We get it. Your friends, family, work, and side hustle keep you busy. You don’t have time to
take two weeks off to recover from a cosmetic surgery. Yet despite a busy schedule, many of us
still have some concerns we’d like to address — preferably without surgery. Under-eye bags
might need some attention. Dull skin could use a reboost with micro-needling. Or even a jawline
that could use a little sculpting.
So we wondered, what treatments fit into a busy schedule with minimal recovery time? We
talked to top doctors, and here are the six treatments they recommended for a long weekend.
1.Fractora
86% RealSelf Worth It rating
Fractora is a radiofrequency microneedling treatment that can improve skin quality to the
face, neck and other parts of the body with minimal downtime, one to two days,” says Dr.
Naveen Setty, a Dallas plastic surgeon. “It can treat fine lines, large pores, uneven skin tone,
stretch marks and skin laxity.”
Tip: “Fractora is a unique treatment because it can deliver excellent results to darker skin types
that cannot tolerate laser or chemical peel treatments,” says Dr. Setty.
2. Tear trough filler
91% RealSelf Worth It rating
Filling in the “tear trough” beneath your eye bags with a filler can help you look like you just got
back from a relaxing vacation. “Our preferred filler is Restylane,” says Dr. Steven J. Pearlman, a
New York facial plastic surgeon. “This product absorbs water and makes the eyelids look puffy
for about two days.”
Tip: “In patients with flat or drooping cheeks, we often suggest that the cheeks be filled and
supported first for an even better result,” says Dr. Pearlman.
Related: 5 foolproof tips to find an awesome injector
3. FaceTite
100% RealSelf Worth It rating
FaceTite is a great option for individuals who do not like the appearance of their jawline
and/or neck but do not want the downtime of a neck lift or lower face lift,” says Dr. Setty. “It’s a
radiofrequency treatment that is minimally invasive and can be combined with liposuction to
allow for dramatic improvements in the neck region.”
Tip: A compression wrap is worn at all times for three days and then only at night for three
weeks.
4. BodyTite
90% RealSelf Worth It rating “ BodyTite is a radiofrequency energy device that is combined with liposuction to give dramatic
results in contouring the body,” says Dr. Setty.
Tip: Compression garments are worn at all times for two to four weeks. “Swelling is less with
this procedure compared to traditional liposuction, so the recovery is faster,” says Dr. Setty.
Most people are back to work within three to four days.
5. Madonna Lift (a CO2 laser)
79% RealSelf Worth It rating
This is a fractionated CO2 laser treatment that smooths wrinkles and tightens the skin around
the eyelids. “Patients are red for about a day or two and pink for a few days, but can return to
work with cover-up makeup in about three days,” says Dr. Pearlman.
Tip: To get the most benefit from this treatment, time three sessions approximately six weeks
apart. “With three treatments, you can see results close to more aggressive laser treatments
that have many more days of healing,” says Dr. Pearlman.
6. Silhouette InstaLift
79% RealSelf Worth It rating
The Silhouette lift is a non-surgical thread lift that helps lift the cheeks and jowls. “These
threads are completely absorbable, and the procedure takes around an hour,” says Dr.
Pearlman. “If you avoid exercise and severe grimacing, you can be back to work in two to three
days. Results typically last from one to two years.”
Tip: “No non-surgical facelift compares to the real thing, but we like to tell our patients we can
achieve 25 to 30 percent of the result of a facelift with much less downtime, no anesthesia and
a lower cost,” says Dr. Pearlman.
