BREAST

• Breast Enhancement
• Breast Augmentation
• Breast Enlargement
• Breast Reconstruction
• Breast Reduction
• Breast Lift

BODY

• Liposuction
• Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty
• Buttock Augmentation / Fat Transfer
• Upper Arm Lift
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Body Lift
• Labiaplasty

FACE

• Eyelid Surgery
• Brow Lift
• Facelift
• Neck Lift
• Rhinoplasty
• Ear Surgery

FOR MEN

• Male Breast Reduction
• Liposuction
• Facial Procedures
• Poland's Syndrome
• Brow Lift

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Cost/Benefit Analysis of Injectable Treatments

Houston, Pearland - Texas

Since 2001, the year Botox Cosmetic injections were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the boom in injectable cosmetic treatments has driven the plastic surgery industry. According to American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) statistics, the number of Botox injections performed was triple that of all surgical procedures performed in 2008. And the number of injectable facial filler procedures performed was roughly equal to the total number of surgical procedures. Overall, the number of injectable treatments performed has increased by over four times from 2001 to 2008, while the number of surgical procedures has decreased slightly.

The surge in injectable treatments is due to the numerous significant advantages they offer, but they are not for everyone. This page will help you decide if injectible fillers are for you, or if you should consider plastic surgery.

Benefits of Injectable Treatments

There are two main types of injectable treatments: Botox and facial fillers. Botox can treat facial wrinkles that are due to the habitual action of muscles. This includes many forehead wrinkles, crows' feet, and lipstick or smokers' lines around the mouth. Facial fillers like JuvÉderm and Restylane can treat other types of wrinkles that are due to the loss of facial volume or the displacement of fat pads in the face. When used appropriately, they give very good localized results.

The main benefits of injectable treatments are that they:

• Are low-risk
• Are performed quickly
• Have little to no down-time
• Most show results almost immediately. (The exception is Sculptra, which is a special case.)

Drawbacks of Injectable Treatments

On the other hand, the main drawbacks to injectable treatments are:

• Limited results
• May require several treatments to achieve desired effect
• Temporary results

In particular, there are some things injectable treatments cannot do for you. They cannot cure loose, sagging, or excess skin, except in very minor cases. They cannot cure turkey neck, hanging jowls, sagging brows, or puffy eyelids. Results from injectable treatments are also local, so rejuvenation in several regions requires multiple injections. And, most important of all, results from injectable treatments are temporary. A surgical procedure like a blepharoplasty or facelift may give great-looking results that last 5-10 years, but injectable treatments generally last only 4-6 months, although some may last a year or more.

Are Injectable Treatments for You?

Injectable treatments are definitely for you if you are looking for temporary or localized results that do not involve getting rid of excess skin or repositioning facial tissues. If you have large or multiple areas that need treatment, have excess skin, or are looking for long-term results, you should consider facial plastic surgery. In these situations, you either cannot get good results with injectable treatments or the long-term cost will be greater for injectables over surgery. This is true even if you have to get financing for your plastic surgery.

To discuss your options in person with Houston, Texas plastic surgeon Dr. Leo Lapuerta, please schedule a facial rejuvenation consultation today.