising trends in non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Demand is increasing across the board as people realize how easy it is to achieve their ideal face shape in a naturally beautiful way. As technology advances and new materials are produced, the quality of care K Plastic Surgery can provide will only increase, keeping our patients at the forefront of beauty trends.
Healthier, Natural Looking Skin
If you’re like many others who have endured the many changes to our world post-pandemic, you’re itching to get back out there, even better than you were before. The trends in minimally invasive facial treatments point to a growing number of people who experience meaningful benefits from simple procedures. To start your journey to a more radiant and natural face, Dr. Kayastha is here to help. Schedule an in-person or virtual consultation today by calling 518-674-9060 or filling out our online form.
Dr. Kayastha is a board certified plastic surgeon who serves Albany, NY and the entire Capital Region. Dr. Kayastha completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell University and graduated with distinction in all subjects. He then attended medical school at SUNY Buffalo. During his time in Buffalo he also completed a fellowship in surgical pathology at Roswell Park. Following medical school Dr. Kayastha gained a much sought after position in the Michigan State-Grand Rapids integrated plastic surgery residency. After finishing residency training Dr. Kayastha completed a one year fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the Buncke Clinic in San Francisco. To round out his training before starting private practice Dr. Kayastha spent an additional 6 months learning from some of the best cosmetic surgeons in San Francisco. Dr. Kayastha is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.