The number of non-surgical options for cosmetic surgery continues to increase and will continue to increase through 2005. According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASPS), the leading national organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery, though traditional facelifts will remain popular, facial rejuvenation procedures with minimal downtime and minimal invasiveness will continue to increase in popularity through 2005.

One of the more recent introductions to cosmetic surgery is Thermalift, a method that tightens and lifts the skin and smoothes wrinkles that does not require invasive surgery, chemicals, needles, incisions or lasers. Thermalift uses a treatment tip that heats and cools the skin at the same time, emitting a radiofrequency energy to heat the collagen in the deeper skin layers. The top layers of skin are protected with a cooling spray, but the heating action allows the deep structures of the skin to immediately tighten.

Thermalift is more advanced than superficial remedies intended to treat aging and sun damaged skin because it treats the fundamental level of tissue construction, resulting in more significant results. The increase in non-surgical procedures is not hard to figure out – there is less downtime, less pain, less need for medication, less risk, they are less expensive, and they allow patients to approach cosmetic surgery differently.

A larger number of people are realizing that minimally invasive procedures like Thermalift allow a more proactive approach to aesthetic enhancement. Instead of waiting for signs of advanced aging to occur, procedures like Thermalift can provide a way to manage early signs of aging in very subtle manners. Taking just minutes up to an hour, Thermalift will have gradual results in most patients in two to six months, though the time can vary from patient to patient.

Most people can immediately return to their regular activities immediately following Thermalift. The Thermalift improvements will continue for at least six months after one treatment session, depending on the individual. As more patients incorporate minimal, non-surgical procedures into their regular maintenance program, the advantages of Thermalift have become more evident. The appeal of anti-aging strategies without the incisions or significant downtime has made, and will continue to make, techniques like Thermalift even more popular in the future.

Sometimes referred to as the non-surgical facelift and the “lunchtime facelift,” Thermalift is best for subtle tightening of middle-aged skin. For patients that already have more advanced and severe wrinkling and sagging, Thermalift will not be able to provide the more dramatic results that a traditional facelift can.

Even with non-surgical procedures, all cosmetic surgery patients are advised to contact a qualified and reputable cosmetic surgeon. Improper use of the Thermalift sophisticated treatment tip can cause damage to the patient's skin.