Non-Invasive Cosmetic Procedure Techniques in Aesthetics

In recent years, non-invasive cosmetic procedures have grown in popularity as the need for cosmetic treatments that are secure, inexpensive, and don’t require lengthy recuperation times has increased.

Non-invasive aesthetic techniques are cosmetic procedures that do not require surgical incisions or other invasive methods. These methods are intended to improve the appearance of both the face and body without the use of surgery or the need for recovery time. These techniques have grown in popularity in recent years as people seek to improve their appearance and skin’s youthfulness without undergoing surgery.

The increasing focus on physical appearance among adults, especially in males, will propel the growth of the non-invasive aesthetic treatment market. According to the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Statistics in the year 2021, overall non-surgical cosmetic procedures grew by 44% compared to surgical cosmetics procedures. Body procedures increased more than any other section (+63% vs. 2020), led by a jump in liposuction procedures (+66%) and abdominoplasties (+49%). On average, the cost of a surgical procedure increased by 6% in 2021, while the cost of a non-surgical procedure increased by only 1%.

Overview of Non-Invasive Techniques in Aesthetics

Non-invasive techniques offer a variety of benefits for enhancing skin quality. Some of the most common benefits include improved skin texture and tone, reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduced appearance of hyperpigmentation and age spots, and improved overall skin health.

A suitable middle ground between time-consuming cosmetic regimens and invasive surgery is non-invasive skin care. High-tech cosmetic procedures including cryolipolysis, cryotherapy, phototherapy, ultrasonic, microcurrent, radio frequency, and laser use light waves, currents, or pulses to penetrate the skin. Exhibit 1 summarizes the ways in which these techniques are addressing various skin quality attributes of skin on the face, neck, and chest region.

Research and development in non-invasive techniques for skin quality attributes have been ongoing for many years, intending to improve the effectiveness and safety of these treatments. Advances in technology have led to the development of new and improved non-invasive techniques, such as laser therapy, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels, that offer better results and fewer side effects. Exhibit 2 highlights the major categories of non-invasive technologies for skin aesthetics.

There is also ongoing research into non-invasive techniques for improving the appearance of the skin that goes beyond traditional laser therapy, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. For example, researchers are exploring the use of ultrasound technology for skin rejuvenation, as well as the use of radiofrequency therapy to stimulate collagen production and improve skin elasticity.

Because the devices utilized in these technologies are professional-grade and cannot be purchased in a shop or used by untrained practitioners, they differ dramatically from traditional methods. Exhibits 3 and 4 present in detail the various advantages and challenges related to non-invasive aesthetic technologies respectively.

Some of the driving factors that have led to the increasing adoption of non-invasive aesthetic procedures in the world of cosmetic surgery are:

• Growing awareness among skin aesthetic aspirants regarding the benefits of non-invasive procedures.
• Easy access to cutting-edge, safer products and a relatively short procedure time.
• With the rapid rise in self-consciousness, people are focusing on investing in products and medical treatments to improve their external appearance, particularly male patients seeking aesthetic care.

Available Non-invasive Treatment Technologies in Aesthetics

• Ultrasonic Techniques:
  • Ultrasonic skincare treatments are often referred to as the “new sonic beauty boom”— utilize the same sound wave technology as medical ultrasounds to deeply penetrate the skin and improve the appearance of sagging skin. This treatment is a great way to have a trendy and quite effective method of improving their skin, muscle tone, and complexion. The ultrasound energy travels below the surface of the skin to stimulate the creation of new collagen. Over time, ultrasonic treatments help lift and tone the skin, improving its firmness and elasticity. In an aesthetic setting, ultrasonic skin treatments are used on the brow, the neck, and around the eyes.
  • Example: Ultherapy: Ultherapy is a cutting-edge technology that employs focused high-power ultrasound waves to heat skin tissue at various levels, stimulating a natural healing response that results in the production of new collagen.
  • Risk: Potential risk involves burning, bruising, numbness and tingling, swelling, scarring, and muscle weakness and sometimes leads to chronic pain

