Frequently, I get asked, “Do I need surgery?” or “I am not ready for surgery, but what can I do to stay looking good?” As a surgeon, I obviously think that surgery can be a great option for many people. However, many other wonderful options exist that could be a better choice for you! We see ads for different types of procedures and even creams that promise to take the years off. Unfortunately, these are often advertised without much explanation. Therefore, it is difficult to determine exactly what they are and how they 
work.
A good way to categorize the treatments is by what benefit they provide to you. Injections, like Botox or Restylane, help soften lines on the face. They can be performed in the office and you can return to work that day or the next. Skin tightening treatments, like Ultherapy or Thermage, lift and tighten the skin without incisions or much downtime. You can return to your normal activities immediately! Lasers, like CO2 or Fraxel, can improve the texture and even out your skin tone. The amount of time that you should plan for recovery and the amount of change in your appearance that you should expect depends on the type of laser.
Obviously, there is much more to each type of treatment and each treatment itself. Over the next few blogs, I will explain and compare some of these options to help you look your best!