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Going under the knife? Well, cosmetic surgery no longer had the stigma it once had in the Philippines. More and more people are in search of physical enhancement through aesthetic medical procedures.

According to data gathered by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2005, roughly 10.2 million cosmetic procedures were performed in America, demonstrating a 38% increase since 2000. However, this sizeable increase in cosmetic procedures has not been due to an upsurge in the number of surgical procedures, but rather in non-surgical procedures. While an growing number of people might be rushing to the plastic surgeon’s clinic in a bid to look younger, that same number aren’t actually going under the scalpel.

Non-surgical, or non-invasive, aesthetic procedures do not call for incisions in order to produce the desired transformation. Ground-breaking new techniques have made it feasible to attain a more youthful appearance without the downsides of surgery.

Botulinum toxin therapy is one such example. Commonly known as Botox®, it is at present the trendiest aesthetic procedure available, with the annual number procedures shooting up from around 780,000 in 2000 to over 3,500,000 in 2005, and the figures are going up until today. The procedure, involving a series of calculated injections takes only a few minutes and causes minimal pain. In addition, no inactive recovery period is required, allowing the patient to return to their ordinary routine easily.

Due to advantages associated with non-invasive methods, the number of aesthetic non-surgical procedures has gone up by 53%, while aesthetic surgical procedures have actually dropped by 5%. While surgery remains a popular choice among patients, non-surgical procedures offer a practical alternative for the aesthetically-conscious.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures like Botulinum toxin therapy covers the majority of aesthetic procedures carried out annually, posting figures up to four times those of surgical procedures in recent years. Though shows like Dr. 90210 and Extreme Makeover have radically increased media exposure of surgical procedures, non-surgical methods remains popular for several reasons.

By far, the chief advantage of non-invasive procedures is the cost. Surgery can mean thousands of dollars in fees, and an extended recovery period may entail even more income loss. Non-surgical procedures, on the other hand, have a markedly shorter recovery and cost only a few hundred dollars per session.

Some might contend that non-surgical methods cost more in the long run, since the results of most non-invasive procedures are not permanent. While this may be true, the temporary feature of non-surgical procedures can also allow patients to enhance their looks without committing to a permanent change they may not be ready for.

Cost-wise, there’s a viable comparison between the two kinds of procedures. Consider this: with $10,000, a surgical facelift can create a younger, more attractive appearance for at most 10 years and at the least 5 years before the expected effects of aging start showing; for the same amount, a patient can maintain a more youthful appearance for 10 years with biannual Botox® treatments.

The choice between surgical and non-surgical procedures is best reached with the help of a trained practitioner. The medical options are continuously growing, making consultation with a trained specialist even more important. Thus, whether one goes under the knife or the needle, one ought to weigh carefully the results and ramifications of both types of procedures.