You want to smooth some wrinkles, but you don’t want to look too stiff. You want to turn the clock back a few years, but you still want to look like yourself.
We hear these sentiments from patients all the time. In fact, some of the most common questions patients ask during their consultations are “Will this make me look too plastic?” and “Will people be able to tell I’ve had work done?”
Today, we’re here to assure you that modern cosmetic enhancements can and do look natural. We understand your concerns. After all, plastic surgery does have a reputation for making certain celebrities look… well… different. But cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, have changed a lot over the years – and subtle, natural-looking enhancements are absolutely a leading trend.
Natural-Looking Cosmetic Treatments
If your goal is natural results, then there are certain treatments you’ll want to focus on when exploring your options. The following are the most popular natural-looking cosmetic procedures Ormond Beach residents tend to choose.
1. Injectables
Do you have fine lines, wrinkles, or places where it looks like your skin has simply lost volume? Sometimes, patients with these complaints come to us seeking a face lift, but often all they need is a few shots of BOTOX® or a dermal filler.
Right now, you might be thinking, “Fillers? But those will make me look too plastic!” Well… here’s something to keep in mind: if you can tell someone has had fillers or BOTOX®, they’ve had a lot of fillers and BOTOX®.
You likely have plenty of other friends and acquaintances who have had injectables, but still look like themselves. You can’t tell they’ve had fillers because the results are subtle and natural. If you want the same subtle results, we can absolutely personalize your treatment to meet those goals. When we use injectables for natural results, you won’t look stiff or plastic. You’ll just look like a slightly younger, smoother version of yourself!
One of the ways Dr. DeMercurio ensures natural results is by recommending the right injectable for every patient. We offer a wide variety of injectables, including:
- BOTOX® Cosmetic: This classic, FDA-approved injectable works wonders for dynamic wrinkles like smile lines and crow’s feet.
- JUVÉDERM®: JUVÉDERM® is a family of hyaluronic acid injectables, including options customized to the cheeks, lips, jawline, chin, and more.
- Renuva®: By stimulating your body to create more fat cells, Renuva® can add natural volume to your cheeks, temples, or jawline.
- Sculptra®: Sculptra® boosts your body’s natural collagen production and works well for general signs of facial aging.
2. CO2 Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Oh, sun damage. It comes in many forms. For some people, it appears as dark spots and discoloration. Others experience a loss of skin tone and texture. We see a lot of sun damage in Florida, especially in patients in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. After all, we weren’t all perfect at applying our daily sunscreen when we were younger.
The good news is that sun damage is fairly easy to treat while maintaining a natural appearance. Dr. DeMercurio often recommends CO2 laser treatments for patients with sun-related skin concerns. These treatments remove thin layers of damaged, outer skin, revealing the smoother, resurfaced skin below.
In addition to offering natural results, CO2 laser skin resurfacing is also easy on the patient. Depending on the size of the area to be treated, your procedure will take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. And while there is some mild discomfort to be expected, our team is wonderful at minimizing pain and swelling to ensure your comfort. You’ll look a bit red, as if you’ve been sunburned, for up to a week. After that, you can look forward to smoother, more even-toned skin with fewer wrinkles, sun spots, and scars.
3. Minor Surgical Tweaks
While we’re at it, let’s talk about another misconception: that plastic surgery has to be dramatic or drastic. In fact, it does not. Many of our patients only need a subtle tweak or two to restore a more youthful, but natural, appearance.
Minor surgical tweaks can be a great choice if you want more permanent results than are achievable with injectables. These tweaks also work well for patients who have concerns with skin sagging, such as drooping eyelids or a double chin. In many cases, we can address those concerns with just a few tiny incisions. That means a shorter healing time, less pain, and no visible or obvious scars.
Some of the most popular “subtle” plastic procedures we perform include:
- Neck Lifts: If a “turkey wattle” or double chin has you feeling self-conscious, we can lift the area by making a small incision behind each ear. We’ll then tighten muscles, remove excess fat, and lift the skin.
- Face Lift: A mini-lift is perfect for patients with drooping jowls or loose skin along the forehead. We customize each face lift to meet individual needs, aiming to be as minimally invasive as possible.
- Eyelid Surgery: Also known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery can make your eyes look younger and brighter. The procedure takes less than three hours.
Tips for Achieving Natural Results
If your goal is to turn back the clock without looking unnatural, then we have two important tips for you to consider: choose a skilled cosmetic surgeon, and choose a surgeon who prioritizes personalized treatment plans. Of course, these usually go hand in hand!
1. Personalized Aesthetic Treatments in Florida
Every treatment journey should start with a consultation. The best cosmetic surgeons take their time to listen to their patients’ concerns, pinpoint their exact goals, and discuss various approaches. If you make it known that natural results are your priority, then your surgeon will be careful to develop a customized plan with that in mind.
Note that in some cases, your plan for personalized aesthetic treatments will be more than one procedure. It may, for example, include a CO2 laser treatment to address sun spots on your chin, plus Renuvion® to address sagging skin along your neckline. This is why we put so much emphasis on customization; your skin concerns are probably different from the next patient’s.
2. Skilled Cosmetic Surgeons in Florida
Now, it’s important to note that how natural results look depends not only on the exact cosmetic procedures you choose, but also on your surgeon’s skill.
The best plastic surgeons (and we definitely consider Dr. DeMercurio to be among them) can achieve natural results even when they do have to make more extensive alterations. In other words, if you do end up needing a more extensive face lift, eyelid surgery, or neck lift, it’s important to choose a surgeon who has done many of these procedures and who has a history of achieving natural results.
For your own peace of mind, we suggest taking a look at some before-and-afters from the Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. Some of the patients featured in these photos only had minor adjustments. Others had more extensive surgeries that involved removing more skin or fatty tissue. In all cases, they still look like themselves after surgery. The results of their cosmetic procedures are subtle and natural, not harsh or jarring.
Here’s the most important part of our message: if you’re bothered by sun damage, wrinkles, sagging skin, or any other signs of aging, don’t avoid cosmetic procedures because you’re afraid of looking unnatural. With the right procedures, an eye on your goals, and a skilled surgeon, you can turn back the clock without looking plastic or overly tight.
Contact the Florida Center for Plastic Surgery to learn more or to schedule a consultation at our Ormond Beach office. We’re happy to address any other questions you might have and take the first steps toward developing a cosmetic treatment plan that makes you feel comfortable and confident.