No surgery is completely without risk. Many people have thought about cosmetic surgery, but fears about safety and complications hold them back. Let’s look at the latest developments in surgical techniques, regulations and patient care standards.
Technological Innovations and Surgical Techniques
Botched cosmetic surgery procedures come with medical negligence implications. Therefore, the demand for minimally invasive cosmetic procedures is on the rise. In the UK, non-surgical cosmetic procedures now account for 70% of the cosmetic market. In keeping with this, there is an increase in minimally invasive aesthetic procedures available.
For example, a new non-surgical alternative to a brow lift is now becoming more popular: Browtox. This is an injection of neurotoxins, much like Botox, which lifts the muscles in the eyebrows. Results are temporary but can last anywhere from 2-4 months.
When it comes to cosmetic surgery itself, advanced imaging technology and computer-assisted tools can now enhance precision. This reduces the chance of a patient wanting to redo or modify previous work, thus minimising risk.
With this technology, professionals can age an image to see how a facial reconstruction or bone restructuring might look further down the line. This can inform them of the best approach to take for long-lasting results.
Stricter Regulations and Quality Assurance
To make the aesthetic industry safer, there are more regulations are coming into play. An amendment to the Health and Care Bill in the UK will soon make it mandatory for anyone offering non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox to have a licence.
The move will also place a ban on administering such treatments to under-18s and on all forms of online and traditional advertising.
Advanced Patient Care and Postoperative Monitoring
For cosmetic surgery, Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) is becoming more common. It allows for more precise control of the patient’s anaesthesia levels, reduced risk of nausea and vomiting afterwards and a faster recovery time. By eliminating the need for an endotracheal tube, the risk of having a sore throat or other airway injury after the surgery is also ruled out.
As plastic surgery becomes more affordable and less invasive, demand is likely to increase. The customer experience will be more important than ever, so we may see post-op care become more personalised. It’s often a sensitive time for patients, as body image is so closely linked with this field, so a tailored, high-quality post-op care plan is key.
It’s now even possible to get a spa-like post-operative care plan with ultrasound therapy and lymphatic massages included. This relaxes the body so that the patient can recover faster and experience less pain.
With less invasive procedures and better aftercare on the up, cosmetic procedures and surgery is gradually becoming more accessible.
