One of the biggest growth industries in the world right now is medical aesthetics. A recent study by Research and Markets predicted the total global market would reach $17.07 billion by 2023, an increase of 10.6% from where it was in 2018. One of the important sectors of the industry that’s pushing this growth, is non-surgical aesthetic medicine. As the beauty industry continues to develop new minimally-invasive or completely non-invasive procedures, more and more people are not only becoming aware of these options, but they desire them. One reason is because these procedures provide little to no recovery time. Another is because they don’t cost as much as they used to. In general, people today are simply more accepting of aesthetic medicine than they were in the past.
Perhaps the most popular, and well-known, non-surgical aesthetic procedure is the injection of neuromodulator agents (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) that block nerve endings responsible for certain facial expressions like frowning, substantially increasing skin tightness and keeping the skin looking younger, longer. Moreover, the desired result appears in a matter of days. Clearly, neuromodulators agents like Botox aren’t going by the wayside anytime soon, but what are some other trends in non-surgical aesthetic medicine for 2020 and beyond? What are the new demands and desires that will shape the industry?
THE NATURAL LOOK WITH PLATELET-RICH PLASMA
Above all else, people today want treatments and procedures that give them a naturally beautiful look. Gone are the days of heavy makeup and medical procedures that unnaturally change the way a person looks. In its place are procedures and treatments designed to make people look like the best version of themselves. And what’s more natural than using a person’s own body to make themselves look better? Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is being used in various medical practices and procedures. The most familiar form in aesthetic medicine is the “vampire facial,” but there are other applications as well. The procedure starts with a sample of blood being drawn from the patient. The sample is then spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma. This rich plasma is then injected back into the patient’s skin. The injection stimulates collagen and growth factor production and the procedure itself helps promote the healing process by reducing inflammation within the body. Sometimes, a PRP gel is even rubbed on chronic wounds. PRP is not just a procedure for facials. It’s also becoming somewhat of a standard protocol for growing hair, in both women and men. In this case the PRP is injected into a patient’s scalp, helping to repair hair follicles that are damaged and to encourage the growth of thicker, fuller hair.
BODY SCULPTING IN A NON-INVASIVE WAY
Who doesn’t want rippled abs or a more sculpted nose? In the past, these two things could only be achieved medically by very invasive surgical procedures. Now, that is no longer the case. The relatively new technology called Hot Sculpting allows patients to sculpt their body by eliminating fat by using nothing more than targeted heat. Results can be seen within four to twelve weeks of the treatment, and they’ll only continue to improve from there. These are 30-minutes treatments that are completely painless and have no downtime when finished. Hot Sculpting can be used on a patient’s abdomen, buttocks, arms, double chin and other problem areas. Another popular procedure is the non-surgical nose job, or nose filler. Using injectable fillers in a similar fashion to Botox, this procedure can help a patient change the shape of his or her nose in the desired way. It can be used to fix the bridge, the tip and/or to straighten the nose. Nose jobs were traditionally very invasive procedures that required surgery and anesthesia. This new non-surgical route is much safer, doesn’t require going under and has little to no recovery time. While the results are temporary, many patients prefer it over a traditional surgical nose job because the benefits are similar but with reduced risk. These are just a few of the long-term trends that will help shape the future of non-surgical aesthetic medicine. The industry as a whole is booming, and procedures are becoming more obtainable for the everyday person. This is forcing companies in the aesthetic field to innovate at a much more rapid pace than before, resulting in safer, more affordable procedures that provide even more effective results.
