Work, aging, and stress can take a toll on more than your health after a while. Eventually, your long and well-lived life will start to affect your appearance.
If you find yourself Googling the phrase “how to look younger” after a long look in the mirror, you aren’t alone.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it’s estimated that there were 17.5 million plastic surgery procedures in the United States in 2017. That number is up 2% from 2016.
Curious about which procedures can help you get your youthful appearance back? We’re going to educate you on the best cosmetic surgeries to give you a rejuvenating look.
How To Look Younger With Cosmetic Surgery: A Quick Guide
Before we get started, it’s important to note that some procedures may not be right for you at the moment. You may find that some procedures are unnecessary after a little bit of self-care.
Some procedures may have a longer recovery time than others. Other procedures may not be able to do what you want on their own but could work wonders if it’s paired with a different procedure or lifestyle change.
You should also check with your insurance provider before you schedule any appointments.
As a dentist, you’re already familiar with the murky world of procedure coverage. You may find that your provider won’t cover anything, that they may cover a portion of the procedure, or that you could be lucky enough to have everything covered.
Spend time thinking about cost and coverage before you make up your mind to do a procedure.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s dive into some of today’s hottest and most effective cosmetic surgeries.
Blepharoplasty
Do you have bags under your eyes that can’t be covered up with makeup? Do you think that the skin around your eyelids has become more wrinkled and droopy?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, you could be a prime candidate for blepharoplasty.
Blepharoplasty (also known as bleph) involves getting rid of eye-bags by removing excess fat from below the eyes and tightening up skin near the eyes.
The procedure is relatively simple and can be done in a few hours, but the healing may take awhile.
Your under eye bags may be gone, but it can take awhile for scars to fade. For some people, it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months for scars to fully fade.
You’ll also have to take special care of the skin under your eyes. Many doctors will recommend that you wear dark sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun and use sunscreen.
You can also have bruising and swelling from the procedure that can take up to a week to properly fade. You shouldn’t be using makeup during recovery, so keep that in mind when you’re planning on when to return to work.
Brow Lift
The term brow lifts (also known as forehead lifts) can be a bit misleading. The procedure is done to reduce the number of fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead, but it can reduce wrinkles in other places.
People have reported a reduction in wrinkles that occur on the bridge of the nose and between the eyes after they’ve gotten brow lifts.
A brow lift could be the ideal cosmetic procedure for people worried about face wrinkles.
It isn’t uncommon for the brow lifts and blepharoplasty procedures to be performed at the same time. Both can help reduce facial wrinkles, and when they’re done together the results can be astounding.
A brow lift can also correct muscle sagging in a way that’s very similar to a facelift. Brow lifts are done by removing excess skin and repositioning muscles and tissues.
In the past, long incisions were required to do the procedure. But endoscopic surgery has reduced the incision length and the invasiveness of the procedure.
This procedure can have powerful results, but it won’t be something you can recover from immediately. It can take anywhere from 10 to 14 days for the initial wounds to heal.
After that, you’ll look great in public but still could need more time to fully heal. It can take several weeks for swelling to completely go down and for incision lines to completely fade away.
Neck Lift
Fatty deposits under the chin and muscle banding in the neck can form unusual contours in our skin. That can result in jowls or loose neck skin that can make people look prematurely aged.
A neck lift can do wonders to help people look youthful again, but the procedure will involve more than your neck.
Traditionally, the incisions for a neck lift can begin as high as the hairline level of your sideburn. From there the incision goes down and around the ear, then and ends in the posterior hair.
Fat can be sculpted, redistributed, or completely removed from the jowls and neck. Sometimes a separate incision underneath the chin is needed for liposuction and muscle repair.
This is a surgery you’ll need a little more recovery time for.
You should expect to have a bandage around your neck, chin, and top of the head. You’ll also have a tube that can help drain any excess fluids which will typically be removed in 1-3 days.
Despite the intensity of the first few days, you’ll be back on your feet relatively quickly. Swelling will go down significantly after the removal of the tube, and scarring is very subtle.
Botox
Botox is probably the least invasive cosmetic procedure people can have. It’s not a typical “surgery” like the others on this list. But if you’re looking for ways to look younger, Botox is worth investigating.
A few Botox injections could be what you need to appear more youthful and handle some of the troublesome fine lines and wrinkles on your face. Injections can help reduce the appearance of crows feet, forehead wrinkles, and frown lines on the brow.
It’s important to note that Botox can be quick to get and has minimal recovery time, but that it isn’t a long-term solution.
If you choose to get Botox injections, you’ll need to stick to an injection schedule. This could mean frequent trips to the doctor and spending more money out of pocket. It’s also possible that you could have a negative reaction to Botox.
For busy dentists, it may be easier to spend time and money on one procedure. Botox can be an effective short-term solution. But if you find yourself enjoying the effects of it, consider getting a procedure that will last for years instead of weeks.
Breast Lift
Everyone knows that you can get breast augmentation surgery if you’d like to increase your cup size. But what if you’re happy with your size, but just wish that they were a little perkier?
A breast lift can make sagging breasts firmer, perkier, and more aesthetically pleasing. The procedure can help breasts look more youthful, but they can also help bras, swimsuits, and clothes fit more comfortably.
The procedure is done by removing excess, stretched out skin and reshaping the breast tissue. The nipple & areola can be moved into a more forward position, and larger more stretched out areolae can be fixed during the procedure.
Some women choose to get the surgery after they’ve had children and are done with breastfeeding. Others may get the procedure after they’ve lost a significant amount of weight.
Surgeons can use a variety of techniques to improve the shape and appearance of your breasts. You may find that combination of techniques can give your breasts the best appearance.
You may go in for a breast lift, then find that you’d like to increase your cup size after excess skin and tissue is removed.
Be sure to talk to your surgeon about every possible surgical outcome. Read more now on how to be sure that you’re asking your surgeon the right questions.
Lip Augmentation
Most people get lip augmentation procedures to give themselves a fuller, pouty look. You may not be aware of this, but lip augmentation can also help you look healthier and younger.
Thin, cracked, and discolored lips are a sure sign of aging.
Sun damage and loss of collagen can make your lips recede which increases the distance between your nose and upper lip. That widening gap can make you look older, and can easily fill with wrinkles.
You can choose to have surgery, but you have other less invasive options if you just want to improve the look of your lips.
Consider injections that can keep your lips looking youthful for up to six months. If you do want results that last, you’ll have to consider an actual procedure.
Next Steps
Now that you know how to younger through cosmetic procedures, you’re feeling eager to schedule a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon.
Before you start looking for a doctor, take time to think about if surgery is really what you need.
Change your lifestyle before you consider changing your body with surgery.
Surgery can be effective, but it should always be a last resort. Changing your diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep can be as helpful as surgical lift or restoration.