• Microcurrent Techniques:
  • A microcurrent facial is a cosmetic treatment where a person uses a special handheld device to deliver tiny currents of electricity to the face. These microcurrents stimulate the skin and muscles intending to improve a person’s appearance. Microcurrent devices have two electrodes on one end, which deliver the electric current. This does not involve any surgery. A person remains awake throughout the treatment and can continue their usual activities immediately.
  • Example: GX Series Microcurrent Facial Device: The GX Series Microcurrent Facial Device by ZIIP is a handheld device that uses microcurrent technology to help improve the appearance of the skin on the face. Microcurrent therapy is a non-invasive procedure that uses low-level electrical currents to stimulate the muscles and tissues of the face, which can help to increase circulation, improve skin tone, and texture, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The GX Series Microcurrent Facial Device typically comes with two handheld probes. The device usually also includes different settings and modes that can be adjusted to suit individual skin types and treatment goals.
  • Risk: GX Series Microcurrent Facial Device is generally considered safe but there are some potential risks and side effects such as skin irritation, muscle fatigue, or soreness.
• Radio Frequency (RF) Techniques:
  • Radiofrequency (RF) therapy, also called radiofrequency skin tightening, is a nonsurgical method of tightening the skin. The procedure involves using energy waves to heat the deep layer of the skin known as the dermis. This heat stimulates the production of collagen, the most common protein in the body.
  • Example 1: RF Lifting: RF lifting is a cosmetic procedure aimed at restoring the elasticity and firmness of the skin. This method is quite simple and effective: RF frequencies penetrate the skin’s deeper layers, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, which provides a powerful tightening effect. Unlike plastic surgery, which involves making incisions and manually lifting the skin, RF preserves the integrity of the epidermis, as the skin becomes more toned due to the stimulation of collagen, for a more natural-looking and less drastic result.
  • Risk: Radio wave lifting has the average risk for any procedure affecting deep tissues. The main ones include chronic skin diseases, acne breakouts, and the skin becoming sensitized or allergy-prone.

• Example 2: Thermage FLX: Thermage® FLX uses radiofrequency technology to heat the deep, collagen-rich layers of the skin, while the tip vibrates and cools the surface to help aid in patient comfort. The applied heat separates the water molecules from the fibrous collagen, causing an immediate contraction, resulting in skin tightening.
  • • Risk: Radiofrequency tissue tightening with Thermage includes very rare risks of burns, surface irregularities, or fat atrophy which are reported with current technology and current treatment protocols.

• Cryolipolysis:
  • Cryolipolysis, commonly referred to as fat freezing, is a nonsurgical fat reduction procedure that uses cold temperatures to reduce fat deposits in certain areas of the body. The procedure is designed to reduce localized fat deposits or bulges that do not respond to diet and exercise.
  • Example: CoolSculpting: This cryolipolysis method is based on using cool temperatures to break down fat cells. This skin treatment takes place without surgical intervention due to the help of special equipment with a vacuum nozzle. The device delivers cold directly to fat cells without touching the skin, blood vessels, and other tissues, so the method is safe, and can be used for both the face and the body.
  • Risk: In most cases, cryolipolysis isn’t harmful to health, but there are several risks with this skin treatment. Among them are autoimmune diseases, allergies to low temperatures, and paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), where the fat cells expand instead of diminishing.
• Photo Therapy:
  • Phototherapy is a non-invasive light therapy treatment used to combat a wide range of skin conditions. Phototherapy (also known as heliotherapy) is a type of light therapy in which natural or artificial UV light is used to improve a health condition. Treatment might involve fluorescent light bulbs, halogen lights, sunlight, or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Ultraviolet (UV) light triggers biological processes that reduce inflammation and prevent skin cells from growing too quickly. Regular exposure to the affected area helps to control inflammation and clear the skin.
  • Example 1: Photofacial: The photofacial is a photo-rejuvenation technique that uses AFT technology — an advanced form of Intense Pulsed Light – to eliminate the signs of aging and pigmented and vascular lesions.
  • Risk: Some people experience slight discomfort during or after the procedure, these include minor swelling or redness.

