The Truth Behind Scary-Sounding Plastic Surgery Terms
Chemical peel? Microdermabrasion? Laser hair removal? All of these topics sound rather painful, but don’t let the wording fool you. These procedures are popular because they provide effective ways to improve one’s looks. When it comes to plastic surgery, you don’t have to put yourself through a painful experience just to get the results you desire. Having a little more information about procedures that sound scary will prove that they’re nothing to be afraid of.
Microdermabrasion
Usually, when you see the word “abrasion,” you’re reading it in a police or medical report. While the term “abrasion” can indicate a scratch or cut, it also refers to “the process of scraping away,” according to the Oxford American Dictionary. Essentially, microdermabrasion is a “gentle abrasion” of the skin on the face, and treatments take only 30 minutes. If you’re still not convinced, consider the fact that microdermabrasion requires no anesthetic. Furthermore, patients can resume normal activities immediately after, which makes it a popular “lunch hour” procedure, reports the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). In fact, this treatment is recommended for individuals who are sensitive to chemical procedures.
Chemical Peel
The words “chemical peel” might make you conjure up images of the Batman villain, Two-Face, but this procedure will leave you with reduced wrinkles and a more youthful appearance. There are two types of chemical peels – deep and light. A deep chemical peel takes one to two hours and is used to treat deep facial lines. Patients will have a solution applied to their face, and while it may cause a slight burning sensation, the solution also acts as an anesthetic, which makes the pain minimal. Many light chemical peels use a less strong solution, which means patients will only experience tingling or slight stinging, but no anesthetic is required.
Laser Hair Removal
Don’t worry, the lasers used in laser hair removal are a far cry from those you may have seen in a James Bond flick. Laser hair removal is a popular procedure, in part because it is less painful than alternative methods like waxing or electrolysis. During the procedure, a plastic surgeon will use a low-energy laser beam, which passes through the skin and is naturally drawn to the pigment of the hair. This beam is able to disable the hair follicle in the deeper layers of the skin. ASAPS describes the process as “a non-invasive, gentle technique” with minimal discomfort.
View this blog post originally available on The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
