Go back just a few years and plastic surgery was confined to the likes of Hollywood and other high-profile, wealthy individuals. However, with the rise in popularity of things like botox and dermal fillers, it seems like everyone is opting for the more extreme beauty treatments. However, these things aren’t usually permanent (unless you go under the knife) and there are a lot of non-invasive alternatives for you to try first. Here, we look at five of the most common procedures and products you can use as an alternative.
Botox
Botox, for those who don’t know, is actually the botulinum toxin and is injected into the face to paralyse areas and reduce movement and wrinkles. It lasts around 3-4 months and costs an average of £200 per session, making it an expensive habit to continue. Alternatively, use Decleor Lift and Firm Day Cream which will firm and add radiance to skin for a fraction of the cost and on a long-term basis with regular use.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are literally injected into your wrinkles and fine lines to plump them up from beneath the skin. They cost between £150 and £300 per session, depending on how much filler is needed and can last up to two years. However, if the thought of having injections in your face every two years doesn’t appeal to you, Decleor Lift Wrinkle Filler will specifically target deep facial wrinkles in a far less invasive manner.
Face Lift
A face lift is where the skin of the face is literally cut and pulled back, then stitched into place to make the whole face appear firmer and more youthful. It’s an extremely invasive procedure which costs an average of £6000 and the full healing process can take up to a year. The Dermalogica AGE Smart system contains a range of products which can actually prevent the biological triggers of ageing and if used correctly can prevent you ever being at a point where you’d consider a face lift!
Neck Lift
There’s no doubt that a saggy neck isn’t a great look, but with a neck-lift costing around £5000 and taking several weeks to fully recover from, we think trying a non-invasive alternative first is definitely worth it. Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Serum is a powerful product which can be used on the face and neck to firm the skin and resurface areas, leading to a more youthful, smooth appearance and you won’t need 2 weeks off of work to use it.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is an exfoliating technique that uses a rotating instrument to remove the outer layers of skin, usually on the face. This treatment is popular with people who wish to improve the appearance of their skin. Some of the conditions it can treat include fine lines, sun damage, acne scars, and uneven texture. It varies widely in cost depending on your practitioner but will usually be thousands rather than hundreds and you’ll definitely need to take at least two weeks off work (and you probably won’t want to leave the house at all!). Decleor Lift and Brighten Peeling Gel is an exfoliator with fruit acids specially formulated to gently treat mature skin which, over time, will give a similar effect to dermabrasion without any of the cost or discomfort.