• Example 2: PicoSure laser: World’s first picosecond aesthetic laser, can be used to get rid of unwanted, concentrated pigmentation such as melasma, marks, freckles, stretch marks, scars, birthmarks, and all color tattoos removal (especially colors such as blues, green, red) that are difficult to remove.
  • • Risk: Adverse effects can include hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, mild erythema, edema, possible scarring, and infection.

• Chemical Treatments
  • Chemical treatments can reduce or improve fine lines and wrinkles, acne, scars, uneven skin coloring, and other skin imperfections. Different chemicals are used for different skin types and the skin condition treated.
  • Example 1: Mesotherapy: Mesotherapy is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment that involves injecting small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients into the mesoderm, the layer of skin just beneath the epidermis to make it radiant and rejuvenated.
  • Risk: Mild and temporary side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, numbness, sweating, headache, ecchymosis, bleeding, pain, and local reaction at the injection site.

• Example 2: Chemical Peels: Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments that involve using acids to exfoliate the skin. The acid removes a uniform amount of damaged skin cells across the treatment area. When done appropriately, this allows the skin to heal, with minimal scarring or color changes.
  • • Risk: A chemical peel can lead to a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection, such as a flare-up of the herpes virus — the virus that causes cold sores. Heart, kidney, or liver damage. A deep chemical peel uses carbolic acid (phenol), which can damage the heart muscle and cause the heart to beat irregularly.

• Vacuum Therapy
  • Vacuum therapy is a non-invasive massaging technique that helps to lift the skin via a mechanical device equipped with suction cups. While it originally entered the market during the 1970s to help treat burn scars, this treatment has evolved into a nonsurgical skincare method. Certain forms of vacuum therapy are also used for the treatment of cellulite.
  • Example: HydraFacial: HydraFacial is one of the most powerful, non-invasive skin resurfacing treatments available today. It combines cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration, and antioxidant protection that removes dead skin cells and impurities, while simultaneously delivering moisturizing serums into the skin.
  • Risks: Not recommended for everyone. Due to the vacuum (suction) effect, skin vessels are subjected to significant pressure, which can exacerbate the appearance of rosacea if the skin is prone to it.

• Skin Abrasion:
  • This technique abrades the superficial epithelial layers of the skin without extending through the dermis and is particularly suited to improve skin conditions like acne scars.
  • Examples: Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion treatments use an abrasive instrument to gently sand the skin, removing the thicker, uneven outer layer, and have many benefits. This type of skin rejuvenation is used to treat light scarring, discoloration, sun damage, and stretch marks.
  • Risk: Unsuitable for use in skin conditions such as rosacea, or any other kind of infection, disease, or skin allergy, treatment is not recommended.

Summary and Conclusion

Non-invasive aesthetic treatments have transformed the cosmetic industry by providing safe, affordable, and effective solutions for anyone looking to improve their appearance. However, it should be noted that not all non-invasive techniques are appropriate for all concerns.

The future of non-invasive techniques in aesthetics is promising, with advancements in technology and techniques continuing to make these treatments more effective, safe, and accessible.

One of the key trends in the future of non-invasive cosmetic treatments is personalization. With advancements in genetics and understanding of the human body, non-invasive treatments will become more personalized and targeted, based on individual skin type, age, and other factors. By tailoring treatments to the unique needs of each patient, practitioners can deliver more effective and personalized results.

Combination treatments are also expected to increase in popularity in the future. Using a combination of non-invasive treatments produces better results than using a single treatment alone.

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in non-invasive aesthetics is also expected to increase in the future. These technologies can be used to analyze data and improve the accuracy and effectiveness of non-invasive treatments, resulting in more personalized and effective treatments for patients.

Furthermore, non-invasive techniques are becoming more widely available, with many now available at spas and medical clinics. This trend is expected to continue, making non-invasive aesthetics more accessible to a wider range of people, and propelling the industry forward.