Cosmetic surgery has a long and storied history, but today is an indelible part of our society. One of the many impacts of the social media age has been the fresh interest in aesthetic treatments; more people than ever are seeking cosmetic surgery, from liposuction to facelifts and beyond. While the present day looks strong for cosmetic medicine, what might the future hold, for both service and patient?
Industry Growth
The cosmetic surgery industry has already experienced significant growth in recent years, as surgery has become normalised – and many have taken unique opportunities to undergo surgery where they may not have otherwise done.
Access to high quality cosmetic surgeries has been improved across the board, with the effect of greatly growing organic interest in the field. Technological advancements have also had a direct impact on the affordability of world-class results, while new treatments and non-surgical interventions have paved the way for more people to access cosmetic care.
Indeed, it is non-surgical interventions in particular that represent the most promise for the industry. The development of aesthetic treatments and courses that do not require surgery promises to reduce the growth in surgery numbers in the future, while the industry as a whole experienced rapid growth otherwise.
Stem Cell Surgery
While new non-surgical treatments are of particular interest to the wider industry, there is still vital progress being made with regard to surgical offerings. This is evidenced by the promising development of stem cell surgery, in the wider field of regenerative surgery.
Stem cells are embryonic cells, with the unique property of being able to grow into a number of different cell types. They have a wide range of potential applications, one of which is the regenerative of dry and sagging skin as part of a modified facelift or filler treatment. Stem cell interventions promise to be less dangerous and more effective than existing alternatives, and could be the way forward for anti-aging endeavours – more on which shortly.
Fat Grafting
Fat grafting is not particularly new to cosmetic surgery, but its recent growth in popularity has precipitated redoubled efforts in research and development. Fat grafting is a fundamental process, in which fat deposits are surgically removed and placed in a different part of the body; the fat graft gained particular popularity in the form of the Brazilian Butt Lift.
Age-Slowing Procedures
As for the longer-term future of cosmetic surgery, anti-aging has always been a core ambitions for budding clients. But where facelifts and dermal fillers serve to mask the effects of aging on the face, new research seeks to find ways to slow the aging process itself – thereby enabling a more ‘natural’ sense of youth. Results are some way off, but cosmetic surgeries will swiftly pivot to incorporate any new and safe age-slowing treatments.
