The cutting edge in cosmetic procedures nowadays is … not cutting. As all kinds of face and body treatments grow more popular year after year, it’s the noninvasive ones, like Botox and facial fillers, that are outpacing surgical measures two to one, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
It makes sense. Noninvasive methods and “cosmeceutical” products cause less discomfort and involve far less (if any) downtime than going under the knife. These procedures may also be more affordable than surgery, but make no mistake: you can still shell out a pretty penny, as it were. In fact, we calculated that if you went all in this year for a full suite of non- surgical upgrades, from replenishing hair on your head to tightening your bottom, you could easily spend more than $30,000. And while some treatments are one-and-done, for others you’re looking at shelling out more for maintenance later on.
We polled doctors and other providers on the estimated time and price of treatments tackling the most troublesome face and body issues reported by women and men — wrinkles, blemishes, sagging, fat, cellulite, unwanted hair loss or growth. Which treatments work? Are they worth the money? Science has verified the efficacy of some (like Retin-A and Kybella); other methods have made their case by satisfying customers. Whatever method you’re considering, check with your doctor first; it also wouldn’t hurt to consult trusted friends who’ve had it done.
Face and Body Treatments
Even the fittest among us have “problem areas” — witness those paparazzi shots of movie stars with cellulite. As we age, things just aren’t as firm as they were. There’s no shame in seeking a little clinical help to minimize love handles, crepey or cottage cheese thighs or a double chin. And while such reshaping used to mean a surgical technique like liposuction followed by a recovery period, most noninvasive procedures today have little or no downtime and can be done on your lunch break.
Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting)
PRICE
$3,000 for abdomen
WHAT IT DOES
Eliminates stubborn fat by freezing fat cells to death; performed on chin, abdomen, thighs or other areas
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
For most patients, 4–5 sessions
MAINTENANCE
Not needed if you don’t gain weight back
ANNUAL COST
$12,000–$15,000 over 1–2 years for abdomen
Radiofrequency skin tightening (Venus Legacy)
PRICE
$259–$329 for thighs
WHAT IT DOES
Smooths cellulite and tightens skin by heating an underlying layer to stimulate collagen production
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
5–8 sessions
MAINTENANCE
Every 3 months
ANNUAL COST
About $1,050 for thighs
Whole-body cryotherapy
PRICE
$70
WHAT IT DOES
Said to aid weight loss, clear acne and bring other benefits through exposure to minus-200-to-300- degree F temperatures for several minutes*
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
2-4 sessions per week for 4–5 consecutive weeks
MAINTENANCE
Weekly
ANNUAL COST
About $4,500
Deoxycholic acid injection (Kybella)
PRICE
$1,200–$2,700 per session, depending on size of area being treated
WHAT IT DOES
Dissolves subcutaneous fat to eliminate double chin
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
2–6 sessions
MAINTENANCE
Not needed unless you gain weight
ANNUAL COST
$6,400 on average
*The FDA warns that the benefits aren’t proven, and the American Academy of Dermatology reports that some people have suffered from frostbite and other cold-related injuries.
Skin Treatments
Wrinkles are the main indicator we associate with age, but they’re not the half of it. Skin sags. Cheeks lose fullness. And even younger people can have blemishes from acne or the sun.
Retinoids (Retin-A, retinol)
PRICE
About $65 for a 45-gram tube, generic formula
WHAT IT DOES
Prescription or over-the-counter cream plumps skin by boosting collagen production; reduces fine lines and wrinkles; reverses sun damage
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
12 weeks
MAINTENANCE
Weekly to daily, depending on tolerance
ANNUAL COST
$130 if you use two tubes per year
Neuromodulators (Botox)
PRICE
$300–$550 for one area
WHAT IT DOES
Relaxes lines, such as on forehead, by block- ing nerve signals to the muscles
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
1 session
MAINTENANCE
Every 3–4 months
ANNUAL COST
About $1,200
Laser skin resurfacing (Fraxel)
PRICE
$1,500
WHAT IT DOES
Erases sun damage and fine lines via directed pulses of light that remove skin layer by layer
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
1–2 sessions
MAINTENANCE
Every 1–2 years
ANNUAL COST
$1,500– $3,000
Dermal fillers (Juvéderm)
PRICE
$860–$1,200 for Juvéderm Voluma injections to restore cheek fullness
WHAT IT DOES
An injection, often of a gel containing a substance like hyaluronic acid, restores fullness and smooths out wrinkles
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
1 session
MAINTENANCE
Every 1–2 years
ANNUAL COST
$700–$1,200
Hair
If only our follicles would produce hair where we want it and not where we don’t. For both men and women, restoring thinning hair on our heads and getting rid of it on our bodies can be a constant battle. Hair management is also the most varied category of nonsurgical beauty interventions; you can turn to prescription drugs, tattoos, lasers and even having your own blood run through a centrifuge and injected into your scalp (PRP or platelet-rich plasma).
Microblading
PRICE
$550
WHAT IT DOES
Fills out eyebrows using semipermanent tattoos
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
1–2 sessions
MAINTENANCE
Every 6–12 months
ANNUAL COST
$900
Laser hair removal
PRICE
$45–$420, depending on size of area
WHAT IT DOES
Permanently reduces unwanted hair on the face, legs or elsewhere by destroying follicles with a laser
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
6–12 sessions
MAINTENANCE
As needed, if hair grows back
ANNUAL COST
$270– $5,000 in the first year
Latisse
PRICE
$15 per week
WHAT IT DOES
Prescription drug, applied at home, stimulates growth of thicker, longer eyelashes
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
Applied daily, should produce fuller lash growth in 16 weeks
MAINTENANCE
Daily to twice a week
ANNUAL COST
$780
PRP Therapy
PRICE
$1,200– $2,000, depending on number of syringes needed
WHAT IT DOES
Injection of your own blood platelets into your scalp may help regrow hair that has recently begun thinning
FREQUENCY FOR RESULTS
3 treatments, 6 weeks apart, with visible results after 4–8 months
MAINTENANCE
Every 6–24 months
ANNUAL COST
$4,800– $8,000 for first year, then about $2,400 per year
To read more about innovative beauty brands, check out our list of beauty brands making a difference, or learn about local beauty leaders like Jeannie Jarnot of Beauty Heroes.
This article originally appeared on marinmagazine.com.
