What is cosmetic skin procedures?

There is a wide range of cosmetic procedures that don't involve surgery.

Laser resurfacing.

This uses a laser light to heat, damage, or destroy the upper layers of the skin. This can tighten the skin or cause new skin to grow. It is typically used to remove or improve the appearance of wrinkles, brown spots, shallow scars (from acne, surgery, or trauma), and sometimes the appearance of small veins.

Chemical peel.

This uses a chemical solution to remove the top layers of skin, allowing new skin to grow. It is most often used to remove wrinkles, superficial skin growths, shallow scars, pigment changes in the skin, and other skin problems.

Dermabrasion.

This uses a fine wire brush or a diamond wheel with rough edges to remove the upper layers of the skin, allowing new skin to grow. It may be used to treat acne scars and wrinkles around the mouth or to treat an enlarged nose (rhinophyma) caused by rosacea (facial inflammation and redness).

Microdermabrasion.

This uses a mildly abrasive technique to treat just the top layers of the skin. It is used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, treat light scarring, and improve uneven skin coloring.

Filler injections.

These are used to smooth wrinkles or pitted scars in the skin. They are also used to make the lips fuller. Fillers can restore volume and structure that is lost due to age or weight loss. There are several types of fillers available, including fat taken from your own body. When injected under the skin, a filler raises or puffs up that area. This goes away with time.

Botulinum toxin injections.

These use a form of botulinum toxin that can be injected to reduce or eliminate fine lines and wrinkles on the face. The effect is temporary, lasting about 3 to 4 months.

Spider vein removal.

This procedure removes spider veins by injecting a solution into the vein that causes it to close and fade (sclerotherapy). Or laser treatments may be used to remove them.

Laser hair removal.

This procedure permanently removes unwanted hair such as facial hair. In laser hair removal, light treatments are used to heat and destroy hair follicles. This reduces the number of body hairs. A series of treatments may be needed.

Tattoo removal.

Laser treatments can remove tattoo ink from your skin. Depending on the size and design of your tattoo, a number of sessions may be needed to remove the ink.

Nonsurgical fat reduction.

There are several nonsurgical procedures for reducing fat cells under the chin, around the belly, and in other areas of the body. These involve injecting chemicals into fat cells, freezing fat cells, and heating fat cells with laser or radiofrequency energy.