Filling the gap

The trend toward non-invasive cosmetic treatments is expected to further define the cosmetic industry in 2011 and beyond, predict experts. In fact, local doctors say demand for Botox and other injectable fillers will surge this year as people look to bypass pricier options in favour of more manageable treatments in the still-recovering global economy.

The trend toward non-invasive cosmetic treatments is expected to further define the cosmetic industry in 2011 and beyond, predict experts.

In fact, local doctors say demand for Botox and other injectable fillers will surge this year as people look to bypass pricier options in favour of more manageable treatments in the still-recovering global economy.

“The two big trends I’m seeing are that more people are open to it — it’s no longer considered something for the rich and famous — and that people are starting earlier,” says Calgary Vein & Laser’s Dr. Lily Wouters, referring to Botox, injectable fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane, and laser resurfacing .

“Some of the things we do, a facelift can’t. A facelift tightens, but it doesn’t fill anything out.”

As an example, Wouters points to volume loss in the cheek area. An injectable can fill out the cheek again, is fast and requires no downtime. It also costs, on average, $500 to $600, compared with $6,000 to $12,000 for a facelift.

“For people who start early, there is no doubt they will reduce fine lines and wrinkles and slow the aging process — they will probably never need a facelift because they can maintain what they’ve started with Botox or fillers,” she says.

Dr. Louis Grondin, medical director at the Cosmetic Laser & Vein Centre, estimates about 70 per cent of his patients only need Botox or a filler when addressing concerns with facial wrinkles, sagging skin or loss of volume in the cheek areas.

“In the past decade, there has been a huge surge of people getting procedures done simply to remain more competitive — to keep them in the game, in the market,” says Grondin.

“Fillers instantly give you a more youthful look; the results are immediate. Using non-surgical procedures like these can postpone facelifts — you can fight aging with Botox and fillers but you can’t fight it with facelifts.

“The best thing you can do is look after yourself, exercise and be choosy about what procedures you get done.”

Grondin adds that a lot of these procedures are fairly inexpensive, offer instant results and require no downtime.

“That, in a competitive market, is huge,” he says. “Facelifts really aren’t for the majority of people.”

That trend seems to be echoed in an American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery report, which predicts

non-surgical rejuvenation procedures will grow in 2011.

The association, which is the leading U.S. organization of board-certified plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic surgery, also expects the grow and popularity of cosmetic injectables will continue to increase as products — such as Botox, Juvederm, Resylane and Sculptra — continue to evolve and new players enter the market.

“As the popularity of non-surgical and minimally invasive procedures continues to grow, surgeons and manufacturers will develop new techniques and products that advance the science, produce even better results and lessen recovery time,” says the report.

“People want to look good for their age. They don’t want to look 20 — they usually just want to take five years off — and today that is very easy to do,” says Wouters.

Source:  By Maria Canton for the Calgary Herald at http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Filling/4733763/story.html