Surgeon named popular plastic surgeries that are actually just marketing

A number of popular procedures in aesthetic medicine are presented as a full-fledged alternative to surgery, although in practice their effect is limited.

As reported by BAKU.WS, plastic surgeon and rhinosurgeon Sergey Karpovich told "Gazeta.Ru" about this, emphasizing that some offerings in the market are based primarily on marketing rather than on the real capabilities of the techniques.

According to him, the so-called non-surgical lifting using threads, ultrasound, or radio frequency technologies can provide only moderate improvement.

"This is a plus of 15-20%, supporting skin tone and quality. But if there's pronounced ptosis, excess skin, or a need to redistribute volumes, surgical lifting is necessary," he explained.

Karpovich specifically pointed out the risks of "nose correction with fillers." Such procedures do indeed temporarily smooth out a hump or asymmetry, but they do not fix septum problems or breathing issues and require repetition every few months.

"There is a risk of vascular complications and tissue necrosis. In addition, fillers complicate subsequent rhinoplasty. It's incorrect to market this as a safe replacement for surgery," the surgeon noted.

The specialist also calls promises of breast augmentation without incisions a marketing myth. Any implant, he emphasized, requires access for precise placement. Attempts to make it minimal for the sake of a catchy slogan can result in implant displacement, limited choice of shape, and increased risk of complications. Properly performed classic approaches provide neat, barely noticeable scars. Chasing their complete absence at the expense of results is a road to nowhere, Karpovich warned.

He also considers statements about liposuction without rehabilitation a dangerous misconception. Even when using laser and ultrasound technologies, the body needs time to recover, patients face swelling and the need to wear compression garments.

"Promises of returning to normal activity the next day mislead people," the expert emphasized.

Speaking about rejuvenation with stem cells, the surgeon reminded that many such offerings are either insufficiently studied or essentially mask already known methods - plasmatherapy, lipofilling, or fillers under a new brand.

"Until these techniques have gone through a full cycle of clinical trials, it's too early to treat them as a guaranteed breakthrough," Karpovich summarized and urged patients to focus not on advertising formulations but on proven effectiveness and safety of procedures.