We love touting all the amazing benefits of in-office aesthetic treatments, but in this economy, we know they can be costly and out of budget for many. So we asked top dermatologists and plastic surgeons which procedures offer the most bang for your buck. While it’s a nuanced question and can depend on what concerns a patient would most like to tackle, we got a handful of suggestions to choose from.
“It is always best and most cost-effective for patients to address what concerns them the most. If this improves, the patient is satisfied, and it is money well spent,” says New York facial plastic surgeon Lee Ann M. Klausner, MD, so you’ll want to consult with a board-certified doctor about what treatment would be best for your goals.
Naturally, when chatting with dermatologists, they emphasized the importance of doing your part at home after a treatment. “Investing in your skin at home with high-quality products will help maximize and extend the benefits of these treatments,” says Miami dermatologist Dr. Deborah Longwill. “The key to getting the most out of any in-office treatment is pairing it with a personalized at-home regimen that supports and maintains the results.”
Featured experts
- Lee Ann M. Klausner, MD is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York
- Dr. Deborah Longwill is a board-certified dermatologist in Miami
- John Kang, MD is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York
- George Sanders, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Encino, CA
- Dr. Anna Chacon is a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami
Aesthetic treatments that get you the most bang for your buck
Filler
For patients looking for longevity and minimal maintenance, Dr. Longwill says fillers are often the best bang for their buck. “In terms of cost-effective in-office treatments that offer long-lasting results, fillers are a great option,” says Dr. Longwill. “They provide immediate volume, contouring and smoothing, with results lasting anywhere from six months to two years depending on the type of filler and the area treated.”
The caveat here is knowing how to optimize the utility of one syringe for a specific patient to get the most bang for your buck, says New York facial plastic surgeon John Kang, MD. “For some with early mid-face deflation, it would be augmenting the cheek area to provide the classic liquid lift. For others, it may be filling along the tear trough area.” He says other options include a liquid rhinoplasty or chin augmentation, fading the eleven lines between the brows, adding volume to the lips or filling in deepening smile lines. “Ultimately, the physician or surgeon needs to have the keen visual sense to be able to make the greatest improvement with that one syringe.”
Lasers
Lasers are an excellent investment, says Dr. Longwill, especially when combined with good at-home care. “Treatments like laser resurfacing or IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) can address issues like pigmentation, redness or fine lines, and the results can be prolonged with proper skin-care maintenance.” Encino, CA plastic surgeon George Sanders,’ MD team’s top choice is a cold fiber laser, like UltraClear as it promotes “significant improvements in fine lines, uneven texture, hyperpigmentation and acne scars without the hassle of downtime or a hefty price tag.”
Chemical peel
Miami dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD finds that chemical peels offer great value for patients. “They’re relatively affordable and provide excellent results for skin texture, tone and radiance.” Dr. Klausner agrees that chemical peels, like VI Peel, are at the top of the list of lower-cost treatments that provide good results, especially when paired with a solid skin-care regimen. She also likes Obagi Nu-Derm, which “can correct unwanted sun damage and pigment from melasma and acne.” However, she notes that it will take more time than the more effective, more expensive treatments.
Neurotoxins
Neurotoxin injections are a great option for non-invasive anti-aging results. “These treatments are effective and provide noticeable improvements with minimal downtime,” says Dr. Chacon. Dr. Kang feels that just about everyone could benefit from getting a neuromodulator in their forehead to ease the tension from frown and worry lines and gently perk up the brows.
Under-eye treatment
Dr. Kang says if you had a one time budget for surgery throughout your lifetime, he’d recommend using it to address under-eye bags in your mid 30s to early 40s. This will help make you look less tired and more youthful. “Usually, you will look five to ten years younger indefinitely, even if you never pursue any further cosmetic surgeries,” says Dr. Kang. “After 30 years of practice, this is one pearl I can share with everyone.”
Microneedling
Dr. Chacon recommends this versatile treatment. Microneedling “can improve skin appearance and stimulate collagen production at a reasonable cost,” she says.
Oxygen facial
Dr. Sanders’ team says oxygen facials are an excellent and overlooked treatment with impressive benefits at a relatively low cost. “Given the revitalizing effects and the non-invasive nature of the treatment, they’re surprised that more people don’t take advantage of this affordable option, especially considering the glowing results it delivers.”
PDO Thread lift
“When it comes to restoring the facial laxity from gravity, a PDO thread lift in the right provider’s hands can nearly create a similar outcome as an open facelift with minimal downtime for a fraction of the cost of traditional open surgery,” says Dr. Kang. “To date, PDO is the only alternative to open surgery to actually immediately elevate the soft tissues of the face as traditional open surgery does.”
